A celebration of healthy living

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FEBRUARY 2015

A FREE MONTHLY PUBLICATION ABOUT BUSINESS IN THE OYSTER POINT AREA, NEWPORT NEWS, VA

Newport News One City Marathon and Health and Wellness Expo:

A celebration of healthy living By Brian J. DePrinzio

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hat do you get when you combine 5,000 participants, 3,500 runners, 26.2 miles, 30 vendors and a coveted finish line? You get one weekend designed to bring the Hampton Roads community together to rejoice in healthy living and revel in the exhaustion of athleticism and competition. One action-packed weekend in March the city of Newport News will host its inaugural Newport News One City Marathon and One City Health and Wellness Expo. James “Jim” Bourey, Newport News city manager, spearheaded a campaign to put Newport News on the runner’s map and establish the Hampton Roads community as one predicated upon the accomplishment of healthy, nutritious and proactive goals. Coordination and direction for the event weekend has been provided by the seasoned running event staff at FlatOut Events—Jason Todd, owner and marathon director, and Elizabeth Gates, director of marketing, in addition to the efforts of Telly Whitfield, assistant to the city manager. This team recognized a unique opportunity to challenge area residents and athletes from around the world to take charge of their lifestyles and answer the call to live healthier.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday: One City Health and Wellness Expo 12–7 p.m. Saturday: One City Health and Wellness Expo 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. Sunday: Marathon and Relay 7 a.m. (Newport News Park) Maritime 8K Race 7:45 a.m. Nautical Mile “Fun Run” 10 a.m. One City, One Celebration (Victory Landing Park) 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Elizabeth Gates, coordinator of the Newport News One City Health and Wellness Expo

It is almost as though Newport News was designed to host a marathon. Its geographic layout is narrow and almost perfectly linear, offering just the right number of miles, from end to end, to pique a marathon runner’s interest.

COURTESY OF ELIZABETH GATES

The race will begin on Sunday, March 15, at 7 a.m. at Newport News Park and travel south, showcasing neighborhoods and commercial districts, mostly along Warwick Boulevard. Plans are already in place to redirect traffic to

YOUR OYSTER POINT AREA NEWS SOURCE FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS!

FEATURES Oyster Point Profile: Liz Moore 3 One City Tango Marathon 8 Clancy and Theys Construction 10 Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula’s Workforce Development Program 12 Oyster Pointer’s Area Business Directory 14

Jefferson Avenue, providing runners with a safe path to the Victory Arch downtown, an aptly selected finish line. There will also be a relay marathon event, a Maritime 8k race and a nautical Continued on page 2

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COLUMNS LiveStrong at the YMCA 16 Signs By Tomorrow 22 Stretching the Point: Pete’s Custom Auto 24 Point Blank: Tiffany Waersch 25 Way Beyond the Point: Ceremonial Doves of Tidewater 27

Tidbits 4 Musings 11 Guest Column: Buddy Alligood 13 Money Matters 17

To Your Health 18 Travelwise 19 Viewpoint: Michael Anderson 20 Oyster Point Happenings 22

FIND THIS PEARL. See page 6 for details.

Hampton, VA Permit #148

PAID

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

MARATHON, continued from page 1

mile, 1.15 miles, “fun run” for runners who are not quite ready for the daunting challenge of competitively running 26.2 consecutive miles. City officials were looking for an event that could unify the city, bringing the community together as one, hence the name, One City. The marathon’s sister event, the Newport News One City Health and Wellness Expo, presented by Riverside Health Systems, hopes to do just that. “We want to really influence and help show people how to live healthy, active lives for themselves and their families. We want to show that everyone can make positive changes in their lives,” Gates says. Gates, 22, leads an active lifestyle despite her struggle with rheumatoid arthritis. TO THE POINT

Newport News One City Health and Wellness Expo Contact: Elizabeth Gates, director of marketing, Flat-Out Events; coordinator, Newport News One City Health and Wellness Expo Phone: 757-880-8843 Email: [email protected] Website: www.onecitymarathon.com

“My joints suffer a lot,” she says, “but I have learned that being active actually helps.” Inspired by her parents, she is an avid runner who is currently training for her second marathon. She also enjoys hot yoga and cross-training to keep fit. “Remember to start small and create achievable goals, even something as simple as walking around the block or to the end of the driveway,” Offering pointers for creating a healthier lifestyle, Gates says, “Set a goal and stick with it. Share your goals to help others hold you accountable. We are not all Olympians, nor world-class sprinters, but we all have an inner athlete inside of us. To showcase that athlete and push yourself, try something you have never done before to broaden your horizons. People can achieve goals that they never thought were possible. Watching runners cross that finish line and seeing the sense of accomplishment on their faces— that’s my favorite part,” Gates says. Registration for participating in the marathon event is open until 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 14. The event weekend will kick off at noon on Friday, March 13, at the Marriott

OysterPointer 739 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Ste. 704, Newport News, VA 23606 • Phone: 873-4523 Email: [email protected] • www.OysterPointer.net • Fax: 873-0599 Publisher, Editor and Business Manager: Sylvia S. Weinstein Associate Editor: Kelli Caplan • Editorial Director: Nancy P. Sykes Business Development Specialist: Brian DePrinzio Design and Layout: SHS Design

Contributing writers: Danny Bogart, Brian DePrinzio, Jerry Gammon, Donna Grubbs, Jill Keech, Emily Moliken, Angelique Rogers, Catherine Rogers, Nancy P. Sykes, Michael Wagner, Cathy Welch

Proud to Do Business in Hampton Roads, America’s First Region

Photography: Brian DePrinzio, Jill Keech, Catherine Rogers, Cathy Welch

Co-Sponsor: Mail Services—KSM Associates

The Oyster Pointer is an independently published monthly newspaper for and about businesses in the Oyster Point Business Park area. The Oyster Pointer has a circulation of 9,000. Copies are available at area businesses and by subscription. Subscription is $25 per year and available by sending a check to the Oyster Pointer, 739 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Suite 704, Newport News, VA 23606. Contributions of information and articles are welcomed at no charge and are used according to space limitations and news value. Our editorial content is primarily dedicated to Oyster Point area businesses; ad space is open to all businesses that want to reach the Oyster Point market. Ad set up is included in ad costs. Fee structure is listed on page 27. The staff thanks you, the businesses of the Oyster Point area and the advertisers of the Oyster Pointer, for supporting this publication. Your continuing support enables the Oyster Pointer to serve as the primary vehicle for exchange of information in the Oyster Point area.

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in City Center. Many vendors and sponsors will promote nutrition, running apparel and the latest gadgets for runners. The Virginia Department of Health will be onsite, offering health screenings and awareness. There will also be a kid’s corner with fun activities

and games geared specifically toward helping children find ways to be active and eat well. All runners and spectators are invited to celebrate One City, One Celebration, the post race party at Victory Landing Park.

Letters to the Editor Excellent article on a Newport News dining treasure [Scheslinger’s]. It should be noted that up until her retirement in September, Flo Weaver served as the general manager, and with owner Steve Lewis, set and maintained the high standards that are evident today. During a short period, when Steve Lewis owned Fin restaurant in Port Warwick, Flo was dual-hatted as manager of both! We Port Warwick residents (I’m an eight-year Schlesinger’s customer) are enjoying the same memorable food, ambience and service under new manager Brad Monte. Bob Swaney, Newport News

Wanted to reach out to you regarding the article that appeared in the November issue of the Oyster Pointer [“The Lee Group: The eHarmony of Employment”]. I have had several people comment on what a nice article it was. Even my neighbor came over to give me a copy in case I did not have one! Another neighbor was out walking his dog as I was doing some yard work and he too commented on the article. Just wanted to say thanks. Eric Kean, Principal, The Lee Group

Thank you for your support of the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank through the article in the December issue of Oyster Pointer. It was perfect for what we wanted to focus on and sets the right tone. We have received a lot of good feedback as a result of this article. I appreciated the opportunity. Thanks again. Karen Joyner, CEO

Make your point in the Pointer

Thank you for your gracious article in the [December issue of ] the Oyster Pointer. I am so appreciative of your interest in my practice. I need to bring to your attention a correction in the article. There is a 2008 article from the Virginian Pilot referencing a client who got his first hot meal while serving time in detention. I did not bring him a hot meal as that is not permitted by the rules. The 2008 article is posted on the wall in the waiting area of my office, which I showed to the writer. I recognize that this was simply a minor mistake, and I am so grateful for your article which clearly reflected that the client experienced his first hot meal while in the legal system which is the real take-away. I want to express what a service you provide with the Oyster Pointer, as it presents a wide range of positive aspects of Newport News. It is refreshing to know that someone is leading the charge to bring light to the wonderful happenings in our community, and you should be recognized for that. Polly Chong Attorney & Counselor atLaw

Thank you for the wonderful article published on the January cover of the Oyster Pointer about Tidewater Performance. Catherine Rogers, the writer, did a fantastic job of capturing the essence of our center, and I am very pleased with the way we were represented. Thank you for your time and attention to detail with this. Katie Allen, Performance Services Director, Tidewater Performance Center

Send your signed letters to the editor to: Oyster Pointer, 739 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Suite 704, Newport News, VA 23606, fax 757-873-0599, or email [email protected]. February 2015

OYSTER POINT PROFILE

Liz Moore and Associates:

The name behind the business loves what she does By Jill Keech Liz Moore, of Liz Moore & Associates, at her office in City Center at Oyster Point.

