So how many were thrilled with 65F degrees on Wednesday - along with the abundant sunshine?? Warmer weather and sunshine just creates such a better and more positive mood, doesn't it?? Can we PLEASE be done with the grey/cold weather now? Consider all the positive that comes this week with a bit warmer weather than sunshine: Governor Northam eases coronavirus restrictions due to the downward trend in coronavirus cases. If you happened to miss it - check it out here. While we are certainly not out of the woods yet - through some tough times, patience and development of new habits, we're slowly making progress.
Another local example of positive news: high school football is actually back! Yes, the time of year is certainly a bit different - but having it is better than none at all. Especially for all the local athletes that have trained and prepared - high school seniors in particular.
Speaking of high school football and yet another slice of positive news this week: how about Grant Holloway, product of Grassfield High School in Chesapeake? He set a 27-year old world record in the 60 meter hurdles on Wednesday in Madrid, Spain. If you happened to miss the write-up, click here. Another former high school football/track star is making Hampton Roads proud - as he prepares for the upcoming Olympics trials.
Lastly on the positive news-front: did you catch the informative/uplifting story by The Pilot's/Daily Press' Dave Ress on the Ford-class aircraft carrier under construction in Newport News? If you haven't read it yet - check it out here. A must read.
Note To Readers: Yours truly will be taking a hiatus next week - so our next Reader Rewards newsletter will come out on Thursday, March 11th. Who knows - yours truly MAY seek out even warmer weather and even more sunshine next week as a preview to the coming Spring season!
Now your favorite portion: contests! This week we're running 6 - yes, count 'em - six gift card contests! I sense we're getting closer to a time when we'll be able to give away concert and event tickets once again! In the meantime, enjoy!
Our contests this week include Amazon, Target, Walmart and more! Enter to win a $50 gift card to one! Go to MyReaderRewards.com to win!
Last Week's Contest Winners
Kroger - Denise Landle Kohl's - Elizabeth Bryan
Applebee's - Kristyn Danson
CONTESTS
Free delivery on millions of items with Prime. Low prices across earth's biggest selection of books, music, DVDs, electronics, computers, software, apparel and more! Register at MyReaderRewards.comfor a chance to win a $50 gift card.
Easy Online Shopping. Get it When & Where You Want it. Free In-Store Pickup! Free Shipping on Orders $35+ or Pickup In-Store and get a Pickup Discount. Clearance Items.  Register for a chance to win a $50 gift card at MyReaderRewards.com
 Buy tools, small appliances, home security and more, plus pick up in store today.Register at MyReaderRewards.com to win a $50 gift card!
Shop Target online and in-store for everything from groceries and essentials to clothing and electronics. Register at MyReaderRewards.com for a chance to win a $50 gift card!
Weekly specials to help you and your family save more! Food Lion's To-Go curbside pick-up & home delivery grocery store! Register at MyReaderRewards.com for a chance to win a $50 gift card!
Visit DICK'S Sporting Goods and Shop a Wide Selection of Sports Gear, Equipment, Apparel and Footwear! Get the Top Brands at Competitive Prices. Sign up for a chance to win a $50 gift card at MyReaderRewards.com!
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Meet Shadow! Shadow is this week's My Reader Rewards Pet of the Week. Check out our other furry friends in our new Pet Gallery. Want your pet featured? Email a picture of your pet to Mark.quan@pilotonline.com. Please include your name along with your pet's name.
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Restaurants are opening back up so don't forget Reader Perks! Take advantage of over 500,000 local and national discounts that can pay for your subscription over & over again! To access Reader Perks, click here. You must be a print subscriber to take advantage of this program. Log in using the email address associated with your newspaper account. No email on file? Email your name and address to MyReaderRewards@Tribpub.com to add it and gain access! Not a print subscriber? Click here to subscribe!
COMING THIS SUNDAY:
Earlier this month, an ex-boyfriend held Sammi Jo Burkhart hostage for several hours and then shot her to death when she tried to flee, court documents say. The ex, Mark O'Leary, is now charged with killing her. Records filed in courthouses across Hampton Roads show O'Leary had a history of harming and threatening to harm women, and Burkhart's family believes the system failed to protect her. Just months before Burkhart was killed, O'Leary was charged with assaulting her in Virginia Beach. A magistrate let him out on bond, and weeks later, Burkhart was dead.
Read more in this Sunday's Main News section.
Looking at some Confederate officers, with tributes ( names on schools and infrastructure) in their honor, who fought hard to keep slavery, but post-Civil War helped Virginia Blacks advance and so fall in the middle on a spectrum of staunch segregationist. Two examples come to mind: Gen. William Taliaferro, a plantation owner who fought along with Stonewall Jackson. He has a residence hall named for him at W&M and help fund and educate T.C. Walker, a man born a slave, who became Gloucester's first Black lawyer. Another segregationist, William Mahone, led Confederate troops into battle during the Civil War against Black Union troops during a bloody massacre. Post war, he led a bi-racial coalition under the Readjuster Party in Virginia that help shrink the state's debt and fund education and create jobs, which also helped Blacks. Mahone has all but been erased from Virginia history books because he was seen as a threat to by whites. During an age where tributes of any kind to segregationist are toppling everywhere, Taliaferro and Mahone leave murky legacies.
Read more in this Sunday's Main News section.
Printed in big, bold letters on the sides of Premium-PPE's newest boxes is the companyâs plea â to the government, to health care industries, to consumers: âPick American.â The Virginia Beach-based company was among those to shift to mask-making less than a year ago at the pandemic's start. Now, it's hoping to stay in that business so long as public policy can be changed to encourage American-made masks take priority over Chinese-made ones.
Read more in this Sunday's Main News section.
The oldest African-American oyster community in Hampton Roads is still alive in Hobson. Read more in the Sunday Break section.
The Barry Art Museum at Old Dominion University has a trio of prized dolls by folk artist Leo Moss. Read more in the Sunday Break section.
