Norfolk News Now - July 1, 2012 with karen parker - Chesson

>>> COMING UP: LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO HANDLE FLOODING. THERE'S MONKEYING AROUND GOING ON AT THE VIRGINIA ZOO. AND A HERO'S WELCOME FOR THE HOMETOWN HOCKEY CHAMPS. THESE STORIES AND MUCH MORE COMING UP ON NORFOLK NEWS NOW. CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com >>> WELCOME TO THE JULY EDITION OF NORFOLK NEWS NOW. I'M KAREN PARKER-CHESSON WITH THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANKS FOR JOINING US. THOUGH THE FLOODING PROBLEM IS AS OLD AS NORFOLK HERSELF, SEA LEVEL RISE IN HURRICANE SEASONS ARE ESPECIALLY DESTRUCTIVE TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND NOW THE CITY OF NORFOLK IS TRYING TO TACKLE THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF FLOODING HEAD ON. >> THE ISSUE OF FLOODING IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MANAGER'S TOP FIVE ISSUES THAT HE DEALS WITH ON A FOCUSED AREA. FLOODING, HEALTHY NORFOLK, NEIGHBORS BUILDING NEIGHBORS, AND IMPACT, WHICH IS BASICALLY OUR ABILITY TO TAKE YOUR CALLS AND RESPOND TO REQUESTS OF CITIZENS ARE SEVERAL -- ARE SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES THAT HE ASKED THE DEPARTMENTS AND CITY STAFF TO FOCUS ON. >> LAST MONTH AT PRETLOW LIBRARY, ASSISTANT MANAGER RON WILLIAMS AND OTHER CITY LEADERS OUTLINED THE CITY'S STRATEGY IN A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS. >> THERE'S PLAN, PREPARE, COMMUNICATE AND DEDICATE. PLANNING SPEAKS TO THE LONG-TERM PLANNING STUDY AND ANALYSIS. PREPARE IS TALKING ABOUT THE MORE EMERGENT OR MORE IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND HOW YOU RESPOND IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. COMMUNICATE IS BASICALLY SOME OF WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS EVENING, AND THEN MITIGATE IS ACTUALLY WHEN WE ACTUALLY TRY TO PREVENT OR HELP REMEDIATE THE IMPACT THAT FLOODING HAS. >> AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AS CITY LEADERS LOOK FOR WAYS TO HELP KEEP YOU SAFE AND DRY. >> SO WE HAVE SEVERAL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE EXECUTIVE STAFF THAT NEAT ON THIS ISSUE EVER -- MEET ON THIS ISSUE EVERY MONDAY AFTERNOON AND A LOT OF WHAT'S IN THIS PLAN, AND WE DON'T TOUCH ON EVERYTHING IN THE STRATEGY AND UNDER THE WORK PLAN THIS EVENING, BUT IS DISCUSSED AT THIS MONDAY MEETING. WE DO HAVE ONGOING SHORELINE PROTECTION ANALYSIS, WHICH REALLY SPEAKS TO THE OESHVIEW, WILLOUGHBY BEACHES. WE HAVE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES. WE'RE WORKING WITH PARTNERS BOTH IN THE SCENES AND ENGINEERING AND -- IN THE SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING AND WE'RE LOOKING AT BEST PRACTICES IN BUILDING CODES AND ZONING ORDINANCES TO HELP MITIGATE THE CONTINUED DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. >> NORFOLK IS ALSO GETTING OUTSIDE HELP WITH THE ISSUE. >> WE HAVE A FLOODING AWARENESS EXPERT, THE BADGER GROUP, WHICH IS REALLY GIVING US THE ABILITY TO BRING INSTITUTIONAL RESIDENTS, THE NAVY, THE UNIVERSITY, NOAA, AND ALSO MARRY UP SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING AND ALSO GIVES US KIND OF A SOUNDING BOARD FOR WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THE ANALYSIS WE'RE DOING AND ASKING THEM, HEY, ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT? WE HAVE HAD RECENTLY A STUDY THAT SHOWS OUR WATERSHED AND THE PRECIPITATION, RAINFALL FLOODING AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE WHOLE CITY, AND ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE A STUDY THAT'S GIVEN US AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE