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VDEM HONORS EMERGENCY PROFESSIONALS

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is recognizing Emergency Management Professionals Week.
The week is being observed from June 2-6.
It celebrates the dedicated professionals who plan for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies.
These professionals ensure the safety and resilience of Virginia’s communities.
They provide essential leadership and skills to prepare for and manage crises.
Their work includes developing plans, training personnel, issuing warnings, and acquiring resources.
VDEM State Coordinator John Scrivani highlighted their tireless efforts and critical role.
The week honors their service and contributions to safeguarding lives and property during various emergencies.

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VDEM Recognizes Emergency Management Professionals Week

Remains of four Confederate soldiers and three amputated legs were quietly reinterred at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Williamsburg on Tuesday. The remains were discovered in 2023 near the Powder Magazine during archaeology by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Scientists are conducting DNA analysis but reburied the remains to avoid delays. The soldiers were likely casualties of the 1862 Battle of Williamsburg. Archaeology staff, the cemetery caretaker, and Army representatives attended the reburial.

WILLIAMSBURG JUNE EVENT PREVIEW WITH CEO ED HARRIS

Visit Williamsburg CEO Ed Harris previewed upcoming June events and promotions on 92.3 FM The Tide.
Highlights include Juneteenth celebrations and the Williamsburg Whiskey and Wine Weekend June 27-29.
The new “The Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge” roller coaster at Busch Gardens was also mentioned.
He discussed the Cool Summer Savings Pass offering deals and prizes in July and August.
More information is available on the Visit Williamsburg website and blog.

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In The Know With Visit Williamsburg: Previewing A Busy June With CEO Ed Harris [AUDIO]

A town hall meeting on renaming James Blair Middle School will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Stryker Center in downtown Williamsburg, hosted by The Village Initiative and the Campaign for Honorable and Inclusive School Names. The meeting will discuss further efforts to rename the school, named for James Blair, who was an enslaver, after a proposed name change was tabled by the school board earlier this year.

William & Mary’s Global Research Institute recently hosted a panel discussing the first 100 days of the Trump administration’s foreign policy. Experts analyzed key decisions and global implications of the period at the college. Moderator Samantha Custer noted the period was unusually prolific, ambitious, and controversial. The discussion aimed to provide historical context and understand future U.S. foreign policy shifts. Panelists suggested actions followed campaign promises and Project 2025, despite public surprise.

OAK COUNSELING CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR

Oak Counseling celebrated its one-year anniversary on May 30 in Williamsburg.
The milestone was marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Led by Breanne Bass, the practice specializes in counseling children and adolescents.
They place a strong emphasis on elementary and middle school-aged clients.
Del. Chad Green spoke at the event, highlighting the importance of adolescent mental health services.
Bass is dedicated to educating both parents and children about mental well-being.

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Oak Counseling Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary with Ribbon Cutting

NEWS BRIEFS FOR JUNE 3

The Langley for Families Foundation raised over $483,000 at its 11th annual Charity Golf Classic in Williamsburg.
James City County personal property and real estate taxes are due on June 5.
The Virginia DMV is warning customers about a text scam falsely claiming they owe money for unpaid fines.
Hal Feder of Murphy Business — Va Historic Triangle was named a Top Producer and received a Multi-Million Dollar Award.
Renovations to the indoor pool at the James City County Recreation Center will begin June 16 and are expected to finish by Nov. 24.
A temporary speed limit reduction to 25 mph will be implemented on Wythe Creek Road during the widening project construction.
Chesapeake Bank announced the leadership hires of Grant Garber as Director of Fraud Prevention and Nate Cobb as Director of Operations.
WATA is seeking public input until June 16 for the name of its new transfer center expected to be completed in Fall 2026.
The Williamsburg Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution held a monument ceremony, recognized new members, and honored local Eagle Scouts.

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News Briefs for June 3

VOCAL JAZZ SUMMIT RETURNS TO VIRGINIA BEACH

The 5th annual Vocal Jazz Summit is scheduled for June 5-8.
It will be held at Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach.
The four-day event includes performances and workshops.
Established jazz artists will participate.
Jessi DiPette from “The Z” previewed the summit on 92.3 FM The Tide.
The interview provided information on how to get festival passes and individual concert tickets.

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Hometown Radio Interview: Zeiders American Dream Theater To Host 5th Annual Vocal Jazz Summit [AUDIO]

A Department of Homeland Security webpage listing localities it called sanctuary jurisdictions was deleted over the weekend. Several Hampton Roads cities including Virginia Beach and Hampton were on the list. Officials from affected cities stated their inclusion was an error. The National Sheriff’s Association president also criticized the list’s lack of transparency. The DHS page was taken down following the criticism from local officials and law enforcement groups.

