Western Branch Magazine December-January 2019 by Suffolk News-Herald

Christmas in Western Branch A parade, Secret Santas and shagging

december-january 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ vol. 3, no. 1

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Serving as an Army nurse made her well prepared for the challenges of the operating room. And now she’s on your

As a cardiovascular nurse, Stacie Pittman is completely comfortable in high-pressure situations. Perhaps that’s because her nursing career began in the U.S. Army, where situations can change just as rapidly as they can in the operating room. Each day, she shares both her expertise and her commitment to calmly overcoming cardiac challenges with Hampton Roads’ top surgeons, physicians and support staff on the Heart Team at Bon Secours. When it comes to your heart, the team you choose makes all the difference. Shouldn’t you have the best one possible? bonsecours.com/heart-team

western branch magazine 3

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january

what's inside?

2019

feature

The Boogie on the Bay Shag Club has met in many locations over the years but now makes Western Branch its home.

In the news Blue Bell Ice Cream will make a return to Hampton Roads in a few months and build a distribution center in North Suffolk.

Christmas Parade The Chick-fil-A Christmas Parade drew thousands of spectators to see their biggest parade yet, and the entire community pitched in to make it a success.

Where am I? So you think you know Western Branch? Test your knowledge of its landmarks with this photo quiz. You could win a $25 gift card.

Christmas in Western Branch A parade, Secret Santas and shagging

december-january 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ vol. 3, no. 1

photo by Alex Perry

on the cover

Advertising rates and information available upon request. 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

Public servant The Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council and Keep Chesapeake Beautiful help make sure Western Branch stays clean.

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jan.

2019 EDITORIAL Tracy Agnew Editor Alex Perry Staff Writer Jen Jaqua Photographer news@westernbranchmagazine.com

ADVERTISING

Earl Jones Marketing Consultant Lindsay Richardson Marketing Consultant Dana Snow Marketing Consultant Kandyce Kirkland Marketing Consultant sales@westernbranchmagazine.com

PRODUCTION Troy Cooper Designer

ADMINISTRATION John Carr Publisher

Cathy Daughtrey Business Manager Hope Rose Production

editor's note The long nights of winter Winter in Hampton Roads is dark, cold and rainy. After the joy of Christmas and the revelry of New Year’s Eve, it’s a long haul until the temperatures get more tolerable, the days get noticeably longer and flowers start to bloom. But no matter the season, there’s a lot to love about Western Branch, and we hope the community spirit that embodies Western Branch around Christmas can last you not just all season long but all year long. The Chick-fil-A Christmas Parade is a great example of that. The parade was larger than ever this year, and it provided a great Saturday morning for a lot of spectators. Some volunteers even wound up spending the night in the mall because they were at the site setting up until 2:30 a.m. and needed to be back at it by 5:30 a.m.! Now that’s dedication from Sean Hess, owner and operator of the Chick-fil-A beside the mall, and his crew of employees and volunteers. You can see photos from the parade on pages 22-23. In another Christmas-related effort we’ve highlighted in this magazine, Western Branch Philanthropy, spearheaded by Karen Pinegar, is providing Secret Santas for nearly 200 children in the community whose families needed a little extra help making Christmas merry and bright. Pinegar said she had no problem finding more than 150 people willing to be Secret Santas for children they don’t know and likely will never meet, and that’s the spirit of giving that embodies Christmas. You can read more about it on pages 12-15. In this edition you’ll also find news about the work of the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council as well as the Boogie on the Bay Shag Club, which is a great way to shake off the winter blues, whether or not you already know how to shag dance. We hope you have a joyous Christmas and a safe New Year and find ways to celebrate the beauty of winter, rather than letting the dreariness get you down. Until we meet again… God bless, Tracy Agnew, Editor

Western Branch Magazine 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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around the branch

Art Exhibit ONGOING

The Old Dominion University Tri-Cities Center, 1070 University Blvd., Portsmouth, has an exhibit of art from local public school students on display. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except university holidays.

western branch magazine 9 ONGOING

The Western Branch Farmers Market, the first independent farmer’s market in Chesapeake, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. each Sunday inside Chesapeake Square Mall, 4200 Portsmouth Blvd. The market hosts a variety of local and regional producers and accepts applications for vendors throughout the season. For more information and updates, visit www.WBFarmMarket.com, find it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or email WesternBranchFarmersMarket@gmail.com.

