Western Branch Magazine October-November 2018

Fall Market

Your autumn feast of Western Branch delicacies, events and more

october-november 2018 • vol. 2, no. 6

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november

what's inside?

2018

feature

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Hilton Long sells produce out of his truck around Western Branch, and he's picky about his produce. You won't find any bruised fruit here.

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In the news Karla Smith was honored recently as the 2018 First Citizen of Suffolk. She's been an active leader in helping preserve the ecology, history and community of Western Branch and surrounding areas.

Farmers' Market You can find produce of all kinds, seafood, cheese, home-delivery services and more at the Western Branch Farmers' Market, which aims to keep going all year long.

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.

Fall Market

Your autumn feast of Western Branch delicacies, events and more

october-november 2018 • vol. 2, no. 6

photo by Troy Cooper

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 Teri Stanley and The Fallen Outdoors help veterans regain their lives after service with a variety of services and events.

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2018 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 best thing about fall is the food Crisp temperatures, changing leaves and even football have nothing on my favorite thing about fall — the food.

Between oysters, apple pie, Brunswick stew, fall veggies like eggplant and cabbage and squash and sweet potatoes, and even the deliciousness that is a huge, traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, cranberry sauce and all the fixings, fall is hands-down the best time for the best food.

That’s not even counting the chili with cheese, sour cream and cornbread, which can be prepared anytime but just doesn’t have the same effect in summertime.

And the best thing about living in Western Branch is that you can find everything you need for all of your fall meals without ever leaving Western Branch or going to a traditional grocery store.

If you’ve lived in Western Branch for long, you probably know Hilton Long. He can be found six days a week in his white pickup filled with fresh produce from three local farmers, and you won’t find any dinged fruit or half-spoiled veggies for sale with Long. He’s passionate about making sure folks have the best to buy.

Then there’s the Western Branch Farmers’ Market, which just started up this year but already has a sizable following, with more people learning about it every day. Fresh seafood, fruits and veggies, microgreens, baked goods, salsas, jams and preserves, gourmet mushrooms, home-delivered food services and more are all available to peruse at the market every Sunday.

Coordinator Jill Doczi said she hopes the market can be available year-round, although it might have to move indoors on the coldest days. It takes place in the parking lot at Chesapeake Square Mall and was started by the mall’s new owners, Kotarides Holdings, but the intent isn’t solely to drive traffic into the mall, she said. The owners simply wanted community investment on their property, and they certainly found a high-demand way to do that.

As you flip through the magazine, don’t miss the article about Karla Smith, one of the authors of “Truckin’ on the Western Branch” and other local history books. She recently was named Suffolk’s First Citizen, and she had some great stories to tell.

I really appreciate you reading Western Branch Magazine. Don’t forget to participate by sending your photos, story ideas, On Vacation photos, Where Am I? challenge guesses and more to news@ westernbranchmagazine.com.

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

Boogie on the Bay 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 967-7740.

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 in the parking lot of 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, weather updates and more, visit www.WBFarmMarket.com, find it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or email WesternBranchFarmersMarket@gmail.com.

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.

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.

October 16

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.

October 17

The Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W., will hold “Book Talk on the Patio” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Adults can come prepared to discuss their current favorite book, bring any book to swap and sip on some apple cider under the stars. The event is free, but registration is required and can be completed by calling 686-2538.

October 17

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, hosts the Novel Ladies Book Club from 6 to 8 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. No registration is required; adults 18 and up welcome. Email ssnowden@infopeake.org or call 410-7016.

October 23

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.

October 23

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.

October 25

The Quilting Guild will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at the Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W. Call 6862538.

October 26

W. Call 686-2538.

November 14

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, hosts the Novel Ladies Book Club from 6 to 8 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. No registration is required; adults 18 and up welcome. Email ssnowden@infopeake.org or call 410-7016.

November 15

The Quilting Guild will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at the Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W. Call 6862538.

November 20

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold “Haunted Hogwarts” from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Grades kindergarten through fifth are welcome, and registration is required. Join in a full schedule of wizardry games and classes. Email jblalock@infopeake.org or call 410-7024.

