Public Works Updates from The Director, Beach & Water Safety, pro - Am league - Norfolk perspectives

>>> THIS TIME ON NORFOLK PERSPECTIVES, JOHN KEIFER IS GOING TO PUT THE WORKS IN PUBLIC WORKS. RPOS IS GOING TO COME IN AND SAVE ME FROM THE WATERS A HOPEFULLY GIVE YOU SOME TIPS ABOUT WATER SAFETY. HR-7 CITIES PRO-AM BASKETBALL. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE DRIBBLING OR NOT. AND NORFOLK HAS A HEALTHY PROGRAM INITIATIVE IN PROGRESS TO BE FIT. STAY TUNED FOR SOME GREAT STUFF ON NORFOLK PERSPECTIVES. CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com >>> WELCOME TO NORFOLK PERSPECTIVES. I'M BOB BATCHER. JOHN KEIFER HAS BEEN DOING PUBLIC WORKS FOR A LONG TIME. HAVEN'T YOU? >> YES, SIR. >> AS DIRECTOR. HOW MANY YEARS NOW. >> OVER 20 YEARS. >> AND WE'RE JUST NOW PUTTING THE WORKS INTO IT? >> WELL, HOPEFULLY WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME. >> EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT IS PUBLIC WORKS. >> WELL, PUBLIC WORKS IS A LOT OF THINGS. WE HAVE BASICALLY MAINTENANCE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, YOU KNOW, PICKING UP THE GARBAGE, FIXING STREETS, THE SIGNS, THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS. WE ALSO DO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR THE CITY, MOST OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF CIVIC FACILITIES, BUILDINGS AS WELL AS ROADS AND SANITARY -- STORM SEWERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. >> JOHN, SOUNDS LIKE EVERYTHING. >> NOT QUITE. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE DO. >> BUT OBVIOUSLY IF YOU DON'T DO IT, PEOPLE WILL KNOW IT AND IF YOU DO IT -- >> HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T NOTICE. YEAH, THEY DON'T NOTICE WHEN THINGS ARE DOING WELL. >> SO WHEN I MENTION A COMMUNITY TO YOU, A NEIGHBORHOOD, WHAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT POPS INTO YOUR MIND? LET'S SEE. CULLMAN PLACE. >> WELL, THEY HAVE DRAINAGE PROBLEMS OVER THERE AND NORMALLY WE THINK OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP A COMMUNITY AND SO, YOU KNOW, RESURFACING THE STREETS, STREET LIGHTS, DRAINAGE, TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DEAL WITH THE MOST, MOST NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE LIKE TO GO OUT AND TALK TO THEM AND SEE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND HOW WE CAN HELP THEM. >> NOW, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE THINK OF HISTORY, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, QUAINT, NEIGHBORHOOD, NAMED AFTER A COUNTRY, ANOTHER COUNTRY, CALLED GHENT OR THE HAGUE. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF? >> WELL, OF COURSE, THAT'S A WONDERFUL HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE THE HAGUE AND SOME TIDAL FLOODING PROBLEMS THERE. IT'S A NICE OLD INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT IT'S AGED SO A LOT OF STUFF NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT IS GOING THROUGH AND REPLACING WATER. THE SEWERS, THE HAMPTON ROADS SANITATION DISTRICT IS DOING THE SAME THING, SO WE'RE REPLACING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S 100 YEAR OLD AND IT'S DISRUPTIVE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK FOR A LONG TIME. AND WE NEED TO FIX THE STREETS AND PAVE THE SIDEWALKS SO IT LIKES NICE AGAIN. >> CAN YOU GO ANYWHERE IN NORFOLK AND HAVE A CLEAR MIND AND HEART. >> YEAH, THERE ARE SOME PLACES. >> EAST BEACH, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE HAS BEEN MOSTLY DONE BY THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER, SO WE WORK ON THEM ON ESTABLISHING STANDARDS AND SUPPORTING WHAT THEY'RE DOING. HE ALSO HAVE SOME -- WE ALSO HAVE SOME TRAFFIC ISSUES BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE COMMUNITIES OUT THERE THAT ARE GROWING AND SO YOU HAVE MORE TRAFFIC NOW IN SOME AREAS THAN YOU HAD IN THE FAST AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM SPEEDING TOO MUCH, BUT STILL, THEY HAVE TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER. >> I'M IMPRESSED. NOW, LET ME ASK YOU, HOW DOES IT WORK? BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE JUST COME THROUGH A CONVERSATION IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE GENERAL PLAN AND KIND OF PLANNING THINGS OUT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. HOW DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT WORK RELATIVE TO THAT PLAN? >> WELL, THE -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE, I GUESS IN THE EXECUTION STAGE WHEN YOU GET THROUGH A LOT OF PLANNING AND THINKING AND THE CITY DECIDES WHAT ITS PRIORITIES ARE. THERE'S A CITY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET THAT'S DEALT WITH EACH YEAR AND AS A RESULT OF THAT BUDGET, THEY APPROPRIATE VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND WE GET INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE PROJECTS. IT'S A MANY-YEAR PROCESS TO DEVELOP A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, CAN INVOLVE VARIOUS THINGS. TYPICALLY WE INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY, ASK PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT AND GET THEIR COMMENTS ON WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FORMAL REVIEWS, THE CITY'S DESIGN AND REVIEW PLANNING COMMISSION. WE HAVE A SITE PLAN AND REVIEW PROCESS WHERE THE STAFF LOOKS AT PROJECTS AND OFTENTIMES CITY COUNCIL IS BRIEFED ON PROJECTS, SO THERE'S A LOT GOES INTO, YOU KNOW, GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE READY TO ACTUALLY BUILD SOMETHING. YOU HAVE A BUILD A CONSENSUS. IT'S MUCH DIFFERENT THAN, SAY, PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE YOU HAVE PRIVATE PROPERTY AND, YOU KNOW, THE HEAD PERSONS DECIDES THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND OFF YOU GO. IT TAKES US A MUCH LONGER TIME TO BUILD THAT CONSENSUS, BUT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE DONE, WE WANT THE PEOPLE TO BE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTIVE AND APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT WE'VE DONE. >> IN PRE-TAPE I WAS TALKING ABOUT, SHARING WITH YOU THAT EVERY MORNING WHEN I GET UP AND GO IN MY GAT ROOM, I'M GOING, I WANT TO RENOVATE THAT SUCKER, BUT EVERY DAY GOES BY AND I DON'T, BUT IF THE SINK STARTS DRIPPING, I GOT TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION. IS THAT KIND OF -- >> YEAH, I MEAN, THERE'S TWO SIDES OF IT. ONE, YOU KNOW, THE SHORT-TERM STUFF OF GOING OUT AND FIXING A LEAKY PIPE OR A UTILITY CUT IN THE STREET OR A SIGN THAT'S KNOCKED DOWN AND ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT IT AND TRY TO DETERMINE WHERE THINGS THAT ARE WEARING OUT NEED TO BE REPLACED, WHERE THEY NEED A LARGER PROJECT, SO YOU HAVE TO MIX EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. >> NOW, OKAY, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR IS YOU GOT SEWER WORK THAT'S PLANNED AND THAT'S UTILITIES. >> YES. >> THAT'S GOING TO BE 20 YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING SOMETHING, BUT THE STREET NEEDS TO BE REPAVED. