A guide to
The Hamtpon Roads Metropolitan Area, VA-NC F E A T U R I N G
U . S .
A R M Y
B A S E
F O R T
E U S T I S 2017
W W W . C O M M U N I T Y C O N N E C T I O N S P U B . C O M
Thank you for choosing Community Connections Publishing as your resource for relocation and visitor information! We strive to bring you current and relevant details to help you decide how to spend your time in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area, VA-NC. Whether it’s the rich history, amazing local attractions or just enjoying nature, we hope you enjoy your sneak peek! Community Connections Publishing LLC. 1115 N. North St. Suite C Peoria, IL 61606 Phone: (844) 625-4909 Fax: (309) 863-2100
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HAMPTON ROADS SCHOOLS Armstrong Elementary School 3401 Matoaka Rd Hampton, VA 23661 Phone: (757) 727-1067
Heritage High School 5800 Marshall Ave Newport News, VA 23605 Phone: (757) 928-6100
Crestwood Middle School 1420 Great Bridge Blvd Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: (757-494-7560
Francis W. Jones Magnet Mid. School 1819 Nickerson Blvd Hampton, VA 23663 Phone: (757) 850-7900
Kiln Creek Elementary School 1501 Kiln Creek Parkway Newport News, VA 23602 Phone: (757) 886-7961
Currituck County High School 4203 Caratoke Hwy Barco, NC 27917 Phone: (252) 453-0014
Samuel P. Langley Elementary 16 Rockwell Rd Hampton, VA 23669 Phone: (757) 850-5105
Mary Passage Middle School 400 Atkinson Way Newport News, VA 23608 Phone: (757) 886-7600
Moyock Middle School 216 Surbey Rd Moyock, NC 27958 Phone: (252) 435-2566
Tucker-Capps Elementary School 113 Wellington Dr Hampton, VA 23666 Phone: (757) 825-4641
Kemps Landing Magnet School 4722 Jericho Rd Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Phone: (757) 648-4650
Gatesville Elementary School 709 Main St Gatesville, NC 27938 Phone: (252) 357-0613
Booker T. Washington High School 1111 Park Ave Norfolk, VA23504 Phone: (757) 628-3575
Strawbridge Elementary School 2553 Strawbridge Rd Virginia Beach, VA 23456 Phone: (757) 648-3800
Gates County Sr High School 088 Hwy 158 Qest Gatesville, NC 27938 Phone: (252) 357-0720
Granby High School 7101 Granby St Norfolk, VA 23505 Phone: (757) 451-4110
B.M. Williams Primary School 1100 Battlefield Blvd North Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: (757) 547-0238
Lake Taylor High School 1384 Kempsville Rd Norfolk, VA 23502 Phone: (757) 892-3200
Crestwood Intermediate 1240 Great Bridge Blvd Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: (757) 494-7565
For more information about schools in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area visit
PublicSchoolReview.com
Hampton Roads, VA-NC
INFO, HISTORY, & DEMOGRAPHICS
HAMPTON ROADS INFO
Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water in Virginia and the surrounding metropolitan region in Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina, United States. Comprising the Virginia Beach–Norfolk– Newport News, VA–NC metropolitan area and an extended Combined Statistical Area that includes the Elizabeth City, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area and Kill Devil Hills, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area, Hampton Roads is known for its large military presence, ice-free harbor, shipyards, coal piers, and miles of waterfront property and beaches, all of which contribute to the diversity and stability of the region’s economy. The body of water known as Hampton Roads is one of the world’s largest natural harbors (more accurately a roadstead or “roads”). It incorporates the mouths of the Elizabeth River, Nansemond River, and James River with several smaller rivers and empties into the Chesapeake Bay near its mouth leading to the Atlantic Ocean. The land area (also known as “Tidewater” includes a collection of cities, counties and towns on the Virginia Peninsula and in South Hampton Roads. Some of the outlying areas further from the harbor may or may not be included as part of “Hampton Roads”, depending upon the organization or usage. For example, as defined for federal economic purposes, the Hampton Roads metropolitan statistical area (MSA) includes two counties in northeastern North Carolina and two counties in Virginia’s Middle Peninsula. The Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News, VA– NC MSA has a population of over 1.7 million, making it the 37th-largest metropolitan area in the United States. The Combined Statistical Area includes four additional counties in North Carolina, pushing the regional population to over 1.8 million residents, the 32nd largest CSA in the country. The area is steeped in 400 years of American history, with hundreds of historical sites and attractions that draw visitors from around the world each year. The harbor was the key to Hampton Roads’ growth, both on land and in water-related activities and events. While the harbor and its tributaries were (and still are) important transportation conduits, at the same time they presented obstacles to land-based commerce and travel.