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iz Moore may have been a “come here” in 1984 when she arrived from California as a bride. But today, the name Liz Moore and Associates is a mainstay on the real estate scene, which was once a male-dominated ownership industry, Moore says. Coming here with no local ties and a college degree in history didn’t open doors to the business. But “I really needed a job,” she says from her desk in her firm’s attractive office. She found work with Atlantic Homes Realty but definitely as the new kid on the block. “I was bad at this,” Moore remembers. “I was a very slow starter. It took me six months to sell my first house.” But she listened, and she observed and she grew as she worked elsewhere in real estate, too. February 2015

CATHERINE ROGERS

“I was very, very blessed,” says Moore, an only child who was “spoiled rotten,” she says, not in the material sense but in the abundance of love. “That instilled a lot of confidence in me,” she says. And so she established Liz Moore and Associates in 2003. Her husband, Roger, retired to keep the home fires burning and be Mr. Mom to the couple’s now grown son, Grayson. “I loved my job, and Roger didn’t,” Moore says of the arrangement. To craft her business plan “for the perfect real estate company,” Moore sought input from professionals including national business development guru Dyan Dobbyn, local attorney Brian D. Lytle and her former business partner, Dick Thurmond. Working with Dobbyn, a survey was generated and disseminated to 10,000

From American Infrastructure (AI) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT): • Almost all concrete work is complete except on Warwick Blvd. • 24" HRSD force main complete. • 36" HRSD force main complete except for testing. • If you have questions, contact Jennifer Gwaltney, Public Information Officer, Hampton Roads Transportation Operations Center, VDOT Hampton Roads District, 700 N. Main Street, Suffolk, VA 23434, 757-925-2583. • AI will be coordinating an inspection of landscaping. Appreciation expressed for City inspection of landscaping.

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TIDBITS The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank received a $7,500 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to help support its Kids Cafe and Culinary Training programs. The Kids Cafe Program provides more than 1,000 hot, nutritious meals daily to school-age children throughout the community in safe, learning environments that offer adult supervision as well as homework help, mentoring and tutoring. Many Kids Cafes are located in local Boys and Girls Clubs or other community centers. The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank is also a recent recipient of a $10,000 grant from Wells Fargo in support of the Food for Kids BackPack Program, a weekend food assistance initiative providing nutritious food items to elementary school children to take home on weekends and school holidays, when they are most likely to go without. Michele Benson-Howell is chief development officer of the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank.

t Michelle Pollock, with Keller Williams Elite, was awarded the Salesperson of the Year Award during the Annual Awards Banquet of the Virginia Peninsula Association of Realtors (VPAR).

Thomas F. Cherry has been promoted to president of C&F Financial Corporation and C&F Bank. Cherry will continue as chief financial officer until a successor is named. Larry Dillon will continue as board chairman and CEO and will actively participate in strategic and operational initiatives at all of C&F’s companies. Cherry has been with C&F for 18 years, having served as executive vice president, chief financial officer and secretary of C&F and C&F Bank. He is a CPA and has a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Old Dominion University and a master’s degree in business administration from the College of William & Mary. The bank has partnered with Apple to offer Apple PayTM, a new category of service for C&F Bank credit cards. Apple Pay combines Apple’s hardware, software and services, keeping payment information protected. Sister Cities of Newport News (SCNN) has announced a new scholarship award for Newport News high school seniors interested in higher education in international affairs, the Foreign Service or cultural diversity and foreign languages. Two $500 scholarships will be awarded with the goal of furthering SCNN’s mission to “build and strengthen international cooperation, understanding and development between the citizens of the City of Newport News and those of the world.” Kate Helwig is SCNN’s executive director.

Family owned and operated by the Weymouth Family 12746 Nettles Drive, Newport News Virginia, 23606 (757) 930-2222 www.weymouthfuneralhome.com

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Winthrop A. Short

Philip L. Hatchett has been appointed managing director of the Newport News office of Kaufman & Canoles. Hatchett succeeds Winthrop A. Short, who held the position since 2008. A member of the firm since 2000, Hatchett will maintain his active practice representing clients in family wealth management. Short will also remain an active firm member, continuing to serve clients as a trial attorney, a position he has held in the firm since 1980.

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February is a time to show love to family and friends.

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Philip L. Hatchett

Menchville High School has been named a Blue Star school in recognition of its students’ successful performance on the 2013–2014 W!SE Financial Literacy Certification Test. W!SE, or Working in Support of Education, is an organization dedicated to providing educational support services and building financial literacy. To earn the Blue Star recognition, a school must achieve a 75-percent pass rate on the standardized financial literacy test and have either a majority of students in a particular grade level take the test or have the students who took the test achieve an average score of 80 percent or higher. Shown here displaying the Blue Star flag are Bobby Surry, Menchville principal with (left to right) Cynthia Earl, Diane Zawadzki and Adrienne Caldwell, teachers. PBMares, LLP has been named to Inside Public Accounting’s (IPA) 2014 Top 200 Firms. This is Inside Public Accounting’s fifth annual ranking of the 200 largest accounting firms in the nation. Ranked by U.S. net revenue, PBMares is the 110 largest accounting firm in the U.S. and grew 1.6 percent to $28,964,442 in the past year. Alan Witt, CPA, is CEO of PBMares.

Gregory R. Davis

Paul W. Gerhardt

David B. Graham

Timothy O. Trant, II

Among the 45 attorneys from Kaufman & Canoles who were selected for inclusion in Virginia Business Magazine’s 2014 Legal Elite are Gregory R. Davis, practicing taxes, estates, trusts and elder law; Paul W. Gerhardt, practicing real estate and land use law; David B. Graham, practicing legislative, regulatory and administrative law; and Timothy O. Trant, II, practicing real estate and land use law. Kaufman & Canoles had the most attorneys named to the list from Virginia.

Hampton Roads International Montessori School honored Jill Keech, advancement director, upon her recent retirement. Keech served in this capacity for three years and was an integral part of the Montessori community. She is shown here (center) with Mary Flaherty, head of the parent association (left) and Dorothy Knox, head of school.

Robert Brown & Associates, Inc. will renovate the 103,104-square-foot Hidenwood Shopping Center, located at 12409 Warwick Boulevard. The renovation, expected to be completed in July, includes a new building façade, sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, retail signs and storefronts. Team members for the project include Henderson Inc., general contractor; Freeman Morgan Architecture, architect; AES, civil engineer; ECS Mid Atlantic, environmental engineer; and TowneBank, financing. Robert Brown & Associates, Inc. is project manager. February 2015

Sylvia Weinstein, publisher and editor of the Oyster Pointer, was honored by Inside Business as one of 18 Hampton Roads women who received the 2014 Women in Business Achievement Award. For 12 years, Inside Business has been honoring Hampton Roads women in business who have made a significant impact on the community, within their industry and by helping other women on the road to success. Weinstein received her award from Charity Volman, South Hampton Roads president and commercial banking team leader of SunTrust Bank, and Ed Power, publisher of Inside Business.

The Rotary Club of Newport News participated in the Salvation Army Box Night assembly. The club has helped with the box assembly for several years, and volunteers were coordinated by Athena Robbins, club member. Members helped assemble more than 1,000 boxes for the Salvation Army to use in its toy drive and angel tree collections and distribution.

The Rotary Club of City Center Newport News was honored with several awards at the District 7600 Foundation Awards Banquet. The club received the $201+ Per Capita Award, the 100 percent ERAY Club award and the 100 percent Sustaining Member Club award for the 2013–2014 year. In District 7600, City Center was one of 27 clubs to attain 100 percent ERAY and was one of 11 clubs to attain the 100 percent Sustaining Member. Pictured are Kevin Lyles, past 2013–2014 president and Carol Davanay, 2014–2015 president. The club contributed food and a monetary donation of $150 to the 18th Annual Mayflower Marathon event to benefit area Hampton Roads foodbanks. Shown here are Lyles and Donna Tighe, Food Fund Drive coordinator. Club members also volunteer several times throughout the year to help with the BackPack Program, which provides healthy nutritious foods to children in low-income communities. Continued on page 6

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TIDBITS, continued from page 5

Peninsula Fine Arts Center’s current exhibit, “Looking Both Ways,” explores the works of contemporary African-American artists and their cultural influences. This exhibit, organized by PFAC curator Diana Blanchard Gross, will be on view until March 22. Featured African-American artists include Kara Walker, Hank Willis Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, Faith Ringgold, Robert Colescott and Beverly Buchanan. The exhibition will tell of how African-American artists studied their craft during and immediately after segregation.

t Virginia Living Museum (VLM) has received the Green Travel Leader Award presented by the Virginia Green program for a project involving personal vehicles and used frying oil from the museum’s Wild Side Cafe. VLM staffers Robby Ackerman, Mike Behan and George Mathews, Jr. are driving cars powered by the oil. The project saves VLM money in disposal of 100 percent of the used vegetable oil and keeps 10 gallons of used oil a week out of the landfill. The Virginia Green program is run through a partnership of the Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association. It encourages green practices in Virginia’s tourism industry, and it has nearly 1,400 partner organizations that have self-certified their green commitments.

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FIND THIS

PEARL

somewhere in this issue to be entered in a drawing to win a prize! To be eligible for the drawing, send an email with the page number of the hidden pearl to [email protected]. Please include your name, address and phone.

ECPI University has again been designated as a Top School by Military Advanced Education (MAE). Each year, the MAE Guide spotlights colleges and universities that adhere to the best practices in military and veterans’ education. The schools were evaluated on military culture, financial aid, flexibility, on-campus support and online support services. ECPI was also selected as Best for Vets for the fourth year by Military Times. Ranked number two nationwide among online and nontraditional schools, ECPI has been rated among the top three since 2012. Bob Larned is ECPI’s executive director of military education.