TIDAL FLOODING CITY WIDE AS WELL AND WE'RE GOING TO START TO ABSORB THAT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PLAN FORWARD. BOTH OF THOSE STUDIES REALLY GIVE US A TWO TO THREE-DECADE KIND OF PLAN LIKE WE HAVE HAVE MUCH IN THE TRANSPORTATION REALM FOR THE TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AND ENHANCE. >> ANOTHER GOAL IS CONTINUAL TRANSPARENCY. SO HELP WITH THAT, THE THE CITY OF NORFOLK HAS CREATED A NEW FLOOD AGE -- AWARENESS WEBSITE. LOG ON TO NORFOLK.GOV AND CLICK ON FLOODING AWARENESS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE. >> WE HAVE THE SITE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS AND ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS. >> THERE IS A VARIETY OF FLOODING INFORMATION ON THE SITE, INCLUDING ALL THE DIFFERENT STUDIES THAT ARE GOING ON AS WELL AS UPDATES FOR FLOODING MITIGATION. YOU CAN ALSO FIND FLOOD MAP ESTIMATES FOR CATEGORY 1 THROUGH 4 HURRICANES. >> YOU CAN ZOOM IN AND FIND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PROPERTY AND IT WILL TELL YOU WHAT NORFOLK LOOKS LIKE IN THIS KIND OF CATEGORY STORM, SO THOSE ARE ALL THERE IN ONE PLACE FOR YOU TO USE AND WHEN WE HAD OUR LAST EVENT, THOSE MAPS WERE USED FOR SUGGESTED NEIGHBORHOODS TO EVACUATE. WE USED THOSE STORM SURGE MAPS. >> IN ADDITION, YOU WILL FIND ANSWERS TO YOUR MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO FLOODING IN NORFOLK AS WELL AS LINKS TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. >> AND THESE ARE SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT DEAL WITH STORM WATER FLOODING, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THOSE UP TO DATE TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING CITYWIDE. >> THERE ARE EVEN MAPS THAT SHOW WHAT HAPPENED IN NORFOLK DURING STORMS LIKE HURRICANES ISABEL, IRENE, AND THE 2009 NOVEMBER NOR'EASTER. >> YOU CALL THESE MAPS UP AND THEY WILL SHOW YOU WHAT THE CITY LOOKED LIKE, WHAT AREAS WERE UNDER WATER OR IMPASSABLE OR INUNDATED WITH WATER, TIDALLY INFLUENCED WATER AT THAT POINT. >> ADDITIONALLY, THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY RECENTLY AWARDED THE CITY OF NORFOLK NEARLY ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO ELEVATE FIVE HOMES IN THE COLONIAL PLACE AND RIVERVIEW NEIGHBORHOODS AS PART OF THE SEVERE REPETITIVE LOSS GRANT PROGRAM. A SMALL VICTORY FOR A CITY SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL, BUT SOMETIMES DESTRUCTIVE WATERS. >>> THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A NEW TOP COP. CITY MANAGER MARCUS JONES APPOINTED CHIEF MICHAEL GOLDSMITH TO THE POST. >> FIRST OFF, I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT CITY MANAGER, CITY COUNCIL HAD THE CONFIDENCE IN ME TO FULFILL THIS ROLE. I ALSO FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE AN EXPERIENCED GROUP TO WORK WITH, AND THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE FOR A LONG TIME. THEY HAVE GOT A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE. I WILL ABSOLUTELY BE LOOKING TO THEM TO ASSIST WITH THIS, BECAUSE REMEMBER, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOW WE APPROACH THIS AS AN ORGANIZATION, IT'S NOT ABOUT ANY ONE PERSON, IT'S ABOUT HOW WE DO THIS AS A GROUP AND THAT GROUP OF DECISION MAKERS WILL BE VITAL TO HOW WE STRUCTURE AND HOW WE MOVE ON IN THE FUTURE. >> GOLDSMITH HAS BEEN WITH NPD FOR 23 YEARS. CHIEF GOLDSMITH HAS EXTENSIVE LEADERSHIP AND COMMAND EXPERIENCE. HE HAS SUPERVISED INVESTIGATIVE PATROL AND TACTICAL UNITS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER IN NORFOLK. HE WAS THE FIRST COMMANDING OFFICERS OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY DIVISION. CHIEF GOLDSMITH HAS SERVED AS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. >> WE START TO LOOK AT BODY OF WORK TO CHIEF GOLDSMITH, LITERALLY YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT'S SPECIAL AND I KNEW THAT AT SOME POINT, HE WOULD BE A POLICE CHIEF SOMEWHERE, SO WHY NOT HOME. HE HAS DEDICATED HIS SERVICE HERE IN NORFOLK, HE'S THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB, AND HE WILL DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. >> HE'S ALSO A GRADUATE OF NORFOLK CATHOLIC AND OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY. HE'S MARRIED AND HAS THREE CHILDREN. >>> THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS BELIEVES THE BEST PLACE TO LOOK FOR QUALIFIED WORKERS IS CLOSE TO HOME. THE DEPARTMENT OFFERS AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AIMED AT HELPING NORFOLK RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR A CAREER IN WASTE MANAGEMENT. DURING THE SIX-MONTH PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS ARE HIRED AS APPRENTICES WITH THE DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT. THEY ARE ALLOWED TO TRAIN ON CITY VEHICLES AND USE THE DIVISION'S COMPUTERS TO TRAIN FOR AND TAKE ONLINE PRACTICE TESTS IN PREPARATION FOR GETTING A COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE. THE APPRENTICES ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO TRAINING FORUMS AND LEARN JOB SKILLS SPECIFIC TO WORKING WITH NORFOLK'S DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT. AT THE END OF THE APPRENTICESHIP PERIOD, PARTICIPANTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE HIRED THROUGH THE CITY'S REGULAR RECRUITMENT PROCESS. SINCE THE PROGRAM'S START BACK IN 2005, MORE THAN 20 NORFOLK RESIDENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM HAVE GONE ON START CAREERS WITH THE CITY. >>> IT JUST GOT A LITTLE EASIER TO BEAT THE HEAT THIS SUMMER. LAST MONTH, THE DIVISION OF RECREATION, PARKS, AND OPEN SPACE OPENED THE NEW NORVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER SPLASH PAD. >> ONE, TWO, THREE! >> VERY GOOD. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THE FENCED-IN SPLASH PAD FEATURES A VARIETY OF SPRAY FEATURES TO KEEP VISITORS COOLED OFF AND HAVING FUN. >> A YEAR AGO, A PROMISE WAS MADE THAT A SPLASH PAD WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED AT THE NORVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER. THE VICE MAYOR WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL AND LED US THROUGH A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE NORVIEW COMMUNITY. WE ACTUALLY HAD CHARETTES DURING OUR SUMMER CAMP LAST SUMMER AND THERE WERE CLOSE TO 90 YOUTH THAT PROVIDED DRAWINGS AND INPUT ON WHAT TYPE OF STRUCTURES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE ACTUAL SPLASH PAD. >> I THINK IT'S GREAT. I THINK IT WILL DO A LOT FOR THE COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THEY PUT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE THEM A PLACE -- SOME OF THE CHILDREN A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY IN THE WATER. >> AND WITH THREE SEPARATE ZONES, EVEN THE LITTLEST VISITORS CAN GET IN ON THE >> THE NORVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER SPLASH PAD IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. >> TODAY WHAT YOU SEE HERE AS CULMINATION OF STAFF AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF NORVIEW COMING TOGETHER AND HAVING A MAJOR INPUT AT WHAT YOU SEE TODAY. THIS BELONGS TO YOU, THE COMMUNITY OF NORVIEW. NOW THEY WILL HAVE A PLACE TO BE ABLE TO COOL OFF IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AS