Newport News: Hispanic Heritage, Job Opportunities, Early Voting, Peanut Pie, and More! 🇺🇸🥜🗳

Trivia Question❓

Which actor from Newport News played roles in The Wire, Coming to America, and Silence of the Lambs?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

This Week's Sponsor

Byrd's Restaurant

Byrd’s Restaurant dishes out classic American breakfast and lunch with a Southern kick. Tucked in the Hidenwood area, this local favorite turns out comfort food like shrimp and grits, cinnamon swirl pancakes, and lemon-blueberry bread French toast. Almost everything’s made from scratch, and the staff makes you feel right at home.

They’re open Thursday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Walk-ins only, no reservations. The line can get long, but most folks will tell you the wait is part of the experience.

Newport News Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Pride and Passion

Newport News is officially celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, marking a vibrant moment for the city’s fast-growing Hispanic community, now nearly 10% of the population.

The proclamation, made by Mayor Philip Jones, launches a month filled with bilingual events, youth programs, resource fairs, and the much-anticipated Hispanic Heritage Month Restaurant Week from Sept. 19–30.

This year’s theme, “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” celebrates families whose roots stretch from Spain and Mexico to all corners of Central and South America, honoring their lasting impact and present-day contributions.

Locals are encouraged to enjoy authentic food, dazzling art, and lively performances at neighborhood festivals.

It’s a perfect opportunity to savor new flavors, meet neighbors, and experience the rich diversity that defines our city.

Jobs Wide Open in Hampton Roads

Thousands of jobs are sitting open in Hampton Roads, from shipyard trades to hospital shifts.

The Hampton Roads Workforce Council is rolling out two new training programs with $300,000 in state funding. One is focused on shipbuilding, the other on healthcare.

The shipyard alone is short about 10,000 workers, including welders, electricians, painters, and pipefitters. Healthcare is down roughly 2,000 nurses, along with plenty of support roles. When these spots stay empty, it shows up in longer waits at the hospital and fewer hands on the ships.

Pathways to Shipbuilding will train 30 people for welding and electrical work. Healthcare Career Pathways will prepare 20 people for medical assisting and admin jobs. Starting pay runs from $18 to $22 an hour, and training can be as quick as six weeks.

It’s not a fix-all, but it’s a move in the right direction.

🗳 Early Voting in Newport News 🗳

Early voting for the 2025 Election is starting soon! You can vote in person or drop off your ballot at any of these three convenient locations:

📍City Hall – Opens Sept. 19, Mon-Fri, 8 am-5 pm

📍City Center Fountain Plaza II - Opens Sept. 23, Tues & Thurs,8 am-5 pm

📍Denbigh Community Center - Opens Oct. 20, Mon-Fri, 8 am-5 pm

🗓️ Special Weekend Hours

✅ Saturday, Oct. 25 & Nov. 1- 9 am -5 pm

✅ Sunday, Oct. 26 - 11 am - 4 pm

WHAT'S HAPPENIN' IN THE NEWS

65th Annual Denbigh Day Parade & Festival

📅Date: Saturday, September 20

🕒Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

📍Location: Courthouse Way Community Center, 14302 Old Courthouse Way, Newport News, VA

🔖Admission: Free

Celebrate the 65th Annual Denbigh Day Parade & Festival with a fun-filled community event featuring a lively parade, live music, games, inflatables, arts & crafts vendors, food, photo ops, and more family-friendly amusements.

8th Annual Great Food Truck Festival

📅Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025.

🕒Time: 11:00 am to 06:00 pm (EDT)

📍Location: Habitat ReStore Lot, 371 Chatham Drive, Newport News

🔖Admission: General admission (12 pm-6 pm) is $7.00 ($7.75 including $0.75 transaction fee) and a raffle ticket for a chance to win one $100 cash prize awarded at 5:05 pm at the DJ Booth (must be present to collect cash)

V.I.P. admission (11 am-12 pm) is $10.00 per person ($10.75 total including $0.75 transaction fee) and a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of three $100 cash prizes awarded at 12:05 pm at the DJ Booth (must be present to collect cash)

Children ages 5 and under are admitted FREE!

Enjoy 20+ food vendors, live shows, celebrity guests, and fun for all ages—plus games, prizes, Disney & Marvel photo ops, and $50 cash giveaways. A full day of family fun!

Plant Swap at Main Street Library

📅Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025.

🕒Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (EDT)

📍Location: Main Street Library

🔖Admission: No registration required.

Expand your garden and houseplant collection at the Main Street Library’s Plant Swap. Newport News Master Gardeners will also be there to share tips and answer your gardening questions.

Virginia's Famous Peanut Pie

Virginia Peanut Pie | Virginia Diner

Peanut pie is a true Virginia classic, often compared to pecan pie but with a Tidewater twist. The dessert was made famous by the Virginia Diner in Wakefield, a landmark since 1929. Rich, nutty, and sweet, it’s a slice of local history that keeps visitors coming back for more.

Get the Full Recipe for Virginia's Famous Peanut Pie

Sport Roundup

🏈Gunner White Powers CNU in Big Win Over Gettysburg

Christopher Newport stayed perfect at 2-0 with a 49-14 win over Gettysburg, as senior RB Gunner White set the school’s career touchdown record with four scores on the day. CNU has next weekend off before hosting fourth-ranked Susquehanna University on Saturday, September 27th, at TowneBank Stadium. 👉 Read more...

🚨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:

Frankie Faison

Thanks!

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