Next year, there will be a new sheriff in town. Virginia Beach’s Paul Lanteigne, who’s held the job in that city since 2000, is retiring. Beach residents have a choice between two men with similar views on public safety. Virginia Beach Police Capt. John Bell and State Senator Ken Stolle both say they’re committed to improving, maintaining, and promoting public safety. That’s a good first step for any candidate.

Bell and Stolle differ on other goals and objectives for the Sheriff’s Office.

Stolle, the Republican candidate, says he “will not overturn a judge’s order” to let people out of jail on work release or electronic monitoring. He told me in a phone interview, “if they have 90 days, they serve it.”

Democratic candidate Bell said he does not want to “disregard a judge’s order. I want to work with the judges to increase the use of electronic monitoring and alternative sentencing.” Bell said he does not support the idea for violent offenders, but believes it could be used to take the load off the jail in the daytime, giving deputies more ability to focus on controlling violent offenders. Bell said a person in jail for failure to pay child support is one example of a person who might benefit from electronic monitoring.

As for overall goals, I asked both candidates where would they use the position to make changes in Virginia Beach.

Stolle: “I would use my experience in the legislature to change laws governing the use of inmates for work. Right now Sheriffs are prohibited from using an inmate workforce on private property… I think it could be expanded primarily in two areas. I’d like to see an exception, for example, for graffiti. I’d also like to create a faith-based commission to find and designate indigent people who need repairs. Supervised inmates could do the work.”

Bell: “There’s a trend where we build more cells, I want to address it on the front end… The Sheriff’s Office ought to be more involved in mentoring in neighborhoods, beyond D.A.R.E., but to older youths. We can can be role models for our youth… Also, once people are incarcerated, how are they prepared to re-enter community? …So many people come into jail with drug addictions. We can do more with drug abuse programs in jail. While they’re in jail, they can also get education, so they’re better prepared for when they get out.”

Bell and Stolle have plenty of ideas about how to operate and manage the Virginia Beach Correctional Center. Their campaign signs have popped up all across Virginia Beach in recent weeks. While neither candidate will likely spend money to run television ads, both are spending plenty of time on the streets. If you live in Virginia Beach, look for Capt. Bell, or Sen. Stolle (or one of their friends) to knock on your door in the next few weeks. Just in case you’re not at home when they stop by to ask for your vote, you can click here to take a closer look at Capt. John Bell or St. Sen. Ken Stolle.

It’s a big gift-buying season.  After all, you may know someone who has worked so hard for that diploma.  While you may not be able to give that new grad a job, you can get something he or she can use.

We chatted with Ruby Weber, owner of Please and Thank You in Virgini Beach for some ideas on our sister station Fox 43 for the News at 7.

Thanks to all of you who came to Moe’s Southwest Grill at Hilltop in Virginia Beach and supported “Moe Money For Charity” night.

I was joined by my colleague Kay Young and local radio hosts to raise money for organizations of our choice. There were also silent auction items for folks to bid on including Coldplay tickets, dvd’s, mugs, hats, and a guitar!

I raised money for donations to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia’s Kids Cafe program, which helps feed needy children nutritious meals year round.

Kay’s charity of choice was the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Kay lost her brother to the disease earlier this year. She showed the crowd his picture and presented a special poetic tribute to him.

Many thanks to all who came out. As of Friday, May 8, we raised about $3,000.

You can still support the charities by dropping your donation in the boxes at local Moe’s restaurants.

I was one of many visitors at Cape Henry Collegiate School today.

I spent some time with the third graders who asked all kinds of questions about my job.  They were most interested in my coverage of the American Idol finale in Hollywood a few years ago.  I also told them about flying in Chopper 10 and how cool it is to be up in the sky looking down over Hampton Roads.   I also told them a little bit about how the news world is evolving and how we do a lot of our work online with blogs and social networking.

Nicole visits Cape Henry Collegiate

Today was also Alumni Career Day at Cape Henry, so students got to hear from people working in all different professions- and see how former Collegiate students have succeeded in their careers.
What a great group of kids! They had wonderful manners and questions and they gave me hugs!!

Thank you Mr. Woodhouse for inviting me!

http://capehenrycollegiate.org/default.asp?bhcp=1

Nicole Livas

My alma mater, Kempsville High School, invited me back to speak to the AVID class on Friday, February 20. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination.  AVID is a college prep program that targets students in the “academic middle”.   Students have various lessons that encourage and support them so they can be successful in their pursuit of attending a 4 year college.  Most of the students have parents who didn’t go to college or come from socioeconomic groups.

Mrs. Glaser asked me to come share my story about what motivated me to go from Kempsville High School on to George Mason University and to my career in television.  I told the students it wasn’t easy path and shared some of my struggles along the way.  I showed them some of my work, but mostly had a wonderful conversation with them.  I told them they should never stop learning and always be prepared for change.  The biggest example I could give them is how the television news industry is evolving into a multimedia platform and how I’m learning to do more online journalism.

Judging by the questions they asked and the respect they showed for me, this is a group of young people who will go far in life.

Thanks Kempsville AVID kids- and Go Chiefs!!

http://www.kempsvillehs.vbschools.com/

http://www.avidonline.org/