Suffolk Living magazine

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In motion Cloggers, A Powwow and things thAT flutter

september/october 2016 • vol. 7, no. 5

2 suffolk living

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FEATURE

18

Many of the dancers at the Nansemond Indian Tribe’s annual powwow are young, but the dances themselves trace their history through centuries.

contents sept - oct | 2016 17

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

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Keeping time

10 The Peanut City Cloggers are something of a legend in the world of competitive clogging.

And they give new meaning to the word “commitment.”

On the cover

14 The arrival of fall means we have to say goodbye to many of our fluttering friends for a while.

We’re sorry to see them go.

24 Take a few lasers and LEDs, add in some glow lights and paint, throw a few dancers and an eager crowd into the mix and then turn up the bass. It’s a glow party.

by R.E. Spears III

editor's note sept - oct

2016

EDITORIAL R.E. Spears III Editor Tracy Agnew News Editor Sterling Giles Staff Writer news@suffolklivingmag.com

ADVERTISING

Earl Jones Marketing Consultant Nathan Richardson Marketing Consultant Dana Snow Marketing Consultant sales@suffolklivingmag.com

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Get moving As I was wringing the moisture from a July evening in Tidewater, I began thinking about what should be the theme for this edition of Suffolk Living magazine.

Ever the contrarian, I wondered, “What is the thing we least want to do this time of year?” The answer came quickly in the 7 p.m. humidity. Motion. The dripping stillness of the evening was the very antithesis of movement. Even the cicadas were not yet exercising their wings, and it was clear to me that we should celebrate the very thing that nature itself was attempting to avoid.

So for this edition, just as autumn is about to fall, we focus on movement, on fluidity that doesn’t seem to drip from the skies. It’s fall in Suffolk, and we’re all about getting off the couches in our air-conditioned living rooms and back on our feet.

For this edition, we’re talking a look at things in motion.

The hummingbirds get it — or at least they were in August. Even as I sat dripping sweat on my deck, they were buzzing about, fighting over four empty spaces at the feeder. Don’t share, Mr. Hummingbird.

It’s not as if we have more sugar water where that came from. Protect those diminishing resources with your diminutive body.

The butterflies get it. Fluttering about, they seem the perfect examples of happy-go-lucky until one looks closely enough to see the missing parts to their wings. Butterflies tend not to stay at one nectarhole for very long, and maybe their battle scars are evidence of lessons well learned.

Check out Page 14 for a look at some of our favorite things aflutter during the hottest, most humid part of a Tidewater summer. They tended to get us in the mood for the other features we’d cover this time around.

Things like cloggers. Did you know there was such a thing as a clogging scholarship? Of course, you didn’t. But there is. And people from Suffolk — particularly the Peanut City Cloggers — know all about it, and they’re more than well-versed enough to do the leg-shaking and toe-tapping necessary to win such an honor. These folks make Lord of the Dance seem more like amateur night at American Bandstand.

You’ll find their story on Page 10.

Dancing — even in the heat and humidity of a Tidewater summer — was taking place at Nansemond Indian Tribe powwows long before Dancing with the Stars was even a thing. The Nansemonds held their biggest powwow ever this August — hottest day of the year for this photographer — and you can see some of the sights from the event on Page 18.

Finally, recognizing that all things change, we take a look at an event that featured a different kind of dancing, this time under blacklights and lasers, during the Jolley Brothers’ recent gig at The NorVa in Norfolk. The twins are from Suffolk, but they’ve taken their talent for getting people on their feet to the big stage. It might not be your thing, but it’s definitely interesting, and it can be found on Page 24.

It’s September. Temperatures are down, the humidity has plummeted and it’s time to get off the couch and get moving. Perhaps you’ll find some inspiration in these pages.

I’m tapping my foot — and wiping the sweat from my brow — even as I write this.

God bless, Res Spears, 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

suffolk living 7

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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

Oyster Roast October 1 The Suffolk Boys and Girls Club will hold its seventh annual Barbecue and Oyster Roast on Oct. 1, beginning at 5 p.m., at Constant’s Wharf Park, behind the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront, located at 100 E. Constance Road. There will be food, beverages and entertainment by Island Boy Band. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the gate. For more information, call Phil McPhail at 676-1131.

suffolk living 9

what to do Continuing

Artwork inspired by Lydia Netzer’s book, “Shine Shine Shine,” will be on display through Oct. 21 at the Suffolk Art Gallery, located at 118 Bosley Ave. This exhibition is being presented in conjunction with Tidewater Reads, a regional literary collaborative. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. For more information, visit www.suffolkartleague.org.

