Kudos to 94.9 The Point for having community leaders on their show to discuss pressing topics affecting Hampton Roads during the Coronavirus pandemic. Our client ACCESS College Foundation was on this morning and Bonnie Sutton, ACCESS President and CEO, shared pertinent information for students graduating this year and heading to college in the fall. Check out the full interview HERE.

As soon as the state ordered Virginians to curb outdoor activities because of the coronavirus, the staff at Beth Sholom Village in Virginia Beach started thinking of ways to crank up the fun indoors.

Beth Sholom has more than 200 senior residents in its Terrace assisted living home and the Berger-Goldrich Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. In mid-March, the residents could no longer have visitors, dine together, go on field trips or participate in group activities.

Josh Bennett, recreation therapy director, said that he didn’t want his residents to see themselves as shelved and forgotten as only a high-risk group. (more…)

By Tracy Agnew
Suffolk News-Herald & Tidewater News

During a time of uncertainty and disappointment for a lot of high school seniors, the ACCESS College Foundation wants students to know it’s still available to serve them.

Bonnie Sutton, president and chief executive officer of the ACCESS College Foundation, said the organization’s advisors are still working from home and helping students and their families remotely. They’re handling things like interpreting financial aid award letters, filing applications for federal aid, resolving college application issues and more.

The Foundation has 25 advisors serving 33 high schools in the area, including Franklin and Southampton high schools. There are even some advisors in middle schools throughout the area, and the organization has college success advisors as well to help ACCESS scholars who have already made it to the next level. (more…)

OUTLET: WTKR

 By: Brendan Ponton

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – At Mel’s Place, skilled gaming machines have brought new life to the restaurant.

“I’ve been here 21 years, and the last ten years I’ve struggled quite a bit until these machines came in. I don’t struggle anymore,” said Melody Weekly, the restaurant’s owner.

Lawmakers in Richmond are considering banning the gaming machines. Last week, the House of Delegates voted in favor of banning them. The Senate is still debating and is expected to take the legislation up this week.

“Please tax and regulate. Don’t ban them. Don’t take them away from us. The small businesses in the area really need them,” said Weekly.

Across the state, there are more than 7,000 Queen of Virginia Skill and Entertainment machines. They’re similar to video slot machines, but require skill. So far, they’ve been allowed to operate, but it’s considered a gray area. Some lawmakers say the machines are cutting into the Virginia Lottery and are upset the machines started popping up before lawmakers approved them.

“I was just really shocked at the revenue they brought into the business,” said Weekly. “They helped me do a lot of needed upgrades around here.”

Gov. Ralph Northam has proposed taxing them, but on Monday told News 3 he wants lawmakers to work out their legislation. “We’ll let them vet that and then I’ll see what gets to my desk,” he said. “Then, I’ll deal with it appropriately and do what’s in the best interest of Virginia.”

OUTLET: Inside Business

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-222-5356, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com

Towne Insurance has expanded into South Carolina with the recent acquisition of The Angel Insurance Agency, a Nationwide Agency.

Dudley Fulton, president and chief executive officer of Towne Insurance, said the acquisition is a significant milestone for the company and accelerates the achievement of its key strategic objectives.

“Towne Insurance has experienced significant growth over the past several years as we expanded our insurance footprint outside of Hampton Roads and moved west to Richmond and now throughout the entire state of North Carolina,” Fulton said. (more…)

Mark Horton, Towne Insurance assistant vice president, has been named Young Agent of the Year by the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia.

This annual award has been presented to agents 40 years old or younger since 1979 who demonstrate excellence within the insurance industry, achievements within their organization, and involvement with the IIAV.

Horton joined Towne Insurance in 2005 as an insurance producer. He focuses on middle-large commercial clients and bonds. His goal is to help clients make the right decisions that will best fit their insurance needs. In addition, Horton has qualified for the company’s valued Chairman’s Club incentive program for seven consecutive years.

