Suffolk Living January-February 2018

suffolklivingmag.com

Birds feathered friends and snowy suffolk

january/february 2018 • vol. 9, no. 1

2 suffolk living

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FEATURE

18

The 100 or so doves owned by Cindy and Jim Rohrer are white as snow and highly intelligent. They set a blistering pace at 50 to 60 miles per hour and can find their way home from miles around.

contents jan - feb | 2018 34

WHERE AM I? | Think you know Suffolk well? Then see if you can identify this photo.

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Subscriptions are $20 annually in-state; $25 annually out-of-state; $30 for international subscriptions.

Please make checks payable to Suffolk Publications, LLC P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439

Snowy Suffolk

12 The blizzard of 2018 won't soon be forgotten, and you made sure of it by submitting your best snow photos.

On the cover suffolklivingmag.com

Birds FEATHERED FRIENDS AND SNOWY SUFFOLK

Altons' Keep

24 Tommy White loves birds, and he specializes in rehabilitating injured birds of prey and preparing them for re-entry into the wild.

january/february 2018 • vol. 9, no. 1

by Tracy Agnew

editor's note jan - feb

2018

Birds of a feather Heralded by poets throughout the ages, the bleakness of winter has settled over Suffolk since our last edition, and it has brought with it bare trees, bitter cold and blizzard conditions.

But one thing it hasn’t gotten rid of is the birds. The popular saying is that birds fly south for the

EDITORIAL Tracy Agnew Editor

Alex Perry Writer & Photographer Jen Jaqua Photographer

winter, and yet there is much winged wildlife spending the winter in Suffolk every year.

Backyard birds such as cardinals and blue jays were spotted in the recent snow, and our readers got some great photos of them. You can see photos of birds, dogs and children frolicking in the snow in a collection of reader-submitted snow photos on pages 12-15.

Domesticated birds also obviously spend their time in Suffolk, and the flock of white rock doves owned by Cindy and Jim Rohrer

news@suffolklivingmag.com

are no exception. In fact, they’ll come back here from miles away

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— even up to 100 miles — and often beat their handlers back to

Earl Jones Marketing Consultant

the Rohrers’ Holland-area farm when they’re released at a wedding

Nathan Richardson Marketing Consultant

but most suspect it has to do with the Earth’s magnetic field — and

Dana Snow Marketing Consultant

or a funeral. Nobody quite knows how they find their way home, that they know where their breakfast is.

Another person in Suffolk who knows an awful lot about birds is Tommy White, a certified wildlife rehabilitator who works with birds of prey such as owls, hawks and eagles as well as water

Kandyce Kirkland Marketing Consultant

birds such as herons and egrets. White has developed a love and a passion for these flying friends,

sales@suffolklivingmag.com

rural Suffolk property, complete with a live fish pond to help them learn to feed before he releases

PRODUCTION

them back into the wild.

Troy Cooper Designer

ADMINISTRATION

and he helps rehabilitate them when they suffer injuries. He’s building a spectacular facility on a

Birds have brought joy to many throughout the ages, and we hope learning more about the birds of winter here in Suffolk will bring joy to your life.

As the new editor of Suffolk Living magazine, I hope you’ll fill my email with your submissions

John Carr Publisher

for our On Vacation and Through the Lens features, answers to our Where Am I? challenge, your

Cathy Daughtrey Business Manager

send those things to news@suffolklivingmag.com.

Hope Rose Production

tips about great stories, and your suggestions for how to make this magazine even better. Please

God bless.

Tracy Agnew, Editor

Suffolk Living is published six times per year by Suffolk Publications, LLC. P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 www.suffolklivingmag.com • (757) 539-3437

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what to do Send us your news To submit your calendar or news item, simply email it to: news@suffolklivingmag.com

The Malpass Brothers January 20

The Malpass Brothers will perform at 8 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. The Malpass Brothers are as authentic as stone-ground grits, hush puppies and chopped pork barbecue — and they’re every bit as good. It doesn’t matter if you’re already a fan of classic old-time “real” country music when you take your seat, you will be by the time you leave the hall. Christopher and Taylor Malpass promote the work and music of classic country artists they treasure while creating new music and making their own mark in the lineage of a rich American cultural heritage. Visit www.SuffolkCenter. org for more information.

suffolk living 9

what to do to the public. No reservations are required; however, for groups of five or more, call 9250448.