ONGOING

Get your shag on with Boogie on the Bay Shag Club, a Portsmouth-based organization dedicated to promoting and preserving shag dancing and beach music. Weekly dance socials are held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday night at Big Woody’s Bar & Grill, 4200 Portsmouth Blvd. There is no cover, and new friends are always welcome. Free weekly Carolina Shag lessons are provided from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, also at Big Woody’s. Visit www.boogieonthebay.com or call 9677740.

ONGOING

The Dunedin Civic League meets monthly on the first Monday at the Aldersgate campus of New Creation United Methodist Church, 4320 Bruce Road, Chesapeake.

ONGOING

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, holds “Hot Topics” from 10 a.m. to noon every Wednesday. Come engage in conversation about current events with other interested people.

DECEMBER 18

Visit Santa Claus from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake. Kids can make crafts and tell Santa their Christmas wishes. Bring your camera to take pictures. No registration is required.

DECEMBER 18

The Mix Book Club will meet from 6 to 7:45 p.m. at the Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W. The group meets every third Tuesday of the month to discuss a variety of cultures, authors and books. Call 686-2538.

Adult Coloring Society - Jan. 22 kindergarten through fifth. Let your creativity take shape using the library’s collection of Legos, K’nex, IO Blox and Straw Builders. Call 410-7024.

JANUARY 5

The Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W., will host Line Dancing with Linda from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The easy beginner’s workout will combine music, fun and instruction. Call 686-2538.

JANUARY 8

The Adult Coloring Society will meet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W. Call 686-2538.

JANUARY 12

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will host CRW, a local chapter of Romance Writers of America. Meetings start at 10:30 a.m., and workshops begin at 12:30 p.m. All those interested in romance writing are welcome to attend and meet fellow enthusiasts. Call 410-7016.

JANUARY 12

JANUARY 15

DECEMBER 20

JANUARY 3

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold a social arts program for children in grades 3 through 8. Join in for an afternoon of crafts and conversation. Craft supplies provided. Call 410-7024. The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold a “block party” from 4 to 5 p.m. for students in grades

JANUARY 17

JANUARY 22

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold the Mocha Authors Club meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Stop by the information desk to learn this month’s chosen title by a black author. Reserve your copy and join in the discussion. Registration is not required. The club is for ages 18 and up. Call 410-7016.

JANUARY 22

The Adult Coloring Society will meet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W. Call 686-2538.

JANUARY 25

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will host Poetry, Prose & Pizza open mic night from 6:45 to 9 p.m. Spend this Friday night with your friends, a microphone and free pizza. Share your own poetry or applaud others’ work at this familyfriendly event. Call 410-7028.

FEBRUARY 7

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold a “block party” from 4 to 5 p.m. for students in grades kindergarten through fifth. Let your creativity take shape using the library’s collection of Legos, K’nex, IO Blox and Straw Builders. Call 410-7024.

FEBRUARY 7

AARP will provide free tax help from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake. Taxes are prepared for free if income is low to moderate, there is no rental income and businesses owned by the taxpayer have no inventory or employees. Walk-ins only. Bring Social Security card, photo identification, last year’s tax forms and any other information. AARP tax help is ongoing throughout the spring; call 410-7016 for more dates and times.

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in the news

Blue Bell announces return to local shelves

From Staff Reports

Blue Bell Creameries announced in November it would expand its distribution area to Hampton Roads and surrounding cities beginning March 25, 2019. “It has always been our goal to return to Hampton Roads,” Jimmy Lawhorn, vice president of sales and marketing for

Blue Bell, stated in a press release. “We are also bringing our products back to Richmond and the surrounding cities. Currently, you can purchase Blue Bell in a small section of western Virginia. In 2019, we will expand our sales area to include the eastern portion of the state. We can’t thank our customers enough for

their patience.” The company shut down production in 2015 in the wake of a fatal listeria outbreak linked to its products. Three people in Kansas died, and the distribution facility in North Suffolk closed, causing the layoffs of 30 to 40 employees. But the company began production

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again later in 2015 and has gradually been expanding its distribution area to its former range. This April, the company announced a new, 14,000-square-foot distribution facility would be built in North Suffolk’s Northgate Commerce Park. A $100,000 Economic Development Investment Program grant was awarded in April by Suffolk’s Economic Develop-

ment Authority. “We are grateful for the assistance from the Suffolk Economic Development Authority and the grant we were provided for capital investment and job creation,” Lawhorn stated in the press release. “We have started hiring and will continue to do so over the next few months.”