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT? >> WE MEET WITH THE UTILITIES FIRM ON A MONTHLY BASIS. WE TAKE A LOOK FOR THEIR PLANS FOR REPLACING SANITARY SEWERS AS WELL AS WATER LINES AND WE LOOK AT THE PLANS FOR THE PRIVATE UTILITIES LIKE THE GAS COMPANY AND HRSD, AND WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE STREET RESURFACING SCHEDULE, BUT WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAVE A STREET AND THEN THEY TEAR IT UP A YEAR OR TWO LATER. SO THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS IN THE CITY, WELL, NOT SO MANY ANYMORE, BUT THERE'S AREAS IN THE CITY WHERE WE HOLD OFF ON RESURFACING UNTIL THE UTILITY PROJECT IS DONE. ONE AREA WHERE WE'RE DOING THAT IS FAIRMONT PARK WHERE UTILITIES IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM AND AS THEY FINISH, WE'RE REDOING THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND PUTTING IN NEW STREETS AND SIDEWALKS. >> SO IT'S A LOT OF COORDINATION. >> YEAH, THERE IS, MANY, MANY YEARS AND A LOT OF MONEY TO DO IT. >> I JUST GOT THE CLOSING SIGN. HOWEVER, I REALIZED I DID NOT ASK YOU THE BIG ALICE KELLY QUESTION. IS THERE A PLACE WHERE I CAN GO TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE PROJECTS YOU'RE WORKING ON? >> YEAH, WE ARE PUTTING MORE AND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE. IF YOU GO ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, UP IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER, THERE'S SOME INFORMATION THERE ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF PLACES YOU CAN GO, THERE'S A DASHBOARD AND THEN THERE'S ALSO PLACES ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS. WE ALSO HAVE A MAP WHERE WE'RE SHOWING EVERY PROJECT IN THE CITY ON THERE AND TRYING TO MAKE THAT BETTER AND BETTER. SO PEOPLE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, THERE'S A LOT OF DOTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON. >> SURE IS. JOHN, THANKS FOR PUTTING THE WORKS IN PUBLIC WORKS, BUT ALSO HAVING AN ANSWER FOR THAT ALICE KELLY QUESTION BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE BOTH BEEN IN TROUBLE. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, TALK ABOUT BEING IN DEEP WATER. WE HAVE RPOS TO GET ME OUT OF DEEP WATER. STAY TUNED. >>> LOOKING FOR THESE? YOU DRIVE BUZZED, IT COULD BE ONE VERY EXPENSIVE RIDE. FIRST, YOU GOT TO MAKE BAIL. THEN PAY ME TO GET YOUR CAR BACK. >> YOUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS WILL GO THROUGH THE ROOF. >> AND MY LEGAL FEES JUST KEEP ADDING UP. ALL TOLLED, IT COULD END UP COSTING YOU $10,000. >> NOTHING KILLS A BUZZ LIKE GETTING PULLED OVER TO BUZZED DRIVING BECAUSE BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING. >>> WELCOME BACK TO NORFOLK PERSPECTIVES. WELL, WITH PUBLIC WORKS, WE PUT THE WORKS BACK IN FLICK AND I REALLY -- PUBLIC AND I REALLY THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO PUT PLAY INTO, THIS BUT YOU GUYS MADE ME PUT THIS STUPID THING ON. DAN JONES, I HATE THIS THING. >> THAT'S A LIFE JACKET, LOOKS GOOD ON YOU, BOB. >> DOES IT REALLY? >> YEAH. >> BUT IT INTERFERES WITH TAN. >> WHEN YOU LAY ON THE BEACH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR IT, BUT WEAR IT BOATING. >> BUT I KNOW HOW TO SWIM. >> GOOD YOU'RE IN A BOAT, YOU HAVE TO WEAR A LIFE JACKET. >> BECAUSE IT'S REALLY THE SMART THING TO DO. >> YOU COULD BE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, FALL OVERBOARD, YOUR BOAT FLIP OVER AND THEN YOU'RE PREPARED. YOU MIGHT NEED TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE AS WELL AND IF YOU HAVE THAT