Location: Page 10 Prize: Bag of yummy Oyster Pointer M&Ms! 6

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ECPI students were honored at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s (VPCC) annual meeting with the President’s Award for their work in developing a new VPCC website. The students built the site in consultation with VPCC staffers. The project served as an externship for the students who devoted more than 135 hours beyond the required time. Participating in the presentation were (left to right) Marques Mitchell and Eleanor Humphrey, ECPI University students; Mike Kuhns, VPCC president and CEO; Kristopher Todd, ECPI University student; and Dr. John Olson, ECPI University, Newport News campus president. (Not pictured: Rachel Lewis, ECPI University student)

Through its corporate volunteering and outreach program, The SOLution, SOLitude Lake Management, donated more than $3,700 in games to health-stricken children and gift cards, toys, games, accessories, clothes and other necessities to under-resourced families throughout the East Coast. Sherry Brooks, child life coordinator at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (left), received from Ann Marie Dori, marketing and special projects coordinator, the SOLitude donation of toys and games. A similar donation was also made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DECEMBER CONTEST WINNER: Lisa Taylor Carrollton, VA

More than 40 young women from Newport News and Hampton public schools attended an educational event at ECPI University called “Girls Get IT.” Sponsored by ECPI University, the Peninsula Council for Workforce Development and CISCO Networking Academy, this twice-yearly gathering is designed to encourage and nurture young women who may be considering a career in the information technology (IT) or engineering fields. Leni Kaufman, chief information officer for Newport News Shipbuilding, served as keynote speaker. Breakout sessions followed with mentors from leading IT fields discussing case studies. Kaufman is shown here working with some of the attendees. Dr. John Olson is Newport News campus president.

Dan Goodrich

Pam Watson

Goodrich & Watson Insurers, Inc. has moved to Cedar One at 11837 Rock Landing Drive, Suite 103. The company is an independent insurance agency specializing in home, automobile, business, life and personal insurance. Dan Goodrich is president and Pam Watson is vice president. Phone number is 757-591-2033.

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SOLitude Lake Management received from Inside Business the 2014 Roaring 20 Award as one of the 20 fastest-growing companies in Hampton Roads. Shown here are (left to right) Shane Thomas, with SOLitude; Kurt Taves, managing partner of Hampton Roads, Cherry Bekaert; Ann Marie Dori, Ellen Stace, of SOLitude; Kevin Tucker, SOLitude owner; and Ed Power, publisher of Inside Business.

February 2015

LIZ MOORE, continued from page 3

local families about their real estate experiences. Many respondents lamented the expensive last-minute surprises, unforeseen expenses, delays and the stress of making major decisions under pressure. From the survey, Moore built her company on a “no surprises” foundation. Before listing a home, a real estate appraisal and home inspection are done on the property in question, conducted by independent professionals with the proper credentials and at no charge to the client. “Knowledge is power, and that puts clients in a position to make better decisions,” Moore says, so they own potential deal-breaking or deal-closing facts such as appropriate pricing, an acceptable loan number to a mortgage company and what repairs need to be made and their costs. Location, location, location was why Moore chose Oyster Point, now City Center, as the home for her Newport News office when she launched, recognizing the Peninsula’s business hub and its central location to conveniently servicing all Peninsula locations. “Glory days” followed. “Everything we touched turned to gold,” Moore says. “We were profitable our first year in business,” even with costs such as marketing and high overhead, with the company ranked as the #3 office in overall sold volume on the Peninsula. By the end of its second full year, the ranking jumped to the number one office in overall sold volume. December 2005 saw the Liz Moore sign go up in Williamsburg rental space, followed by the company’s custom-built current New Town office in August 2007, “the month the market hit the wall, and agents were leaving real estate in droves,” Moore recalls. Glory days became a roller coaster ride.

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February 2015

Today Moore says the market is slowly improving and that her company had a “great” 2013 and “almost as great a one in 2014.” Moore’s business is run as a “boutique brokerage” as opposed to the “big box” shopping experience. “We’ve stayed small so we can better control an extraordinary client experience. I believe the larger a company gets, the harder it is to manage quality,” she says. A hands-on president who writes personal notes every day, Moore is highly regarded inside and outside her corporate door, and has received Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur and Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year awards. “I love being in a role where I’m managing an office, and I’m actively engaged with our agents and their clients,” Moore says. “A lot of my time is spent both teaching and coaching.” New agent Sherry Chow finished her “rookie training” in October and sold a house at full price in November. “When I go to Liz Moore and talk with her,” Chow says, “she is very knowledgeable, and she’s a very, very good teacher. She can demonstrate things clearly. She knows how to energize people; she has vision, and she knows how to motivate people so everybody goes forward with her.” So what does this once-upon-a-time “spoiled rotten” kid do for fun? “Work,” says Moore. “She definitely loves what she does,” says Chow, “and it’s contagious.” TO THE POINT

Liz Moore and Associates Address: 11801 Canon Blvd., Ste. 100, Newport News, VA 23606 Phone: 800-825-2707, 757-873-2707 Contact: Liz Moore, president Website: www.lizmoore.com

If you have suggestions for a business or a businessperson to be featured in the Oyster Pointer, we’d love to hear it! Please: • Call 757-873-4523 • Email [email protected] •W  rite 739 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Ste. 704, Newport News, VA 23606, • Fax 873-0599 or •V  isit our website www.OysterPointer.net and click “Share.”

Newport News Public School (NNPS) students are college-ready Through NNPS college-readiness initiatives, the number of seniors applying to college increased from 1,058 in 2012 to 1,401 in 2014.

High school students earn college credit High school seniors may earn up to 19 semester hours of college credit prior to high school graduation in the unique partnership with Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC). During their senior year, students complete their high school course work in the first semester and attend TNCC during the second semester. Through NNPS’ Early College program and other dual enrollment opportunities, nearly 900 high school students were enrolled in college coursework last school year.

NNPS students are career-ready Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses are designed around industry standards to ensure highquality instruction for highwage, high-demand and high-skill careers. CTE courses prepare NNPS students to earn more than a dozen industry certifications. In 2014, NNPS students earned 1,552 industry certifications, accelerating access to technical, high-skilled careers.

Students from the Warwick High School Governor’s Health Sciences Academy are preparing for careers in the medical field.

Newport News Shipbuilding Internship Program selects NNPS students Thirteen seniors will participate in the Engineering Shipbuilding Internship Program at Newport News Shipbuilding during second semester. Starting in February, the students will attend a 10-week shipyard operations class and shadow engineers twice a week.

NNPS awarded for budget excellence Newport News Public Schools has earned a Meritorious Budget Award for its 2014–2015 annual budget. Presented by the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), the award acknowledges NNPS for excellence in budget presentation.

NNPS earns “Green” designation Newport News Public Schools is one of 33 school divisions in Virginia to be certified “green” through the Virginia School Boards Association’s Green Schools Challenge, a competition designed to encourage environmental policies and practical actions that reduce carbon emissions and increase environmental awareness.

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One City Tango Marathon in March:

Tango sage Andy Stein brings fun and moves to his city By Jill Keech

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ewport News resident Andy Stein is director of IT for the city of Newport News by day and lover of the Argentine-born tango by Thursday and Friday evenings, when he leads free group classes at his Port Warwick studio next to Brickhouse Tavern. If Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and Arthur and Kathryn Murray were America’s royals of the ballroom dancing scene, Andy and Olimpia Stein are our area’s tango darlings. Come March, Stein will gather devotees from near and far for his 2015 Newport News One City Tango Marathon, which will run concurrently with the 26.2-mile Newport News One City Marathon on Sunday, March 15. Both marathons are debuting this year. (See The Newport News One City Marathon cover story.) The tango marathon-goers, though, will dance their way through the full weekend, from the evening of March 12 until 1 a.m. on March 16. “The One City Marathon helped to inspire the hosting of the Tango Marathon on the same weekend, in order to bring more options to celebrate

health and diversity,” says Stein, for whom a large event like this is a first. At year’s end, he already had 70 registered for the marathon with the expectation of many more to come before the 40-hour event kicks off. Depending on numbers, the marathon will be at City Center or the Denbigh Community Center. Readers raring to register should consult the links at the end of this story for the current event info, including ticket purchase. “I’m bringing in from Asheville, Washington (D.C.), Raleigh and Miami DJs with certain collections of (tango) music,” Stein explains. He will also be one of the DJs. The tango event is his desire to “service” the local tango community. Twenty years ago Andy Stein “was looking for a dance that fit me.” He wasn’t interested in memorizing a lot of dance patterns. But he didn’t want anything too “simple.” When in 2006 he found himself at a Portland, Oregon, tango festival, he found his calling.

“And I just fell in love with it,” Stein says. “And I thought, ‘This is my dance.’” He prefers social rather than “performance” style tango, one with less drama but with hallmarks of spontaneity and “improv.” There is passion to this dance, through which he found love—and not just in the moves but in the form of the woman who became his wife four years ago. Olimpia Stein was Andy’s tango student before dating and marriage. So is dancing the tango the ticket to a healthy relationship? “It’s all about the connection between the man and the woman,” Stein says. “We dance the way we live. I’m not forcing the woman into moves. I’m inviting her. Then, I listen to her response,” and “if she interprets it differently than I intended, then I respond to her. It’s consistent non-verbal dialogue.

JILL KEECH

Andy Stein and his dance partner, his wife, Olimpia.

