Western Branch Magazine April-May 2019 by Suffolk News-Herald

Superheroes IconiCon and tasty treats

april-may 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ vol. 3, no. 3

2 western branch magazine

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may

what's inside?

2019

feature

Najeonna Iman has built her own business based on baking. From brownies to banana pudding, she makes everything with family recipes and dedication.

In the news Sentara Healthcare recently cut the ribbon on a new outpatient center that will bring new, convenient services to North Suffolk, the Branch and surrounding areas.

Superheroes in Suffolk North Suffolk Library hosted IconiCon on March 30, providing something for fans of all ages and all genres of superheroes, comics, anime, video games and more.

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.

Superheroes IconiCon and tasty treats

april-may 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ vol. 3, no. 3

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 Western Branch Senior Club has a fearless leader who once resisted becoming a member.

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may

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

ADVERTISING

Earl Jones Marketing Consultant Lindsay Richardson Marketing Consultant J. Craig Moore 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 Regrets and celebrations We begin this editor’s letter with deepest regrets about a story that published in the February-March edition. Our “Public Servant” feature in that issue, “Hoggard keeps senior club going,” had a number of errors and omissions. You can read more about those at right, and a corrected and complete version of the story begins on page 24. We deeply apologize for the errors, and we hope all of our readers take this opportunity to learn more about — or get involved in — the great things the city of Chesapeake is doing with its many forms of outreach to seniors. Most people think of fall and winter as the time for baking, but we think a great pie or fruit tart goes great with springtime. And, let’s be honest, there’s never a bad time for anything chocolate. Najeonna Iman has been working year-round to make her business, One Girl Desserts and Pastries, a success, and we can attest to the deliciousness of her tasty treats. Find out more on page 14. The North Suffolk Library hosted IconiCon on March 30, and the event drew people from all over the area for fandom-themed fun. You can read more about it on page 20. We’re looking forward to the Polish Festival coming up April 26-28, and we hope to cover it for the June-July issue. We think this is one of the best events in Western Branch, and we hope you’ll visit it and lots of other local events this spring. It’s the time of year for celebrations — celebrations of good weather, of renewal and of all the good things happening in the Branch. As you go to all of these events or even throughout your daily life, we hope you’ll take some photos and consider submitting them to our Through The Lens feature. This feature highlights a local photographer, professional or amateur, and all you need to do to qualify is take some photos and send them to us. While you’re on vacation this spring, too, take some photos holding a recent edition of Western Branch magazine and send them along, as well. You can send submissions for these features, as well as story ideas, to news@westernbranchmagazine.com. We’re always looking for new people and places to feature in your Western Branch magazine. 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.westernbranchmagazine.com • (757) 539-3437

western branch magazine 7

Correction A story in the February-March edition about Greg Hoggard’s volunteerism with the Western Branch Senior Club contained a number of errors. Hoggard and his wife, Ginger, were born and raised in Portsmouth and moved to Western Branch in 2008. The Western Branch Senior Club always met in Chesapeake, never in Portsmouth. Greg Hoggard did not say this quote: “I’m what people call a fixer. I see something broke, I fix it, and that council was broke.” In addition, the story inappropriately downplayed the relationship between the senior club and the city of Chesapeake. The city’s recreation coordinator for senior programs, Karen Christy, had this to say about the city’s senior clubs: “The Western Branch Senior Club is one of 21 senior clubs, which includes four Red Hat Chapters in Chesapeake, operating under the auspices of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Along with the Chesapeake Senior Citizens Club Council, a 60-plus member group of officers and members of the 21 senior clubs, this initiative is at the core of what makes the senior programs section of Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism special. The majority of these clubs formed in the 1960s and offer citizens ages 55 and up an opportunity for healthy, wholesome recreational activity, socialization and camaraderie. Many of the clubs meet weekly or bi-weekly and range in size from 35-120 members. As the current recreation coordinator for senior programs, Karen Christy and her staff of recreation specialists support the clubs by planning and attending activities and events, reserving park shelters for annual picnics, community center rooms for regular meetings and special events, scheduling use of the department’s 22-passenger motor coach for club outings, and much more. Christy also schedules guest speakers as visitors to the monthly meeting of the Club Council on the second Wednesday of each month at River Crest Community Center. Citizens who are interested in details about becoming a member of a Parks, Recreation and Tourism Senior Club should contact the department at 757-382-6411 or visit their website for the full list of clubs at www.cityofchesapeake.net/55andbetter.”

