Celebrate Norfolk, 2013

2013 issue 1

Celebrate NORFOLK

• NBN PUTS RESIDENTS IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT • JOBS FOR NORFOLK • A NEW FOCUS FOR DEVELOPMENT • NAUTICUS BRINGS A SAILING PROGRAM TO WATERFRONT

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Norfolk’s Waters

Celebrating & living with Norfolk’s most visible resource

CONTENTS 1 Neighbors Building Neighborhoods

Putting residents in the driver’s seat when it comes to strengthening neighborhoods

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Prime Plus The Primeplus center has provided programs for active adults

On the Cover

Sharpening the Focus of Development

Connecting Norfolk residents to jobs is a major new initiative

8 PlaNorfolk

Road map for the next 20 years

10 Healthy Norfolk Paths

Include Historic Cemeteries Healthy Norfolk is an initiative by the city & public/private partners to encourage healthy living

14 Ready To Help Volunteers and Norfolk employees come together in supporting community

17 Stage Norfolk 19 In the Pipeline building to make a better Norfolk

20 Celebrate

Life Long Learning A day in the life of Libraries

22 Nauticus Looks Outward Sailing Program and more

27 Norfolk Information

at a Glance City Contact numbers and info

29 Granby St. Experience

For 14 years, nearby residents, schools, businesses, churches and others have tended this median at the entrance to Norview. Above: Ann and Crawford Millen (l), and Larry and Sarah Miller.

Director of Communications: Bob Batcher, Editor: Sandra Hemingway, Graphic Designer: Avery Easter Contributing writers: Kristen Helgeson, Fleta Jackson, Sarah Parker, Carol Branch, Sandy Johnson; Photographers: Rose Armour, Ronald Atkinson, Jessica Biggs, Avery Easter, Andy Mashaw, , COVER SHOT by Ronald Atkinson

YOUR PRIORITIES Nearly two years have passed since Norfolk residents, City Council, and employees met in small groups across the city to identify their goals and priorities; which were grouped into six areas. * Accessibility, Mobility and Connectivity * Economic Vitality and Workforce Development * Environmental Sustainability * Lifelong Learning * Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Communities * and, underpinning this all is the goal of a Well-Managed Government, which is efficient, effective, accountable, responsive, inclusive, customer focused and data driven.

Departments were tasked with aligning spending requests and staff assignments with priorities. They were encouraged to think outside the box to identify the objectives and action items that move the city toward these priorities. Each department has dozens of action items - some long-term, some immediate.

The FY2013 budget was the first to reflect these priorities; subsequent budgets will provide greater detail.

The dialogue with residents continues in the numerous new commissions and task forces created, in the structured and unstructured avenues for residents to truly partner with city agencies. If Norfolk is to succeed as a great city, one that builds a future for our children and grandchildren, then residents of all ages and walks of life must be engaged. If you have not already, consider joining us.

This publication gives an overview of some programs and initiatives underway, there are many more. For details and links, see www.norfolk.gov CELEBRATE NORFOLK.

ABOVE: The 1st Front Porch Summit gave neighborhoods, like Campostella Heights, a chance to brag

RIGHT: Children were encouraged to draw the features of their neighborhoods at the Front Porch Summit LEFT: C.O.O.L. Awards - The Ballentine neighborhood won top honors for a beautification project, garden, and other community-building events; and for using an NBN grant to make the Ballentine Bark Park ADA accessible.

Celebrating Neighborhoods.

A residentdriven focus on strengthening what is working

“Healthy neighborhoods are places where the community manages the day to day life of the neighborhood to successful outcomes. They are places where it makes sense to invest time, energy and money,” Charles Buki, a national expert on neighborhood revitalization.

A new philosophy is changing the way many Norfolk neighborhoods interact with their government and the nonprofit, educational, business and other entities that make up their communities.

Neighbors Building Neighborhoods (NBN) is a community ownership and community building initiative aimed at creating healthy neighborhoods where people want to live, where it makes sense for people to invest their time, money and energy, and where neighbors manage neighborhood issues successfully.

In healthy neighborhoods, residents volunteer their skills and talents to the community, solve neighborhood issues, develop self-reliance, become involved with their neighbors, and improve relationships with each other. They also develop and build better relationships with the city, businesses, schools and other community stakeholders.

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Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov • 1

Fire Training Today “I’ve wanted to be a firefighter since the age of 19,” said Anthony Brown, a recruit whose path to Norfolk Fire Rescue went through a couple of careers and raising a family first.

“The training has been more than I expected . . . the special tactics. Not just lift a ladder, but a certain way to lift a ladder. Not just busting a door down, but a certain way to do it,” he said.

Today’s Fire Training Academy lasts approximately 7 months and consists of classroom, physical fitness, practical exercises, and field fire and medical experience training.

Cynthia Measel NFR recruit

employer of choice

Learning waste management from the inside

Norfolk’s Department of Public Works offers a six month

Then, after a full day of training, recruits hit the books as instructors seek to give every tool, every bit of knowledge about the science of fire fighting or the practice of emergency medicine the recruits might need in the streets of Norfolk.

Brown said the studying was a challenge at first but study groups of 10-12 recruits, meeting at libraries or someone’s home, helped a lot, he said.

The former Hertford County school employee and Ford Plant worker picked Norfolk Fire Rescue, because “I hear a lot of good things about Norfolk.”

Fellow recruit Cynthia Measel’s Continued on page 12

apprenticeship program designed to train Norfolk residents for careers in the waste management field. The city saves money in recruitment costs, and residents, who may have had difficulty launching their careers, receive valuable training and an opportunity to begin careers with the city. During their apprenticeship, participants can train on city vehicles in preparation for obtaining their Commercial Driver’s License, and use city computers to take practice

exams for the license. Apprentices also attend training forums and learn job skills applicable for employment in the division. Upon completion of the six-month program, apprentice program graduates are eligible to be hired for refuse collector positions through the city’s regular recruitment process.

Since the program began in August 2005, more than 20 residents have graduated from the program & gone on to start careers with Norfolk.

For info, go to www.norfolk.gov and check job openings.

Attracting the best and brightest to city government is one of the objectives of Norfolk’s Emerging Leaders program (NEL), offered every summer to local high school and college students. The program has two components: one for teens, aged 16-19 years of age and an intern program for Virginia college students or recent graduates.

Emerging leaders (teens) are placed in offices, libraries, recreation centers, public works, utilities or other departments, and also attend sessions on finances, job skills and etiquette. Some teens are assigned to work with local artists to create public art, under the supervision of a professional artist, to adorn city parking garages and other buildings.

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Emerging leaders get young people moving

Norfolk Fire Rescue PRIORITY Goal: Develop, recruit and retain talented and engaged employees to meet current and future workplace needs

Public Works Public works Apprentice Work Force Training Program Priority Goal: Increase vocational and technical skills training opportunities for Norfolk residents

Norfolk Emerging leaders By giving young people hands-on experience in local government, Norfolk hopes to position itself as a first choice employer for young adults.

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Norfolk’s Waters

Celebrating Neighborhoods... Continued from page 1 The spirit in which NBN was created has been around for decades. It helped revitalize Fairmount Park, Park Place, Ocean View, and others.

What is different now is the city is building the structure within government, and developing the capacity in neighborhoods throughout the city, to create a true partnership between the city and residents; one in which city officials are encouraged to step back and residents are encourage to take the reins.

