3+ week, 1+ day ago (278+ words) A new veteran-owned store is selling coffee and tea with a purpose. EDC Coffee & Tea, owned by former Navy SEAL Dom Raso, opened at 2421 Bowland Parkway near Naval Air Station Oceana in October. Originally founded in Michigan, the brand has relaunched and now operates in Virginia Beach. Raso said his brand is built around discipline, preparedness and purpose. "EDC" in the name refers to the essential "everyday carry" items one keeps on hand to be prepared for anything. "Coffee and tea is a weapon you can use to attack your day and fuel your body," Raso said. "It should be intentional and healthy." EDC sells organic, high-grade brews packaged in Magneclose resealable bags, an innovative design that locks in freshness, prevents spills, and closes quickly without the need for clips or accessories. "We have sourced the highest quality coffee and…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (401+ words) Instead of confronting these disparities, the Virginia Department of Health under Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Health Commissioner Karen Shelton and Deputy Commissioner Susan Fischer Davis has weakened the very programs meant to protect these residents. Their actions mirror a broader political agenda aimed at scaling back safety-net services while branding the changes as "modernization." Under Shelton, VDH has echoed the rhetoric behind Youngkin's themes of "parental rights" and "local control." But behind the language of efficiency are decisions that divert resources from high-need communities and erode the public-health infrastructure that keeps cities such as Portsmouth afloat. Wealthier, whiter localities have not faced these barriers. Their budgets remain intact, their leadership supported, and their services uninterrupted. The contrast makes clear that some communities are treated as more deserving than others. HIV prevention and PrEP programs have seen budgets stagnate as infection rates…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (372+ words) YORK " Alewerks Brewing Co. will host a fundraiser on Saturday in support of Rocco's Smokehouse Grill, which has been shut down since a fire over the summer. Rocco's, located at 207 Bypass Road just outside Williamsburg, has been closed since mid-August after an electrical fire started behind one of the restaurant's beer coolers after business hours. No one was injured during the fire, which was reported by an employee. "There's a moment I think about sometimes from 2009," Logan said. "We're a few years in at Alewerks, still figuring things out. I've got this idea for a pumpkin ale, my mother's pumpkin pie recipe, actually, but I need somewhere to roast all this pumpkin. I call Rocco. "Come on over,' he says. "Early morning. Before we open. We'll do it together." The pumpkin ale went on to become one of Alewerks' signature…...

5+ day, 38+ min ago (1752+ words) Castle Shops, a 37,390-square-foot discount and service-based retail strip center on 2.57 acres, was sold for $5.4 million. Jeff Fritz and Jay O'Donnell represented the seller, while George Fox was leasing adviser. Northbridge acquired Airport Business Center, 1457 Miller Store Road, Virginia Beach, from DSC Partners. Airport Business Center is a hyper-infill, 65,192square foot ClassA shallow bay property on 4.57 acres located adjacent to Norfolk International Airport. Eric Robison and Bo McKown of Thalhimer's Capital Markets Group represented the seller. M.A.R.E. Holdings, LLC purchased a half acre of land at 5129 Singleton Way from Princess Anne/Witchduck Associates 1 for $1.15 million. Marci Phillips represented the buyer. Atlantic Union Bank recently signed a full floor lease for approximately 12,000 square feet at One Columbus Center, located in the heart in Town Center in Virginia Beach. The new tenant's presence brings Armada Hoffler's Town Center office portfolio to 99% occupancy. Divaris Real…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (1725+ words) Ronald and Sandra Mitchell sold 1421 Kempsville Road in Norfolk to Brad Miller for $450,000. Jon Elliott represented the seller. Western Branch of Chesapeake LLC purchased 2.51 acres of land at 2432 Gum Road in Chesapeake for $590,000 for development. Michael Allen represented the buyer. L&M Associates LLC purchased a 1,848-square-foot retail property at 200 Floyd Thompson Blvd. in Hampton on 1.06 acres for $450,000 from Boom Inc. Michael Allen represented the buyer. Atherton Construction and Development Inc. purchased a 2.5-acre property at 3016 and 3024 Godwin Blvd. in Suffolk for $1.8 million from Hillpoint, Roundtree, Perry, Savage Trust. Bobbly Beasley III handled this transaction. THG Broad St. LLC purchased a 59,633-square-foot industrial property on 3.42 acres at 900 Broad St. in Portsmouth from ECG 900 Broad LLC for $3.3 million. Anthony Grecco, Austin Glaser, John J. Wessling Sr. and Chris Devine represented the seller. Daniel A. Maxwell assigns and/or purchased a 3,500-square-foot retail property…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (145+ words) WILLIAMSBURG " The sixth annual Heal Williamsburg/Heal the Nation Community Forum will take place from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the Stryker Center. The event will include lunch, arts and crafts and a community forum led by DeVeria Gore, a Virginia Racial Healing Institute executive board member. The event is organized by Coming to the Table-Historic Triangle, a program of the Virginia Racial Healing Institute, and sponsored by Sentara Health. Attendance is free, but registration is requested here. "We are looking forward to bringing the Greater Williamsburg community together for a day of good food, good music and courageous conversations aimed at relationship and community building," said Laura Hill, executive director of the Virginia Racial Healing Institute. The institute is also co-sponsoring a food drive to benefit Grove Christian Outreach Center's pantry and is asking for donations of healthy food items....

1+ week, 3+ day ago (540+ words) VIRGINIA BEACH " Several City Council members want to increase their own salaries, but they're facing backlash from voters and colleagues who feel it's unnecessary and sends the wrong message at a time when many residents are struggling. The effective date would be July 1, 2027. The ordinance would also provide for future cost of living increases. A public hearing was held on the matter this week and a vote is scheduled for next Tuesday. Other Hampton Roads city councils have approved pay raises at the statutory limit for themselves including Portsmouth,Newport NewsandHampton. All of the eight speakers at Tuesday's public hearing were against salary increases for council members including former City Councilman John Moss, who said council members are aware of the salary when they run for office, and "there's no shortage of candidates for the job under the current terms....

1+ week, 4+ day ago (349+ words) Registration opened this month for the Great Decisions 2026 Lecture series, sponsored by the League of Women Voters. When the series begins in February, it will be held at Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists on Ironbound Road instead of the Williamsburg Regional Library. The Great Decisions program is based on the work of the Foreign Policy Association. The FPA's program, which has been in existence for 60 years, provides background information and policy options for the eight critical foreign policy issues facing America. A briefing book serves as the focal text for discussion groups across the country. The Williamsburg area league has sponsored a lecture series as a key component of its civic education mission for 44 years. The group brings in foreign policy experts and gives the community an opportunity to ask questions and socialize with other community members. Each registration for the Williamsburg…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (28+ words) The Captains are on a school-record 13-game winning streak dating to last season and are No. 13 in the d3football.com poll. More in College Sports...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (280+ words) SUFFOLK " The body of a Portsmouth man was found lying unresponsive in a field Sunday morning in rural southwestern Suffolk, not far from the border of Isle of Wight County. The body of Antwan Faulcon, 48, was found near the intersection of Old South Quay Road and Harvest Drive after authorities were called at about 9 a.m. First responders attempted medical aid to Faulcon, but he was declared dead at the scene. The Suffolk Police Department said the circumstances of his death were under investigation. No cause of death was provided. When asked for a cause of a death, a Suffolk police spokesperson would only say there was an investigation underway. A man with the same name and same age was previously listed as a person of interest in a Portsmouth shooting in September and was declared missing Nov. 12. He was last seen…...