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Your autumn feast of Western Branch delicacies, events and more

october-november 2018 • vol. 2, no. 6

Hot Dog!

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Hot eats and cool beats in Western Branch

june-july 2018 • vol. 2, no. 4

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april-may 2018 • vol. 2, no. 3

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8 western branch magazine

around the branch

Farmers Market ONGOING

The Western Branch Farmers Market, the first independent farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

western branch magazine 9 Polish goods store, silent auction, church tours, a bake sale, flower and plant sale, children’s games, a vendor market and more. The highlight is the food, which includes cabbage rolls, pierogis, kielbasa, sauerkraut, potato pancakes and more. From noon to 4 p.m., the festival continues with a Fun Run and Charity Walk to benefit the Knights of Columbus. For more information, visit chesapeakepolishfest.com.

APRIL 27

May is Bike Month

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 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.

APRIL 16

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will host the Spring Flint from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Come for fun spring activities and bring your camera to take photos with the Easter Bunny. Call 410-7024 for more information.

APRIL 17

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold Watercolor Wednesday for kids in grades 6 through 12 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. An experienced local artist will lead a beginner-level paint class using watercolors. Call 410-7024.

APRIL 18

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will host Throwback Thursday Movie Edition from 5 to 7 p.m. for kids in grades 6 through 12. Enjoy the company of your friends and relax as you watch and discuss a classic teen movie. Call 410-7024.

VFW Post 2894 will have its annual Bataan Death March Memorial Walk/Run at the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, 1200 Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, Chesapeake. Participants can walk 16.6 miles, five miles or one mile along the historic and beautiful canal trail. The 16.6-mile walk begins at 7 a.m., followed by the five-mile walk at 10 a.m. and the one-mile at 11 a.m. Other activities will include face painting, a dunk tank, crafts, a photo booth, raffles and more. Visit walkchesapeake.wixsite.com/ chesapeakebataan for more information.

MAY 5

Celebrate Bike Month from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, 1200 Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, Chesapeake. The Chesapeake Bicycle/Trails Advisory Committee, Tidewater Bicycle Association and Safe Routes to School Chesapeake will host. Bring your bike and enjoy 12-plus miles of paved trails and activities including a bike rodeo, bike maintenance demos and a visit with a bike mechanic. Parking and restrooms are available. Call 382-6411.

MAY 17

APRIL 23

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold “What A Yarn!” from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Bring your needles, yarn, patterns and unfinished projects to craft and hang out with fellow crafters. Call 410-7016.

APRIL 26

The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold the Mocha Authors Club from 6 to 8 p.m. Stop by the information desk ahead of time to learn the chosen title by an African-American author, then read the book and join in the discussion. Call 410-7016. The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold Poetry, Prose and Pizza open mic night from 6:45 to 9 p.m. Share your own work or applaud someone else’s work at this family-friendly event with host, local celebrated poet Nathan Richardson. Registration is not required. Call 710-7028.

APRIL 26-28

The annual Chesapeake Polish Festival will take place at 536 Homestead Road, Chesapeake. Festivities will begin from 6 to 10 p.m. April 26 with a social and dance. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 27, festivities will include traditional Polish music and dancers, classic rock and oldies and jazz, a raffle,

MAY 28

JUNE 15

“Charlotte’s Web” will be shown at Western Branch Park, 4437 Portsmouth Blvd., as part of the “Movie and More” outdoor series by Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The event opens at 5 p.m., and parking is free. Before the movie starts, dance the afternoon away with a DJ playing familyfriendly music, visit an information tent, sign up to win prizes, enjoy inflatables, partake in face painting and lawn games, buy from food vendors and more. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. Call 382-6411.

