HR Partnership | September 1, 2010

The Virginia Beach Crime Prevention Steering Committee was established in 1977 to act as an advocate for community participation in crime prevention as well as to support and advise the Virginia Beach Police Department with community concerns regarding crime. Each year the Steering Committee has honored individuals, community organizations and businesses that exemplified the values and mission of the Virginia Beach Crime Prevention Steering Committee. Nominations are being sought for this year’s awards, i.e., activities that occurred during the past twelve months.

Award categories are…

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Category: Government & Citizens | No Comments »
Tags: Hampton Roads, Public Safety, Virginia Beach

HR Partnership | August 30, 2010

The Peninsula Council for Workforce Development (PCFWD) is hosting this series in partnership with the Defense and Homeland Security Consortium (PentagonSouth) of Technology Hampton Roads (formerly Hampton Roads Technology Council) and Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC).

Ten professional leaders and top level executives in our community have volunteered once again to present a seminar from their respective expertise. It is a fantastic series for a very low cost that is aimed at those in our community exploring the idea of doing business with the government (especially the DoD). At the Seminars you’ll learn Strategic Planning, Marketing, Proposal Development, Contract Performance, Contract Administration and Accounting, Government Customer Expectations, Subcontracting with Prime Contractors, Profitability and Administration, Employee Relations and Small Business Resources.

Classes are held at the Peninsula Workforce Development Center, 600 Butler Farm Road, Hampton, VA on Tuesdays, September 14 – November 16, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:15 p.m. Participants will receive an official certificate of completion from Thomas Nelson Community College and 2.0 Continuing Education Units.

“I very strongly recommend this seminar. For a small investment in time and cost, it provides a unique opportunity to be exposed to the full spectrum of the business environment for contractors operating in the defense and homeland security marketplace, crossing all functional lines.” — Harry Train, Admiral, U.S. Navy (ret.)

“As I retired from the Navy, the seminar helped me understand the business. I was able to use it immediately in my job in industry.” — Rick Doran, Allied Command Transformation, Norfolk, VA

For further information or to register contact Carolyn Tarrant or Rita Bond at the Peninsula Council for Workforce Development. Phone: (757) 826.3327 or Email: ctarrant@pcfwd.org or rbond@pcfwd.org.

From Matthew James, President & CEO, Peninsula Council for Workforce Development (PCFWD)

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Category: Education & Workforce, Government & Citizens | No Comments »
Tags: Education, Government, Hampton Roads, PCFWD, Technology, TNCC, Workforce

HR Partnership | August 21, 2010

IPads, Text Messaging Enhances Communication Efforts in Williamsburg, Va.

Posted Aug 18, 2010, By Russell Nichols, Staff Writer for Government Technology

As iPads and smartphones continue to transform ideas of how governments communicate, officials in Williamsburg, Va., have realized the power of touch.

In July, the city chose to adopt iPads to eliminate printed materials for City Council meetings and enhance e-mail and Web access for council members. And this week, local officials launched CITY411, a text messaging system that allows residents to text problems that need to be fixed around the city.

In both cases, the idea is to move beyond traditional methods of communication so city workers and citizens can better navigate the digital landscape with the latest tech tools and save money, time and resources.

With iPads, for instance, the city cuts out the $2,000 a year …

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Category: Government & Citizens, Research & Technology | No Comments »
Tags: Civic Engagement, Hampton Roads, Technology, Virginia, Williamsburg

HR Partnership | August 20, 2010

WORKING TOGETHER TO FIGHT CRIME ON THE PENINSULA

From the Public Information Office in the City of Newport News’ Office of the Chief of Police (PIO).

After being contacted by the publisher of the Daily Press asking to meet with the police chief and the agencies’ Public Information Officers (PIO) “to discuss an idea that may prove mutually beneficial,” the Newport News Police Department and the Hampton Police Division began a very successful crime fighting project.

Newport News Chief James D. Fox and Hampton Chief Charles Jordan, along with their PIOs, met with the Daily Press publisher, Mr. Digby A. Solomon, who spoke about how the newspaper, in the past, has sold the most papers, and in some cases every paper printed, on days when either agency, as a part of their “warrant list” operations, placed a paid advertisement in the paper listing some of their most wanted persons, including photos.