“At first I thought NBN was another typical city program, just with a different name,” said Bettye Potts, chair of the Campostella Heights NBN Steering Committee. “But I soon realized this was very different. Never before in all of my community work had I been presented with something that boils down to changing the mindset of neighbors to focus on the positive and being charged with creating our neighborhood’s own plan.”

Campostella Heights is one of the neighborhoods to work through a process that ends with residents having created a community of action.

“Neighbors Building Neighborhoods realizes the power of resident participation and the importance of creating positive neighborhood images,” says City Manager Marcus D. Jones. “It is about looking at and building upon our neighborhoods’ strengths.”.

How does NBN it work? The city is divided into five Neighborhood Service areas, with a full-time Neighborhood Development Specialist assigned to each. The specialists serve as cheerleaders and facilitators, provide technical assistance, nurture partnerships, help residents inventory assets and strengths, give them tools to navigate city government regulations and help them identify opportunities (such as grants). Two additional specialists are dedicated to community policing, landlord/tenant issues and training.

Staff Training: To insure a common language and focus, NBN developed a training program for front-line city staff, in conjunction with Charles Buki, a national expert on neighborhood revitalization. Community police officers, codes officials, public works and planning staff have gathered to discuss how best to structure their work to follow the four guiding principles of NBN: Identify and focus on the strengths in neighborhoods; target resources; partner genuinely with residents; and build neighborhood confidence – in other words, grow the capacity of the community to actively participate or take charge.

Resident training: To be successful, the program must

provide the training that residents want and need. A NBN Steering Committee comprised of neighborhood leaders and city staff works on course design and development.

Training will lean heavily on peer-to-peer interaction - with residents who have lead successful neighborhood programs training others. This educational program will bring together residents from a wide variety of races, cultures, ages, economic backgrounds, and community involvement levels, and foster their capacity to become effective collaborators, communicators, and community partners with the city.

NBN – In the first year

During the first year, residents worked on tangible and visible projects to transform a street or block and to use build community spirit and involvement. Activities included: block parties to bring together residents from diverse backgrounds, improving a community dog park, partnering with a local organization to create a matching grant program to improve building façades, planting flowers, painting a neighbor’s house, or simply offering to trim a neighbor’s overgrown yard. The goal has been to create the kind of neighborhood where people want to live, and, for the city, to find ways to say “yes.”

Neighborhood businesses, churches and non-profits are jumping on the bandwagon; by offering to add landscaping, paint buildings, even create a mini-park, as the neighborhoods improve around them.

The first annual Front Porch Neighborhood Summit was held in September to foster relationships among residents and community leaders. It provided a fun forum for exchanging ideas and discovering potential partners; and gave residents a chance to celebrate best practices and showcase their neighborhood projects. NBN handed out C.O.O.L. Awards (Civic Opportunity and Outstanding Leadership) to civic leaders who are improving the conditions of their neighborhoods by applying the NBN principles.

Some of the many other NBN inspired activities:

•A Multi-Cultural Explosion at Bay Oaks Park, attended by more than 300 people, resulted from a partnership between the East Ocean View Neighborhoods Committee, the City of Norfolk and Bon Secours.

•A Five Points Pop Up Event. Inspired by a Better Block video on YouTube, the Five Points Partnership held a popup event on September 15th in the vacant lot behind

C e l e b r a t i n g & l i v i n g w i t h t h e c i t y’s m o s t v i s i b l e r e s o u r c e

Selena and her black lab, Angel, slip into the waters of

storm water system of flood gates, pumping stations, pipes and ditches, street sweeping to clear debris, beach Ocean View for a September morning swim. Across town, replenishment and dune and wetlands restoration are passengers gather for the first run of the Elizabeth River Ferry, and a harbor pilot boat meets a freighter at the some of the actions Norfolk has taken to deal with tidal mouth of the Chesapeake to guide it in. flooding. Public education on ways to protect property Water is one of the defining and lives, and participation elements of Norfolk. The city in the national flood insurhas an estimated 144 miles of ance program, are others. shoreline and approximately But, repetitive flooding 750 acres of wetlands. Water is getting worse. A recent supports aquatic ecosystems, watershed review to deterfuels much of our economy mine the root-cause of (shipping, the Navy, and hunflooding specific to Norfolk dreds of related industries) showed that Norfolk’s floodand abounds in recreational ing is not unique; all coastal opportunities. Water adds cities are facing the same beauty, value, and quality challenges, as Hurricane of life to Norfolk’s neighborSandy so vividly illustrated.

(Above) Lafeyette River at Granby St. Bridge near Zoo. hoods.

Norfolk has been rec The recently approved ognized nationally for our Recreation, Parks and Open efforts to reduce flooding.

Space Master Plan, crafted It has reached out to other through needs assessments cities in search of bestand community visioning, practices and is enlisting sets improved water access the state and federal gov(boating, fishing, water views, ernment in its efforts. An parks, swimming) as one of executive level task force Flood gates (shown), sea Storm emergency plans its priorities. A Water Access wall and pumping station include shelters for people meets weekly to discuss Committee has been formed protect lower Granby from strategy and options, and and pets. to further evaluate access flooding. residents have been asked points throughout the city their ideas in a series of and refine recommendations. ongoing community sessions. The city’s approach is fourpronged: plan, mitigate, prepare and communicate.

When there is too much water

While city plans envision Norfolk as “a premier waterfront community that creates a positive, regenerative effect on its environment,” the city also has to find a way to mitigate more of the damage from coastal flooding. Tributaries, lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks, and the Chesapeake Bay wind their way around and through every part of the city, which means, for newcomers, it only takes one bad northeaster to understand why this area is called Tidewater.

Norfolk has an extensive

1) Plan: Identify long term goals and establish short term steps, based on detailed studies, to control or reduce flooding. Two completed studies include: Citywide coastal flooding mitigation master plan and a drainage master plan.

• Conduct shoreline protection analysis for Ocean View and Willoughby. • Seek Federal & State assistance through legislative initiatives and grants (on-going), and add storm water projects to CIP each year.

Continued on page 18

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Chesapeake Bay Foundation oyster reef construction 4 • Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov

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Sharpening the Focus:

New Visions from the Department of Development

Blacksmith apprentice Nick Stapanowich gains job skills from veteran Mac White.

IP Configure, a company located at Old Dominion University’s Innovation Park, puts on a demonstration during OpSail.

Goal: A growing, competitive and diversified economy that enhances the quality of life for residents through a wide range of housing, shopping, educational, cultural, business, and employment opportunities.

Norfolk Department of Development is focusing more than ever before on creating opportunities for residents, veterans, technology start-ups and SWAM (small, women and minorityowned) businesses located in the city.

“We have embraced the challenge the city manager has asked of all departments; to examine the way we do business, and focus on innovative approaches that lead to success of our mutual goal,” says Chuck Rigney, interim director of development.

Some of those programs are outlined in this article:

Employ Norfolk, It’s Your Turn • new to the department’s direct responsibilities is an initiative to find sustainable jobs for Norfolk residents who are unemployed, underemployed, or a part of the “emerging” (student/graduates) workforce.

Norfolk employers who need trained workers in high growth industries such as health care are experiencing a shortage of workers, even in positions that require two years or less of training. Construction and shipbuilding trades, many of which offer on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities, also need qualified workers. Projected annual occupational worker placement needs through 2021 show how important it will be to get Norfolk workers up to speed with advances in technology and production. The department is working with employers to identify workforce requirements and to direct

residents to the jobs and training.

When attracting new employers, our outreach efforts target employers who are a good match to Norfolk’s labor force.