Creating and maintaining adequate infrastructure has long been a major challenge. The Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel (HRBT) and the Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel (MMMBT) are major harbor crossings of the Hampton Roads Beltway interstate, which links the large population centers of Hampton Roads. In 2007, the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority (HRTA) was formed under a controversial state law to levy various additional taxes, fees, and tolls to generate funding for major regional transportation projects, including a long-sought but costly third crossing of the harbor of Hampton Roads.
HAMPTON ROADS HISTORY
The first colonists arrived in 1607 when English Captain Christopher Newport landed at Cape Henry, today’s City of Virginia Beach, an event now called the “First Landing.” However, his party moved on, in search of a more defensible area upriver, mindful of competitors such as the Spanish, who had built a failed settlement on the Virginia Peninsula known as the Ajacán Mission. After exploring the James River, they established the first successful English colony in the New World on Jamestown Island on May 14, 1607. But the low, marshy site proved unhealthy and most of the colonists died, before a new Governor, Lord De La Warr (Delaware) arrived with John Rolfe, who would establish the Virginia tobacco industry. The harbor and rivers of Hampton Roads were immediately recognised as prime locations for commerce, shipbuilding and military installations, with the fortifications at Old Point Comfort established as early as 1610, and Gosport Navy Yard (later Norfolk Naval Shipyard) in 1767. The decisive battle of the Revolution was won at Yorktown in 1781, and the first naval action of the War of 1812 took place in Hampton Roads, when a Royal Naval vessel was seized by the American privateer Dash. Later the entrance from Chesapeake Bay was equipped with new fortifications (Fort Monroe and Fort Wool), much of the building work being supervised by a young military engineer Robert E. Lee. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), the historic Battle of Hampton Roads between the first American ironclad warships, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia, took place off Sewell’s Point in 1862. The battle was inconclusive, but Union forces later took control of Hampton Roads, Norfolk, and the lower James River, though they were thwarted from venturing further upstream by a strong Confederate battery at Drewry’s Bluff. Also in 1862, Fort Monroe was the
launching place for Union General George McClellan’s massive advance up the Virginia Peninsula, which almost reached the Confederate capital Richmond, before the Seven Days Battles forced him back. In 1865, as the Confederacy was near collapse, President Abraham Lincoln met with three senior Confederates at Hampton Roads in an unsuccessful bid for a negotiated peace. Some former slaves had been camped near Fort Monroe, where they were declared to be Contraband of war, instead of being returned to their former owners. The camp thus became the first self-contained African American community in the United States. Booker T. Washington was among the freedmen who attended the local school, which evolved into the present-day Hampton University. The Jamestown Exposition for the 300th anniversary of the 1607 founding of Jamestown was held at Sewell’s Point in a rural section of Norfolk County in 1907. President Theodore Roosevelt arrived by water in the harbor of Hampton Roads, as did other notable persons such as Mark Twain and Henry Huttleston Rogers, who both arrived aboard the latter’s steam yacht Kanawha. A major naval display was featured, and the U.S. Great White Fleet made an appearance. The leaders of the U.S. Navy apparently did not fail to note the ideal harbor conditions, as was later proved. Beginning in 1917, as the United States became involved in World War I under President Woodrow Wilson, formerly rural Sewell’s Point became the site of what grew to become the largest Naval Base in the world which was established by the United States Navy and is now known as the Naval Station Norfolk. Twice in the 20th century, families of mostly African American heritage were displaced in entire communities when land along the northern side of the Peninsula primarily in York County west of Yorktown was taken in large tracts for military use during World War I and World War II, creating the present-day U.S. Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, which includes Cheatham Annex, and a former Seabee base which became Camp Peary. Communities including “the Reservation”, Halstead’s Point, Penniman, Bigler’s Mill, and Magruder were all lost and absorbed into the large military bases.
Although some left the area entirely, many of the displaced families chose to relocate nearby to Grove, an unincorporated town in southeastern James City County where many generations of some of those families now reside. From a population estimated at only 37 in 1895, Grove had grown to an estimated 1,100 families by the end of the 20th century. (To its north, Grove actually borders the Naval Weapons Station property and on its extreme east, a portion of the U.S. Army’s land at Fort Eustis extends across Skiffe’s Creek, although there is no direct access to either base). A dream of one Episcopalian priest to save his 18th-century church building was to expand to create the world’s largest living museum. Replacing Jamestown at the end of the 17th century, Williamsburg had been capital of the Colony and the new State of Virginia from 1699 to 1780. After the capital moved to Richmond in 1780, Williamsburg became a quieter and sometimes described as “sleepy” small town. It saw some action during the Battle of Williamsburg of the 1862 Peninsula Campaign during the Civil War. However, it was not located along any major waterway and did not have railroad access until 1881. Perhaps due to the secure inland location originally known as Middle Plantation, for Williamsburg, growth and great expansion of commerce in the 19th century did not occur as rapidly as in many other Virginia cities. The main activities were The College of William & Mary and Eastern State Hospital, each historic institutions in their own right. In addition to the city’s historic past, quite a few buildings of antiquity from the 18th century were still extant, although time was taking a toll by the early 20th century. The Reverend Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin of Bruton Parish Church initially had wanted merely to save his historic church building. This he accomplished by 1907. He later served in Rochester, New York for many years. Upon returning to Williamsburg in 1923, he began to realize that many of the other colonial-era buildings also remained, but were in deteriorating condition, and their continued longevity was at risk. Goodwin dreamed of a much larger restoration along the lines of what he had accomplished with his historic church. A cleric of modest means, he sought support and financing from a number of sources before successfully drawing the interests and major financial support of Standard Oil heir and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr.