To the delight of the chiefs and the PIOs, Mr. Solomon offered, at no charge, a full page, for the two agencies to share, in the paper each week listing wanted persons and their photographs along with a crime of the week. Considering the cost of a full page advertisement, both the chiefs and the PIOs were extremely excited about this opportunity.

The “warrant list” operations have taken place two to three times a year since 2004 and have proven extremely successful for both agencies. The day the advertisement appears in the paper and for a day or two after, the department has a number of law enforcement officers (from local, state and federal agencies) divided into arrest teams. These teams follow up on the numerous tips called in to provide information on the location of wanted persons and also attempt to serve other outstanding warrants. The most recent operation in Newport News netted approximately 70 arrests nearly all of which involved felony charges.

This opportunity is a definite win – win for everyone involved. Law enforcement gets to put out their information at no cost, in tough budget times, thereby helping the community, and the paper will most likely see an increase in revenue, while performing a service to the community by working with the police to make the cities safer places to live, work and play.

Since the weekly “Wanted Page” began on May 6, 2010, well over 100 wanted persons have been arrested in Newport News and Hampton….

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Category: Government & Citizens | 1 Comment »
Tags: Government, Hampton, Hampton Roads, Newport News, Public Safety

HR Partnership | August 3, 2010

From Joe Turner, Editor of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission’s (HRPDC) HR Review and the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization’s (HRTPO) Crossings

This is it.

This is the final paper edition of Hampton Roads Review. As someone who in college participated in the transition of the student newspaper from cut and paste to on-screen computer layouts, it was evident then that a day would come when electronic communications would eclipse print. I just didn’t realize that I would be shepherding such a transition for a publication with a history that is as old as I am. It is an honor to do so, and I am confident that what we have planned for the future electronic Hampton Roads Review will do justice to this publication’s legacy.

In this last print issue, HRPDC staff continues to examine and provide a local view of issues that are receiving national attention. Regional efforts toward greater energy efficiency are discussed on Page four. Keeping with energy, there are discussions in Virginia regarding alternative energy sources, and it’s not offshore wind or drilling. An update on the potential of mining uranium in the Commonwealth is provided on Page eight.

‘Tis the Season; Hurricane Season, that is. Our Emergency Management planners are encouraging everyone to get prepared and participate in the upcoming National Preparedness Month, Page 11. In addition, our staff recently participated in a tabletop exercise for the region’s Chief Administrative Officers regarding decision making during a catastrophic event, using a Category 3 hurricane as the event, Page 12.

Click on HR Review cover graphic for a PDF file of the Summer 2010 issue.

Just as the HRPDC’s Hampton Roads Review ends its printed run, so too does CROSSINGS. While not as steeped in tradition, this publication has been well received and noted for the amount of information contained on its pages. The move to electronic format shouldn’t change that. If anything, it should provide the same information and more…with greater frequency.

As this is the final printed edition, HRTPO staff wanted to make it memorable and has stuffed this edition full of information. There are updates on the results of the most recent General Assembly’s action with regard to transportation, Page 18. Numerous hot topic items are also represented. Want to know what’s transpiring with regard to High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail. Check out Page 16. What about the Project Prioritization tool? It’s about to get its first use as part of the 2034 Long-Range Transportation Planning process, see Page 9.

In addition to the hot topics, staff continues to work more traditional items. Two corridor studies for roads in Suffolk were recently completed, Page 12. Staff has been researching regional land use planning initiatives across the US and outside the country in hopes of finding strategies that could aid in the development of a regional land use map for application in various modes of transportation planning in the Hampton Roads region, see Page 7. Finally, as it is hurricane season, staff has provided a reminder about evacuation routes should a hurricane threaten the region, see Page 13.

I’ll end my note with a final reminder to sign-up for our e-communications so you will not miss the first issue of the new electronic CROSSINGS (http://HRTPO.org) or the first issue of the new electronic Hampton Roads Review (sign up at http://HRPDCVA.gov).

As always, contact me with any comments or suggestions.

Click on Crossings cover graphic for a PDF of the Summer 2010 issue.

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Category: Economy, Government & Citizens, Transportation | 1 Comment »
Tags: Economy, Hampton Roads, HRPDC, HRTPO, Transportation

HR Partnership | July 30, 2010

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is an organization of volunteer emergency workers who have received specific training in basic disaster response skills, and who agree to supplement existing emergency responders in their neighborhoods in the event of a major disaster. CERT is present in the entire Hampton Roads area but is coordinated by each jurisdiction. Since CERT volunteers have to work under the standard operating procedures for each city or county, they all differ according to the demographics, geography, and needs of the community.

