Master Gardeners Celebrate 2025 Graduation
The James City County Williamsburg Master Gardener Association celebrated the graduation of it 2025 class of Master Gardeners at the Williamsburg Regional Library’s Auditorium Dec. 4.
To achieve this milestone, trainees attended classes and volunteered 40 hours in community gardens.
Attendees heard from Jim Orband, a retired York County Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent, who shared the history and development of the Master Gardener training program on the peninsula. He recounted significant events and challenges from its inception in 1983, including resistance from extension agents who feared it would undermine their roles, the organization said.
Following the meeting, graduates, members, families and friends gathered for a reception at the Stryker Center.
Joint Base Langley-Eustis Area Hiring Event
Disabled American Veterans and RecruitMilitary will co-host a Joint Base Langley-Eustis Area Hiring Event Jan. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hampton Roads Convention Center.
The event is free to veterans, their spouses, active-duty military personnel and members of the National Guard and Reserve. More than 28 employers actively seeking veterans will be on-site representing a range of industries, from construction to medical to administrative and logistics, with career opportunities from entry level to senior management, DAV said.
In addition to employment assistance, DAV said veterans can utilize career counseling and resume assistance, network with fellow veterans and military personnel, and get support with their Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and claims assistance — all at no cost.
To register for the Joint Base Langley-Eustis Area Hiring Event and access additional no-cost resources for veterans and their families, go to jobs.dav.org.
James City County Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report Available
James City County announced its Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report is now available for viewing online. The report highlights the accomplishments of County departments between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
DVS Announces Recipients Of Veteran Suicide & Opioid Addiction Prevention Grants
The Virginia Department of Veteran Services Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Services Program recently announced the recipients of 57 community grant awards to provide suicide prevention and/or opioid addiction services for service members, veterans, and their families for Fiscal Year 2026.
DVS said these monetary awards will help provide services with focus areas for caregiver support, financial literacy, homeless services, women veterans, and justice involved veterans throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia to help combat suicide and opioid addiction.
Since the program’s inception in 2023, DVS said SOS has awarded over $16 million in grant funds to veterans services organizations and community-based non-profits serving active-duty military, veterans and their families living in Virginia.
The full list of new SOS community service providers who received funds from DVS to provide SOS services and resources to Virginia’s SMVF population for the grant year starting October 1, 2025 can be found on the DVS website.
To learn more about the Virginia Department of Veterans Services Suicide Prevention and Opioid Addiction Services program, visit the DVS website.
Hampton Roads Employee Named Finalist for National SourceAmerica Evelyne Villines Award
Hampton-based VersAbility Resources announced that Zane Sanford was named a finalist for the 2025 SourceAmerica Evelyne Villines Award, one of the organization’s most prestigious national honors.
The Evelyne Villines Award recognizes employees with disabilities across the nation who exemplify exceptional leadership, initiative and advocacy within their workplace and community.
Sanford began his career with VersAbility in August 2023 as a General Laborer on the Ship Provisions Program in Norfolk, which supports mission-essential naval operations throughout the Hampton Roads region. He now manages a team of over 50 employees and has supported an estimated 1,000 Navy ships.
As a hearing-impaired employee, Sanford’s leadership extends beyond his job responsibilities, providing interpreter support for fellow 16 hearing-impaired coworkers, the organization said.
Winners were announced during SourceAmerica’s annual ceremony on Dec. 3 in celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. View the award winners at SourceAmerica.org.
VersAbility Receives Gift from TowneBank to Advance Expansion of Technical Workforce Training Center
VersAbility Resources announced TowneBank made a $500,000 investment to advance the expansion of VersAbility TECH, a first-of-its-kind workforce hub designed to prepare people with disabilities alongside people of all abilities for high-demand careers in shipbuilding, cybersecurity, logistics and manufacturing.
The gift, one of the largest single donations in VersAbility’s history, underscores TowneBank’s deep commitment to strengthening inclusive workforce opportunities across the region, the nonprofit said.
This investment will accelerate the development of VersAbility TECH, expanding the organization’s current training footprint into what will eventually become a 75,000-square-foot workforce training center, offering employer-aligned training pathways in welding, logistics, marine coatings and more.
Learn more about the program at versability.org/versability-
James City County Parks & Recreation Wins International Award
James City County Parks & Recreation announced it recently received an International Award in recreation and lifelong learning for its brochure design and marketing from Learning Resources Network, the leading association in recreation programming.
The award was one of only 11 presented at LERN’s 2025 Annual Virtual Conference, which was attended by more than 1,400 recreation and lifelong learning professionals from three countries.
To learn more about LERN, visit lern.org. To learn more about Parks & Recreation, visit jamescitycountyva.gov/recreation.
Langley Named One of Hampton Roads’ Most Community-Minded Companies
Langley recently announced it was recognized as one of Hampton Roads’ most community-minded companies by Volunteer Hampton Roads and Points of Light through The Civic 50 Hampton Roads.
This honor celebrates organizations that demonstrate exemplary commitment to civic engagement and community impact, it said. The Civic 50 is a national initiative that sets the standard for corporate citizenship, highlighting companies that use their time, talent and resources to serve others and strengthen the communities where they live and work.
Langley said its selection reflects its deep-rooted commitment to supporting meaningful causes, fostering employee volunteerism and investing in the well-being of the region.
To learn more about The Civic 50 Hampton Roads, visit volunteerhr.org/civic50hr.