Bar-Q inside Bold Mariner in Norfolk closed June 1.
Made in Norfolk apparel opened in downtown Norfolk’s Selden Market June 6 with a grand opening June 20.
NES Cornhole Lounge held a grand opening June 13 at the Williamsburg Premium Outlets.
Oceans and Ale restaurant closed its 5601 Richmond Road location in Williamsburg June 14 and will reopen in July at 4700 Monticello Ave.
Cook’s Burger Bar is set to open mid-June in Lightfoot at 6588 Richmond Road.
Tabitha Sewer Studio held a grand opening at 5707 Richmond Road, Suite 5, in the Williamsburg Premium Outlets.

Big Lots reopened stores at 4300 Portsmouth Blvd in Chesapeake and 4318 George Washington Memorial Highway in York County.
Paris Baguette Cafe opened May 3 at 638 Hilltop West Shopping Center in Virginia Beach.
Grit & Grace Counseling held a grand opening May 3 at 1897 Governor’s Pointe Drive, Suite B, in Suffolk.
Bon Secours Harbour View Medical Center opened as an inpatient hospital May 6 at 1020 Bon Secours Drive in Suffolk.
Fit Body Boot Camp celebrated opening May 9 at 1807 S. Church St. in Smithfield Commons.
Topgolf Virginia Beach reopened May 9 at 5444 Greenwich Road after undergoing a refresh.
Wayback Burgers opened its first Hampton Roads franchise May 9 in Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News.
Mr. Woody’s Gourmet Popcorn had a grand opening May 10 for its second location at 6523 Auburn Drive in Virginia Beach.
Column 15 coffee roastery and cafe opened May 10 within The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News.
Abbey Road Pub & Restaurant in Virginia Beach expanded with the opening of Lucy’s Sky Bar rooftop bar.
Yankee Candle opened May 12 and The Pampered Bath held a grand opening May 16 at Williamsburg Premium Outlets.
Colonial Aesthetics & Wellness held a ribbon cutting May 13 at 1309 Jamestown Road, Suite 204, in Williamsburg.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash opened May 16 at 450 N. Military Highway.
Virginia’s first Melty restaurant opened May 16 at 3376 Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach.
I Heart Mac & Cheese in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach is permanently closed.
The former Best Western Historic Area Inn at 201 Bypass Road reopened as Spark by Hilton Williamsburg Historic Area, accepting reservations May 22.
Bon Secours Primary Care held a ribbon cutting May 22 at 340 High Street in Portsmouth.
Food truck Foodatude opened Dizzy Izzy’s Pizza brick-and-mortar May 23 at 1804 Jamestown Road in Williamsburg.
Fogo de Chão Brazilian steakhouse opened May 26 at 4574 Virginia Beach Blvd in Virginia Beach’s Pembroke Square.
Chicken Salad Chick opened May 27 in Williamsburg’s Settler’s Market.
Greenbrier Farms at 229 Sign Pine Road in Chesapeake announced May 29 its immediate closure of most public operations.
Wave Church in Virginia Beach closed its Wave Children’s Learning Center May 30.
37North Filipino and Asian market held a grand opening May 31 at 4391 Ironbound Road in Williamsburg.

Fresh Start Day Support facility opened April 4 at 140 West Washington St. in Suffolk.
The Picklr indoor pickleball club held a grand opening April 5 at 120 Gristmill Plaza in Williamsburg.
A Touch of A Spa of Elegance held a ribbon cutting April 9 at 3206-A Richmond Road in Williamsburg.
VA Vintage held a grand opening April 12 at 1650 General Booth Blvd. in Virginia Beach.
Canine Companions nonprofit opened a site in Mathews at 17262 John Clayton Memorial Highway.
Pink Confetti creative studio held a grand opening at 12101 New Kent Highway in New Kent County.
Sundae Scoop held a grand opening April 18 for its second location at 1249 Cedar Road in Chesapeake.
Publix supermarket opened April 23 at 1620 Cedar Road in Chesapeake.
Shorty’s Diner held a grand opening April 23 at 6500A George Washington Memorial Highway in Yorktown.
BJ Roberts Behavioral Health Center in Hampton held a ribbon cutting April 25 at 300 Marcella Road.
MINISO opened April 26 at Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News.
A new Amazon delivery station in Virginia Beach held a ribbon cutting April 29 on Harpers Road.
Bar Louie suddenly closed its location at 3530 Von Schilling Drive in Hampton.