“Generally, it is the man who leads and the woman who follows. Olimpia can focus on connecting to me and respond to the finer changes in energy. It’s not just a walk. It’s harmony—to walk in harmony as one,” or, as some call it, he says, “‘a cat walk.’ We are one body with four legs. It’s a consistent dialogue.” As well as bonding through the tango, both the Steins are originally from Romania, and they are both IT gurus; he with Newport News, and Continued on page 11

TO THE POINT

2015 Newport News One City Tango Marathon: March 12–16 Marathon Information: Websites: tinyurl.com/octm-2015 www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZoKPdbF7A4 Contact: Andy Stein Email: [email protected]

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Clancy and Theys Construction: Putting people first By Daniel Bogert

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t Clancy and Theys’ Newport News offices in Oyster Point, Brian Viau, a young employee, gathers his papers after a hard day’s work and stops to chat with his CEO, Bill Goggins. Viau started interning at the company during his sophomore year at Old Dominion University. Seven years later, he is now a project manager, a critical role on any construction site. He also helped plan the annual holiday party, where the company celebrated another worker, Bob Moore’s, 25 years at Clancy and Theys. Employee loyalty is rare in the high turnover construction business, but Clancy and Theys is not a typical construction company. Faced with the challenging task of overseeing large-scale building projects from start to finish, Clancy and Theys is known for doing quality work at lightning speed. The firm completed Canon Virginia’s new 707,000-squarefoot automated manufacturing plant in Newport News in a blistering 11 months. When asked how he succeeds at such a complex undertaking, Goggins doesn’t hesitate: “The team. It’s all about putting the very best team in place. We have great people here.” Goggins’ confidence in his employees extends to the job site, where project managers are trusted to make difficult decisions without higher-up approval. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of compensating employees well

Divisional CEO Bill Goggins in the Clancy & Theys Construction offices in City Center at Oyster Point. CATHERINE ROGERS

and ensuring they have ample time to spend with their families. Goggins studied construction management at Wentworth Institute of Technology, receiving his MBA from Texas A&M. He has 25 years of experience in the construction business and has lived in Newport News for more than 20 years. He reinforces the company ethic of getting great work done for clients by overcoming challenges instead of making excuses. When the Greenbrier Hotel in West

Virginia wanted to build a new casino but only had space to put it underground, Clancy and Theys leapt at the challenge. They came up with an innovative design and got to work during what turned out to be one of the snowiest winters in more than 20 years. Then the hotel decided that the casino needed to be almost twice as big as originally planned. While the team could have easily justified extending the project deadline, they pushed forward and found a way to finish on

time, knowing that Greenbrier wished to open the casino in May. Dean Conlin, vice president of Clancy and Theys in Newport News, describes the company’s guiding principle: “When beginning a project, the most important thing is to listen to the client to find out exactly what is wanted. From that point on, we focus entirely on making the client successful. We don’t let money cloud our judgment.” In the case of the Greenbrier project, this meant pouring in additional resources so the company could keep its word and get it done on time. Money isn’t the goal, but the money usually follows. Long-standing clients like Canon Virginia know that Clancy & Theys Construction will go the extra mile for them, and long-standing employees like Brian Viau and Bob Moore know they will be treated with trust and respect. As for Goggins and Conlin? Goggins sums it up this way, “Every day, it’s a privilege to be able to come in and use our skills to help people get things done. We’re very happy folks here.” TO THE POINT

Clancy & Theys Construction Address: 11830 Fishing Point Dr., Newport News, VA 23606 Phone: 757-873-6869 Contact: Bill Goggins, CEO Website: www.clancytheys.com

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February 2015

MUSINGS

An ageless love story By Sylvia S. Weinstein, Oyster Pointer

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ne of our favorite traditions that my husband and I have created over the years is the celebration of our birthdays. I’m not talking about a fancy dinner and an over-illuminated cake. I’m talking about a secret adventure. Each year the birthday honoree is treated to a surprise trip, meaning that the destination is unknown until we arrive. The only information supplied to the honoree is what to pack and the duration of the adventure.

Stories like this go directly to our hearts and bring us smiles. You can imagine how much fun it is to tease each other about the unknown. So this past July, we set off for St. Louis and from there embarked on a cruise up the magnificent Mississippi and Ohio rivers aboard the famous steamboat, The Queen of the Mississippi. This was the first time we’d taken this nautical adventure; however, we have taken other steamboat trips, so from past experience we knew what to expect: fascinating people, excellent dining and very comfortable accommodations. However, this particular adventure was especially memorable because we befriended two absolutely lovely people, the noted 81-year-old mystery writer Cynthia Riggs and her new husband, 90-year-old Dr. Howard Attebery. They were on their honeymoon! Some 60 years ago, Cynthia was working at a marine lab in San Diego, and there she made friends with a co-

worker named Howie. They were close friends but there was no apparent romantic interest. They both went their own ways, married and had their own families, and both eventually began their own separate lives. That was until one day Cynthia received a message in a code that took her back in time. Decoded, it said, “I have never stopped loving you.” Cynthia knew that it could only be from her old friend Howie. St. Valentine lives! There they were on the Queen of the Mississippi, celebrating their new life together at their advanced age, and both were sparkling with excitement. Howie said it was a 60-year-old dream come true, and for Cynthia it was a new and unexpected chapter in her life. For all of us, it is an inspiration, a lesson that love is, in fact, eternal. I can’t think of a more meaningful message for Valentine’s Day. Sometimes it seems that we are bombarded too much with devastating news. That is exactly the reason that stories like this go directly to our hearts and bring us smiles. We have our various calendar holidays to distract us from our daily routines and help us recapture the warmth and promise of life. With that in mind, I send air kisses to Cynthia and Howie and wish them a world of happiness and peace. And I bow adoringly to St. Valentine.

Sylvia Weinstein is publisher and editor of the Oyster Pointer. She can be reached at [email protected] or 757-873-4523.

Newlyweds Dr. Howard Attebery and Cynthia Riggs

Queen of the Mississippi

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TANGO, continued from page 8

she with Surry County Public Schools where she teaches technology. Olimpia Stein says she feels relaxed when she is doing the tango. Her husband says he feels focused in this intense dance that flows without so much as a word being said. February 2015

But they also mention the fun of doing the tango. In the words of Kathryn Murray when she signed off of the couple’s Arthur Murray Party episodes, “Put a little fun into your life. Try dancing.”

757.223.5800 • Glenn H. Shepard, M.D., Medical Director www.numaspa.com • 11842 Rock Landing Dr., Suite 107, Newport News, VA 23606 Numa Spa invites you to experience our Skin Rejuvenation Services: Sclerotherapy · Facial Plastic Surgery · Smile Rejuvenation · Chemical Peels · Facials · Laser Skin Rejuvenation · Laser Hair Removal · Liposuction–Face and Body · Microdermabrasion· Botox · Juvederm · Cellulite Reduction · Facial and Body Contouring · Skin Tightening

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OYSTER POINTER

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Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula’s Workforce Development Program:

Career dream weavers By Jerry Gammon, Donna Grubbs, and Angelique Rogers

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hen asking a group of youth about their dream careers, their responses are likely to be vastly diverse. However, when asking the same group how they are preparing for their career, the room will probably fall silent. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula’s (BGCVP) Workforce Development Program (WDP) seeks to provide the foundation for youth to begin pursuing their dream professions. The organization currently serves more than 6,000 youth in Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg, York County, Gloucester, and Mathews, with the mission “to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.” On a daily basis, BGCVP serves youth through programming in five core areas: character and leadership development; education and career development; health and life skills; sports, recreation and fitness; and the arts. In 2010, after feedback from its members, BGCVP decided to expand its offerings to include a workforce development program aimed at teaching youth the soft skills needed to get and keep a job. The WDP has some components that are taught to all ages, but typically

targets members ages 13 to 18. Members are enrolled in programs that lead to Workforce Development Graduate Certification. The graduate is better prepared to enter the workforce or continue with higher education. Members reaching this level receive training in résumé writing, interviewing, dressing for success and workplace ethics. In its four years of existence, the WDP has served approximately 377 youth and provided a first job experience to 27 of those youth. “Some of our youth have graduated from high school and pursued their dreams of higher education, and some of our graduates are now employed in the workforce and are self supporting,” says Donna Grubbs, Workforce Development director. “To see our young members become self-assured, productive members of society who have successfully entered the workforce is our end goal, and we are changing lives and our community,” Grubbs says. Community partners offer job shadowing opportunities as well as unpaid and paid internships. Assistance is given to 14- and 15-year-old members in obtaining work permits and, upon certification, efforts are made to assist with locating paid employment at one of the

Donna Grubbs (left) and Sierra Watlington (right) reviewing a workforce development book

15 local Boys & Girls Clubs, one of the two Boys & Girls Club Thrift Stores or in the local community. For example, in 2014 the WDP received a grant from the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation to establish 23 three-month, part-time job slots at the thrift store. Youth who excelled in the WDP were selected to gain valuable job experience. Sierra Watlington, a 14-year-old recent graduate of the program, is one of the youth who earned a part-time job at the Boys & Girls Club Thrift Store in Newport News. “Sierra is a model employee,” says Mike Mullins, thrift store manager regarding her work ethic. Due to her participation in the program, Watlington is already experiencing personal and professional growth. “My grades rose to a “B” average,” she

PHOTO COURTESTY OF B&G CLUBS

says, “and [the WDP] definitely helped me with basketball conditioning.” The WDP has made a positive impact on Watlington’s future. When asked about her biggest takeaway from the program, she says, “I’ve learned how to explore my interests and to express myself without being worried about what others think.” While exploring her interests, Watlington decided she would like to attend Virginia Commonwealth University to become a physical therapist. “I want to do something with my life and impact others like the WDP has impacted me,” the student says. While the program has been successful in its four years, there is much more the BGCVP hopes to accomplish with the help of community partners. Grubbs notes the program welcomes drivers, speakers and businesses that can assist in offering tours of their facilities, as well as job shadowing and internship opportunities, both paid and unpaid. Working with the community, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula Workforce Development Center strives to open the doors of opportunity for all youth. “An investment in the youth of our community is a sound investment in the future,” Grubbs says. TO THE POINT

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula’s Workforce Development Program Address: 11825 Rock Landing Dr., Newport News, VA 23606 Phone: 757-223-7204 Contact: Donna Grubbs, director