January 18 to March 24

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave., presents the work of Norfolk photographer Glen McClure with an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 18. “Near and Far, Places and Faces” presents insightful portraits of the folks of Tidewater as they move through their daily life and workplaces.

Photographs of landscapes and work from his travels in Scotland and Ireland will also be featured. Visit www.SuffolkCenter.org for more information.

January 25

Join the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, in partnership with Suffolk Tourism, as they present the modern musical classic “Chicago” at 7 p.m. “Chicago” is a 2002 American musical crime comedy-drama film based on the stage musical of the same name, exploring the themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption during the Jazz Age. “Chicago” centers on Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger), two murderesses who find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago. The movie is free; call 923-0003 or 514-4130. for more information.

Do you have an event you'd like to share?

Contact Suffolk Living at news@suffolkliving.com

February 1-2

The Virginia Opera Association’s “The Billy Goats Gruff” will be performed at 10 a.m. and noon each day at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. This universal classic and its timeless characters provide the perfect backdrop for this pastiche opera. Visit www.SuffolkCenter.org for more information.

February 1 to March 2

The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Art Show and Sale attracts artists and art connoisseurs throughout Hampton Roads.

Admission is free, and the community is welcome. The show boasts a wonderful diversity of media from more than 150 artists, including paintings and multimedia works of art. Prices range from $25 to $7,000. Contact Annual Fund Coordinator Melissa Hlinovsky at 539-8789, ext. 3333.

Suffolk Art League presents the Exhibit of Excellence: Suffolk Student Art 2018 at the Suffolk Art Gallery, 118 Bosley Ave. The exhibit is a juried exhibit of artwork by Suffolk’s 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students.

There will be a reception and awards presentation on Feb 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. The exhibit is funded in part by the Suffolk Fine Arts Commission.

January 27

February 7

January 27 to February 4

The Riddick’s Folly House Museum, 510 N. Main St., will have an American Girl program featuring Maryellen Larkin. Maryellen is an enthusiastic, imaginative girl growing up in the 1950s. She longs to stand out but often feels lost in the shuffle of her big, busy family. She finds fun ways to help others, and even uses her birthday celebration for a special cause — which ultimately puts her in the spotlight and makes her stand out from the crowd. There will be three sittings at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Donations welcome. Ages 5 and up are welcome.

Call for reservations at 934-0822 or email riddicksfolly@verizon.net.

Suffolk Art League, in partnership with Lake Prince Woods, will present Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Speaker on the Arts Betsy White who will discuss the Great Road Style: The Decorative Arts Legacy of Southwest Virginia at 7 p.m. at Lake Prince Woods, 100 Anna Goode Way. Travel down the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road on a cultural heritage discovery trip through Southwest Virginia and Northeastern Tennessee. During this illustrated lecture, encounter the friendly country forms of pie safes and crazy quilts, colorful pottery, high-style furniture made by a Philadelphiatrained cabinetmaker and beautiful wool and linen coverlets woven at home on large barn looms. The lecture is free and open

February 10

Come “bee” a part of the fun at the Suffolk Education Foundation’s second Grown-Up Spelling Bee, set for 2 to 5 p.m. at King’s Fork High School, 351 Kings Fork Road.

Teams of three will work together to spell words of increasing difficulty and can continue the fun when they face elimination by “stinging” another team with a difficult word or buying a “spell check.” The audience will vote on the best costumes. Sponsors, groups of teachers and more will compete.

Tickets are $5 per person, and ages 8 and under get in free. Advance ticket sales and group rates are available. Visit www. suffolkeducationfoundation.org for more information.

February 17

Shana Tucker: ChamberSoul Cello & Songs will be presented at 8 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. Shana Tucker is a singer-songwriter and cellist who credits her journey to the influences of her jazz and classical roots interwoven with ’80s and ’90s pop music, movie soundtracks and world music. Visit www.SuffolkCenter.org for more information.

February 24-25

The Suffolk Art League’s annual Antiques Show and Sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 24 and from noon to 5 p.m.

Feb. 25 at Kings Fork Middle School, 350 Kings Fork Road. More than 40 antiques and collectibles dealers from the midAtlantic region will be featured. Crystal repair, jewelry repair and clock repair will also be available. Concessions available on site with barbecue, Brunswick stew and hot dogs from Rodman’s and homemade desserts. Admission is $6. Proceeds benefit the Suffolk Art League’s education and exhibitions programs. For more information, contact the art league at 925-0448.