Workshops and Training • Development offers a variety of training and networking opportunities. One, Entrepreneur Express, is a program of the Virginia Dept. of Business Assistance that provides training and counselling on how to start a business and how to take advantage of government procurement opportunities available to small, minority and women-owned businesses.

A major construction project such as the Elizabeth River Crossings project involves construction and renovation of the Midtown and Downtown tunnels, delivering $2 billion in jobs, products and services. Development

Entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to colleagues and investors at the HATCH accelerator.

Tidewater Builders Association Building Trades Academy graduates. The academy was a partnership with the city.

provides potential subcontractors with information on obtaining prequalification certification in order to compete. The city, state and federal governments offer a variety of business incentives to ensure business growth and sustainability.

Development offers insightful e-blasts to keep you current on valuable information on business incentives. Simply click on newsletters on the website to receive information.

CitySites • One click online and the prospective business owner can find “marketing flyers” on all City, NRHA and EDAowned properties available for sale or lease. The data base also includes surplus Norfolk Public school properties. Check www.norfolkdevelopment.com CitySites logo for an up-to-date property list.

For mapping custom reports on vari-

ous areas of the city which include business, demographic and workforce data, check out www.norfolknavigator.com.

Veteran Services & Military Affairs • The goal of this new program is to make Norfolk one of the best cities in the country for veterans seeking employment and for companies wanting to hire them, according to program manager Captain John Andrews (USN-Ret.).

A key piece of the program is to create a one-stop shop for companies wanting to hire veterans.

“Technology, shipyard, modeling and the unmanned aircraft industry are some areas of job growth where the skills of veterans would be particularly attractive,” said Andrews in an interview with Norfolk TV’s Human Services Forum. Some 20,000 jobs are

Urban Outfitters is the latest addition to Granby Street.

projected in the local ship repair and construction industry alone.

Programs are underway to provide training, assistance and resources for veterans and their families. For instance, a new partnership with William and Mary law students will help veterans navigate disability claims forms. This is in addition to connecting veterans and employment opportunities. City advisory committees are working with a broad spectrum of business, educational, medical and government agencies to develop programs. For more information on this first-of-its kind program, call Captain John Andrews (USN-Ret.) at 664-4338.

Hatch, A Tech Business Accelerator • A new generation of tech-savvy business leaders, and the entrepreneurial companies they lead have taken root Downtown on Continued on page 18

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>PlaNorfolk 2030

A map to guide our efforts over the next two decades

For the first time in 20 years, Norfolk has a new General Plan that charts the course to Norfolk’s future. PlaNorfolk2030 is to be used to guide decision making about physical development and public infrastructure. It is intended to be sufficiently flexible to respond to changes in development patterns and, once approved by City Council, will contain the broad outlines neighborhoods will use to guide and plot their path to the future.

PlaNorfolk2030 recognizes some of the major changes that have occurred in the city since the last general plan was enacted. These changes include: 1. Expanded community involvement and engagement in local government operations and decision making. Whereas earlier plans often spoke only to the actions for which the city was responsible, plaNorfolk encourages neighborhoods to affect change themselves, in partnership with the city.

2. Advanced technology that permits more opportunity for citizen involvement.

3. Greater awareness of environmental challenges such as flooding and sea level rise.

4. Increased transportation options, including light rail, and the desire to become a more bikeable and walkable city as part of a more balanced total transportation network.

5. Commitments for greater efficiency and transparency in government.

The document is not meant to function as land use regulations; instead it serves as the basis for land use decisions by providing a long range vision of the City’s future.

The plans are broad guidelines, which, as certain parts come closer to fruition, will get more and more specific.

The initial work of the Planning Commission was reviewed with the com8 • Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov

munity through a series of six open houses throughout the city, an online forum, and distribution of the draft plan at all libraries.

More than 150 citizens participated in the open houses, providing 425 unique comments that were reviewed with the City Planning Commission. The comments resulted in numerous adjustments to the draft plan.

The plan is available at Norfolk Public Libraries and online at www.norfolk.gov

PrimePlus Promotes Healthy, Happy

Shellie Gretah Fraddin, Ph.D., Teaches Zumba Gold

Senior Lifestyles

COMPLETE Planning Director Frank STREETS Duke at an open house to One of the discuss PlaNorfolk2030 objectives identified in PlaNorfolk is to look at streets as spaces for people as well as arteries for traffic. Many large cities across the country are already changing the way they build streets, according to Janette Sadik-Khan, president of NACTO in the Urban Street Design Guide discussed at a recent City Council work session.

The guide establishes five principles of urban street design: • Streets are public spaces • Great Streets are great for business • Design for safety • Streets can be changed • Act now! Short-term improvements allow residents and visitors to experience new street configurations without major funding commitments.

Norfolk has successfully deployed best practices in urban street design in some of its business districts, PlaNorfolk expands that effort.

Arms swaying from side to side, Rocky Kent, calls out instructions to the beat of Calypso. “Hold it. One, two, three, four.

Bring it up. In front. Down,” as another “Too-Fit-To-Quit” exercise class is underway at Primeplus Norfolk Senior Center, located in the City of Norfolk Fitness and Wellness Center, 7300 Newport Avenue.

Seniors tackle communications skills in the computer classes.

“This class is not for sissies,” says Emily Kircheval, 86, who lives in Bayview. “She (Kent) keeps our mind working as well as our body.”

For nearly 50 years, the Primeplus center has provided programs for active adults. Last year more than 2,640 seniors participated in the 50-plus monthly activities -- from exercise, art and computer classes to informational seminars on topics such as wills. In addition, 1,000 adults received health screenings and instruction on medical conditions, including diabetes.

“We continuously evaluate, update and add programs to reflect the changing needs of our community and to ensure that Hampton Roads’ seniors age gracefully and live healthy, productive lives,” says Lynne Berg, executive director of Primeplus.

Along with the Active Adult Program, the senior center’s Adult Day Services (ADS) cares for more than 40 seniors who can no longer safely stay at home alone because of dementia-related and other health issues. “We help maintain the family unit,” says Sherrice Continued on page 24 Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov • 9

Healthy Norfolk’s paths include historic cemeteries Healthy Norfolk is an initiative by the city and public/private partners to encourage healthy living and to identify, and when possible remove, barriers to a healthy lifestyle. Part of this initiative is creating new paths to good health, by providing opportunities for walking, running and bicycling in Norfolk. City Council has appointed a Bike/Pedestrian Commission and a Bike Technical Advisory Committee to review the paths to health in Norfolk. Already, new bike lanes and share the road symbols (bike and car) are going up and the city is revamping its bike rules. The city and Norfolk Public Schools have reached agreement on public use of Lake Taylor and Norview tracks during certain times when not in use by schools and the city is looking at ways to increase public use of all facilities.

Neighborhoods are being encouraged to identify paths and schedule community walks or rides. The Botanical Garden, always a great place to walk, offers bike nights on certain evenings in the spring, summer and fall. Norfolk International Airport invites residents to walk its extensive and accessible public areas (24/7 – paid car parking or free motorcycle and bike parking), and Norfolk’s historic cemeteries have opened the gates wide for public walks, jogs and bicycling.

Norfolk operates and maintains eight cemeteries, encompassing more than 350 acres of green space.

They are designed to be enjoyed by the community as public spaces. Plant and bird life thrive, while mature trees and tended grasses decorate the landscape.

Paths in Riverside Memorial Park and Calvary and Forest Lawn Cemeteries are paved and are easiest to traverse on foot or on a bicycle. Cedar Grove, Elmwood, West Point, Hebrew, and Magnolia Cemeteries offer grassy carriage paths and/or oyster shell/gravel walk-

ways which are great for walking or jogging.