Store locations that will carry Blue Bell have not yet been announced, but the release states fans can expect to find it at most major supermarkets and drugstores. Areas to be served by Blue Bell’s newest distribution expansion include the seven cities of Hampton Roads as well as Williamsburg, and Elizabeth City and the Outer Banks in North Carolina.

12 western branch magazine

Making Christmas bright in Western Branch

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Story by Tracy Agnew

A small handful of volunteers and lots of generous people have teamed up to make a difference for children in Western Branch at Christmas the past few years. Stuffed animals, tricycles, playsets, Big Wheels, toy tractors, dolls, toy cars and more lined the pews last year during the Secret Santa giveaway, which has become a hallmark of the Western Branch Philanthropy group. Karen Pinegar spearheads the group’s efforts and said she spends many extra hours on the Secret Santa every year. But the only thing she regrets about it is that she can’t be present when all of the children receive their gifts.

“I do sometimes wish I could be a fly on the wall and see the children’s reaction,” she said. “But I know in my heart that when Christmas morning comes, there are a lot of kids that have been blessed.” This is the third year for the Secret Santa effort, and Pinegar said it grows every year as more people find out about it. This year, almost 200 children will be helped by about 150 Secret Santas from throughout the community. “I think people are more generous this time of year,” Pinegar said. “Most of us, when it comes to children, have a lot more compassion, and it’s people being good people See TOYS page 14

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Toys lined the aisle, the pews and the altar at a local church last year for the annual Secret Santa giveaway organized by Western Branch Philanthropy. TOYS continued from page 13

and wanting to help. Sometimes people are down and out for reasons that are beyond their control, and any of us could be there.” People in need contact Pinegar through the Western Branch Philanthropy Facebook group. “I vet the circumstances, and if they are someone we feel we should sponsor, we get the parent to give us information as far as the child’s gender, age and their wish list, clothing sizes and what have you,” Pinegar said. “Then I find a Secret Santa.” Pinegar said she’s never had a problem finding Secret Santas. “We have a very caring community,” she said. “I’m very proud of Western Branch and the way people come out of the woodwork. I don’t think I’ve ever posted a need that wasn’t taken care of.”

The gift exchange happens just before Christmas at a predetermined location. Parents come and pick up the wrapped gifts, and Pinegar said the “from” part of the tag is left unlabeled so that parents can handle that as they wish. “It’s all about blessing; it’s not about who gave,” Pinegar said. The Secret Santa effort is far from the only thing that Western Branch Philanthropy does. The group does Easter baskets and helps with necessary utility bills and other needs for people who find themselves in need of help. “We don’t want to be an enabling group; we want to be a hand-up group,” Pinegar said. “If we find this is a perpetual problem from month to month, we help them to find some counseling to get out of the position they’re in.” Pinegar, with the help of a couple of

volunteers, vets the needs herself, pays bills directly and posts receipts on the Facebook page so that people know the need is taken care of. “I always want to be above reproach,” Pinegar said. “I know I’m honest, but I want everybody else to know it, too. I want to be as transparent as possible.” Pinegar’s next goal for the philanthropy group is to create a 501(c)3 nonprofit so that those who donate will be able to get tax deductions. In all, she feels good about the group’s contributions toward Christmas joy for local children. “I’m a Christian, and I believe we’re supposed to help each other,” she said. “It’s just my passion. I know toys are just things, but to be able to have these kids feel good about themselves is more than I have words for.”

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Above left, volunteers organize toys at last year’s Secret Santa giveaway organized by Western Branch Philanthropy. Above right, toys including dolls, toy tractors and more took up all available space in the local church used for the event.

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feature story

Shaggers in the heart of Western Branch

Couples at the Boogie on the Bay Shag Club cut a rug at a Tuesday evening lesson at Big Woodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. The club also holds Friday night socials at Big Woodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

western branch magazine 17

Story and photos by Alex Perry

One and two, three and four, five and six. Marsha Ruth kept repeating the steps as more than 30 pairs of dancers followed instructions from her and Tom Edwards, the two lead instructors on the dance floor at Big Woody’s Bar and Grill in Chesapeake Square Mall. Older men and women moved carefully on the bar’s tiled floor that was brightly lit on the evening of Nov. 27. The soundtrack was Patti LaBelle and Junior Walker, a “slower” playlist that makes for an ideal beginner’s lesson for Boogie on the Bay Shag Club members and newcomers, especially after Thanksgiving. “After all that turkey … it’s time to dance it off,” Ruth said. The Boogie on the Bay Shag Club consists of 190 active members that come together through a shared enthusiasm for shag dancing. Founded in 1991, the club originally met at a Holiday Inn in downtown Portsmouth. See SHAG page 19

18 western branch magazine ORCHESTRA continued from page 17

Couples at the Boogie on the Bay Shag Club cut a rug at a Tuesday evening lesson at Big Woody’s. The club also holds Friday night socials at Big Woody’s.