March 3

The Blackpack: All Laughs Matter will be presented at 8 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. The Blackpack — Vince Morris, BT, Billy D. Washington and Louis Johnson — have been featured on major networks and gotten rave reviews from venues where they have performed. Their material is described as spot-on and edgy, never going too far. Visit www.SuffolkCenter.org for more information.

10 suffolk living

in the news

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suffolk living 11 Story and photos by Tracy Agnew

P

ainters, photographers and textile artists now have a place to do their work right in downtown Suffolk.

OnePast7 has opened on the first floor and mezzanine of the historic Professional Building at 100 N. Main St. It held a grand opening and ribbon cutting Dec. 16.

It is only the first step in what Ed Beardsley hopes will be a renaissance of sorts for art in downtown Suffolk.

“Art in general, and artists and all that comes with them tends to breathe a bit of fresh air,” Beardsley said. “It’s just been a winwin for everybody.”

The effort started in early 2017, when Beardsley was considering relocating the Plaid Turnip restaurant, which he has owned for about seven and a half years.

But the work of a consultant brought in to create a new Downtown Initiatives Plan convinced Beardsley that good things were about to happen in downtown.

“It was all very exciting,” Beardsley said. He thought, “Why don’t I do something about it?”

Beardsley created a nonprofit, the SPARC Initiative. SPARC stands for “Suffolk’s Prime

Arts, Retail and Culinary” Initiative.

The goal is to promote, support and foster the arts in Suffolk, starting with downtown, Beardsley said. He has talked with merchants as well as with the arts organizations already in downtown, such as the Suffolk Art League and the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

“There’s a lot of stuff here, and it kind of needs to be coalesced,” Beardsley said.

The first part of the effort is OnePast7, which is what Beardsley is calling the studio space he has leased in the Professional Building. It is so named for the clock on the corner by the building, which is stuck at 7:01.

Beardsley has about 14 artists renting space in the building on a month-to-month basis for nominal rent — about $50 to $100 a month, he said. They have 24-hour access. One of the artists lives only a couple of blocks away; others are coming from as far away as Newport News and even North Carolina, Beardsley said.

“It’s a neat group of people,” he said. “You can see a community feeling with the group.”

He plans weekly artist showcases following a grand opening in January, he said. A holiday

open house is planned this Saturday.

Beardsley has also leased the spaces at 147 and 149 N. Main St. Other artists are subleasing the rear of those buildings, and the front will be turned into a permanent pop-up shop location, he said.

The next project Beardsley will tackle is getting downtown declared an arts district, he said.

Finally, Beardsley hopes to secure city code changes that will allow murals on downtown buildings. He already has about 10 property owners, representing about 20 walls, who have agreed to have murals put up once it’s in accordance with code.

He also hopes to have a public sculpture program.

“It’s a great way to spotlight the historical buildings,” Beardsley said. “It’s all going to be a slight mind shift.”

Beardsley said he looks forward to using his organizing and consensus-building skills to benefit downtown.

“If I have a strength, that’s probably what it is,” he said. “It’s exciting to see what will come out of it.” ←

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Snowy Suffolk

suffolk living 13

S

uffolk, along with the rest of Hampton Roads, experienced a blizzard on Jan. 3-4. The storm dropped a foot of snow in some places, and schoolchildren were out of classes for several days after having just returned from Christmas break. Local kids spent the long weekend making snowmen, having snowball fights, sledding and generally enjoying the blast of winter. On this page, Skyler Butler and Karson Whitaker have some fun in the snow in their Respass Beach neighborhood in this photo taken by Erica Aaron.

14 suffolk living

Clockwise from top left, 8-year-old Madi Blair drags her sled back to the top of the hill in this photo by Elizabeth Blair; Dylan and dog Boomer have a bit of fun in this photo by Erica Tice; Aubri Welton gets ready for a snowball fight in this photo by Christabelle Poku Amanfo; and a picturesque fence makes the perfect snow scene off Nansemond Parkway in this photo by Kallie Leppelman.

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Clockwise from above, a cardinal flits above a bird feeder in the snow in this photo by Kelly Rickerson Jenkins; a beautiful house in the woods by Jenny Owens; 10-year-old Peyton Blair sleds head-first in this photo by Elizabeth Blair; 3-year-old Zoë Booth enjoys the snow in this photo by Robin Booth.

