Flying Proms

Written by Karen Harris

On June 10^th, Military Aviation Museum on Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach held their annual Flying Proms.  A British tradition that has made its way to our shores, the Proms delivers fun and excitement for aviation buffs and music lovers alike.  A wind ensemble serenaded all comers as we made our way through the gates.   Aircraft from the beginning of flight through World War II were on display in and out of the hangars, a restored WWII British/American control tower was open for touring, food trucks and drink tents did a brisk business, and this was all before the main event. The concert featured Symponicity, flights of vintage aircraft from World Wars One and Two, and a massive fireworks display.  As the evening began to cool and the sun dipped behind the trees, the orchestra played music classical and movie music while several antique airplanes flew overhead.  The biplanes and more modern fighters from both Allied and Axis sides of the wars were a sight to behold, and what a thrill to watch them taxi to the sides of the stage!  Close enough to touch a piece of history.  The fireworks gilded the lily: one display topping another, until we were certain, “This must be the grand finale!” until the next set began.  While the tickets may seem a little pricey, it is a full afternoon and evening of fun, and this event benefits a remarkable venue and museum.  

About the author: Karen Harris is a writer and editor from San Francisco, now residing in Virginia Beach.   Her story “I Have A Dress” appeared in By the Bay: East Beach Stories.  Her story “Comings and Goings” appears in By the Bay 2: More East Beach Stories.

Independence Day

Written by Michelle Davenport

Tomorrow is the July Fourth, also known as Independence day.  Most of us think of it as a day for parades, barbecues, fireworks, picnics, baseball games and family reunions.  

Wait!  Pardon me for a moment as I give just a teensy history lesson here.  Can't help myself!

Independence Day also referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago on July 4, 1776.   The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire.

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain rule.  After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. 

Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it two days later on July 4. 

And now you know.  I'll step off my soap box now.

Enjoy your fourth of July!

About the author: Michelle Davenport is the author of “Second Chances at East Beach” in By the Bay: East Beach Stories.  Her story “Tag!  You’re Dead” is in By The Bay 2: More East Beach Stories.  For more information on Michelle, please visit her website.

HarborFest 2017

Written by Mary-Jac O'Daniel

A few weeks ago, we went over to Harbor Fest. We enjoyed touring the different ships, on what was a pretty hot and muggy day. I even gave an inpromptu performance of one of my favorite Aussie songs, “Waltzing Matilda”! As we were walking down one of the piers, I saw a boat with the name, “Waltzing Matilda” on it. “Look honey, “Waltzing Matilda” I said to my husband, who understands the association with Australia. The owner was nearby and quipped, “Do you know the words?” Little did he know that when I lived and worked there for a short stint during college, I had made it a personal goal to learn all of the words to that song before I left. So, I bust out singing, “Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong under the shade of a coolibah tree and he sand as he watched and waited til his billy boiled.” The jolly Aussie joined in singing with me there on the dock. I gave him a quick smile and then darted down the pier towards my husband, who was disassociating himself from my lovely rendition. Later on, after we had sufficiently stuffed ourselves with various assortments of food and beverages, we escaped the crowds, and took the ferry across to Portsmouth where we enjoyed a barbecue and fireworks from the pier near a friend’s boat. 

About the author: Mary Jac O'Daniel is the author of "Zinneas Always Bloom" in By the Bay: East Beach Stories. Her story "Forays into Sailing" is in By the Bay 2: More East Beach Stories.

East Beach Sand Replenishment

Written by Patrick Clark

After many years of beach erosion due to hurricanes and nor’easters, East Beach is finally getting beach replenishment. Last summer (2015), East Beach had weathered to less than twenty feet at high tide. Thanks to federal funds that were freed due to Hurricane Sandy which decimated many beaches along the East Coast, seven miles of Chesapeake Bay beaches will be widened by sixty feet. The project is scheduled to be completed by May 2016. The East Beach portion is basically complete as of March 6^th.

A total of 1.2 million cubic yards of sand will come from the bottom of the nearby Thimble Shoal shipping channel. More good news is the agreement between the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the city of Norfolk to replenish the beach every nine years for the next half century.

So, there will be plenty of sandy beach for Norfolk residents and visitors to stick their toes in the sand and read a good book. Might I suggest one of the two By the Bay; East Beach Stories anthologies?