10 western branch magazine

in the news

Sentara cuts ribbon on outpatient center See CRANES page 12

Story and photos by Jimmy LaRoue

Sentara Healthcare on March 28 unveiled a $33.5 million, 100,000-plus square-foot expansion and renovation of its BelleHarbour campus outpatient medical center serving the growing North Suffolk area. The expansion at Sentara BelleHarbour off of Bridge Road is 92,000 square feet, and the renovation of the existing space about 10,000 square feet. Sentara BelleHarbour is operationally part of

Sentara Obici Hospital, which used to be known as Louise Obici Memorial Hospital, which has been serving Suffolk and Western Tidewater since 1951 when Planters Peanuts founder Amedeo Obici endowed it in the memory of his late wife Louise. Obici Hospital merged with Sentara in 2006. The addition to the BelleHarbour campus includes an ambulatory surgery center, new observation beds for See SENTARA page 11

Sentara Healthcare unveiled its renovated and expanded BelleHarbour campus March 28. The project cost $33.5 million and expands the location by 92,000-square feet.

western branch magazine 11

SENTARA continued from page 10

overnight stays, and an expanded 24-hour emergency department. There is also a new helipad for Nightingale, as well as new office spaces for medical practices. “These campuses are more the wave of the future,” said Terrie Edwards, Sentara Healthcare corporate vice president. “Instead of everyone coming to one location, we bring the location to the patients and to the people.” The center’s emergency department has expanded from 17 to 22 treatment spaces, and it added a vertical care unit, for fast-track cases, in the renovated area. In the addition, there are two licensed operating rooms, an ambulatory surgery center and a 14-bed observation unit in the new expansion that supports the emergency department and allows for cardiac observation or extended stays for up to 23 hours for pain management. “We’re able to provide more acute

services than historically has been able to be provided in this area,” said Meredith Moorefield, Sentara Healthcare operations manager. “But at the same time, our proximity to your Norfolk General, to CarePlex, to Obici, really makes this kind of an access portal to Sentara for broader services. Or, (for) someone comes in and they need more acute services, it’s a great way to get here, get the care that they need and then we get them to the right location.” Sentara also operates Norfolk General Hospital, CarePlex Hospital in Hampton and Obici Hospital off of Godwin Boulevard. Currently, the BelleHarbour campus serves around 30,000 patients yearly in its emergency department, and it also has specialists to include family medicine, cardiology, podiatry, neurology, vascular and general surgery, physical therapy and

an advanced imaging center. Moorefield said population growth, along with the rise in sicker patients, provided the need for the updated medical center. Dr. Steve Julian, president of Sentara Obici Hospital, said city officials gave Sentara an idea of the growth that is to come to North Suffolk as it planned its BelleHarbour campus. Sentara also put out a trio of telephone surveys showing a demand for the company’s services. “We had some inside information, quite frankly, from the city, and they showed us about five years ago all of the housing planned for here,” Julian said. Julian said the campus has room to grow and most likely will. “I think that the future is the following — everything is moving toward outpatient if it will be safe to do,” Julian said. “And this is the most robust outpatient See SENTARA page 12

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12 western branch magazine SENTARA continued from page 11

facility of all of Sentara. So, we’re well positioned to provide all of the outpatient care that anybody could possibly need.” The next step, Julian said, would be to bring a micro-hospital to this site, which was built hospital ready. The new addition has two additional floors shelled in — 20,000 square feet on each floor, to put 20 hospital beds on each floor. As part of Sentara’s master facilities plan, Julian said there could be another four-story building on the campus that would have 24 beds per story. Julian said that within two to three years, he expects to get a Certificate of Public Need from the Virginia Department of Health for the additional hospital beds. “We’ll have them here, and a patient can come here for one stop and be hospitalized for appropriate things,” Julian said. For things like pneumonia, diabetes

management and congestive heart failure, Julian said people would do well at the BelleHarbour campus. “Patients can get their care closer to home, not have to go through the bridges and tunnels and that’s what people really want,” Julian said. “So I think it’s putting people in the right place at the right time with the right level of care.” Sentara did present a Certificate of Public Need application for a new hospital at Sentara BelleHarbour, Julian said in a November 2018 letter posted to the company’s website. However, staff at the Virginia Department of Health recommended approval of an application from Bon Secours Mercy for a hospital on its Harbour View campus, and a denial of Sentara’s application. VDH approved Bon Secours’ certificate of public need in December. “For a variety of reasons, we will not pursue additional options to win approval of our application at this time,” Julian