and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. The result of their combined efforts was the creation of Colonial Williamsburg, which included a restoration of the Wren Building at The College of William & Mary and a change of much of the downtown Williamsburg area into a 301-acre (1.2 km2) Historic Area of restored and replica buildings and surrounds to celebrate the patriots and the early history of America. By the 1930s, Colonial Williamsburg had become the centerpiece of the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia. These were, of course, Jamestown, where the colony started, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, where independence from Great Britain was won. The three points were joined by the U.S. National Park Service’s Colonial Parkway, a remarkable accomplishment built over a period of 27 years. The Historic Triangle area of the Hampton Roads region became one of the largest tourist attractions in the entire world. In Dr. Goodwin’s words: “Williamsburg is Jamestown continued, and Yorktown is Williamsburg vindicated.”
HAMPTON ROADS DEMOGRAPHICS
According to the 2010 Census, the overall racial composition of Hampton Roads was as follows: • • • • • •
White or Caucasian: 59.6% Black or African American: 31.3% American Indian: 0.4% Asian: 3.5% Some other race: 1.7% Two or more races: 3.4%
In addition, 5.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 57.2% of the population were of non-Hispanic White background.
LOCAL HEALTHCARE
HAMPTON ROADS, VA-NC Sentara Virginia Beach Gen. Hospital 1060 First Colonial Road Virginia Beach, VA 23454 Phone: (757) 395-8000
Sentara Urgent Care 4374 New Town Ave #100 Williamsburg, VA 23188 Phone: (757) 259-1900
USAF Hospital Langley Emergency 77 Nealy Ave Hampton, VA 23665 Phone: (757) 225-7630
Sentara Port Warwick Medical Ctr 11803 Jefferson Ave Newport News, VA 23606 Phone: (757) 736-9898
Hampton VA Medical Center 244 Clearfield Ave Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Phone: (757) 722-9961
Patient First - Hampton 2304 W Mercury Blvd Hampton, VA 23666 Phone: (757) 951-1579
Sentara Hospital 830 Kempsville Rd Norfolk, VA 23502 Phone: (757) 261-6700
Riverside Regional Medical Center 500 J Clyde Morris Blvd Newport News, VA 23601 Phone: (757) 594-2000
Riverside Doctors’ Hospital 1500 Commonwealth Ave Williamsburg, VA 23185 Phone: (757) 585-2200
Sentara CarePlex Hospital 3000 Coliseum Dr Hampton, VA 23666 Phone: (757) 736-1000
Chesapeake Regional Medical Ctr 736 N Battlefield Blvd Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: (757) 312-8121
Children’s Specialty Group 11783 Rock Landing Dr Newport News, VA 23606 Phone: (757) 668-6300
Sentara Obici Hospital 2800 Godwin Blvd Suffolk, VA 23434 Phone: (757) 934-4000
Tricare Prime Medical Clinic 1011 Eden Way N H Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: (757) 953-6366
Pegasus Psychiatric & Wellness 4854 Haygood Rd Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Phone: (757) 468-0550
Sentara Williamsburg Reg. Med Ctr 100 Sentara Cir Williamsburg, VA 23188 Phone: (757) 984-6000
Chesapeake Care 2145 S Military Hwy Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: (757) 545-5700
Virginia Beach OBGYN 1925 Glenn Mitchell Dr #200 Virginia Beach, VA 23456 Phone: (757) 425-1600
FORT EUSTIS ARMY BASE Fort Eustis is a United States Army installation located near Newport News, Virginia. In 2010, it was combined with nearby Langley Air Force Base to form Joint Base Langley–Eustis. The post is the home to the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, and also home to the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School. Fort Eustis is the home of the Army Aviation Logistics School and 7th Transportation Brigade. Other significant tenants include the Army Training Support Center (ATSC) and the Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD). At Fort Eustis and Fort Story, officers and enlisted soldiers receive education and on-the-job training in all modes of transportation, aviation maintenance, logistics and deployment doctrine and research. The headquarters of the Army Transportation Corps was located at Fort Eustis until 2010 when it moved to Fort Lee.