About the author: Patrick Clark is the author of “Boneyard” and "The Town Hall Incident" in By the Bay: East Beach Stories.  His story “Dead Drop” will be in Volume II, to be published in 2017.  For more information on Patrick and his other writings, please visit his website: www.patrick-clark.com.

The Great Dismal Swamp - Another View

Written by: L.W. (Skip) McLamb

A serene tree line

A friend and fellow member of the East Beach Writer’s Guild, Mary-Jac O’Daniel, recently shared a post on EBWG’s blog about the Dismal Swamp.  Her posting, motivated me to revisit the Swamp for the first time in ten years.   My daughter, Katie, visiting from Los Angeles, accompanied me, and made the trip a father-daughter adventure.

The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge contains over 100,000 acres of land, of which, approximately half is forest.  The refuge is on the North Carolina and Virginia border, located between Hwy. 17 South in Chesapeake and Hwy. 58 West in Suffolk.  The swamp is home to many plants, mammals, birds, bats, and, as Mary-Jac described, plenty of hungry, pesky, aggravating insects.

Skip & Kate on Feeder Ditch

It was a clear, sunny, relatively warm December day, so Kate and I decided to enter the swamp via kayak.  We selected the Feeder Ditch, one of several waterways available for small boats, canoes, and kayaks.  While paddling, we observed majestic, blue herons, a noisy woodpecker, several small, song birds and a large, ugly turkey vulture that swooped directly over our kayak.  The Feeder Ditch was lined by tall, old growth bald cypress, pine, and oak trees.  Lucky swamp visitors might see black bears, bobcats, deer, and other small mammals; though, none were spotted on our trip.  We traveled in four miles, stopped for a rest at small Army Corps of Engineers Spillway, then paddled the four miles back to the boat launch area.  The trip was a good workout, and a great opportunity to spend quality time with my daughter in a beautiful, and relaxing natural area.

The Great Dismal Swamp is a unique place, ecologically, geologically, and historically.  Exploration is possible using hiking, biking, boating, and automobile trails.  If interested, you can learn much more about the area by visiting the Great Dismal Swamp NWR website.  I recommend you put this on your “to do list”, and also highly recommend you visit on a sunny, warm, winter day to avoid the bugs.

About the author: Skip McLamb, a retired educator, writes for pleasure to make good use of his new found free time.  Contact him at ovmclamb@live.com.

The Great Dismal Swamp Adventure

Written by Mary-Jac O'Daniel

We went to the Dismal Swamp on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year. My husband asked me that morning, “Are you sure you want to go?” I was determined, “Yes,” came the quick reply. We had an arsenal of water bottles, some snacks and bug spray, and we felt prepared as we headed out the door. 

When we arrived we doused ourselves with bug spray and then began the four mile hike, one way, in the swamp. What’s near swamps—bugs. Lots of them. We constantly swatted our faces and laughed about having the trail to ourselves. *no one else was that dumb* 

We resolutely continued, and kept our good humor. We saw two buzzards on the path, presumably waiting for our demise. We hoped we would disappoint them as the temperature continued to increase. 

When we got to the lake at the end of the four miles, we briefly considered jumping in the water. I’m not sure what stopped us. The problem with going four miles out, is that one has to turn around and go four miles back. We finally ended our eight mile journey, right as we were running out of water and then promptly went and got the largest slurpies we could find at the nearest 7-11. 

I would love to go back—in the fall or spring. 

About the author: Mary Jac O'Daniel is the author of "Zinneas Always Bloom" in By the Bay: East Beach Stories. Her story "Forays into Sailing" will be in Volume II, to be published in 2017.

A Day In The Life: Hampton Roads Naval Museum

Chief Tomich & Rosie

Writtten by Michelle Davenport

As many people may know, I volunteer at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum in Norfolk, VA.  Normally I do administrative work, some scheduling and keeping my 'boss' entertained, but that's not what this article is about.  I've chosen to share an event versus the day to day of what I do.  Because let's face it, data entry is boring.

Every year in August the museum spends time with the Chief Selectees and gives them a bit of naval history on chiefs. It's called CPO Heritage.  I've been fortunate enough to help in four of these.

For three years I helped sell raffle tickets to win a cutlass.  The cutlass is normally donated by Vanguard, so all proceeds go to the museum to pay for coffee and such for the volunteers.  A big shout out to Vanguard for doing this!  My first year, on the first day, I even went through all the presentations with a group of selectees.  This year, the chief's mess took care of the raffle and I was not needed.  I turned to my 'boss' and asked what I could do.

