Virginia Beach Connector - Virginia Beach Edition - North End - September 2023

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CONNECTOR

MEET CONSTANCE FAHEY: QUEEN OF THE ARTISTS GALLERY

VIRGINIA

BEACH

EATS & DRINKS

KENDALL SNYDER: ART CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY

MEET TODD WALKER

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN OUTREACH CENTER IN VIRGINIA BEACH

With perfect weather, stunning views, and rocking events all month long, September is one of the best months to visit Virginia Beach. From wine tasting to marathons, parades and more, there are so many lively and entertaining events happening this month. Mark your calendar now for an escape filled with good times and autumn vibes.

Each month in the Virginia Connector Magazine, we get to highlight some of Virginia’s Best of the Best! In this month’s issue we are spotlighting the JCOC (Judeo Christian Outreach Center) and the Oyster Crush as cover stories. Local artist; Kendall Synder, Local Business; Artist Gallery, Local Food Enthusiast; Patrick Evans-Hlyton and more!

Upcoming exciting events are the Virginia Beach Fallen Heroes (VBFH) Freedom Festival on Sept 9th, Free Care Fun Festival for CHKD on Sept 23rd, the JCOC Gala on October 6th and the Oyster Crush on October 8th! Be sure to buy your tickets for a fun time while showing your love and support for our non-profits! Special thanks to all our experts and contributors. We couldn’t do what we do best without all the support from our local businesses, organizations and residents! Please keep sending in all your suggestions and recommendations for future issues-we love sharing all the great suggestions and ideas!

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connecting communities, one neighborhood at a time

Happy New Can you short time streets at temps! Virginia get all four where you round! Simply, This new bring the participants, industry experts, events and we need see more someone In this issue, designing deserving continues Aid participated artist, Sam the ViBe Lastly, with health goals!), Aaron has for the drastic inches! Check (before his Happy New

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MEET COnSTAnCE FAHEY: QUEEN OF THE ARTISTS GALLERY

This year, The Artists Gallery celebrates its 34th anniversary as Virginia Beach’s first and only artists’ cooperative. And the artist who most helped found it is still its director and a practicing member.

Constance Fahey was four years old when she first fell in love with art. It was during World War II and she wanted a wagon. So she took scissors, cut paper and glued it together to make one. From then on, give her a pencil and paper and she was a happy child.

At 13, she got her first set of oils and began the discovery of painting that she now practices so masterfully. Her acrylic paintings grace the walls of collectors from all over the country and the world. Few others so compellingly capture the essence of the sea and its breaking waves.

The reason? Like so many others in Hampton Roads, Constance was a service brat, following her father’s Coast Guard postings all over the country and beyond. “All my life, I have lived by the sea and many of its shores,” she says.

Born in New London, Connecticut, during the Great Hurricane of 1938, she figures she has attended 22 different schools, including colleges. Relocations included here, Florida, Bermuda and around the Great Lakes. “I became a Greenbay Packers

cheesehead,” she laughs. While in Bermuda, her parents paid for her to study with a nun, Sister Regina Delores, who had studied in Italy, and who taught her much about painting fine art.

After college, she moved from Hampton Roads. Happily, she met and married a man in the insurance business. However, soon he was drafted, decided to take a Navy commission… and loved it. She was back on shore duty again.

During a stay in Washington, D.C., she noticed the Torpedo Factory, the storied artists’ cooperative in downtown Alexandria. There she got the idea that artists could work together – a concept that took form here in 1987 when she and seven others joined forces to found what was first called “Artists At Work.”

They established space for studios in a decrepit building, above a Chinese take-out restaurant at 2407 Pacific Avenue, one block from the beach. She says, “there you could buy art and get an eggroll.”

Soon they cleared space downstairs for a gallery, and Constance served as its first president when they formally organized as a not-for-profit corporation called “The Artists Gallery” The idea, she says, was to be a gallery “for the artists” – sharing expenses and taking less of a commission. Exhibiting artists and volunteers manned the desk and helped put on monthly exhibitions. She is quick to point out much of its success is due to others.