TO KEEP YOURSELF AFLOAT, YOU CAN HELP SOMEBODY. >> WHAT ABOUT ON THE BEACH? DO YOU GUYS HAVE THESE AROUND? >> WE HAVE THEM AND USE THIS EMFOR RESCUE AND WHEN WE TAKE OUR KAYAKS OUT, BUT THEY RECOMMEND THEM FOR SMALL CHILDREN WHO DON'T SWIM OR WEAK SWIMMERS, ESPECIALLY AT THE BEACH TO WEAR, AND OUR SWIMMING POOLS AS WELL. >> I GUESS I CAN LET MYSELF RELAX UNDERNEATH IT. WE HAVE KENDALL JOHNSON AND YOU'RE HOLDING SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T LOOK QUITE LIKE THIS. WHAT IS THAT. >> THIS IS A RESCUE CAN. LIFEGUARDS USE THIS TO MAKE SHALLOW WATER RESCUES AND WEEK USE THEM IN DEEP WATER EMERGENCY AS WELL. >> YOU TOSS THAT OUT? >> IT PROVIDES A BARRIER BETWEEN THE LIFEGUARD AND THE VICTIM, BUT ALSO IT'S A FLOTATION DEVICE, SO IT HELPS US MAKE IT EASIER BACK TO SHORE. >> JOHNATHAN MEDOR, RIGHT? >> MEDOR. >> YOU'RE THE GUY THAT DAN POINTED TO AS YOU WERE COMING ON TO THE SET, HERE, BRING THIS OVER. TELL ME ABOUT THIS. THIS MUST BE YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. >> ABSOLUTELY, YES. ANY TIME WE MAKE A DEEP WATER RESCUE, ANYTIME IT'S A HIGH TIDE OR WE NEED TO GET MULTIPLE VICTIMS, WE USE THE RESCUE BOARD BECAUSE IT'S MUCH FASTER AND WE CAN GRAB MULTIPLE VICTIMS. >> I GUESS THAT'S BETTER THAN PICKING ONE OUT AT A TIME I. YES. >> YOU MENTIONED DEEP WATER. NOW, COME ON, IT'S THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND THERE'S JUST LITTLE RIPPLES. HOW CAN YOU HAVE DEEP WATER? >> OH, NO, WE'VE DROPOFFS RIGHT OFFSHORE THIS YEAR AND THAT'S -- >> REALLY? >> THE CONTOUR CHANGES CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE DAY-TO-DAY, BUT THIS YEAR IT CERTAINLY CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER SEASON. WE HAVE DROPOFFS AND SAND BARS OFFSHORE, SO WE HAVE TROUGHS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT SAND BARS AND SHORE, SO IT'S OVER A LOT OF PEOPLE'S HEADS. >> SO YOU COULD BE A LITTLE FOUR-FOOT KID, CHASING SOLE KIND OF FISH IN THE -- SOME KIND OF FISH IN THE WATER -- >> THEY COULD BE CHASING A QUAY, PARENTS MAY NOT BE WATCHING THEM, AND THEY COULD BE STANDING IN SHALLOW WATER ON A BAR AND THEN STEP RIGHT INTO A DEEP WATER TROUGH AND BE OVER THEIR HEAD AND THAT'S WHEN THE LIFEGUARDS GET THEM. >> COOL. ONE THING, I WAS OUT FOR THE BIKE ROID MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND THE BEACHES WERE PACKED. IT'S AWESOME. SO IS THAT NORMAL NOW? >> OUR HOLIDAY WEEKENDS ARE BUSY, BUT WE HAD A VERY, VERY BUSY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. >> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? BECAUSE THEY'RE GREAT BEACHES, RIGHT? WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE GUYS ON THE BEACH? >> FROM THE PATRONS? >> YEAH. >> I THINK A LOT OF REASON WHY THEY COME TO THE BEACHES IS THEY KNOW WE'RE THERE AND WE'RE AN EXTRA LEVEL OF PROTECTION, NOT JUST PARENTS WATCHING THE CHILDREN, BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT I'VE HEARD. >> WE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT, BUT BEACH SAFETY IN GENERAL IS REALLY A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN YOU GUYS AND THE PEOPLE COMING OUT TO THE BEACH. >> SURE. >> RIGHT? >> COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION, AND WE HAVE BEACH SAFETY TIPS THAT WE PROMOTE. >> SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE? >> WELL, SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD, SO FIND FACILITIES WHERE THERE ARE LIFEGUARDS ON DUTY AND THAT'S BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS AS WELL. >> NOW, I'M LOOKING FOR A LIFEGUARD