"Newport News: Cones, Contracts, and Controversy – Shannon Jones to Lead as Commonwealth's Attorney!"

Trivia Question❓

Which jazz icon, known as the “First Lady of Song,” was born in Newport News?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

This Week's Sponsor

Craft 60 Taphouse & Grill

Looking for the perfect mix of bold flavors, cold brews, and good vibes? Head over to Craft 60 Taphouse & Grill in Newport News.

With 60 rotating taps featuring local and regional craft beers, a scratch-made menu stacked with burgers, wings, and hearty entrées, it’s the spot where friends gather and weekends come alive.

Whether you’re catching the game, enjoying live music, or just unwinding after work, Craft 60 has the food, drinks, and atmosphere to keep you coming back.

📍13361 Warwick Blvd, Sui

te 348, Newport News, VA 23602

Another Year of Cones and Chaos in Hilton

The Hilton Shopping Center drainage project on Warwick Boulevard will restart in November and take another year to complete after delays from underground power lines. Businesses like Tastefully Philly Café have struggled with traffic cones, blocked roads, and fewer customers. While the project should ease flooding, many shop owners worry about making it through another year of disruption.

Wanna Win City Contracts? Newport News is Showing You How

Newport News is stepping up for small businesses this fall. The Contractors Academy kicks off September 25 and runs through November 6 at the Main Street Library. Every Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., business owners can learn how to find contract opportunities, prepare stronger proposals, and understand the procurement process. You can sign up for the full series or choose the sessions that matter most to you.

On October 9 and 23, the city will host Serve the City: Food Service Provider Forum. Restaurant owners, caterers, and food truck operators will hear directly from city departments about how food service contracts get awarded.

Come spring 2026, advanced workshops will cover financing, insurance, and other key parts of building a business. Newport News is making sure local businesses have every chance to compete and win.

To register or for more information, visit the Purchasing Office's business services page.

Shannon Jones Set to Lead as Newport News’ Next Commonwealth’s Attorney

Shannon Jones, 40, is set to become Newport News’ next Commonwealth’s Attorney after defeating longtime incumbent Howard Gwynn in June. She says restoring trust and preventing crime through community involvement are her top priorities.

With experience as a prosecutor in Philadelphia, in the local office, and now as Assistant City Attorney, she plans to focus on youth programs, technology, and collaboration. Her main goal is to build a safer Newport News by investing in young people and breaking the cycle of violence.

⛅Thursday 89° 71° Very warm, humid, mostly cloudy. PM t-storm possible.

⛅Friday 81° 69° Cloudy, humid. Scattered PM showers/t-storm.

⛅Saturday 77° 67° Cloudy, a couple of showers around.

⛅Sunday 79° 69° Cloudy, AM showers, PM rain/t-storm likely.

African American Cultural Experiences Trolley Tour

📅Date: Saturday, September 27

🕒Time: 10:00 AM – 1:15 PM (Approx. 3 hours)

📍Location: Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center (parking available on site) 2410 Wickham Avenue Newport News, VA 23607

🎟️Admission: $20 (Register at Eventbrite)

📄Details: Join Newport News Tourism for a guided trolley tour exploring the city’s rich African American heritage. (NEW updated route)

Next Stop Comedy at 1700 Brewing

📅Date: Saturday, September 27th, 2025

🕒Time: 7:00 pm (1 hour, 30 minutes)

📍Location: 1700 Brewing, 11838 Canon Blvd #400, Newport News, VA 23606

🎟️Admission: $25 (Register at Next Stop Comedy)

📄Details: Next Stop Comedy brings the best comedians, with new lineups every time, straight to your neighborhood for an unforgettable night of laughter!

Kiwanis Peninsula Seafood Festival

📅Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

🕒Time: 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm

📍Location: Hellenic Community Center, 60 Traverse Rd, Newport News, VA 23606

🎟️Admission: $75.00 + $3.65 fee (Tickets)

📄Details: A fun-filled event with ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT seafood, BBQ, adult beverages, live music by SLAPNATION BAND, raffles, silent auction, door prizes & much, much more!