Many artists have been attracted to its strong sense of cooperation and a unique atmosphere of friendship and good humor. In fact,

The first gallery even before the name changed; An early days’ group photo. Along with Constance, some of these artists are still part of the Gallery.

Constance often found Post-It notes on her canvas saying “It’s finished”, “Use a bigger brush”, “Don’t touch it” or best of all, “Take up golf!”

Seventeen years later, the gallery moved to a space on Norfolk Avenue where it stayed for years. Then in 2018, a new opportunity evolved. The gallery, with the guidance of the late Jean Rawls, was able to help create a non-profit organization taking on responsibilities for education, exhibitions and public outreach. Combining with the city’s former ceramics operation, the Virginia Beach Art Center was formed with a greater role, to be “for the community.”

Today, both the Art Center and the Gallery successfully operate out of the purple building in the heart of the ViBe, at 532 Virginia Beach Boulevard. Constance is proud of her association with the creation of both, while she continues to paint in her studio regularly.

At the Gallery, you can find some of the best of local art for sale, along with an opportunity to meet with artists and watch as they create; in the Art Center, classes are filled, programs bring the public and art together, and monthly exhibitions explore a wide variety of themes.

Visitors are always welcome during operating hours, 10–5 Tuesdays –Fridays, 10–4 Saturdays, 12–4 Sundays. You can also see the work of many participating artists on the website www.theartistsgallery.org. Virginia Beach Art Center programs can be found at www.artcentervb.org. Or go to either to reach the other.

All thanks to the early efforts of Constance Fahey and friends.

(Top to Bottom): Today’s gallery features 50 artists of many types – painting, sculpture, photography and more; Sunset Symphony; Constance with another prize-winning painting; The Artists Gallery and VB Art Center today.

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Kendall Snyder Art Connecting with Community

Kendall Snyder, otherwise known as “KendiiArt”, is a locally recognized artist in Virginia Beach. She has been involved in the arts since a child, having won numerous awards from elementary all the way up to highschool. She pursued art through college at George Mason University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Information Design in 2010. It wasn’t until she made the impulsive move to live by the beach in 2015 that she found her love of the ocean, reconnected with painting and truly created her own style.

She has sold many commissioned pieces of all subjects ranging from sea life to astronauts, but her pet portraits have become a staple in the area. Her dog portraits created a wave and landed her a number of opportunities. She currently creates dog inspired beer labels for Wasserhund Brewery on a regular basis and has painted a dog mural in their Chesapeake location. Vibrant Shore Brewing Company has used her dog paintings and designs for their apparel, as well as local crossfit gym Kaizen Athletics, to name a few. She designed the cover for Virginia Craft Beer Magazine Aug/Sept issue last year and was the featured artist for the 10th Anniversary 757 Battle of the Beers. She participated in the Art of the Vibe 3 exhibit with the Virginia Museum of Modern Art and is a curator of Aunt Flo’s Art Show, an all female artist event held in the VIBE district. She is one of the 14 artists featured in this year’s 6th annual mural festival, and looks forward to experiencing all that the event has to offer.

Kendall uses her passion for painting as a means of relaxation and connecting to Virginia Beach’s community. “There is something special about this area and living by the ocean. It immediately felt like home to me. I love being able to be recognized for my own unique style and most of all have FUN with it! There is nothing like doing what you love and being rewarded for being yourself.” What’s her next move? She will be hosting painting workshops beginning this fall for kids to help guide their creativity and teach them the basics of painting. You can find Kendall’s work and follow along her artistic journey on her social media pages- Facebook and Instagram @KendiiArt.

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Medicare approved grocery benefits under certain conditions for 2022. I am very grateful to have helped hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries obtain thousands of dollars worth of groceries this year. Please contact me to see if I can help you.

Medicare approved grocery benefits under certain conditions for 2022. I am very grateful to have helped hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries obtain thousands of dollars worth of groceries this year. Please contact me to see if I can help you.

Medicare approved grocery benefits under certain conditions for 2022. I am very grateful to have helped hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries obtain thousands of dollars worth of groceries this year. Please contact me to see if I can help you.

