It’s been quite an experience for a Chesapeake mother and daughter who flew to Los Angeles for the big American Idol Finale.

Jessica & Cindy at Idol

You watched it here on Fox 43 TV, but Cynthia and Jessica Chang got to see it live in the Nokia Theater.  And they even got into an after party!  They were tired, but stuck around and got to meet former Idol champ and country singer, Scotty McCreary.

Jessica with former Idol winner Scotty McCreary

Cynthia won the Fox 43/Hot 100.5 “Finale fly away” contest.  They emailed me pictures and notes during their trip.  Jessica got to meet many of the Idol contestants and got lots of autographs.

Jessica with with Idol contestants Paul, Devin, and Curtis

Jessica got all of the autographs

They could see the red carpet being set up from their hotel room.

Jessica near the red carpet at the Nokia Theater

When they weren’t at the show, she and her mom checked out the L.A. Zoo and the Grammy Museum.

Jessica at the Grammy Museum next to Cee-Lo’s outfit

They say the trip, the weather, and the experience have been perfect and we’re glad we could be a part of it here at Fox 43. And Jessica has quite the story to tell and pictures to share with her classmates at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy when she gets back home.

Jessica representing her school Nansemond-Suffolk Academy outside Nokia

Here’s some of what Cindy sent me in her own words:

“Everybody seemed so excited to be there. A host named Corey got the crowd all energized before the show, and he’d interact with the crowd between commercial breaks.
It was neat to see how fast the crew worked to change sets in that brief time during the commercial break. Staff would swarm the judges to fix make-up and hair. That made me chuckle a little bit. Keith Urban several times went to the crowd in those brief minutes and engaged. Gave one gal a Birthday hug.
Both Kree and Candice were Amazing! I couldn’t vote, because I’d be voting for both of them! Kree is a country girl, so I am sure I will be following her career more closely and certainly will see her perform again in the future, since I’m a big concert buff. I will get off the plane in Norfolk tomorrow to go directly to the Luke Bryan concert at the amphitheater. Jessica is a big Hot 100.5 listener, so she will be following Candice (& Angie who she adores) more closely.
I’m not sure what we will be doing today before the show. We may go to the Zoo if it isn’t too far.
Thanks for being a part of our excitement. This has been a very special time for my daughter & I!Jessica was able to see all of the Idols from a short distance away. Most came to the fence and signed autographs. Jessica got autographs from Angie, Lazero, Burnell, Janelle, Paul, Curtis, & Amber.The show was wonderful. It was fun to see how they do the show. Very Exciting! Both Kree and Candice were fantastic!”

Red Carpet

It started with an ad campaign on television and in print asking folks to gather up non-perishable goods to donate to the local needy for the big food drive.

Then, the big day was Saturday, May 4th.  The Face of Fox 43, Rhonda Arrington and I  joined the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast for the Helping Hands Food Drive.

  People dropped off non-perishable food items to Walmart

collection sites where the donations were sorted and loaded onto trucks for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia andother area foodbanks.  It was cold, windy and rainy day, but we bundled up and huddled close and got the job done. They collected thousands of pounds of food to be distributed to help feed the hungry in our community. Some of the girls earned their Girl Scout Gold Award for help organizing projects devoted to the issue of hunger. I never got to participate in a project like this when I was a Girl Scout, but I’m happy to see how this group came together to help out.  WAVY and Fox 43 TV were among the sponsors of this event. Thank you to all who stopped by to say hi and support the cause.  If you missed us at the food drive, you can always help local food banks by volunteering your time or donating canned/boxed goods and of course money always helps, too.

Another year of celebrating hospitality workers in Norfolk and another great (and loud) rally at Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center downtown.

The Booker T. Washington High School band provided the welcoming beats and the area mascots gave hugs and put smiles on our faces.

The Champions of Hospitality Rally is put on by VisitNorfolk as part of National Travel And Tourism Week.

We never forget our dear Uncle Pete Decker who was one of Norfolk’s biggest cheerleaders and the star of this show for years. His sons Paul, Peter and Phillip have taken over for the late great local legend who died last year.

Norfolk Airport Hilton won for large group most spirited. They’re employees put on a quite a skit with a boxing theme.  The Downtown Norfolk Council won for small group. They consist of those always helpful ambassadors who greet visitors to the city and guide us all in the right direction. The competition was fierce and one thing is  certain, there are a lot of hospitality workers in Norfolk who absolutely love what they do!