This was my last year for this event and I did NOT want to miss out on it!

We can do it!

So it was decided that I would help with a presentation.  Tom would be portraying Chief Peter Tomich during his presentation of what happened on the USS UTAH on December 7, 1941.

Yes, Chief Tomich was a real person and actually on board the ship during the attack on Pearl Harbor.  

But how were we going to work in why I was there?  I wanted to blend in with the presentation.  At first I had thought to dress like a woman from the 1940s, that could be fun, but why would she be on the ship.  Then my husband came up with the idea of Rosie The Riveter.  Tom loved it!  I loved it!  It was an easy costume and Tom could quickly explain why I was there.

Chesapeake Bay Living: Norfolk Botanical Gardens Part 3

Rembrandt

Written by Michelle Davenport & Elizabeth Kimball

As mentioned before in an earlier post, there is so much to see at the Norfolk Botanical gardens that it needed to be broken up into more than one blog post.

So once again we'll take a look at that little oasis in the middle of the city.

The Statuary Vista is a unique outdoor sculpture gallery set in a 400-foot long double border garden stretching from the back of Renaissance Court to the edge of Lake Whitehurst. 

Chesapeake Bay Living: A Wilderness Adventure

Written by Skip McLamb

Do you like adventure?  Do you enjoy watching wild animals?  And how about hiking on trails through marsh lands and maritime forests?   Have you ever been to a beach where you can put your feet in the Atlantic Ocean, look north and south, and not see another living soul?  All of this is possible, without leaving the Tidewater area, if you visit one of my favorite get-away spots: False Cape State Park.  

The twenty-five square mile park, part of a barrier island system, is located in the southwest corner of Virginia Beach.  It’s an isolated area, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the waters of Back Bay to the west, the North Carolina state line on the south, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to the north.  The park is only accessible by foot, bike, or boat, and visitors need to be prepared for a primitive outdoor experience.

On almost any given day, a hiker or biker can expect to see deer, muskrat, fox, snakes, otters, turtles, and an amazing variety of birds.  A lucky hiker or biker might also see feral ponies and pigs, a sea turtle, mink, hawks, nutria, or a bobcat.  There are remnants of an old village, including a graveyard, which can provide you a historical perspective on what life was like here a century ago.

I have visited this park dozens of times over the years, and on each trip I see and learn new things.  If you think you will enjoy a different kind of day at the beach, I highly recommend a visit to False Cape State Park.  Primitive tent camping sites are available for public use and an environmental education center, created from an old hunting lodge, has comfortable accommodations for up to twenty people.   More information about FCSP can be found on the Virginia State Parks website, www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks.

About the author: Skip McLamb, a retired educator, writes for pleasure to make good use of his new found free time.  Contact him at ovmclamb@live.com.

                                   

Chesapeake Bay Living: A Year In The Annual Trial Garden

Annual Trial Garden

Written by Karen Harris

When I mention my work as a Master Gardener, and say that I work at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, AREC for short, most folks, even locals, give me a blank look.  

If I say I work off Diamond Springs Road, where the gardens are, the response is nearly always enthusiastic, and that warms my heart.  A team of devoted volunteers tends this lovely flower garden, blooming its heart out on a busy, industrial street.  

Meeting 'Neighbors'

Written by Michelle Davenport

You never know what you'll see when wandering around East Beach.  Maybe you'll catch up with one of our wonderful authors or maybe you'll meet up with this guy!

This colorful crab made his appearance at the East Beach Bay Front Club not too long ago.

A prickly little guy, to be sure.

He did not appreciate having his picture taken, but he sure was a lot of fun to watch.

Thanks to our eagle eyed Jayne Ormerod for spotting him and grabbing a quick photo shoot.

Chesapeake Bay Living: Norfolk Botanical Gardens Part 2

Written by Michelle Davenport & Elizabeth Kimball

As mentioned before there is so much to see at the Norfolk Botanical gardens that it needed to be broken up into more than one blog post.

Another part of the garden is World of Wonders: A Children’s Adventure Garden.  

