12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 10 Number 12 Around Hampton Roads


Applicants needed for city boards and commissions


The Chesapeake City Council is seeking residents who may be interested in serving on various boards and commissions. Boards and commissions provide a vital service to various City departments, agencies and City Council.


Citizens wishing to serve must complete an application form. Applications (with the exception of the Economic Development Authority) are due in the City Clerk’s office by September 1, 2016. City Council will appoint candidates for these vacancies during its September 27, 2016 meeting. No appointments are made during August or December.


Applications are currently being accepted for the following City Council appointed boards and commissions:


Chesapeake Agricultural Advisory Commission — 3 appointments Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Board — 2 appointments Chesapeake Bicycle/Trails Advisory Committee — 2 appointments (Farm Bureau representative) Chesapeake Board of Historic and Architectural Review — 1 appointment


(Knowledge/experience in the renovation/repair of historic structures at least 50 years old)


Chesapeake Interagency Consortium — 1 appointment (Children/Family Services representative) Chesapeake Tourism Advisory Board — 1 appointment (Hotel Industry)


Economic Development Authority — 2 appointments (Applications due August 1, 2016) Natural Event Mitigation Advisory Committee — 1 appointment (Non-Profit representative) Parks and Recreation Advisory Board — 1 appointment South Norfolk Revitalization Committee — 5 appointments Transportation Safety Commission — 8 appointments Transportation Toll Facility Advisory Commission — 1 appointment (Technical Background)


For more information or to apply, contact the City Clerk’s office at 382-6151 or visit Boards and Commissions


African Arrival Day events commemorate 400 years since first Africans’ arrived in English North America


Hampton, Virginia- In 2019, join the global commemoration of the 400th anniversary of four pivotal happenings in English North America’s Virginia colony: the arrival of the first Africans, the arrival of women, convening of the first General Assembly, and celebration of the first Thanksgiving. The first African arrival occurred at Point Comfort in 1619, the present site of Fort Monroe National Monument in present-day Hampton, Virginia.


African Arrival Day events August 19-21, 2016 commemorate 400th anniversary of first Africans’ arrival in English North America.


The Virginia 2019 Commemoration, the City of Hampton, Fort Monroe Authority, and the National Park Service invite the public to participate in commemoration activities on August 19-21, 2016 in recognition of the first arrival of Africans in English North America.


This community event will include musical performances from the Jae Sinnett Trio, Rhythm Project, and Strictly Bizzness; tours of the Godspeed; a play entitled “Crossing a Deep River: A Ritual Drama in Three Movements” at Thomas Nelson Community College; dance performances from Iris Middleton Academy Dance and Beauty for Ashes Dance Theater and Company; historical tours; storytelling with Dylan Pritchett and Dr. Margaret Bristow; youth activities; and a feature film entitled “Motherland”. The event will give away a limited amount items to include DNA tests sponsored by Family Tree DNA, historical children’s books, and ice cream. For more information on this 2016 event, as well as the Hampton VA 2019 Commemorative Commission, visit www.hamptonva2019 or www.africanarrivalday.com.


Newport News supports small businesses with loans and incentives


The City of Newport News and its Economic Development Authority have loan programs for small businesses ranging from $2,000 up to $250,000. These loans and incentives provide support to companies creating jobs and


making capital investments in the City and may be used to purchase fixed assets, inventory and working capital.


Another incentive available is the Façade Improvement Grant Program, providing matching grant funds to assist with exterior updates, previously featured in Newport News Now. The E-Commerce Business Assistance Grant Program is also available to small businesses making e-commerce investments including search engine optimization and website design and development. E-Commerce Grants are available for up to $2,500 for most small privately-owned businesses and increase to $4,500 for women and minority-owned businesses.


For more information on these programs, please visit the Newport News Department of Development webpage.


NSU lab earns award for developing SOL quiz game


NSU NEWSROOM—The Creative Gaming and Simulation Lab at NSU has brought home a silver for Kwizopia, its Standards of Learning quiz game. Kwizopia won a silver award in the 2016 International Serious Play Awards competition.


The Serious Play program recognizes outstanding examples of titles that deliver a high quality of engagement and learning opportunities for students, employees or other education or training situations. Kwizopia works with the Virginia Department of Education’s released SOL tests for math and science to help students practice the tests in a fun way.


Students in the third through the eleventh grade can play the game on their own or with a partner. The student’s score card can be printed for later review and/or shared with a teacher. The Kwizopia game is the product of a Master’s thesis by Walaa Mahmoud ’15, who graduated from NSU with a degree in electronics engineering. Kwizopia is available for the iPhone and iPad in the Apple App store. Since its release, it has been downloaded more than 30,000 times.


“We’ve been working hard to recruit students and let them know about the benefits of an NSU education,” Shackleford said. “We offer high-quality degree programs, in the classroom and online, for traditional and non- traditional students.


Work scheduled for Turnpike Road, Gothic, and Howard Street in August


As the next step in the current Turnpike Road Project, VDOT contractors will be making tie-ins to the existing water mains that branch across the intersection of Gothic Street in order to make a temporary connection at Howard Street. During this work, traffic access and water service to residences and businesses in the vicinity will be temporarily disrupted. The work will begin on Monday, August 1st, and it is scheduled as follows:


For Residences and Businesses on Turnpike Road and Gothic Street:


Beginning Monday, August 1st, at 6 p.m., the current traffic configuration that is in place to access Phillips Avenue will be limited to Public Safety Officers, Emergency Responders, and City staff who are working on the project. Both Gothic Street and Phillips Avenue will be closed to make a water main tie- in at the Gothic Street intersection. This work is scheduled to be completed overnight and Gothic Street will be reopened to all traffic by 5 a.m. on Tuesday, August 2nd. This work will not disrupt water service.


Residences on Gothic Street between Turnpike Road and Moton Street:


Work and water service turn-off will begin Tuesday, August 2nd, at 9 a.m., and water should be restored to residences by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2nd.


Residences on Gothic Street between Turnpike Road and Phillips Avenue (where Gothic Street passes S.H. Clarke Academy):


Work and water service turn-off will begin Wednesday, August 3rd, at 9 a.m., and water should be restored to residences by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3rd.


New First Baptist Church Taylorsville:


Work and water service turn-off will begin Thursday, August 4th, at 9 a.m., and water should be restored to the Church by 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 4th.


For S.H. Clarke Academy:


Work and water service turn-off will begin Monday, August 8th, at 9:30 p.m., and water should be restored to S.H. Clarke by 5 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9th.


--- In advance of your scheduled water service disruption, please draw sufficient water for your needs to include flushing toilets. Please turn off power to hot water heaters and boilers. Businesses will be contacted prior to the reactivation of the water service to allow personnel adequate time for any


August 2016


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