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.

October 27

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.

The 27th annual Fun and Food Fest at the Church of St. Therese, 4137 Portsmouth Blvd., Chesapeake, will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 27. The event was rescheduled from September due to Hurricane Florence. A silent auction and “Ida’s Attic” sale will be held. Food sales will tempt the taste buds. There will be a cornhole tournament, show by Hiz Handz Puppets, a variety of music and more. Call 488-2553 or email info@sttheresechesva.org.

October 30

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will have Halloweeninspired activities for all ages, with a focus on preschoolers, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Costumes are welcome. Enjoy “spooktacular” stories, music and fun.

November 1

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will have a Junior Block Party from 4 to 5 p.m. for grades kindergarten through fifth. Let your creativity take shape with Legos, K’nix, IO Blox and Straw Builders. Call 410-7024 for more information.

November 27

November 27

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.

December 11

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.

December 18

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will host Santa Claus from 6 to 7 p.m. Bring the little ones to meet Santa and make holiday-themed crafts just in time for Christmas. Cameras welcome; no registration required.

November 5

The Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W., will hold 3D Art Canvas Painting from 1 to 3 p.m. Bring an 11x14 canvas and let your creative side soar using acrylic paints and 3D objects like fabric, buttons and more. The event is free; register by calling 686-2538.

November 13

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.

Editor’s Note: We’d love to hear about what’s going on in the Western Branch community! Send your events to be included in this calendar to news@westernbranchmagazine.com.

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in the news

Teaching history with the First Citizen

asasa

Story and photos by Alex Perry

Karla Jean Smith is an active force for Suffolk and Western Branch’s beloved waterways and history. She recently earned another distinction as the First Citizen of Suffolk for 2018, and no one was more surprised than Smith herself.

“I’m still stunned,” she said. She hadn’t known she was nominated. She said she was so shocked when she learned of the recognition that she recommended that they “take the second person” instead.

“She said, ‘There are no more people.

You’re the one they selected,’” said Smith, recounting her conversation with the Rotary Club member who informed her of the award.

Since 1956, the award has been given each year — except for a hiatus from 19992002 — to an outstanding individual who best exemplifies the spirit of citizenship by demonstrating significant leadership combined with talents and efforts to make Suffolk a better place to live.

The award was started by the Cosmopolitan Club and ended in 1999 when the club disbanded. The Suffolk Rotary Club took up the mantle in 2003, and the North Suffolk Rotary Club joined in the recognition in 2010.

Smith was adamant that she didn’t fit the mold made by previous recipients. Last year’s First Citizen was local businessman

John Harrell, and the expansive list goes on to include business figures like car dealership owner Lydia Duke and real estate agent Billy Chorey Sr. There was also Dr. R. Leroy Howell, Sen. Fred Quayle, Dr. Douglas Naismith and Delegate Chris Jones.

Smith isn’t a doctor, lawyer or former mayor, but she’s instead amassed a wonderful reputation through a ceaseless drive to teach others and to safeguard Suffolk’s history and natural splendors.

She’s a founding member of Suffolk River Heritage and the Nansemond River Preservation Alliance, and when the National Park Service decided to undertake

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its first designated water trail map with the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, she led the efforts to make sure that Suffolk’s part in the story would be told.

The trail was authorized by Congress in 2006 and launched nationwide in 2007 for the 400th anniversary of Jamestown’s founding. These water routes mark the nearly 3,000 miles that Smith and his crew mapped in the Chesapeake Bay between 1607 and 1609, plus the tributaries in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C. The Nansemond River became part of that trail in 2014, and as a Girl Scout leader, Smith got her Scouts involved to help raise awareness. Kiosks at Bennett’s Creek, Constant’s Wharf Park and Marina and Sleepy Hole Park highlight John Smith’s travels through the region more than 400 years ago.

“John Smith came and interacted with the (Nansemond Indian Tribe),” Karla Smith said. “It was recorded in those first writings. All of his interactions with communities up and down on the Chesapeake Bay.” Suffolk needed to be part of the trail project not only to complete the history of Smith’s journey but also to create more opportunities to appreciate the city’s place in the Chesapeake Bay chronicles.

