York County has experienced erosion issues for some time now, but county officials are making efforts to provide ecofriendly solutions to the problems in the form of natural bulkheads, breakwaters and the like. Read here about measures you can take and apply for a construction permit to preserve your property.
Category Archives: #FYI
Be resolute about your resolutions in 2017
Start 2017 on the right foot by actually abiding by your resolutions. Fortunately, you can achieve your new #lifegoals in the 757 through some pretty cool programs for things such as fitness, family fun, saving funds, getting organized and more. The Daily Press tallies it all up here!
State Senate launches new marijuana study
The leader of Virginia’s senate wants the commonwealth to take a closer look at how it treats marijuana. The leader, who’s a James City Republican, has previously expressed openness towards legalization, but for now the study will just look into Virginia’s law-enforcement practices surrounding the drug.
The 411 on shopping local in the 757
If you’re looking for a less-than-traditional gift to give this Christmas, consider shopping from #HRVA’s small businesses. Some standout examples include Hampton’s Countryside Gardens for shea butter or a bourbon-scented candle from Newport News’ Ironclad Distillery.
Those items not hitting the mark? Check out Daily Press’ more-than-comprehensive list of local shops and gifts!
Your go-to holiday event guide in Hampton Roads
Christmas in Hampton Roads may have kicked off with a bang (re: HollyDazzle in Newport News and Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination), but it can be a little hard to keep track of all the parades, theme park events and light extravaganzas coming our way. hrScene and Daily Press have you covered, though. Anything you’re looking for, you can find on this calendar or this list.
CNU professors pen open letter to scared students
In the wake of the election, the faculty of Christopher Newport University released a letter to their students letting them know that there are people to talk to, and they will do everything in their power to keep CNU a safe place. Read the full letter here.
‘Tis the season … to be on a budget
If it seems like every year you run out of money around the holidays, it’s long past time you tweak your spending habits. According to the Busy Budgeter blog, in order to create an optimal holiday budget, you need to plan far, far ahead and be crazy conservative. Start by writing down everything you need to budget for, estimate costs and prioritize your expenses. Be sure to track its successes and failures.
Wegmans is a no-go for the Peninsula
*Sigh*
Wegmans, the grocery chain that New Yorkers go crazy over, had been eyeing a location in Newport News. But now that deal is, well, off the table. And Wegmans spokeswoman Jo Natale told the Daily Press they are not currently looking at other sites on the Peninsula. Virginia Beach, though, might get lucky.
Grab your ugly sweater and head to O’Connor Brewing’s party
Under the umbrella of “eat, drink and be tacky,” O’Connor Brewing is celebrating ugly sweaters everywhere. Like really celebrating. They’ll have food trucks, a sweater contest, a new seasonal beer and all the live Weezer covers you could ask for. The event is from 7-10 p.m. Nov. 23. Oh, and it’s free.
Help Norfolk Canyon get the protection it deserves
If you’ve never heard of Norfolk Canyon — or if you’ve only heard of the tasty beer — that’s probably because it’s almost a mile below the ocean’s surface off Virginia’s coast. But the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center is trying to get the ecologically unique site some much-needed federal protection as a National Marine Sanctuary; read more here, and sign their petition here.
Don’t hold your breath for President Kaine in 2020
The election just ended, which means it’s time for four years of early coverage of the next one, you know, in case you weren’t sick of it yet. Any devoted Virginians hoping to see Tim Kaine in the White House will be disappointed to hear that he has firmly decided not to run for president; he will, however, probably run for re-election as senator.
‘Go Trump’ and swastika etching found in dorm bathroom at William and Mary
An official from the College of William and Mary has had to come out and say what should never, ever have to be said: Intimidation and other such terrible behavior is never, ever tolerated on the Williamsburg campus. This comes after the words ‘Go Trump,’ with the ‘T’ as a swastika, were scratched into a paper-towel dispenser in a W&M residence hall bathroom, the Daily Press reports. A photo bearing evidence of this had percolated on social media.
Why wait until Black Friday for deals?
Get your holiday shopping done even earlier! Amazon will be having their “Deal of the Day” every 5 minutes up until Black Friday, which falls on Nov. 25. But the deals don’t stop there, either! Costco will be having in-warehouse only sales, and Dick’s Sporting Goods will be selling outdoor gear and sporting goods for Black Friday prices online. There are so many deals to check out!
Opening of Liberty’s Ice Pavilion means your weekend just got cooler
Liberty’s Ice Pavilion will be returning to Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area this Friday! But don’t fret if you can’t make it just yet: the rink’ll be open well into February. Whether you want to take to the ice with your loved one or little ones, it seems like it’ll be a pretty reasonable outing. The Daily Press says tickets start at 10 smackaroos, and rentals cost just more than $4.