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February 2015

GUEST COLUMN

A golfer’s tale By Charles (Buddy) Alligood

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erhaps age 70 was not the best time to take up the game of golf. But as a retired senior, I needed some activity to keep me busy and provide some much needed exercise, as raising and lowering my recliner between naps did not sufficiently increase my pulse level. And so, I took up the game of golf. Fortunately, a group of fellow retirees happily accepted me into their ranks and encouraged me to join them in their weekly rounds on the links. I did not volunteer that I had never taken lessons or played the game. They would learn this soon enough. While I had little experience as a golfer I soon learned and demonstrated various aspects of the game, which would make my golfing experience more pleasurable than those with far more experience. For example, as my more skilled golfing partners complained of playing during the hot summer days, I skillfully placed my tee shots well back in the woods where I proceeded to slash away at the little white ball in the comfort of cooling shade provided by numerous oaks and silver maples. It was actually quite pleasant. While others might prefer to spend their time at the beach, I found the golf course to be an adequate substitute. Every green was surrounded by wide sandy beaches (golfers refer to them as bunkers) where I would spend a great deal of time digging away with a sand wedge, much like a youngster would do at the beach, until eventually the ball would pop up and over the far side of the green. And while there is no ocean, there is plenty of water. Wide expanses of blue water often appear be-

February 2015

tween the tee and the green, offering a challenge even to experienced golfers. It is here that I usually wash my ball as I plunk my tee shot into the water. Now I can experience fishing as I lean over the lake trying desperately to rake my ball back within reach. Actually I am very good at this, often recovering one more ball than I lost. Knowing my inability to hit the ball over wide expanses of water, my golfing partners express surprise on seeing me tee up a brand new ball on waterside tees, suggesting that perhaps I should use an old ball at which point I have to admit that I have never had an old ball. And talk about exercise: I am surely adding that to my list of accomplishments. Chasing that little white ball over 18 holes has certainly trimmed my waistline and improved my heart rate. Still, I love playing the game. Golfers will tell you that the fellowship is what makes golf so enjoyable. The game itself and scores are secondary. I have found that to be absolutely true. Not only do I enjoy the companionship of my golfing partners but I have also made many new friends in other foursomes as I pursue an errant shot into an adjacent fairway. We exchange pleasantries and they express sympathy for my poor shot, admitting with smiles that they have “been there.” What a great game it is!

Charles (Buddy) Alligood, a retired industrial engineer, also enjoys hiking and working in his garden. He lives in Greensboro, NC, and can be reached by email at [email protected].

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OYSTER POINTER

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FINANCIAL SERVICES & WEALTH MANAGEMENT

OysterPointer’s AREA BUSINESS DIRECTORY For businesses in the Oyster Point District and neighboring Port Warwick For more information, log onto www.OysterPointer.net/listing.html or contact Brian DePrinzio, business development specialist, at 757-404-1446 or [email protected].

ACCOUNTING & RELATED SERVICES A.J. White & Associates, LLC CPA, Payroll, Bookkeeping, and Tax Services 732 Thimble Shoals Blvd. Suite 902 Newport News, VA 23606 757-223-9433, Fax: 757-223-9434 [email protected] www.ajwhiteandassoc.com Ashley J. White, CPA, EA Carmines, Robbins & Company, PC CPA, Accounting, Bookkeeping, Taxes 11815 Rock Landing Dr. Newport News, VA 23606 757-873-8585, Fax: 757-873-8585 [email protected] www.CarminesRobbins.com Rob Carmines, MST CFP® CPA, Partner Athena Robbins, CFP® CPA, Partner Dillon Revelle, CPA, Partner Malvin, Riggins & Company, P.C. Certified Public Accountants 725 Middle Ground Blvd. Suite 200 Newport News, VA 23606 757-881-9600, Fax: 757-881-9617 [email protected] www.MalvinRiggins.com John T. Caldwell, CPA, MST, President Joyce Riggins Schaffer, CPA, CFP; John T. Hart, CPA; Karen VanRosendale, CPA MOR Consulting Services 11848 Rock Landing Drive Suite 202-A Newport News, VA 23606 757-240-2664, Fax: 757-273-8265 [email protected] morconsultingservices.com Mildred “Nany” Gonzalez, Principal

AIR TRAVEL

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF) 900 Bland Blvd., Suite G Newport News, VA 23602 757-877-0221 [email protected] www.FlyPHF.com Ken Spirito, A.A.E., Executive Director; Jessica Wharton, Director of Marketing and Public Relations

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula 11825 Rock Landing Dr. Chesapeake Building, Suite B Newport News, VA 23606 757-223-7204, Fax: 757-223-7206 [email protected] www.bagclub.com Steven S. Kast, President & CEO

CREDIT UNIONS ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY The Huntington at The Newport 11143 Warwick Blvd. Newport News, VA 23601 757-223-0888 [email protected] www.vahs.com Ellen Blount

BANKING Old Point National Bank 11751 Jefferson Ave. Newport News, VA 23606 757-728-1264, Fax: 757-596-0729 [email protected] www.oldpoint.com Susan Bartlome, Vice President, Branch Officer EVB (formerly Virginia Company Bank) 11801 Merchants Walk Newport News, VA 23606 757-327-0150, Fax: 757-596-6331 [email protected] Mark Hanna, Regional President

BayPort Credit Union 11820 Fountain Way, Suite 400 Newport News, VA 757-928-8850 www.bayportcu.org

Port Warwick Dental Arts Comprehensive Holistic Dental Care 251 Nat Turner Blvd. S Newport News, VA 23606 757-223-9270 [email protected] www.pwdentalarts.com Lisa Marie Samaha, DDS Dr. McKinley L. Price at Dental Care at Oyster Point Comprehensive Dentistry 635 Pilot House Drive Newport News, VA 23606 757-873-2777, Fax: 757-873-2444 DCOysterPoint@MyDentalMail. com www.DentalCareatOysterPoint. com Marcia Price, Office Manager

DENTAL SERVICES Benjamin T. Watson DDS, PLC Restorative, Cosmetic and Sedation Dentistry 729 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Suite 7E Newport News, VA 23606 757-873-3322, Fax: 757-873-8407 [email protected] www.dr-watson.com Benjamin T. Watson DDS City Center Dental Care Family, Cosmetic, Invisalign, Implant and Sedation 709 Mobjack Place Newport News, VA 23606 757-873-3001, Fax: 757-873-0197 [email protected] www.citycenterdentalcare.com William T. Griffin, DDS, P.C. Kimberly J. Greenwell, DMD Sonia Tao-Yi, DDS

Lions Bridge Financial Advisors Financial Services for Families and Businesses 2110 William Styron Square Newport News, VA 23606 757-599-9111, Fax: 757-599-9220 [email protected] www.LionsBridgeFinancial.com Sigmon Daknis Wealth Management Individuals, Families and Businesses 701 Towne Center Dr., Suite 104 Newport News, VA 23606 757-223-5902, Fax: 757-223-5903 [email protected] www.sigmondaknis.com Stephen E. Sigmon, CFP®, President; Jennifer B. Daknis, AIF®, LPL Financial Consultant; Richard A. Pietsch, CFP®

LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR Orlando’s Landscaping Landscaping, Design, Pesticide/Herbicide Services and Grounds Maintenance 815 Blue Crab Rd., Suite D, Newport News, VA 23606 757-873-6745 orlandoslandscaping@hrcoxmail. com www.orlandoslandscaping.com Stephen Orlando, president Erin Snyder Dixon, manager

ENGINEERING SERVICES Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP 11870 Merchants Walk, Suite 100 Newport News, VA 23606 757-599-5101, Fax: 757-599-5320 [email protected] www.wrallp.com Sharyn Fox, Municipal Program Manager

EXECUTIVE SUITES & VIRTUAL OFFICES BusinesSuites Oyster Point Short Term Office and Conference Rooms 11815 Fountain Way One City Center, Suite 300 Newport News, VA 23606 757-926-5375 [email protected] www.businessuites.com Cheryl Johnson, Center Manager

MEDICAL & RELATED SERVICES Hampton Roads ENT-Allergy ENT, Allergy, Audiology 11842 Rock Landing Dr., Suite 100 Newport News, VA 23606 757-873-0338, Fax: 757-873-9579 www.hamptonroadsent.com Timothy Queen, MD Maico Audiological Services Audiology 703 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Ste. C-3 Newport News, VA 23606 757-873-8794, Fax: 757-873-5734 [email protected] www.maicoaudio.com

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ORAL SURGERY Dr. N. Ray Lee, DDS Oyster Point Oral and Facial Surgery 11842 Rock Landing Dr., Suite 105 Newport News, VA 23606 757-596-1200, Fax: 757-596-5960 www.oysterpointoralandfacial surgery.com

ORTHOPEDICS Hampton Roads Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine 730 Thimble Shoals Blvd. Suite 130 Newport News, VA 23606 757-873-1554, Fax: 757-873-3239 www.hrosm.com

PAYROLL, HR & AUTOMATED TIMEKEEPING TIME & PAY Web Based Payroll, HR and Automated Timekeeping 753 Thimble Shoals Blvd. Suite D-1 Newport News, VA 23606 757-240-2766, Fax:757-240-2740 [email protected] www.va.timeandpay.com Randy Philpott, Margie Walker

PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINING Personal Training Associates 210 Nat Turner Blvd. Port Warwick Newport News, VA 23606 757-599-5999 [email protected] BrianColeandAssociates.com Tidewater Performance Fitness, Sports Performance 751 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Newport News, VA 23601 757-223-5612 [email protected] www.TidewaterPerform.com Katie Benick MS, CSCS

PHYSICAL THERAPY Tidewater Physical Therapy, Inc. 751 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Newport News, VA 23601 757-873-2123, Fax: 757-873-3848 [email protected] www.TPTI.com Tony Grillo, PT, DPT, OCS, CIMT, Clinical Director