Thursday September 15

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, located at 110 W. Finney Ave., will welcome retired U.S. Navy Adm. William E. Gortney for the 10th-anniversary speaker series. During his 39-year career, Gortney commanded at every level in the Navy and received many awards.

This 7 p.m. free event is part of the Center's "Salute to Military in September." For more information, visit www.suffolkcenter.org.

Friday September 16

New York Times best selling author Lydia Netzer will speak about her novel “Shine Shine Shine” as part of the Tidewater Reads program during a special, free presentation at 7 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. For more information on Tidewater Reads and other upcoming events, visit www.tidewaterreads.org.

Thursday September 29

The Pilot Club of Suffolk will host the annual Suffolk Peanut Fest Queen’s Banquet at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverfront. The banquet features dinner, a silent auction, entertainment and crowning of the Peanut Fest Queen. Tickets are $30 per person and must be purchased by Sept. 28. Ticket outlets include: Suffolk Visitor Center, 524 N. Main St.; D.B. Bowles Jewelers, 1411 N. Main St.; and Holland's Produce, 100 Commerce St. For more information, visit wwww.suffolkpeanutfest.com.

Lydia Duke will be honored by the Suffolk and North Suffolk Rotary clubs as the 2016 Suffolk First Citizen during a celebration at 6 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

The annual award goes to an outstanding individual who best exemplifies the spirit of citizenship and who has shown significant leadership through his or her time, talents and efforts in order to make Suffolk a better place to live. Reservations can be made by clicking the “Suffolk 1st Citizen” link at www. suffolkrotary.com.

Saturday October 1

Thursday October 13

The Suffolk On the Move Peanut Fest 5K Run-Walk and 1-Mile Run will take place at 7:30 a.m., starting from Constant’s Wharf Park, located at 110 E. Constance Road, behind the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront. Check-in for the free event starts at 6:15 a.m.

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts will host an opening reception at 5:30 p.m. for the new exhibit, “My Favorite Things,” by artist Charlotte Chan. Chan works in watercolor and acrylic and was influenced by Georgia O’Keeffe. The reception is free, and the exhibit will be on view through Dec. 22. For more information, visit www.suffolkcenter. org.

The annual Suffolk Peanut Fest parade will be held in downtown Suffolk, beginning at 10 a.m. The parade stages in the Lakeside neighborhood and proceeds down Washington Street, turning left onto North Main Street and concluding at Finney Avenue.

Thursday October 6

The Suffolk Ruritan Club will host its annual Shrimp Feast, the traditional kickoff event for Peanut Fest, from 3 to 7 p.m. on the grounds of Suffolk Executive Airport, 1410 Airport Road. Enjoy seasoned shrimp and all the fixin’s, along with entertainment by Celeste Kellogg and Childz Play. Tickets are $35 in advance, and only 2,500 will be sold, with none available at the gate. For more information, visit www.suffolkpeanutfest. com.

This year marks the 39th anniversary of Suffolk Peanut Fest, a family-friendly event that honors the city's agriculture heritage and devotion to peanuts. Known for its fun family activities, Peanut Fest offers concerts, amusement rides, contests and competitions, a demolition derby, motorcycle rally, shrimp feast, fireworks and much more during its four-day run. This year, the Virginia Festival of Flight will be taking place on Saturday, and folks can get into both events for the same price. General admission tickets are $10 per person per day, with four-day tickets available for $30 and a carload special of $40 on Thursday.

Children 6 and under get in free. For more information and complete schedules, visit www.suffolkpeanutfest.com.

Sunday October 9

The Suffolk Swamp Roar motorcycle rally will make its 15th annual 80-mile lap around the perimeter of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., leaving from and returning to the Suffolk Executive Airport, home of Peanut Fest. Registration is $20 per participant and includes the official ride T-shirt and a VIP reception following the ride. For more information, call 514-4130.