“It was important to me, not just to complete that history, but also create that appreciation for the historical significance in this part of the bay,” Smith said.

Smith is first and foremost a history teacher. She may have retired after 40 years in education, but she’s still the chair of NRPA’s environmental education committee. She crafts detailed maps of the local area, guides students on field trips into Suffolk’s waterways and gives lectures often.

“The best way to get the word out is through education, and the more people you involve in education, the more it will stick,” Smith said.

That’s why she’s frequently several books deep in historical research for yet another installment in the Suffolk River Heritage’s bibliography.

Karla Smith gives a speech accepting the First Citizen award at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

She was a researcher and author for the books “The River Binds Us,” “Peninsula in Passage” and “Truckin’ on the Western Branch,” which document the important local history of the people and waterways of Suffolk, Western Branch and nearby communities. She also co-authored the recently published “Screwpiles: The Forgotten Lighthouses,” documenting the history of local lighthouses, particularly the Nansemond River Lighthouse that was located at the mouth of the Nansemond from 1878 to 1935.

Smith worked with her co-author Larry Saint and fellow Heritage members John Sheally II and Phyllis Speidell to uncover even more information than they bargained for, then compiled those into a 200-plus-page hardcover book with gorgeous photography and illustrations and numerous interviews with local residents.

Between Suffolk River Heritage and NRPA, Smith has found an avenue for reaching out to the people of Suffolk, especially the children.

The NRPA has held classes and field trips for roughly 1,000 Suffolk seventh-

graders each year for the last several years and works with students in the King’s Fork High School Ecology Club for oyster sanctuaries and other waterway projects.

With all she’s done, Smith is loath to take the credit for herself. She attributes her successes to friends and colleagues in Girl Scouts, teaching and throughout the city.

“I couldn’t do any of this without the support of the community,” she said.

That’s part of her drive when it came to sharing the story of Suffolk, as told by the people themselves.

“I think you understand where you live better if you know what was going on in history,” she said. “Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s not, but to me it’s a good story, and it helps you understand your city, your county and your country better if you know the story from the beginning.

“It helps you understand where you are. I call that a sense of place.”

Smith was honored by the Suffolk and North Suffolk Rotary Clubs at a reception Sept. 25 at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

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The market for fall flavor Story by Tracy Agnew Photos by Troy Cooper

Western Branchers looking for everything for their perfect fall feast can find it at the Western Branch Farmers’ Market.

Okra to fry, collards to stew, herbs to season, cheeses to melt and oysters to steam for Thanksgiving dinner are all available at the farmers’ market, and market officials hope to keep it open

all year long.

“People are not used to the idea of a year-round farmers’ market,” said Jill Doczi, who coordinates the market. “We’re going to look at maybe moving indoors during the really cold weather. But as often as we can set up out here, it’s better, because people see us.”

See MARKET page 14

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The Western Branch Farmers' Market features all sorts of foods including produce, baked goods, salsa, eggs and more.

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Bill Jenkins sells seafood straight from the source at the Western Branch Farmers' Market. His offerings include shrimp, lump crabmeat, softshell crabs, oysters and more.

MARKET continued from page 12

The market is run by Kotarides Holdings, the owner of Chesapeake Square Mall. The market, which takes place in the parking lot of the mall every Sunday, is new this year and was started by the mall’s new owners to help bring a community presence.

“It has been better than expected for most people,” Doczi said. “Chesapeake has not had an independently run farmers’ market ever. I run things a little differently.”

Doczi does heavy marketing of the market on social media and elsewhere to bring people in. She also plans eventually to hold special events, such as holiday craft fairs, in conjunction with the market.

“There’s a lot of stuff we can pull out of our hats,” she said.

The market brings in a lot of people who are looking for freshness, said Bill Jenkins, who sells seafood at the market. Many people are seeking organic foods, nonGMO veggies and local fare and making

other considerations on their plates, both for health and sustainability reasons.

And it tastes better, too, Jenkins said.