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western branch magazine 19 SHAG continued from page 17

When that hotel was torn down, the club moved to Norfolk and then eventually to Big Woody’s, partly for the sizable dance floor but also for its central location in Hampton Roads, according to club president Donna House. “It’s close enough and the people here have been really good to us, plus we’ve been good to them,” House said. The club meets for Friday night socials each week and Tuesday night shag classes. Members at the Nov. 27 class greeted each other like family over dinner and drinks before lessons begin. “They’re very friendly, and they’ve got something very friendly in common, which is dance,” or the Carolina Shag, to be precise, House said. Carolina Shag is a partner dance that’s become popular in national and international dance competitions across the United States. According to Southern Living, the Shag was born on the beaches

of South Carolina in the 1940s, when dancers stepped and twirled smoother and faster. The name solidified in the ’40s and ’50s and has ebbed and flowed in popularity since, according to Southern Living. “And, as if it couldn’t sound any more Southern, the Carolina Shag has lived on to being described as a ‘cold beer on a warm night with a hot date and no plans for tomorrow,’” the article reads. The dancers at Big Woody’s were in week four of a six-week beginner class, at which point they know what to do with their feet along with a couple turns, Ruth said. Members often bounce between beginner and intermediate lessons to get comfortable and precise with their movements. “I’ve been doing it for 27 years, and I still go back to basic classes,” Ruth said. “You learn something new from a different instructor every time.”

She and Edwards have been teaching together for more than 20 years. According to Edwards, the first thing beginners need to have is a desire to learn. “The second thing that’s a big help is that they have some rhythm,” he said. “If they can tap their feet to the beat of the music, then it’s going to make it easier for them to dance on the beat.” Some rookies struggle early on but spin their way out of that rut with practice. “We had some people come through the class who couldn’t find the beat with both hands, but they wanted to learn and they worked on it, worked on it, worked on it,” he said. Charlie, 43, and Teri, 42, Nunley have been part of the club since February. They started with slow and worked their way up to multiple outings each week, and neither of them had any solid dance experience coming in. “You just jump right in, take it all in See SHAG page 20

Taking a trip? Take a copy of Western Branch Magazine with you on your next vacation and snap some photos.

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20 western branch magazine SHAG continued from page 19

"We had some people come through the class who couldn’t find the beat with both hands, but they wanted to learn and they worked on it, worked on it, worked on it." —Tom Edwards, Shag Dance Instructor

and learn as you go,” Charlie Nunley said. They were looking for a way to meet new people after he retired from the Coast Guard, Teri Nunley said, and the club has been a great fit. “So many people will take you under their wings,” she said. “They really help you, (even) outside of the day-to-day instructions. “It’s just friendly and nice and they want you to get it so you’ll keep coming (back).” It’s not just foot work and hand positions that draws a crowd of older dancers to Woody’s each week. Most of them are retirees and empty nesters, with some members pushing 90 years old, according to House. In February, the club sponsors Shaggers at Heart, a workshop and dance weekend in Williamsburg that sells out of more than 200 tickets within just 48 hours. They come together to see old friends and fellow dancers they’ve known for decades. House and her friends have personally seen many wedding engagements between members, as well. “These people get you through your bad times and your good times,” she said. Members may be getting up in age, but they’re staying healthy and mobile to the tune of “I Don’t Do Duets.” “We all have the same thing in common, and we all help and work with each other,” House said. “There’s no age difference when you get out there on the floor.”