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REAL ESTATE Rose & Womble Realty Company 800 Diligence Dr. Newport News, VA 23606 757-873-1323, Fax: 757-873-1326 [email protected] www.RoseAndWomble.com/ offices/Peninsula Dale Chandler, Managing Broker

REAL ESTATE– RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES Arbors at Port Warwick 1100 William Styron Square South Newport News, VA 23606 757-595-7767, Fax: 757-595-8791 [email protected] www.thearborsatportwarwick.com Casey McCaughan, Director of Sales Jesse Young, Executive Director

RESTAURANTS Schlesinger’s Fine Dining 1106 William Styron Square Newport News, VA 23606 757-599-4700 [email protected] www.schlesingerssteaks.com Brad Monte, General Manager

Oyster Point District Port Warwick

SKIN CARE– AGING & MAINTENANCE Numa Spa Med Spa 11842 Rock Landing Dr., Suite 107 Newport News, VA 23606 757-223-5800, Fax: 757-596-5960 [email protected] www.numaspa.com

MAP COURTESY OF NEWPORT NEWS DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT

February 2015

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OYSTER POINTER

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LiveStrong at the YMCA By Catherine Rogers

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PHOTOS BY CATHERINE ROGERS

Executive officer Danny Carroll in the Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA offices in City Center. Inset: Sharon and Sonny Hines, graduates of the Luter Family YMCA’s first and second LiveStrong classes, respectively, pose with LiveStrong trainers Tonya Jones (left) and Michelle Armstrong.

new program at the Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA changed Sharon Hines’ life. “It was a new beginning for me and provided a new outlook for my health and for what a 66-year-old grandmother can accomplish in three short months,” she says. A breast cancer survivor from Smithfield, Hines considers herself “one of the lucky ones.” Her case was caught early, during a routine mammogram, and her treatment was easier than she expected. But Hines was the fifth person in her family to be diagnosed with cancer, and the process becoming even more personal opened a new world of decisions, emotion and exhaustion. Her strategy was simple: stay positive. “I decided to let the doctors guide me, but I would do my part by having a positive attitude,” she says. “I wasn’t going to let cancer take my spirit.” The American Cancer Society estimates more than a million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. last year. While that’s just a sliver of the country’s population (about 300 million), that number is growing, spreading its cancerous reach to people in all walks of life. For some, the battle is short and painless, but for others it spans years, slowly pulling “normal” out of everyday life. That is what the YMCA’s new LiveStrong program is fighting to give back to those in any stage of cancer. “LiveStrong is truly designed to give them an opportunity to participate in a normal life activity that gives them hope again,” said Danny Carroll, Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA executive officer. LiveStrong is a national YMCA effort, but the Luter Family YMCA in Smithfield and the Newport News TO THE POINT

Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA– LiveStrong Program Address: 41 Old Oyster Point Rd., Ste. C, Newport News, VA 23602 Phone: 757-223-7925 Contact: Paul M. Anderson, program and membership development director Business: Health and wellness Website: www.peninsulaymca.org

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Family YMCA were selected as part of 100 locations across the country to pilot the program last year. The 12-week program meets twice a week for 90 minutes. It incorporates traditional exercise with classroom-style instruction and small group conversation—all aimed at strengthening the whole person. And it’s completely free. “The response has been overwhelming,” says Amy Henry, who manages the program in Newport News. “The men and women in our program come to understand that even small moments of progress are huge when you are regaining your sense of wellness.” That definitely proved true for Hines, who went from being able to last five minutes on an Arc exercise machine to now more than an hour. She says the program was hugely meaningful because the people there were all in the same boat; they all had cancer or were battling it. And ultimately it gave her confidence by showing her she could improve. “Through this program, I may have lost a few pounds, but what I’ve gained is so much more— wonderful friends and the keys to a better life,” she says. It wasn’t long before Hines became a YMCA member and started going to other classes. Then she encouraged her husband to go with her. Hines graduated from LiveStrong in August, the first class the Luter YMCA offered. Her husband, 77-year-old Sonny Hines, who is also a cancer survivor, graduated from the second class in December. The couple now goes to the YMCA almost every day and often meets up to exercise with other LiveStrong graduates. LiveStrong begins twice each year at two locations in Hampton Roads. The next set of classes begins in February for Newport News and March for Smithfield. The goal for 2015 is to expand the program to six locations, including Hampton YMCA, Victory YMCA (Yorktown), Northern Neck YMCA, and R.F. Wilkinson YMCA (Williamsburg). To make this happen, Carroll says the YMCA is in the midst of raising $42,000, to accommodate the program being completely free to participants. February 2015

MONEY MATTERS

Taxpayer’s (and CPA’s) lament! By Robert W. Carmines, MST, CFP®, PFS, CPA, Carmines, Robbins & Company, PLC

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ow, another year, and another last second tax extender bill passed by a do-nothing Congress. Every year seems like a bad soap opera where we don’t know what expired provisions of our tax law will be renewed, increased, decreased or allowed to expire until the absolute last minute. Poor taxpayers are left having to either gamble on what might happen or sit on the sidelines until it is virtually too late to take advantage of provisions. A great example is the rules regarding expensing fixed assets purchased for business use (primarily equipment). As of December 18, 2014, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 has been passed (December 16, 2014), but not signed. Based on the margin of passing, it is virtually impossible to imagine it not being signed, but it won’t be by the time I have to submit this column for print. Prior to this bill, there were provisions that allowed expensing of equipment up to $25,000. In 2013, that limit was $500,000, but it reverted to $25,000 as the temporary measure, which increased it to spur the economy lapsed. In addition, in 2013 there was a thing called additional bonus depreciation, which allowed expensing of 50 percent of the cost of the equipment in the year of purchase. It too lapsed in 2014. As of December 18, we had a passed, yet unsigned bill that restores both of those provisions to the 2013 limits. Unfortunately, if you dealt with the law as it was in effect for 95 percent of 2014, you limited your equipment purchases to $25,000 unless you really, really needed something. It is arguably too late at this point to purchase equipment and still meet the placed in-service rule. That rule is that any equipment purchased must be placed in service by the business to qualify for these deductions in 2014. Order a $500,000 piece of equipment and ask Amazon to get it to you, installed and in production by December 31, 2014, and you were probably out of luck! Such is the life of certified public

February 2015

accountants and taxpayers alike! It is bad enough that the tax code is so complex. There are actually good reasons for a lot of the rules. Many of the provisions are complex in order to keep taxpayers from milking tax provisions in unintended ways, such as tax shelters in the 70s and 80s. In other cases, the tax situations the rules govern are complicated by themselves that detailed provisions are necessary to sort out the proper treatment of such transactions. However, the political football our tax law has become is reaching a critical state. I am reminded of a Marshall Wythe Law School professor I had when I was receiving my masters of science of taxation (MST) degree. He said he loved teaching tax law; he could give the same exam, but the answers were always different! So what’s a CPA to do when a client calls and asks for advice? The wise taxpayer decides not solely based upon tax deductions. Instead he makes decisions that have a good financial basis, such as buying new business equipment because he needs it and can become more profitable with it. The tax savings, while substantial, should be the icing on the cake, not the sole purpose for purchasing something. In these uncertain times (with respect to tax law anyway), those who gambled last year got lucky. They may not be so lucky in the future. By the way, be careful about phaseout provisions for the section 179 expenses and check with your tax professional before acting on this provision. By the time you read this, the bill will have lapsed for 2015—again!

Robert W. Carmines, MST, CFP®, PFS, CPA is a partner in the certified public accounting firm of Carmines, Robbins & Company, PLC, located in the City Center section of Oyster Point Business Park in Newport News, VA. Phone 757-873-8585 and visit the website at www.DDS-CPA. com or www.CarminesRobbins.com.

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TO YOUR HEALTH

Reclaim your smile– reclaim your health By Lisa Marie Samaha, DDS

H

ealthy dental habits are important for maintaining a pleasing smile, and they are more important than you might think for maintaining a healthy body. In fact, they are critical to achieving total body wellness. Many will agree that healthy lifestyle habits are important, especially so for those who are genetically predisposed to health problems such as heart attack and stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, respiratory disease, pregnancy complications, infertility, erectile dysfunction and cancer, among other issues.

Everyone wants a beautiful, healthy smile and with that comes a healthier body. As such, waves of health-conscious adults are now setting their sights on organic produce, grass-fed meats and wild-caught fish. Gym memberships have become standard practice, and healthy individuals steer clear of smoking. Healthy individuals also floss, brush and visit their dentist for regular check-ups as an integral part of their life because they know that periodontal disease—an infectious bacterial disease that destroys the gums and jawbone— affects 85 percent of the adult population in the United States and is the number one cause of tooth loss. Millions of harmful bacteria live in your mouth, and their ability to attach to teeth and gums is the primary cause of periodontal infection. While excellent oral hygiene and professional care greatly reduce chances of getting periodontal disease, the disease is highly

contagious, and you still might not be in the safe zone. Several factors should be considered that, in fact, might put you at high risk for periodontal disease: • Having family members or friends with periodontal disease • Maintaining a low-quality nutritional intake; a wide range of vegetables are key to keeping your gums healthy • Inheriting the genetic marker for periodontal disease • Being diagnosed with other conditions, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, or being pregnant or post-menopausal • Being under stress It is important to note that periodontal disease is silent until its middle-to-late stages, so it takes a skilled dental health professional to provide a proper diagnosis and proper treatment options. Learn how to avoid the symptoms of periodontal disease, such as an offensive breath, loose teeth, bleeding, receding gums and tooth loss. Most of all, learn how to maintain a healthy mouth to avoid the dangers that periodontal disease can wreak on the rest of the body. Everyone wants a beautiful, healthy smile and with that comes a healthier body. It’s important to understand periodontal disease and use healthy dental habits to achieve and maintain total body wellness.