“A lot of folks are going for the freshness factor these days, and what better way to do that than fresh from the farm?” Jenkins said. “The taste is so much better, because it is fresh and it’s not processed. Folks go, ‘Wow! I didn’t know this was how scallops are supposed to taste.’”

Jenkins goes directly to the fishermen to get his products, he said. “You can’t beat the freshness.”

Cory Hoar of Feel Good Farms said the market has been good for them this year while presiding over a table full of fall produce like eggplants, cabbage, okra and mini-gourds. They’ve gotten a lot of community feedback, he said.

“It seems like we get new people every week that didn’t know,” he said.

Feel Good Farms has some unusual items like a heatless jalapeño, which is good for older folks, recipes like jalapeño

poppers and as a “party trick pepper.”

“Unless you find the right person, they’re a hard sell,” he said of traditional jalapeños. “A lot of people are instantly turned off. I thought we could combat that with the heatless jalapeño.”

Not all of the stands at the farmers’ market sell raw food ingredients like the produce and seafood. Tracy Pae has a selection of baked goods, salsa, preserves and more featuring all ingredients she grew herself in her suburban backyard.

“They’re all family recipes,” she said. “I grow everything. I grow my own strawberries. I grow my own blueberries.”

But she enjoys the farmers’ market for a whole different reason from just selling her goods, she said.

“I really like to talk to people and just get out of the kitchen,” she said.

The market takes place from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Search for Western Branch Farmers Market on Facebook for more information.

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At left, sweet peppers on sale by Feel Good Farms offer a colorful way to flavor any meal. Above, fresh salsa by Tracy's Treats features produce grown by Tracy Pae in her suburban backyard.

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16 western branch magazine

western branch magazine 17

We never quit. Never stop learning.

And we never, ever stop caring. We’re your

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18 western branch magazine ORCHESTRA continued from page 17

feature story

Picky about

produce Story by Phyllis Speidell Photos by John H. Sheally II

Any Southerner knows the summer lure of velvety-skinned peaches, fresh corn, shiny watermelons and tomatoes or the autumn draw of leafy greens, sweet potatoes and turnips.

Hilton Long understands and caters to folks in the Western Branch area via his mobile market. His

white Ford pickup sits on Raintree Court every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and on Airline Boulevard near City Park Ave. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Fresh produce from three local farmers — or from South Carolina in the off-season — fill the truck bed and display tables.

Long is picky about his produce, quickly discarding a bruised peach or dinged tomato. His customers appreciate his quality checks and return regularly. Often the visit turns into more than a quick stop for produce, flowing into conversations on crops, the weather and life in general.

See PRODUCE page 20

western branch magazine 19 DOG HOUSE continued from page 18

Hilton Long sells his produce out of the bed of his white pickup at locations throughout Western Branch.

20 western branch magazine Produce continued from page 18

Hilton Long is passionate about his produce business and works directly with farmers.

He grew up on a farm in Winfall, N.C., and he knows his veggies. Years ago, when he had married and had two children, Long realized he needed to re-evaluate his professional future.

Jobs were scarce in Carolina then, and his New York relatives invited him north to a more stable life for his growing family. He lived in Brooklyn and commuted to northern New Jersey to work as a printer and color matcher.

Long proves the old adage that you can take the boy off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the man.

He soon set up a mobile market in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn.

After 13 profitable years, he and his son rented a market in the same neighborhood and named it Country Boys’ Fruits and Vegetables. Displaced Southerners and others who craved comfort food flocked to the market.

“We sold country stuff — ham, country sausage, sweet potatoes, pe-

cans and peanuts as well as coons and possums,” Long said. “Folks up there called the possums “poor sams.”

Country Boys’ was a local landmark for 40 years, but Long was getting tired. Two of his six children and numerous of his 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren were living in Hampton Roads.

“I hated to go back to New York after spending time here, and my wife liked it here too,” Long said.

So in 2000, he said goodbye to the Big Apple, and the Longs moved to a townhouse in Stonebridge.

“I wasn’t going to work when I got here,” he said. “I bought a big screen TV but after a month watching TV in the chair, I was so stiff I couldn’t get up easily, so I decided it was time to get a truck and go back to work.”

