I had the privilege of speaking to preschoolers at Watkins Early Childhood Center in Newport News.  One of the teachers, Jennifer Cooper,  invited me to talk with the kids about different aspects of my job as a reporter/anchor here at WAVY-TV.

Let's Raise Our Hands Together!

The kids were really excited to get involved in learning how to report in and anchor a newscast!

I Get to Work With My Friends!

They learned that I’m great friends  with everyone I work with, like WAVY morning show anchor, Kerri Furey! They loved to hear that you can have fun at work and “play” with your friends!

It's Time to Become Reporters!

“Are you ready to be reporters?!” I asked the kids. “Let’s go!”  I gave the kids the topic of our (pretend) story for the day:

A bear escaped from the zoo!

As a reporter, you have to ask questions and boy did the kids have some great questions!  They asked:

What kind of bear is it?

How old is the bear?

What does it like to do?

What does it like to eat?

What is its name?

…and when all of those great questions were answered, we “helped” find Bamboo, the baby Panda, and return him to the zoo!

We Found the Panda!

The kids learned how great it feels to be able to help people every day!  It was a great school visit and we’re already planning another for next year!

Thanks to Watkins Early Childhood Center!

In one of our recent Hometown Hot Spots segments, I had the privilege of meeting the one and only groundhog (woodchuck) you can see up close and personal in Hampton Roads!  The groundhog lives on the land of the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News.

Groundhog Getting His Picture Taken

As my photographer, LV, and I learned, groundhogs aren’t exactly the easiest animal to shoot video of! He wanted to run everywhere (and so did the groundhog)!

I like to call the picture to the right my “Simba” picture.  You know…from the Lion King when Simba is held up for all of the animals to see?! I never thought a groundhog could look so regal!

This adorable animal starred in the VA Living Museum’s “Groundhog Night.”  There were activities and games for kids and their parents and of course, everyone got to see the star of the show eat and mingle with the crowd!

It’s just one of many fun and educational events the VA Living Museum has on a regular basis.

We learned (and so did the kids!) the groundhog will eat nuts, carrots, and other veggies.  Be sure to head on out and pay the groundhog a visit! He might be a bit sleepy because I’m told this is his hibernation time, but you might get lucky!

As a local news reporter, I always hear people ask, “Can I get some good news for once? Why does everything have to be death and destruction?”

Well, on our morning show (WAVY News Sunrise and WAVY News Today), we’ve answered your call in a segment called Hometown Hot Spots.  The stories air every day in our 6:00 A.M. hour.

Today, my story is on an event being held at the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton called Space, Sports, and Sprockit.  It’s a special day for everyone and it honors Black History Month.

Take your kids! While they’re there, they’ll learn about why you can’t throw a curve ball on the moon and participate in helium balloon races.  At the same time, they’ll get to meet the following people (and robot):

Saying “thank you” costs you nothing, but to those on the receiving end of those kind words, it’s priceless.  This past Sunday, I was fortunate enough to meet a family who is taking “thank you” a step further.  Rather than saying it, they’re showing the phrase.

This month, the Bryant family is focusing their thanks on the men and women who lost their lives or were hurt when terrorists blew a hole in the side of USS Cole while it was refueling in Yemen.  That attack happened 10 years ago, Tuesday.

The Bryant’s front yard is now a shrine to the Cole sailors.

On every handmade tombstone is the name of each sailor who died on USS Cole in that attack on October 12, 2000.

On their front porch, banners of thanks and remembrance proudly hang.

Remembrance Banner

While they honor the 17 sailors who lost their lives and the dozens who were hurt on that tragic day, the Bryants also took the time to honor those in all branches of the military, past and present.

My job allows me to meet extraordinary people every day.  I was lucky to meet the Bryants…a family who wants to do more than just say thank you.