Bernard Griffin: Remembered As City’s Ambassador
By Leonard E. Colvin
Chief Reporter
New Journal and Guide
Bernard Griffin, 75, who served 12 years on Portsmouth City Council and was well known as one of the strongest ambassadors and promoters of his hometown, died in a Norfolk hospital May 9th from complications associated with a long-term illness.
Tunnel Tolls Reprieve Gives Area Residents Cause to Celebrate
By Leonard E. Colvin
Chief Reporter
New Journal and Guide
Leaders of a grassroots effort to halt the implementation of tunnel tolls for travel between Portsmouth and Norfolk scored a major victory last week.
However, even as they were celebrating their victory, the private company charged with imposing the tolls was continuing its operations.
It announced that it would close a lane in the Midtown Tunnel over last weekend to install traffic sensors. Further, the company began dredging to clear the way for the construction of a new tunnel.
Less than a year after leaders launched their effort to stop a plan imposing tolls to build a new tunnel and maintain the existing one, a Portsmouth Circuit Court Judge declared it unconstitutional.
Portsmouth Mayor Challenges City to lose 500,000 Pounds in a Year!
By Rosaland Tyler
Associate Editor
New Journal and Guide
Portsmouth Mayor Kenny Wright recently delivered his State of the City speech and walked a few blocks with about 100 people to launch a citywide weight-loss program that aims to help residents shed 500,000 pounds in one year.
Gospel Legendary Reunion Held At Willet Hall
By Randy Singleton
Community Affairs Correspondent
New Journal and Guide
PORTSMOUTH
Rev. Brenda Boone Productions held its “Soul Stirring” Gospel Legendary Reunion concert at Willet Hall in Portsmouth, VA on Sunday (March 24). The concert was originally booked for February as part of the celebration of Black History month but a scheduling conflict forced it to be relocated with a new date. The show’s producer, Rev. Brenda Boone, remained steadfast in her commitment to get the concert staged. Ticket sales were pushed through radio ads, local record stores, and church groups.
Livingstone College’s Recruitment Tool: President Jenkins Visits Area Schools
SALISBURY, N.C.
The president of Livingstone College brought a recruitment message to high school students in Hampton Roads this week, as part of a swing through Virginia.
Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. is accompanying officials in the college’s Office of Admissions on the school’s recruitment trip and visited Denbigh High School in Newport News and Maury High School in Norfolk on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Jenkins and other Livingstone officials visited Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth in the morning and Heritage High School in Newport News that afternoon.
Parts of Old Norcom High Gain New Life at Museum
By Leonard E. Colvin
Chief Reporter
New Journal and Guide
The second I.C. Norcom High School which was once located on Turnpike Road in Portsmouth was torn down in 1995, after serving the community for 42 years before it was replaced by the current facility.
While the old building is gone, some remnants of its physical existence still exist.
Dr. Dwight Riddick to Keynote Portsmouth MLK Breakfast
PORTSMOUTH
Dr. Dwight Riddick, Pastor Gethsemane Baptist Church Newport News, and Vice President, Hampton University Ministers Conference; will be the keynote speaker for the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast, sponsored by the Church and Community in Action (CCIA). The breakfast will take place at 8:00 a.m. on January 21, 2013 at The Edmonds Center.
Watoto Children’s Choir Travels From Africa to Inspire Thousands in Virginia
TAMPA, Fla.
The Watoto Children’s Choir traveling from Africa began their five-month Eastern U.S. tour in Oak Bluffs, MA on October 6, 2012 and are continuing their tour through Great Falls, Yorktown, Prince George, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Onancock, Williamsburg, Blackstone, Ebony, Danville and Axton, Virginia from December 9, 2012 through January 6, 2013. All performances are free and open to the public.
The Watoto Children’s Choir acts as Watoto ambassadors to raise awareness about the plight of the orphaned and vulnerable children of Africa. Watoto is a holistic child-care solution initiated to serve the dire needs of Africa and her people.
Filmmakers Launch World Premiere of Domestic Violence Film Locally
By Terrance Afer-Anderson
Culture Columnist
New Journal and Guide
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” Isaiah 54:17.
On Saturday, November 24, an unlikely pair of local African-American filmmakers did something pretty stellar and spectacular. They launched the world premiere of their long-anticipated film NO WEAPON at Portsmouth’s Commodore Theater. As different as night and day, the pair could have only been drawn together as artists, their radically different artistic temperaments proving an irresistible attraction, like highly-energized opposite poles of disparate magnets.
Goal: Black Business Empowerment
By Rosaland Tyler
Associate Editor
New Journal and Guide
PORTSMOUTH
James Taylor had already heard many of the horror stories and discouraging statistics when he decided to launch a company that would help new or existing black businesses succeed.
He opened Virginia Housing and Community Development Corp. in 2004, a virtual company that provides specialized services including a strenuous boot-camp style-weekend seminar for existing or aspiring African American business owners. Now Taylor aims to help more businesses. So he recently held a kickoff fundraising reception for the MBE Empowerment Fund at the Norfolk Hilton. About 35 people attended.