Medicare approved grocery benefits under certain conditions for 2022. very grateful to have helped hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries obtain thousands of dollars worth of groceries this year. Please contact me to see if I can help you.

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Integrity Insurance Services is credentialed with the top Medicare carriers in our market. CMS requires us to let you know. “We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

MEDICARE EXPLAINED IN CLEAR TERMS to help you undertand ALL coverage available to meet your unique healthcare needs

Integrity Insurance Services is credentialed with the top Medicare carriers in our market. CMS requires us to let you know. “We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Integrity Insurance Services is credentialed with the top Medicare carriers in our market. CMS requires us to let you know. “We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

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HELP HOPE HEALING

TODD WALKER AND HIS MISSION TO END HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS IN VIRGINIA BEACH

ORIGINALLY FROM SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, TODD WALKER received a full football scholarship to Indiana University. He participated in four nationally televised bowl games. He earned a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos that had him catching passes from John Elway. And then a career-ending injury.

“When sports was taken away, I chose the joy of helping people,” says Mr. Walker. “Everyone deserves a safe place to rest their head at night.”

He first worked with with Veterans experiencing homelessness at Volunteers of America for two years and 10 years in community corrections. Today, Todd Walker is the executive director of the JudeoChristian Outreach Center in Virginia Beach, devoting his life to helping the hungry, people experiencing homelessness, and local veterans in need.

Without Todd Walker, people like Timothy Stumpo may not have had a second chance. Mr. Stumpo became homeless in central Pennsylvania when he was 16. His parents moved away and put all of his belongings on the porch. To support himself, he quit high school and went to work at a furniture factory. He came to Virginia Beach by bus when he was 18 looking for work. But so many jobs closed in the wintertime and he became homeless again.

One night in 2018 when Mr. Stumpo was staying in the winter shelter on Witchduck Road, Mr. Walker came into the shelter to meet everyone.

“He shook my hand when we first met and he listened to what people had to say,” said Mr. Stumpo. “He helped me get back on my feet and get some furniture.” To this day, Todd and Tim remain friends.

“We often talk to see how things are going,” says Mr. Stumpo. “I am working to get my GED and when I go to the beach now it’s not as a homeless person.” Todd Walker’s goal for the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center (JCOC) is clear -- eliminate homelessness in Virginia Beach; tackle recidivism; and ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. Walker has implemented evidence-based practices to attain this goal by

eliminating barriers to housing.

In addition to Hunger Relief programs, JCOC facilitates a 55bed shelter, transitional housing program for homeless veterans, permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities and who have been homelessness long term. The day support program is the entry point to those housing programs. When people come in to take a shower and do laundry, they are also connected to resources. JCOC’s Rapid Rehousing initiative helps people secure housing through landlord partnerships, financial assistance and housing stability services.

With the goal of helping even more people, JCOC is in the middle of its $14 million Help Hope Healing capital campaign. The four existing structures at its 1053 Virginia Beach Blvd. campus will be replaced by one 3-story building. It will include 38 affordable housing units, a more efficient dining hall/kitchen, and administrative offices.

“The longer you are homeless, the more likely that drugs and other problems will creep in,” says Mr. Walker. “By implementing a Housing First philosophy, we meet them where they are and get them into housing as soon as possible so the healing can begin.”

Mr. Walker’s experiences also include work in the areas of substance abuse, mental health, juvenile justice, and adult corrections. He has certifications and training in the areas of Housing First, Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, NonProfit Management, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and Aggression Replacement Training.

A gifted motivational speaker and expert in the Human Services field, Walker was awarded the Daniel M. Stone Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission in 2018. JCOC was named Non-Profit of the Year by the Hampton Roads Chamber in 2022.

“EVERYONE DESERVES A SAFE PLACE TO REST THEIR HEAD AT NIGHT.”

Interview with TODD WALKER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT JUDEO-CHRISTIAN OUTREACH CENTER

What is JCOC’s mission, and how is the mission being accomplished?