Saturday and Sunday October 15-16

Put the Driver Days Fall Festival on your must-do list for October. Activities include food vendors, crafters, entertainment, cornhole and fun activities for the kids. A parade will kick things off Saturday at 10 a.m., and the fun continues through the day and then again on Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. The Sherri Parker Memorial Poker Run and Bike Show will be a big part of the fun on Sunday. For more information, including schedules and applications for the parade, the car show and vendors, visit www. driverevents.com.

Saturday October 22

Go back in time to the days of drive-in movies during a special presentation of “E.T.: The Extraterrestrial” at 6 p.m. at Bennett’s Creek Park, 3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road. A picnic area will be provided, and there will be on-site concessions available.

The event is free.

Saturday October 29

The Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society will hold its annual Touch a Truck, Train & Trick or Treat event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, 326 N. Main St. Children can see, touch and explore their favorite big trucks and vehicles. Vehicles on display will include construction trucks, emergency vehicles, tractor trailers and utility trucks. Be sure to wear your costumes and bring your own trick-or-treat bags. Tickets are $5 each or four for $15. For more information, visit www. suffolktrainstation.org.

Friday November 18

Suffolk will hold its Grand Illumination celebration at 6 p.m. at Market Park, 326 N. Main St. There will be a 32-foot Christmas tree, horse & carriage rides, arts and crafts for kids, hot cocoa and apple cider and Christmas carols. Santa is set to arrive at 6:30 p.m.

10 suffolk living

Keeping time with their feet story by Tracy Agnew photos by Harry Storms

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A

dozen dancers circled around a rectangle of wooden panels in the Bethlehem Ruritan clubhouse bop their knees to the beat of a pop song.

On an unseen signal, they suddenly bring down the house with syncopated tapping of their shoes, their upper bodies appearing relaxed and perfectly straight.

It’s Thursday night, and that means it’s rehearsal night for the Peanut City Cloggers. They’re getting ready for a huge competition, so there’s a lot to fit in.

The first thing you need to know about cloggers is that, no, they

don’t wear wooden shoes. Their footwear is traditional dance shoes with taps mounted on the soles — usually “jingle taps” mounted loosely so they can jingle back and forth.

This traditional and uniquely American form of dance originated in the Appalachian Mountains as a conglomeration of Irish, English, German, African and Native American folk dances. Once all the styles were melded together, clogging was born.

The name of the dance doesn’t come from the shoes at all. Rather, it’s from the Gaelic word for “time.”

“We keep time with our feet,” said Donna Riley, one of the founders See CLOGGERS page 12

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12 suffolk living CLOGGERS continued from page 11

of the group.

These days, many clogging groups exist in the country, but the Peanut City Cloggers — a name that strikes fear into the heart of other competitive groups across the country — are among those trying to uphold the traditional form of the dance.

Tradition and family — both blood family and clogging family — are the big draws for many participants.

Grace Pierce, who has been clogging for seven years, followed in the footsteps of her mom, who started clogging at the age of 5.

Hannah Baines’ mother and grandparents were cloggers.

Others, like Harrison Storms, simply got into clogging as an outlet.

“When I was in second grade, I had a problem with keeping my feet still,” Harrison said.

His teacher knew about the group and recommended it to his mom.

Others joined because of family or friends, as in the case of two of the youngest dancers, Lillie Short and Jenna Green.

“I thought that it would be fun, and my cousin was doing it,” Lillie said.

“My friend started clogging,” Jenna added.

From left in a Peanut City Cloggers performance are Lindsay Ricks, Shamus Riley, Judi Lester, Leia Dotson, Harrison Storms, Marcus Blodgett, Joann Bricker-Price and Bobby Greene.

But now, as part of the Peanut City Cloggers team, they’re all family who depend on each other as much as if they were related by blood.

“It is knowing if you fall down, there’s going to be a bunch of people there to pick you up,” Grace said. “I definitely believe it’s a family thing.”

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“We’re all super close,” added Mackenzie West, who has been clogging for seven years.

Harrison said the friendships and family atmosphere continue even after the clogging shoes have been taken off.

“You step off the stage, and you’re still just as close,” he said.

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suffolk living 13 CLOGGERS continued from page 12

The longer you do clogging, the more friends and family you have in it, said JoAnn Price, one of the adult dancers on the Peanut City Cloggers.

“You grow up clogging, so you go to clogging competitions and see all your friends,” she said.

The friends and relationships are her favorite part of clogging.

