I enrolled in the 02E Entry-Level Private Investigator course at 1st Virginia Public Safety…read moreTraining Academy in June 2025 to try and pave the way to a career after retiring from the military, and it was without a doubt the worst educational experience I have ever had. The instructor, Luis Cortes, demonstrated a complete lack of professionalism, instructional structure, and ethical conduct from the moment class began. Here is exactly what happened: No Real Instruction Given: The first half and only day of actual classroom time was spent listening to Luis Cortes ramble on about his past as a bodybuilder and brag about how agencies supposedly seek him out for training. Instead of teaching, he used up class time to gloat and print off a disorganized 100-page packet that we were then told to study outside of class, with no in-class teaching, review, or guidance on the material we would be tested on. Abandonment of Classroom Responsibility: After that first day, which was on a Monday, Luis Cortes informed us we were told not to return until that Friday, essentially dismissing us from the course while still expecting us to complete a series of self-directed assignments, robbing us of the required sixty hours of classroom instruction to legitimately fulfill DCJS standards and earn a license. We were given a vague scenario (e.g., car crash) and told to generate our own investigative case file from scratch, with zero instruction on how to properly conduct interviews, draft reports, or follow legal procedures. It was the equivalent of paying nearly $500 to be told, "Figure it out on your own." Hidden, Undisclosed Costs: On top of the $495 course fee, students were expected to pay additional, undisclosed expenses. These included using our own gas and transportation to attend civil/criminal court hearings and to go to city records offices to pay for and retrieve the original deed to our current residence. None of these required tasks were mentioned prior to enrollment, which is deceptive and unacceptable for any legitimate training program. Unethical and Possibly Improper Behavior: During class, Luis Cortes called someone he personally knows at DCJS on their cellphone to expedite student paperwork, then told us not to tell anyone about it, explicitly admitting it could get them both in trouble. This behavior directly contradicts the "moral, legal, and ethical" standards he preached during the course. It was both hypocritical and concerning. Unprofessional Environment: Luis Cortes made an inappropriate comment to a student that made some of us uncomfortable. The entire setting felt more like a personal vanity show than a professional learning environment. The lack of structure, lack of respect for students' time and money, and blatant disregard for proper protocol made it very clear this is not a place committed to actual education. Bottom line: This was not a class. It was a disorganized, overpriced, self-study assignment disguised as professional training. If you're considering this academy for any certification through a class instructed by Luis Cortes, don't. You will not receive what you're paying for, and you'll likely leave frustrated, misled, and still unprepared to pass your exam or perform in the field. I have formally withdrawn, filed a complaint with DCJS, and requested a refund and permanent removal of my personal information from their system. Save your time, your money, and your patience. This is not a legitimate learning environment. One star only because zero stars is not an option.

I had always been scared, uncomfortable, and therefore uneducated when it came to firearms. After a…read morepretty heated debate with my hubby about how to handle a firearm in regards to an intruder in our home (if the situation should arise), I decided I should really get some training and education on them. I'd never shot a gun or even really handled one. As a military spouse, there are firearms in my home and I had put off training for far too long. A friend recommended this course after I explained to her the argument I had with the Hubs. I was super nervous when I got there, but I looked around the room and saw women who were there just as I was, who wanted to learn more about firearms and instantly felt a bit of relief because I felt as though we were doing a good responsible thing by taking this course. Throughout the class I really felt as if I were in good capable hands. Lt. Tynan and his wife were awesome. During the break we were invited to see some of the Lt.'s accolades and got a glimpse of his military and law enforcement experience, giving me even more confidence and security in the fact that I was getting some quality training. I was surprised by how much I didn't know. In the course I learned about gun safety, gun laws, firearms terminology and gained the confidence I need to feel secure in handling guns. I felt so comfy with the knowledge and training I received that I amazed myself at the range. I shot with 3 different firearms and really got a feel for what kind of gun I'm comfortable handling. I enjoyed the personal stories Lt. Tynan, his wife, and my fellow course mates shared as well as the encouragement we provided for each other. My husband is extremely proud of me for conquering my fear and pretty impressed with my aiming - as demonstrated by my target. I'm definitely going again and bringing some girlfriends.