Our mission is to empower individualas, families and veterans to overcome crisis situations and return to being productive, self-sufficient and independent members of the community. We do this by facilitating hunger relief programs to eliminate food insecurity and housing programs to provide temporary housing and services to get people back into permanent housing in the shortest amount of time possible and remain there long-term.

Todd with daughters Journey (pictured left) and Andréa (right).

How is JCOC preventing homelessness?

Our Hunger Relief Programs provide food resources to help supplement what people may have at home so they do not have to make a decision between paying rent and buying groceries. Our food pantry operates twice weekly for households needing assistance and our Community Dinner, which operates daily to provide a meal to anyone in need, helps keep people struggling from lack of food resources in housing.

You’ve had opportunity to share JCOC’s experience with shared housing in numerous settings around the country. Share a little bit about where as well as what shared housing is, and why you incorporate it into JCOC’s programs.

Shared Housing is the model we use as part of our Rapid Rehousing Initiative. Rapid Rehousing is made up of three parts, Landlord Engagement, Financial Assistance for rent and case management to establish housing stability. We (JCOC) seek to establish partnerships with landlords and property owners in the community. Shared Housing is the model we use as part of our Rapid Rehousing Initiative. We (JCOC) seek to establish partnerships with landlords and property owners in the community. This includes establishing affordable rents for our clients and putting a lease on each room, bundling utilities and rent. Funding from local, state, and federal grants are used to provide shallow subsidies including security deposits. Once the client is in housing, our staff provides case management and support to help create housing stability and move the client toward self-sufficiency. The goal of the program is to make housing more affordable through paring up as roommates. Clients have their own room but share living space. The program makes housing more affordable for individuals with limited or fixed income..

What is JCOC’s Help. Hope. Healing Capital Campaign, and why is this campaign so important?

Raising 14 million to update our campus which will include 38 units of affordable housing, a new dining hall for hunger relief programs and admin offices. Our website www.jcoc.org has all of the info about the project and how you can get involved.

When do you expect to break ground? Our plans are for late fall of 2023.

What does JCOC need donations for right now? How can we all join you in JCOC’s mission?

Anyone can join our mission by reaching out to our main office at 757-491-2846 and find out how to get involved.

How can we follow what’s going on with JCOC and everyone you help?

Everyone is invited to come to JCOC’s Black & White Gala on Friday, October 6th at The Westin in Town Center, Virginia Beach. We celebrate accomplishments from the past year and look to what’s ahead, such as our affordable housing project. In addition, you can check our Twitter, FaceBook, Instagram, and jcoc.org.

JCOC’s new building will have affordable housing.

JCOC partners with the Foodbank to provide hunger relief.

Volunteer groups prepare Community Dinner every day.

It’s been 17 months since Carl moved into a studio apartment.

CHECK OUT THE JCOC VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS. HERE’S FIVE THINGS TO DO TO HELP THE HOMELESS.

You can help homeless people in a variety of ways, such as making donations, offering aid, or volunteering. Below are just a few ways you could make a difference in the community and someone’s life.

1) Give Financially or Donate from our Wish List

JCOC welcomes financial donations and gifts off of the Wish List - men’s and women’s underwear (new); bus passes; bottled water; and snack bags (canned meat, chips, cookies, granola bars, crackers, fruit cups, meat sticks, water or juice box).

2) Volunteer!

JCOC has opportunities for individuals, families, groups, and businesses. This includes serving Community Dinner and helping with Food Pantry. Call (757) 4912846 or email jcoc@jcoc.org.

3) Donate Professional Skills

Everyone has talents and skills they could donate to help people experiencing homelessness. Direct service providers may be able to use their unique skills to help shelters or individuals. This includes plumbing, accounting, carpentry, fundraising, legal, medical, dentistry, child care, counseling, tutoring, or mentoring. The options are endless!

4) Job Opportunities

Encourage your company, school, or place of worship to hire people experiencing homelessness. Most unemployed homeless adults desperately want to work, but need an employer to give them a chance. That hand-up could be exactly what someone needs to help them rebuild their life.

5) A Simple Smile

Making eye contact, saying a few kind words, or smiling can reaffirm the humanity of a person at a time when homelessness seems to have stripped it away. This small gesture takes but a moment, but has a lasting positive impact.

