Feb-April 2023 Boulevard

The essential source of things to do for locals & visitors

Virginia Arts Festival

Celebrating twenty-six seasons of culture and the performing arts

Lynnhaver River NOW Project

Wooden Boat Workshop

Viewpoint: Affordable Housing

Profile: Nicole Livas

FEB-APR 2023

WAVE Basketball Club

Wave

Who

Adult Leagues

Our

Youth Basketball Leagues & Camps

The Virginia Arts Festival continues to showcase exceptional international and local performers in Tidewater. Case in point: Critically acclaimed mandolinist/singer/composer and radio host Chris Thile has three shows this May.

[ PHOTO by Josh Goleman ]

COURTESY OF LYNHAVEN RIVER NOW

DAVID POLSTON

COURTESY OF VIRGINIA ARTS FESTIVAL

from the publisher

The Evolution of Tidewater Continues

Hello everyone and welcome to Boulevard magazine’s first issue of our fourth year in business. Our vision back in pre-COVID January 2020 was to become “The Essential Guide for Locals and Visitors.” Since the first issue in the fall of 2020, we continue to actively promote all things of substance and style in the Tidewater region: the performing arts, a diverse music scene from alternative to zydeco, the best epicurean offerings, as well as the rich sun, surf and ocean heritage of our unique coastal community.

Boulevard’s continued editorial focus is to promote economic development, small business and tourism—along with highlighting individuals and organizations that add to our rich community. A new era is dawning that will further invigorate and bolster our region’s brand as an emerging center of excellence for business, technology, civilian opportunity and military prowess. Recent events like the return of “Something in the Water,” the redevelopment of both Pembroke Mall and Military Circle, the opening of Rivers Casino Portsmouth and the success of startups like Drone Up will mean many new high-paying jobs in the technology, entertainment, and financial sectors.

Our photographic coverage of local events, interesting organizations and people is featured in the pages of the magazine and on our digital platforms. And our social media team is constantly curating the myriad of things to do in Tidewater—find us at BlvdMedia757.

Boulevard continues to evolve as the essential guide for locals and visitors. You can obtain updated information on shopping, restaurants, exhibits, local art and music festivals, the current performing arts schedules and events. Our popular Day Trip section describes exciting excursions you can visit in a day. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Boulevard will guide you on how you plan your day, evening or other celebrations throughout the month.

In this issue you can read about 13News Now anchor and Tidewater native

BERRY BRUNK President | Publisher berry@blvdmedia.io

JULIE FANNING Chief Creative Officer julie@blvdmedia.io

DAVID POLSTON Photography Editor david@blvdmedia.io

RICK BLANTON Emeritus Photographer rick@blvdmedia.io

RICK POLSTON Copy Editor

CHRISTY JOINER Events Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

JASMINE SHENG Writer YIORGO Writer

JOHN CADELL Photographer

SUSIE BRUNK General Manager susie@blvdmedia.io

ADVERTISING Berry Brunk 757.340.3625 berry@blvdmedia.io

Nicole Livas—who delivers the news with integrity and also believes in giving back to a variety of special projects in the region. Our cover story highlights the rich and varied cultural performances courtesy of the Virginia Arts Festival—celebrating its 26th anniversary this year. We go on-site with Tom Brandl, the founder and executive director of the Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop, to learn more about the nonprofit that uses boatbuilding and nautical activities to mentor and teach life skills to youth. Then keeping with the water theme, we have a piece on Lynnhaven River NOW, an organization that works to restore the Virginia Beach Waters and improve water quality—essential to oyster and shellfish harvest— and natural resources in the Virginia Beach watersheds. And finally we hear the remarkable story of a mother’s advocacy for her daughter that became a mission leading her to launch a faith-based organization to support people with disabilities.

Susie and I want to personally thank you for using Boulevard as the resource that we created it to be. We bring the best of Tidewater to our collective audience of

curious connoisseurs, and we’d be grateful to have you tell our sponsors that you saw them in Boulevard. After all, the vibrant community we live in needs to know that you appreciate all that they do.

So as we offer you our spring issue, we hope you continue to return and find out more that we uncover about the Tidewater area. Come along with us on this adventure as we hightlight the best our community has to offer. We love hearing feedback from our readers about what you are doing and of course suggestions for stories, event coverage and general news are always welcome.

Recreational Gill-Netting Primer

If you are a rod and reel enthusiast, you might want to branch out and try a gill net. It’s an OG way to enjoy the sport and can be as much fun as the fish on the end of hook and line. Just remember to get your license and follow the rules and regulations—See statute on next page. Now go catch ‘em.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to use any gill net greater than 300 feet in length when licensed for recreational purposes under this chapter except as described in subsection B of this section. Any person licensed to use a recreational gill net up to 300 feet in length shall stay within 100 yards of such net when it is overboard. Failure to attend such net in this fashion is a violation of this chapter.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to use any anchored gill net when licensed for recreational purposes under this chapter that is greater than 110 feet in length in any of the tidal waters upriver of the saltwaterfreshwater boundaries. Any anchored gill net set or placed in areas upriver of the saltwater-freshwater boundaries shall be retrieved within one hour of setting or placing that gill net. Any person licensed to use a recreational anchored gill net shall stay within 100 yards of such net when it is overboard. Failure to attend such net in this fashion is a violation of this chapter, and any unattended anchored gill net shall be confiscated by the marine police officer.

C. Any law or chapter applying to the setting or fishing of commercial gill nets, cast nets, dip nets, crab pots, crab traps, or crab trot lines shall also apply to the gear licensed under this chapter when set or fished for recreational purposes, except that (i) certain commercial gear used for recreational purposes shall be marked in accordance with the provisions described in 4VAC20-670-40, and (ii) the daily time limits for commercial crab potting and peeler potting established in 4VAC20-270-30 shall not apply to the setting and fishing of recreational crab pots licensed under

During February, March and April you’ll typically reel in these catches:

FEBRUARY

Offshore

Bluefish, seabass, tautog

Chesapeake Bay

Rockfish, tautog, speckled trout

Tidal Rivers

Speckled trout, puppy drum

MARCH

Offshore Bluefin tuna

Chesapeake Bay

Tautog

Tidal Rivers

Speckled trout, puppy drum

APRIL

Offshore

Yellowfin tuna

Chesapeake Bay

Tautog, red drum, black drum, bluefish, roundheads

Tidal Rivers

Speckled trout, puppy drum, flounder, bluefish

What have you reeled in?

We would like to publish your photos, information, prize catches and catches of note in our What’s Biting segment. Send us your favorite amateur photos with a description and the photographer’s name.

SOAPS

BODY BUTTERS

SUGAR SCRUBS

LOTION BARS

BATH TRUFFLES

BATH SALTS DEODORANTS

LIP BALMS SALVES

BEARD BALMS

BEARD OILS

Gaelic for simple and straightforward SimpliArtisan.com

WHAT’S BITING

this chapter.

E. It shall be unlawful for any person to use any recreational gill net to catch and possess any species of fish whose commercial fishery is regulated by an annual harvest quota.

F. It shall be unlawful for any person using a recreational gill net, fish cast net, or fish dip net to take and possess more than the recreational possession limit for any species regulated by such a limit. When fishing from any boat, using gear licensed under this chapter, the total possession limit shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally eligible to fish multiplied by the individual possession limit for the regulated species, and the captain or operator of the boat shall be responsible for adherence to the possession limit.

G. It shall be unlawful for any person using a recreational gill net,

fish cast net, or fish dip net to take and possess any fish that is less than the lawful minimum size established for that species. When the taking of any fish is regulated by different size limits for commercial and recreational

fishermen, that size limit applicable to recreational fishermen or to hookand-line fishermen shall apply to the taking of that species by persons licensed under this chapter.

SET GILLNET—MAIN COMPONENTS

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Nicole Livas

Every evening, no matter where you live in the world, millions of people tune in to their local television stations to learn of the day’s news events. In decades past, Americans relied on trustworthy broadcast journalists like Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, Harry Reasoner, and Barbara Walters. In our area of Hampton Roads, Virginia, we have a trusted journalist of our own: WVEC 13News Now Evening Anchor Nicole Livas.

Livas’ career actually began at WVEC where she served as a production assistant. Her first on-air position was in Ohio, then on to Rhode Island before returning to Virginia prior to 2016. In 2016, Nicole moved to Washington, DC, and in the fall of that year she achieved her greatest accomplishment: the birth of her daughter Maya. By September 2018, Nicole was an anchor/producer/ editor with Voice of America (VOA)—the largest U.S. international news outlet independent from political and government interference. This was a position she held until April 2019. Under VOA’s employ she researched, wrote, and edited scripts and audio for VOA radio newscasts, airing internationally to an estimated weekly audience of more than 280 million people. She also anchored five-minute radio news segments every hour daily. Nicole returned to Hampton Roads later in 2019 to anchor the evening news at WVEC 13News Now, her current position.

Livas attributes a lot of her success to mentors while at WVEC and WAVY TV-10. Area locals will definitely remember Barbara Ciara, Ed Hughes, Paula Miller, and Bruce Radar, to name a few. Oft-times the mentoring process is more than what people say directly to a person. People in any profession learn quite a bit by what they observe in people they admire. Up-and-coming reporters and journalists no doubt are learning from Livas as she displays that certain honesty and integrity as evident in her broadcasts.

Livas has covered and reported on major news events including the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr. in a single-engine plane crash (July 1999), the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center buildings (September 2001), and the shootings at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg (April 2007). The other side to tragedy for newscasters is that they often see firsthand many examples of how people cope with them. Many are positive. During and after 9/11, for example, many

[ by rick polston ]

The evening news anchor and special projects reporter at 13News Now is also a community advocate with deep roots in Hampton Roads

people across our nation seemed to come together in one accord. For a time we were not Republicans and Democrats, we were Americans. No individual races, but a collective human race. We cared for one another.