Chesapeake Bay Living: Botanical Gardens

Written by Michelle Davenport & Elizabeth Kimball

The Norfolk Botanical Gardens is a gem in the middle of the city.  If you ever get the chance to go, I highly recommend going there!

Recently Elizabeth and I headed out there for a little exploring.  I had never been before so Elizabeth and her lovely daughters took me out to explore.

There's so much to see that it's going to have to be broken up into a few blog posts.

The Butterfly House is going to be the first stop on our look of the Botanical Gardens.

What I Did On Summer Vacation. . . In 1972

Written by Jayne Ormerod

<<Cross posted on Life's A Beach blog September 2, 2013>>

The “educational” tag is SO over rated.  Especially when it comes to summer vacations.  My parents (a self-employed business man and an elementary school teacher) made it their mission to make sure we learned something over the summer break.  So while my friends were water skiing on Lake Michigan or riding donkeys down to bottom of the Grand Canyon or hanging out with Mickey & Minnie, my family was marching through the Smithsonian in DC or traipsing along the Freedom Trail in Boston or sitting/snoozing through historical lectures in the City of Brotherly Love.  

Did I have VA-CAY Envy?  You bet I did!

But here’s a little secret I never told anyone…there was one “educational” vacation I enjoyed very much--the one to Williamsburg, Virginia in 1972. The beauty of the “living museum” in Colonial Williamsburg allows visitors to experience what life in the 1600s America was like by doing some of the tasks required for existence 400 years ago.  For example, my sister and I carded wool then spun it into yarn, used a printing press to make our own little newspaper, watched blacksmiths pound iron into hooks, and enjoyed horse-drawn carriage rides along the cobble stone streets.  (There’s something SO soothing about the sound of hooves clacking against the stone in measured cadence. Be still my heart.) Oh yeah, and we got put in "jail."  (In Colonial times, people would throw garbage--and worse--at people sentenced to time in the stocks.  Fortunately this was not part of my experience!) 

My one complaint?  The heat!  Southern summers are not for the faint of heart!  And those poor women who had to wear those heavy hoop-skirts and caps!  How did they do that?  I was practically melting myself, and I had on a sleeveless shirt, shorts and (as any well-dressed kid in the 70s had…) white Keds.

What I needed was a dip in the ocean.  I’d seen the signs for Virginia Beach.  Beach meant ocean.  Ah,  cool, refreshing water. 

I asked.  I begged.  I got down on one knee and pleaded, “Please, please PLEASE!  Let’s go to the beach and cool off!  Please! Please! Please!” 

“It’s four hours away,” my parents said. “That would make for a much longer drive home, too. It would take two days then Dad would have to take another day off work.” 

I accepted that, as young children of the 70s did, not because I respected my elders but because I didn’t have the World Wide Web at my finger tips to prove otherwise.  

Fast forward twenty years when my military husband and I made the move from San Diego, CA to Norfolk, VA via Ohio.  That equated to nine days on the road, driving and eating fast food, with a three day layover in Ohio to visit family.  On our way south to Virginia we stopped at the Williamsburg exit to fill up on gas.  My parent’s voices echoed in my head, “Four hours away.”  At that point I honestly didn’t have four more hours of travel in me.  I suggested to my husband we find a hotel for the night.

“Why?” he asked.  “We’re only an hour away.”

<<insert sound of screeching record here…>>

“An hour?” I asked.

“Yup,” he said.

Needless to say, my first phone call to my parents once we got settled in our new home (this was in the days before cell phones, or trust me, the call would have been made there and then!)  “Hey Mom and Dad, did you know that Virginia Beach is less than an hour’s drive from colonial Williamsburg?”

Silence.

They’d known.

And then it occurred to me, Virginia Beach may have been fun and refreshing, but it did not push the “educational” button.

After living here on and off for the past 30 years and spending hours bike riding on the boardwalk or picnicking on the beach, licking an ice cream cone while watching tourists frolic at the water’s edge, I’ve learned that there’s something about being near that water is good for what’ ails ya.  The light is different, the sound of the crashing waves is relaxing, the smell of the salt water is refreshing.  It restores one’s soul.  I feel better after a day at the beach.  Probably not smarter, but then as I’ve said before, that “educational” tag  is SO overrated. 

About the author: Jayne Ormerod is the author of “Secrets” and “The Sniper Sisters” in By the Bay: East Beach Stories. Her story “Write by the Bay” will be in Volume II, to be published in 2017.  For a complete list of Jayne’s other writings, please visit her website.  

