12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 11 Number 9 Around Hampton Roads


Bishop Brown Named 2017 Chesapeake First Citizen


Chesapeake Rotary Club will present the award in September


Bishop Kim W. Brown, Pastor of Mount Lebanon Baptist Church (“The Mount”), has been named Chesapeake’s First Citizen for 2017 by the Rotary Club of Chesapeake. The award will be presented during a banquet on Thursday, September 21, at 7:00 p.m. at the Chesapeake Conference Center.


Bishop Brown has led "The Mount,"


which has campuses in Chesapeake and Newport News, along with Elizabeth City and Charlotte, North Carolina, for more than 25 years. He has been awarded the LD Britt Community Service Award, the Elizabeth City State University Chancellor's Legacy Award, and the Hampton Roads Urban League MLK


Community Service Award, among many other recognitions. He has served on the Chesapeake Hospital Authority Board since 2004, including a term as Chairman in 2008.


Bishop Brown holds both a Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity degrees from the Samuel D. Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, along with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from Norfolk State University.


The First Citizen Award is presented annually by the Rotary Club of Chesapeake to an individual who exemplifies the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self" in their daily life and in their contributions to the Chesapeake community.


Hampton during the 1885 Yellow Fever Epidemic Explored


Free Lunchtime Talk at the Hampton History Museum on June 21


Hampton, VA- Author Benjamin H. Trask explores “The Norfolk and Portsmouth Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1855: The Hampton Perspective” as part of the Hampton History Museum’s free “Lunch in Time” series on Wednesday, June 21, Noon-1:00 p.m.


In the summer of 1855, yellow fever stuck the populations of Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia. The SS Benjamin Franklin imported the pathogen from the Danish West Indies. As thousands of residents fled, hundreds of volunteers from across the country arrived to fight the fever. Physicians advanced various theories as to the origins, causes, and cures involving the disease. However, nothing stopped the fever from consuming more than 3,000 lives; more than ten percent of the populations of both cities.


During the crisis the village of Hampton and its environs became a point of refuge. Learn what role Fort Monroe, Hampton and Old Point Comfort may have played in the pestilential tragedy and what other dramatic events unfolded.


It would not be until the close of the nineteenth century, that a U.S. Army medical team in Cuba led by Virginia-born Major Walter Reed, MD determined that the blood-seeking Aedes aeygypti mosquito vectored the virus from person to person. So by curbing the mosquito population, public health officials could keep the disease in check.


Trask is a history teacher at Gildersleeve Middle School, Newport News, VA, and the author of Fearful Ravages: Yellow Fever and New Orleans, 1796-1905 (2005). He has also written a half dozen articles related to the disease. Trask holds graduate degrees from Virginia Tech and North Carolina.


Admission is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a bag lunch. The museum has free dessert.


Director of Libraries Retires After 34 Years of Service


Director of Libraries and Information


Services Izabela


Cieszynski retired Friday, March 31, after 34 years of service with the City of Newport News. City Manager Cindy Rohlf named Library Administrator Anita Jennings


to serve as Interim


Director. The City will conduct a search to fill the position of Director of Libraries.


“I wish all of the best for Iza in her retirement. She has been a driving influence in the advancement of


our libraries and the services they offer to our residents.” City Manager Cindy Rohlf said. “We welcome Anita Jennings as she serves as Interim Director. Anita has been instrumental in the advancements and programs that are available at the Pearl Bailey Library and I look forward to working with her.”


Ms. Jennings has been with the Newport News Public Library System since 2001 initially as the Community Technology Center Coordinator, moving up to Reference Librarian, and then Supervising Librarian for the Pearl Bailey Library before being named Library Administrator in 2015. Prior to working for the City she owned her own business that provided vocational training courses along with placement services for students. Ms. Jennings holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from St. Leo College and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Central Texas along with a Master of Library Science degree from Texas Woman’s University. Ms. Jennings is also a 2015 Public Library Association Leadership Academy Fellow.


NPL Presents MTS Beat Clinic and Contest and More


Norfolk Public Library and Music Theory Studios present the MTS Beat Clinic and Contest featuring Grammy winning producers Nottz Raw and Bink, both local to Norfolk.


The beat contest gives local musicians the opportunity to create a beat off of a sample provided at musictheorystudios.com. Entries must be submitted through Instagram with the hashtag #MTSBeatClinic by midnight on Friday, June 9. Ten finalists will be selected before being narrowed down to five finalists by Nottz Raw on Wednesday, June 14. The grand prize winner will be announced during the beat clinic at Slover on Saturday, June 17.


This interactive and free beat clinic offers workshops, musical performances, arts and crafts activities, exclusive giveaways, a community Graffiti Wall and other opportunities to meet face-to-face with the most sought after music producers and influencers in the Hampton Roads area. Click here for the details.


NPL's Summer Reading Program has something for everyone - and chances to win prizes, too! All you have to do is sign up beginning June 24 at norfolkpubliclibrary. org. Kids keep track of their minutes read and win prizes along the way. Adults submit a short "Yelp-style" review on the books they've read in order to be entered to win a weekly prize of a Samsung tablet or the grand prize of an iPad (after three approved reviews).


Seeking Nominations for the 25th Gladstone M. Hill Friend of the Arts & Humanities Award


-- Nominations have been extended to June 19th--


The Portsmouth Museum & Fine Arts Commission seeks nominations for the 25th annual Gladstone Hill Friend of the Arts Award. The nominee should have demonstrated a commitment to the arts and humanities in Portsmouth, Virginia through volunteerism, advocacy/appreciation, financial/in-kind contributions, membership in cultural organizations, purchase of art and attendance at performances/exhibitions in the community.


The nominee should meet the following criteria:


This award will recognize all areas of the arts and humanities including visual arts, performing arts, literary works, history, and education.


• The nominee may not be a current member of the Portsmouth Museum and Fine Arts Commission, or a paid staff member of the Portsmouth Museums.


• The nominee may be an individual, family, or organization, which collectively meets the criteria. Only one award will be presented to the recipient(s).


• The nomination should reflect the community orientation of the recipient’s support of the arts and humanities rather than emphasis on one organization or art form.


“my


challenge time” Master some fun and exciting challenges with Norfolk


Public Library’s Summer Reading Program for all ages!


Tell us why NPL is YOUR library! #itsmyNPL


Norfolk Public Library • norfolkpubliclibrary.org


If the nominee has employment in the arts and humanities, please elaborate on the nominee’s volunteer contributions or activities rather than his/her employment activities/accomplishments.


Your letter should include ways that the nominee meets the criteria and why the nominee is deserving of receiving this award. The deadline for submission has been extended to June 19, 2017 by 5:00 p.m. If you have questions, please call 757-393-5258. To see a list of past winners and complete an application form please visit http://www.portsmouthartcenter.com/pmfac-arts-commission.html


Please send your nomination application to:


June 2017


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