District 41 Sports Bar at 605 Pilot House Drive in Newport News closed March 3.
The Newport News Early Childhood Development Center opened to children in early March at 1500 Jefferson Avenue.
Khoalitea Cafe opened at 1485 General Booth Blvd. in Booth Hill Shopping Center in Virginia Beach.
Armed Forces Brewing Company at 211 W 24th St. in Norfolk closed.
Atlantic Waffle Co. opened mid-March at 2608 Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach.
The Cardinal Restaurant & Bar opened March 21 at 1900 Pavilion Dive in Virginia Beach.
Sky Zone trampoline park held its grand opening March 22 at 1736 General Booth Boulevard in Virginia Beach.
The UPS Store held a grand opening March 28 at 565 Cedar Road, Suite 19, in Chesapeake.
The Norfolk Wellness and Fitness Center closed to the public March 28 for new building construction.
May’s Parlor closed its Norfolk location March 29 but its Virginia Beach catering location remains open.

Pop VB balloon company added an interactive balloon bar Feb 4 at its Hilltop store in Virginia Beach.
The Rochambeau Roadside Inn reopened Feb 5 after remodeling at 929 Capitol Landing Road in Williamsburg.
The Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary held a grand reopening Feb 8 after a two-year expansion.
Glo Fiber held a grand opening Feb 13 at 2815 Godwin Blvd, Unit I-2, in Suffolk.
Legal Sea Foods closed Feb 18 after two years in Virginia Beach Town Center.
Banfield Pet Hospital inside PetSmart in Peninsula Town Center in Hampton closed the week of Feb 23.
Tim Hortons opened in Norfolk at 472 N Military Highway.
Streats Restaurant & Bar in Norfolk closed Feb 28.
Hair of the Dog Eatery at ODU in Norfolk closed Feb 28.
Bricks & Minifigs Lego store opened Feb 28 at Williamsburg Premium Outlets.
Several JOANN locations are closing nationwide, including stores in Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg.

Phoebus Auction Gallery in Hampton closed Jan 1.
Sunday 29:11 Soul Food Kitchen held a grand opening Jan 3 at 5014 Jefferson Ave. in Newport News.
Crush It Art Bar had a grand opening Jan 4 at 15154 Carrollton Blvd. in Carrollton.
CrossFit 1607 moved in early January from Casey Boulevard to a larger space within the Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex.
Joosse Family Orthodontics moved in early January to a larger office at 4324 New Town Ave. in Williamsburg.
Two GameStop locations closed in January: Chesapeake Square Mall in Chesapeake and 4615 Monticello Ave. in Williamsburg.
Suffolk-based New Dominion Pictures auctioned its building at 1000 Film Way in January but the business remains in operation with employees working remotely.
Sour Street Pizza opened in January at 35 East Ocean View Ave., Suite 400, in Norfolk.
Iron-Bound Gym in Williamsburg announced plans in mid-January to expand into the space occupied by Cogan’s Deli & Sports Pub at 4325 New Town Ave.
Ocean Storage indoor self-storage facility opened Jan 15 at 1612 Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach.
Habit Burger & Grill opened its first Hampton Roads location Jan 15 at 3981 Virginia Beach Boulevard in Virginia Beach.
Atomic Wings opened its first state location Jan 18 at 3813 Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach.
Hounds Town dog day care and boarding opened its first Hampton Roads location Jan 18 in Newport News.
Blissful Events luxury event venue celebrated its grand opening Jan 19 at 7207 Merrimac Trail in Williamsburg.
Suffolk Humane Society held a grand reopening Jan 24 at 412 Kings Fork Road.
US Foods opened two Chef’Store warehouses Jan 25 at 6 Towne Centre Way in Hampton and 4001 Virginia Beach Blvd. in Virginia Beach.
Redwood Smoke Shack opened Jan 28 in the former Bennett’s Creek Farm Market in Suffolk.
Chicken Salad Chick opened in January at 733 Eden Way North in Chesapeake.
UrgentVet opened a Newport News location at 12266 Jefferson Ave.
Charlie’s Antiques in Lightfoot closed Jan 31 after more than 50 years.
D1 Training gym opened Jan 31 at 3636 Virginia Beach Blvd. in Virginia Beach.

Phoebus Dive Bar in Hampton closed Dec 31.
Back Bay Brewing Co. had its last day at Back Bay Beach House in Virginia Beach Dec 28; The Crow and Anchor pub will replace it.
Publix held a grand opening Dec 12 at 2200 General Booth Blvd. in Virginia Beach, its first Virginia Beach location.
The Whale Tea bubble tea shop held a soft opening Dec 12 at 101 College Row, Suite 4107, in Williamsburg.
Pepper Palace hot sauce store opened Dec 7 at 425 Prince George St. in downtown Williamsburg.
New Realm Brewing Co. opened its second Virginia location Nov 22 at 5941 Harbour View Blvd. in Suffolk.

The Barry Art Museum at Old Dominion University will close July 31 for expansion.
Funny Bone Comedy Club is relocating to Pembroke Square in Virginia Beach and should open by early August, with DraftCade arcade opening several weeks later.
Born Primitive is expanding its Virginia Beach headquarters in the fall at 1469-1489 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Kiddie Academy child care plans to open in October at 640 Cedar Road in Chesapeake.