Mosaic Mermaids

Written by Elizabeth Kimball

Last month, the East Beach Peninsular Magazine featured a special group of 

military spouse volunteers — The Tidewater Officers’ Spouses’ Association Mosaic Mermaid Club! Four of our very own writers are involved in the group! Gina Warren Buzby leads the group, and Michelle Davenport, Jenny Sparks, and Elizabeth Kimball all volunteer! Here is an excerpt from the article and a few photos of the volunteers and the mosaic mermaids they create!

Mosaic Mermaids that Give Back to the Community 

Elizabeth Kimball's Mosaic Mermaid

As we pause to reflect and be grateful for our freedoms, I’d like to share a coastal craft and highlight a hard-working and artistic bunch of military spouses volunteering to create beautiful mosaic mermaids sold to benefit military families. 

Chesapeake Bay Living: Willoughby Live Oak

Written by Michelle Davenport

You loved reading about the area where your favorite authors live in our last blog didn't you?  Getting a glimpse of the fantastic mermaids that are in our area.

I know I did.  So we're going to try to do more blogs about the area.

I've lived in this area for more than a few years but I never knew about this tree until recently.  I have yet to actually go to the actual site, but this is such a cool article.  I now feel the need to find this place.

You never know the kind of history you're going to come across.  And this area is full of history.  I highly recommend that you explore your area.  You never know what hidden gem you'll find.  Maybe it'll be a small book store.  Or a wonderful coffee shop.  Or who knows what else?  The possibilities are endless!

So go out there and explore!

About the author: Michelle Davenport is the author of “Second Chances at East Beach” in By the Bay: East Beach Stories.  Her story “Tag!  You’re Dead” will be in Volume II, to be published in 2017.  For more information on Michelle, please visit her website. 

The Mermaids of East Beach

Written by Jayne Ormerod

Ahhh, mermaids.  Those half-women/half-fish sirens of the sea.  They have a bad reputation in mythology, where these sea maidens “would sing to men on ships or shores nearby, practically hypnotizing them with their beauty and song. Those affected would rush out to sea only to be either drowned, eaten, or otherwise sent to their doom.” So goes the legend, according to the Gods and Monsters website. Then along came Ariel in the Disney version of The Little Mermaid, and suddenly the sea nymph’s image became all innocence and whimsy, with a healthy splash of romance.

So what does a mermaid have to do with the city of Norfolk?  More specifically, our East Beach Peninsula? Would you believe it if I told you it all started with cows?  In 1999 local attorney Peter G. Decker Jr. and his wife Bess visited “Cows on Parade” in Chicago.  It turned out to be an effective marketing campaign that brought money to the Windy City.  

Ameritini in East Beach

Chesapeake Bay Living: Slover Library

Did you know thate we had a talk on June 28th at Slover Library?  We did!

We were also fortunate enough to get a tour of the library from our very own Will Hopkins.  We really appreciated the time he took to tell us the history and show us around.  It was fantastic!

I know what you're thinking.  What's so great about a dark, cramped library?  Well for one it isn't dark.  Two, it isn't cramped.  This place is huge!  I could honestly get lost in it.  It's very open and bright.  

Karen Harris, Gina Warren Buzby,
Will Hopkins & Jayne Ormerod

And it quite modern.  I was blown away when I found out you can look up books at the special kiosks.  I'm from a time when you had to search through card catalogs.  I may have just dated myself there, but that's okay.

Plus it's not just books.  They have computers and offer different classes.  I won't tell all, you'll just have to go check it out for yourself.  This place is fabulous and offers a lot!

And I absolutely love that they incorporated the old building with the new structure.  There's so much beautiful architecture downtown that I was glad they blended instead of just tearing a building down.

So if you are in the downtown Norfolk Area, I highly recommend stopping by.  And if you haven't already, get yourself a library card.

Author Appearance

Join us on Tuesday at the Slover Library to chat about our book!

We'd love to see you there!

Chesapeake Bay Living: Sunset

After all the rain we've had as of lately I thought I'd share a photo our author, Gina Warren Buzby, took of the view at East Beach at sunset. 

East Beach Sunset

Gorgeous isn't it?  Who wouldn't want to see this view on a daily basis?

Here's hoping your day is lovely and peaceful as the scene in this photo.