When asked what recent events have been the most difficult for her, Livas quickly referred to the shootings on May 31, 2019, where a lone gunman went to the Virginia Beach Municipal building and shot and killed 12 people—11 city employees and a local contractor. A more recent senseless shooting occurred at a Chesapeake Walmart on November 22, 2022. Here a nightshift manager at that Walmart killed seven employees (including himself) and injured four others. Upon learning of both of these events, Livas found herself visibly shaken. As a Hampton Roads native she knew people whose lives were affected included friends of friends. There are no words. However as a trusted news anchor, Livas is well aware that people depend on her for answers. Many listen for even the tiniest bits of hope. Nicole Livas is great at what she does and people count on her.

But Livas has a life away from the lights and cameras of the studio. A busy life at that. She is the ultimate volunteer serving many residents of Hampton Roads. Outside of our area she is on the advisory board of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at her alma mater George Mason University. She also serves on the board of the Society of Professional Journalists, Virginia Chapter.

Perhaps the organization that is dearest to her heart is Samaritan House where she has represented as a board member for a number of years. Samaritan House is a major advocate for victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual assault. Issues such as these are nationwide. Livas feels that people need to be well-informed

in order to be in a position to help. Homelessness is prevalent in Hampton Roads and Samaritan House is dedicated to providing temporary and even permanent housing. Fourteen safe houses have been established here for the organization’s mission to promote victim advocacy, support programs and services. [Look for a follow-up feature on Samaritan House in a future issue of Boulevard.]

Why Hampton Roads?

We know Livas has had opportunities elsewhere to use her many talents, but Hampton Roads is home. She was born in Virginia Beach and her

roots run deep. Her late father, Henry, retired from NASA-Langley and served on the Virginia Beach Planning Commission. Mom Becky was the first African-American newscaster in our area, and retired as a teacher in Suffolk Public Schools. Her paternal grandfather, Henry, Sr., taught agriculture at Hampton University while maternal grandfather John Perry taught high school physics and was a councilman for Virginia Beach. Both grandmothers also were educators.

Livas does make time for leisure activities. She lives in an area surrounded by water. The seven cities that comprise Hampton Roads has its fair share of neighborhood and cultural events which she also enjoys. She actively walks and bikes in and around her home and lives to travel: Trips to the Caribbean Islands, Italy and Australia are on her bucket list.

Rick Polston is a teacher of students with disAbilities for Suffolk Public Schools. English and Language Arts is his chosen content to teach. His favorite pastime is journaling about travel adventures and singing.

The difference between any oyster and a Lynnhaven oyster is like the difference between chalk and cheese; sweet Lynnhavens have a salty tang from the nearby ocean.

~Oysterman Capt. Irvin Evans (shown above)

By Mary Reid Barrow

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LYNNHAVEN RIVER NOW

Lynnhaven River NOW and a look back over the past 20 years

Where It All Began

first met a Lynnhaven oyster when I was a little girl in Richmond and my grandfather led the men in the family in his traditional back-porch holiday-shucking-and- eating feast. My grandfather, Richard Burroughs, moved from the area to Richmond as an adult. but my Great Uncle Ben Burroughs still lived on the Lynnhaven River. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, Uncle Ben and his wife would visit the family in Richmond. I’m not sure grandpa would have let either of them in the house, had they not had their customary bushel of Lynnhaven oysters in hand. While my grandmother, mother and aunts scurried around the kitchen tending to the turkey, the men were drinking whiskey neat and slurping raw oysters on the porch. All of us cousins would chase each other around outside and occasionally stop to check in on the oyster orgy.

Once, I saw my grandfather pop a live oyster crab in his mouth and I vowed I would never, ever, eat an oyster. How things have changed. Moving to Virginia Beach as a grownup, I became aware early on of the Lynnhaven oyster’s reputation and how kings, queens, Diamond Jim Brady and more fancied them as delicacies.

When I began working for the Virginian-Pilot, I often wrote about the city’s history, its environment and its delicious produce and seafood. Oysterman Capt. Irvin Evans, who passed away in the 1990s, represented the best of all three, and I interviewed him many times. You could see his beautiful intertidal oyster beds on the Eastern Branch of the Lynnhaven when they were exposed at low tide. He once told me that the difference between any oyster

and a Lynnhaven oyster was like the difference between chalk and cheese. Sweet Lynnhavens also had a salty tang from the nearby ocean, he said. Sadly, many of our conversations were about how Virginia Beach had grown and how the Lynnhaven was becoming too polluted for oysters and that many were dying off from disease. By the late 1980s, the river was closed to commercial shell fishing and Capt. Evans retired. As a farewell gift of sorts before he retired, Capt. Evans shucked a quart of Lynnhavens for me, and I shared them with Andy and Barbara Fine. I like to think that night of fine eating and reminiscing might have been one of the sparks that spurred Andy on to become one of the founders of Lynnhaven River NOW. I know that Capt. Evans would have liked that thought too.

In the decade that followed, the City of Virginia Beach, citizens, environmental agencies and organizations began to understand how badly the river had deteriorated and began efforts to restore it. Capt. Evans’ beautiful oyster beds became a sanctuary reef where the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation grew oysters to help clean the river and seed other reefs around Virginia. Andy and two good friends, Harry Lester and Bob Stanton, put their heads together and in 2002 created a group, bringing everyone together. They called it Lynnhaven River 2007 to focus on eating an oyster from the river in 2007. At that point, only 1 percent of the river was safe for edible oysters. I was lucky enough to be included in the planning along with an amazing group of interested individuals and representatives from the City, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other environmental groups.

I remember breakfast meetings at Dockside to plan our strategy. We had a tiny office that Andy gave us at Runnymede. Barry Frankenfield with

the city was our first part-time director followed by Laurie Sorabella and then Karen Forget who continues today as our full-time director. The city began working to get river residents off septic tanks and onto city sewer lines. We began education efforts. We learned that up to 30 percent of the bacteria in the river could be from dog waste which was washed by rain into storm drains and into the river from all over the northern part of the city. We created a scoop the poop campaign to educate residents about cleaning up after their dogs. And we created our first Pearl program, Pearl Schools. In 2007 we were able to establish the river as a No Discharge Zone for boats, the first tidal river in Virginia to have that designation! That same year at our oyster roast, amid cheers and toasts, Rob

Brumbaugh, from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, ate an oyster from the Lynnhaven. There was no stopping us. We renamed ourselves Lynnhaven River NOW (LRNow) with “now” stressed in all capitals. The rest is more recent history. Program after program, from regular river cleanups, to Pearl homes, and faith groups were established. Oyster reefs and buffer gardens were built. Oyster farms and businesses were established. And now we also are taking many of these programs to all the waterways in Virginia Beach.

This year, we are celebrating our 20th anniversary and about 50 percent of the river is open to shell fishing. These days, I am the one taking a cooler full of oysters every Thanksgiving and Christmas to my family in Charlottesville.

Pearl Homes

Our first families joined this program in 2011 and in eleven years, we have surpassed 7,000 amazing families dedicated to continuing to learn more all the time about what they can do to reduce their energy consumption, reduce their waste and use of plastics, reduce their stormwater runoff and protect our natural resources. Pearl Home families are planting trees, building rain gardens, and installing rain barrels. Becoming a Pearl Home is a no-cost way to commit to a greener lifestyle. Apply at www.lynnhavenrivernow.org/vbresidents.

Pearl Neighborhoods

If 30% of the homes in a neighborhood become Pearl Homes and the neighborhood takes on a neighborhood-wide project and education program, they qualify as a Pearl Neighborhood.

Congratulations to the following neighborhoods who have achieved this status:

• Pine Ridge

• Atlantic Shores Retirement Community

• Lynnhaven Dunes Condominiums

• Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay

• Baylake Retirement Community

Pearl Businesses

Our Pearl Businesses are all finding that improvements to landscaping— such as adding native plants, reducing stormwater runoff, adding rain barrels, or installing new energysaving technology—are helping their businesses be more profitable. It also helps reduce waste, controls flooding, and protects our natural resources. And their customers are noticing. More and more individuals not only appreciate companies that value environmental stewardship, they demand it!

One of our Pearl Businesses wanted to stop using styrofoam carry out containers, but cardboard and compostable items were more expensive. He added a small charge for carryout containers to cover the extra cost and received nothing but praise from his customers. They were happy to pay a few cents more and not get styrofoam containers. This is

just one example of the great ways that businesses are discovering to make their practices more environmentally friendly.

Meet our Pearl Businesses:

• Westminster Canterbury

• Harvest

• Three Ships Coffee

• The Pearl at Marina Shores

Tidewater Staffing

• Equikids and Equivets

• MSA, P.C.

• Ecomaniac

• Great Outdoor Provision Company

LL Bean

• Tautogs

• Doc Taylors

• ABC Contracting

• Wetlands Studies and Solutions

• Chesapeake Bay Distillery

• Flint Marine Construction

• Long & Foster Coastal Properties

• Wild Works of Whimsy

• Croc’s

• Dough Boys

• 1701 Virginia Beach Coworking

• Runnymede Corporation

• WPL

• Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club

• State Farm—Pierre Granger

• Port & Starboard

• The Nature Bus

• Fathom Coffee

• Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E.

• State Farm—Matt Abbott

• 501 Kitchen + Bar

• Tidewater Compost

• Atlantis Apartments

• Sodexo Live! at the VB Convention Center

• Home Remedies Furniture and Decor

• LoanCare LLC

• Princess Anne Country Club

• First Colonial Inn

• Global Planning Initiatives

• Ocean Eddie’s Seafood Restaurant

• Ad Impact Marketing

• Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum

• de Witt Cottage

• Hometown Sports Management

• Smartmouth Pilot House

• Signature Management Corporation

• The Sweet Spot

• Crowder Construction

• J & A Racing

• Bayville Golf Club

• Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club

• Aqua S

Pearl Schools

Pearl Schools are vibrant learning environments where students and teachers are immersed in good environmental education and outdoor learning experiences. We also explore new partnerships with Faith Communities and Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation to bring outdoor programs to children and families. Learn more about the Pearl School program at www.lynnhavenrivernow. org/teachers-and-students.