Serving Others & Changing Lives

However you choose to help homeless people in Virginia Beach, your time and service will be appreciated more than you may ever know. Because a kind word or gesture which comes from a place of service and love for one another has the power to change someone’s life for the better.

Black & White Gala

Todd helped give out Holiday Food Baskets.

Debra moved into her own place in June!

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Around Town

By Joel Rubin

Plan a Pottery Party at Enchanted Studios in Virginia Beach

“Bring the littles, bring your friends, bring your boo, bring your bff.”

So it says on the website of new WINDSday Partner Enchanted Pottery Studios in the Brenneman Farm Shopping Center in Virginia Beach. We get the “littles, friends and bff.” But you will have to ask owner Tersha Lambert, who gave up a 20-year career doing estimating for a homebuilding company to start this highly interactive small business a year ago April.

“My grandmother had a pottery studio back in Iowa where I grew up,” she says. “That’s where I learned the craft.” Today the wheels are spinning at EPS. You can “throw a lamp” or other creation during classes for young and old, schedule a birthday party, enroll your teen in a “summer clay club” or just paint for an hour yourself.

“I love the sense of community we have developed here,” says Tersha. Learn more at www.enchantedpotterystudios.com or call (757) 971-9601. Tell her you’re coming with your boo.

The Saadys are the First Family of Mediterranean Meals

You might look at the very modest building on Prescott Avenue off Bonney Road in Virginia Beach and say, “there is no way a restaurant can succeed in this place.”

Well you would be wrong because for going on three decades, Azar’s Mediterranean Cuisine (www.azarfoods.com), has been the gold standard for middle east fare, and not just for the kebabs, gyros, tawooks, shawarma, moussaka, lentil soup, baklava and other affordably priced treats and entrees that the lively native Lebanese owners, Lina and Tony Saady, purvey in both this restaurant and their second location at Hilltop.

Lunch and dinner diners in the Pembroke store may not know it, but there is an industrial kitchen off the main floor, where staff churns out gallons and gallons of hummus, stuffed grape leaves

and other delicacies that are sold (through Sysco) to other stores and restaurants, here and outside the region.

“I was an Azar,” says Lina, whose father George, who died in 2004, partnered with the Saady clan to start the business in 1988, at first peddling pita bread. “We lived in Boston and got tired of the cold weather,” she recalls. “Dad decided to drive the VW to Florida but only got as far as Virginia Beach when the car died. He never left.”

Lucky for us. We get first crack at the spanakopita, tabouli, falafel, tzatziki, Baba Ghanouj, the first in the area olive bar, and Greek salad, whether for pickup or at the two restaurants, which now have WINDSday stickers, thanks to Tony and Lina Saady, married for 33 years both to each other and Hampton Roads.

A former TV journalist in Hampton Roads, Joel Rubin is President of Rubin Communications Group and director of the WINDSday campaign to raise awareness of the offshore wind industry that is coming to Hampton Roads

(757)

SAVINO AGENCY MONICA SAVINO

RIDESHARE

In our sharing economy, Uber, Lyft, Grubhub and Door Dash are becoming extremely common. Due to increased risk, many personal auto policies won’t cover losses that occur while using your vehicle to drive for a fee. Limited insurance coverage may be offered by these companies, but this does not protect you in certain scenarios and your personal auto insurance may not either.

Talk to your agent about adding “rideshare” and/or “business use” endorsements to your policy to properly protect you in all scenarios.

SCAN to run quotes ONLINE

VIRGINIA BEACH EATS & DRINKS

Good Eats, Drinks, And Dos Across The City And Beyond

By Patrick Evans-Hylton

It’s a big city out there, with all sorts of good eats, drinks, and dos.

I’ve covered the cuisine scene in the region for going on three decades, using my training as a chef, mixologist, and wine expert to give folks all the delish details they need to live a good life.

Look for this column monthly in the pages of Virginia Beach Coonector.