HERE BECAUSE I DON'T SEE ANY RED BATHING SUITS. >> JOHN MIGHT HAVE ONE UNDERNEATH HIS KHAKIS. >> WE WON'T GO THERE THEN. THAT'S KIND OF THE UNIFORM, RIGHT? >> WHEN WE'RE ON THE BEACH AND WORKING ON DUTY, WE'RE WEARING RED SUITS. >> SO WHERE'S THE WHITE NOSE? >> IF WE'RE OUTSIDE, WE MIGHT HAVE THE WHITE STUFF ON OUR NOSE TOO. >> BECAUSE YOU REALLY -- PART OF THE REASON FOR BEING LIFEGUARDS IS TO WORK ON THE TAN, RIGHT? >> SURE. >> IT'S NOT SAFE. >> NOT BURN. >> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT. WHAT OTHER KIND OF TIPS SHOULD PEOPLE HAVE. >> SWIM WITH A BUDDY. ALWAYS SWIM WITH SOMEBODY. EVEN IF YOU'RE AT A FACILITY WITH A LIFEGUARD. AND IF YOU'RE NOT A STRONG SWIMMER, DON'T EXCEED WAIST WATER AND ALL OF THOSE SAVE LIVES. AND PARENTS HAVE TO WATCH CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES. >> DON'T NECESSARILY RELY ON THE LIFEGUARD TO WATCH THE KID, RIGHT? YOU'RE NOT THERE AS A BABY-SITTER. >> WE'RE WATCHING EVERYBODY ON THE BEACH AND THEN OUR JOB IS ALSO TO MAKE SURE PARENTS ARE WATCHING THE CHILDREN, AND THAT'S PART OF THE EDUCATION PROCESS. I MEAN, DROWNING IS A SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH FOR CHILDREN NATIONWIDE. >> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION BECAUSE YOU WILL BE IN TROUBLE WITH EVERY LIFEGUARD THAT'S WITHIN VIEWING AREA OF ALL THIS. WHAT A CUSHY -- YOU GUYS SIT THERE IN THE SUN. WHEN I'VE BEEN ON THE BEACH, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY BIG RESCUES. IT'S KIND OF YOU'RE RELAXING AND ENJOYING YOURSELF, RIGHT? >> NO, THEY'RE UP IN THERE IN SURVEILLANCE. IT'S STRESSFUL-YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE WATCHING AND THE LIFEGUARD DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY'RE DOING ANYTHING, THEY'RE MAINTAINING SURVEILLANCE AND THEY'RE PREVENTING INJURIES, WHICH IS PART OF OUR PRIMARY DUTY. THAT'S THE CARE THAT WE GIVE IS ACTUALLY PREVENTING INJURIES, NOT JUST RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES, WHICH WE DO AS WELL. WE'VE HAD MANY WATER RES SKEWS THAT THEY RESPONDED TO AND WHEN THEY'RE UP IN THE LIFEGUARD STAND, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THEY ARE MAINTAINING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY TO SWIM IN. >> SO WHAT KIERCHED THINGS ARE YOU GUYS -- KIND OF THINGS ARE YOU GUYS LOOKING FOR ON THE BEACH? >> LOOK FOR DISTRESSED SWIMMERS, OF COURSE, IF THEY EVER NEED ASSISTANCE, WE'LL GET THEM. WE LOOK FOR ANY INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR. SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST GET CARRIED AWAY ON THE BEACHES. SAY SOMEBODY IS THROWING A FOOTBALL NEAR PATRONS, AND WE TRY TO AVOID HAVING THEM DO THAT SO THEY DON'T GET HURT. >> IT'S BEING PREEMPTIVE. >> EXACTLY. >> IF YOU SEE SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE, YOU WANT TO CLOSE US OUT WITH THAT? >> WE HAVE TO BLOW THE WHISTLE. >> GIVE ME A COUPLE OF ***? [ WHISTLE BLOWING ] >> DID I JUST DO SOMETHING WRONG? >> YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> JUST IN CASE I D WE'RE GOING TO GO PLAY B-BALL NEXT TIME THEN. >> VERY GOOD. >> AND FOR THE LIFEGUARDS OUT THERE, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING HARD. THAT WAS A QUESTION I WAS SUPPOSED TO ASK TO PUT IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE DOING TO KEEP OUR BEACHES SAFE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY CAN KEEP A BEACH SAFE WHEN YOU GO WITH FOLLOWING GOOD SAFETY TIPS AND AGREE TO BE SAFE ON THE BEACH YOURSELF. WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT B-BALL. STAY TUNED. THANKS. >>> MOM, CAN I HAVE A -- >> YEAH, IT'S RIGHT -- I THINK MY PURSE IS UP STAIRS ON THE BED. >> IT'S NOT HERE. >> CHECK THE DINING ROOM. >> NOPE. >> WHAT ABOUT YOUR SISTER'S ROOM. >> NOT THERE EITHER. >> THE UPSTAIRS CLOSET? DOWNSTAIRS CLOSET. >> THERE ARE NO MORE CLOSETS. >> MOMS EVERYWHERE ARE FINDING WAYS TO KEEP KIDS ACTIVE AND HEALTHY. GET IDEAS, GET INVOLVED, GET GOING AT LET'S MOVE.GOV. >>> WELCOME BACK TO NORFOLK PERSPECTIVES. I'M BOB BATCHER. I SAW WE WERE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT BASKETBALL AND I MIGHT HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS CHAIR AND DO SOME DRIBBLING, BUT I THINK "OH MOM "SUMS IT UP. LORRAINE FLOOD WITH THE HAMPTON ROADS 7 CITIES PRO-AM BASKETBALL LEAGUE. YOU'RE THE MANAGER. >> I'M ONE OF THE MANAGERS. >> THERE'S A NAMES SAKE SITTING NEXT TO YOU, JAMES FLOOD JR., HOW YOU DOING? >> I'M DOING FINE. >> I GOT YOU DOWN AS LEAGUE OPERATOR AND CEO, WHICH MEANS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OPERATOR, RIGHT? >> EXACTLY. >> WHO'S THE BOSS? >> YOU KNOW MOM'S THE BOSS. >> OH, MOM! >> I CAN'T HELP IT. >> LET'S TALK BASKETBALL FOR A FEW SECONDS. >> YES, GREAT. >> WHERE DID THIS PRO-AM IDEA COME FROM? >> WELL, BACK IN THE EARLY '90s, IT STARTED OUT WITH THE -- THEY STARTED OUT WITH THE LEAGUE AND HAD A NICE TEN-YEAR RUN AND AFTER THAT, YOU KNOW, NO ONE WAS DOING ANYTHING, BUT I WAS GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM PLAYERS WHEN THEY WERE COMING HOME FOR THE SUMMER ABOUT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, REKINDLING THAT AND PUTTING SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR THE GUYS BECAUSE WHAT IT IS, WHEN THE GUYS COME HOME FROM THE COLLEGE FOR THE SUMMER AND COME FROM OVERSEAS, THEY'RE HERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WORKING OUT, TRYING TO HONE THEIR SKILLS, SO I PUT TOGETHER AN EIGHT-WEEK SEASON FOR THEM SO THEY CAN HAVE SOMETHING COMPETITIVE AND IN A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE. >> NOW, SEE, I WAS GETTING ALL EXCITED BECAUSE PRO-AM -- >> RIGHT. >> I'M NOT A PRO, I WATCH BASKETBALL, I'M REALLY OUT OF SHAPE. MAYBE IT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO GET IN SHAPE. CAN I PLAY? >> WELL, WHAT YOU CAN DO, YOU CAN COME ON OUT TO THE GAMES. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS. WE HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU CAN COME OUT AND DO. WE DEFINITELY -- WE COULD USE A FLOOR WIPER, YOU KNOW. >> THAT'S A BIG NO. I'M IMPRESSED THOUGH. FLOOR WIPING? >> FLOOR WIPING. >> THAT MEANS SOMEBODY ELSE IS SWEATING. >> EXACTLY. WATER, GUYS ALWAYS NEED THE WATER. >> COOL. NOW, WHAT ABOUT THAT 12-YEAR-OLD THAT WANTS TO DO SOMETHING? >> WELL, THE 12-YEAR-OLDS, WE DEFINITELY, LIKE I SAY, WE'RE BIG ON VOLUNTEER WORK SO WE DO HAVE GUYS WHO ARE THE BALL BOYS AND THEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE FLOOR WIPERS, SO THEY HAVE THEIR LITTLE WIPE TOWEL WITH THE LOGO ON THE SIDE AND WHEN THE GUYS FALL DOWN, THEY RUN OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM HALF WIPE AND THEN YOU GET SOME OF THEM REALLY INTO IT AND OUT THERE TRYING TO HURRY UP AND GET THE FLOOR BACK TO THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE. >> WHAT ABOUT THE PERSON THAT WANTS TO DONATE TO CANCER? >> WHAT WE DID, WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FOR CHARITY TO GIVE BACK TO AND REACHED OUT TO THE PROGRAM, SHOOT FOR THE CURE, AND THEY GAVE US ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED, AND WE DID THAT LAST