But it’s not all rainbows in the clogging world. Injuries happen — shin splints and strained knees, which can take a dancer out of commission for weeks, are common. There can be blood sometimes, too. When a jingle tap gets worn down, it can become sharp enough to slice open a finger or anything else it happens to contact.

Injuries are the worst for the dancers, not because of the pain but because they feel like they have let their team down.

“That hurts the most, knowing you’re supposed to be up there,” Grace said. “It’s like you’re a pillar. If you fall, everyone else will fall with you.”

Dancers have been known to perform or compete with injuries to almost any part of their body, even with an arm in a cast. But the most important parts for clogging are the feet

The Peanut City Cloggers say their clogging family is almost as important as their blood family. This team shot is from before a performance at the Norfolk Scope.

and legs.

“Our legs are what keep us here,” Harrison said. “Our legs and our heart are what keep us going.”

There’s a serious air of perfectionism in the team.

“That’s one of the things that keeps me here, is knowing I’m not as good as I could be,” Harrison said.

One of the main figures pushing the team forward is Shamus Riley, the coach for the teenaged group of dancers and a dancer himself in the adult group.

Riley went to college on a clogging scholarship after clogging since he was a child. Donna Riley is his mother.

“If you’re not having fun, you really shouldn’t be doing it,” Riley said. His loves to enterain audiences.

Despite the demanding nature of the dance, all of the dancers get their own personal rewards out of it.

“We work hard for what we earn,” Grace said.

Added Hannah: “I really just like being part of it with everybody.” ←

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All aflutter story by R.E. Spears III

F

all has arrived in Suffolk, and some of our favorite flitting, flying friends are — or soon will be — gone for the season.

Here’s a little of what we learned this year about some of the things fluttering through the skies of Suffolk.

The Dictionary of American Regional English, a multi-volume reference work that documents words, phrases and pronunciations that vary from one place to another across the United States, lists nearly 80 different common names for dragonflies around nation.

Helicopters. Witch doctors. Perch bugs. Sewing bugs. Praying murmurs. Devil’s needles. Snake flies. Water dippers. Skimmers.

Stitchers.

Whatever you call them, dragonflies are a wonder of nature.

They belong to the insect order Odonata and the suborder Anisoptera, from the Greek “anisos,” meaning uneven and “pteron,” meaning wing.

According to the website insectidentification.org, about 5,500 different species have been identified in North America.

See FLYING page 15

suffolk living 15 FLYING continued from page 14

A visit to one of Suffolk’s lakes during the summer will yield dozens or hundreds of dragonfly sightings, and, despite their sometimes fearsome appearance, they don’t bite, and they can’t sting. It’s entirely safe to get up close and personal with even the largest of the species, though getting close enough for a good photo can require a high level of patience and a degree of luck.

Hummingbirds don’t have quite the poor reputation of dragonflies, but their habits can be somewhat more startling.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds, which are common in this area and easily attracted to your yard with commercial or homemade feeders, are the widest-ranging of all North American hummingbirds, according to wildbird-watching.com.

They’re small, but they have a big fight in them. Set up a feeder in your yard in the spring, and you can watch through the summer as one male establishes his home turf there and See FLYING page 16

Above: August brought an explosion of butterflies to parts of Suffolk. Sadly, they’re mostly gone by now. (R.E. Spears III photo) At left: Folks who love dragonflies of all sizes and colors have a couple of great places to find them in Suffolk. This guy was hanging out at Lone Star Lakes Park. (Jen Jaqua photo)

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16 suffolk living FLYING continued from page 15

then protects it from all interlopers, sometimes even keeping his own young from feeding there. The battles are an intense aerial dance accompanied by soft warning chirps that are easy to miss if you’re not listening for them.

A yard that attracts hummingbirds is also likely to be a place of interest for butterflies, and this was a good season for them in Suffolk.

Their fluttering flight makes butterflies a hard target for their predators, and studies have shown that they can fly with even half their wing area gone.

At the other end of the spectrum are egrets, the great birds found in marshes, along rivers and over ponds and lakes throughout the area. With a length ranging up to 3.4 feet and a wingspan up to 5.6 feet, the Great egret is one of the largest birds most folks will encounter in Suffolk.

Egrets and other heron are fine fishermen, and, as you can see here, share a taste for crabs with many of us in Hampton Roads. ←

An old hummingbird, a hiding dragonfly and a juvenile egret with a taste for crabs were all part of Suffolk’s summer show this year. We hope you had a chance to stop and look for them along the way. (R.E. Spears III photos)

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suffolk living 17

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!