Thus the white Ford pickup — and his staff of helpers.

“Working with my grandfather, I’ve learned how to communicate, how See PRODUCE page 22

western branch magazine 21

Hilton Long is picky about his produce. You won't find any bruised peaches for sale at his store. At top, customer Billy Bick, Long's grandson Kenny Johnson, Hilton Long and his great-grandson, Isiah Jennings.

22 western branch magazine Produce continued from page 20

to open up, how to save money, how to use money to buy different things, how and where things grow,” said grandson Kenny Johnson, a junior at Nansemond River High School who plans a career in architecture.

Kenny’s younger sidekick, Isiah Jennings, 11, is Long’s great-grandson and a student at Hodges Manor Elementary. According to Long, “Isiah talks more than a radio, and the customers love him.”

Isiah says what he’s learned most from Long is “how to make money.”

“They are learning that farmers put lots of work in making things grow,” Long said.

Many of the customers are regulars, like Jim Yandle of Western Branch who has come by for the last 10 years or more for veggies and conversation with the now 80-year-old Long.

“He carries what folks want, especially in the winter when he sells

Billy Bick and Diana Michalski select produce at Hilton Long's produce stand this summer.

See PRODUCE page 23

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western branch magazine 23

Joyce Tippin and Gaynette Floyd check out the produce at Hilton Long's stand.

Produce continued from page 22

tons of collard greens and my favorite, turnips,” Yandle said. “His personality and demeanor have a lot to do with his sales. Everybody likes to share a moment with him. We talk a lot about both growing up on farms in North Carolina.”

“It’s a question of who is doing who a favor,” Long said. “I appreciate their buying from us, and the customers appreciate our bringing good food to them.”

On a warm day in August, Billy Bick and Diana Michalski were working near Chesapeake Square when they spotted Long’s truck loaded with produce. They decided to take a break from doing estimates for home improvement jobs in the area to buy some tomatoes. When they realized that they were out of cash, they found the closest bank and returned to buy more produce.

“While we were in the bank,” Michalski said, “three people approached us about giving them estimates on work they needed done.”

She grew up on a farm — the “good life,” as she called it — and is as picky as Long about her produce, but praised his stock as “beautiful — we are having BLTs for dinner tonight!”

24 western branch magazine

where am i?

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 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!

western branch magazine 25

T E G ear Y ll A nd a e rib c s b Su et g n a h c c n u a o r y B n r e t Wes zine a Mag red to e deliv oor six d your a year. s time

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26 western branch magazine

on vacation Rosemary Moyers and her grandson, Charles Jacob Moyers, took a trip to Seattle, Wash., this summer and took Western Branch Magazine with them.

They and the magazine visited, from left, the Space Needle, the Seattle Art Museum and the famous gum wall. Get your photo in this feature by taking Western Branch Magazine on vacation with you, taking a photo with the magazine and sending it to news@ westernbranchmagazine.com.

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28 western branch magazine

public servant

Serving in disaster, grief and community Story and photos by Alex Perry

Whether it’s been veterans returning from overseas or families devastated by a natural disaster, the volunteers of The Fallen Outdoors have provided aid in Chesapeake and across Hampton Roads, Virginia and the rest of the United States.

The nonprofit is run by active duty and veteran service volunteers to assist men and women in their transitions home and help ease their burdens stateside. To that end, they arrange for outdoor recreational experience like hunting and fishing at no cost to those that have served.

TFO pro staffer Teri Stanley volunteers with her fiancé David Mills, a Navy Senior

Chief who will reach 24 years of service in November. She said that seeing a veteran relaxed and at ease during one of these excursions is worth more than any paycheck.

“To see a veteran fishing for the first time in years and to see the smile on their face because they are ecstatic...it could be the best day they have had in a long time,” Stanley said. “Positive impacts go far.”

Those impacts are felt nationwide, as TFO services all 50 states with about 45 active teams of volunteers providing these outdoor trips, according to Mills, who is the assistant team lead for Virginia’s roster of more than 20 volunteers.