Pearl Faith Communities

It takes a community to restore and protect our waterways. We know how blessed we are to live in this beautiful place. Water is a large part of our daily enjoyment, recreation, local food, and even our livelihoods. We all want to do our part to restore the health of our sacred waters and protect them for future generations to enjoy.

One of LRNow’s goals is to help people of all faiths recognize and fulfill their responsibility for the stewardship of these gifts. Learn more about becoming a faith community at www.lynnhavenrivernow.org/faithcommunities.

Our faith communities:

• All Saints’ Episcopal Church

• Baylake United Methodist Church

• Bayside Christian Church

• Chalice Christian Church

• Church of the Holy Family

• Community United Methodist Church

• Coastal Virginia Unitarian Universalists

• Eastern Shore Chapel

• First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach

• Friends Meeting

• Grace Bible Church

• Kings Grant Presbyterian Church

• Lynnhaven Colony Congregation

• Nimmo United Methodist Church

• Ohef Sholom Temple

• Old Donation Episcopal Church

• St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church

• Thalia United Methodist Church

• Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Chapel

Looking forward to the next 20 years

Our team at LRNow is eager to dive into planning for the future. We have big plans that we are hope will involve many more volunteers, community members, business owners, schools and faith groups. We will continue

Students participate in projects such as gathering nesting materials (right) and planting gardens.

to work hard keeping Virginia Beach waterways clean and healthy. To support LRNow, donate here: bit.ly/lrnowdonate.

For additional information on advocacy and restoration projects being done by LRNow, please visit the Boulevard website for the Lynnhaven River NOW blog post.

Author and journalist Mary Reid Barrow has focused much of her career reporting on nature and the environment. She is a long-time volunteer and wildlife advocate who dedicates much of her time to Lynnhaven River NOW.

LRNow volunteers moving oyster castles

Virginia Arts Festival brings the culture

If you see Rob Cross walking his dogs on the beach, don’t let his relaxed manner fool you. His feet may be in the sand, but his head’s darting through concert halls and theaters around the world. The international performing arts festivals from Tanglewood to Salzberg, to the Edinburgh Fringe, the highest echelon of classical music competitions, and the best-of lists across major media. He’s got top-flight agents for the most iconic artists and the most heralded newcomers on speed dial. His focus? Bringing the world’s great artists to stages in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Williamsburg and venues throughout Southeast Virginia under the banner of the Virginia Arts Festival.

Gathering the artists, conceiving collaborations, arranging the venues and managing the logistics of the dozens of performances that make up the Virginia Arts Festival every year “is like putting together a big, beautiful puzzle,” Cross said. “And seeing it all come together, catching up with these brilliant performers, hearing from the audiences…it just doesn’t get any better than that.”

When Cross first conceived the Virginia Arts Festival in 1997, area performing arts fans with a serious hankering for internationally renowned artists had few choices

WYNTON MARSALIS

By Jo Manley

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIRGINIA ARTS FESTIVAL [UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED]

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER

DARIO CALMESE

locally. The closest a ballet or modern dance lover could get to see top companies was a trip to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., or the Lincoln Center in New York. Classical music lovers who longed to experience top soloists beyond recordings were in the same fix. Although Hampton Roads has always been home to a thriving jazz and folk/ Americana scene, road trips were needed to catch the performers who topped fans’ must-hear lists.

A classically trained musician who has served as principal percussionist with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra since 1987, Cross has formed years-long friendships with music lovers and other artists in the region. He saw a need and sought to fill it by creating the Virginia Arts Festival. Over the years, festival patrons have heard world-class classical artists, savored great voices from opera and Broadway and seen some of the world’s great ballet and dance. They have also enjoyed top stars of jazz, pop, R&B, Americana and world music. Every year reveals new treasures, and fans keep flocking back—including not just locals, but travelers from across the U.S. and countries around the world.

If you build it, they will come Cross and his visionary funders have built new performance spaces such as the Clay & Jay Barr Education center, the Virginia Arts festival’s own dedicated building in downtown Norfolk. They have also filled venues like Virginia Beach’s Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Norfolk’s Chrysler Hall, Newport News’s Ferguson Center for the Arts, Norfolk’s historic Attucks Theatre. The Robin Hixon Theater accommodates audiences up to 200 with adaptable staging for musical ensembles, speakers, cabaret acts and more. The Virginia Arts Festival also

created its own outdoor performance venue, the Perry Pavilion, in the heart of Norfolk’s arts district just steps from Chrysler Hall and Scope Arena. The Perry Pavilion has hosted some of the most heralded performers in Americana/roots music, jazz, classical, theater and even opera. Perhaps the most unique performance space has been the site of Virginia Arts Festival’s Williamsburg. A live three-day outdoor music festival that takes over the Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg each June, drawing thousands of fans each year.

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER WITH WYNTON MARSALIS

OLGA KERN

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER

2023: A spectacular 26th season Brilliant dance

The 2023 Virginia Arts Festival lineup boasts any rival in its star-studded history. The undisputed leader in dance programming in the region (and beyond), the Festival will present a brilliant array of dance from classical ballet to contemporary. These performances offer more than 15,000 seats for dance lovers to claim. It begins with the most beloved ballet of all time, “Swan Lake’’, performed by one of the most acclaimed ballet companies in the U.S., the beautiful Philadelphia Ballet. The romantic tale —with its enchanted maidens turned into swans, a handsome prince and an evil sorcerer—leaps to life in a production that shimmers with moonlight, with gorgeous costumes. The performance is a rare treat for ballet fans who are more accustomed to performances set to recorded music as the lush Tchaikovsky score will be performed live by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Audiences young and old will love

this breathtaking experience and can choose from three performances in Norfolk’s Chrysler Hall in April.

Beloved around the world, the legendary Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Festival in April. Hailed as “unbelievable… change-your-life good” by NBC, the company was founded by the iconic dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey who famously said, “Dance is for everybody.” Ailey has set about proving it in the company’s meteoric rise from small struggling troupe to a major force in dance around the world with millions of fans on six continents. In a special residency, the Virginia Arts Festival will present six performances of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and provide opportunities for area school children to participate in workshops and in-school events with the dancers.

Each performance will close with Alvin Ailey’s signature masterpiece “Revelations,” set to classic spirituals including “Wade in the Water,” “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham,” “I Wanna Be Ready” and more. A rousing tradition that lifts audiences

to their feet, Revelations pays homage to African American cultural heritage which Ailey thought of as one of America’s richest treasures.

Rounding out the Virginia Arts Festival’s dance presentations will be two Sandler Center performances in Virginia Beach in May. The brilliant “Ballet Hispaníco” showcases electrifying rhythms driven by traditional and contemporary music reflecting Latinx culture.

The critically acclaimed Mark Morris Dance Group will perform a new work co-commissioned by the Virginia Arts Festival, “The Look of Love,” created by Morris and set to music of pop icons Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Mark Morris has melded music from Bach to the Beatles with dance that charms and thrills audiences. In his newest work, Morris takes on unforgettable Bacharach hits like “Alfie,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” and more to create a whirling, dazzling and joyful feast of dance with bright pop-flavored costumes by famed designer and author Isaac Mizrahi.

Incomparable classical

It’s hard to imagine a more diverse and eclectic selection of classical music performances than the roster that the Virginia Arts Festival brings each year. Known for inspired collaborations with area arts organizations, the Festival sparks unique projects like this season’s presentation of Grammy Award-winning mandolin wizard Chris Thile and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Thile, who is a genrebending artist, will join the Symphony to perform the world premiere of his new mandolin concerto this May. He burst onto the music scene at the tender age of eight when his family launched the popular bluegrass band Nickel Creek. He describes his new concerto as “a big ol’ narrative song cycle/mandolin concerto that tells, plays and sings the true story of the time I attempted to impress a Starbucks executive and accidentally

met Carrie Fisher as a result.”

Music lovers will have another opportunity to hear a stunning new work when composer Jessie Montgomery brings her “Five Freedom Songs” to the Attucks Theatre stage in June. Montgomery has caught the attention of critics in recent years, who have hailed her “wildly colorful” music “exploding with life” (The Washington Post). She conceived this new work with soprano Julia Bullock, who will perform her music with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eric Jacobsen. “Five Freedom Songs” honors African American heritage and the tradition of the Negro spiritual, resonant with history and reimagined for today’s audiences.

Classical music fans couldn’t pick a better place to live than Hampton Roads, where the Festival’s chamber music programming is curated by Van Cliburn Gold Medalawarded pianist Olga Kern. One of the top piano competitions in the world, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition has only awarded 18 gold medals since its founding in 1962—and the pianist planning the Virginia Arts Festival’s season of chamber music holds one of them. The season will include performances by acclaimed artists like violinist Tianwa Yang. The Emerson String Quartet will include a celebration of the 150th anniversary of composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s birth. Russian-born Kern has a special

regard for this passionate composer’s popular works as she was born into a musical family with direct ties to Rachmaninoff.

Music for every taste

If classical music is not your thing, you’ll find plenty of genres to choose from in the 2023 calendar. One of the most exciting early events is the February performance by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. In a groundbreaking new project with the Virginia Arts Festival, members of this legendary orchestra and its staff will work with student bands from historically Black colleges and universities. They will provide mentorship, master classes, and invaluable advice and support. Then individuals who are participating in the HBCU ensembles will perform onstage opening for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Marsalis, a nine-time Grammy winner and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music, is passionate in his support of education, and this new collaboration supports young artists at a critical point in their development—work that will echo far into the future.

Another music legend coming this season is Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Smokey Robinson, who performs at Chrysler Hall in May.