Donald Trump’s trade plans and tariffs could trouble Peninsula ports
If you’re not sick of Trump-related news yet, here’s something closer to home: the president-elect’s proposed trade reforms could seriously impact Hampton Roads ports. Plans to limit trade with China and impose sanctions could deal a heavy blow to the imports and exports along the Peninsula; read more here.
Stop wasting your money on stupid stuff
Learn from Busy Budgeter and save a few coins. The Virginia blogger says that the stupidest things that people waste money on are fast food, brand-name products, cable, in-app purchases, unused gym memberships, lottery tickets and, believe it or not, even more. She says cutting such superfluous stuff can help you pay off debt and other way more productive things.
Supermoon sightings coming to a night sky near you
NASA promises two supermoons in the last stretch of 2016, and they’re supposed to be bigger and brighter than any we’ve seen this century. As the moon’s orbit brings it closest to Earth, haters may insist that you won’t notice any change, but this celestial coincidence should still yield some pretty pictures.
7-Eleven, Krispy Kreme offering free treats to voters on Election Day
Come Election Day, the land of the free will get some freebies. Make sure that you go out and vote this Tuesday! If you do so — and you really should — make sure to drop by 7-Eleven for any-size free coffee, and then run over to Krispy Kreme for a free doughnut! The Daily Press has the skinny on Election Day freebies.
Who runs the polls? Girls! (At least in Virginia, experts say)
Ladies, if you didn’t know, we run the vote for Virginia! According to the Daily Press, women, Northern Virginians and college grads are really influencing Virginia’s political color. Donald Trump really doesn’t have much of a chance with Virginia, due to women’s political influence, according to a political scientist at Christopher Newport University.
Virginia voter registration spikes in October
October was a good month for democracy in the Old Dominion. More than 350,000 Virginians registered to vote in 2016, and almost a third of those new voters jumped on in the last month before the election. Hampton Roads didn’t see gains as big as some other cities, but Virginia Beach, Newport News and Portsmouth all saw increases.
$tyle scoop: H&M grand opening will offer prizes
Newport News’ first H&M is having its grand opening on Nov. 3 (this Thursday!) at Patrick Henry Mall. The first 100 shoppers get store credit gift cards (which can be up to $300!). The event kicks off at noon and runs until 3 p.m., and you can bring by old clothes to “recycle” and get 15 percent off your purchase.
York’s Dairy Queen ends her reign
York County’s Dairy Queen was the first of the chain to open in the 757. On Oct. 30, after 52 years of (soft)serving the community, it will close its doors as a member of the franchise. When it reopens ,it will be an Asian fast-dining rice and ice-cream bar named K-Fresh.
Newport News cracking down on DUIs
Police in Newport News are ramping up DUI checkpoints over the course of the next couple of weekends. The checkpoints will be set up in areas prone to drunk driving from late evening till the early morning, according to The Daily Press.
Prepare for more nightly construction on I-64 next week
As the I-64 widening project continues, you can expect more late-night lane closures Sunday through Thursday next week. Single lanes may close as early as 7 p.m. and will normally open up around 5 a.m. the next day; check here for the full rundown and plan your evening commute accordingly.
Stay on sidewalks, drive sober and be safe this Halloween
Safety is never a joke, particularly not on what AAA calls “the deadliest night of the year” for pedestrians. Halloween accounts for an especially high amount of auto-pedestrian accidents — many of them fatal — so counteract this by wearing bright or reflective clothing (yeah, I know it’s lame), staying in groups and using crosswalks. If you’re driving, stay sober or get a DD, and keep clear of suburbs if possible.
Need last-minute Halloween plans?
Then check out these morbid master lists! In addition to hrScene’s Best #HRVA haunts, Coastal Living has thrown together their picks for a seaside scare, a list of haunted houses, theme park attractions and ghost tours. Howl-O-Scream is nice, but does it have a ghost ship? Didn’t think so.
The ERT will go easy on your toll fees this week if you act fast
If your E-ZPass account ran dry and your commute is breaking the bank, the ERT is briefly offering mercy by reducing extra administration fees, particularly on overdrawn accounts. This grace period is intended to encourage commuters to maintain balanced accounts and will only run until November 1, so sign up quickly.
Downtown Newport News is getting a makeover
Mayor Price’s dreams for a new downtown involve a pedestrian bridge, a public market, a ferry pier and more greenspace (think NYC’s Highline Park). The plan is to make downtown simultaneously welcoming to yuppies and tradesmen. For more, check out this Daily Press concept video.
Trump trots into Virginia Beach for a rally this Saturday
The debates may be over, but the campaign trail leads all the way to Election Day, and Donald Trump is hitting Virginia Beach this Saturday to remind you. Despite rumors that the Trump campaign pulled out of Virginia, the state chapter organized this rally at Regent University; get tickets here.
Cheap #HRVA dishes that are still delicious
Whether you’re low on funds because you’ve already started saving for Christmas or because all you have is the wad of fives you found in your couch, you can still throw that dough towards a good meal. How? Check out this Daily Press list of $10 Food Finds.