EAT

I typically like to keep my omelet additions simple, so all the flavors shine. That’s what I found in the Dr. White’s Virginian Omelet at the charming beach cottage-cum-eatery, Doc Taylor’s.

mixture of vodka and Crabby Mary’s Bloody Mary Mix.

Crabby Mary is a locally-made bloody mary mix from Ashburn Sauce Co., and gets its signature flavor from the addition of seafood, fresh crushed garlic, hot sauce, sea salt, and Worcestershire.

The cocktail is balanced and well crafted. It comes in a salt and pepper-rimmed glass and garnished with a celery stalk. Ezma’s Bread Box Cafe is in the Rose Hall Shoppes at 3157 Virginia Beach Blvd. Call 757-463-5500 or visit www.EatAtBreadBox.com

DO

Make the most of late summer’s bounty by cooking up one of Virginia Beach’s favorite breakfast side dishes: parmesan tomatoes. They are quick and easy to make, and great alongside an omelet or other egg dish at breakfast or brunch. At lunch or dinner, top a salad, serve alongside a bowl of soup, as an addition to a favorite sandwich, or with grilled chicken, seafood, or steak. Here’s how I make them:

Here, a deliciously prepared omelet, golden yellow from the rich egg yolks, is enhanced with the addition of country ham, tomatoes, and cheese, and nothing else. Hollandaise sauce comes on the side. I picked raisin toast as my bread.

The omelet was perfect: the rich eggs was complimented by the salty ham and the sweetness from the tomatoes. Cheese married all the flavors, as did a judicious drizzle of decadent hollandaise. I added a side of creamy grits and addictive parmesan tomatoes. Doc Taylor’s Restaurant is at 207 23rd St., Virginia Beach. Call 757-425-1960 or visit www.DocTaylors.com

DRINK

We love a good bloody mary, and the Seafood Bloody at the adorable and homey Ezma’s Bread Box Cafe is a delicious take on the classic. A tall glass filled with ice is the vessel for a heady

Cut 4 medium washed and patted-dry tomatoes in half and brush olive oil on each cut side. Sprinkle with a pinch or two of garlic powder, coarse salt, and fresh ground pepper. On a platter, add a generous amount of finely grated parmesan cheese evenly distributed across the dish

Place the cut side of the tomatoes on the medium-high grill and grill until tomato begins to soften and starts to char, about 4-6 minutes. Flip and grill an additional 3-4 minutes. Remove and immediately press each tomato cut-side-down into the parmesan. Serve immediately.

Patrick Evans-Hylton is a Johnson & Walestrained chef and Virginia-based awardwinning food journalist, covering tasty culinary trends in print, radio, television, and online since 1995. Read him at VirginiaEatsAndDrinks.com

MARKETPLACE EVENTS

NETWORKING IN THE 757 WITH JAKE MAINES

On the surface, having a successful trip to your local networking event would be to simply show up. Frankly, that’s not enough. To just show up once and expect the calls to start pouring in, you must be on the good stuff. To better improve your chances of the phone to ring (or notify you) you need to stay top of mind! This means choosing a few ways to promote

yourself and staying consistent. Doing one thing is a great start, one has to do much more to be seen. Studies show that on a daily basis we consume over 5,000 different advertisements. To put that into easier to grip terms, it means you are competing against a whole heck of a lot more than your competitor across the street. To combat this, attend a handful of networking events each month, host an event of your own, distribute an email list to frequently share helpful information, and try to take on as many speaking engagements, podcast

interviews, and magazine features as possible. Your go-to might be cold calling or door knocking, and I commend you for the hustle because that grind isn’t for the faint of heart. Whatever your cup of tea is, it requires consistency! A business built on referrals is the name of the game. Being known far and wide, where people seek you out. The way to make it happen is to position yourself as an expert, add value, and consistently stay top of mind! The results aren’t going to come immediately, but they will come, and the ride to get there isn’t so bad.

Pro Tip: If you feel like you’re seeing the same handful of people over and over again at the same events, consider skipping a month. If they miss you, you’re still top of mind! This isn’t an excuse to get inconsistent, so be strategic.