2025 Hilton Art Walk & Busker Festival

📅Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

🕒Time: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

📍Location: Hilton Village: Main Street on the 10200 & 10300 blocks of Warwick Boulevard

🎟️Admission: Free

📄Details: Explore the Hilton Village Merchant District during this festival of the arts. Meet local shop owners, vendors, artists, and musicians while enjoying live performances and hands-on activities. Try new creative experiences, grab a bite at a restaurant, or swing by a food truck. Fun for all ages!

Outdoor Artisan and Vintage Market

📅Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

🕒Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

📍Location: Eclectic Treasures: 10234 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606

🎟️Admission: Free

📄Details: Additional small local vendors will set up in the front and back of the shop for an extra-special shopping experience. Smokin Wright BBQ will be there with their amazing BBQ!

Anime Club

📅Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

🕒Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

📍Location: Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center: 2410 Wickham Ave, Newport News, VA, 23607

🎟️Admission: Free

📄Details: Join fellow anime fans to share your love for the art, explore its history, and learn about creators, animators, and voice actors. Connect in a fun, welcoming space while discovering something new about anime and its culture. For ages 9–18. Meets on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month.

4th Annual Community Health & Awareness Day

📅Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

🕒Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

📍Location: Triumph Pentecostal Church of Deliverance: 1811 Wickham Ave, Newport News, VA 23607

🎟️Admission: Free

📄Details: A community event offering health screenings, health and insurance information, free food & healthy snacks, music, games, and general fun. A chance for neighbors to connect, get information, and enjoy an uplifting time together.

Live Music: Derek Smith at Tradition Brewing

📅Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

🕒Time: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

📍Location: Tradition Brewing Company: 700 Thimble Shoals Blvd, Newport News, VA

🎟️Admission: Free

📄Details: Enjoy a lively Saturday night with live music from singer-songwriter Derek Smith at the Tradition Brewing taproom. Grab your favorite craft beer, relax on the patio, and soak in an evening of great tunes and good vibes

Fall‑O‑Ween Festival at Newport News Park

📅Date:Saturday & Sunday, October 4 & 5, 2025

🕒Time:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day

📍Location: Newport News Park, 13560 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, VA

🎟️Admission: Free (parking is $10 per vehicle – cash only)

📄Details: This two‑day, family‑friendly fall festival features a lively marketplace of crafters, Halloween and seasonal vendors, multiple live entertainment stages, costumed characters, photo opportunities, kids’ activities, a beer garden, and various food & drink options.

🍲Virginia Brunswick Stew

Brunswick Stew is a dish that feels like Virginia in a bowl. It’s thick, smoky, and built to feed a crowd. The first recipes out of Brunswick County used squirrel or rabbit, though most folks now stick with chicken.

No matter what meat you use, the staples stay the same. Corn, lima beans, tomatoes, and potatoes simmer together until the stew is rich and heavy. Old-timers will tell you it ought to be thick enough for a spoon to stand straight up in the pot.

You’ll spot it at church picnics, fall festivals, and plenty of backyard gatherings around here. It’s not fancy cooking, but it’s the kind of food that makes you go back for a second bowl.

Get the Full Recipe for Virginia Brunswick Stew

🚨LOCAL SPOTLIGHT🚨

Craft 2 You, LLC

Craft 2 You is a mother and daughter team bringing creativity to Newport News through sewing and crafts. The love of making started generations ago, when scraps from a grandmother’s sewing table sparked a lifelong habit. That spark still burns as they share their skills with neighbors across the city.

For more than 25 years, crafting has been a way to connect. With children, especially those with autism or emotional challenges, hands-on projects create calm and open the door to coping skills. Adults get a healthy break from stress, and seniors rediscover laughter, pride, and the joy of finishing something they thought was out of reach.

At the heart of Craft 2 You is watching doubt turn into pride. Mistakes become part of the story, and every finished piece proves what’s possible.

💡 Answer to Trivia Question:

Ella Fitzgerald (born April 25, 1917, in Newport News).

😊Thanks!

Thanks for reading The Newport Newser! Share it with the guy who microwaves fish at the office like it’s perfectly normal.