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?

Newport News celebrated Hospitality Day as part of National Travel and Tourism Week.

Various contests were held outside near the fountain at City Center at Oyster Point.

I was honored to serve as a judge for the cheering-singing competition.

The Point Plaza Suites won this one.

The Newport News Hospitality Association also hosted a relay race and bed-making and towel-folding competitions.

Several hotel and restaurant employees came out and showed their talents.

Here’s a list of the winners:
· Bed-making competition – Hampton Inn & Suites
· Towel-folding competition – Hilton Garden Inn
· Cheering/Singing competition – Point Plaza Suites
· Relay Race – Hilton Garden Inn

WAVY has asked my to do a monthly feature on The Hampton Roads Show called “Hampton Roads Through the Lens.”  So I thought it timely to change the name of the photo-blog to accomodate the task.  This installment comes from a recent drive across the James River Bridge on hot muggy afternoon into sunset.   Yes, another flirtation with fading sunlight over water.  But it’s hard to dispute the beauty of such captures.  These come from Huntington Park Beach in Newport News.  Welcome Summer!

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!

Hidenwood ES K-2 kids

"Do Your Best!

That’s how I felt before- during- and after this visit to Hidenwood Elementary in Newport News  Thursday, (Nov. 18, ’10)  Faculty and staff were gracious enough to invite me and allow me time to talk with the children and pump them up for a day- a year- a LIFETIME of learning. 

Hidenwood ES students

Hidenwood Letters to Don

And to sweeten the pot, the children wrote me “thank you” letters.  No, No, No,  thank YOU, Hidenwood elementary.  Quick shout out to Ms. Deborah Pope Johnson- parent liason at H.E.

Achievable Dream School, NN students

As I write this, I’ve just finished reading news stories about 6 deaths over the weekend. 6. “And, have a nice day.”  That’s why I was happy to find these pictures. Check the smiles, the giggles, the “I’ve-got-something-goin’-on-and-you-don’t-know-about-it!- grins. They come easy to this group everyday. That’s because, everyday, someone is telling these children that it’s okay to dream a big dream, and that that dream can come true.  And that’s despite the fact that many of the children live in- or near a nightmare of a neighborhood in parts of southeast Newport News.

"I have a dream and I'm going to a achieve it!"

Will you help me make my dream come true?

These children are students at the Achievable Dream elementary school in Newport News. And that means that -everyday- every adult in that school is working toward one goal: Encouraging a child to have a dream, develope it, and achieve it. The A-D elementary, middle and high schools have wracked up some impressive results since 1992.  ”Dreamers” are now going to college- and on scholarships that they’ve earned by completing the program.  But such a program comes with a cost. And sponsors want you to have fun while you help support the children- who otherwise might end up in my news report.  The Achievable Dream’s major fundraiser- the 2010 TENNIS BALL ANNUAL GALA happens this Saturday, October 23, 2010; 6 to 11 p.m.  You’ll find “hundreds of silent and live auction items, a delectable dinner and fun fellowship. Your attendance supports the children of An Achievable Dream by providing funds for extended school days, uniforms, Saturday School, Summer Intersession, and our S.A.M.E. (Social, Academic and Moral Education) curriculum! As always, there will be many surprises with an exciting live auction and more! Don’t Miss It!”

It’s at the Hampton Roads Convention Center 1610 Coliseum Drive, located just off I-64 at exit 263, next to the Hampton Coliseum.  It’s a magical night for a wonderful cause.”  To reserve your tickets, call 757-599-9472.   And even if you don’t go, find a way to support the children… and give me some good news to talk about.

Yeah. Amazing what you can find at Costco. Actually, as I was coming out of the Newport News store and feeling satisfied that I’d completed my honey-do list, they jumped me. About five of ‘em. Big dudes – 6’3″ 275 I believe. Pictures don’t tell the real story. But I got what evidence I could with my phone. I calmed down when I recognized their uniforms. CUB SCOUTS!

Cub Scouts got Questions? I've got answers!

Scouters having fun

Pack 6 out of the Denbigh area in Newport News. The fellas just wanted to ask me some questions like “WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR JOB?” It’s not a job, it’s an adventure. “HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU MAKE?”  That’s personal. Actually, I was really excited to meet their adult volunteers – three beautiful “den mothers”  who help to make the pack possible. God Bless you scouters and adult volunteers.

In the flurry of bad news reports we aired today there was a nugget of good news.  Take another look at the story on the arrest of the alledged shooter in the “Second ‘Shot House’ Suspect Arrested” case(8/8/10) in Newport News.   The good news is that someone called in a TIP about the NIP joint shooting.  

Make the call, make a difference

 Maybe the message is beginning to sink in – at least in the East End:

“END THE VIOLENCE- END THE SILENCE.”