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

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wrote in the letter. “An opportunity to develop a hospital may arise in the future and we will take appropriate action at that time.” On March 28, Sentara and local officials on hand for the ribbon cutting were pleased with the expanded facility. “It’s going to get a workout,” said Councilman Roger Fawcett, “not because we want sick people to show up here, but if they do, we want to make them better and get them back on their feet, and get them back in their environment.” Sam Glasscock, who served on the Louise Obici Memorial Hospital Board of Directors from 1966 until the hospital merged with Sentara Healthcare in 2006, also served as chairman for 25 of those years. He liked what he saw of the BelleHarbour campus. “I’m impressed,” Glasscock said. “It’s well-done, and it’s well-managed. There’s a lot of intangibles that you can’t really see.”

western branch magazine 13

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!

14 western branch magazine

feature story

One Girl bakes amazing goods

western branch magazine 15

Story and photos by Alex Perry

Najeonna Iman is building her reputation as a baker through her One Girl Desserts and Pastries that’s filling orders and bellies. It was family that led this 21-year-old Western Branch resident to find her passion for her bakery business. Iman didn’t heat up her baking habits until about age 14, back when her family lived in Churchland. Her mother, Kenya Olsen, would always make rich, chocolatey Christmas brownies.

They became a family favorite during the holidays. But it was around this time that her mother was diagnosed with lupus, and as she got sicker, Iman wanted to do her part. She wanted to make the Christmas brownies for the family that year. “I just begged her if I could make them, because I would watch her make them,” Iman said. “I wasn’t in love with baking. I dabbled a little bit.

(But) I made them and they came out really good.” She brought some of these brownies to class at Churchland Middle School. They were a hit with her classmates, who insisted on paying her for the treats. A friend urged Iman to start selling her baked goods. “At the time with everything going on, I kind of wanted to help out with the family a little bit,” Iman said. Her bakery business began as Naje’s See BAKER page 16

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BAKER continued from page 15

Dollar Treats until she changed the name to One Girl Desserts and Pastries at age 18. Her business has been licensed, insured and approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under the USDA. Iman’s mission is to serve the community and supply exceptional, madefrom-scratch baked goods, and her menu

doesn’t disappoint. She offers cookies, coffee cake and a variety of different pie and cheesecake flavors, as well as large banana pudding bowls and tarts and recently-added fruit bars with delectable crust and hefty flavors. Some of these are family recipes with tasty tweaks, like the chocolate chewy

bars, and the banana pudding that traces back to her great-grandmother. “The banana pudding was something that my great-grandmother passed down to my mom. I made it my own, but the way she made it and the whipping cream recipe — that’s hers and she passed it down to me,” Iman said. Some weekends she brings her treats to See BAKER page 17

western branch magazine 17

BAKER continued from page 16

malls in Hampton Roads with help from her stepdad, Ronald Olsen. She’s made appearances at Suffolk Public Library events this year, too. This will also be her fourth year at the Suffolk Farmers’ Market downtown, which begins in May. “I’ve met a lot of cool clients and people from the Farmers’ Market,” Iman said, including a wedding that will feature her chocolate chewy bars. “I really like it. I’ll get a lot of orders and new clientele.” Baking wasn’t her initial plan back in back in high school when she ran track. She attended Western Branch High School after her mother moved the family to the area. She trained in track as a student until an injury led her away from the sport and towards her business full-time. Iman also makes sure to fit her family into her tight schedule. She helps her mother on her good and bad days with her 12-year-old brother, Keyon, and her older brother, Hanif Browne, 26, who has autism. “I try to make things a little bit easier

