🌱 Patch AM: What missions did Norfolk’s USS Gravely complete before sailing home?

Hi there, Norfolk! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What missions did Norfolk’s USS Gravely complete before sailing home?
• How one Norfolk family found holiday help through Salvation Army
• How Norfolk-linked gang members ended up with 200-plus years in prison

Also on today's calendar: Dueling Pianos with SHAKE RATTLE & ROLL PIANOS and 9 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Norfolk? Post it to Norfolk photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 46 and low of 29 degrees.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 55, low: 34.
• Thursday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, with a high of 63 and low of 57 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• USS Gravely returns to Naval Station Norfolk after months-long deployment (wtkr.com) — A Norfolk-based destroyer, the USS Gravely, is back at Naval Station Norfolk after a four-month deployment supporting U.S. homeland and regional security missions in the Gulf of America and Caribbean. About 300 sailors returned home after operations with major Navy groups. U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk oversees the ship’s readiness and future deployments.
   

• Salvation Army distributes Christmas gifts across Hampton Roads (wtkr.com) — A Norfolk mom living near Ocean View was among thousands of Hampton Roads families receiving Christmas toys, clothes, and food from the Salvation Army’s Chesapeake distribution site. With need rising to 7,700 children this year, volunteers are packing wish-list gifts and food boxes while the organization continues offering year-round help with shelter, food, and utilities across the region.
   

• Five men sentenced to 210 years total for Virginia Beach gang-related killing (wtkr.com) — Several men formerly from Norfolk have received lengthy prison sentences for their roles in a 2021 gang-related shooting in Virginia Beach that killed an 18-year-old with no gang ties. Prosecutors say the group, linked to the “Spazz” gang, fired nearly 50 shots into a car while riding in stolen vehicles, with investigators later tying them to the killing through phone, DNA, and video evidence.
   

📸 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!

Wednesday December 17

• Wednesday Wordsmiths!
  The Muse Writers Center , 2200 Colonial Avenue, #3 , Norfolk
  5:00 pm
• REVIVE -VA's Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education Lay Rescuer Training
  Norfolk, VA Calendar , 1425 Norchester Ave. , Norfolk
  5:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• Board of Zoning Appeals
  Norfolk, VA Calendar , 810 Union Street City Hall - 11th Floor Conference Room , Norfolk
  10:00 am
• QPR- QUESTION, PERSUADE, REFER Training
  Norfolk, VA Calendar , 1425 Norchester Ave. , Norfolk
  12:00 pm
• City Planning Commission - Informal Meeting
  Norfolk, VA Calendar , 810 Union Street 10th Floor Conference Room , Norfolk
  12:00 pm
• City Planning Commission - Public Hearing
  Norfolk, VA Calendar , 810 Union Street City Hall - 11th Floor Conference Room , Norfolk
  2:30 pm
• Not Ready For Workshop Writers Club
  The Muse Writers Center , 2200 Colonial Avenue, #3 , Norfolk
  5:00 pm
• Dueling Pianos with SHAKE RATTLE & ROLL PIANOS
  Dave & Buster's Virginia Beach , 701 Lynnhaven Pkwy , Virginia Beach
  6:00 pm
• Special Topics: Screening Tenants 101
  Norfolk, VA Calendar
  6:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Themed Trivia Edition-Jersey Shore
  Dave & Buster's Virginia Beach , 701 Lynnhaven Pkwy , Virginia Beach
  7:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• The Official Christmas Bar Crawl - Virginia Beach
  The Bunker Brewpub , 211 21st St , Virginia Beach
  4:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Make & Take Ornament Day
  Dave & Buster's Virginia Beach , 701 Lynnhaven Pkwy , Virginia Beach
  1:00 pm

📣 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!

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

• When the security camera catches you doing unsanctioned PT to the song she loves.
  Mom, 95, desperately wants to get up and dance. We danced every day with her walker before the three strokes hit on Thanksgiving morning. I decided… (Nextdoor Larchmont/Edgewater)
• Edit: both home safe!
  Great Dane came home on his own and a wonderful neighbor caught the mixed breed and held him until I got there. Truly appreciate the help!!! My… (Nextdoor Albemarle)

• Government Jobs posted a job opening for Recreation Aide - Recreation Centers in Norfolk. Apply here.
• US Government Jobs posted a job opening for Recreation Assistant (Sailing Instructor) in Norfolk. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Norfolk here.

🗞 Nearby News

Portsmouth

• Inside Business 2025 Women in Business: Camille Crofton Cherry (pilotonline.com)
• Battle of the 740: Woods' 30 leads Portsmouth past Racine Southern, 67-59 (mahoningmatters.com)
• Portsmouth apartment ceiling falls on kids (wavy.com)

Hampton

• Van Malone introduced as Hampton football's new head coach (13newsnow.com)

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 don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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