YEAR AND WHAT WE DID, WE ASKED FOR DONATIONS AT THE DOOR. AND THE DONATIONS WE COLLECTED, WE SENT OFF TO THE CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION AND THIS YEAR, WE'LL HAVE IT, OUR SHOOT FOR THE CURE DATE WILL BE JULY THE 28th. >> WOW. >> AND ALONG WITH THAT SHOOTING FOR THE CURE, WE INVITE ADD GROUP OF LINE DANCERS OUT THERE CALLED THE SENIORS IN NOTION AND THESE SENIORS ARE LIKE FROM 50 ON UP. YOU CAN JOIN THEM. YOU CAN JOIN -- >> THANKS. >> AND THEY COME OUT AND THEY DO LINE DANCING AND THEY WILL -- >> YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT FOOT AND HAVE YOU? >> NOT YOU, BUT MOST PEOPLE, IT WOULD BE GREAT. >> PUT ME ON THE END. >> SO WE WILL FEATURE THEM DURING THAT SHOOT FOR THE CURE EVENT, AND THEY WILL HELP TO PASS OUT THE RIBBONS AND INFORMATION. WE PARTNERED WITH SENTARA BREAST CENTER AND THEY'RE GOING TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE OUT WITH THE INFORMATION FOR US AND THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE HELP TO SERVICE THE COMMUNITY AND DO A GREAT JOB, I THINK, IN TOUCHING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. >> COOL STUFF. LET ME GO BACK BECAUSE YOU SAID TO ME, THIS IS A VISION OF YOURS, RIGHT? >> RIGHT, YES. >> HOW DID IT MUSHROOM INTO ALL THE KIND OF GREAT STUFF YOU'RE DOING? >> WELL, I DO HAVE A BACKGROUND IN ATHLETICS AND PUTTING SCHEDULES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TOGETHER, SO I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO STEP OUT IN FAITH AND TRY TO SEE IF I COULD DO IT. AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FIRST FOUR YEARS, I DID, YOU KNOW, ALL THE PLANNING AND EVERYTHING, BASICALLY, BY MYSELF AND MY FAMILY WOULD COME OUT AND SUPPORT ME WITH DIFFERENT THINGS, MAKING WORKING THE CONCESSION, FAN SUPPORT, MORAL SUPPORT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND YOU KNOW, SO MANY THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH THAT. YOU HAVE TO GET THE LEAGUE SANCTIONED THROUGH THE NCAA, GET IT SANCTIONED THROUGH THE NBA SO THE PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS CAN COME AND PARTICIPATE AND YOU CAN USE NBA REFEREES AND THAT'S WHERE THE PRO-AM COMES INTO EFFECT. SO YOU HAVE TO FIND THE VENUE AND REFEREES AND PLAYERS AND THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON, THAT I ASKED MY MOTHER AND FATHER WOULD THEY COME ON AND BE MY LEAGUE MANAGERS. >> THAT'S WHERE OH MOM COMES IN. >> YEAH. WE DID COME UP WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT GO ALONG WITH THE BASKETBALL LEAGUE ITSELF, SO IT'S REALLY SOMETHING WE ENJOY DOING AND REALLY TRYING TO GET THE COMMUNITY TO COME IT AND SUPPORT EVERYTHING. >> LORRAINE, I WANT TO ASK YOU, HOW DID YOU RESPOND TO JAMES' PHONE CALL? >> I WAS VERY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT HE WANTED US TO JOIN IN AND ALSO KNEW THAT IF WE JOINED IN, THAT WE WERE GOING TO PUT A FRAMEWORK FOR IT BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY -- THAT'S THE WAY WE OPERATE IN OUR HOUSEHOLD. >> THE SUPPORT CAME WITH SOME FRAMEWORK. >> YES. OF COURSE, HE HAD THE FRAMEWORK UP IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE NCAA AND THE POLICIES AND RULES HE HAD TO FOLLOW THERE, BUT WE KNEW THAT WE WANTED TO BRING OUR FAMILY, THE EXTENDED FAMILY ALONG WITH US, AND THAT MEANT HIS SIBLINGS AND MY GRANDCHILDREN AND SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE FROM AN OLDER AGE, 40s AND BELOW, AND UP TO THE CHILDREN. I GUESS MY YOUNGEST GRANDCHILD MUST HAVE BEEN ABOUT 6 AT THAT TIME, SO WE ENDED UP WITH ABOUT 