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on vacation Folks from Suffolk took us all over the world recently, and we couldn’t be happier with all the places we got to see. At left, Nathan Thomas Davis reads Suffolk Living during his Christmas vacation in Italy at the Roman Colosseum. Below, Burt and Harriette Laskin enjoyed Suffolk Living in Richmond, where they had lunch at the Jefferson Hotel and took in “Mary Poppins” at the old November Theatre. At bottom, Tim Davis, Patti Friend Conrad, Marianna Friend and Nancy and Ned Friend enjoyed a few days in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with Suffolk Living. Next time you’re traveling take along a copy of Suffolk Living, have someone snap a photo and send it to us at news@ suffolklivingmag.com. Happy trails!

suffolk living 17

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suffolk living 19

Doves

Love

of

Story and photos by Tracy Agnew

H

oming pigeons brought the news of the winners of the first Olympics, became the world’s first air-mail service, delivered medications and even earned medals for gallantry in both world wars.

But these days, pure white pigeons trained to fly home mostly serve another purpose to add significance to the lives of humans: they simultaneously symbolize purity and joy at weddings and bring gravitas and peace to funerals.

More than 100 of these pigeons, also known as white rock doves, make their home with Cindy and Jim Rohrer at their Holland-area farm. The Rohrers have had the Chariots for Hire business for more than 30 years, mostly serving newlyweds who want to make a memorable exit from their reception in a beautiful white horsedrawn carriage.

Their customers started asking about dove releases, and with a farm with horses, chickens, dogs and cats, the Rohrers didn’t see much harm in adding doves to the list.

They started about 10 years ago with about 25 birds, which lived in a dovecote off the horse barn on their property. They now have more than 100 birds, all of which have been bred from those original 25.

See DOVES page 20

20 suffolk living

White doves are highly sought after for symbolic releases during both weddings and funerals. Cindy and Jim Rohrer's business, Chariots for Hire, provides the service free during the funerals of active-duty military, police and firefighters.

DOVES continued from page 19

When the dove business first started, they did nothing but weddings, but the Rohrers got more and more calls for funerals and memorial services. Cindy Rohrer was hesitant at first.

“I was really uncomfortable taking money from somebody during that kind of time,” she said. “But once I had done a few, I found out how much it comforts people. It’s sort of

another way to ease their pain.”

The doves go mostly to funerals these days.

They do funerals of active-duty military, police and firefighters in the Hampton Roads area for free.

“My husband’s a Vietnam veteran, so we try to do what we can where we can,” Cindy Rohrer said.

The weddings are more joyous occasions, though. Couples release the doves from a heartshaped basket, or they can release them from their hands. To do a hand release, though, they have to come to the farm and practice beforehand.

“Some people are squeamish about holding birds,” she said. “The day of your wedding’s not See DOVES page 21

suffolk living 21 DOVES continued from page 20

The white rock doves owned by Cindy and Jim Rohrer look docile but can fly up to 120 miles per hour if being chased by a hawk.

the day to get comfortable holding a bird.”

The doves know how to find their way home from about 100 miles out, although nobody’s quite sure how they do it. Using the Earth’s magnetic field, celestial navigation and finding their way by sighting landmarks are all possibilities, as well as some combination of the three. But Rohrer thinks maybe they just know where their breakfast is waiting, since they aren’t fed until after a flight.

They’re trained in groups of 15 to 20 at the age of 5 to 8 weeks. The training starts with making sure they can master the one-way door into the dovecote, so they can let themselves in when they beat their handlers home from an assignment, which is most of the time.

Once they can do that, the first trip is to the front yard or to the back field, from which they only have a short flight home of a few yards.

The next flight is from about a mile away. Rohrer usually starts with the Holland ballpark. It’s the first taste of freedom, so the birds usually spend all day heading home.

“We train from the same place at least three days in a row,” Rohrer said. “By the third day, they’re usually home within minutes. They can fly easily, without See DOVES page 22

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The white rock doves owned by Cindy and Jim Rohrer can find their way home from up to 100 miles away.

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stressing themselves, about 50 to 60 miles per hour.”

After the third day, Rohrer takes them the same distance away at a 90-degree angle.

Once they’ve successfully returned from mile-long flights in all directions, she’ll start doubling it, eventually getting up to 40 miles.

“Once they’ve trained 40 miles out in all directions, they’re pretty much trained for 100 miles,” she said.