18 suffolk living

Powwow 'one of the best' story by Tracy Agnew photography by R.E. Spears III

D

ancers in full regalia grace the sacred dance circle. Percussionists pound out the beat to which dancers stamp their feet and revolve around the circle. A kaleidoscope of color spirals in front of sets of bleachers packed with young and old taking in the cultural experience.

Before the arrival of European settlers in the Americas, a powwow for Indian tribes meant much the same to them as family reunions do today.

Except for those bleachers full of spectators, powwows haven’t changed much for those who trace their lineage to the tribes that populated this continent long before Europeans “discovered” it.

“It’s kind of like a family reunion, and not just our immediate family but more of the Indian community,” said Chief Earl Bass of the Nansemond Indian Tribe.

The ancestors of the tribal association’s 300 current members lived on the banks of the Nansemond River in the early 1600s, when European settlers documented their existence. Nobody knows exactly how long before that the Nansemonds had populated the area.

One thing that has changed in a powwow is the spectators. They come by the thousands for food, vendors and educational demonstrations and displays about what life was like in Suffolk before it was called Suffolk.

But mostly, they come to watch the dancing and hear the music.

Some dancers stand erect and walk methodically, choosing each step as if it were potentially their last.

Some lean forward to get closer to the earth and step their legs high before slamming their feet to the ground. Some hold tools and walking sticks; some carry live birds on their arms. Regalia reflects every See POWWOW page 22

suffolk living 19 Chief Earl Bass of the Nansemond Indian Tribe leads other participants into the circle during the tribe’s annual powwow in August.

20 suffolk living

Participants in the Nansemond Indian Tribe’s 2016 powwow were young and old, male and female, local and distant. There were members of the tribe from Suffolk and from as far away as New York and Wisconsin, and there were other Native American tribes represented from all around Virginia and North Carolina, especially.

Participants took advantage of the opportunity to parade the full regalia of their people’s heritage. They danced, they drummed, they enjoyed Native American foods and they enjoyed the company of others who seek to preserve the culture.

suffolk living 21

Native American dancers are joined by young spectators during a special Round Dance at the Nansemond Indian Tribe’s annual powwow near Chuckatuck in August.

(Jen Jaqua photo)

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Dance styles varied nearly as much as the regalia worn by the dancers during the Nansemond Indian Tribe’s powwow in August.

POWWOW continued from page 18

color imaginable: browns and reds and whites and yellows and blues and pinks and purples.

Bass said the word about the powwow is apparently getting out.

“The powwow went great,” he said of this year’s affair, held in August.

“It’s probably one of the best powwows we’ve had in a long time.”

About 5,000 people attended on Saturday alone, he estimated.

“They come out there, and they get to learn a little bit of the culture and know that we’re still there,” he added.

Nansemonds come from all around to attend the powwow, Bass said.

Two families from New York and Wisconsin were special visitors this year.

Hope for the next generation is apparent at the powwow. Many members of the tribe have children, who get to meet each other and bond at each powwow.

“We had a lot of kids there,” Bass said. “We have a lot of tribal members that have kids. They got to meet each other and bond a little bit.”

Bass said the tribe appreciates the community’s support and also the partnership of the Suffolk Department of Parks and Recreation. ←

suffolk living 23

through the lens: Tyler Stephens

T

yler Stephens is a student at Lynchburg College, majoring in biology and minoring in environmental science. When he’s not studying, he enjoys spending time hiking and exploring nature. Since joining the outdoor leadership program at Lynchburg College, he has been able to take part in activities like caving and hiking, and he soon decided he wanted to be able to share those experiences with friends through photography. His photos from some of Suffolk’s parks remind us we don’t have to travel far to find natural beauty. Stephens keeps an Instagram account where you can follow his work: tylerstephens_photography. Are you a photo enthusiast or an aspiring professional? We’re always looking for folks to showcase on this page.

Send an email to news@suffolklivingmag.com.

24 suffolk living

The glow The glow The glow Theglow glow The from Suffolk from Suffolk from Suffolk fromSuffolk Suffolk from

suffolk living 25

story & photography by Sterling Giles

T

he calm summer evening was a counterpoint to the frenzy inside Norfolk’s NorVa theater as preparations were under way for The Jolley Brothers’ Glow Show.