Pets are allowed in all Norfolk municipal cemeteries as long as they are on a leash and their owners clean up after them.

Some of Norfolk’s founding fathers rest in Cedar Grove Cemetery, established in 1824.

Across the street, Elmwood Cemetery is a Victorian rural park cemetery with elegant funerary art and sculpture, ostentatious monuments and mausoleums, and tragically poetic epitaphs.

West Point Cemetery was established in 1852 and is the City’s oldest African American cemetery.

The Sycamore Gardens section of West Point is the final resting place for 58 Afro-Union soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War. Hebrew Cemetery is a testament to the origins and development of Norfolk’s Jewish community. Epitaphs mark the immigration of Jews from Holland, Germany, France, and Russia to Tidewater.

Riverside Memorial Park, is a natural arboretum boasting more than 200 trees that have been planted since 1995 as part of the city’s urban reforestation program.

Magnolia Cemetery was established in 1860. This small cemetery boasts several old growth trees and stately monuments belonging to Berkley’s founding families.

Forest Lawn Cemetery spans more than 165 acres and is adorned with more than 70 species of trees. The annual “Spoken through History” bike time trials and the Here to Eternity 5k (Oct. 19, 2013) take place in Forest Lawn.

Cemeteries are open sunrise to sunset year round.

For more information on Norfolk’s cemeteries, walks, runs, bicycle rides, and volunteer clean-up activities, go to cemeteries at www.norfolk.gov or call 441-2400

BIKES AND TRAILS

City Council has created a Bike and Pedestrian Trails Commission to develop long- and short-term initiatives to make getting out and enjoying Norfolk an easier prospect. Short-term goals include bike lanes, paths, sharrows and updating the city’s rules regarding cycling (to, for instance, allow cycling on sidewalks in certain

Sharrows, above, alert motorists to share the road with cyclists and help position cyclists in the road areas) and developing a public information plan regarding safe mixing of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists and incorporating bike safety training in recreation programs.

Long-term goals include developing a priority list of planned and future projects, identify new grant opportunities, develop more guidelines for “safe crossing” signals, signage.

For more information on Healthy Norfolk, see Healthy Norfolk at www.norfolk.gov

Recreation, Parks and Open Space held group bike rides throughout the city during Bike Month in May. Civic groups also organized rides.

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NFR

NEL

Norfolk Fire Rescue

FOLLOW THE LEADER Anthony Brown, recruit

Continued from page 3 fascination with fire started when she was child and as teen, she volunteered with Virginia Beach EMS. But then her career path took her to DePaul Hospital, where she worked in the emergency room for years before fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a firefighter.

Most people associate fire fighting with brute strength, said Measel, “what people don’t understand is the mental aspects are much more demanding . . .the actual science behind fire behavior, knowing the protocol and standard procedures for everything you come in contact with.”

Her advice to any potential recruits, “get prepared to be mentally and physically challenged in a way they have never been challenged before. You will learn what you can accomplish if you push yourself, trust your team and your instructor.”

Instructor Lt. Drew Savage volunteered with a fire department as a teen, but went on a different career track for years. He was working as a government contractor in Northern Virginia when he and his wife both considered a career change.

“I wanted to find a job where I love going to work every day,

instead of just having to do it,” said Savage. Today, there is nothing about the job he doesn’t like.

“I like running calls, being in the community, the camaraderie around the station,” he said. As for training, he learns something new every class.

“We do all the things here that we could potentially be doing in the community.”

Firefighter/Paramedic Stacy Himes is in her 9th year of Norfolk Fire Rescue, but her first year as an instructor. She was attracted by the “opportunity to have an impact on future firefighters …. To teach them things I’ve learned.”

She notices changes from her academy days, mostly in new technology. For instance, when she started, thermal imaging cameras had just come out, now they are on every truck.

Himes doesn’t see herself as a full-time instructor. “I miss running calls, the guys at the station, dealing with citizens, not knowing what is coming.”

Himes was a basketball coach at Old Dominion University when she started to consider a career change. At first she leaned toward nursing school, but she became

Firefighter/Paramedic Stacy Himes friends with firefighters who sold her on the job. “It is the greatest job ever.

You join a second family. Your job is helping people, and that is very rewarding.”

The NFR responded to over 41,000 emergency incidents in 2011 from 14 fire-rescue stations strategically located throughout the city.

One of the department’s initiatives is to make sure there is a working smoke detector in every home. If you would like a free smoke detector installed in your home, call 664-6616.

Continued from page 3 The municipal intern component puts talented, energetic college and graduate students in assignments within their major field of study, and the interns quickly become a resource for departments with long lists of needed projects. In both programs, young people are paid.

“This program is not only an investment in our youth, but also in making the City of Norfolk a more effective and efficient city,” said City Manager Marcus Jones.

This quick emersion in the real world is what attracts many of the interns, and perhaps lead them to consider public service.

“I have friends who have internships at these huge companies all over the country, but all they do is take notes at meetings and run errands. Being able to work in the budget office for the City in the NEL program has given me an incredible amount of hands on experience,” said John Garrett who studies economics and business at Virginia Military Institute.

“I knew that this program would be a unique and important opportunity to gain expo-

sure to city government, and with that, public service,” said Chris Whitney, who following his internship was selected for the 18 month Urban Fellow program, rotating through senior level departments to gain broader municipal experience.

Many of the college students volunteer to mentor the younger participants. The overall goal of the mentorship is to provide teens students with a unique opportunity to work with municipal interns, while developing their skills for future employment, said municipal intern Joy Lipieko.

NEL is one of a number of teen programs offered through the city’s Recreation, Parks and Open Space Department (RPOS). Other programs include Norfolk Youth Councils, teen summer camps, and after school programs for younger students.

RPOS recently announced a partnership with local non-profit “Teens With a Purpose-The Movement” to provide a

designated location for teen programs at the Vivian C. Mason Arts & Technology Center, 700 E. Olney Rd. For information go to www.norfolk.gov in the Recreation, Parks and Open Space section.

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Ready TO HELP: Ready By TO HELP:

medical reserve “People who don’t volunteer don’t understand what locks people in to volunteering. The camaraderie bonds people together and unites them across groups,” MRC volunteer Greg Bradley.

The Norfolk Health Department invites health professionals and non-medical support volunteers to come together in supporting community public health through the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The corps is a national network of volunteers dedicated to donating their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters; and to assist in other non-emergency programs. Both medical professionals and non-professional volunteers are needed.

During Hurricane Irene, 18 MRC volunteers helped out with triage and first aid in Norfolk’s six emergency shelters. During the year, Corps volunteers also participated in three Homeless Connect events, providing health screening and education services to over 500 homeless individuals and assisted with the NMRC volunteer Norfolk Health Department flu and Greg Bradley Tdap vaccinations.

A small but growing group of MRC volunteers provide facilitator services to the Health Department’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative. This

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program educates youth on sexuality and healthy lifestyles, including sexually transmitted diseases, abstinence, and contraception.

This past spring the Kidney Early Evaluation Program used MRC volunteers to provide screening services for their clients, and the MRC has also supported screening at the Women’s Health Day and the Diabetes Care Day. During OpSail, 29 volunteers helped staff three first aid tents with Norfolk Fire Rescue.

All training is provided free of charge, and individuals who complete the training requirements receive deployment equipment upon their graduation and are then able to volunteer in emergencies. There are many reasons why volunteers chose to volunteer.