25 FAMILY MEMBERS WHO JOINED US, AND IF YOU HAVE 25 PEOPLE HELPING YOU, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STRUCTURE. SO THE STRUCTURE ENDED UP, WE DECIDED TO BRING IN OUTREACH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, FAMILY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE HAD SURVEYED THE SPECTATORS AND THEY SAID THEY WANTED SUCH THINGS. THEY SAID THE GAMES ARE WONDERFUL AND THEY LOVED THE GAMES, BUT THEY ALSO SAW FAMILY. THEY SAID IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE, APPEARS TO BE A FAMILY EVENT, SO WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND DECIDED THAT WE WOULD EXPAND THIS -- THE LEAGUE TO INCLUDE A LATER RAES PROGRAM, WHICH WE -- A LITERACY PROGRAM WHICH WE CALLED GOT BOOKS AND WE THINK BACK TO THE BASKETBALL, WE SAY WE'LL NAME THAT GOT GAME AND THEN THE LITERACY, GOT BOOKS, AND SINCE WE WERE GOING TO DO FAMILY ADVOCACY, GOT FAMILY. SO THAT HAS REALLY -- >> THAT IS SO COOL. >> -- CHANGED THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE, CHANGED THE NATURE. >> SO IT'S NOT JUST B-BALL. >> NOT JUST BASKETBALL, NO. >> WHEN YOU MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT FRAMEWORK, I THOUGHT ABOUT A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH MY 30-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WHERE I WAS KIND OF DREAMING. SEE IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO YOU. IF ONLY I COULD, I WOULD... AND MY DAUGHTER LOOKED AT ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYES AND SAID, OKAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW? IS THAT KIND OF WHERE YOU'RE AT? >> ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S KIND OF THE PHILOSOPHY WE HAVE EVEN AS A FAMILY. WE'RE REALLY BIG ON THAT AND BIG ON THE SENSE THAT FOR YEARS, WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD FAMILY DIFFERENCE TO SUNDAYS -- DINNERS ON SUNDAYS, SO THE KIDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS THERE, SO WHAT BETTER TEAM TO TALK ABOUT YOUR DREAM AND FASHION AS LEE -- WE CALL HIM LEE, AS HE HAD AT THAT TIME. AND SO IT'S CONSTANT. IN FACT, WE HAD ONE OF THE REPORTERS TO COME OVER TO DO A REPORT ON US, FROM THE PILOT, TO DO AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE FAMILY AND WHAT WE WERE DOING WITH THE PRO-AM AND ONE OF MY GRANDSONS WAS COMING DOWNSTAIRS AND HE ASKED ME, HE SAID IS IT TIME FOR OUR MEETING? YOU KNOW, SO -- >> I LOVE IT. >> THEY ALL FEEL A PART OF THIS. >> I JUST GOT THE CLOSED SIGN, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO FOR AND I FORGOT TO SELL TICKETS AND TELL PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN GET MORE INFORMATION TO BUY TICKETS AND GET INVOLVED. THERE IS A WEBSITE? >> IT'S WWW.LEAGUELINEUP.COM/7 CITIES PRO-AM AND SCHEDULES, ROSTERS FOR BETH MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TEAMS UP THERE. GAMES AT MAURY HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY'RE FREE. >> SO WE DON'T HAVE TO SELL TICKETS. >> DON'T HAVE TO SELL TICKETS. >> COOL. I JUST LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON. THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES, THE POWER OF HAVING A DREAM, FRAMEWORK AND FAMILY. THANKS FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO BRING THAT MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE IN 2012. GIVE US A HOLLER AT 664-6510. AS USUAL, IT'S A WONDERFUL TIME TO BE IN NORFOLK JUST BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOU AND YOU. THANKS A LOT. CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com