Dr. Lisa Marie Samaha of Port Warwick Dental Arts is available to share more life enhancing information with you. Call 757-223-9270 and visit her website www.PortWarwickDentalArts.com.

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February 2015

TRAVELWISE

The selfie is a vacation staple By Beverly McLean, CTC, Covington International Travel

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here’s no shortage of fabulous scenery on this beautiful blue marble we call home. Some travelers seek the natural settings of thundering waterfalls, soaring mountain peaks or undersea coral gardens. Others are drawn to impressive man-made architecture, untamed wildlife or outdoor adventure. What all scenic destinations have in common is that visitors want to capture the view for their memories—and increasingly with themselves in the photo for posterity. Thus the selfie was born!

Now all ages do it. Admit it, you do too. Especially when there’s no one available to take the picture with you in it. Several years ago, I assumed the selfie obsession was just a teenage phenomenon. What self-respecting adult would contort into a pretzel just to take a picture of a new haircut? But social media rocketed into an omnipresent part of our daily lives, and in early 2014, Ellen DeGeneres’ Oscar selfie officially made taking photos of oneself with your phone super cool! (Side note: Depending on your age and social media saturation, selfies may have already been super cool, but I’m speaking as a boomer who will always be a step behind my millennial kids in technology.) Now all ages do it. Admit it, you

do too. Especially when there’s no one available to take the picture with you in it. On my recent vacation to Riviera Maya, I couldn’t help but notice plenty of people using “selfie sticks,” a pole that effectively extends one’s arm for taking a better selfie. They were taking selfies on the beach, in the ocean, at sunset, with the bartender—you get the picture. Privately I scoffed at carrying around the selfie stick, but I must admit that my arm-length selfies (yes, I do it, too!) often leave a little (lot?) to be desired. Maybe I need more practice—or one of those sticks! Selfies are an element of travel that isn’t going away soon. In fact, some hotels are capitalizing on our global society’s propensity for selfie sharing. Hotel Grand Bretagne in Athens has a designated “selfie spot” at the Roof Garden Restaurant where guests can snap a pic of themselves with a perfect view of the Acropolis in the background. At the 1888 Hotel in Sydney, Australia, guests are encouraged to take selfies at check in. When they tag and post them to Instagram, the images immediately appear on big screens in the hotel lobby. The Mandarin Oriental Paris offers a “Selfies in Paris” package that includes three hours of a luxury car and driver, in-car Wi-Fi and a list of the best selfie spots in Paris.

COURTESY OF BEVERLY McLEAN

Last summer, the La Concha Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Hotel Modera in Portand, Oregon; and the Landsdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia, all offered selfie contests with additional hotel nights as prizes. While hotel guests are snapping selfies and sharing their happy vacation faces with their social media networks, they are also providing free marketing to the savvy hotels that encourage their participation. As Wi-Fi becomes

more economical on airlines and cruise ships, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more selfie incentives from those segments, too. I, for one, am going to practice, so I’ll be ready to snap the perfect selfie on my next trip!

For additional information, contact Beverly McLean, CTC, Covington International Travel, 757-286-5233 or e-mail [email protected].

COURTESY OF BEVERLY McLEAN

February 2015

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VIEWPOINT

Educating by doing By Michael Anderson, Future Ironman

A

s I propped myself up, I shook my head trying to figure out why I was sprawled face down in the middle of this trail. I turned over and sat up, pulling my knees up a little and immediately felt the pain of a twisted ankle, sprained wrist, skinned knees and palms, a busted elbow and severely bruised ego. While running, I had tripped on a hidden tree root.

Too many times people quit when they are right on the cusp of success because the struggle becomes more difficult. I sat in the middle of this trail in the mountains of West Virginia, three miles into a 12-mile obstacle course race, wondering why, at 51, I was putting myself through yet another endurance event that only seemed to beat me

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down physically. With the struggles and pain from my last marathon fresh in my mind, I questioned why I wasn’t easing my way into senior citizenship like my friends. “Because that is not who you are,” a voice within said. After much contemplation and self-talk, I picked myself up and finished the event. On the drive home I realized that I was at the point in my life where my experiences from life and from the events in which I participated were no longer about me; they were about something much larger than me. And voila—the mid-life crisis! Combining the callings of my soul to my outer life. My soul was making a play for me to live my purpose by stepping out onto my individual path, incorporating my true gifts. It was telling me to put my mind at service to my heart and to serve myself and others by embracing

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what I was destined to do and not live within the shadow of what I could have become. How could I resist? Through a series of grassroots campaigns, using social media over the next several months, my faith, fitness and freedom initiative began and quickly gained a following. But it didn’t take long for me to understand that people were watching me instead of listening to me, to see if I was practicing what I was preaching. I understood that there was no way to talk someone into a level of consciousness that would cause that person to take action. As Lisa Byrne, publisher of EPIC magazine put it, “We can never be someone else’s revelation.” All others and I can do is work and maintain our own energies in hopes that we can somehow positively influence others toward their own truth. I know that the best way to influence is to DO. So I have committed myself, now 53, to train for a fulldistance Ironman triathlon, all 140.6 miles of it. And as much as I would like to say that I am doing it for myself, I am more so doing it to help bring awareness to others that it is never

too late regardless of age, size, gender or whatever to get started toward some goal. Knowing that struggle has purpose and no worthwhile journey comes without struggle, helping others to learn how to embrace struggle as a way to build strength is paramount. Too many times people quit when they are right on the cusp of success because the struggle becomes more difficult. The struggling to leave the cocoon is what strengthens the butterfly’s wings enough to allow her to fly. If she is helped to leave the cocoon early, she won’t have the strength to fly on her own. And I think that is what this journey is about: showing people how, through taking action, to leave their cocoon so that ultimately they, too, can fly on their own, just like the butterfly. Stay tuned. The best is yet to come!

Contact Michael Anderson at 757-8465477 or at d.michaelanderson@outlook. com. Follow the struggles and the raucous good times of his Ironman journey at http://89weeks.wordpress.com., on twitter at @livinglarge19 and on facebook www. facebook.com/manderson.

February 2015

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OYSTER POINTER

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Signs By Tomorrow:

Printing and problem solving By Emily Moliken

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“

igns, signs, everywhere a sign.” Remember that lyric from a song by the Canadian rock group, Five Man Electrical Band, released in the 1960s? Whether you remember it or not, when it comes to signs, chances are if you live on the Peninsula, you’ve seen the handiwork of Linda and Forrest Bassett, owners of Signs By Tomorrow. The Bassetts have turned this franchise into a friendly shop-aroundthe-corner-like establishment, complete with a welcoming and helpful staff of five and Charlie, the Bassetts’ loving dog and office pet. However, don’t let their amiable demeanor fool you. Forrest and Linda—as well as their employees—are hardworking and determined folks who thoroughly enjoy their painstaking work. The Bassetts provide signs, banners, decals, graphic services and visual solutions for local businesses and organizations. NASA, Sentara, Christopher Newport University, Chickfil-A and Merrill Lynch are just a few of the many companies that seek the help and support of Signs By Tomorrow, a business creating high resolution and artfully designed signage. Forrest started his career with Black & Decker, progressing with the company and later moving to several other large corporations, including Fisher Price, a well recognized name in the toy industry. When it came time to step back from corporate life—Linda had been a stay-at-home mom throughout

Forrest and Linda Bassett stand next to a showcase of signs they’ve created at their business Signs by Tomorrow.

his career—Forrest decided to look into purchasing a franchise, of what, he wasn’t certain. “I was interviewed for three hours at a franchising network event to find out what business suited me,” Forrest fondly recalls. One of the suggestions presented to him was the sign industry. “I thought of a little shop at the end of a dirt road filled with people painting signs,” he says with a laugh. But what Bassett found was quite different. At the time—16 years ago—when the Bassetts decided to buy the Signs By Tomorrow franchise, the printing

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CATHERINE ROGERS

technology appeared to be state of the art. However, in comparison with what they use today, those old printers hardly stack up. With giant printers that create signs 60 inches wide and as long as a customer requests, the professional design software and every machine one could imagine to produce the best signs and decals are available, the Bassetts are leading the field when it comes to crafting a vision into a reality. “It’s all about solving people’s problems,” Linda says. “When someone comes in and is just so excited about seeing an idea become a reality, it’s incredibly rewarding. Not only does

the team at Signs By Tomorrow solve problems efficiently and with great amounts of care; they also do it with speed, accuracy and satisfaction. The company stays true to its name, rolling out incredible products in short amounts of time, filling orders in a matter of hours after receiving them. “Do you see those footprints I’ve just printed?” Forrest asks, referencing a sheet of about 10 sets of incredibly clear and sharp teal footprints. “They just placed that order an hour ago,” he says, as the vibrant vinyl shoots out of the gigantic printer. Linda and Forrest know the sign business, but when they aren’t busy helping others get noticed, they spend their time quietly unnoticed. “We’re homebodies,” Linda says. The couple enjoys being at home with their two dogs, unwinding after a long week of printing, creating and designing. Signs, signs, everywhere a sign? Probably produced by Signs By Tomorrow. Just look around, you’ll be sure to spot one. TO THE POINT

Signs By Tomorrow Address: 11712-A Jefferson Ave., Newport News, VA 23606 Phone: 757-873-5777 Contact: Forrest & Linda Bassett Business: Visual solutions industry, sign manufacturing Website: www.signsbytomorrow.com/ newportnews

OYSTER POINT HAPPENINGS Action from the Newport News Industrial Development Authority/ Economic Development Authority Board of Directors meeting held in January, 2015: Approved a landscape plan of proposed landscaping within a City of Newport News drainage easement at 736, 740, and 742 Blue Crab Road, as requested by Kotarides Developers/EDA/WF I-V LLC/Carr Associates. Approved site layout plan and photograph of a proposed outside storage unit at 1 Old Oyster Point Road, as requested by TowneBank. All items approved subject to meeting all applicable city codes and regulations.