for the family, and we’re all really close,” she said. That’s along with her weekly marathons of baking. Iman spends Mondays and Tuesdays buying all the ingredients she needs — plus containers, lids, cups, spoons and napkins — and readying herself for bake-a-thons. There are also two big coolers for her cold confections. Then she bakes all day from Wednesday to Friday to deliver orders and prepare for weekend customers. But she’s always ready to help family at a moment’s notice. “You just make time for things. Especially if there’s like an emergency or something happens and I need to rush over and just be there and spend time, then pick back up baking throughout the night,” she said. Business is going well for Iman, and she has plans for growth. She’s saving for a food truck but doesn’t want to take out a loan and pay interest, so she’s being patient and saving money. Once she has the food truck, she wants to add new menu items like

waffles, chicken noodle soup, chickenand-rice soup, beef stew, chicken pot pie, spaghetti and quesadillas. She said she wants to include more breakfast and lunch options. Further along, she’s thinking of opening storefront bakery spaces in the community and also giving back to her community through her own philanthropic organization to support causes like autism awareness. “I really like helping people, and I just hope that one day I’ll build up the business so I can start my own organization. That’s something I always thought I’d like to do,” she said. It can be hard for Iman to juggle all of these responsibilities every day, but she still has her enthusiasm for these delicious delights. “I just really love it, and I love what I do. It’s just a really good feeling to wake up every day and just do what you love,” she said. “You hear people say, ‘If you’re doing what you love, you won’t work a day in your life.’ (That’s) really what it feels like. Helping out with my family and then baking, I really like it.”

18 western branch magazine

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

We'd love to publish them! SAFE TRAVELS! Send your photos to:

news@westernbranchmagazine.com

western branch magazine 19

Do you have a unique view of Western Branch?

WE'D LOVE TO SEE IT. If you're a photog and have some cool shots of the Western Branch area, submit them to our THROUGH THE LENS feature. news@westernbranchmagazine.com

See your work in print.

20 western branch magazine

Superheroes in

North

Suffolk

Story and photos by Alex Perry

Wizards, superheroes and Stormtroopers flooded the halls of North Suffolk Library on March 30 for another exciting IconiCon. The Suffolk Public Library’s fourth annual multi-fandom convention drew roughly 1,000 fans. They came for all the different vendors and activities while they enjoyed good company and great cosplay. “It’s really a day for people who have any interest in a fandom to come together,” said Angie Sumner, Suffolk Public Library’s marketing and community relations coordinator, dressed as Jyn Erso from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” “People who like comic books, superheroes, science fiction like ‘Star Wars,’ fantasy, ‘Harry Potter,’ anime. All of those things.”

David Lewis and Conner Workman both came to Suffolk Public Library’s IconiCon as SpiderMan.

western branch magazine 21

Siblings Shaun, 11, Saniya, 10, Amaya, 3, and Raina, 3, Allen alongside the 501st Legion at Suffolk Public Library’s IconiCon.

Vendors’ tables were loaded with original artwork of fan-favorite characters, hand-crafted jewelry and other eye-catching items. Children brought out their inner Bruce Lee, Iron Man and other favorites in costume during a demonstration conducted by the students of Master Hill’s Red Dragon Martial Arts, based in Chesapeake. Tyrone Hill and his wife, Monique, showcased their students’ talents in playful sparring matches, with Tyrone in character as Black Panther and Monique conducting the matches in her Captain Marvel outfit. The Tidewater Alliance conducted a “lightsaber academy” for children to learn how to properly use the tools of the Jedi. They learned posture and poise before they squared off in carefully conducted bouts with their plastic lightsabers at the library’s outdoor pavilion. Cheri Hinshelwood’s son Owen, 11, had fun dueling mom in his Deadpool costume. His mother also had a big smile on her face to go with the toy lightsaber in her hand.

