Policy on the #NNK

Oh, the possibility of using real maps to create fantasy maps Inkarnate is a website which creates fantasy maps. But thinking about the Northern Neck, there are so many reality-based uses. . . from mapping history, tourism assets, and more! Imagine the fun you could have creating a map based on a real location (yes, it is possible ) for an event, camp, tour. Find library resources across the globe WorldCat (R) is the mother of all library search tools, self-described as “the world’s largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.” You can find books to borrow and the site also shares info about where to purchase materials. The native plants book selection is most appropriate for where we are in the world today re: awareness and interest. Coastal Inundation Zone economies seminar NOAA’s Visualizing the Economies within Coastal Inundation Zones seminar takes place July 10 , 3:00 - 4:00 pm and the public is encouraged to participate....

The Virginia Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions is meeting Friday, June 20 at 10:00 am at Norfolk State University. The meeting is not being livestreamed but a video will be made available after the meeting. The public is encouraged to submit comments on the topics. Specifically, the “Committee requests that, to the extent possible, comments focus on (i) how federal spending and employment reductions have affected you, your family, and/or your community and (ii) specific policies, programs, and investments the Commonwealth could adopt to mitigate impacts on affected works and Virginia’s economy.” Tip : Send your comments directly to our delegate, Hillary Pugh Kent , via email or US Mail, Honorable Hillary Pugh Kent, POB 406, Richmond, VA 23218. Be sure to mention you live on, own a business on, or own property on the Northern Neck. Items on the agenda (PDF): Impact on Hampton Roads Region Impact on Coastal Res...

The Virginia Department of Health has robust information about (those damn) ticks that seem to be everywhere this year. We’ll start with the Tick Survey that is designed to help VDH understand which species is biting people and where in the state they are doing the biting. In 2024, there were 265 tick survey submissions and VDH is hoping for more (well, they are not really except that more people are complaining about being bitten, so. . .) this year. Take the Tick Survey each and every time you are bitten. All bites matter. Check out the other information on the VDH website: Tick prevention Tick removal Tick identification Tickborne diseases Clinician resources for tick-borne diseases Social media and printable material

Facebook vids The title says it all: Facebook announces that all videos on its platform will soon be shared as reels . The company’s goal is to streamline the video sharing experience. Writes TechCrunch’s Alisha Malik, “In the coming months, users won’t have to choose between uploading a video or reel, as it will automatically be shared as a reel. In addition, reels on Facebook won’t be bound by length or format restrictions. (Currently, reels on Facebook can only be 90 seconds long.)” And the high points from FB : Philanthropy in 2025 and beyond If you work at a nonprofit, serve on a nonprofit board, or are a donor, read What To Do Now: How Philanthropy Can Help Win the Fight for America’s Future . Then think about your reactions and share them with the charities of your choice. Exemplary annual report SPUR’s 2025 annual report is a doozy. Sure it’s pretty and uses the scroll in a very smart way. But it’s the clarity of purpose and the wri...

Today is election day for Democrats. There are primaries in two seats: Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor. Polls are open 6:00 am – 7:00 pm and today is the last day to drop off or postmark an absentee ballot. Voting locations are: District 1: Callao Volunteer Fire Department, Callao District 2: St. Stephens’ Episcopal Church, Heathsville District 3: Fairfields Methodist Church, Burgess District 4: Wicomico Episcopal Church, Wicomico Church District 5: Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department Reedville Station, Reedville

This is the second of a several-part series. As was described in Forecasters agree: 2025 hurricane season to be unusually active , the majority of hurricane forecasters are predicting a busy Atlantic hurricane season (now through November 30). If the predictions materialize, Virginia could suffer flooding and other storm-related damage across the state. What will Virginia do in the event of a major hurricane? (Part 1) highlights states’ experiences requesting assistance from the federal government. Tl;dr: President Trump took six weeks to respond to Gov. Youngkin’s request for assistance regarding the winter storms which wreaked havoc on western Virginia. Part 2 takes a look at the challenges, mistakes, and failures which have plagued FEMA over the years. FEMA’s operational and leadership challenges, problems, and failures are not new. Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), who had worked for Gov. DeSantis as Florida’s emergency management director, recently told the House R...

North American Association for Environmental Education ’s free June 18 webinar eeWORKS: What We Have Learned and Why It Matters will take participants through the lessons the organization has learned over the past 10 years about the positive value and impact of environmental education (EE) on K–12 outcomes, education, conservation, early childhood, positive youth development, community science, and climate education. Participants can use what they learn to write grant applications, integrate their findings into environmental education in schools and out-of-school programs, and in other ways.

Protests, rallies, and marches are a real thing for more and more people. Nonviolent Peaceforce has “created a comprehensive Protest Safety Guide to help you show up smart, safe, and grounded in community care.” The Women’s March email continued, Inside you'll find: 🟧 How to prep and assess risk 🎥 How to spot signs of escalation 🧯 What to do if teargas or arrests happen 📄 Verbal de-escalation tools (like CLARA) 🛏️ Tips for disabled protestors 🧘 Holistic check-ins & community defense resources

From Michael Kelly, Director of Strategic Communications & Advocacy, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Riverfront Plaza, East Tower, 951 East Byrd Street, Richmond, VA 23219, mkelly@hunton.com, 804.783.7129, 804.332.0921 New Regional Partnership to Strengthen Healthcare Workforce Development in Fredericksburg, Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula Region ~ Claude Moore Opportunities bringing together public and private sector stakeholders, including educational institutions and employers, to better align region’s healthcare workforce development efforts and create career opportunities ~ As part of a new statewide initiative called the Virginia Partnership for Health Science Careers , a new regional partnership in the Fredericksburg/Northern Neck/Middle Peninsula region will bring together schools, hospitals, healthcare providers, and workforce development professionals from the public and private sector to expand the area’s healthcare workforce, create meaningful career opportunities, an...

The price of stamps is going up July 13. If you are planning on doing any mail-based GOTV work this year, buy stamps now and save ~7.4%. First class stamps are now 73¢ and will be 78¢. Postcards stamps are now 56¢ and will be 62¢. Learn more about the price increases .

This is the first of a several-part series. With all the media and professional chatter about an unprepared and disengaged FEMA combined with the fact we are in hurricane season, my question is this: What will Virginia, and especially the Northern Neck, do in the event that a major hurricane inflicts significant damage? The question is grounded in reality: It took the feds six weeks to respond to a request for assistance regarding the winter storms which wreaked havoc on western Virginia. On February 16, the governor requested an expedited major disaster declaration “to support the ongoing response and recovery efforts of communities impacted by the recent winter storms.” Six weeks later, President Trump approved the request, per a Youngkin release and a notice in the Federal Register . Major storms and flooding are not unheard of on the Northern Neck. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and other extreme weather on the Northern Neck provides examples of the damage caus...