4 The Hampton Roads Messenger Editorial


This is why we want to hear from you


who does not realize that they need your help. It is not easy to pour over each edition of the Hampton Roads Messenger to do our best


It is frustrating when I see


people in positions that need the help of the Hampton Roads Messenger, to promote their business through advertising, which will make their jobs easier. Rather than helping themselves by advertising with us, they would rather hurt themselves by not advertising because they are too afraid that their ad would support the help that we are trying to give our readers through the information we provide.


BY ANGELA JONES I recently experienced the death


of two friends. One was sudden and one was not. Regardless of how and when the death of someone you care about happens, it makes you take inventory of your life. It makes you think about your purpose for living and the trajectory of your like, that may or may not be pointed in the direction of your purpose.


I am an engineer. I studied several


engineering disciplines in college and aſter college but engineering is something that I have always loved and I believe I am quite good at performing engineering tasks.


I also love people. People are


more important than objects. While I have oſten been asked what led me to be a publisher rather than continue my work in engineering, I had never been able to answer that question.


Today, I know why I chose trying


to significantly improve the everyday lives of people over choosing to tinker with things. It is because I love people; I have empathy for people; and I am most happy when I am helping people.


Every now and then I question my


decision to leave engineering because, while I love people, it is not an easy job when you are trying to help someone


Obviously there are people


who do not want our readers to get scholarship information or any other information that would benefit them. Tese individuals do not want our readers to get tips to improve their finances. Tere are people in our community who will take money from our community into their business but they do not want to do anything to give back.


Without going on too much of a


tirade, let me just say that publishing the Hampton Roads Messenger is the hardest job I had ever had and the least paying job. Engineering was a lot easier. Abstract algebra was a lot easier.


If you enjoy reading the Hampton


Roads Messenger, look at who is not advertising with us and call them out. It is not the ad revenue that we want. We want the support for our readers. We want your insurance agent to say “You and your children matter to me so I am going to support the Hampton Roads Messenger’s efforts to continue to bring valuable news and information to you.” We do not charge our readers with subscription fees. We depend on businesses in the community to support our efforts.


I know that the information


in the Hampton Roads Messenger is valuable because I know students who were able to secure hundreds


You are cordially invited to attend...


City Council meetings... Norfolk - regular meetings are held on the first and fourth Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. and the second and third Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.


Chesapeake - regular meetings are held on the second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.


Established 2006 A. J. Jones, Publisher Chris Parks, Editor


Sarah Parks, Graphic Designer Ida Davis, Contributing Writer


Sales and Information 757-575-1863 info@hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Copyright pertaining to contents of this edition. All rights reserved.


Newport News - regular business meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m.


Suffolk - regular meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Hampton - typically take place on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.


Virginia Beach - meets on the first four Tuesdays of each month. In July the meetings are scheduled on the first two Tuesdays only. Formal session begins at 6 p.m. Portsmouth - meeting dates are the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.


Voter Data FROM PAGE 1


Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT),


Al Franken


(D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Tom Carper (D-DE), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD),


Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Patty Murray


(D-WA), Bernie


Sanders (I-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Visit www.hamptonroads- messenger.com to view the full text of the letter.


to ensure


that we are distributing a quality product month aſter month.


Volume 11 Number 10


of thousands of dollars in funds for their education from the information that can be found right here in the Messenger. Now why wouldn’t these insurance agents want to support that. Do not let them tell you that we have never contacted them about advertising because we have. We have probably contacted them many times over the last 10 years. And if we had not, then when you ask them about the Messenger, they should contact us right away to get on board, right?


Te same goes for banks. It seems


that they smile in your face and take your money but do not want to see you progress. What have they given back in appreciation for their taxpayer bailout?


I am glad I chose to do that which


is more difficult, because in doing so, I received invaluable lessons. I learned how people inside and outside of our communities try to hold us back. I am not going to judge those inside our


July Jazz FROM PAGE 1 pioneers. He has released three No.


1 records and seven in the Top 10 since 2005. “It’s All Good” stayed in the Top 5 on charts for four months. Simpson is performing hits and songs from his 2017 release “Persuasion.”


RaJazz is one of Hampton Roads’s


most requests bands, having performed at most of the region’s top festivals and events since 2009. Te ensemble is composed of nine superb Virginians, who captivate audiences of all ages with a tasty blend of smooth jazz and R&B.


matriarch


Connie Parker is the regional of


jazz. Her sublime


vocals and piano playing have for decades have been recognized as the best in Hampton Roads and Richmond.


Sam Rucker began as a


producer of hip-hop, but has evolved into a modern jazz saxophonist. His original songs have attracted attention of numerous national jazz artists who have invited him to play live or played on his records.


July 2017


community because they may be too afraid to do what is right.


I am the type of person who likes


to deal in the truth. I am not much for pretending or looking the other way. I cannot keep a secret either. Te truth is so important to me and I love it so much that I cannot help but to tell it.


politically correct; I try to keep my writing positive most of


time


but I just do not have patience for people and businesses who try to take advantage of people in our community.


If you love people, love the truth


and enjoy reading the Hampton Roads Messenger, send us an email so that we will know that our efforts are appreciated and that taking the difficult road was not in vain. Email us at info@ hamptonroadsmessenger.com or fill out the contact form on our website. Truly, we have already received a lot of positive feedback but there is no such thing as too much of a good thing.


So, excuse me if I am not the


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