In May, Banjo master Béla Fleck brings an ensemble of musicians who between them claim 21 of the Grammy statuettes! Fleck fans will follow this adventurous virtuoso anywhere the music takes him—from bluegrass to jazz to classical. In this concert, the trip is international as he joins bassist Edgar Meyer, tabla (Indian hand drum) legend Zakir Hussain and Indian flutist Rakesh Chaurasia for a sound journey not soon to be forgotten. That’s just one of the musical adventures that await in the Virginia Arts Festival’s inviting Norfolk outdoor venue, the Perry Pavilion.

In June, The Wood Brothers

BÉLA FLECK, ZAKIR HUSSAIN AND EDGAR MEYER [WITH RAKESH CHAURASIA]

WILLIAMSBURG FEST

DAVID POLSTON

JIM M c GUIRE

return to Williamsburg Live, in Colonial Williamsburg. Dubbed the “masters of soulful folk” by Paste magazine, the Grammy Awardwinning trio delivers “impressive musicianship, relatable lyrics and mesmerizing stage antics” (Charleston City Paper). In sell-out shows across the U.S. Opening for The Wood Brothers is another fan favorite, Shovels & Rope, the husband-and-wife duo of Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst. Their “gritty rhythms, full throated vocals, and powerful piano” (Americana Highways) never fail to move the listener.

Also in June, iconic singersongwriter Kenny Loggins performs. With a new memoir out and a catalog of songs that include indelible pop hits like “Danny’s Song” and “What A Fool Believes” and film score anthems like “I’m Alright” (Caddyshack) and “Danger Zone” (Top Gun), his new compositions are sure to please his fan base. And blues/roots rocker legend and five-time Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’ will take the Williamsburg Live stage for a feel-good closer to music under the stars.

An Experience Like No Other: The Virginia International Tattoo

When Rob Cross first envisioned the Virginia Arts Festival in 1997, he had a novel idea to bring a worldclass Tattoo to the Hampton Roads region. For the uninitiated, the tattoo in reference is not the familiar inky stamp but a spectacular celebration of military music. In this case, the word “tattoo” is an Anglicization of “doe de Tap-toe,” which is Dutch for “turn off the tap”—the centuriesold signal to soldiers to leave the taverns and return to their barracks. That parade of returning soldiers often accompanied by bagpipes, drumming and bands became known worldwide as Tattoo. Norfolk, which is home to the only North American Headquarters for NATO and the world’s largest Navy base, is at the center of an area with the largest population of active duty and retired military in the United States. It was the perfect spot for a Tattoo to rival the greatest in the world.

Under the guidance of Cross and his colleague Scott Jackson, the Virginia International Tattoo is now the largest such event in the

United States bringing hundreds of international performers annually. Each year is different, but the common threads of stirring music, patriotism and international friendship bind the audiences and artists alike.

With the moving theme “Tribute to Military Families,” the 2023 Virginia International Tattoo will feature a spectacular international cast of more than 800 performers. Bands from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps will be joined by civilian and military performers from seven countries including the Singapore Armed Force Central Band, the Latvian Central Band, and the Massed Pipes and Drums from four nations.

Tickets for the 2023 Virginia Arts Festival events are on sale now. Visit vafest.org for show dates, ticket information and more details.

Jo Manley is a consultant to performing arts organizations across the United States and an avid fan.

February 4–5

Chris Rock

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

Chris Rock brings his comedic brilliance to the Chrysler Hall for a 2 night, phone free experience. This intimate setting is a perfect excuse to have a night out with family and friends.

TIME: 8 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $46.50 www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/chris-rock

February 4–26

Black History Month at the Virginia Living Museum

Newport News | Virginia Living Museum

Every Saturday and Sunday in February, a STEM science activity will be held for guests of the Virginia Living Museum. Additionally, the museum will spotlight a different Black scientist weekly through their social media platforms and their onsite monitors.

TIME: 1:30 p.m.

COST: Free with valid membership; $19.95 to $23.95 for ages 13 and above; $16.95 for children ages 3–13; children age 2 and under free thevlm.org/museum-events

February 11, 12 and 14

Spirit of Norfolk’s Valentines

Dinner Cruise

Norfolk | Waterside

Make plans to board this luxurious ship for a romantic dinner cruise with your significate other. You will sail the Elizbeth River and see the most beautiful vistas of the Norfolk waterways as you enjoy dinner and dancing the night away.

TIME: Departure times vary due to the date chosen

COST: Package prices begin at $99 www.cityexperiences.com/norfolk/ city-cruises/valentines-signaturedinner-cruise

February 13

Cirque Zuma Zuma

Virginia Beach | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

As seen on America’s Got Talent. Described as “an African-style Cirque du Soleil,” Cirque Zuma Zuma pushes the envelope of human possibility with astonishing and unbelievable human feats of balance, agility and flexibility, all set to African music, drumming, and dance.

TIME: 7 p.m.

COST: $21–$41

www.sandlercenter.org/events/ detail/cirque-zuma-zuma

February 17–18

Gospel According to Swing with Byron Stripling

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

Newport News | Ferguson Center

Experience this jubilant concert bursting with the spirit of gospel music, and bubbling with the influences of jazz and blues. Joined by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $25–$114

virginiasymphony.org/gospelaccording-to-swing-with-byronstripling-2-17-2-18

February 23

The Incomparable Yo-Yo Ma

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

Yo-Yo Ma joins the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for what will be a brilliant master class of music. This world class celloist has been here before to entertain us and is always an area favorite. Prepare yourself for a night that you will not soon forget.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $84

www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/yo-yo-ma

February 25

Jazz at the Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

The Virginia Arts Festival has collaborated with jazz at Lincoln Center to nurture the next generation of jazz musicians with this unique three-day residency that features jazz ensembles from historically Black colleges and universities. The residency culminates in this special concert showcasing the top performing ensembles during the first half, followed by the illustrious Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $28

www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/jazz-at-lincoln-centerorchestra

February 25–26

Antique Show & Sale

Suffolk | King’s Fork Middle School

The 39th Annual Antique Show & Sale, sponsored by the Suffolk Art League, will feature multiple antiques and collectibles dealers from the mid-Atlantic region offering a wide variety of items for sale including silver, jewelry, porcelain, artwork, linens, art glass, furniture, and much more. In addition, clock repair by Father Time Antiques and crystal repair by Art Glass of Tidewater will be available. Proceeds support the League including exhibits and student programs.

TIME: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

COST: $7 tinyurl.com/5tekj6u5

March 3–5

Newport News One City Marathon

Newport News | Various locations

Now in its 9th year, the Newport News One City Marathon is a great point-to-point marathon option located in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The course is known for fast times and a high percentage of Boston Marathon qualifying times. There are also additional race distances available including half marathon, 5K and Nautical Mile Fun Run. If you are up for a challenge, run the 5K on Saturday and either the half or full marathon Sunday.

TIME: Friday: packet pick up noon–7 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday: 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

COST: Depends upon race $20–$170 (prices go up after Feb. 28) www.onecitymarathon.com

So many performances are coming to the area! From music to dance, the cultural scene is rich across our region.

Read more about the Virginia Arts Festival beginning on p. 18.

For tickets and a schedule of performances, visit vafest.org.

March 8–11

The MEAC Basketball Tournament

Norfolk | Scope Arena

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 51st year of intercollegiate competition with the academic school year. The tournament games are played at the Norfolk Scope Arena. Both the men’s and women’s champions will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament.

TIME & COST: Check website for tickets and schedule. www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/meac-basketball-tournament-1

March 10

Shamrockin’ in Ghent

Norfolk | Historic Ghent /Colley Ave.

The much-anticipated annual St. Patrick’s Day block party in Norfolk’s historic Ghent district. The event launches the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Thousands of people come out to celebrate with live music from The Fighting Jamesons. The Tidewater Pipes and Drums kick off the event on the street. There are beer trucks, Irish whiskey and local food vendors. Sponsored by Hope House.

TIME: 6–10 p.m.

COST: NA

hope-house.org/events/shamrockinin-ghent-information

March 11

Margret Cho; Live and Livid!

Hampton Coliseum

This comedian, actress, musician, and activist brings her trailblazing comedy to the Hampton Coliseum as a part of the Comedy at the Coliseum, American Theater Series.

TIME: 8 p.m.

COST: Tickets starting at $55. Add a VIP, meet and greet ticket for only $100.

www.hamptoncoliseum.org/events/ detail/margaret-cho-comedy-thecoliseum

March 11

Stargazing Night: Dark Side of the Moon

Newport News | Virginia Living Museum

This album and band have always represented the ultimate in laser show experiences. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of Pink Floyd’s groundbreaking album Dark Side of the Moon with laser lights set to music in the planetarium. Earlier shows that evening highlight other Pink Floyd albums.

TIME: 10 p.m.

COST: $5 members; $8 per show thevlm.org/museum-events

March 12

The Peking Acrobats

Newport News | Ferguson Center for the Arts

The Shanghai Circus has created a very special acrobatic extravaganza unlike any other. This breathtaking afternoon will leave you mesmerized!

TIME: 3 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $28.50

www.fergusoncenter.org/events/ detail/peking-acrobats

!! Details as of press time; confirm information with venue before you attend events. !!

March 16

Stephen Marley

Norfolk | The NorVA

Eight-time Grammy award-winning singer, musician and producer Stephen Marley is a true pioneer of reggae music. The second son of music icons Bob and Rita Marley, Stephen is a legend in his own right, producing a robust collection of prolific music that infuses reggae with hip hop, soul, jazz, doo-wop and much more. In his “Old Soul Unplugged 2023” tour, Marley performs a powerful acoustic set with his full band, playing songs from his catalog as well as some of his dad’s classics. $1 from every ticket sold will go to the Ghetto Youth Foundation.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $28

www.thenorva.com/events/ detail/458556

March 28–April 9

HAMILTON

Norfolk | Chrysler Hall

HAMILTON is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, HAMILTON has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. With book, music, and lyrics by LinManuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. It has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.