My  co-workers Bruce Rader, Tom Schaad and Stephanie Harris joined me on the judging panel for most spirited – along with Old Dominion University’s football coach , Bobby Wilder.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Admissions/Box Office – Megan Gullickson of the Virginia Stage Company & Virginia Arts Festival

Audio Visual – Everett White of Norfolk Special Events

 Banquets – Lenora Southall of Norfolk Waterisde Marriott

Bartender – John Queen of Kincaid’s

Concierge– Ellie Porambo of Hilton Norfolk Airport

Front Desk – Amelita Avendano of Navy Gateway Inn & Suites and Loleta McGary of Navy Lodge

Host – Mikah Haydu of Shula’s

 Housekeepers – Quenella Somerville of Courtyard by Marriott Downtown and Mary Matthews of Residence Inn Downtown

 Kitchen – Mary Hearvey of Holiday Inn Airport and David Moore of Sheraton Norfolk Waterside

 Maintenance – Rafael Rosado of the Ted Constant Convocation Center

 Military Tourism Ambassador – Gregory Bell of USN

 Parking Attendant – Ruth Jones of MacArthur Center

 Public Service Ambassador – Marcia Oubre of Norfolk Botanical Garden

 Receptionist – Sarah Gilbert of Ted Constant Convocation Center

 Retail – Elizabeth Joseph of Nauticus

 Server – Mark Montgomery of 219 An American Bistro

 Valet – Marcus Watterson of Byrd & Baldwin

 Volunteer – Don Pipes of Nauticus

 Zoo Keepers – Aubry Hall of Virginia Zoo

 Zoo Ambassador – Oscar the Red Panda

When you hear us report on fires we often say the Red Cross is helping the victims with food and a place to stay. You don’t often hear about how the YWCA helps women and families with a place to stay and counseling follow domestic violence, sexual assault or another crisis.

The YWCA of  South Hampton Roads held it annual Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon on March 28, 2013.  I was honored to serve as emcee and even more honored to have been recognized as one of the award recipients last year.

The organization has a new leader, Ruth Jones, who took over in June of 2012.  She told the packed crowd at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott about the history of the local YWCA. Founded in 1911, it has grown to upheld its mission of “eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all”.

She also shared these stats:

During the 2011-2012 fiscal year, YWCA Hampton Roads provided:

• 2, 472 sexual assault victims with mental health counseling and support;
• 14,178 nights of emergency shelter and 11,085 nights of transitional housing to victims of domestic violence;
• 7,056 meals to 319 children participating in our before and after-school childcare programs.

Some people simply don’t know about the services and leadership opportunities provided by the “YW” for women and racial and ethnic minorities.

The Women of Distinction Award goes to women who have made significant contributions to the community through professional activities and volunteer efforts.

Here’s the list of the 2013 recipients.

• Elena Montello (Arts)
• Priscilla Trinder Roady (Business)
• Sandra Parker (Communications)
• Bonnie Sutton (Education)
• Jane Short (Finance)
• Clarissa McAdoo (Government)
• Mary Jane Hall (Law)
• Dr. Michelle Clayton (Medicine)
• Kathy Nelson (Military)
• Debra Dandridge (Nonprofit)
• Inger Pincus Friedman (Science and Technology)
• Denise Britt and Janice Dildy (Volunteerism)

The organization can always use financial and volunteer support. You never know just how many lives you can change by helping out.

I had the chance to share my career story with some Newport News high school students on March 6, 2013.

They attend different schools in the city, but they are in the Telecommunications Program.

One our former WAVY & Fox 43 News editors, Carl Daniels, invited me to speak to the juniors and seniors. He started working there in the fall.  I told the teens about my work schedule and the realities of working in the t.v. news business. I told them it’s a competitive industry, but not to give up. They’ll know it’s really in their heart when they work their way up the ladder from internships to the big job.

The kids have quite a setup there for writing, shooting, and editing. The equipment is high quality. Some students help the staff  film council meetings and school sports and create commercials.
This experience really gives them a jump start on college- and skills that will last a lifetime! Who knows, maybe some will be working with me someday soon?

A special honor for Virginia Beach’s former mayor and I was honored to be a part of it.
The Diocese of Richmond and Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia presented its Bishop’s Humanitarian Award to Meyera Oberndorf on March 4, 2013.

According to the program, “The award honors those whose service exemplifies the ideal that society is worth improving and that sharing and caring are part of a well-lived life”.  Mayor Oberndorf certainly fits the description.

Her daughters, friends, and colleagues attended the luncheon at Beth Sholom Village.
The event was originally planned for last fall, but her husband Roger passed away around that time.
Oberndorf is now battling Alzheimer’s disease, but I can tell you- she’s as witty as ever. Speakers included Rabbi Israel Zoberman, The Reverend James E. Parke, Mary Russo, Joel Rubin and others.

