Denise's Blog

Apartment complexes are offering personal trainers for residents.  For free.  On site personal training is a perk in complexes like Pembroke Lake as well as six other complexes managed by Great Atlantic Real Estate.  With all the competition for housing, amenities is what sets the complexes apart...

I have been following the saga of the eagles at Norfolk Botanical Garden on the Eagle cam.  Apparently an intruder has been trying to claim the nest and upsetting the nesting pair. Well the intruder has won and the resident female is out of the nest.  There were two eggs in the nest but they were...

Anyone bought litter for the hamster lately?  If not you may be in for a surprise at the checkout stand.  Apparently sawdust is a victim of the new homes slump.  No homes built = no lumber cut = no sawdust being made.  What do we use sawdust for you ask?  How about farmers, they use it for beddin...

Finally I almost ride over the I64 bridge on Providence Rd.  I say almost because the city is making plans to replace the old dirt path with a 5 foot wide concrete sidewalk.  The sidewalk will be on the southside of Providence and will include railings and guardrdrails.http://www.deniseallen.com/...

Well not really but they are changing names.  Apparently the Virginia Beach based Resource bank was bought by Fulton Financial Corp four years ago.  Fulton is based in Lancaster, PA.  The new name will be "Resource Bank, a Division of Fulton Bank"  The sign-age should start going up in March.    ...

Will there be a new Midtown Tunnel for Portsmouth?  Good question and one VDOT is looking into.  Before that can happen, VDOT needs to clarify its postion with the new Hampton Roads Transportation Authority (HRTA).  The new tunnel will help conjestion in the area as the Downtown tunnel is one of ...

It looks like the Army Corps of Engineers intends to approve a marina on Back Bay.  This can't but hurt the Back Bay area.  Anyone who has been around a marina knows they are like a giant gas station without toilets.  The Back Bay facility will include finger piers, floating docks, a concrete boa...

No Hampton Roads city has a strong mayor.  The cities have mayors but the day to day running is done by a city manager.  The city manager is a full time businessman and his only job is run the city.  With the strong mayor system  you could end up with someone who is very charismatic but short on ...

If you are a parent of a Hickory Middle School or Oscar Smith High School student you will be able to see your child's grade book on line.  This is a test project and will soon be available system wide.  As a parent, you can see skipped classes and grades on the internet.  Apparently Suffolk and ...

School officials have asked for 16 new teachers to help with autism and inclusion classes.  It seems the number of students with autism has more than doubled in the last five years.  Because autism is a neurological disorder that affects social interactions, communication and behavior, the studen...