Tom Russel, a leadership volunteer, says that as a volunteer he brings “years of experience in organizing and executing plans, and now that I’m retired I can do it for free and have fun at it. I also think I have a moral and ethical responsibility to the community and this is a very practical hands-on way to fulfill it.”

For information on joining MRC, call 683-2760 at Norfolk Public Health.

CPAAN

The Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association of Norfolk (CPAAAN) supports law enforcement through education, information, networking, community service and volunteerism. For information on the group and on Norfolk’s Citizen Police Academies at http://www.cpaaan.org/index.htm, call 664-6900.

CERT

Norfolk is also a participant in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. The program trains volunteers of all ages and walks of life to help themselves and others in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, and to provide directed-assistance to public safety and City officials in the aftermath. Once trained, CERT volunteers are often called on for other functions, including assisting at major city events and passing out preparedness information. CERT volunteers also participate in city and regional training exercises. Call 441-5600 for information.

Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov • 15

Ready By TO HELP:

Celebrating the arts through partnership

SAFE & HEALTHY NORFOLK

CSB

Advance Directives Graduates, Trainers and supporters left to right Bob, Pat, James, Shannon, Sandi, Mia, Denise, John, Adrienne, Mike, Dana, Dorothy.

The Community Service Board, a city department, is the primary provider of public mental health, substance abuse and intellectual disabilities services for Norfolk. Connecting residents to services is an on-going task, and in this effort CSB has a dedicated group of volunteers who know how difficult it can be to live with and understand mental illness.

These individuals are bright, intelligent and enthusiastic, with many talents and skills, and all are, or have been, under treatment for mental illness. Some are artistic, some are highly organized, some speak from the heart with great passion. And some have only recently discovered that they have something of great value to offer others—their time, their talent, their experience and support. That’s why this group of volunteers is reaching out in a num-

ber of ways to help others, including the following:

1. Serving on a Consumer Ad-

visory Council, offering advice on what services are needed, how they are provided, whether documents are too full of industry jargon, what works and what doesn’t.

Recently this group was invited by Executive Director, Sarah Paige Fuller, to take a leadership role in possibly renaming the Norfolk Community Services Board to better represent what the organization does. In the past they have assisted in interviewing applicants for high-level executive positions in the organization.

Because they have a special understanding, these Norfolk Community Services Board volunteers help others

2. Completing a year long, rigorous

course of training that equips them to assist others in writing advance direc-

tives for general medical and mental health care. More than 60 Norfolk CSB consumers have been benefited from the nine volunteers participating in Virginia’s pilot Advance Directives Peer Facilitation Project. The state is considering using Norfolk’s impressive program as a model.

3.

Participating in “In Our Own Voice,” a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) program in which CSB volunteers give presentations about their personal journey with mental illness to civic and other interested organizations, and their stories are truly compelling. Call 639-2132 if you want to schedule a speaker for your group or office.

Life Celebrated Daily or LCD is the informal name of a group comprised of marketing and public relations managers for Norfolk attractions, arts and cultural organizations who meet monthly to coordinate, brainstorm, and generally find ways to increase the reach and the “wow” factor of Norfolk’s events. Key among the initiatives is finding ways to use art to engage the community. That’s how a Virginia Stage Company production of the play, RED turned into a Paint the Town Red citywide celebration of art, banners, and flamingos; and how a Granby Street festival showcased Norfolk’s creative, inventive and educational sides. Check out www.norfolk.gov Life Celebrated Daily for the latest activities.

4.

Participating in “Peer to Peer,” in which individuals in recovery help others learn about their illness, how to manage it, and how to use the experience to help others. Call 6221664 if you want to join the next upcoming class.

5. NAMI

Connections is another volunteer program. It is a peer-

Continued from previous page run support group lead by trained individuals and offered at Mary D. Pretlow Library, 111 West Ocean View Avenue. Call 513-1600 for meeting dates. You don’t need to be a Norfolk CSB consumer to join these groups,

although you do need to be in treatment for a mental illness.

es, programs and services that support the economic and social well-being of Norfolk residents.

Priority: CSB falls under Norfolk’s safe, healthy, inclusive communities priority; strengthening the network of resourc-

Continued on next page

16 • Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov

Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov • 17

WATER continued from page 5 2) Mitigate: Actions include stormwater infrastructure improvements; shoreline protection & stabilization; property acquisition in areas subject to severe repetitive flooding, use of FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to elevate homes, take steps to reduce premiums for property owners, participate in community rating system.

3) Prepare: continuously update emergency plans using best practices from other storms, train volunteers to assist public safety during a storm and educate neighbors on preparedness actions, floodproof essential city services (generators, elevation), purchase equipment – such as special boats and trucks – for use in flood rescue. Create transportation alternatives with evacuation strategies.

4) Communicate: Increase public awareness of flooding and the actions they can take to successfully prepare for, survive, and recover from severe flooding. The city has developed a nationally recognized web-based mapping system to collect and dis-

play the location of tidal and wind damage (flooding, downed trees, out-of-service traffic lights, etc.). Using this technology, the city can better coordinate response, meet federal reporting requirements, and give residents (using the web or calling the city’s information line) details on flooded streets and other storm damage.

A one-stop Flooding Awareness website (www.norfolk.gov/flooding) was created with the help of a Flooding Awareness Citizen Focus Group, which continues to guide city outreach efforts.

For more information on how you can join this conversation on flooding please contact Fleta Jackson at 757-823-4007 or via e-mail at fleta.jackson@norfolk.gov For information on the Recreation, Master Plan, go to www.norfolk.gov RPOS

ABOVE TOP, Morgan catches air at East Beach.

LEFT, Wetlands, such as these near the zoo, are important protectors of our waters.

Development continued from page 7 Granby Street. Housed in a city building, raw conceptto-startup entrepreneurism is at its boldest within The Hatch Accelerator at 111 Granby Street. There you’ll find some of our country’s best and brightest “hatching” new companies from this tech incubator. Receiving national and international awards and recognition, companies like Grow Interactive, xTuple, and others are taking Downtown by storm, and changing the face and shape of Granby Street. Several of the new companies have moved to bigger space and the next Hatch occupants start incubating in January, 2013.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT: In the past year, the Development Department has assisted companies to achieve the following:

RIGHT: new Court House BELOW: SLover Library

Expansion and Retention of Existing companies: $40,490,000 in Investment, 400 new jobs: New companies to Norfolk: $50 million investment, 300 new jobs; Retail: $41 million, 570 jobs; Reinvest/ redevelop: approximately $300 million; Residential development: $170 million, over 1,050 new units.

To learn more about these exciting new initiatives, training and help with qualifying for bids, potential contract and other business assistance, visit www.norfolkdevelopment.com (757) 664-4338.

IN THE PIPELINE: Continuing to become a real city that is a great place to live, work & play

Across Norfolk, buildings are taking shape that will enhance and in some cases transform neighborhoods, and bring vitality, iconic meeting places and new opportunities to Norfolk and the region.

In some cases, the cost is substantial and funded by the city. To replace three aging courthouses, the city is constructing a state-of-theart consolidated courthouse at the corner of St. Pauls and City Hall. This $123.3 million energy-efficient building will meet the current and future needs of three separate courts, and also fulfill the state requirement that localities fund court facilities. Public art and landscaping is included to transform the civic/courthouse plaza into a signature public space.