WELL AS THEIR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, UNCLES, AUNTS AND COUSINS, THIS BELONGS TO YOU. >> IT'S OPEN EVERY DAY THROUGH LABOR DAY FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M. >>> THE CITY COMPLETED A TWO-PRONGED SALE OF NEARLY $122 MILLION IN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS LAST MONTH. ROUGHLY $114 MILLION WERE TRADITIONAL TAX-EXEMPT BONDS USED TO FUND THE CASH-FLOW NEEDS OF THE CITY'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. ANOTHER $7.3 MILLION WERE QUALIFIED SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BONDS. THOSE BONDS HAVE FEDERAL TAX CREDITS THAT SAVE TAXPAYERS OVER $6 MILLION. THE CITY RECEIVED A COMBINED TRUE INTEREST COST OF 2.84%. THAT'S A 30-YEAR LOW INTEREST RATE TO LONG-TERM, TAX-EXEMPT FINANCING OF NEW PROJECTS FOR NORFOLK. >>> REPRESENTATIVES FROM NORFOLK HEADED TO BOSTON LAST MONTH TO TOUT THE CITY'S BIO-RESEARCH RESOURCES. THE 2012 BIO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION WAS THE PERFECT FORUM FOR CITY AND REGIONAL LEADERS TO PITCH THE HIGH-TECH OPTIONS AVAILABLE IN THE REGION. FROM ODU'S BIOELECTRICS RESEARCH CENTER TO NORFOLK STATE'S CLEAN ROOM, THE LARGEST IN THE STATE, THE NORFOLK METRO AREA HAS A LOT TO OFFER RESEARCHERS AND BIOTECH COMPANIES. WITH MORE THAN 20 COMPANIES SPECIALIZING IN BIO PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND PLENTY OF WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS, NORFOLK'S REPRESENTATIVES HAD PLENTY TO PITCH. >>> IF YOU'VE STROLLED AROUND DOWNTOWN NORFOLK LATELY, YOU MIGHT HAVE WONDERED WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE CORNER OF MAIN AND GRANBY STREETS. THE TRIPLE-N'S JOHN LINKA HAS THE STORY. >> YOU KNOW THAT OLD SAYING ABOUT WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER ONE OPENS? WELL, CASE IN POINT. THE CORNER OF GRANBY AND MAIN STREETS IN DOWNTOWN NORFOLK. >> IT'S DESTINED TO BE A WESTIN HOTEL. THEY LOST THEIR FINANCING, THE PIECE OF PROPERTY IS AN IMPORTANT DOWNTOWN GATEWAY AND A GROUP OF ENERGETIC DOWNTOWNERS THOUGHT THAT WE COULD FIND A MORE ATTRACTIVE USE FOR THE SITE. >> THE PLAN WAS TO COME UP WITH A PLACE WHERE FOLKS COULD SIT, RELAX, AND ENJOY THEMSELVES. >> IT TOOK US ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF TO GO FROM THE IDEA, AND OBVIOUSLY THE IDEA HAD TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY, CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, BECAUSE THIS WAS THEIR PROPERTY, AND ONCE WE HAD THAT APPROVAL, THEN WE PULLED TOGETHER A GROUP OF VERY CREATIVE, ENERGETIC, ENTHUSIASTIC DESIGNERS AND VOLUNTEERS, CAME UP WITH A PLAN. >> A PLAN THAT TURNED INTO A PLOT. OR THE PLOT, TO BE EXACT. EVERYTHING HERE WAS THOUGHT OF AND WORKED ON BY VOLUNTEERS. >> AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY, SO WE HAD, HAD TO FIND WAYS TO REUSE THINGS, AND WE HAVE BEAMS FROM THE OLD BOATHOUSE THAT ARE NOW BENCHES. THE PUBLIC ART, AS WE CALL IT, IS OUR CONTAINERS AND THOSE WERE DONATED BY MAERSK TO KIND OF ANCHOR THE SITE. THE LIGHTS YOU SEE WERE DONATED BY A LIGHTING COMPANY. IT JUST GOES ON AND ON. VIRTUALLY EVERY PLANT HERE WAS PLANTED BY A VOLUNTEER AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PLANTS WERE DONATED. SO THE STORIES OF WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE, BOTH IN CONTRIBUTING TIME BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTING ACTUAL THINGS IS REALLY SO AMAZING. >> EVEN MORE AMAZE, THE SIMPLICITY OF THE NAME. >> WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS, AND IT WAS A PARKING LOT. PEOPLE KEPT WRITING, P-DOT-LOT, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMEBODY