Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a shutdown cut flights but not ORF’s yearly growth

Also check out Fortune Feimster on the Norfolk Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Sunday December 21st Patch AM
Sunday December 21st Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hey there, Norfolk! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a shutdown cut flights but not ORF’s yearly growth
  • Why a former critic now praises Norfolk’s Confederate monument move
  • How badly is gun violence impacting Norfolk compared with other Virginia cities?

Also on today's calendar: Make & Take Ornament Day and 5 more events.

Find out what's happening in Norfolkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the balloon say to the doctor? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Norfolkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 58 and low of 29 degrees.
  • Monday: Sunny and cooler, temps: high: 46, low: 34.
  • Tuesday: A little morning rain, with a high of 57 and low of 42 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Norfolk International Airport reports decrease in passengers in November (wavy.com) — Norfolk International Airport saw passenger traffic dip 5.2% this November, largely tied to flight losses during the recent federal government shutdown. Even with that setback, ORF has handled about 4.5 million passengers so far this year, slightly ahead of 2024’s pace.
   

2. Sons of Confederate Veterans praises Norfolk's handling of monument relocation (wavy.com) — Norfolk has finished relocating its longtime downtown Confederate monument to Elmwood Cemetery, where it now stands smaller, landscaped, and closer to the graves of Confederate soldiers. The Sons of Confederate Veterans, who once fought the move, are now praising the city’s handling, while Norfolk commits to maintaining the monument if it’s vandalized.
   

3. Gun violence in Virginia is mainly concentrated in just a few cities — including four in Hampton Roads, says a new report (whro.org) — Norfolk is one of four Hampton Roads cities where more than a quarter of Virginia’s gun homicides occurred between 2020 and 2024, according to a new state report. The study highlights how community-based programs, state funding, and local groups like Stop the Violence 757 are trying to reduce shootings, while also noting gaps in how Richmond distributes violence-prevention dollars to high-need cities.
   

4. Woody interns gain hands-on experience in range of museum roles (wm.edu) — One William & Mary student spent her summer interning at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, helping research Asian glass, install exhibits, and learn visitor engagement. Her experience, along with other Woody interns across the region, shows how local museums are giving students hands-on roles that shape their career plans and bring fresh energy to cultural institutions.
   

5. Wilkes-Barre native serves aboard one of the world's largest warships (timesleader.com) — A U.S. Navy public affairs officer now serving aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, homeported in Norfolk, shares how his small-town roots and mentors shaped his career at sea. From handling the ship’s beloved therapy dog to organizing a Make-A-Wish visit, he highlights the people-focused side of life on one of the world’s largest warships based here.
   

📸 Around Norfolk

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Norfolk

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Saturday December 27
  • Fortune Feimster
    Harrison Opera House, 160 W Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk
    7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Norfolk Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Norfolk PatchAM possible:

  • ABC Supportive — (757) 664-9058
    Meet the Director: Charlene Wimbish, CEO of ABC Supportive –

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • My eyesight and my brain are not what they used to be.
    I guess neither were very good to start with but now I think they are both getting worse. I got an email the other day that was kind of disturbing… (Nextdoor Larchmont/Edgewater)
  • This dog followed me and my dog home around 11:30am.
    Found on Grantham Rd between Doris and Ruthven in Norfolk. Brown leather colllar. No tags or microchip. Dropped off at the Norfolk animal care center… (Nextdoor Wards Corner)
  • Cleared: Bridge/Tunnel Stoppage: WB on I-64 I-64 Tunnel-HRBT W in Norfolk. 10:07PM (X: 511hamptonroads)
  • Update: Delay: WB on I-264 Downtown Tunnel W in Norfolk. No lanes closed. Delay 2 mi. 5:42PM (X: 511statewideva)
  • Unifi Aviation, LLC posted a job opening for Airport Ramp Agent PT (Delta) - ORF in Norfolk. Apply here.
  • Old Dominion University posted a job opening for Faculty in Electrical & Computer Engineering for Data-Driven AI in Special Education (Tenure Track/Tenured) in Norfolk. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Norfolk here.

Ok Norfolk! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel lightheaded!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

Support These Local Businesses

+ List My Business

More from Norfolk