There are dangers to the doves’ job, namely power lines and hawks. If they’re being chased by a hawk, they can get off course and wind up in strange places. Rohrer has picked up her birds from the animal shelter in Sussex County, from the Eastern Shore and from a penitentiary in North Carolina, where an inmate had found the bird in the exercise yard and was attempting to feed it.

“Just like people, some are dumber than others, some just don’t make it home,” Rohrer said. “Or maybe they find some other place that’s more appealing to them. But most are really smart and want to be here.” ←

suffolk living 23

through the lens: Theodore London

T

heodore London is a retired respiratory therapist who has lived in Suffolk for 26 years. He enjoys taking landscape photos and takes his time composing the shot. When he's not taking photos, he volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. We're always looking for amateur and professional photographers who want to share their views of Suffolk.

If you'd like to have your work considered, send an email to news@ suffolklivingmag.com.

24 suffolk living

asasa

suffolk living 25

Suffolk bird rehabber flying high

Story and photos by Alex Perry

T

he great horned owl was perched and alert inside the warm motor home parked at the Altons’ Keep Wildbird Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Suffolk on a cold December morning.

His vibrant yellow eyes were fixed on a sound that he picked up with his razor-sharp hearing, a hint not lost on Tommy White, 67, wildlife rehabilitator and co-founder of Altons’ Keep with his wife, Robin Alton-White.

“They can hear a mouse squeak at 900 feet in the dark, and they can triangulate the distance of the sound, then go get it without ever seeing it,” White said.

White named the owl Tsgili — pronounced like “Gilly” — after the name given to the species by the Cherokee Indians. The male

owl was found after he was hit by a vehicle in Chesapeake in 2013, when he was about 6 to 8 months old, White said.

White spent 16 weeks rehabilitating the owl at their Chesapeake residence.

“I was getting up at 3 a.m. and going to his enclosure in the basement, because that’s his time to be awake,” he said. “I would sit with him, and for 16 weeks he and I got to know each other.”

White said he grew up in a bird-loving family, combined with a deep interest in his Cherokee ancestry. The Vietnam veteran and retired Virginia Beach Sheriff ’s Office captain helped his wife take care of tropical birds through her own Altons’ Keep endeavor for more than a decade.

“It became a spiritual quest with me as well as just a love,” he said.

He started working with water birds like herons, egrets and grebes, since water birds were his favorites from growing up on the Lynnhaven River.

“At that point I had a barn that I leased in Virginia Beach that I had redesigned,” he said.

“I built enclosures in there to take the large tropical [birds] and ‘resocialize’ them.”

There were some more difficult cases, such as a rowdy tenant in the old antique shop attached to the barn.

“I had a big cockatoo in there that was just mean,” White said. “She came out of a broken relationship with two women. She cussed, she screamed, and at about 5 o’clock she would See BIRD page 26

26 suffolk living BIRD continued from page 25

get into this big, blast-out argument in two different voices.”

It was his longtime colleague Dana Lusher, owner of Nature’s Nanny Wildlife Rehabilitation in Chesapeake, who introduced him to three ospreys — one adult and two juveniles — that broadened his horizons in 2013.

“The folks that were training Dana came down to tell her that the Virginia Beach Marine Science Museum had agreed to take the birds, but they wanted them glove trained,” he said.

White was considered for the job, even though he had no permits at the time, he said, and ended up training the birds in about two weeks. The oldest has since died, while the two younger ospreys are still alive and well. “’Baby’ and ‘Bo’ are still at the Marine Science Museum in the education program,” White said.

“Dana named Baby, and I named the other Bo for ‘baby osprey.’”

White now possesses Wildlife Life Rehabilitation permits through Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries to rehabilitate water birds and raptors, plus a Federal Migratory Bird Rehabilitation permit and a separate Special Purpose — Possession for Education permit

Owls are fascinating creatures, and perhaps nobody knows them better than Tommy White. through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, he said.

As of Jan. 3, 2018, he is also one of only 10 Certified Wildlife Rehabilitators in Virginia through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. He can be found under his legal name, Harley White, in the online registry.

“I’m really proud of that one,” he said.

He and his wife signed a lease for four acres at the southeast corner of the 152 acres land in

Suffolk owned by George and Joan McClelland for Altons’ Keep Inc. in March. The nonprofit endeavor estimated at $35,000 is made possible through donations, volunteer labor and White’s own funds, he said.