SAID, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA OF CALLING IT THE PLOT CAME ABOUT AND IT WORKS ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LEVELS. OBVIOUSLY THE GRID THAT WE HAVE, IT'S LIKE DIFFERENT PLOTS OF LAND, BUT IT'S ALSO A PLACE FOR MANY STORIES. BUT THE MANY STORIES THAT WE HOPE WILL SOMEDAY BE ON THIS SITE FOR A NEW OFFICE BUILDING OR A NEW HOTEL, AND THEN IT'S THE STORIES OF OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE ON THE PLOT. >> ALL OF THIS VOLUNTEER WORK IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. >> THESE TWO REALLY BEYOND WHERE THE EXISTING FENCE IS. WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT AS BEING AN AREA THAT HAS A VARIETY OF PARTICIPATORY GAMES. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME FORWARD WANTING TO DO A LIFE-SIZED CHECKER BOARD OR A LIFE-SIZED CHESSBOARD. SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO DONATE A BACCHI BALL COURT, HAVING A HALF COURT FOR BASKETBALL SO PEOPLE CAN COME OUT ON THEIR LUNCH HOURS AND PLAY BASKETBALL. >> NOT TOO SHABBY FOR A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS. >> PEOPLE COME TOGETHER THAT DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER, FORMED A COMMUNITY FOCUSED ON ONE THING, AND THAT'S MAKING THIS A SPECIAL PLACE. >> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PLOT, JUST LOG ON TO FACEBOOK.COM/THE PLOT DOWNTOWN. FOR NORFOLK NEWS NOW, I'M JOHN LINKA. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS. AND THE RAZORS FOR THE CHAMPION ADMIRALS. PLUS, PLENTY TO SEE AND DO AT THE VIRGINIA ZOO. AND CATCH A MOVIE OR JUST RELAX AT NORFOLK'S NEWEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY PARK. >> HEY, GUYS, THIS IS MY TEENAGED FRIEND RAD. >> RAD! >> HEY, PAL, YOU WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD? >> RELAX, MAN, I GOT IT. >> LOOK, MAN, IF YOUR BAD DRIVING GETS ME KILLED, YOU BETTER HOPE YOU DIE TOO OR I WILL HAUNT YOU SILLY. AND I'M NOT JUST GOING TO FLOAT OVER YOUR BED GOING WHOO, I'M GOING TO BE MAKING A MORE ANNOYING NOISE AND INSTEAD OF WEARING THE LONG WHITE ROBES, I THINK I'LL WEAR SOMETHING MORE FORM FITTING AND UPSETTING. >> WHAT'S EVERYBODY DOING TONIGHT? >> HELLO. >> CHRISSY, HEY, HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD. >> ALEX? ALEX ALEX? HELLO, I'M MRS. GARCIA, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT YOU. (WHISPERING) HE'S CUTE. >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE A PERFECT PARENT. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF TEENS IN FOSTER CARE WHO WOULD LOVE TO PUT UP WITH YOU. >>> WELCOME BACK TO THE TRIPLE-N. THE NORFOLK ADMIRALS MADE AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE HISTORY LAST MONTH, AND THE CITY PUT ON QUITE THE PARTY TO CELEBRATE. OUR MAN ON THE STREET, JOHN LINKA, FILES THIS REPORT. >> THANK YOU, ADMIRALS! THANK YOU, ADMIRALS! >> WE CAME HOME FROM THE AIRPORT AND THE SUPPORTERS ARE JUST AMAZING. WE HAD A TON OF PEOPLE THERE, PEOPLE BACK AT THE RINK THE DAY WE CAME BACK AND TO SEE THIS MANY PEOPLE ON GRANBY STREET FOR THE PARADE TELLS YOU HOW AMAZING THE FANS HAVE BEEN ALL YEAR. SOMETHING ELSE, VERY SPECIAL. >> WE ARE 2011-2012 CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS, ADMIRALS! [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THOUSANDS OF FANS PACKED SCOPE PLAZA TO CELEBRATE A RECORD-SETTING SEASON PUT ON BY THE 2012 CALDER CUP CHAMPION NORFOLK ADMIRALS. >> I AM PLEASED AND OVERJOYED TO WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO THIS CELEBRATION FOR THE ADMIRALS CALDER CUP CHAMPIONSHIP, A HISTORIC MOMENT BY ANY MEASURE. >> AND WHILE COACHES AND