TIME: Multiple show dates and times. See website for details

COST: TBA

www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/hamilton-1

April 1

Guns N Hoses Hockey

Norfolk | Scope Arena

13th Annual Guns N Hoses game is back at the Scope. Local area police officers and firemen will battle it out on the Admirals’ ice to raise money for the Hero Kids Foundation.

TIME: 1 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $19 tinyurl.com/m7s5v9fh

April 1

KAIVON

Norfolk | The NorVA Kaivon established himself as a unique force in the electronic music scene in 2016 with his first single release ‘Reborn’. Following a theme of rebirth and transformation in life, he released prominent independent singles like “I Love You”, “Heartbeat”, “First Breath” and more, gaining global listeners. His “Awakening” album, released in 2022, relays the messages of living in the now and you are never alone.

TIME: 9 p.m.

COST: $38–$48

www.thenorva.com/events/ detail/464711

April 6

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox: Life in the Past Lane Tour

Virginia Beach | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

Postmodern Jukebox’s (PMJ) Life In The Past Lane Concert Tour is a celebration of the greatest 20th-century musical genres, fused with the recognizable hits of our own modern era, for the perfect patina of “vintage” and “modern.” As always, the PMJ Universe comes to life with a cast full of today’s most exciting vocalists, instrumentalists, and tap dancers, to bring you the top-shelf entertainment experience for which PMJ is known.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

COST: $38–$58

www.sandlercenter.org/events/ detail/pmj

April 8

An Evening with Bernadette Peters Newport News | Ferguson Center for the Arts

This Broadway baby has dazzled audiences of the stage, film and small screen and has earned her Tony Awards, Grammys, Golden Globes, Emmy awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her accomplishments are too numerous to list but one thing can be assured: Your evening with Bernadette will be glamorous and memorable. Come see this entertainment icon.

TIME: 8 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $48.50

www.fergusoncenter.org/events/ detail/bernadette-peters

April 20-23

Virginia International Tattoo

Norfolk | Scope Arena

The Virginia International Tattoo is back to its pre-pandemic majesty for its salute to Military Families. You can experience the Hullaballoo, the Drumline Battle, The NATO Flag Raising and Parade as well as the Performance inside the Scope with all of the grandeur of Pipes and Drums from around the world.

TIME: Check link for schedule times for the pre show events however the main performance are April 20–22 at 7:30 p.m. and April 23 at 2:30 p.m.

COST: Tickets start at $10. Preshow and NATO events are free and open to the public.

www.vafest.org/tattoo

Check

events

April 22

YSC Spring Pig and Oyster Festival

Virginia Beach | Camp Pendleton

The 51st Annual YSC Spring Pig and Oyster Bash will be serving beer, wine, chili, chowder, chicken, oysters and pork BBQ in this all-you-care-to-eat event. The bands are TBD; all proceeds go to benefit local charities.

TIME: 1–6 p.m.—rain or shine

COST: Tickets start at $55 vbysc.org/spring-oyster-pig-roast

April 28–30

Something In The Water

Virginia Beach | Oceanfront

Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water Cultural, Arts and Music festival returns to the oceanfront for a three-day celebration. As of press time there are still details to be announced.

TIME: noon—11 p.m.

MORE THAN 14,000 JOBS AVAILABLE IN THE LOCAL HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Go to the Virginia Beach Hotel Association website for a listing of vacancies: virginiabeachhotelassociation.com/find-a-virginia-beachhotel-job

Little Boats,

Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop

Teaching life skills and mentoring youth through the hands-on experience of boatbuilding and nautical activities

Big Futures

By David Polston

PHOTOS BY DAVID POLSTON

recently met Tom Brendl at the Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop as he welcomed students to his homeschool program. Brendl had a group of volunteer men at the ready to greet their assigned students who, like most kids their ages, tend to warm up a little slowly in the mornings. But as any other day there, the students first go to the classroom and library, put their bags away, grab their own work aprons and then gather around the skiff to be given their work partners and assignments for the day.

Each group has specific tasks and work under the direction of an adult instructor that patiently guides and thoroughly teaches them how to do the given job. What struck me early on was that the instructors—all of whom are military retirees—gave specific and detailed descriptions of tasks that I, as an experienced woodworker and carpenter, do naturally. I observed tutorials of the differences between the Phillips head and flat (or slotted) head screwdriver. Another instructor gave a brief correction to a student that was marking a piece of wood: He advised to not push the pencil forward, but to pull it across the wood making it less likely to follow the grain. I saw another student measure the width of a board by offsetting the tape measure by burning an inch to get a more accurate measurement (The little metal part at the end of a tape measure has some wiggle in it on purpose, but isn’t always the best way to get the most precise measurement that “burning an inch” does). And the old adage measure twice, cut once was also expressed.

These little mini-lessons are tricks learned through my

own experience as a remodeling contractor and for my current vocation.

Therein lies the beauty of Tom Brendl’s workshop. He and his volunteers are ensuring that every student coming into the program gains not only the technical skills, but also the confidence that comes with creating something with their own hands.

Origins of the Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop

After Brandl assigned work to his volunteers and students, he and I sat

down for an informal conversation to find out more.

“This isn’t a trade school. This is a youth program primarily. Most of the kids that have attended our program, the vast majority, are ages 11 through 18 and are still in school— whether it is middle school, high school, homeschool. All of these kids you see here right now, they’re here because they’re homeschoolers in the morning,” Brandyl responded.

He goes on to explain how the homeschool program started. “About four years ago, five years ago, the homeschool community

discovered us. I talked to one school co-op in general. I was at some event called Engage Norfolk. We had a boat display and things like that, and this one woman came up and expressed interest in the program and said, ‘My kids are homeschooled, so I can’t come after school.’ So I said ‘Homeschooled? When can you come?’ She said, ‘We can come during the day; we’re flexible.’

“Ding…the light went on. Up to that point we only had afterschool programs. We can use the shop during the day for homeschoolers. She told me that she could check

to see if there was enough interest with a mention on her homeschool network. It’s a big network. There are various ones in the area. That’s what happened. I have homeschoolers coming now three mornings a week.”

Brandyl continued, “We advertise specifically for 12–18 yearolds. However, we’ve had some 10–11 year-olds. I interview them all, talk to them all. We have to determine if they are responsible enough to be safe since the kids will be using tools, some of which are power tools. One 10-year-old young lady I watched go to the bandsaw without an adult

being there. She was that good. I knew she had a bandsaw at home that she used all the time. I watched her a lot. And she’s got it. She was so accurate. She was wonderful. Ninetynine percent of the kids use power tools under adult supervision.”

Brandyl explains his class schedule this way. “We run what I call trimesters. Some kids come in the fall. Our winter trimester starts the second week of December and runs through the middle of March. The third and final trimester of the year begins the last week of March and runs through the first week of June.

Tom Brandl

“We didn’t used to do it that way, but it just made sense. The reason is that we team with Sail Nauticus every year. Sail Nauticus has a program called Sail Nauticus Academy and it’s for middle schoolers. The middle schoolers choose this program to learn to sail. It’s a three-year program. In the wintertime they can’t sail, it’s too cold. What they were doing with the sixth and seventh graders was to take them to indoor pools and teach them to swim. The eighth graders come here and build boats. So we’ve been doing that.”

“Students start coming back in early December, continue to Christmas break, and are actively participating throughout January, February and the first week or two in March before returning to sailing. There are usually about 20 to 25 students attending classes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It’s been working. During the latter weeks of June we start one-week summer camps. The kids receive workshop instruction Monday through Thursday and on Fridays they meet at our waterfront location where they enjoy rowing and sailing. We also do environmental science by teaching them to appreciate the shore. We learn all about crabs and oysters, and how oysters filter our water. We have two tanks on display where they can learn all about environmental science.”

Hmmm, that’s pretty cool. So that’s a compact class.

Says Branyl, “It is what we do here. They can’t build a boat in a week. In the summertime, we do what I call a nautical round robin. They’re not building any of these boats. They might do some work on them, but generally what we do is show them how we steam and bend wood. We have a pulley set up, but they have to do the measuring, cutting, steaming, and bending. We also have a CNC machine (Computer Numerical Control). Pre-programmed computer software directs the movement of

A Parent’s Perspective

On the morning I was at the workshop, there were two other people in the building: Lisa Staggs and her youngest son, who is currently too young for the program. Staggs had brought her three older children to the workshop since they are enrolled in the homeschool program. I was able to ask for her opinion on Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop and how she found out about it.

Staggs responded, “I found out maybe four or five years ago. A homeschool mother’s child was in the summer program and at that time there was no homeschool program here. Tom [Branyl] was doing [the workshop] with the kids after school and in the summer, and this mother approached him to ask about doing a homeschool program since the workshop wasn’t really active; nobody was here during the school days. He agreed and started the program and we’ve been doing it since then.”

We talked more about her children’s hands-on work ability. Staggs said, “I would say as far as tools go, limited hands-on.” She went on to say, “I always thought that being able to work with your hands, work with tools, do the job yourself, has always been important.... I do a lot of stuff on my own, so I wanted my kids to have that and I also realized that [those are skills] not always taught in schools anymore. I remember as a kid going to the woodshop class and I did drafting, cooking, sewing.... I have so many fond memories of those classes. Once I heard about this I was adamant that I wanted my kids to do it—not only for the skills and to learn the big tools, but to have all of those memories that I had.”

I asked if her children were reluctant to do it at first, or were they kind of anxious about it? “I don’t think they were reluctant at all”, she said. “As a matter of fact, my daughter came into the program a year sooner than the [required] age because she wanted to do it; she’d seen her twin brothers doing it and Tom was aware of us and had kind of watched her grow over those couple of years and decided that he would let her come in at a younger age. So, no…if anything, no reluctance, but a desire.”

~David Polston

tools and machines. We use the CNC machine to name the boards on the boat.”

The NEET Program

In addition to the Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop (TWBW), there is another aspect to his work, which does focus on an apprentice program—what he refers to as NEET. Branyl explains, participants are “Not Employed, Not in Education and not in any kind of Training program. That’s where the acronym came from. I saw a study done a few years ago. They estimated probably about 12% of the youth in Hampton Roads in the age group of 17 to 24 are disconnected. So our pre-apprentice program here is for disconnected youth.