Mulberry Island
Much of the low-lying land along the James River which now constitutes Fort Eustis was known in colonial times as Mulberry Island, and was first settled by the English colonists shortly after Jamestown was established in 1607. An important event in Virginia’s history occurred in the James River off Mulberry Island in the summer of 1610. Survivors of the ill-fated Third Supply mission from England and the Starving Time in the Colony had boarded ships intent upon abandoning the floundering Colony of Virginia and were met off Mulberry Point by Lord Delaware with a fleet of ships headed upriver bringing supplies from England and a fresh determination to stay. He literally turned the situation around by convincing the colonists, who had just abandoned Jamestown, to turn their ships around and go back to colonizing in the area, rather than return to England. Among those who almost left was John Rolfe, who had departed England with his wife, Pocohontas, and child in 1609, with some very promising seeds for a different strain of tobacco he hoped would prove more favorable to export from Virginia than had been the experience to date. He had been shipwrecked on Bermuda in the Sea Venture lost his
wife and child by this time, but still had the untried seeds. The turning point at Mulberry Island delivered both Lord Delaware and businessman-farmer John Rolfe, two very different men, back to Jamestown, where they and the others were to find new success. Lord Delaware’s skills and resources combined with Rolfe’s new strain of tobacco to provide the colony with effective leadership structure as the new cash crop began financial stabilization by 1612. By 1614, Rolfe owned an interest in a tobacco plantation. That same year, he became the husband of Pocahontas. For the next 300 years, Mulberry Island remained very rural, until it was purchased by the Federal Government in 1918.
American Civil War: The Warwick Line
During the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War in 1862, Fort Crafford on Mulberry Island anchored the southern end of the Warwick Line, a line of Confederate defensive works across the Virginia Peninsula extending to Yorktown on the north at the York River.
WW1: Camp Abraham Eustis
On 7 March 1918, the Army bought Mulberry Island and the surrounding land for $538,000 as part of the military build-up for World War I. Approximately 200 residents were relocated, many to the Jefferson Park area nearby in
Warwick County. Camp Abraham Eustis was established as a coast artillery replacement center for Fort Monroe and a balloon observation school. It was named for Brevit Brigadier General Abraham Eustis, a 19th-century U.S. military leader who had been the first commanding officer of Fort Monroe, a defensive fortification at the mouth of Hampton Roads about 15 miles (24 km) east at Old Point Comfort in what is now the city of Hampton.
Camp Wallace
A few miles upstream along the James River, a satellite facility, Camp Wallace, was established in 1918 as the Upper Firing Range of for artillery training. Consisting of 30 barracks, six storehouses, and eight mess halls, it was located on 160 acres (0.6 km2) on the edge of Grove, just west of the Carter’s Grove Plantation property, south of U.S. Route 60, and east of the old Kingsmill Plantation in nearby James City County. Camp Wallace included some rugged terrain and bluffs overlooking the river. It was the site of anti-aircraft training during World War II. Many years later, the Army’s aerial tramway was first erected at Camp Wallace and later moved to Fort Eustis near the Reserve Fleet for further testing. The purpose of the tramway was to provide cargo movement from ship-to-shore, shore-to-ship, and overland. The tramway supplemented beach and pier operations, used unloading points deemed unusable due to inadequate or non-navigable waters, or to traverse land that was otherwise impassable.
and non-military activities including a WPA camp that utilized some of the barracks on the post during the Great Depression.
WW2/Modern Times
In 1971, the U.S. Army agreed to a land swap with Anheuser-Busch in return for a larger parcel which is located directly across Skiffe’s Creek from Fort Eustis. Along with land previously owned by Colonial Williamsburg, the former Camp Wallace land became part of a massive development. Nearby, the Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park opened in 1975, as well as a large brewery, and the Kingsmill Resort.
Fort Eustis was reopened as a military installation in August 1940 as the Coast Artillery Replacement Training Center. In 1943, the Caribbean Regiment of the British Army was formed there. In 1946, Fort Eustis became home to the newly formed Transportation School which moved from New Orleans. Training in rail, marine, amphibious operations and other modes of transportation was consolidated at Fort Eustis.
1923: Camp Wallace Becomes Fort Eustis
The Base Realignment and Closure directives from the U.S. Congress, resulted in the U.S. Army Transportation School and Center moving to Fort Lee, Va., in 2010. Fort Eustis was merged with nearby Langley Air Force Base as Joint Base Langley-Eustis and its former sub-installation Fort Story was re-aligned as a Naval installation. Joint Base Langley Eustis gained the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command after the closure of Fort Monroe.