Check out some of my favorite networking events: Networking At The Narrows: Network in a relaxed outdoor, meaningful environment while bonding with like-minded business professionals. Events take place at The Narrows in First Landing State Park. Email gina@socialsipper.com to register.

Hampton Roads Networking Group: HRNG meets monthly on Thursdays for either a morning event or Happy Hour! The emphasis is on fun and relaxation, so the locations are chosen carefully and there’s usually something fun to do to break the ice. Email MarkellaMitcheison@gmail.com to register.

#DowntownNFKLadies: A meetup for professional ladies from different industries looking to engage, connect, and build relationships. Email hmorgan@ gotechark.com to register.

Networking Happy Hour: A low-key, no agenda, meet new people/catch up with old friends-type of event. Occurs the first Wednesday of every month. Register at networkinghh.com or by scanning the QR code below.

Cheers, Jake Maines

MARKETPLACE EVENTS Join the Marketplace

Contact: Michelle Westberry | (757) 567-9354 | michelle@connectormagazines.com

ONGOING:

1st and 3rd Thursdays thru September, 4 to 7pm

Kings Grant Farmers Market

King’s Grant Baptist Church

Live music most nights

873 Little Neck Rd, Virginia Beach

September 17, October 15, November 19, December 17; 11am to 2pm

Peabody’s Comedy Brunch

September 6 & 13, 5 to 9pm Ynot Wednesday - Free outdoor concert series sandlercenter.org/ ynotwednesdays

201 Market St, Virginia Beach Sandler Center Outdoor Plaza

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Live Music at Old Beach Tavern

Bands such as: The Janitors, Hotcakes, Intangible Cats and more 3020 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach

Did

someone say Wine Night? Randy enjoying a nice dinner with friends Jay, Tim, Abby, Katie and Betty.

Every Friday thru October 27, 7 to 10pm

Friday Night HoeDown at the Virginia Beach Farmer’s Market

Virginia Beach Farmer’s Market

3640 Dam Neck Rd

Bands such as: Dallas Band, The Country Rockers Raw BeeT’s

Every Saturday thru October; November 4 & 18, & December 16, 9am to 12pm

Old Beach Farmer’s Market

620 19th Street, Virginia Beach oldbeachfarmersmarket.com

Sundays from 9am to 7pm

Sunday Dog Days at Norfolk Botanical Gardens   Explore the Gardens with your Canine Best Friend norfolkbotanicalgarden.org

Several dates in September

Norfolk Tides Baseball at Harbor Park norfolktides.com

Cost: $15 to $35

September Concerts at The Norva Angelmaker, Bastille, Alkaline Trio and more Norfolk, VA thenorva.com

September 1 to 3, 7:30pm

Labor Day Weekend Oceanfront Concert Series 17th, 24th & 31st Street Parks (Free)

Thru September 2

Van Gogh - Immersive Experience vangoghvirginiabeach.com Virginia Beach Convention Center

September 3

BBOB – Big Bands on the Bay Concert Series Ocean View Beach Park oceanviewbeachpark.org (Free)

September 7, 8pm

Black Jacket Symphony Presents “Saturday Night Fever”

Harrison Opera House, Norfolk sevenvenues.com/events ($35 to $40 )

September 11, 7:30 to 11:30

WWE Monday Night RAW sevenvenues.com/events $24 to $124

GLASS | CBD | VAPE | GUMMIES | TINCTURES

John, Rachel and Nick at Backdeck enjoying the sunset happy hour.

MARKETPLACE EVENTS

Sept 13 & 27, Oct 11 & 25, Nov 8 & 22, Dec 6 & 20, 7 to 10pm

Karl’s Open Mic Beach Barracuda’s

1479 General Booth Blvd, Virginia Beach

September 15, 8pm

Australian Pink Floyd Show: Dark Side of the Moon Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion pavilionconcerts.com/events

$28.50+

September 16, 12 to 10pm

Nash Fest 757

Town Point Park festevents.org

Free and open to the public

September 16 - 17, 11am to 5pm

Neptune Wine Festival

Neptune Park neptunefestival.com

$35 - $50

Atlantic on Pacific Happy Hour with Slem! Love those $1 oysters!