PLAYERS CELEBRATED WITH THE CALDER CUP THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON, IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE SEASON THAT WAS. >> WE SET THIS AT THE VERY BEGINNING, WE WANTED TO PUT A TEAM ON THE ICE THAT WOULD MAKE YOU PROUD. WHEN GUYS ARE TAKING SLAP SHOTS AT 100 MILES AN HOUR AND YOU GOT PLAYERS DIVING IN FRONT OF THEM THAT HAVE HALF THE EQUIPMENT THE GOAL TENDER HAS, THAT TAKES A LOT OF GUTS AND THEY DID IT ALL FOR YOU. >> WE SAID IN THE LOCKER ROOM ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, SAID WHEN WE'RE AT HOME AND THE CHIPS ARE DOWN AND OUR BACKS ARE AGAINST THE WALL, DON'T WORRY, FELLOW, THERE WILL BE 8,000 FANS THERE TO LIFT YOU UP AND YOU GUYS DID JUST THAT. >> THE AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE AFFILIATE OF THE NHL'S TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING BLEW THROUGH THE REGULAR SEASON WINNING 55 OF 76 GAMES, INCLUDING A RECORD-SETTING 28 CONSECUTIVE WINS TO CLOSE OUT THE REGULAR SEASON. THE ADMIRALS KEPT WINNING IN THE PLAYOFFS, 15 OF 18 GAMES, IN FACT, INCLUDING A FOUR-GAME TO NONE SWEEP OF THE TORONTO MARLEYS TO WIN THEIR FIRST EVER CALDER CUP. >> AND THE ADMIRALS ARE CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS. TEN STRAIGHT WINS AND A SWEEP IN THE CALDER CUP FINAL WILL BRING THE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE TO THE NORFOLK ADMIRALS FRANCHISE. >> AND THAT MEANT THERE WAS JUST ONE THING LEFT TO DO. >> TODAY IS THE DAY THAT THE BEARDS COME OFF. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THAT'S RIGHT, IT WAS TIME FOR THOSE PLAYOFF BEARDS TO GO BYE-BYE. DURING THE SCOPE CELEBRATION, THE ADMIRALS TEAM UP WITH THE ST. BALDER'S FOUNDATION AND GOT ALL BABY-FACED TO BENEFIT PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH. IT WAS JUST A PART OF THE AFTERNOON CELEBRATION TO SIMPLY SAY "THANK YOU." >> ON BEHALF OF ALL THE BOYS, WE WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT. WHAT YOU GUYS DID HERE WILL ALWAYS BE GREAT IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER. YOU HAVE BEEN THE BEST FANS ANY TEAM COULD ASK FOR. WHAT YOU GUYS DID FOR US ALL YEAR IS UNBELIEVABLE. NONE OF US WILL EVER FORGET THIS DAY OR THIS YEAR AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE FOR US AND OPENED YOUR HEARTS AROUND THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE THE BEST FANS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US. >> IT WAS SOON AFTER THE CELEBRATION THAT THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING WOULD CHANGE AFFILIATES, MEANING THESE ADMIRALS WILL MOVE TO SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, NEXT SEASON. BUT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE AMERICAN LEAGUE HOCKEY AT THE SCOPE AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THESE BANNERS TO GO ALONG WITH THE GREATEST SINGLE SEASON IN NORFOLK HOCKEY HISTORY. FOR TRIPLE-N, I'M JOHN LINKA. >>> MORE THAN 6,000 VOLUNTEERS TURNED OUT TAKE PART IN THE 23rd ANNUAL CLEAN THE BAY DAY, CLEARING SOME 150,000 POUNDS OF TRASH. VOLUNTEERS FROM HAMPTON ROADS, THE EASTERN SHORE, AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA WORKED TO CLEAN DEBRIS FROM APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES OF STREAM AND SHORELINE. LOCALLY, 1200 VOLUNTEERS FANNED OUT TO CLEAN 42 SITES, REPRESENTING ALMOST 65 MILES OF SHORELINE. LOCAL VOLUNTEERS GATHERED NEARLY 36,000 POUNDS OF TRASH. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CLEAN THE BAY DAY OR HOW YOU CAN HELP YEAR ROUND, VISIT KEEP NORFOLK BEAUTIFUL ONLINE AT NORFOLKBEAUTIFUL.ORG. >>> NORFOLK RESIDENTS NOW HAVE MORE LOCATIONS FOR DISPOSING OF HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE AS WELL AS E-WASTE. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE, OR HHW, ARE ITEMS LIKE OLD PAINT, AUTO FLUIDS, AND FLUORESCENT BULBS. THEY CAN'T BE COLLECTED WITH BULK WASTE OR THROWN OUT IN THE REGULAR GREEN TRASH CARTS. INSTEAD, RESIDENTS CAN BRING THEM TO THE DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT AT 1176 PINERIDGE ROAD. THE FACILITY IS OPEN FOR DROP-OFFS MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. ADDITIONALLY, E-WASTE CAN ALSO BE DROPPED OFF AT THE DIVISION OF TOWING AND RECOVERY AT 1195 LANCE ROAD. THAT LOCATION IS AVAILABLE TO ACCEPT E-WASTE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. PROOF OF RESIDENCY WILL BE REQUIRED WHEN YOU DROP OFF ITEMS FOR RECYCLING. TO FIND OUT MORE, WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED IN NORFOLK, VISIT NORFOLKTRASH.COM. >>> SUMMER IS A GREAT TIME TO PLAN A VISIT TO THE VIRGINIA ZOO, AND WITH THE OPENING OF AN OUTDOOR EXPANSION, YOU MIGHT JUST GET TO SEE THE ZOO'S ORANGUTAN PAIR IN A WHOLE NEW WAY. JOHN LINKA HAS A LOOK. >> IT'S A BIG OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND, BUT IT'S NOT FOR US. >> THIS IS OUR OUTDOOR HABITAT FOR OUR ORANGUTANS. THE HABITAT HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE EXHIBIT OPENED, THE ASIAN TRAIL EXHIBIT OPENED IN APRIL OF 2011. >> THE ORANGUTANS USED TO SPEND ALL THEIR TIME IN THE INDOOR HABITAT HERE AT THE VIRGINIA ZOO, BUT LET'S BE HONEST. WOULDN'T YOU RATHER HANG OUT OUT HERE? >> WE HAVE A MUCH BIGGER CLIMBING STRUCTURE OUT HERE FOR THEM THAN THEY HAVE INSIDE, PLUS THEY WILL HAVE GRASS. THEY WILL HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE BREEZE COMING OFF THE RIVER AND THE SMELLS OF THE OUTSIDE, SO I THINK THEY WILL BE A LOT MORE ASSIMILATED. >> BUT A LOT MORE STIMULATION HAS TRANSLATED INTO THE OLD HAND ON FOREHEAD LOOK OF OH DEAR, WHAT'S ALL THIS? >> OVER THE LONG TERM, THEY WILL GET A LOT MORE STIMULATION OUT HERE THAN THEY DO IN THE INDOOR HABITAT. THEY'RE COMFORTABLE IN THE INDOOR HABITAT, DON'T GET ME WRONG. THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IS THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE USED TO AND THAT'S THEIR COMFORT ZONE, BUT IF WE CAN GET THEM OUTSIDE, THERE'S A LOT MORE STIMULATION FOR THEM IN THE LONG TERM. >> THEY'RE HALFWAY THERE. RIGHT NOW ONLY PEPPER HAS COME OUTSIDE, BUT THAT'S OKAY. ZOO STAFF KNEW THIS WOULD TAKE SOME TIME. >> PEPPER HAS BEEN OUTSIDE SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY. SHE'S A FEMALE AR RANG TAN. SHE COMES OUT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY BUT USUALLY FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS. TODAY SHE WAS OUT FOR 20 SECONDS, WHICH IS A NEW RECORD, I'M TOLD, SO SHE'S MAKING PROGRESS. >> BUT BEFORE YOU GET ON THE ORANGUTAN EXHIBIT, YOU WILL NOTICE SOMETHING NEW RIGHT OUTSIDE THE ZOO ENTRANCE. >> OUR MERMAID THAT WE HAD HAD SEVERAL CHIPS AND DENTS AND PAINT WAS FADING AND PEELING OFF, SO WE DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR A FACELIFT AND WE HIRED AREA ARTIST SAM WELTY AND WE ASKED HIM TO GIVE OUR MERMAID A MAKEOVER AS WELL. AND HE DID, AND SO WE JUST REINTRODUCED THAT TO THE PUBLIC TODAY. >> AND THESE AREN'T THE ONLY REASONS TO CHECK OUT THE VIRGINIA ZOO THIS SUMMER. >> WE GOT A LOT OF SUMMER ACTIVITIES GOING ON. ONE, WE'RE HAVING OUR ZOO GROUP SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, THE FIRST ONE OF THOSE AT THE END OF JUNE AND WE'LL HAVE ONE AT THE END OF JULY AND ONE AT THE END OF AUGUST, BUT WE HAVE REGULAR ZOO PALS, WHICH IS A STORY TIME. I BELIEVE THOSE ARE TUESDAYS