On stage, a young, blond-haired man barked orders to the staff about the precise angles needed for the stage lights. A few feet away, his twin brother supervised a discussion about whether or it would be safe for the bikini- and fishnet tight-wearing dancers to use a pole in their routine.

In the end, the pole was removed as a safety precaution. But that decision changed little about the provocative dance routines that would serve as a focal point for the show, the most recent in a series of events produced

by Matt and Chris Jolley, two King’s Fork High School alumni who are trying to make a living in the world of hip-hop and EDM, electronic dance music.

Their August event at the NorVa was billed as the brothers’ biggest Glow Show ever, as DJ 4B would serve as one of the headliners. The disc jockey recently signed with Skrillex, one of the biggest names in the electronic dance music scene.

The show began just after 10 p.m. The line to get into the venue stretched along Monticello Avenue, with teens and young adults chatting, checking their cellphones and preparing to dance to the heavy bass beat that characterizes this musical genre.

The Glow Show lived up to its name, as glow-painted dancers gyrated among spotlights and lasers, and the audience wore neon-colored glow rings, if, in some cases, not a whole lot else.

“It’s an electronic circus,” Matt Jolley said before the show.

See GLOW page 26

26 suffolk living GLOW continued from page 25

The NorVa theater in Norfolk was the venue for a Glow Show in late August. The event was produced by the Jolley Brothers, identical twins Matt and Chris Jolley, who are from Suffolk. (R.E. Spears III photo)

During the show, an array of blue, crimson and green lights flashed in unison with the gritty, loud, electronic synths and bass.

The crowd, sweating in the press of bodies, jerked and juked in time with the music.

With each pulsating bass drop, the audience reacted with stale-faced head nods.

On stage and in the audience, the dancers gyrated. Some of the dancers twirled glow-in-the-dark Hula Hoops. Meaghan Rose, one of the dancers on stage, locked eyes with the audience as she performed an intricate routine.

As each artist called for a response from the crowd, they were met with loud, resounding approval.

Who would have thought a set of twins from Suffolk could stir so much excitement at a nationally recognized venue?

“We are like the Black Eyed Peas, but more in-your-face,” Chris Jolley said.

The duo began making music at just 13 years of age. They are fans of all music genres but capitalized on combining the hip-hop and EDM genres to form their own unique style.

See GLOW page 27

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" 4"-65& 50 5)& "3.&% '03$&4 Chris Jolley, left, and his twin brother, Matt, await the start of their show at the NorVa on Aug. 27. The brothers are King’s Fork High School graduates.

GLOW continued from page 26

The brothers got their start by throwing massive house parties and shows in the country.

“We always bring out a diverse crowd,” Chris said. “We brought more people together. We are about good vibes and a good time.”

Within the last few years, the act has garnered national attention, though it hasn’t all been positive.

The brothers have worked alongside artists and producers such as Lex Luger and Lil Jon. However, in 2013, during the eighth season of America’s Got Talent, the Jolley Brothers were rejected by three of the four judges during auditions.

This did not slow down their momentum.

At one point, they sold out the NorVa three times in a row. On their website, the brothers say they are the first act from the Hampton Roads area to sell out the venue.

What makes them unique, they say, is that they seek to promote and integrate local artists into their shows.

“We want to put on for the state that made us,” Matt said.

During their show at the NorVa, Luke “Farenhype” Sullivan and Meaghan Rose, who have both worked with the twins for the last two to three years, offered nothing but praise.

“They’re really good people and know how to party,” Sullivan said.

“There is mutual love,” Rose said. “They bring in a lot of local everything and take elements from where they come from.”

Matt Jolley said he and his brother have remained independent, because they want to have control over their art.

“We were tired of promoters giving us dumb time slots,” Matt said.

“We wanted to have a say with our music.”

The Jolleys have promoted several of their own shows, even coming out of pocket to do so, on occasion.

Despite the duo’s growing popularity in recent years, they have continued to possess the same work ethic and passion for their craft.