Basically, it’s a 24-week program. We teach carpentry skills

through wooden boat building. We use the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, the national carpentry union. They have a program called Career Connections and basically it’s a pre-apprentice program. The first two manuals are basic tools and safety, measuring, math for carpentry, all of that. Also, it’s project based. The manuals have them building things like racks that you hang on the wall, birdhouses, sawhorses, a toolbox. In NEET, we do toolboxes; each kid makes his own toolbox. We give them tools for that, and a few other things” (he points to a workshop sawhorse).

“That sawhorse was made by our last class, because we needed one; but it’s all about construction and building boats. Through building boats and a few extra projects, we can also hit ninety percent—if not more—of all the

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skills in those first two manuals. So they go out of here having learned how to use all of the tools you see here and then some.

“When we talk to the shipyards, we talk to contractors. Do you know what they say? They say ‘hey, that’s all relevant.’ They seek employees who will show up on time every day, can read a ruler, and can do basic math. All of the other necessary skills we can train them to do. Good employees are hard to find these days. Those who repair ships are desperately needed. Shipyards are hurting for people.”

As I left the workshop, I found my time spent there to be quite encouraging to me as a tradesman. I could write another article on my personal feelings of our culture failing the trades of the bluecollar

workforce. I am thankful that organizations like TWBW exist. A little sweat equity and a desire to learn something and work with your hands is a good thing in my opinion. Your parents and their parents before them did it and built our nation! We can’t stop now.

But I think Lisa Staggs, mother of students participating in TWBW, summarizes it best: “This program allows kids to not only see that final project—what they made and accomplished—but it teaches them to read blueprints, use their math skills, and apply background knowledge learned in school. This program furthers that knowledge, and gives them [the students] that sense of accomplishment that they can do it. Even if this may not be something they do later in their lives, these skills

can be carried forward and applied to any job whether at home or in their chosen careers.”

In July 2014, Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop was granted 501(c)(3) status as a nonprofit. If you’d like more information, would like to volunteer or if you’d like to make a donation, visit them at twbw.org

Boulevard photography editor, David Polston, is also the scenic designs, carpentry and production supervisor for CBN. He is an internationally published freelance photographer, blogger and writer, and the resident professional photographer for Seven Venues, LiveNation, Hampton Coliseum, The VaArts Festival and the Virginia Symphony, among others.

By Rick Polston

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE JACKSON FAMILY

rian was a shy, soft-spoken second-grade boy assigned to my caseload as a special education teacher. Our bond was not instant, but developed more quickly than most of my students. As I worked with other students in the classroom, he was the one who commanded most of my attention. Early in every new school year students are given an assessment in reading and math entitled Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). The results on that fall test were of major concern to me: Brian’s score indicated that he was below that of a beginning reader. Every strategy possible was utilized to improve his reading score, yet on the spring test he had barely moved up the scale. His grandparents (and legal guardians) assured me that they would encourage him to read over the summer, if only for a few minutes a day. At the beginning of his thirdgrade year, he began to read about topics that interested him instead of the typical books in our classroom library. We worked on decoding unknown words, reading with fluency and concentrated on his comprehension of texts. The spring assessment was a huge breakthrough for Brian. As a third-grader the scores now indicated that he was reading on a level as that of a first-grade student. This was monumental.

Brian’s annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting at the end of the fifth grade was a bittersweet one. He would be moving on to middle school and I was remaining behind. His grandparents wondered if I could transfer with him and continue as his case manager. If only that were possible. Funny thing is that during the middle of his year in seventh grade, I was transferred to the middle school where he was attending. Since his case manager was already working with him, I would lend my support as needed. As an eighth grade special education teacher, I was able to choose him for my caseload and was very excited about getting him prepared for high school.

As we worked together, I saw a new Brian. No longer was he shy; his confidence had grown, and he was reading everything in sight. The

day of the last MAP test I saw his determination. He worked so hard on his reading and I was more nervous than he was.

During lunch I walked the class down to the cafeteria while his general education teacher remained in the classroom to monitor the scores as they came in. We had barely started lunch when she walked in. She motioned for me to join her and I noticed how red her eyes were. She was too emotional to speak so she handed me the class roster with the test results. Scores are broken down into years and months. This means that if a student’s reading level was a 5.4, this student was reading on a fifth-grade level during the fourth month of the school year. As I sat down across from Brian and a few of his friends, I found that my eyes were as watery as Joan’s and my voice was quivering. Brian’s score was a 12.5— the highest in the school. “Thank you, Mr. P, for teaching me how to read,” Brian said. I responded, “No, Brian. I may have provided the tools, but you built that score with all of your hard work.”

Brian has autism. Not different. Not less. He is unique.

Lauren was an eighth grader confined to a self-contained classroom. All of her core classes were with the same teacher all day long. The exception was that she attended exploratory (health/physical education, art, music, keyboarding, etc.) with her grade-level peers. After some discussion with the school administration, Lauren was going to begin the second semester in an inclusion world geography course.

On her first day in the classroom, I met with her and assured her that she would not be left alone to do her work. The general education teacher was beginning a project on various African countries that could be represented with a poster, a brochure or pamphlet, a tapestry, or via a PowerPoint presentation. Lauren

was thrilled to know that she could learn how to use a computer and PowerPoint. The general education teacher brought over a large poster board and some colored pencils and told her to do her best. Lauren’s smile quickly left her and she shut down. Honestly, I was furious. Discussion with that teacher ultimately resulted in me taking full responsibility for Lauren and her project.

Every bit of instruction given to her was thoroughly absorbed. She worked diligently and finished well ahead of her classmates. However, there was a setback. The students were required to give oral presentations to the class regarding their chosen countries, and Lauren was deathly afraid to speak in class. After some coaxing she agreed to a deal: I would read and explain seven of her slides, but she would be responsible for three of her choosing. Lauren was a champion the day she presented and her smile shone brighter than ever. Her mother shed a lot of tears as she was told of her daughter’s accomplishment and we both could not be more proud.

Lauren has autism. Not different. Not less. She is unique.

According to multiple sources in 2021, approximately 61 million adults have been diagnosed as living with a disability. This breaks down to 26% of the population of the United States, or about one out of every four adults. Some of the major disability categories include blindness or low vision, significant hearing impairments, mobility issues, and various intellectual disabilities. School-aged children (three to seventeen years old), account for 17%, or one out of six children with disabilities.

Caring for people with disabilities has seemed to come under the “it takes a village” mantra. First and foremost is the family. Yet there comes a time when more professional care is the only option.

Adult centers can provide viable options, and our school systems and institutions of higher learning are continually seeking better methods to accommodate this ever-growing population. One area that seems to be lagging behind—and the one this article highlights—is that of the role of faith-based ministries.

Faith Inclusion Network

The most concise description of their ministry is that they seek to support people with disAbilities in a faith community. If you noticed already, there is a capital “A” in the middle of the word disAbilities. The intent is clear: When assisting ANY individual living with a disability, we should focus on what a person CAN do, not what they CANNOT do. Celebrate every victory beginning with the small ones. In the stories featuring my former students Brian and Lauren, accentuating the positives was my intent.

One contribution that seeks to draw attention away from the disability and to focus on the individual is the creation of People First Language. The pledge addresses eight areas as follows:

The People First Pledge

1. We Promise to put People First in all our business dealings.

2. We Promise to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

3. We Promise to hire and promote more women and minorities.

4. We Promise to support our local small businesses and community.

5. We Promise to show leadership in our respective disciplines.

6. We Promise to be nice and practice kindness to each other online and offline.

7. We Promise to appreciate each other and always say Thank You!

8. We Promise to serve humanity positively.

Promise #2 is the one that ties into the Faith Inclusion Network (FIN) most prominently as it speaks

of diversity, equality and most importantly inclusion. The tendency is to say that there is a disabled child rather than ‘she is a child with a disability’ or ‘he is a person who has autism.’

According to an excerpt from “Loving Samantha,” by Karen F. Jackson—mother of Samantha: “As I have read many stories shared by parents of children with disabilities, it occurred to me that a pervasive theme running through the best books is simple: We want everyone to know that our beautiful, special child who has challenges—whether it be Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or fill in the blank—makes a difference in the world. Our child is here for a reason and we want the world to know about him or her. Not only has our child influenced their parents and siblings, but often the entire extended family, friends, and community. And just because they may not have their own audible voice, or have a limited ability to communicate verbally, like my daughter, Samantha, it doesn’t mean God doesn’t have an important purpose for their life.”

I recently spoke with Karen Jackson for more details and background of the Faith Inclusion Network.

Boulevard: Where can people get copies of “Loving Samantha?”

Jackson: There are still a few copies on Amazon, but my best bet is Kindle. We also have a dozen or so copies at our FIN office at Second Presbyterian Church in Norfolk and we usually sell them at events.

Boulevard: Can you provide a brief biography of you and your family?

How did Samantha inspire or lead to the founding of FIN?

Jackson: My husband, Scott, and I have lived in Norfolk for 26 years and have raised three children. I have been a band director for more than 30 years and currently work as

the fine arts department chair and the director of bands at Norfolk Christian Schools. I am also the founder of Faith Inclusion Network and currently serve as the president of the board of directors.

My daughter Samantha was my inspiration for getting started in disability advocacy. She was diagnosed at four years old with autism and now, at 25 years old, does need 24/7 care and supervision. She lives at home with us in Norfolk and is a blessing and joy in our lives. Samantha’s behaviors and communication challenges when she was young made attending worship extremely difficult for our family. My husband and I often had to take turns bringing our boys to church. This was not how I wanted to worship and participate in my church. I wanted what most families want, to worship together and to be a part of the various opportunities to serve and enjoy fellowship and social time with others.