AT 10:00 A.M. WE HAVE THOSE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN. NOT TO MENTION JUST THE ANIMALS. IT'S WARM WEATHER, A BEAUTIFUL TIME TO BE OUTSIDE, AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ASIA ANIMALS, AFRICAN ANIMALS, AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS, NORTH AMERICAN ANIMALS SO THERE'S A LOT TO SEE AND DO FOR KIDS OUTSIDE. >> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL THE GOINGS-ON AT THE VIRGINIA ZOO, JUST LOG ON TO WWW.VIRGINIAZOO.ORG. FOR NORFOLK NEWS NOW, I'M JOHN LINKA. >>> ARE YOU A POTENTIAL FIRST-TIME HOME-BUYER IN THE CITY OF NORFOLK? THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO VISIT THE NORFOLK REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AUTHORITY'S HOMENET HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER. ACCORDING TO NRHA, FIRST-TIME BUYERS COULD GET UP TO $30,000 IN CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM OFFERS A RANGE OF SERVICES TO FIRST-TIME BUYERS LOOKING TO PURCHASE A HOME IN NORFOLK. ADDITIONALLY, THE VIRGINIA INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT, OR VIDA, IS ANOTHER RESOURCE FOR HOMEBUYERS IN THE HOMENET PROGRAM. VIDA IS A SPECIAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT TRIPLES PARTICIPANTS' SAVINGS BY MATCHING $2 FOR EVERY $1 PARTICIPANTS SAVE TOWARD A HOME PURCHASE IN A VIDA ACCOUNT UP TO $4,000. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOMENET, VISIT NRHA ONLINE AT WWW.NRHA.US. >>> LOOKING FOR A GREAT PLACE TO RELAX WITH THE FAMILY THIS SUMMER? CHECK OUT TOWNEBANK FOUNTAIN PARK. NESTLED BETWEEN TOWN POINT PARK AND WATERSIDE, FOUNTAIN PARK FEATURES AN OUTDOOR BISTRO LOUNGE, CORN HOLE, AND OF COURSE, A FOUNTAIN. NOT JUST ANY FOUNTAIN, THOUGH. THIS IS THE PARK'S SIGNATURE INTERACTIVE DANCING FOUNTAIN. >> WHEN THE CITY INVESTED ALL THE MONEY TO REDESIGN TOWN POINT PARK A FEW YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE IDEAS WAS TO INCLUDE AN AREA WHERE GUESTS COULD COME EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW. THE OLD TOWN POINT PARK WAS BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT WAS MOSTLY FOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT TOWN POINT PARK COULD BE UTILIZED ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS AND THE FOUNTAIN IS PERFECT, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN IT REALLY STARTS TO HEAT UP. SO BEHIND ME IS AN INTERACTIVE FOUNTAIN WITH 28 JETS THAT SHOOT WATER 15 FEET HIGH IN THE AIR AND AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS REALLY ENJOY IT. IT'S TIMED TO GO OFF IN RANDOM PATTERNS SO THE KIDS CAN NEVER REALLY KNOW WHEN THE FOUNTAIN IS GOING TO GO OFF, AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A NOSE OR MOUTHFUL OF WATER TO FIGURE IT OUT, BUT THE KIDS HAVE A GREAT TIME IN THERE. >> THERE'S PLENTY TO DO AT THE PARK ALL SUMMER LONG, BUT YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS CINEMA UNDER THE STARS. THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, FOUNTAIN PARK AND ITS 16-FOOT MOVIE SCREEN IS THE HOST VENUE FOR FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY MOVIES. IN JULY, CATCH "THE BLIND SIDE" ON THE 14th AND "SPACE JAM" ON THE 28th. IN AUGUST, YOU CAN WATCH "BIG MIRACLE" ON THE 4th AND "TWILIGHT" ON THE 18th. >>> THAT WRAPS UP THE JULY EDITION OF NORFOLK NEWS NOW ON THE TRIPLE-N. THANKS FOR WATCHING NORFOLK'S NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK FOR ALL THINGS NORFOLK. I'M KAREN PARKER-CHESSON WITH THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR CITY, AND CELEBRATE LIFE DAILY. CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com