In other cases, iconic buildings are coming to fruition now thanks to a jump start in private funding. Two such projects are the $64 million Samuel L. Slover Memorial Library

on Main Street (details in A Day in the Life of NPL), and the Salvation Army Corps Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center at the corner of Princess Anne and Ballentine in Broad Creek. The Kroc Center is being constructed and will be operated by the Salvation Army. The center will include a themed aquatics area, elevated track and fitness area, performing arts, worship and meeting areas. The city purchased and demolished property to clear the site and a fund-raising campaign is raising the required match toward operating funds.

In Campostella, the long-awaited $7.9 million Southside Aquatics Center will open in spring 2013. This facility will serve as an economic and leisure asset to the community, and also support one of City Council’s long-standing goals to have every Norfolk child become a proficient swimmer. Also the renovated Therapeutic Recreation Center and the new Ingleside Gymnasium are opening in FY 2013.

The Chrysler Museum of Art has closed for 14 months to expand and enhance its educational and exhibit offerings. The MacArthur Memorial Continued on page 25

18 • Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov

Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov • 19

Celebrate

A day in the life of the libraries showed how important the libraries are in the life of the community. NPL offers organized programs (such as kid zones) and space to read, study, and stay connected.

LIFE-LONG LEARNING

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF NORFOLK PUBLIC LIBRARIES Many of Norfolk’s branch libraries are small and tucked into available space in neighborhoods across the city, but size has never been a deterrent to NPL’s determination to meet the needs of residents. Every library has dynamic destinations called KidZones for infants and toddlers. Every library has also been refurbished with new paint, carpeting, furniture and enhanced collections to focus on the needs deemed most important to the communities surrounding them.

When NPL participated in a one-

day statewide “snapshot” of local libraries, it got a look at how popular Norfolk’s system is: 5,100 visitors, (2,000 of which used computers), who checked out 2,450 items.

Twenty-five events were held across the system; 115 people signed up for library cards that day, and 15 people volunteered. More than 125 people accepted the invitation to comment on their library that day. Some of the comments:

“Love the library because of the positive energy I receive from library staff. Such beautiful people!”

- Alvin D.

“I use the library to check e-mail.

It is convenient because I have no internet access at home. The staff is very friendly and always willing to help when needed” – Elizabeth R. “This library is important to the community. It gives the children who are not privileged to have internet at home” – Carolyn H.

“We LOVE the library! We are a military family and this is a great place for my son and me to make friends. We

go to play dates and Babygarten here.”

– Rachel E.

“The library makes a difference in my life simply because of availability of the Bookmobile and access to books.

The mobile library especially saves on gas.”.

– Vicki D. “NPL is one of our finest resources--it’s Top Five in Norfolk for sure.”

–Gerald C.

“My friend and I call NPL the Lifebrary for all the good things it brings.”

– Shannon A.

Meet, Learn & Discover Series

NPL, in partnership with AARP Virginia, offers a monthly Meet, Learn & Discover Series targeted to the age 50-plus audience. In 2010, the MLD program won the Virginia Public Library Directors Award for Outstanding Program for Seniors.

Since it started in 2009, over 1,350 people have attended the programs, with genealogy, local and national history, travel and healthy living among the most popular topics.

Topics are drawn from

suggestions by participants and NPL staff. The most popular program, the Photographic History of Norfolk attracted more than 200 people when it was last offered. To view past shows online, go to www.norfolk.gov/tv48/hot_videos.asp Funding to launch the series was provided by an IMLS Age in America Grant. Due to its popularity, NPL plans to continue offering this series beyond the completion of the grant.

For information about upcoming shows, go to http://www.npl.lib.va.us/ and click on events, and search by “Pretlow” and “adult” – or call 441-1750.

Coming soon: The Colonel Samuel L. Slover Memorial Library

Norfolk has one anchor branch library, the Mary D. Pretlow Library with a view of the Chesapeake Bay. The library has been a hub of activity and a neighborhood icon ever since it opened.

In 2014, the city will open a new main library in the heart of downtown unlike any in the region.

Adjacent to the MacArthur Square light rail station, the 138,000 square

foot library will consist of the historic Seaboard Building at 235 E. Plume Street, a new six story addition, and a small section of the Selden Arcade.

The new library will include an entry plaza and garden into a recessed glass “forum” that will marry the buildings into a single complex.

The Slover Library will feature state-of-the-art technology Local Mexican restaurant owner, Jose Brovo, creates and offer access to books, authentic Hispanic cooking at library during for a computers, local history, meet learn & discover series program study rooms for students of all ages, community meeting Roads citizens raised an additional rooms, and much more. The $64 $4 million to meet the requirements million dollar project is the result of The Batten Challenge. The City of of a generous $40 million donation Norfolk contributed $20 million. from the Batten Family. Hampton For more information about Norfolk Public Library and a list of locations, go to www.npl.lib.va.us or call 664-READ.

Patrons reading periodicals.

20 • Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov

Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov • 21

Nauticus staff and volunteers have freshened the interior to highlight Norfolk’s port and Navy heritage.

NAUTICUS

LOOKS OUTWARD

Scouting finds a home at the Wisconsin.

New Sailing Program will Benefit Community; Brighten Harbor By next fall, Norfolk’s waterfront will feature a lively group of small sailing ships – sporting colorful sails and youngsters learning much more than how to tie a knot or read a chart.

Patterned after successful Community Sailing Centers in other east coast cities, the goal of Sail Nauticus is to chart a brighter future for its participants.

Sail Nauticus is designed to: * Develop leadership in Hampton Roads’ youth through sailing education. * Offer academic credit-bearing programs and internships for academically and financially at-risk students. * Partner with public schools and community organizations in order to help teach credit-bearing courses in mathematics, science, physical education and team building, technology and engineering, and * Expose students to the potential of careers related to the port, the military, and local industries.

The sailing program is the latest effort by Nauticus to take advantage of its waterfront location by creating a new community resource.

Inspired by a challenge from a former Norfolk police chief, Nauticus Executive Director Hank Lynch hopes Sail Nauticus can be a tool to help prevent at-risk children from entering the juvenile justice system. Lynch believes that the program will provide a unique opportunity for practical, experiential education currently not available to area middle and high school students. Boston, New York,

Baltimore, Savannah and Charleston all have one or more sailing centers which are used for education as well recreation. Lynch and his staff have extensively researched these other programs to find what will work best for Norfolk.

The Sail Nauticus Community Center will feature Harbor 20 sailboats, fixed keel boats with small motors, which can be safely maneuvered out of the active shipping lanes and into more recreational areas of the river and bay. This past summer, Nauticus partnered with the Elizabeth River Project, creating a day-long summer camp which included experiences on the schooner Virginia and the Learning Barge. Nauticus plans to partner with numerous other organizations including Norfolk and Portsmouth Public Schools, Tidewater Community College’s SMART program, Horizons Hampton Roads, and the Virginia Ship Repair Association, to name a few.

Philanthropist Jane Batten has pledged a charitable gift of $1.5 million to support operations and programming for Sail Nauticus. The gift includes scholarship funding for a

year-round after-school program for students with a demonstrated financial need. Her gift requires a dollar for dollar match, and to date over $1 million has been raised for boats, piers, docks and other capital projects.

Nauticus has moved staff out of an existing space to create a classroom.

The sail center will be open to the general public after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.

The sailing center is the most recent in a year-long effort by the Nauticus staff to focus, fine-tune and freshen both interior and exterior space. Most of it has been done inhouse by staff and volunteers.

Thanks to partnerships, Nauticus has increased programming on the Battleship Wisconsin, offering the Virginia Stage Company’s World War II-era Swing Time Salute, and encouraging scout overnights and below deck battleship tours. Staff and volunteers also completely revamped entrance to third floor to emphasize Norfolk’s navy and port heritage.

