MONDAY. OCTOBER 17. 2022

Celebrate Halloween at the Virginia Living Museum

The Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd, Newport News, offers not-so-spooky activities for the whole family during the next two weekends to celebrate Halloween. Oct. 21, 22, 28, and 29 enjoy trick-or-treating during "Night of the Living Museum" and stay for a "Fright Light" planetarium show highlighting a mix of Halloween-themed songs and laser lights.

Put on your costume and trick-or-treat throughout the Museum filled with themed galleries, characters, and decorations. Make creepy crafts and play Halloween games. Enjoy live animal shows featuring fierce and not-so-fierce Halloween critters. Plus, take a nighttime hike along the outdoor boardwalk. Cost is $15 per member, $20 per non-member. Tickets purchased on the day of the event are $20 per member and $25 per non-member. Children ages 2 and under are free. Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

There are three planetarium shows each night at 6 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Entrance is $5 per member, $8 per non-member. Children 2 and under are free.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit thevlm.org.

Newport News Public Library Celebrates Local Authors

Join the Newport News Public Library the first week of November to celebrate local authors with panel discussions and an authors’ showcase!

Events begin on Nov. 1, 6-7:30 p.m., at Main Street Library (110 Main Street) with a How to Self Publish panel discussion. On Nov. 2, 6-7:30 p.m., the Pearl Bailey Library (2510 Wickham Avenue) will host a Children’s Books—From Story to Page panel discussion. On Nov. 3, 6-7:30 p.m., the Grissom Library (366 DeShazor Drive) will host a Speaking the Unspeakable—How to Write About Difficult, Traumatic, or Potentially Explosive Topics panel discussion. All of the panel discussions are free and open to the public.

On Saturday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. ‒ 3 p.m., all are invited to meet local authors, purchase their books, and have their books signed at the Local Authors’ Showcase at Main Street Library.

For more information visit nnpl.org, call 757-926-1350, or any Newport News Public Library branch.

Your Social Media Can Keep You from Being Hired

Most employers today use some form of social media review prior to making a hiring decision. The Newport News Human Rights Commission offers the following tips and advice for you to keep in mind before applying for your next job.

1. Google yourself. Google your name and all variations of your name every six months. Include an image search. You might be surprised at what you find.
2. Don’t put things on social media that you don’t want everyone to see. Once you put something on the internet it is no longer private, regardless of your settings. Friends/followers can screen shot posts on "private" pages and make those available publicly. 
3. Be positive. Employers check social media to see if you have qualities or characteristics they want (or don't want) in an employee. Although you have a right to free speech, you don’t have that same right with a private employer. Make sure your social media accounts portray you in a positive manner. 
4. Protected classes.  Employers cannot use any protected class information they see on the internet (e.g., race, age, sex, gender identity, disability, etc.) in their hiring decision. But there are many personal attributes that are not considered protected classes (e.g., anger, excessive drinking/partying, foul language, etc.) and those can influence an employer. 
5. Employers may not ask for your social media passwords. They also can’t require you to “friend” them on your networks. That practice was outlawed in Virginia in 2015. The employer can request to follow you, but you have the right to say no.
6. Use social media to your benefit. Develop your own brand identity and show why an employer should hire you by creating posts and content that reflect your expertise, creativity, and work ethic.