In 2007, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Norfolk, welcomed Samantha and our entire family. They did not know how to include Samantha but were willing...and that is all I needed to hear. I eventually realized that I needed to find a way to help others find a place to worship

and belong. I became passionate about finding resources that would help faith communities including individuals and families affected by disabilities participate in the life of their congregations.

Boulevard: The mission statement of FIN is to promote awareness of and provide support for the inclusion of people with disabilities and the families in the faith community. Can you elaborate a little bit on the phrase “and the families”?

Jackson: Individuals with disabilities are part of families. If a person affected by a disability is not welcomed or included, the entire family will feel left out. Making efforts to include a person affected by disability means that you are including the entire extended family.

Boulevard: The foundation of FIN consists of three essential tenants:

• Accept! ALL individuals affected by disability should feel welcomed and accepted in the faith community of their choice.

• Include! Inclusion takes intentional effort.

• Celebrate! Members of FIN believe that all lives should be celebrated. Can you address the goal that you feel most pertinent or the most essential

Scott, Karen and Samantha

to the network?

Jackson: It would be difficult to choose just one. The first goal, to help individuals connect to faith communities, is extremely important. It has been exceptionally challenging during COVID-19 and after, to reestablish our connections with faith communities because so many of the people in our network have moved or changed positions. That being said, our new Hampton Roads Coordinator, LaFondra Jaring, is working on this aspect of the local organization and we are hopeful to be able to help individuals and families in this way moving past COVID-19.

FIN is super passionate about training and developing materials for faith communities that desire to become more inclusive. Every time we host a conference, we develop important resources that can be found on our website www. faithinclusionnetwork.org or on our YouTube Channel.

If I had to choose one goal that is relevant at the moment, it is our goal to support and connect leaders around the country in the faith and disability field. We found that during the shutdown of the country, we were able to pivot successfully to online meetings, connecting easily with the national network we have been developing over the past 14 years. This success moved us quickly into the blossoming of FIN as a national organization, which was launched officially in fall of 2022. Our board of directors currently includes people from Hampton Roads as well as leaders in the field from Texas, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Minnesota, New York and Ontario, Canada.

Boulevard: Do you actively seek board members for the organization and what role do volunteers play within the organization?

Jackson: We are definitely open to accepting new board members. Our board members are quite diverse and do many different kinds

of things for the organization. Some serve locally and help volunteer with local events and some present and help raise funds in their parts of the country. As you might expect, we have several people who experience disability themselves who participate on our board, as well as people who are strong advocates for members of their family.

Boulevard: Can you relay a story about Special Audience Night within the Virginia International Tattoo? How does one go about getting vouchers if families want to attend?

Jackson: Samantha was also the inspiration behind Special Audience Night at the Tattoo. When she was young, she could not tolerate sitting for too long and definitely did not like crowds, so going to a regular performance at Norfolk Scope Arena was out of the question. My husband, who is the producer and the director of the Tattoo, suggested I bring her to the dress rehearsal. We also invited a few of our friends who had children with disabilities to join us. And the rest is history, as they say. Last year we had 800 people attend Special Audience Night.

Boulevard: What are some of the significant events for FIN and how can people donate to the organization?

RESOURCES

Jackson: Our signature event is our annual national conference. This year it will be virtual only (we have established that every other year we will have the in-person conference). Most of the conference will take place on March 10, 2023. Donations can be done via our website.

Boulevard: What does FIN offer in the way of preparing churches of all faiths to make individuals and families with disabilities more user-friendly? Do you provide consultation to faithbased organizations?

Jackson: Yes, we have a list of consultants who are experts in providing consultation services in the faith and disability field. Michelle Munger is our local HR consultant, but we have others listed from around the country that specialize in specific denominations.

Jackson attended a service where a group of second graders received their Sacrament of First Holy Communion. Daughter Samantha was also in attendance and her thoughts and reflections on this event were beautifully captured in her article “Let Us Rejoice!” posted April 7, 2013 on the FIN website.

Jackson: “While these families celebrated this special time with their second graders, I silently and joyfully

“Loving Samantha” was published in 2015 via KöehlerbooksTM in association with IngramSpark. For Faith Inclusion Network information, membership and donations visit faithinclusionnetwork.org

Special Audience Night at the Virginia International Tattoo—Vouchers are usually available in late March through Nikki Nieves at The Virginia Arts Festival office—757.282.2801 or via education@vafest.org

People interested in being on the Faith Inclusion email list can contact Executive Director Tom Jones at tjones@faithinclusionnetwork.org or follow FIN on Facebook for updates.

The PeopleFirst Academy: www.thepeoplefirstacademy.com

Disability Is Natural: www.disabilityisnatural.com

celebrated a special moment in time with my only daughter Samantha. Because today, after more than six years of preparation, advocacy in our church and a succession of ‘almost’ and ‘not even close’ experiences in worship, my precious 15-yearold daughter with autism sat in the sanctuary with me for the entire Mass, beginning to end.”

Jackson continues to explain the moment and that day at Mass. “For those who have children on the spectrum, I probably do not need to say much more than that. For those who do not live with or work with children with autism, let me try to explain.

“For lack of better terms, Samantha falls under the moderate to severe part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder. She does not have exceptionally aggressive behavior, for instance, but she is severely limited in her ability to communicate. Sitting still has also been a challenge and, although she loves to sing snippets of her favorite songs, or just vocalize in a sing-song way, she exhibits very little control of her impromptu vocalizations. Therefore, it is very possible she might belt out ‘I love you, you love me, we’re a happy family’ (Barney theme song) in the middle of a very quiet moment at church. (And she has actually done exactly that before).

“So that day in church, I quietly celebrated a small, well no, actually a big victory. Instead of sitting in what is essentially considered the traditional ‘cry room’ area, where parents bring babies and toddlers, I boldly led Samantha into the sanctuary. Of course, this was not the first time we had tried. On a good day, we might make it through to the homily (about 20 minutes into Mass) and then sneak out—just in time—as she started to get restless and be a little too loud. But today she remained calm and we settled into our pews; her older brother at one side of me, Samantha tucked in close to me on the other side.

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“I had completely forgotten how amazing it is to be in sititng in the pews at worship in our church. Music from our organ, choir and hundreds of fellow parishioners surrounded us, engulfing us with the soothing and exciting sounds of traditional hymns. In the cry room area, the music is heard mainly through the speaker; beautiful yes, but not the same experience.

“Soon it was time to participate in communion and we dutifully got up and followed our row toward the front of the church. Only a minor glitch, we were not on our Pastor’s side of the church and Samantha will only take communion from Father Joe if he is there, so we had to ‘jump’ lines, but no one even seemed to notice.

“We got back to our pew and I struggled to overcome my emotions. Tears fell down my face as I realized

that we would actually make it through the whole Mass, like any typical family! Could it really be so?

“Yes, as the last hymn rang out, we again enjoyed the experience of being awash in music one last time. And as those young children, having just received their First Holy Communion, filed out ahead of our Pastor, I quietly rejoiced in an important first of our own.

“This may have just been one in many, many Sunday Masses to come, but I will never forget it. My daughter is growing up and growing in her faith, as am I. Alleluia, Alleluia. Thanks be to God.”

Rick Polston is a teacher of students with disAbilities for Suffolk Public Schools. English and Language Arts are his preferred content areas to teach. His favorite pastime is journaling his travel adventures and singing.

Affordable Housing: What is it?

Affordable housing is like courtesy in that often we are made most aware of its value by experiencing its absence. The problems that accompany a shortage of affordable housing afflict far more people than just the renters who cannot find a lease they can afford. Without it, existing businesses struggle to hire, economic development stagnates, and existing community residents get fewer and progressively less-appetizing options from which to choose where they live, work, and raise their families. Young people grow up and leave their community rather than stay, draining valuable talent and potential from a community and essentially starting the whole vicious cycle back from square one.

To avoid this, Virginia needs to jumpstart the construction of a large amount of apartment housing as soon as possible at a variety of price points. That represents a huge challenge politically, financially, and socially. Even the most basic conversations about affordable housing involve ambiguous terminology, fraught local politics, and labyrinthine bureaucratic process— starting with how we define “affordable housing.” The term itself is packed with far more controversy than the average American even realizes.

Let’s start with a foundational question: “affordable” to whom?

One of the first questions that pops to mind discussing affordable housing is also somewhat complex to answer. The prevailing metric by which policy judges whether housing is “affordable” or not is Area Median Income, (AMI).

[ by Pat Shumaker, Tommy Herbert and Patrick McCloud ]

Virginia is short more than 200,000 “affordable” rental units—more than 7,000 units of new apartment housing per year through 2035 is needed just to meet the existing trends of demand.

MARLA PRUSIK

TENNIS, ANYONE?

Like the name states, AMI is an average of reported wages within a given area, adjusting for household size, calculated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The number varies widely based on area and adjusts for household size. Visit dhcd. virginia.gov/sites/default/files/ Docx/dpa/median-area-incomelimits.pdf to see the comparisons. Federal guidelines set by HUD demarcate those who make less than 80% of the AMI in a given area “low income,” and anyone who makes less than 50% of the AMI is classified as “very low income.” That distinction is important, because it qualifies a person for federal housing subsidies like participation in the Housing Choice Voucher program— sometimes referred to as the Section 8 program—which is run by HUD.

Beyond metrics like those, “affordable,” is a term of art. Like any other commodity, housing is subject to market forces. Unfortunately in the modern history of the United States, we have evolved such a deep shortage of rental housing relative to demand that supply cannot effectively take pressure off of demand. That means that “affordable,” has drifted further and further away from the reality in peoples’ wallets over the course of time. That has led to a concerning forty four percent of renter households in Virginia being “costburdened.” See the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Council’s (JLARC) findings at jlarc.virginia.gov/landing2021-affordable-housing-in-virginia. asp.

There is a shrinking little argument about whether we need

new housing developments—or even the price points of the people who will need to be in those developments—and yet tremendous disagreement about every other element of its production.

Where does affordable housing come from?