Nauticus is adjacent to Town Point Park on Waterside Drive.

Months of planning and coordination resulted in enthusiastic and uniformly positive feedback from the crowds who strolled the campus over the course of Harbor Fest/Op Sail’s three days. In Nauticus’ front circle, an 80-foot gondola wheel enticed visitors, many of whom went inside after their ride. Above, a Harbor 20 sailboat, similar to those that will be used in the program.

22 • Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov

Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov • 23

PrimePlus

IN THE PIPELINE

Continued on page 9

Ford, co-director. “Their loved ones know they are well taken care of all day, so they have peace of mind.”

Carol Reed of Ocean View calls ADS her “lifeline.” The government worker feels confident in the care her father, Bobbie Fields, 88, receives each day.

“I think it’s improved his cognitive ability, too,” she says. The daily schedule includes games, exercise and nutritious meals.

Alberta Smith, a retired custodian for the city, eats at the center four days a week. “It’s a meal that when you eat it, you don’t want something else,” says the Fairmount Park resident while finishing her lunch of turkey and vegetables. Smith also takes exercise classes at the center.

Lifelong learning is a goal of Primeplus center. Kathy Rose, 70, works with her “coach” Dot Grandstaff at a computer to learn how to use email. “They are very patient,” Rose says of Grandstaff and teacher, Jane Miller. “My son and family are out of town, so I want to keep up with them.”

The center connects seniors and helps them make new friends. Jonny Lane, 70, lost her husband two years ago. “My doctor suggested the center, so I wouldn’t just sit home,” says the Norview resident. Now Lane exercises weekly and participates in

the center’s Bereavement Support Group. “We share our feelings and experiences. We say to those who’ve just lost a loved one: ‘You’ll never forget, but it does get better.’”

Down the hall Hester Baskerville, 70, will paint “my little boy today” in Jeanette Thorpe’s ceramics class.

In addition to the art, “We play Big Band music, said Thorpe, and they love to socialize.

For information on Primeplus programs and fees, call 757-625-5857 or visit www.primeplus.org

Improvements at Norfolk Fitness and Wellness Center

Operated by the city’s Recreation, Parks and Open Space, the NFWC has made upgrades, expanded hours and added new classes in support of the city’s Healthy Norfolk initiative. The pool is open six days a week and one of the most popular new activities is Aqua Zumba. Trained staff monitor the weight room, cardio equipment, gym and racquetball courts.

NFWC has a Fit Kids Zone! for ages 5 to 14, and full basketball court (airconditioned). Courses also include, dance, music and recreational sports instruction.

For information on activities and NFWC membership, call 823-4301 or see www.norfolk.gov/RPOS .

ABOVE: the Salvation Army Corps Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Broad Creek Ballentine in Broad Creek.

LEFT: Southside Aquatics Center will open in spring 2013 BELOW: Plans are moving forward for a redo of Waterside.

Jeanette Thorpe’s ceramics class.

Nan Bousquet treats herself to a foot massage and pedicure in the center’s Best Foot Forward program.

Ed Bunker, 65, holds court in the woodshop three days a week, teaching Among his projects, an “air-conditioned” birdhouse with windows, Newport Flame finial and wooden toy cars.

24 • Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov

Continued from page 19

just completed a major expansion, which is designed to appeal to a new generation and to take advantage of the museum’s position adjacent to light rail. Both efforts drew substantial private support and some match from the city.

In downtown, the Governor’s School for the Arts, a regional secondary art school, is consolidating eight separate Norfolk locations into the city-owned historic Monroe Building on Granby Street. The $9.6 million project includes $620,000 of city funding, along with nearly $1 million in private donations. The dance and orchestra programs were already downtown. The Monroe renovation will bring the rest of the 355 students from eight jurisdictions within a short walk of those programs.

In Wards Corner, this once Times Square of the South is being rejuvenated thanks to construction by Suburban Land Management of a Harris Teeter flagship store, renovation of two nearby shopping areas, the city’s purchase and demolition of several dilapidated apartments buildings, construction of Bon Secour’s medical center, and continued strength of area’s business and residential community.

On the transportation front, a $170 million state-funded project will provide a high-speed, connector from the port and Norfolk Naval Station to the interstate system via a freeway link. It will reduce truck traffic on local roads and provide a link to any future third crossing to the southside.

Construction is underway for a

3,500 square foot station to serve passengers traveling on Amtrak, which started service in December, ahead of schedule. The station will be finished in fall 2013.

The city has reached agreement with the Cordish Companies to redevelop Waterside (above).

“I’m thrilled we’ve now created a framework for the property that benefits the public and creates a vibrant centerpiece along our waterfront,” says Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim.

To follow the progress of public projects such as the courthouse and Slover Library, go to www.norfolk.gov

Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov • 25

NORFOLK INFORMATION AT A GLANCE

Celebrating Neighborhoods... Continued from page 4

Some 45 community leaders, school principals and interested residents gathered to discuss gaps in community leadership, ways to address the gaps and strengthen community leadership and engagement.

Chanello’s Pizza. It featured art, live music, a busker, a food truck, and of course fresh produce from the farmers’ market.

•The Virginia Symphony is working with NBN to craft a series of community concerts that will be planned by residents as events organized by residents to celebrate their neighborhoods.

In Norview, NBN partnered with a local developer to bring residents, landlords, city codes staff and police together to look at ways to help landlords improve their investment by reducing bad tenant behavior and violations. Meetings have continued as the community develops a plan of action.

In Park Place, residents of Park Place have spent more than two years working on neighborhood pride and beautification projects throughout their community. It seemed a natural next step to focus beautification efforts around the Park Place Multipurpose Center. Civic league president Rodney Jordan took the lead in requesting a meeting with key city departments including General

26 • Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov

Services, Community Enrichment and Recreation Parks and Open Space (RPOS) to come up with a plan for “sprucing up” the center. The goal of the project was to have a place that community members can take pride in having in their community.

The first set of Block-by-Block Neighborhood Improvement Grants were awarded to Elizabeth Park Civic League for landscaping; Estabrook Civic League to improve curb appeal of its civic league building; Roosevelt Area Civic League to build a community dog park; Ballentine neighborhood to improve its dog park and make it more ADA accessible for owners, and Fairmount Park Civic League for a wetlands restoration and environmental education project. Said Taylor Gould, Fairmount Park Civic League president, “We are actively promoting the planting of trees, the enhancement of green spaces and keeping our streets clean, as well as the preservation of wetlands in our neighborhood.”

For more information on NBN or any of the programs mentioned in this article, go to www.norfolk.gov/NBN

City Hall – Civic Plaza City Hall, Circuit, General District and Juvenile/Domestic Relations courts, Jail and Sheriff 810 Union Street Paid parking Light Rail –Civic Plaza Station Bus – Route 8 City Website: www.norfolk.gov Municipal TV – streams on www.norfolk.gov/ carried on Cox TV48 City Council Agendas: Meetings at a Glance at www.norfolk.gov under City Council One-Stop Information, Service requests, complaints

Norfolk Cares Impact Center

NBN seeks to facilitate increased communication between the city and community groups, connect those groups with city resources, and consult on neighborhood improvement and problem solving strategies.

PRIORITY: Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Communities

You may request any city service or information through this number or you may use numbers when provided under Key City Services below to reach a service directly.