“It was a lot of fun. I wasn’t paying attention to the training, and he obviously was, so I felt a little disadvantaged,” Hinshelwood said and laughed. Inside the library, there were voice workshops held by The Actors’ Place Inc. that showed fans how to sound like their favorite characters from film and television. Young gamers competed in a “Super Smash Bros.” tournament, and other young children enjoyed making masks and other crafts in the “Superhero Training Academy” course. Tiny fans also enjoyed a Mario Kart-style course for remote-controlled Sphero robots, and a themed storytime session with the one and only Darth Vader. Vader was there with the 501st Legion — an international, fan-based organization of cosplayers that build screen-accurate replicas of armor and outfits worn by Star Wars villains. The Rebel Legion fan organization also attended and in doing so brought balance to the Force. “Doctor Who” fans got photos with a larger-than-life TARDIS provided by the Tidewater Cosplay AssoSee ICONICON page 22

22 western branch magazine

Laura Rockswold, dressed as Starscream, and young Adrian Lopez, 4, dressed as Iron Man with her brother Theodore Lopez, 4, looking on in his Optimus Prime costume. ICONICON continued from page 21

ciation. They also heard screeches of “exterminate” from full-scale replicas of the series’ menacing Daleks. These mobile, detailed Daleks were made by the Old Dominion Daleks organization. The Dalek builders have made three full-scale models of the Doctor Who villains and are in the process of building a fourth one that’s slightly smaller and easier to fit through doors, said Richard Siebigteroth of Old Dominion Daleks. Siebigteroth said the labor of love that rolled around with a moveable eye stalk and “gunstick” took a year and a half to make, using everyday materials like cardstock and papier-mâché. “We started 3D-printing parts,” he said. “The gun stock, craft wire and the little discs in the middle are 3D-printed now. The bumps on the Dalek are Christmas ornaments painted on the inside.” Cosplayers of all ages and in all sorts of costumes admired one another’s handiwork during the event, and one

of the day’s panels featured a Q&A that discussed different aspects of the cosplay experience. “So really there’s something for everybody at IconiCon,” said Sumner — or Jyn Erso, as she looked with the character’s jacket and blaster. “It’s just a wonderful place to make connections to other people. Maybe meet a new friend, someone who shares interests with them, and also see what the library has to offer to explore those interests beyond this day.” The library also offered a fan art contest that featured more than 150 submissions from a wide range of ages. Cosplayers also got the chance to walk the red carpet in the cosplay contest at the convention’s end on Saturday afternoon. Noah Fisher won for best showmanship in the contest with his homemade Spider-Man costume. Ellieahna Hamlin, 4, placed first for the “Novice” category for participants up to age 12 dressed as Moana of Motunui,

while Colby took second dressed as Scooby-Doo. “Journeyman” winners ages 13 to 17 were Kyra Mosiello, 17, in first as Bakugo, Alina Johnston, 15, in second as Brigitte from the “Overwatch” videogame and Michaela D’Amato, 15, in third as Hatsune Miku. Laura Rockswold, 29, took first in “Master” for ages 18 and older as Starscream from the Transformers franchise. Second place was Brittany Hamlin as Jester Lavorre — a tiefling cleric of “the Traveler” and member of the Mighty Nein in the web series “Critical Role” — and third place was Norman Warren as X-Men’s Nightcrawler. The whole convention was a nice gift for Rockswold, who also celebrated her birthday on Saturday. She spent eight months putting together her Starscream costume after a friend showed her the “Transformers: Prime” series. “Just thinking about how to make the costume, I (thought) I could do that con-

western branch magazine 23

Ellieahna Hamlin, 4, won first place in the cosplay contest’s “novice” category of ages 12 and younger at Suffolk Public Library’s IconiCon. She was dressed as Moana.

Elijah, 7, of Master Hill’s Red Dragon Martial Arts of Chesapeake, participates in a live demonstration dressed as Harry Potter at Suffolk Public Library’s IconiCon.

vincingly,” she said. “I just thought it would be a cool costume to make (and) a fun challenge.” The winged suit was made with craft foam and painted metallic. She also put on a spandex shirt underneath the foam parts. “I have a microphone here so I can talk. Otherwise you wouldn’t be able to hear me during this interview,” she said and laughed in a modulated voice. She’s been cosplaying her favorite characters since 2013. She described herself as an artistic person and said that she enjoys the challenge of cosplaying, where “art becomes a science.” “Not only do you design the costume, but you have to fit inside it when it’s done. That’s a fun challenge, and then to see if you can be characters that people like from different TV shows or books or whatever,” she said. “When I go to these (events) they don’t see me, they see my character. Sometimes I’m their hero or their enemy, and I think it’s a lot of fun (for) the people that come to these things.”

