May-Aug 2023 Boulevard

The essential source of things to do for locals & visitors

Taylor’s Do it Centers thrive using old fashioned

values

The crucial role of the Virginia Seafood AREC and the seafood industry

A surf park is born from the vision of local architect Alec Yuzhbabenko

The largest action sport event with internationally ranked athletes comes to Virginia Beach

MAY-JUL 2023

BBQ Beer Live Music

BBQ Breakfast Sat & Sun 8-1

Froggies has an awesome BBQ menu—smoked on-site and accompanied by our house-made sauces. We’ve got 22 beers on tap and 2 full bars.

Live music Thursday–Sunday featuring a variety of classic rock, blues, acoustic sets and oldies.

Enjoy our spacious outdoor deck and plenty of inside seating.

Come check out our daily specials!

FEATURES:

14 Taylor’s Do it Center

A family affair where “traditional old values get the job done!”

20 Empowering the Autism Community

FACT’s new Autism Resource Center provides support and hope

28 High Octane Takes Center Stage

JACKALOPE Festival brings world-class action sports to Virginia Beach

34 Preserving the Chesapeake Bay’s Rich Ecosystem

The crucial role of the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center in the seafood industry

DEPARTMENTS:

4 From the Publisher

An embarassment of riches

7 What’s Biting

A new fishing expert comes aboard with advice on fish to reel in this season

10 Profile: Alec Yuzhbabenko

A surf park is born from the vision of a local architecture student

26 Notable Potables

Cool drinks for summer days

40 Viewpoint

Portsmouth rolls the dice with the opening of Rivers Casino

44 Day Trip

Destination: Northern Neck, Virginia

48 Boulevard’s Last Call

Where was this photo taken? [Contest]

ON THE COVER

Adrenaline junkies will get their fill of action sports as world class athletes compete in JACKALOPE Virginia Beach. Competitors include skateboarders, base jumpers and boulderers. There will also be music, breakdancing, food and drinks to enjoy during the festival.

[ PHOTO by Yann Roy ]

RENDERING COURTESTY OF VENTURE REALTY GROUP

COURTESY OF FACT

from the publisher

An Embarrassment of Riches

It’s hard to believe that just four years ago the entire world was shut down; any planned activities were canceled by the various global government agencies. All public and private events, whether community, social, personal or business were more or less eliminated due to the onset of COVID-19.

The Boulevard team had the unique experience of launching a new regional magazine in the Tidewater area in 2020. Our planning started in January and the first issue—which was scheduled to be distributed in May— was delayed until October. Who knew that all of our plans would be postponed for many months? When the governor of Virginia decided to shutter restaurants and ultimately close the beaches during the Fourth of July weekend, it became clear that this global pandemic had local implications, and would be affecting us for some time to come.

Now in the summer of 2023, we have multiple events each week— concerts, wine festivals, sports, weddings—all anchored by major attractions such as Something in the Water (SITW), which brought many new faces to the Tidewater area and to the oceanfront. The hotels were full at astonishingly high room rates, the restaurants were jam packed, the bars and pubs were overflowing with happy concert goers in town to hear the best music that Pharell and his friends could convince to perform at the fourth SITW festival.

Right around the corner we have another series of happenings which include the Montreal-based Jackalope Festival—making its first appearance in the United States right here in Virginia Beach. Then comes Bluegrass and Blues, Beach It!, and the Virginia Bridal and Wedding Expo. As summer progresses, we will be treated to all of the annual events we’ve come to know and love like the East Coast Surfing Championship, the Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show and the Neptune Festival. Interspersed amongst those big events you can find music, art and sports happening all across Virginia Beach,

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

CONTRIBUTORS

ALEX MARJANOVIC Writer

JASMINE SHENG Writer YIORGO Writer

JOHN CADELL Photographer

SUSIE BRUNK General Manager susie@blvdmedia.io

ADVERTISING Berry Brunk 757.340.3625 berry@blvdmedia.io

Norfolk, Hampton and other Tidewater locales. Now the Boulevard team is faced with a different problem: how to decide which of these events we cover in detail for our avid readers who focus on the unique things we have to see and do in this coastal metropolis. As I said before, the stores and retailers have rebounded. Restaurant patronage is way up. Our bars are open for live music and sporting events, and numerous areas in town are getting facelifts based on the current needs of the region.

Some examples: Pembroke Mall is going through a complete rehab complete with an affordable housing project. The old Military Circle site has been awarded as a development project to a group called the Wellness Circle, which submitted a $1.1 billion proposal to remake the 75-acre site with a 200-room hotel, more than 1,100 new housing units and a 16,000-seat arena. Negotiations between the city and the Wellness Circle development team, which includes Virginia Beach-based musicians Pharrell Williams and Pusha T, are currently underway. And finally, the old gravel and sand parking lot

space adjacent to Rudee inlet will soon become a new city and private enterprise project, which will anchor the south end of the resort strip.