“Our organization also provides a network for veterans, connecting them with other like-minded people across the U.S. searching for that next hunting opportunity, or just someone to chat with about previous deployment stuff, or even to let some stuff off their chest,” Mills said.

That support extends to their families as well, including those in mourning.

Stanley, Mills and other Virginia volunteers organized a co-ed memorial softball tournament on Aug. 25 at Western Branch Park. It was a day filled with raffle prizes, delicious grilled food and children tossing water balloons.

See FALLEN page 29

western branch magazine 29 FALLEN continued from page 28

The Fallen Outdoors staff run a concessions tent at the Aug. 25 softball tournament in memory of Marine Sgt. Michael A. Tooley in Western Branch. Staff pictured include Caleb Moseley, David Mills, Joe Dorau, Shane Hale, Cody Deschenes and Destiney Deschenes.

The tournament was in memory of Marine Sgt. Michael Andrew Tooley, who was the victim of a hit-and-run in North Carolina in July 2016, according to a report by Marine Corps Times. He died at the age of 28.

Tooley’s family was at the park that day to throw the first pitch. They also received endless condolences from the other families, according to Stanley.

“To me, the tournament was a great way to show thanks to the family of Michael Tooley for the sacrifices he made as a Marine,” Stanley wrote, adding that it also showed that his life lives on in their memories. “His family was so grateful for the experience and was even able to meet a soldier that served down range with (Tooley).”

More recently, TFO volunteers have been traveling back and forth from the North Carolina communities that are still reeling from Hurricane Florence.

The East Coast community of TFO chapters have been working together since Florence made landfall in mid-September to collect as many supply donations as pos-

sible to personally deliver to the residents.

According to Mills, the communities of Suffolk, Stafford, Windsor and Gloucester County recently pulled together to donate about a pallet of water and a trailer full of supplies.

The volunteers have also collected more than $1,140 in donations to go with the toiletries, water, clothing and numerous non-perishable foodstuffs.

“We are so thankful for the outpouring support of the community of Suffolk and the surrounding cities,” Stanley said.

“Without all of these people with their big hearts and donations, this supply run wouldn’t be possible. There are so many nice people that really do care, and if one person has faith, it gives others a reason to have faith.”

Mills and others had been making trips to affected communities since the flood waters first raged. He described navigating roads that were seemingly impassable from debris and high water. The volunteers distributed food and water, cut down trees and filled residents’ generators with gasoline.

Mills had another trailer filled with supplies on Oct. 3 that he expected to have on the road by the end of that week.

“I will personally be taking it to Jacksonville, N.C. in (the) morning, delivering it to a church in a community near Piney Green where I met and helped many families on my last visit,” he wrote.

He helped start up the Virginia TFO team a few years ago with just eight volunteers. They ended up taking more than 30 veterans on more than 20 trips, he wrote, and he couldn’t stress enough how important it was for him to help provide this service.

“When a service member gets out of the military, you’re a different person,” Mills wrote, “You lose your daily face-to-face interaction with your shipmates, your battle buddies. You can find yourself lost without that network, without those people to talk to daily.

“The Fallen Outdoors is a way for veterans to rebuild that network, that camaraderie so you still have that feeling of acceptance.”

30 western branch magazine

Last Edition’s Where Am I? Only three people where am i? submitted the correct answer to last edition’s I Where Am I? challenge.

They correctly identified the statue of dolphins outside of the Langley Federal Credit Union Chesapeake Square Branch on Taylor Road.

Michal Small was randomly selected from among the correct guessers, so we’ll be sending Michal a $25 gift card for winning. Turn to page 24 for this edition’s challenge. western branch magazine 25

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!

The Perfect Solution For Keeping Your Suffolk Business Clean.

You will love the view from here.

western branch magazine 31

scrapbook

Centenary United Methodist Church on Towne Point Road was finished in 1965. The Jolliff Methodist Society began meeting in the 1700s and changed locations several times. In 1883 the church was remodeled and renamed Centenary in celebration of its upcoming centennial. Later, the church built this building, which is now home to Common Ground Community Church.

— From “Truckin’ on the Western Branch,” by Phyllis Speidell, John H. Sheally II and Karla Smith

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