Where do I start?! When you enter, It's like walking into a Nordic long house filled with color,…read morea warm ambiance, Fireplace, comfy chairs, and hello from the staff. I went with a friend on a cold, rainy day and it was an amazing pick me up. I love Japanese Noro yarn and they had plenty! They also carry locally made, hand dyed, their instagram has a great representation of their selections. LOOK FOR A GIFT FOR THE KNITTER OR CROCHET artist in your life? This is the place! Gift cards, project bags, yarn selection, ambiance, lessons, social knit, locally made, jewelry, gift ideas across price points. Everyone will find something here!

Clothing, some linen, purses, baskets, skin care, and beautiful art. Every inch of this shop is…read morefilled with unique and eclectic items. When you visit you will find a plethora of handmade items from Kenya, Nigeria and many more. All part of the Fair Trade Act.. I personally am in love with hand made and beautiful. This trip I got a beautiful handmade pillow case made from a hand dye fabric called Batik. I will use this as a display pillow and display it on the back of my couch.

This is a poor company. One of its drivers caused an accident by driving at excessive speed,…read moreresulting in equipment falling from the top of his vehicle. This caused damage to another car and injured driver. Instead of stopping, the driver fled the scene. We call upon the relevant government authorities to take action against both this company and the driver, holding him accountable as a negligent and criminal offender for the harm he caused and for his failure to stop. We possess photographs of the accident as well as an official police report. I do not recommend doing business with this company--given the irresponsible conduct of its employees--and it should be held legally liable.

Great customer service throughout the entire process. Appointment was timely. Tech (Brian) was very…read moreprofessional, patient, prompt and skilled. Evaluation completed quickly, part ordered and system repaired in a couple days. I would highly recommend John Y. Wright Co to family and friends. Other companies contacted refused to travel to Chesapeake for service.

I got my brows microbladed initially by Michell Dao in July 2018. I love the shape and color that…read moreshe provided - she breathed new life into my brows! In August 2019, I got a color boost (completely normal for the duration of the microblading pigment) with Sarah - she tweaked the shapes of my brows to make them even more fabulous! So happy with their services. Microblading is not a cheap service, and you DON'T want to sacrifice quality by getting a groupon to get this done to your face! I would recommend following the makeup school and/or microblading studio on social media to take advantage of specials they run on occasion! I have also received makeup services for special occasions, and their artistry is top notch. My artist Kellie listened to what I wanted (i described it as subtle drama!), and she was able to deliver! I highly recommend any of their artists!

TMSSR offers a variety of permanent makeup services. The way they operate is top notch. Upon…read morebooking your appointment, clear and consistent communications and reminders are sent to you. By the time I arrived I had clearly understood what I needed to do before and after my appointment, what to expect, next steps, policies and procedures, etc. The young lady at the front desk was so bubbly and welcoming. Michelle performed my microbladed brows. She was very sweet and answered every question I had. She ensured I was comfortable and well informed before we started. TMSSR performs with top notch cleanliness and seems to take every precaution to keep both them and their customers safe. Prior to the procedure, Michelle mapped out my brows. We were able to discuss and make changes to the outline before we started. She wanted to make sure I liked my outline. It did not hurt! Michelle numbed my brow area so I barely felt anything. The chair I laid in was uncomfortable but she let me take breaks and move around. After she was done, and I got to look in the mirror, I was not used to seeing my brows so dark. However, they do heal and turn out much more natural in color. Michelle provided me with all the tools and instructions needed for my brows to heal properly. It took about 2 weeks to heal. I have received so many compliments since. My brows have been my biggest insecurity but now they are a confident booster. TMSSR really do take pride in offering high quality service. I highly recommend them for your permanent makeup services. Do not go cheap! They know what they are doing! I have known so many people who have received their services here and they have all spoken highly of this place.