“I’ve had tons of people come out of the woodwork to send money and help build this place,” he said. “It’s been amazing,” Along with 24 planned enclosures for the See BIRD page 27

Thank You.

For nearly 100 years, Farmers Bank has been honored and proud to serve our community. We would like to take a moment to say Thank You to our loyal customers for supporting our growth and vision throughout the years. Our promise is to always work hard to exceed your expectations today, tomorrow and into the next 100 years.

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suffolk living 27

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Tommy White holds an owl he is rehabilitating.

BIRD continued from page 26

facility, including about a dozen being built by Boy Scouts for their Eagle Scout projects, White will have his “ark”: a flight enclosure for largewinged birds that will measure 100 feet long, 20 feet wide and 16 feet high.

A saltwater pond stocked with live fish will be installed to condition water birds like ospreys to be able to fend for themselves in the wild once again. That feature will be an utterly unique asset for the area, White said.

White walked across to the other end of the facility with Tsgili resting on his glove and found himself in the middle facility of a “school circle” of picnic tables with multi-purpose enclosures that can be readied with educational birds for private classes.

There will also be an office for full-time veterinarian Dr. Glenn Bouche that is already used as an intake room for birds, with 24-hour access available for Game & Inland Fisheries and Suffolk Animal Control personnel.

“Animal Control is very excited,” White said. “They’ve brought me a ton of birds this year, because they’ve never had a place to take them. I get calls from them all the time, and the birds get care quicker, so it’s an all-around good situation.”

White, who rehabilitated more than 200 wild birds in 2017, already educates children with Tsgili, a barred owl, and a red-tailed hawk he is permitted to use for his Altons’ Keep Educational Ambassador Raptor Program, which performed about 24 programs in 2017, White said.

Eventually, a bald eagle will be among the education birds at his disposal to make an impression on the children.

“To see these birds up close is to make them real,” White said.

“They’re no longer just a picture in a book or a dot in the sky. They leave here knowing that this is a real, feeling, breathing and thinking creature that they hardly ever see.”

“They also learn that they’re a very important part of the environment on this earth, and they all have a very unique purpose,” he said as he scratched the owl on his glove. “If it weren’t for you, we would be overrun with rats, wouldn’t we?” ←

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28 suffolk living

suffolk scene

ReStored The city of Suffolk hosted the {Re}Stored Downtown Pop-Up Shop Retail Initiative on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25. Hundreds of folks visited small retailers set up in vacant downtown storefronts and in tents downtown, and also got to shop established retailers, meet Santa, enjoy refreshments and get a meal at a downtown restaurant. PHOTOS BY Tracy Agnew

Norman and Naedine Haile, of Posh & Candy Boutique Tremaine Pugh, Leana Smith and Beverly Britt with Santa Claus

Mr. Peanut is decked out in festive gear every year for the holiday season thanks to the Asbell family — Betty Asbell, her son and daughter-in-law, Barry and JoAnn Asbell, and her grandchildren, Elizabeth Garnes and Justin Asbell.

Susan Ward, of Studio 52 in Sunbury

suffolk living 29

Grand Illumination Suffolk kicked off the holiday season on Nov. 17 with the annual Grand Illumination tree lighting ceremony at Market Park. Hundreds came out to experience the lighting of the tree and other decorations, a visit from Santa Claus, refreshments, crafts, the opportunity to write a letter to Santa, carriage rides and more.

PHOTOS BY TRACY AGNEW

suffolk scene

Caden Randall, Jamonicus White and Cristian Randall

Santa Claus and Janiayah Brady, 7

Lynda Horner and Dimitri Horner

McKenna Myles

Tayela Kitchens, Rylee Kitchens and Maiah Jaeger

30 suffolk living

suffolk scene

North Suffolk Rotary Oyster Roast The North Suffolk Rotary Club held its annual oyster roast on Nov. 1. Hundreds of guests enjoyed seafood, fixings and fun. PHOTOS BY ALEX PERRY