Many of the apartments which rent at or below an area’s Fair Market Rent (FMR)—another annual calculated number released by HUD—that exist in any new housing construction are the product of federal programs like the Low-Income and MiddleIncome Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC and MIHTC respectively). In return for tax credits distributed by a state housing finance agency, a given developer will set aside a certain percentage of the units in a planned community at a certain price point

relative to AMI. These tax credit programs are what makes new, purpose-built “affordable housing” construction financially possible. Fair market rent comparisons by county: www.virginiahousing.com/partners/ housing-choice-vouchers/federalfair-market-rents

The inconvenient, hard-to-face truth of the matter is that without these programs, housing developers have few, if any, ways to construct any large-scale market-rate housing that would look affordable to an applicant at or below AMI. The costs of labor, materials, time, and government bureaucracy make investing in new construction of anything but high-end housing very difficult without LIHTC or MIHTC to support it.

Market-rate construction, even though it is aimed at a higher-income segment of the market, also has an extremely important role to play in creating a local environment where housing is available at a variety of price points.

That brings us to the precious, all-too-rare resource of “naturallyoccurring affordable housing,” or NOAH, and what that actually means. You would know NOAH if you saw it. These are older construction communities which have often been through one or two rounds of rehabilitation and update. They usually represent most of a locality’s housing options at or below FMR. NOAH is the underpinning of our need to slam open the taps of housing construction right now. NOAH is composed of communities that were initially built for the luxury market, but have been in operation long enough to lose that market to newer construction. One industry maxim is, “How do you get affordable housing? Build luxury and wait twenty years.”

Despite the name, NOAH does not naturally renew, and it cannot be purpose-built on a two-year timeline. NOAH is a resource that takes decades to build up; it requires

a large degree of construction at the top of the market to inspire long-term competition and drive prices down sustainably. This answer is frustrating to local government officials and long-time community residents who are looking for a fast solution to the slowly-evolved problem of housing affordability.

So how can we solve affordable housing?

If all of this seems complicated and hard to follow, trust that you are not alone. Though there is nothing controversial about the understanding that every human being needs shelter, past that point politics get involved. Housing has to be located somewhere, preferably somewhere with road access and the ability to connect to municipal utilities. It will come as no surprise that there are usually some people in those areas already who will have questions and concerns about what that housing construction means. There will even be a number of people who refuse to support new housing construction no matter how clear the need for it is.

Community opposition is one of the most pervasive obstacles to housing construction of any kind, but specifically housing that is envisioned as affordable to a broad spectrum of the population. Since most of the decisions that make building housing in a locality easy or difficult revolve around elected bodies of local government—separating it from politics is impossible. Voters who oppose new housing construction tend to view it as a threat rather than looking at the value that it will provide for them as part of the community. When people feel threatened, more often than not they react negatively and with force.

This usually takes the form of ominous predictions that allowing “those people” into the neighborhood will make “us” current residents less safe, or will overstress utility

infrastructure, or will crash their property values—outcomes which rarely ever come to pass, but excite an emotional response. This drives a labyrinth of bureaucratic processes which all must be wrapped up into the cost of the project and ultimately passed on to the renter in the form of higher rents. This “not in my back yard” activism at the local level can be a brick wall to housing development at an affordable price point, and confronting it head-on is crucial if we are serious about expanding it.

According to that same JLARC study, Virginia is short more than 200,000 “affordable” rental units. The National Apartment Association expects Virginia needs to construct more than 7,000 units of new apartment housing per year through 2035 just to meet the existing trends of demand according to new research. The situation is no longer simply inconvenient, it is dire. Working up the political will to face it instead of taking the perennial easy way out by ignoring it for tomorrow will take effort not only from builders and government, but from the people who want the benefits of a city in which local employees and families can afford to live.

Sustainably addressing housing supply will mean that families can invest in their children, businesses and public services can attract the best talent, and new companies are attracted to move to the area. Through this, making housing affordable benefits every member of a community, not just the friends, families, and co-workers who finally have the choice to join them there.

Pat Shumaker is executive vice president at Artcraft Management and past president 2020 and 2021 of Virginia Apartment Management Association

Tommy Herbert is government affairs manager at Virginia Apartment Management Association

Patrick McCloud is CEO at Virginia Apartment Management Association

day trip

Destination: Jamestown, Virginia

Our area of Virginia is incredibly rich with American history, so when the Boulevard team starts to consider things to explore on a day trip, it doesn’t take too long before you have dozens of historical options. When I recently loaded up the car with my camera bag and some orange juice, I set out for a place that I hadn’t visited since I was in elementary school. I wanted to see Jamestown Settlement.

I purposefully didn’t do any research at all because I wanted the trip itself to guide me. The only “cheat” I allowed myself was an internet search for the first directional map I saw. For all I knew I could be headed to a Jamestown Pizzeria (I was not). The drive was bright and sunny and for me the audiobook was refreshing. Yet the closer I got to my destination it became clear to me how actually beautiful the water is as you approach Jamestown Settlement. I also tried to imagine life for some of our earlier settlers of the 1600s. Was this exciting to them or terrifying? But I’m getting off track and this is not a history lesson.

I reached the first gate onto the Jamestown Island and continued my drive around to what I know now as the Jamestown Island Loop Road. My first encounter with anyone is a man and his dog finishing what appeared to be their morning walk. It dawns on me: This is a park! If I lived closer, I’d use it as a walking spot, too. That realization set the tone for the next half hour or so as I drove the trails through the Island. Every so often there was a pull over with a sign giving historic or ecologic information. I found the drive pleasant. The trails are wide, single-lane roads, well-marked, one way and very well maintained. The roads are paved and where they cross the water, a sturdy wooden bridge

[ by david polston ]

The Jamestown Settlement is often outshined by Colonial Williamsburg but is by no means less important or intriguing.

[ PHOTOS by David Polston ]

is there for you to cross.

I passed hikers of all ages on their Sunday morning strolls. There were only a couple of joggers and although I didn’t see any cyclists this morning, that doesn’t mean that no one was taking advantage of this quiet and flat route. I also liked the fact that the trails felt safe. I drove this time, but I wouldn’t have any reservations hiking the short 3-mile or even the extended 5-mile route. I pulled over on occasion to take a photo, look around and I thought the area was just beautiful. I specifically went to see the settlement site today, but I could use another trip just to take landscape photographs.

I pulled into the parking lot of the Historic Jamestown Visitors Center and inside was a selfguided tour filled with artifacts and information; I walked around and explored the displays. There were clean restrooms and a gift shop filled with gifts, books and collectables for all ages.

Back in the car, it was a short drive to the Jamestown Settlement. A sign welcomes you to a much larger Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Museum and Visitors Center. This, too, has a self-guided museum, gift shop, restaurants, event site and is the ticketed gateway to the actual settlement located just a short walk from the museum.

The interactive museum tour begins with a film inside the auditorium that runs on a short rotating schedule and from there you enter exhibits that give an accurate account of life of our earliest American settlers. You will find artifacts, documents, reproductions of articles and replicated homes of the brave new adventurers.

Once outside, it’s a short walk to the Jamestown Settlement; you will enter through the fortified walls and see James Fort, the recreated fort of the Virginia Company of London’s military outpost (1610–14). This outpost—with authentic buildings,

churches, blacksmith shops, gardens and much more—provides a glimpse of what it was like for colonists living here. The grounds are full of historic interpreters in authentic wardrobe using period tools and techniques for all aspects of life in the early 17th century—all of whom are willing to answer any question that you may pose to them.

Another short walk from the

outpost are the docks where three of the ships that sailed to the New World just over 400 years ago are docked. Continuing your walk, you will also find small houses and gardens, small shops and simple settings of communal life around the settlement.

I mentioned earlier that this article isn’t a history lesson. But I hope that you find it intriguing

enough to spark a desire in you to just get out in our area and visit history. We only have one Jamestown, Virginia, and most of us can get there in an hour from Hampton Roads. I have to admit that the more I get into these trips for Boulevard, I realize how much I actually don’t know about my own area. The exciting part is that I can go visit and learn for myself now on a short weekend, with a good audiobook and a large orange juice and a self-guided historical adventure.

The Jamestown Settlement is often outshined by Colonial Williamsburg, but is by no means less important or intriguing. It is worth the day trip. The stories of the lives of our earliest Americians is nothing short of

pure bravery and the ability and will to survive. These historic sites deserve our attention.

Boulevard photography editor, David Polston, is also the scenic designs, carpentry and production supervisor for CBN. He is an internationally published freelance photographer, blogger and writer, and the resident professional photographer for Seven Venues, LiveNation, Hampton Coliseum, The VaArts Festival and the Virginia Symphony, among others.

Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center

1368 Colonial Nat’l Historical Pkwy, Jamestown, VA 23081 historicjamestowne.org

Planning to take a day trip somewhere within an hour or two away from Tidewater? How about an overnight road trip somewhere?

Tell us about the experience. Send in your piece (and any photos you take) for us to consider publishing in a future issue of Boulevard.

Email: julie@blvdmedia.io

Jamestown-Yorktown Museums (Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown) 2110 Jamestown Road, Route 31 S., Williamsburg, 23185

www.jyfmuseums.org

Photo Contest: Enter to Win

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN?

“Last Call” highlights a location or an artifact in the Tidewater region every issue. Send us your guess via email or on the website as to where you think the photo was taken and identify what it is. Those who send correct guesses will have their names placed into a hat, with the winner randomly chosen.

Please provide your email address/contact information with your submission in case you’re the lucky one.

We will award a prize each issue. For this contest we will provide a $150 gift certificate at one of The Boulevard Team’s favorite restaurants. Of course, we’ll name the winner in the next issue and on social media so you can take advantage of all the appropriate bragging rights with your friends and family. Good luck everyone!

blvdmedia.io/contact/

hello@blvdmedia.io

Last issue’s winner: Maria Moen

Suffolk, VA Location:

Freemason Street Baptist Church Norfolk, VA

[ PHOTO by David Polston ]