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Chick-fil-A Christmas Parade

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where am i?

n each edition the Western Branch Magazine staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Western Branch you really know. We photograph some location in Western Branch 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@westernbranchmagazine.com. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift card. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Western Branch!

western branch magazine 25

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How do you see Western Branch? Submit your photos to Through the Lens

news@suffolklivingmag.com

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public servant

The work continues for Chesapeake’s greenery Story and photos by Alex Perry

Making sure that Chesapeake is a beautiful place to live is a year-long job of cleanups and classroom learning, all overseen by the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council. The council was formed in 1983 by then-Mayor Sidney Oman. There are records, however, from 1978 that CEIC was formerly known as the Litter Control Council under former Mayor Marian P. Whitehurst, according to Megan Hale, recreation specialist with Chesapeake Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The name may have changed over the years, but for the 18 appointed volunteers

on the governing board, the mission remains the same. Their goal is to promote litter prevention, recycling and beautification by providing citizens with opportunities to get involved at the grassroots level. Thousands of other volunteers are actively involved in CEIC projects and sub-committees, according to Hale, and citizens actively volunteer through Keep Chesapeake Beautiful. As of late November of this fiscal year — July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019 — more than $17,000 has been given back to the city through cleanup programs at roughly $26.75 for each volunteer hour, Hale said.

“That’s volunteer value that’s given back to the community for free,” said Hale, who acts as a liaison between CEIC and Keep Chesapeake Beautiful activities. On Sept. 8, one of five annual Chesapeake Recycles Day collection events was held at Sam's Club Western Branch, where six organizations helped process roughly 275 cars’ worth of recyclable material. In just three hours on a Saturday morning, 420 pounds of recyclables were collected by TFC Recycling, 5,500 pounds of sensitive documents disposed of by Iron Mountain Shredding, 3,900 pounds of electronics and similar solid waste colSee GREENERY page 29

western branch magazine 29 GREENERY continued from page 28

lected by Southeastern Public Service Authority and Goodwill, the latter of which collected 2,400 pounds of unwanted clothes on top of that. “They’re very well attended,” Hale said. “We have a constant stream of cars during those three hours, and they’re really volunteer-run.” Contests are also held throughout the year to encourage citizen participation in this green-positive movement. CEIC recognizes beautiful yards and gardens maintained by homeowners through Chesapeake's Notable Yards Contest, in which citizens nominate their own or their neighbors’ wonderful green spaces. A certificate is presented to the winners, one from each high school district in Chesapeake. A sign is placed in their yards for a month for posterity, and they each receive a $50 gift certificate to White's Old Mill Garden Center on Old Mill Road. Western Branch resident Lisa Baker won this year for her lush green yard on Georgia Road. CEIC is focused on fostering green thumbs at a young age and pushes for programs in schools, along with including more creative opportunities for children. The Western Branch Middle School Art Club won the Youth Community Organization Award in 2017 for an innovative recycling and beautification project. Students took worn and dilapidated park benches from the Chesapeake Arboretum. These were then disassembled, stripped, cleaned and refinished. Reassembled and ready for painting, each bench was made into beautiful works of art by the students in a project that recycled, repurposed and beautified. “It’s about looking at the different styles of learning and presenting it in a different way,” Hale said about environmentallyconscious programs like at WBMS. Hale has spent more than a decade in her field doing education, outreach and hundreds upon hundreds of litter cleanups. Her office is filled with binders for various CEIC-backed projects and notes on upcoming cleanups. Looking for trash in parks and by the side of the road is an eye-opening experience, she said. “For several days after, you can’t not see trash on the ground,” she said. “But when we don’t engage, it’s like a blind eye. You just never see it in the first place.” According to CEIC Chair Alden Cleanthes, the council’s plan for 2019 is to expand its educational outreach and listen to feedback from citizens on what changes they’d like to see in their city. There’s also an urban forestry pilot program in the works. Cleanthes said she was “amazed” by the volunteer work accomplished this year. But this is a marathon, not a sprint for CEIC. “Until our environment is sustainable and resilient on its own, there’s still more work to be done,” she said.

At top, Lisa Baker shows off the award she won for her notable yard. In middle, Roxanne Stonecypher, Bob Fountain and Mayor Rick West work on a landscaping project. Above, benches refurbished by the Western Branch Middle School Art Club won the Youth Community Organization Award last year.

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Last Edition’s Where Am I? Five of you recognized the where am i? Where Am I? challenge in the OctoberNovember edition. Beth Koeneman bowled a strike for being the randomly selected winner among the five who knew the bright, redI and-white logo was located at the AMF Western Branch Lanes on Lynnhurst Boulevard. She wins a $25 gift card for her correct answer — and her luck. See page 24 for this month’s challenge. 24 western branch magazine

n each edition the Western Branch Magazine staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Western Branch you really know. We photograph some location in Western Branch 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@westernbranchmagazine.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift card. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Western Branch!

GET