FULL ARTICLE at SUFFOLK NEWS HERALD

OUTLET: VEER

Brazilian Dancer Prepares For His Last Curtain Call In Norfolk

By Jim Roberts

Fernando Sabino doesn’t have an exact count, but he estimates he’s danced in about 300 performances of “The Nutcracker” since joining the Richmond Ballet 14 years ago. Sabino, who trained in his native Brazil, in Cuba and at Juilliard before moving to Virginia, is planning to retire in 2020, so his four upcoming performances at Chrysler Hall will be his last in Norfolk. He spoke to Veer Magazine in late October—a few weeks before he knew what his final “Nutcracker” role would be.

When did you realize you were good at ballet?

“You know, I still think I’m not good at it, to be honest. I feel like every day, I’m learning, learning, learning. I have a great experience right now, just because I get to dance so much and get to work with so many choreographers and people. But I feel like the reason I get to do all these roles and all these parts and be where I am in my life is just because I love dancing. I know every time I’m in the studio, I’m always working hard and giving everything that I have. I think that makes your confidence, and the confidence, I think, came with parts that I got to do. I’m not the kind of dancer that I think that I’m the best. I just think I’m unique, but I don’t think that makes me the best.”

What do you love about ‘The Nutcracker?’

“It’s something that you do every year and something that brings families together and something that you don’t have to tell everyone the story. Everybody knows the story and can just come and enjoy the beauty of the ballet and the live music. I like how the kids are involved with it as well—not just the professional company. It’s a family ballet. … It’s just how ‘The Nutcracker’ brings everyone together. Something that I really love about our production—I love our production just for the fact it’s so simple and is easy to understand. You don’t really need to read the story in order to know the performance.”

What do you like about performing in Norfolk?

“I like the theater a lot. It’s nice to play with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra with live music; it’s something that, as a dancer, is very important. I feel like Hampton Roads is so rich in arts and culture, so it’s nice to be around and give that opportunity for the people to be part of a professional company like Richmond. I feel like the city over these years is now really seeing us with different eyes and that we’re trying to be there and make art just for them—just share what we have two hours away.”

What’s it like to perform with your wife, Sabrina Holland?

“It’s awesome! Some people are like, ‘Oh, my god. You guys are married, live together, work together?’ … It’s so easy because we understand each other. I dance with her, but I don’t dance as much as everybody thinks. … It’s great, though. I think the fact that we do good outside of here works and makes it easier when we’re in work dancing together.”

Why have you decided to retire?

“I feel like everything comes to an end. It’s not something that I just came up with; it’s something that I discussed with my director before, and personally I just think that now is a great time for me to retire just because I want to try to open different doors. I still feel good, I’m still healthy, and I’m still dancing. I would like to teach dance around here and see if I can pass that on. … I learned so much when a teacher could show—instead of just telling me—could show or could demonstrate something, and I feel like if I am going to do this transition, I would like to do it now that I feel good about myself. I have other things that I like to do that doesn’t involve just dance. … I will be 34 by the time I’m retired. I think it would be personally a great time to do my next step in life.”

Tell us about your efforts to get more boys involved in ballet.

“Ballet, sometimes it can sound so feminine, but boys do dance, you know? … I have like 11 boys here taking class. They come from Minds In Motion; they’re introduced pretty much the same way that I was. … You can see they are very comfortable in their skin, and it’s always nice somebody from the company—a male dancer—teaching. I think it’s important that you have more male ballet dancers teaching, instead of just female. I think it’s always important; you’ve got to have that diversity of male and female in this world we are.”

What else do you want to tell us about yourself or about the show?

“I am what I am right now through dance. People are like, ‘How you ended up in Richmond?’ I’m like, ‘Look, I just dance, and it brought me there.’ … I think it was the passion for dance. And that’s something that I do have, and I always will have. And maybe that’s why like sometimes that passion, you know, is better you choose to stop than that passion dies inside of you.”

Cavalier with Sugar Plum Fairy: Maggie Small and Fernando Sabino in The Nutcracker by Stoner Winslett. Richmond Ballet. All Rights Reserved. Photo by Sarah Ferguson.)