Camp Abraham Eustis became Fort Eustis and a permanent military installation in 1923. In 1925 Eustis National Forest was established on the installation. The post was garrisoned by artillery and infantry units until 1931, when it became a federal prison, primarily for bootleggers during Prohibition. The repeal of Prohibition resulted in a prisoner decline and the post was taken over by various other military
ON R T OADS P M A H
VA-NC COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Come explore over 800,000 gallons of one of the best aquariums and animal habitats in the country at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Experience our hands-on exhibits, nature path, and marshlands. Discover the amazing underwater world of the Aquarium. Travel on an aquatic journey from the shore to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean and experience coastal habitats from around the world. Thousands of animals representing over 300 species, displayed in entertaining and educational exhibits, are ready to enchant, entertain and inspire you! The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium — an eco-friendly zip line and aerial adventure experience in the trees above the scenic Owls Creek. Kids, teens and adults can all enjoy The Adventure Park and it’s perfect for families or groups too. Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center 717 General Booth Blvd Virginia Beach, VA 23451 Phone: (757) 385-FISH For more information visit www.virginiaaquarium.com
Chrysler Museum of Art “The Chrysler Museum exists to enrich and transform lives. We bring art and people together through experiences that delight, inform, and inspire.� This museum includes over 30,000 peices that date back 5,000 years. The Chrysler Museum includes a glass collection gallery, Italian baroque, French Impressionism, Roman, Egyptian and pre-Columbian art. Also, there are always new visiting exhibitis at the Chrysler Museum of Art, so come check it out! Chrysler Museum of Art 245 W. Olney Road Norfolk, VA 23510 Phone: (757) 664-6244
For more information visit www.chrysler.org
Military Aviation Museum World War One and Two aircraft THAT STILL FLY are the heart of this unique museum. 40,000 guests each year travel from all over the world to see our aircraft, especially during our major events and airshows Come see why the Military Aviation Museum is one of the top attractions in all of Virginia Beach! Take a flight in an open cockpit biplane for a once in a lifetime experience, and learn about the heroes of the first fifty years of military aviation. Military Aviation Museum 1341 Princess Anne Rd Virginia Beach, VA 23457 Phone: (757) 721-7767
For more information visit www.militaryaviationmuseum.org
RECYCLING MATTERS
RECYCLING NEAR YOU Public Scrap 2050 W Pembroke Ave, Hampton, VA 23661 Phone: (757) 245-0097
FACTS ABOUT RECYCLING •
Currently less than 35% of households and less than 10% of businesses in the U.S. recycle. (EPA 2011)
•
Those levels have barely improved in 15 years despite billions of dollars spent on competitions, symposiums, awareness campaigns and sorting technologies.
Newport News Compost & Dropoff 550 Atkinson Way, Newport News, VA 23608 Phone: (757) 886-7947
•
The experience at the bin needs to be improved for the general public, which is why we have introduced society-wide standardized labels.
Elizabeth River Recycling 2649 S Military Hwy, Chesapeake, VA 23324 Phone: (757) 545-1500
•
If the US recycling levels can reach 75% it will be the environmental benefit of removing 50 million cars from the road each year and it will generate 1.5 million new jobs. Improving and increasing recycling is one of the greatest opportunities for our environment, our natural resources, and our economy!
Surplus Recycling 122 S Witchduck Rd # B, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Phone: (757) 499-2620
JCC Convenience Center 117 Tewning Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23188 Phone: (757) 565-0971
2017
STAYING
SAFE in
Always Lock Your Doors
One of the easiest everyday safety precautions to take is locking your doors. Even if you live in a safe neighborhood and you trust your neighbors, criminals could still target your home. Lock your doors when you are home, as well as when you leave the house. And get in the habit of locking your car doors as well! When I am driving alone, I lock my doors, especially in bigger cities.
Use Your Peephole
When someone knocks on your door, before you answer you should take a look through the peephole. If you don’t recognize the person, and it’s not someone like the mailman or a maintenance man, then it might not be a good idea to open your door. Lots of robberies these days happen by homeowners simply opening their door, only to be forced inside and taken advantage of.
Don’t Pick up Hitchhikers
This goes without saying, but women driving alone are bright red targets for hitchhikers. There’s always the chance that it’s just a misfortunate soul who needs a ride, but why risk it? There will be others who come along, and you need to keep your safety in mind. When you are alone in a car with a stranger, you won’t have anywhere to go or any way to get help should the situation go wrong.
Never Stop to “Help” Children
I know, this tip sounds cruel. But recently, criminals have been employing a new and dirty trick. In secluded areas of the highway or back country roads, they are leaving covered car seats alongside the road. When someone, usually a woman, stops to help the baby, the woman is either abducted or her car stolen. If you notice a small child or a car seat along the roadside, call 911 and do not stop!
Wear Your Seat Belt
You would be surprised at how many lives this simple mechanism in a car could save, yet how many people refuse to wear theirs. Start forming the habit of buckling up no matter how short of a drive you may have. If nothing else, wearing your seat belt will prevent you from getting a ticket in most states!
Have Emergency Supplies on Hand
It’s always a good idea to have an emergency kit on hand. Leave one in your car and one in your house. Ideally, these kits should contain items suited to personal needs and local weather tendencies. A few good basics are water, non-perishable food items, a first aid kit, cell phone charger, a blanket, an extra jacket and pair of shoes, candles, matches, flashlight and batteries, money, and copies of documents you might need in the event that your personal belongings were all lost. Consider diapers and formula if you have a baby, and personal hygiene products as well.