“The Newport News Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program began one year ago, and this year the City is providing an additional course to include Pet Shelter Operations,” said Dana Perry from the city’s Office of Emergency Management.

According to Perry, the core CERT curriculum consists of basic first responder training to include Disaster Preparedness, CERT Organization, Medical OPS I and II, Disaster Psychology, Terrorism, Fire Suppression, and Light Search and Rescue. Each class takes approximately 3 hours to complete, and volunteers must complete all of the modules to become a CERT volunteer and affiliated with the city’s Emergency Response capabilities.

Classes in Newport News begin the first Thursday in September (9/2/10) and are held over seven consecutive weeks with the final disaster scenario exercise held on a Saturday morning in October. The Pet Shelter OPS class will be offered later in the fall.

Dogs stranded during Hurricane Katrina; Photo credit: AP

Once citizens complete all of the training and become credentialed as an official CERT volunteer, with the specialty in Pet Shelter OPS, they will be called upon during times of disaster when it becomes necessary to provide Newport News residents with emergency shelter….

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Category: Government & Citizens | No Comments »
Tags: Citizens, Civic Engagement, Hampton Roads, Newport News

HR Partnership | July 21, 2010

Submit your recommendations to: http://www.reform.virginia.gov.

In light of the unprecedented budgetary challenges facing the Commonwealth and the increasing demand for core public services, government must become more effective and efficient. Governor McDonnell’s Government Reform & Restructuring Commission will work to put forth bold and innovative ideas to ensure that duplicative, outdated, unnecessary and ineffective services and service delivery methods are eliminated and that state revenues are dedicated to the core functions of government. We must make government simpler and easier to use, more efficient and more effective. That is the work of this Commission….

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Category: Government & Citizens | 1 Comment »
Tags: Hampton Roads, Virginia

HR Partnership | July 18, 2010

It’s been a busy hurricane season, and on October 15, Hurricane Nerissa, a Category 2 storm, makes a direct hit on Hampton Roads with the eye of the storm passing over the middle of the resort area of Virginia Beach and progressing through Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News and Williamsburg before dissipating on its way towards Washington, DC. Amazingly, there weren’t any evacuation problems, but the storm did cause flooding in the Midtown Tunnel and Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, and the James River Bridge was damaged as well. Fortunately, regional planners and experts on disaster response and recovery are standing by as well as others from around the country.

This was the scenario the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) walked through with a crowd of 75 people on Wednesday, July 14^th and Thursday, July 15^th at Lockheed Martin’s Center for Innovation in Suffolk, VA. The hurricane was used as a backdrop to a broader conversation about disaster preparedness and appropriate policies….

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Government & Citizens | 2 Comments »
Tags: Chamber, Hampton Roads, Hurricane

HR Partnership | July 14, 2010

FilmOffice@HRP.org (757) 943-0993

Save the Hampton Roads Film Office

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Category: About Hampton Roads, Arts & Culture, Business Community, Economy, Education & Workforce, Government & Citizens, HR History, Military Bastion, Research & Technology, Transportation, Visit HR | 2 Comments »
Tags: Arts, Business, Civic Engagement, Culture, Economy, Education, Military Bastion, Technology, Tourism, Transportation

HR Partnership | July 13, 2010

Empower Hampton Roads (EHR) invites the citizens of Hampton Roads to attend their Seventh Annual Public Meeting to be held at Hampton University Student Auditorium, Hampton, VA on Thursday, July 22, 7:00 – 8:30 pm.

Photo credit: Federal Transportation Administration

Subject: “On The Bus” – Accessing Opportunities through an effective Transportation System

With an anticipated turn-out of up to two hundred participants – a mix of public bus riders and advocates, EHR will launch a regional transportation campaign at this meeting in order to build partnerships with Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) and other transit organizations.

Empower Hampton Roads, a regional coalition of faith communities, is committed to working with all citizens of Hampton Roads to achieve equal access to a healthy and affordable lifestyle through active participation in the process of making communities more viable. Having reliable and affordable transportation is essential to all residents in our cities….

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Category: Government & Citizens, Transportation | No Comments »
Tags: Hampton Roads, HRT, Tranist, Transportation