22 OYSTER POINTER

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February 2015

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February 2015

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OYSTER POINTER

23

STRETCHING THE POINT

Pete’s Custom Auto:

Strong work ethic and giving back lead to success for local business By Cathy Welch

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ete and Joan Medlin attribute the success of their local business to hard work and honesty. Pete uses the same success tactics in his charitable work to pay back for what was done for him in the past. Born in Nash County, North Carolina, Henry Donald “Pete” Medlin was one of 11 children. His nickname came from his favorite Uncle Pete, whom he liked to follow around as a child. When he was nine years old, Pete’s family moved to Phoebus, following

his brother, who was employed by the shipyard. His father was a night watchman. In 1953, Bull Island born-and-bred, Joan Insley, and six girlfriends walked to a Poquoson basketball game. Pete offered them a ride home, dropping her off last. “He asked me out and we dated until September 1954 when we got married,” Joan adds. “He was a Romeo,” Joan says. “When we got married, this one woman walked up and said, ‘I didn’t

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Pete Medlin in front of the main office at Pete’s Custom Auto.

CATHY WELCH

think I’d ever see this—little Pete getting married.’” After 18 years, they divorced, but remarried in 2007 for inheritance tax benefits. “I told Pete he had lost his everloving mind, but I ended up doing it,” Joan says. The couple has two daughters and two sons. Pete is now 80 and Joan is 78. In the mid-20th century, Pete held national records for drag racing. He ran his 1932 Ford roadster, named Mama Pig, all over New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. His second car was a dragster put together from parts he gathered from his business. “He was in the top ten in the nation for drag racing,” Joan explains. Pete started in the body shop as a mechanic during his drag-racing days, working 16-hour days. In 1963, he bought the business from his brotherin-law’s father, Elmo Harrison. The adjacent land north of their office was owned by Southern Mobile Homes. When the company went out of business, Pete bought the land. TO THE POINT

Pete’s Custom Auto Address: 10165 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, VA 23605 Phone: 757-599-6000 Contacts: Pete Medlin and Donnie Medlin

Initially, Pete’s did not offer wrecker service. “The wrecker service moved into me,” he jokes. “You start out with one truck and the next thing you know, you have 10.” Today his wrecking service operates with 50 wreckers. “I built a lot of them,” he says. Today, Pete’s Custom Auto sells automotive parts out of its salvage yard, but customers no longer comb the yard for what they need. “They retired me,” Pete says of his current part-time involvement in the business. “The boy runs it now.” “The boy” is Pete’s son, Donnie Medlin. They have 15 employees including Pete’s daughter-in-law, Lynne, who is secretary/treasurer. “I was raised here,” Donnie says. “He had me driving a truck when I had my learner’s permit.” Pete would send the custodian (who had a driver’s license but could not drive a wrecker) with Donnie. Donnie began training drivers before he had a license. When he was about nine, he rode along on a job to winch a cement mixer out of a Williamsburg embankment. None of the men would get in to steer the running vehicle. “Dad says, ‘Donnie Lee, get in that truck and hold that steering wheel straight,’” Donnie says. “I’m standContinued on page 26

February 2015

POINT BLANK

Tiffany Waersch MARKETING SPECIALIST, BAYPORT CREDIT UNION A ROMANTIC VALENTINE DATE WOULD BE dinner at home and curling up to

watch a good movie. FLOWERS MAKE THE BEST GIFT BECAUSE they last all week.

Be a part of the

MY FAVORITE ROMANTIC COMEDY IS “When Harry Met Sally.” Best line ever:

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AREA BUSINESS DIRECTORY

I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A REALITY TV SHOW ABOUT firemen. I know I for

one would watch it.

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THE BEST LOVE SONG IS “I Want to Know What Love Is” or anything

by Foreigner.

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THE FIRST TRIP I TOOK AS A CHILD WAS to Germany. I’m a super proud

Army brat. PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANY WAERSCH

I CHOSE MY CAREER BECAUSE marketing lets me combine my analytical

side with my creative side to come up with the perfect campaign targeting the people who want and need the product. It’s a match made in heaven. THE NEXT ITEM ON MY BUCKET LIST IS flip a house. I love home projects so

to do an entire house would be fantastic. Besides, it looks so easy on HGTV. MY DVD COLLECTION INCLUDES—do people still watch DVDs? I AM HOPING FOR SNOW THIS YEAR BECAUSE—NOT!!!! THE MOST FUN PART OF MY JOB IS brainstorming. Coming up with off-the-wall

ideas that sound crazy and then finding a way to make them work. I PREFER DINING IN ON VALENTINE’S DAY BECAUSE there is nothing romantic

about crowds of people. my parents. They have always been supportive and motivating. I want to be just like them when I grow up! THE PERSONS WHO HAVE MOST INFLUENCED MY LIFE ARE

February 2015

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OYSTER POINTER

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PETE’S, continued from page 24

Your future clients here Order mailing labels with more than 900 businesses in Oyster Point Business Park, available as a printed set or as printable labels on CD. I want to do business with Oyster Point. My check (payable to Oyster Pointer) for $_______ is enclosed. Please send me:

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ing up in that cement mixer with it running and holding that steering wheel. Once he winches it up the hill, he looks around and says, ‘It’s a shame that little boy’s got to do what none of you had the [nerve] to do.’” Referring to their children, Joan says, “This is all they’ve known.” Pete’s Custom Auto provides local police and fire departments a place to train for rescue operations. “Donnie furnishes a car and they practice with the Jaws of Life and how to cut cars to get people out,” Joan explains. “If you cut it the wrong way, it’s going to come down on them.” “The number of people that he’s helped over the years is infinite,” Donnie says of his dad. “The Salvation Army stood out,” Pete says. “We buy buses the city’s getting rid of and use them to keep them in a good bus that all the kids ride in.” “He said the Salvation Army did so much for him,” Joan explains of Pete’s childhood years. “Sometimes they wouldn’t have had a Christmas if not for the Salvation Army, who bought him his first pair of new shoes.”

Are you looking for someone to assist with your Human Resources efforts,

Pete Medlin and his 1932 Ford Roadster, Mama Pig, in 1963 at the Emporia Drag Strip in Emporia, Virginia.

Pete attributes the success of Pete’s Custom Auto to a lot of hard work. Joan adds honesty and treating people fairly. “If you treat them fairly, they’ll come back,” she says. Even though Pete only works part-

A wishbone is about luck.

COURTESY OF PETE’S CUSTOM AUTO

time now, Donnie says his father has a strong work ethic unknown to most people. “He gave me that curse,” Donnie says with a smile. “It’s not a bad thing sometimes.”

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To advertise, contact Brian DePrinzio today! 757.404.1446, [email protected] February 2015

WAY BEYOND THE POINT

Ceremonial Doves of Tidewater:

Dove release provides positive memories By Nancy P. Sykes

“Oh, for wings like a dove, to fly away and rest!” —Psalm 55:6

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“

wo years ago I saw my first white dove release at a funeral in Lynchburg,” says Don Kane, owner of Ceremonial Doves of Tidewater. “I watched the face of a child change from sad to happy when she held a dove. I thought ‘Wow.’ This is the business for me!” Kane began to research dove release. He turned to the Internet, became excited about what he learned, then acquired and trained his own birds. The business has been located at his home for the past two years. TO THE POINT

Ceremonial Doves of Tidewater Address: 32 Barclay Rd., Newport News, VA 23606 Phone: 757-812-0247 Contact: Don Kane Email: [email protected] Website: www.ceremonialdovesoftidewateer.com

Kane currently has 11 doves, which are actually white homing pigeons. “They love to fly,” he says. “I let them out every day and they always fly together, switching off the lead.” Kane’s birds are fed a special diet, which they associate with home. “During training I gradually increase the release distance away from home, working up to 50 miles. The doves are highly intelligent. They have a remarkable memory, using sight, hearing and memory to find their way home. They can read the earth’s magnetic fields. Doves have been known to travel hundreds of miles, flying 14 to 16 hours. “Doves symbolize purity, good luck and can represent the Holy Spirit,” says Kane. “The largest percent of my business is funerals. The birds are released at the conclusion of a graveside service. They provide a sense of closure and a

Don Kane at Peninsula Memorial Park with the doves he trains to release at weddings, funerals, birthday parties and other events.

positive memory for those present.” Dove release is also popular at weddings. Doves mate for life and symbolize the commitment made by the bride and groom. For those preferring not to hold the dove, a basket is used. Other release occasions include anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and countless other events. Kane is a member of the White Dove Release Professionals, a national organization. Dove release is not well

CATHERINE ROGERS

known locally. It is especially popular in California, Florida and North Carolina. Kane’s wife, Sandy, serves as his backup. They explain the symbolism and adapt a funeral service to all faiths. Charities and the military are not charged. Prior to his current business, Kane was the owner of Tidewater Nurseries Inc. on Oyster Point Road for 30 years. Now he enjoys golf, vegetable gardening and his eight grandchildren.

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DEADLINES Unless noted otherwise, the deadline to reserve ad space and to submit information for us to create your ad is the first Monday of each month. The deadline to submit your print-ready ad file is the Wednesday after the first Monday.

MARCH ISSUE

M, Feb. 2: Reserve ad space and submit ad info W, Feb. 4: Submit print-ready ad file

APRIL ISSUE

M, Mar. 2: Reserve ad space and submit ad info W, Mar. 4: Submit print-ready ad file

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M, Apr. 6: Reserve ad space and submit ad info W, Apr. 8: Submit print-ready ad file Ads canceled after reservation deadline will be billed at 100%.

For ad placement contact Brian DePrinzio at 757-404-1446 or [email protected]. February 2015

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OYSTER POINTER

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