24 western branch magazine

public servant

Hoggard keeps senior club going Story and photo by Alex Perry

After singing a song and reciting their club motto — “I will do unto others as I would have them do unto me” — the Western Branch Senior Club tested each other. A bowl of paper clues was passed around the circle of chairs in the Western Branch Community Center conference room. Each piece of paper had a clue about one of the nearly two dozen seniors at the meeting. It was up to the others to guess to whom the clue — whether it was the year someone got married or a Jimi Hendrix concert they saw — belonged. Each reveal was met with laughter and applause and more than a few surprises. “It’s a get-to-know-you game, and we get points for whoever guesses (correctly) or stumps somebody,” said Helen

“Ginger” Hoggard. The members that attended this January session were all women, except for their club president and Ginger’s husband, Morton Gregory “Greg” Hoggard, 72, whose mission is to serve the seniors of Western Branch. Ginger started attending the senior club meetings with her mother. Hoggard didn’t attend the meetings with his wife at first, but one day in 2008 he finally caved in and walked over. “I guess he got tired of sitting at home by himself,” Ginger said with a smile. But the ladies neglected to tell Greg something as he kept coming back to more meetings. “What they didn’t tell me was that when you attended three times, you were

automatically a member,” he said, and he’s been with the club ever since. He became club president in 2010, an office that he’s held for the past nine years. His tenure is marked with personal accomplishments and progress for various programs and services in the city. He’s spent most of that time alongside Karen Christy, recreation coordinator for Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism senior programs. Christy works with 21 senior clubs, including four Red Hat chapters, operating under the auspices of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. “Many of the clubs meet weekly or bi-weekly and range in size from 35 to 120 members,” Christy said. She and her staff work to plan activities and events, reserve space for the clubs to meet and

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have special events and more. It’s not an easy job, but Hoggard has always had her back when it comes to getting them what they need, Christy said. “He’s very dedicated and very invested in the overall wellness of our seniors through these programs,” she said. Some of Hoggard’s proudest accomplishments have come as the president of the Chesapeake Senior Citizens Club Council, which includes more than 60 members comprising officers and members of the 21 senior clubs. He helped get more done at each and every meeting through collaboration and organization. He and his team work together on everything from summer picnics to seminars for educating seniors on modern dangers, such as online and telephone

scams with help from the Chesapeake Sheriff ’s Office. He works with organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association and other important causes for his age bracket. He also keeps himself busy working at the polls every year, with even more side projects on the table. His health has given him grave hurdles in recent years, but he’s still moving forward. He had bariatric surgery a few years back, and in 2017 he was diagnosed with stage 4, non-small cell lung cancer. Doctors actually discovered the cancer after follow-up tests from when his arm was fractured during a chiropractor session. As of January, Hoggard’s cancer is in remission. He thanks God for keeping the odds in his favor and his doctors for his treatments. He said he also needed to thank that chiropractor for breaking

his arm. “If I hadn’t done anything, I would have been dead in six months,” he said. As the January meeting broke for lunch, Hoggard and his fellow members grabbed plates of chips, cake, cookies and Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Hoggard caught up on everyone’s lives as they ate. “My husband is an information person. He likes to be in the know,” Ginger said. She and Greg both agree that more men should join the club. Part of the problem is that many of them are resistant to the idea of a senior program in general, just like Greg was in the beginning. “There are a lot of people out there that don’t know how much fun they could be having,” he said.

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Last Edition’s Where Am I? The Where Am I challenge in where am i? the FebruaryMarch edition was a close-up of the steeple at Jolliff United Methodist Church on Jolliff Road. Four eagle-eyed readers got it right, but only one correct guess was lucky I enough to be the randomly drawn winner. That guess came from Vance and Theresa Dempsey, and they will receive a $25 gift card for their efforts. We hope you enjoy this edition’s challenge on page 13.

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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!