“They’re literally all about the music,” Rose said. ←

Kids on the Wheel (Pottery) Music Lessons Creative Writing Sewing Acting

28 suffolk living

suffolk scene

Back 2 School Event Steve and Patricia Watson started organizing a back-to-school giveaway and picnic in their backyard six years ago, and this year it got support from Planters to give away 1,000 backpacks filled with supplies. The event was held at Peanut Park on Aug. 27 and also featured food and entertainment. PHOTOS BY Tracy Agnew

Steve and Patricia Watson, in back, with Alaysha Browne, Saniyia Harper, Jakayla Cook and Tamara Whitehead

Raezhia Artis, Raekhia Artis, La’Kea Saunders and Rassan Riddick

Dekaiveon Lawrence and Deshara Stephens

Mary Tinker and Alicia Mullen

Tyla Parker, Alfreda Russell and Kadence Robinson

suffolk living 29

TGIFs TGIF concerts were held most Fridays this summer at Constant's Wharf and Bennett's Creek parks. Thousands of visitors throughout the summer got the chance to hear local bands and enjoy the evening outside.

PHOTOS BY STERLING GILES AND HENRY LUZZATTO

suffolk scene

Grace and Jack Weber

Jim and Sue Rogowski with their dog, Harri

Ryan and Trisha Mendez with their dogs, Jack and Sophie

Candace Wohl, in pink, plays in the National Night Out duck pluck pool Grace Weber playing with bubbles with her brother, Jack, and sister, Lila

30 suffolk living

suffolk scene

National Night Out National Night Out took place on Aug. 2, with parties happening all over the city.

Communities came together to present a united front against crime.

PHOTOS BY TRACY AGNEW, HENRY LUZZATTO AND STERLING GILES

McGruff the Crime Dog and Sgt. Rob Fahrman with Quincy Burke, Joelly Burke, Vanessa Ellis and Owen Burke at the Kingsboro celebration

Stephanie and Demetri Houch at the Burbage Grant Neighborhood Watch celebration

Robert Anderson works the grill at the East Suffolk Gardens celebration.

Everett Whitfield plays with an alpaca at Chuckatuck’s National Night Out petting zoo.

suffolk living 31

Jericho Community Day The eighth annual Jericho Community Day was celebrated at the community park on Aug. 27. Dozens of attendees enjoyed food, inspirational speakers and more.

PHOTOS BY STERLING GILES

Claud Askew, Fernando Watson, Morris Gates and George Gates

Jessica Savage and her son Demetrius

suffolk scene

Barbara Artis and Robert Wilkins with the second-place National Night Out community plaque

Star Privott, Linda Madison, Michelle Joe, Mary Knight, Joan Green and Sherrel Vonda

32 suffolk living

on vacation Bob and Kathy Marchant recently traveled to the Amazon rainforest and snapped a photo of themselves with Suffolk Living magazine in the front of a ficus tree more than 150 feet tall in the Peruvian jungle.

“The people were wonderful and appreciate everything that nature gives them in their humble existence,” Marchant wrote in an email. There’s no word on whether the people in Peru liked the magazine, but we like to think someone in South America is now dreaming of a beautiful place called Suffolk, Va. Next time you’re on an adventure, be sure to take a copy of Suffolk Living and get a photo of yourself with it. Then send it to news@suffolklivingmag.com, and we’ll share it here.

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suffolk living 33

Last edition’s Where Am I? Catherine Ilich was one of a very few to recognize the location of the July/August Where Am I photo. This young girl is painted on the side of a building in Driver. We thought this one would be easy, but what do we know?

This image appears on the side of old Saddle Shop in Driver. It’s on the side of a building I that faces a side road, where am I? so you have to be alert for it. Catherine wins a $25 gift certificate for her keen eye. Look for another installment of this popular feature on Page 17. If you can guess where it was, you could win $25.

suffolk living 23

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!

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MR. PEANUT: The year 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the creation of Mr. Peanut, who was born in Suffolk after a schoolboy named Antonio Gentile created him, according to lore, in response to a contest issued by Amedeo Obici, the founder of Planters Peanuts. In this undated photo, Antonio Gentile is shown with his family a little bit later in life. From left in back: Romeo, Christina, Antonio, Pulcheria and Alexander Gentile. From left in front: Albert, Matilda and Juliet.

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Look around and you’ll see the beautiful countryside of Franklin, Virginia, and the scenic Blackwater River nearby. And this community is also a great value, offering high-quality services and amenities along with a variety of classes and events. There are also activities, like bird watching, that residents simply initiate on their own. To schedule a visit and really look around, call 757-745-4935 today.

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