Avoid Dark Parking Lots
This might be hard tip to avoid, depending on where you live or work, but lots of women are attacked or abducted from dark parking lots. If you can’t get around walking through a dark parking lot, carry your car keys in your hand. In the event of an emergency, you can press the panic button on your car remote. This is usually enough to scare a potential attacker away!
Hampton Police Department 40 Lincoln St, Hampton, VA 23669 Phone: (757) 727-6111 Virginia Beach Police Department 926 Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Phone: (757) 385-2703 Newport News Police Department 9710 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, VA 23605 Phone: (757) 928-4100 Currituck County Sheriff’s Office 407 Maple Rd, Maple, NC 27956 Phone: (252) 453-8204 Gates County Sheriff’s Office 202 Court St, Gatesville, NC 27938 Phone: (252) 357-0210
Take a Self Defense Course
Learning a few basic moves in self-defense could possibly save your life! Most cities should have a place or two that offer self-defense classes, and they shouldn’t be too costly. In the event you should need to use what you learned, the class will have paid for itself!
Learn How to Handle Natural Disasters
Try to gather basic information on what to do when presented with natural disasters, a medical crisis, or even bomb threats. If nothing else, at least learn which natural disasters are likely to occur in your area, and what you should do in the event of one happening. Find out where to go, whom to contact, which items to grab, and how to stay safe until help arrives.
Don’t Panic
Whatever you do, when faced with any kind of danger, emergency, or scary situation, don’t panic. Stay calm and try to use common sense. The situation will more than likely get worse if you freak out. If you must freak out, freak out on the inside, but remain calm on the outside and do what needs to be done.
Hampton Fire Department 22 Lincoln St, Hampton, VA 23669 Phone: (757) 727-6580 Virginia Beach Fire Department 21 Municipal Ctr, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 Phone: (757) 385-4228 Newport News Fire Station 12455 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606 Phone: (757) 926-8404 Currituck County Fire Marshal 153 Courthouse Rd, Currituck, NC 27929 Phone: (252) 232-6641 Gates Volunteer Fire Department 459 Gates School Rd, Gates, NC 27937 Phone: (252) 357-9929
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2017 HOROSCOPES ARIES March 21 - April 19 2017 isn't all peaches and cream at the start, as you struggle to find your footing during the challenging Mars-Saturn square in mid-January. Fear not, though, fiery Aries, because although you have some obligations (perhaps family-related) that directly conflict with events that you've been looking forward to for what seems like forever, it's not always your way or the highway. There is definitely a middle ground, you just have to find it. Compromises can be reached under the right circumstances, so give other people the chance to make a suggestion every once in a while.
The beginning of April is a positive time of transformation thanks to the gentle Mars-Pluto trine, at which point you can really do some satisfying inner work on your self-image, and replace negative thoughts with more positive ones. If you're willing to put in the effort, that is. You aren't one to back away from a challenge, so keep your head down and do your homework. In almost complete contrast to the mental labor and emotional exertion you put in earlier in the year, getting what you want comes easily in late December thanks to a favorable Mars-Neptune trine; in fact, getting your way might be a bit too effortless (because you love a challenge). Good things seem to land in your lap, and although you're in a fateful place where you can count on some good luck, Aries, it's important not to take good fortune for granted. TAURUS April 20 - May 20 Venus is your ruler, and she starts the year out in compassionate Pisces, so right away in January you have the proverbial shoulder that everyone wants to cry on. Venus loves to be in the Fish's imaginative and sensitive sign, which is obvious from the optimistic energy emanating all around you. This aspect softens even the hardest of hearts, and puts you in a giving mood. Doing favors without expecting anything in return? Yup, that's how you roll.
The Sun moves into your determined sign in late April, escorting in a month's worth of methodical stability and gritty determination. Of course, as a Bull you know all too well that the flip side of that can be stubbornness and possessiveness, but if you can find a way to keep some of your more negative qualities under control, you're a real force to be reckoned with. And as a side benefit, Taurus, the projects and plans that take root at this time are sure to grow into successes. October brings a Venus-Pluto conflict that results in a pretty extreme abundance of feelings, and depending on how you deal with them, it can be extremely transformative -- or kind of dark. On the negative side, there are feelings of revenge, jealousy, and possible manipulation brewing, but if you can harness that powerful Pluto energy, you can turn it around and experience some very healing, regenerative moments. GEMINI May 21 - June 20 Your ruling planet, the communicative Mercury, starts out the year direct and then immediately goes retrograde (back into Sagittarius) in the first week of January. Ready to do some backtracking? You may want to immediately revoke some words or actions you let slip in a heated moment, but right now take-backs and do-overs aren't likely. Let bygones be bygones.