The teachers are so nice kind and have helped me a lot I have been going there for 7 years and its…read moreso amazing -carolyn

Wonderful experience in education coming from a certfied public school teacher. These folks are…read morethe bomb and my grandson is doing outstandingly in his new school.

In the Spring of 2016 Old Donation School, formerly known as Kemps Landing and renamed Old Donation…read moreSchool Home of Brickell Academy moved into its new building on Independence Blvd in the Bayside area of Virginia Beach. It came in under time and under budget. My son attended three years under ODS middle. The school, staff and students are like no other at the beach. Rigorous testing is required for admittance and they take only 200 per grade level which is a recent increase. The school houses gifted elementary and middle 2nd grade to 8th grade. The building is spectacular in every way and specifically devoted to gifted learning. Every educator has an endorsement in gifted teaching. The administration led by Kelly Hedrick principal is one of VBS finest leaders. The building offers a big feature that no other elementary, or middle school does. The auditorium seats hundreds and is state of the art in every way. It is is true gem and the VBS system can thank Kelly Hedrick for fighting to have it in the budget. The auditorium is used throughout the district. Virginia Beach is lucky to have a strong gifted program. Many of the students graduate from 8th and move onto the academy system at the beach and are prepared for success in high school.

this school makes me genuinely upset so many kids are disrespectful to classmates and teachers and…read morethen get no repercussions. kids are threatening to do stuff every day like shoot up the school like.. what? and even if they get reported nothing happens. the teachers also VERY CLEARLY care about some students more than others and treat them VERY differently. the food is actually disgusting sometimes and just looking at it makes me want to throw up sometimes. the principals are usually around young girls and it doesnt seem right to me, more just creepy because its ALWAYS the girls. and that one sub/past stingray teacher is really weird. i had to tell him to stop touching my head (repeatedly) and had to hit his hand away to get him to stop. he also used to let kids look at scabs under a microscope, which, ew. but he had to keep the scab after (also gross). this kid tried to stab me and my friends with pencils, no repercussion. people told me to kms, and guess what? no repercussion. the teachers are usually hard on kids for no reason too. the amount of kids with a morale this school are probably very small. i know a whole bunch of kids who have been so stressed out to the point theyre sobbing or physically ill. please focus more on these kids mental health and how people are treating each other. its actually angering how much the staff/the students dont care about each other.

School has small classes Christian based close knit Teachers and principal awesome Kids stay active…read morethe whole school year A large support system Families are very much involved

Tidewater Adventist Academy is a Great Place for Christian Military Families…read more Like most military families with children, our biggest concern during a move is finding great schools for our kids. Finding our children a great learning community is the key to transitioning them to a new place with the least amount of stress. We all care that our children's education be interrupted as little as possible and we definitely don't want them to get behind. Tidewater Adventist Academy was wonderful at helping our son transition into school here in Hampton Roads. We don't see how they could have done it any better. Before we moved, we communicated with their admissions liaison and she was caring and friendly. We felt like she understood our situation as a military family and she worked with us to get all the paperwork and information we needed so that our son could transition into school smoothly. We felt like the staff already cared about our son's education. Since schools teach with different curriculum and no one class is at the same level, TAA did the standard assessment to figure out where our son was at. What set them apart was the personal attention they gave him so that when he came for his first day of school he was in the right place and not lost at all. We met with the teacher before my son entered her classroom so she not only knew where he was but she was also able to connect with him personally. The smaller class sizes at Tidewater Adventist Academy make it easier for new students to be involved and included. Our very introverted son made friends quickly and easily. Tidewater Adventist Academy is prepared to meet the needs of Military Families in our area and we are so thankful for the quality Christian education that our son is receiving and for the wonderful friendships that he is building. If you are moving to the area, we can't recommend TAA enough.