Call 757-664-6510 Monday through Friday between 8 am and 6 pm Fill out the Norfolk Cares online form www.norfolk.gov TDD/TTY #711 ask Operator for Norfolk Cares Assistance Center. healthyneighborhoods@norfolk.gov

ANIMALS/BUGS

Animal – adoption, lost pets: Norfolk Animal Care Center, 5585 Sabre Road, 441-5505, nacc@norfolk.gov Animal License- annual dog and cat license. Purchase at City Hall or Care Center; current rabies certificate required; bring proof of spay/neuter for reduced rate. Questions, 664-6510.

Animal complaints; at large – 664-6510 Mosquito control; public health vector control – 683-2840

LIBRARIES

10 branch libraries and an anchor branch in Ocean View, all have internet-connected public computers. All libraries are free. Obtain a Library card at any branch by bringing in a photo ID and evidence of residence, such as a driver’s license, a recent utility bill, apartment lease, or a letter on letterhead stationery from a shelter for the homeless. Library information, 664-7323.

LICENSES/ PERMITS

All business and professional operations (including home-based) must purchase a business license before commencing operation. Licenses expire December 31 of each year.

Commissioner of Revenue, City Hall or at www.norfolk.gov 664-7890.

Permits and zoning variances are required for a number of activities, including installing or repairing a fence, holding a yard or garage sale, installing a driveway, holding a block party and other activities. Call 6646510, or check your activity at www.norfolk.gov (A to Z)

MAPS

An inter-active addressbased map call Norfolk AIR is available at www.norfolk.gov under maps. Look up property, sales, assessment, codes violations, distance to city facilities, flooding and other information.

Other online maps (accessible from the front page map section) include: Downtown parking and attractions map.

Crime View Community – crime data by address and area.

Emergency information – During major storms/hurricanes residents can access real-time data on downed trees, flooded streets, building damage and other information.

Road and Construction - Public Works maps detail city road construction and paving, major public construction projects and streetlight outages

RECREATION/ PARKS

18 Recreation Centers; Lakewood Dance & Music Center; Norfolk Fitness & Wellness Center; Visual Arts Centers; Barraud Park Boxing Center; Swimming Pools; Northside Skate Park; Therapeutic Recreation Center; Neighborhood Service Centers; Computer Resource Centers; 3 Public Beaches and more than six miles of public beach, Senior Centers; Cemeteries; and Over 136 Parks, Playgrounds & Open Space areas. The Good Times (online and in centers) has a quarterly schedule of classes.

441-2400. www.norfolk.gov/RPOS/ Youth Council - Open to students in grades 7-12. Join the youth council to get involved in social issues, community projects, field trips and great fun.

For more information contact: Clifton Russell, 441-1035.

TAXES

The real estate rate is $1.11 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Taxes are payable as follows: First Quarter is Sept. 30; Second Quarter is Dec. 5; Third Quarter is March 31; Fourth Quarter is June 5 Real Estate or property tax bills, Call City Treasurer at 664-7800.

Continued on the next page Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov • 27

NORFOLK INFORMATION AT A GLANCE Real Estate assessments or appeals, call 664-4732 Personal property taxes: taxes assessed for vehicles, including autos, trucks, motorcycles RVs, and boats, as well as business property.

Call 664-7800.

TRASH/ RECYCLING

Curbside trash is picked up once a week, recycling 2 times a month on trash collection day.

Recycling Perks – accumulate points for local discounts by recycling. Visit www.NorfolkTrash.com or call 664-6510.

Bulk waste collection - For trash that does not fit inside the green cart, make a Bulk Collection Request by calling 664-6510 or visiting www.NorfolkTrash.com by 3 pm the business day before your collection day.

Electronic recycling (Norfolk residents only, bring proof of address) Most items with a cord such as hair dryers, computers, and televisions.

Division of Waste Management - 1176 Pineridge Road, 10 am to 2 pm, Mon. - Sat. Division of Towing and Recovery - 1195 Lance Road, open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Household Hazardous Waste (Norfolk residents only, bring proof of address) Automotive fluids, old paint (wet or oil) lawn care products, and fluorescent bulbs. Division of Waste Management, 1176 Pineridge Road between 10 am and 2 pm, Mon. - Sat.

28 • Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov

UTILITIES

Water turn on or turn off service, call Customer Service division at 6646700, 7:30 am to 5 pm Mon. – Fri., except holidays.

Water Utility Emergency Numbers: Water or Sewer Main Breaks 823-1000 Customer Service 664-6700 Wastewater problems: Call Utilities before calling a plumber, as your problem may be in the city infrastructure. 823-1000

If ever a street cried out for celebration, it is Norfolk’s Granby Street. Norfolk’s first street festival on lower Granby Street this past summer brought 7,500 people and the most asked question - “when are you doing this again?”

Plans are in the works, check back on www.norfolk.gov The Granby Street experience starts in downtown, where a jumble of restaurants, apartments, theaters, Tidewater Community College and, soon, the Governors School for the Arts, reside. New restaurants, retail, such as Urban Outfitters, and start-up technology companies add to the excitement.

Traveling north, from the Granby Bridge you can catch views of the super-modern cranes loading ships at Norfolk International Terminals, or watch kayaks and boaters traverse the Lafayette River.

The wide, tree filled medians along Granby as you head north were first envisioned by Fred Heutte, the father of the Botanical Garden.

Wards Corner is beginning a rebirth decades in the waiting. Further north, you skirt the edge of Norfolk Naval Base, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Mason Creek, the Ocean View Golf Course, Pretlow Library, and finally, the timeless waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

animal care CENter

voting

VOTING

Registration: Office of Elections, City Hall, Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5 pm. Registration must be completed at least 22 days before an election. Voting hours 6 am-7 pm. For precinct and other information, call 664-4353 or see www.norfolk.gov/Elections

VOLUNTEER

More than 15,000 volunteers help make Norfolk a great city.

There is a volunteer job for every interest and a need for every talent. See www.norfolk.gov/volunteer or call 664-4031.

ABOVE: the cats at the Norfolk Animal Care Center adore 89-year-old volunteer Sue Davis.

The city is compiling an online Granby Street Experience of memories, plans, photos and ideas (see below). These photos help tell the story: Top to bottom left, Granby Experience 2012, Post WW2 Wards Corner, Granby Street circa 1940 and (above right) 1909 President Taft visits Granby.

monthly neighborhood newsletter

Do you have a Granby Experience? Do you live, work, learn or play on Granby? Were you born there? Married there? Do you have photos to share?

Tell us your favorite Granby Street Experience.

Send us letters (no photos at this time) to Granby Street Experience, Rm. 302, 810 Union Street, Norfolk, VA 23510. Include a phone number if you have photos. Or, go to www.facebook.com and click Norfolk VA to check out the Granby Street Experience section. Historic photos and facts, and future Granby events, will be posted at www.norfolk.gov Granby Experience.

How should the city celebrate Granby Street?

Celebrate Norfolk Magazine • Norfolk.gov • 29

WARD 3

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CELEBRATE NORFOLK

is an official publication of the City of Norfolk.

City Manager Marcus Jones

Paul D. Fraim Mayor

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Paul R. Riddick

Anthony L. Burfoot Vice-Mayor

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Thomas Smigiel

Andrew Protogyrou

Dr. Theresa Whibley

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Barclay C. Winn

Angelia Williams

302 City Hall Building 810 Union Street Norfolk, VA, 23510 Phone: 664-4266 Fax: 664-4006 Web: www.norfolk.gov

DISCLAIMER This publication is not a public forum. It accepts no submissions from the general public. It does not engage in issue-oriented discussions or the advocacy of any social, political or religious opinions, positions or viewpoints, or the advocacy of any ideological positions or viewpoints whatsoever.