The Sun moves into your airy sign in late May, throwing you into a social whirlwind. You're a master of small talk, and you can strike up a conversation with anyone no matter how diverse your backgrounds. The focus
is off the physical world and on the mental one, where you're super comfortable. You gladly accept any and all mental challenges, and feel very much yourself for the coming month. Mid-November brings an unfortunate Mercury-Neptune square that puts your judgment in question, leaving you to wonder if you can really trust yourself to make decent, well-informed decisions. Right now? Probably not. This aspect throws you into a vicious cycle where you may not only get caught up in your own thoughts and ideas, but unfortunate byproducts include lying and manipulation. If someone insists that you aren't seeing the whole picture, believe them. Or at least don't dismiss them right away. CANCER June 21 - July 22 It's true that the Moon, your ruling planet, shifts often in the sky, but it's still worth noting that it's Full in your own sensitive sign at the beginning of January. This Moon is part of a four-point configuration called the Cardinal Grand Cross right now, and indicates a key time to regroup and refocus your energy. If you're going through a tough time, bring everything to a halt as you regather your thoughts. What should your next move be?
The vibrant Sun moves into your sign in late June, which puts a spotlight on your true personality. Emotions run high, yes, but your compassion and sympathy are positive traits, not negative ones. Family relationships are also highlighted for the next month, Cancer, so work on strengthening those bonds with your relatives (especially females/those with feminine energy). The start of October sees Jupiter enter your fellow Water Sign Scorpio's orbit, which signals very big/powerful change on the horizon. You're extremely interested in life's mysteries right now, and you feel a big pull toward figuring out the unknown. This could apply to many specific areas of your own life, or to the world in general. You're determined to figure out the who, what, why, where, and how of every situation... and you're excellent at then taking that knowledge and applying it toward a satisfying outcome. Leo July 23 - August 22 An early February Lunar Eclipse in your sign hints that no major changes should be made around then, yet it's also a fortunate time due to both the Sun (your ruler) and Moon having compatible Jupiter influences. This energy is all about the major relationships in your life, and how well you've been maintaining them. If there's something wrong, you'll hear about it now, but don't be too quick to take action. Your ego is on the line, and any major mistakes you make now could be far-reaching and long-lasting.
The powerful Sun travels into your sign in late July, and your classic Leo traits will be emphasized for the coming month. You have ambition to boot and you love the limelight, but your ego could get in the way of making any real progress in certain areas of your life. Take on the role of leader or organizer to make sure you stay content in situations where you struggle for control. The end of November brings a Sun-Moon Fire Trine, which propels you into the holiday spirit in style. There is a real emphasis on enthusiasm and courage right now, and anything you do, you do with 100 percent of your being. Your fiery nature takes over, and you often act impulsively yet with the best of intentions. As far as you see it, where there's a will, there's a definite way! Virgo August 23 - September 22 Your year begins slowly with your guiding planet, Mercury, in retrograde at the beginning of January, so your resolutions may get put on hold. Remember all of the old stuff that hadn't been decided at the end of last year? Well, Virgo, it's still hanging around, begging to be dealt with. Slow down. And handle what's already on your plate before dishing out more.
The Mercury (retrograde)-Uranus conjunction at the end of April is a very busy, chaotic time, and you'll have to get used to dealing with a lack of structure. Not fun for you, I know. You know that phrase 'if anything can go wrong it will'? Yup, it's true. Hang in there. You may find yourself asking 'why me,' but there's no logical answer. Look for major distractions and snafus in areas of transportation and communication to disrupt the order you've worked so hard to create. Things get back on track soon.
The Sun moves into your practical, analytical sign at the end of August, and you feel more at ease and comfortable in your own skin. Focus on your well-being in the month ahead, especially matters of the body. (Because stomach and digestive issues are associated with you, Virgo, pay particular attention to those areas.) The emphasis now is on analysis, logic, and planning. Do what you have to do to make those things priorities. Libra September 23 - October 22 A Venus (your ruler)-Neptune conjunction in mid-January gets your year off to a compassionate start. There is a softness about you that others may try to take advantage of, so be sure to note the difference between being helpful and doing favors for people versus letting others walk all over you. Just because you're sympathetic to a cause doesn't mean that you're a doormat.
Loving Venus has a difficult trip into aggressive Aries at the end of April, and the next four months may present challenges in areas of finance and relationships. Hastily-made decisions regarding love and money affect your overall well-being, so avoid hurrying yourself if possible. The lesson here is to slow down, take your time, and not rush into anything. If the timing isn't right, maybe what you're chasing just isn't meant to be. The Sun leaves practical Virgo for your sign at the end of September, which offers a perfect environment for you to take stock of your life. What are your goals and dreams? What do you want for yourself that you don't already have? Where do you see yourself in five years? These are all excellent questions, and answering them can help you reach the balance you strive for in life. Scorpio October 23 - November 21 Your year gets off to an unbalanced start thanks to a conflicting Mars-Saturn square in the middle of January. Mars is one of the powerful, forceful planets that guides you, and getting into it with controlled Saturn causes some turbulence. You want nothing more than to drive ahead at full speed, but there's also something urging you to keep your foot on the brake. You won't get far with these conflicting signals in your head, so try to be patient as you navigate through the frustration.