SPONSOR

$75 21+ only

MARKETPLACE EVENTS

September 17, 1pm

Norfolk Tides Baseball - Bark in the Park (bring your dog)

Harbor Park, Norfolk norfolktides.com (Cost: $15 to $35)

September 19, 7:30pm

Foo Fighters

Veterans United Home Loan Amphitheater

September 22 to 24

SonRise Music Festival 24th Street Park

sonrisemin.org ($15+)

September 23, 10 am – 2:30pm

Revving Up with Vanguard Landing

Custom Car Show

Landstown Commons Shopping Center

Join 757 Auto Events and ClearShine - VA as we host a Car Show and Fund Raiser! Proceeds benefit Vanguard Landing (Free)

THE HARMONY OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE

BY SUE LEBRATO

Admittedly, I am still a work in progress on this subject. Yet this balance is a matter close to my heart, and I encourage my team to prioritize this.

Pointers on creating this harmony:

1. Prioritize self-care - Identify activities you find nourishing and healthy.

2. Set boundaries - Identify where you will and won’t check emails and take calls.

3. Seek assistance - When needed, ask for it at home and work.

4. Be present - There’s nothing worse than a conversation with someone who is texting or checking emails. It visibly deprioritizes the other person.

5. Set up - Date nights or family time. Those most important to you will know that your attention will be undivided.

Compartmentalizing work, from home, goes a long way to support both sets of relationships. Your well-being and ability to “sharpen the saw”, while disengaged from the workplace, creates a healthier and higher performing you.

Reach out to me at slebrato@icloud.com for a consultation.

You’re Amazing!

Organizational/Business Consulting

Caroline, Sharon, Sherry, Joann and Kevin enjoying a nice evening out!

September 27, 8pm Goo Goo Dolls

Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion Portsmouth pavilionconcerts.com ($44.75+)

September 30, 7:30pm

Patti LaBelle in Concert

Chrysler Hall, Norfolk sevenvenues.com/events

September 29 to October 1

Neptune Festival’s Boardwalk Weekend

Virginia Beach Boardwalk neptunefestival.com

October 14, 9am to 5pm; October 15, 10am to 4pm

Virginia Beach Gun Show

Virginia Beach Convention Center SGKShows.com

October 28, 12 to 5pm

VBYSC’s Fall Beer & Wine Bash - Fundraiser

Live music with Ready, Steady, Go! and Vinyl Headlights Camp Pendleton vbysc.org

temperature inside.

From start to finish, we’ll be there alongside you.

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We can't control everything, but we can control the

MARKETPLACE EVENTS

ViBe EVENTS (through November)

Singer Songwriter Saturdays - every Saturday from 9am to noon during in ViBe Park and on 19th Street come hear local musicians aing a mix of original songs and old favorites.

First Friday Mural Walking Tour 6-7:30pm #FirstFriday No RSVP required. Meet up at the LOVE sign on Cypress Ave at 18th Street to join the guided 1.5 miles walking tour around the arts district.

First Sunday Public Art Bike Tours 9-11am.

Ride at your own pace on your own bike as a guide leads your around the arts district sharing stories behind the murals and other public art works.

Second Saturday Mural Walking Tour 10am-11:30am No RSVP required. Meet up at the LOVE sign on Cypress Ave at 18th Street to join the guided 1.5 miles walking tour around the arts district.

Second Saturday South Bath Experience 10am and 10:45am Bring a yoga mat or borrow a complimentary hammock to enjoy two 30 minute sound art sessions in 18th St Parklet.

Vibrant Drumming Circle- Last Sunday Monthly - 6-7:30pm, in ViBe Park. Bring a chair and a drum or borrow one on site in ViBe Park at 18th St and Cypress Ave. This causal meet up group practices both guided and free from drumming. Golf Cart Tours for persons with disabilities - please call to schedule at least 1 week in advance 757-202-9533.

www.vibecreativedistrict.org

Artist Nico Cathcart at Ambassadors Inn.

Artist Eric Jones at WRV.