The program will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2009, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Municipal Building, 441 Market Street, in Council Chambers. Designed to help citizens of Suffolk become better acquainted with their local government, the goal of the program is to promote effective communication between citizens and government and to improve the overall quality of neighborhood life in the City of Suffolk. Listed below are just a few of the many topics that will be taught through the SNC:

 

· Services that are provided to citizens of the City by departments
· Fundamentals of Neighborhood Leadership
· Why Economic Development is important to the City of Suffolk and its neighborhoods
· Neighborhood improvement through Code Enforcement

 

Participants will learn how to access neighborhood municipal services, and partner with the local government and public safety officials to improve neighborhood quality of life.

 

To register or obtain information about the Suffolk Neighborhood College...EXPRESS!, contact Diana Klink, Media & Community Relations Manager, at 514-4104, or e-mail dklink@city.suffolk.va.us. Registration deadline is October 16, 2009.

 

CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED - REGISTER TODAY! 

Notice of Intent to Continue a Pre-Rule Quiet Zone

 

ALL INTERESTED PARTIES are hereby notified that the City of Suffolk has been granted a Waiver of the Filing Deadline to File a Notice of Intent to Continue a Pre-Rule Quiet Zone in the Downtown Business District. The pre-Rule Quiet Zone will allow the silencing of the train horns along this quiet zone to occur in accordance with Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 222 and 229.

 

The Downtown Business Pre-Rule Quiet Zone (DBPRQZ) consists of the following at-grade crossings:

 

Crossing No.          Crossing Type      Street
467 399T                Public                    Liberty St
467 400K                Public                    East Washington St
467 402K                Public                    Commerce St
467 404M               Public                    South Main St
467 405U                Public                    Saratoga St

The implementation of the DBPRQZ will restrict the routine sounding of locomotive horns at the above noted at-grade crossings on a 24-hour a day basis in accordance with 49 CFR 222.43 (b)(2)(ii), beginning at 12:01am on October 14, 2009. In addition to this public notice, the City of Suffolk will be installing supplemental roadway signs along the DBPRQZ notifying the public that the train horns will be silenced on this section of railroad and that greater care should be taken when approaching these crossings, as the horn will no longer be sounded on a routine basis.

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce has named 1Foot 2Foot as the 2009 Suffolk "Small Business of the year." The award was established to recognize performance by small business ventures throughout the region on an annual basis. Companies are judged on their financial success, community involvement and ethical business practices.

 

Located in the heart of Downtown Suffolk, 1Foot 2Foot is the first integrated foot and ankle facility in the country to include a comprehensive podiatry (foot and ankle specialty) practice, medical spa, fashion comfort shoe store, and physical therapy gym. Dr. Matthew Dairman opened 1Foot 2Foot in 2006 and sees over 200 patients each week in the podiatry office alone. 1Foot 2Foot is committed to patient care and advanced knowledge, which has led the business to grow internally and externally including the expansion of a new office in North Suffolk and the addition of several other podiatrists. The 1Foot 2Foot headquarters transformed a 6,000 square-foot 1920's former movie theatre building into a historically hip medical office and front street retail space. The restoration and transformation represented over $2.5 million capital investment, and was a recipient of a 2007 HRACRE Design Award.

 

"We're thrilled to be recognized by the Chamber for our hard work and innovation," said Dr. Dairman. "We hope Historic Downtown Suffolk continues to grow and thrive in years to come."

 

"Small business are an important economic engine for our City," said Mayor Linda T. Johnson. "I am proud that the City of Suffolk continues to provide an environment in which these businesses can thrive and prosper. I congratulate Dr. Dairman and his staff on this award and look forward to seeing what's in store for them in the years to come."

 

The Suffolk Small Business of the Year Award was presented to 1Foot 2Foot at the Annual Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet on Thursday, October 1, 2009, at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center.

The City of Suffolk believes it has taken a major step toward being a viable partner in the support of security for the Hampton Roads Port. The City has been notified that the Police Department will receive $386,450 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Port Security Grant Program. This money will be used to replace an outdated police boat with a new boat, replace an aging dive support truck, replace a boat motor of one of the current serviceable boats and purchase other marine and dive equipment.

 

According to Debbie George, city spokesperson, "With these assets, the Police Department will be able to better patrol the Suffolk waterways and assist the United States Coast Guard and other local agencies in regional port security. With the continued threat of both foreign and domestic terrorism, all agencies must work together to provide a cohesive security force."

The City of Suffolk Economic Development Department along with the U.S. Small Business Administration is pleased to offer a series of seminars titled "Start and Grow Your Suffolk Business." The current economy provides new challenges and new opportunities for many businesses and this series is an excellent venue to receive expert advice and tips on how to improve your business one topic at a time. This FREE seminar series will be held every Tuesday, beginning October 6th until October 27th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Suffolk Workforce Development Center, 157 N. Main Street, 2nd floor.

 

October 20: Pricing To Win Federal Contracts
This presentation will be a follow-up to the first session, which will focus on the financial requirements that come along with the pursuit of Federal contracts from the preparation of your price/cost submission, having financial resources available to your operation costs, along with invoicing requirements.

 

October 27: Finance
Hear what the bank is looking for, and the things that impact your loan package. An SBA representative will also give an overview on the Small Business Administration Loan Guaranty Program.

 

To register or for further information, contact Kevin Hughes, Suffolk Economic Development, at 757-514-4043 or email khughes@city.suffolk.va.us.

 

About 120 recyclers came out Saturday, September 26th, to Suffolk Recycles...Take II. The event was sponsored by the Suffolk Clean Community Commission and sought to promote environmental stewardship among the residents of Suffolk. William and Deborah Fortuna, of Suffolk, brought by boxes of old receipts and bank statements to be shredded. The Fortunas are pictured handing their boxes to Shred-It's Morrell Crowell.