Your intuition takes over at the end of June during the Mars-Neptune trine, when you get permission to relax and let your inner voice guide you through life's difficult terrain. You also have a natural sense of sympathy now, and are helpful to others who may need some gentle guidance. It isn't easy to take on other people's problems, but you're good at it. Just remember not to get so entangled that you lose yourself and/or forget what's important to you. Late October brings the Sun into your sign, and the depth of your emotions intensifies. Jealousy and obsession are always possibilities, but you also have an abundance of willpower and confidence that help see you through most of life's crisis situations. The next month can be tricky to navigate, so tread lightly and rely on your considerable emotional strength to see you through. Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 You get to set the reset button with Jupiter (your ruling planet) retrograde in the beginning of February. Think 're' as much as possible: rewind, rethink, restart, review, return. It isn't often you get a chance to do it all over again, but now is the time. If you want to make revisions -- especially when it comes to morals, ethics or religion -- you get that chance in the next four weeks.
A Mercury-Jupiter trine in the middle of June causes your confidence levels to soar, and this is the perfect time to move ahead with pet projects. You bore easily, so your excess energy is best spent on getting the job done. You have a lot of resources at your disposal, so you don't have to go it alone, but since you obviously do have all of the tools to see it through to fruition, don't try to make any excuses about why you can't finish. Your advanced skill set is too apparent to fool anyone! The Sun drifts into your sign at the end of November, when the general focus will be on relationships and travel. You need to feel a connection, a true bond, with the people in your life, and because you also have a severe case of wanderlust, traveling the world with your BFF is your ultimate fantasy. That might not be a possibility right
now, but you are definitely interested in all things far from home. Capricorn December 22 - January 19 Your year begins with a difficult Mars-Saturn (your ruling planet) square to deal with toward the middle of January, so despite wanting to go full speed ahead with those New Year's resolutions, something is holding you back. Frustration can set in when you attempt to try anything new right now, so it's best to sit tight and be patient.
You have a very good idea of where you're going during a Saturn-Uranus trine in the middle of May, and even if you don't have a certain way to get there, you're pretty sure that you'll find it. Think of this aspect in terms of taking the long way home. It might not be entirely your decision (perhaps construction or a parade detour rerouted you), but you're oh-so-glad you got to experience it, because you never would have otherwise. The Sun moves into your sign at the end of December, and this is your time to truly shine. Your level of ambition tops the charts, and you have the self-discipline, responsibility, and practicality to see things through to their completion. When you have a job to do, you approach it with laser focus, and when you apply this to your personal life, nothing can stop you. Aquarius January 20 - February 18 The Sun takes up residence in your sign toward the end of January, so the focus shifts from the hard bottom line of Capricorn into a more eccentric, progressive way of thinking that you can readily identify with. This is the time of the year to see that there are possibilities everywhere and that you can be more than just a cog in the all-important wheel of change. You also have big humanitarian tendencies, Aquarius, so helping others will be a major focus of the coming month.
The end of May brings a Saturn-Uranus (your ruler) trine, which highlights your originality and has far-reaching ramifications. Let's say you invent something new or propose a new idea to a think tank or local charitable organization, and it's not likely to stop there, Aquarius. You're obviously destined to do great things for the world, and this aspect reminds you to go big or go home. Don't think local, think global and beyond. Your home planet turns retrograde at the start of August, so your power to disrupt the status quo and flip things over on their sides diminishes just a bit. Now until the end of the year is a good time for you to rethink your old beliefs and free yourself from those that aren't really working for you any longer. Pices February 19 - March 20 Something to be aware of as you start 2017 is that Neptune, your dreamy ruler, is in your sign and will be until 2025. This is a very long transit, and helps you pass through the barriers of materialism in order to tap into a more ethereal plane. Your dreams (both awake and asleep), imagination, and intuition play a vital role in your life and allow you to stretch the field of possibility, so don't lose sight of your special sensitive, spiritual gifts this year.
The Sun leaves logical Aquarius and drifts into your watery sign at the end of February, making you even more intuitive and sensitive than you already are. This atmosphere surrounding you immediately begins to soften, and you feel much more at home in your skin. Your creativity is at its peak for the next month, so be sure to start or complete projects where creative blocks have been a problem. You're happiest alone or with close friends, doing something creative/artistic. The lines between reality and fantasy get blurred during the Sun-Neptune opposition in early September, at which point you may struggle to make final decisions and logical choices. One of the main things on your mind is not living up to people's image of you, so you may choose to do nothing at all rather than disappoint. The main lesson here is to strive for that middle ground. Sometimes a well thought-out compromise is the answer.
(astrology.com)
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