Caitlin Huffman, her 11-month-old daughter Meleia and her father, Gary Briggs

Thomas Mayes and Gimmy Thomas

Kayla Rivenbark, David Rivenbark and Charlie Burroughs

Terry Hartsook and Debbie Jackson

Shelby Cotton, 17, and Mackenzie West, 17

suffolk living 31

CE&H Oyster Roast The Crittenden, Eclipse and Hobson Ruritan Club held its 14th annual Oyster Roast on Nov. 3. Folks braved an unseasonably cold day to enjoy the atmosphere and the offerings. PHOTOS BY ALEX PERRY

suffolk scene

Jackson, Debbie Jackson, Dan Chopps and Rachel Chopps

Merry Bowles and Louie

Mended Little Hearts of Coastal Virginia volunteers Amber Richley, Holly Harkins, Angela Meyer, Lynn Meyer, Rhonda Arrington, Danielle Hill and Christopher Cyphers, 8

Jason Cyphers and his daughter Lailah, 1

Jim Roberts and his dog C.J.

32 suffolk living LOCALS CHOICE

LOCALS CHOICE

2016

2017

Ring In The New Year

Dr. Chase and his team at Academy Animal Care offer a wide variety of services for you and your pet!

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suffolk living 33

Last edition’s Where Am I? Since it’s on one of the most well traveled roads in Suffolk, we thought many more people would get this location correct. However, only six people guessed the correct answer.

Some of them probably knew it when they saw it, but our winner was a little luckier.

Lindsey Young was eating lunch at Baron’s Pub when she happened to where am I? glance across the I street and spot the spire on top of Main Street United Methodist Church.

Her name was randomly chosen from among those who submitted correct answers, and she wins a $25 gift card. For your chance to win, check out this edition’s challenge on Page 34. suffolk living 19

n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know.

We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is.

If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers.

So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner.

Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

Suffolk schools are everbody’s beeswax!

How You Can Get Involved: • Volunteer at your local school • Bee a sponsor at a Suffolk Education Foundation event • Attend a Suffolk Education Foundation fundraiser, like the Grown-Up Spelling Bee

Event: Grown-Up Spelling Bee Saturday, February 10 • 2pm

King’s Fork High School Info: Bethanne Bradshaw 925-6752

www.nansemondvet.com

Offering friendly, full service veterinary care since 1938.

How do you see Suffolk?

We also offer boarding and grooming!

Submit your photos to Through the Lens

Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

110 Kensington Boulevard, Suffolk, VA Next to the Suffolk YMCA

news@suffolklivingmag.com

38 suffolk living

where am I?

I

n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is.

If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers.

So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner.

Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

suffolk living 35

scrapbook

LIBRARY: The original Morgan Memorial Library was built on Bosley Avenue in 1957 with money left for that purpose by Lizzie Morgan as a memorial to her parents. Before the construction of this library, the Woman’s Club had operated a library from their headquarters at the corner of Bank and Pinner streets.

Morgan Memorial Library eventually moved to larger quarters in 1986, and this building became the Suffolk Museum, later renamed the Suffolk Art Gallery. Morgan Memorial Library is now located on West Washington Street, and plans to build a new downtown library are in the works.

From the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society’s “Suffolk in Vintage Postcards”

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WESTERN SUFFOLK The best of country living yet accessible to all of Tidewater! 5 BR 3 ½ Bath with 3,728 SF! $369,000!

REIDS FERRY Unique 4 BR 3 Bath home on 6 gorgeous acres and private cul-de-sac overlooking the creeks, marsh and Nansemond River! $399,900!

RIVERVIEW Cozy and spacious 4 BR 3 Full Bath home with 2 bedrooms on first floor & 2 on second floor! Beautiful remodeled kitchen & more! $269,900!

FOREST GLEN TERRACE Classic 5 BR 2 ½ Bath custom built English Tudor with over 3,000 SFLA, and includes 3 car garage!

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LAKESIDE This lake front home offers 5 BRS 2 ½ Baths, 3400 SF, custom kitchen, large bedrooms & much, much more! $324,900!

CORAPEAKE, NC Remarkable historic plantation circa 1852!

Lovingly restored by true preservationists!

Protected under the Historic Preservation Foundation of NC! $289,000!

NORTHGATE Lovely 2 story home on large cul-de-sac lot with 3 BRS 3 ½ Baths, 2400+ SFLA and spacious and open floor plan! $299,900!

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LAKESIDE Gorgeous, well cared for home with huge urban lot! Excellent craftsmanship in this 4 BR 3 ½ Bath 3,600+ SF home! $368,500!

IDLEWOOD Charming and immaculate 3 BR 1 ½ Bath all brick ranch on corner lot with attached garage & private deck! $176,900!

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