All praised her for her work before during and after her term to help the community- particularly children and families. As always, she was very gracious and shared stories about her family and how they supported her through her busy days as mayor.

My mom Becky, dad Henry, Meyera and me!

So, how do I know “Auntie Meyera” so well?
She and my grandfather John Perry served on Virginia Beach city council together in the late 1980′s.  Her daughters Heidi and Marcie were in school with me at Kempsville, too.

Mayor Oberndorf at my high school graduation (That’s my Nana on my left)

In fact, here’s a picture of her at my high school graduation.  Small world, huh?

Some Virginia Beach teens are reaching out to help the less fortunate.   When I visited Ocean Lakes High School on February 5, 2013, I told them about my mission trip to Haiti and some of the community service programs I participate in and I encouraged them to also give back. Well, they told me about the “Teens For Jeans” program that they were working on.

They just sent me these pictures of boxes full of new and gently worn jeans collected at the school.  They received 380 pairs!

The project is part of a larger drive sponsored by Aeropostale.  OLHS dropped off the jeans at the Aeropostale at  Lynnhaven Mall  and they will make sure they get to Union Mission Ministries in Norfolk. Other local schools also collected jeans, and the organization has received 2.5 million pairs to date from across the country,  so this should really benefit a lot of folks who need it!  Maybe you have some jeans to donate? Check out the Teens For Jeans  website for more information.

It’s becoming an annual tradition:  Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach invites me to be a guest speaker during its Founders Week.

The theme changes every year. This year’s  was “Beyond These Walls”.  During my visit on February 5, 2013 I started by reading some quotes. These are just a few:

“Education is that whole system of human training within and without the school house walls, which molds and develops men.” — W. E. B. Du Bois

“Home is any four walls that enclose the right person.” — Helen Rowland

And I asked my Facebook friends what they would share with the kids and Darnell Jordan posted this,   “As I stood at on your High School door entrance and pondered; that beyond these walls are educated minds. A wall that will forever stand for education. As the school bell rings at the end of the school day, a wall will appear. But this wall shall always remind me that ” I have entered now I will pursue and lead by the example that is now bestowed in me.”

I talked to the students about how their lives are really just beginning and the choices they make now will shape the way their lives turn out.  They’ll make mistakes, but they must know how to recover from them. I warned them about watching what they post on social media sites and also told them how taking care of their minds, bodies and spirit now will benefit them in the future as they begin to age.  They asked me a lot of questions about the TV news business. I told them it’s changing rapidly with so many platforms for people to get their news. We are all doing so much more with less and it can be a difficult career for people who are trying to take care of their families. I told them with anything, they should pursue a career by starting with doing something they love and would do even it paid nothing- or close to nothing.

What a great group of kids! I have a soft spot in my heart for OLHS because my youngest brother, Nick graduated from there and continues to thrive in an engineering career.

Oh, and thanks for the cool Tervis cup with the dolphins on it. I’ve already used it at the gym!

The Lenten season is upon us and even if you don’t observe it, it’s always a good time to do a little extra and give back to the community.My job provides many opportunities throughout the year to emcee events and speak to groups.

These pictures are from the United Way Women’s Leadership Council luncheon in the fall when Mrs. Joan Brock was the keynote speaker. She and her husband Macon are major philanthropists in Hampton Roads. He founded the popular Dollar Tree, Inc. She encouraged guests to continue helping out the community and less fortunate with their time and talent and monetary donations.

A young lady named Brittany shared her story of family troubles and how the kindness of philanthropists helped her get out of her situation.

I attended a different United Way luncheon held by the African-American Leadership Society that featured Maurice Jones as the keynote speaker. He’s the former President of Pilot Media who became deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2012. He shared personal stories about how philanthropy helped his ailing grandfather get good medical care and it also helped him attend college.

Hopefully the acts of kindness by other people will inspire others to do the same. There are so many opportunities here in Hampton Roads and everywhere else! Giving back always feels good.

February is Career and Technical Education Month and I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth invited me to  speak to students about how I use technology in my job and everyday life.

I told the C.T.E.  students how  multimedia interaction is rapidly changing broadcast television. We are constantly using Facebook and Twitter to drive viewers to our newscasts and web pages, share breaking news alerts.  I also talked to them about  staying safe online as they use social media.
They were very attentive, asked interesting questions and gave me some cool Greyhounds gear as a thank you gift.

Can’t believe they are right up the street from the WAVY/Fox 43 studios, but that was my first visit. I’m sure it won’t be my last!