Throughout the past four years that we have been publishing Boulevard magazine, we knew that this area would rebound as a bigger, more modern and diverse regional powerhouse. New ideas and projects to repurpose land usage will help to transform the area for the next 50 years to come. We’re proud to be a catalyst in the rejuvenation of the Tidewater area, and I look forward to sharing more and more events of interest with you to help you enjoy your spare time—locally.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

your two cents

Reader commentary via email, social media, text and even snailmail

I found the article on your website. Thank you so much for including the Virginia Arts Festival, but I must ask for a revision to the online article. You’ve listed the writer Jo Manley as the current Director of Marketing and Communications, which is inaccurate.

Dianna Starkey Director of Marketing and Communications Virginia Arts Festival

[Publisher’s response]

Hello Dianna and thank you for bringing this to our attention. This particular error is extremely vexing as the writer submitted it with Jo’s title and the editors fact-checked

this information from not one but two online sources. We sincerely apologize for perpetuating the error from these sources and thank you for bringing it to our attention. We immediately made the correction you requested.

Thank you for doing such a comprehensive feature highlighting our daughter, Samantha, and the work done at the Faith Inclusion Network.

Karen Jackson

Founder of Faith Inclusion Network

Send us your thoughts digitally (and don’t forget to follow, like and subscribe while you’re there!) or mail to:

Blvd. Media, LLC, 4001-117 Virginia Beach Blvd., Suite 181, Virginia Beach, VA 23452

blvdmedia.io/letters-to-the-editor

hello@blvdmedia.io

blvdmedia757

360.333.7161

A New Captain Takes the Helm

As more fish species move into the warmer waters of Hampton Roads, Boulevard’s “What’s Biting: has a new captain at the wheel: Billy Sugg. Billy is an officer with the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office and an avid fisherman—the expertise he attributes to his late father. Welcome aboard, Billy! Beginning with this issue, Billy will provide news and resources for the fishing faithful.

Offshore: Black sea bass season kicks off May 15 just as tautog season closes. Drop strips of squid and fiddler crabs and cut blue crab chunks on multi-hook rigs with 10 oz. sinkers into wrecks to catch these delicious bait raiders. Also, jigging artificial baits will weed out the smaller ones while providing quality sea bass and flounder. Spadefish will congregate around the wrecks, windmills, and towers along the coast and can be caught with clam strips on small red hooks. Good electronics are essential in finding the wrecks and seeing which ones are holding fish. Look for amberjack and crevalle jack to show on offshore structures. Golden tilefish can be taken on deep-dropping trips to the Norfolk Canyon on the edge of the Continental Shelf out of Virginia Beach.

Offshore Sportfishing: Avid offshore anglers are excited about the coming season with bluefin tuna, mahi, and wahoo on the radar. Cedar plugs, #3-1/2 Drone spoons, Knockerhead Plastics, or feather-style baits are reliable producers for those looking to put some meat in the box. Yellowfin, blackfin, and big eye tuna arrive as the waters warm. Look for billfish to be close behind. Ballyhoo rigged with Sea Witches in various color combinations can yield banner days of these as well as white and blue marlin with sailfish and spearfish possible. Deep dropping for swordfish has become a significant addition to Virginia’s offshore sport fishing world, with the largest fish caught at night and multiple fish trips possible if you know your stuff. Like all species available in our area, don’t be afraid to go with one of the many professionals available to put you on the bite! Things are heating up for the summer, so get your ducks in a row and your lines in the water.

The Bay/Tidal Rivers: Speckled trout are moving out of their winter holdovers to move up the bay. Some will stay in the area all year and split their time between cooler deep waters and food-rich shallows. Red drum is here and can be found on shoals and rock piles by anchoring and fishing cut bait on the bottom or sight casting to schools of migrating fish in open waters within sight of the Virginia Beach shoreline. The action may be even richer in the mouth and middle of the bay near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Spring striper season runs May 16–June 15. Stripers that have been up-river spawning in the James, Rappahannock, York Rivers and other large tributaries are making their way back down and are found in schools near structures where they stop off to feed. Gray trout are still on the rebound, with larger fish arriving in May. Any large bluefish in the area will be near the trout and menhaden. By June, Spanish mackerel, ribbonfish, and small blues can be caught by pulling #00 Clark spoons on #1 Planers or in-line sinkers near tide rips. They can be great action close to shore. King mackerel, bonita, and false albacore can be taken either trolling larger spoons and plastics or Sea Witches with strip baits on planers along the inshore coast. Large “smoker” kings are caught by the pier and drift fisherman using live Menhaden. Black drum, croaker, spot,

During May, June and July you’ll typically reel in these catches:

MAY

Offshore—black sea bass, striper and limited sport fish

The Bay/Tidal Rivers—flounder, summer fluke, red drum and striped bass

Freshwater—black crappie, bass, blue gill, bream

JUNE

Offshore—tuna, dolphin and wahoo

The Bay/Tidal Rivers—spot, croaker, black drum, cobia and spanish makeral

Freshwater—long nose gar, bass and blue gill

JULY

Offshore—tuna, marlin, dolphin and swordfish

The Bay/Tidal Rivers—sheephead, flounder, tarpon and spade fish

Freshwater—catfish, large & small mouth bass, bream

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 photos with a description and the photographer’s name: hello@blvdmedia.io

Billy Sugg

roundhead, pompano, and sea mullet are all big contenders for anglers’ attention in June, with Father’s Day weekend usually being very productive for all these species.

In June, cobia season arrives. Our mid-Atlantic region boasts some of the most phenomenal cobia fishing in the world, with fish in the 100 pound range possible. As the fish migrate into the bay, large pods of cobia can be found in open water or the shadow of navigational buoys and bridges. Sight casters throwing bucktails with twister tails or tossing live bait such as eels and live spots can connect with these powerful bruisers. Once they reach the Latimer Shoals, Bluefish Rock, York Spit, and Cape Charles areas, they can be caught by anchoring and soaking cut menhaden on the bottom and eels on surface lines behind the boat while chumming.

As with all species in Virginia waters, be sure you know the regulations on these delicious, hardfighting giants. Speaking of giants, any time you are fishing cut bait on the bottom during summer, you can expect to catch various shark and stingray species that test your strength and tackle. Remember that most Virginia shark species are protected from May 15–July 15. Sheepshead and spadefish will be found around in-shore wrecks, bridges, and barnacle-encrusted pilings. Fiddler crabs on footballheaded jigs are the ticket for the sheepies, and clam strips on small, red hooks under corks in a chum slick will produce quality catches of spade for you.

Also, in late June and throughout July, we have a surprise visit to our Virginia waters: tarpon on the Eastern Shore. These tropical water treasures venture in small numbers as far north as Maryland and can be caught by those who know where to find them. Many serious anglers revere tarpons as the most challenging species to hook in Virginia due to their fantastic

head-shaking, bait-throwing jumps with burning speed—the fastest fish to visit our coastal waters. In recent years, Wachapreague waters have even boasted of tarpon caught by kayakers. Unbelievable! Indeed the catch of a lifetime.

Freshwater: Spawning bluegills and other sunfish species can be found in shallows on beds and can readily be taken on top water flies or small poppers on light tackle or by using crickets and worms under small bobbers. Post-spawn shellcrackers can be caught on worms on the bottom as well. Once bream settle into their summer patterns, they can be caught in large numbers by casting small jigs with paddle and curl tails or beetle spins. Bass cruising near bream beds are settling into summer patterns. Top water early, worm bites during the day. Top water or wake baits late. Anytime you are fishing in freshwater, there’s a chance

of hooking into one of those “toothy critters,” aka members of the pike family. While chain pickerel are most common in local lakes, some waters do boast northern pike as well as muskellunge or “musky,” which will be occupying similar waters and hitting the same baits. Targeting those species specifically, you may want to throw large, in-line spinners, glide baits, and stick baits resembling minnows or shad near weed lines and rocky ledges.

Crappies are still on a postspawn pattern and can be caught in numbers as they stage in shallows near drop-offs or tree tops. As summer heats up, look for crappie to retreat to deeper waters during

At left, Billy holds a citation large mouth bass. Above: William Sugg with a hefty cobia.

T hank You

You want to connect and celebrate – to see long-missed friends, celebrate a milestone with colleagues, or have a full-blown birthday celebration. There’s no better place to do that than over a shared meal at a local restaurant. We’re ready.

For the latest restaurant and safety updates, visit our website at www.dineinvb.com

the day and hunt the shoals in the evenings and at night. Dock lights at night can be huge attractors where they will congregate. Stripers, catfish and long nose gar in lakes and rivers can be caught by using cut bait on the bottom or by trolling large minnows. Giant catfish and longnose gar in the James and Northwest Rivers are available near ledges and channels. Try noodling or jugging for them as it’s loads of entertainment for the whole family and fun on handlines.

Featured Fish: Flounder or summer fluke typically winter offshore, and many large “flatties” will remain there and can be caught near wrecks year-round. Many begin moving back to the warming shallows in April. Throughout May, they can be found in good numbers along the

Virginia Coast, with Wachapreague, Quinby, Great Machipongo, and Oyster, Virginia, being productive places on the Eastern Shore. Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet, Willoughby Spit, Back River, and York Spit are good areas to fish on the bay’s western side. Some fish will take up residence among the structures of the Chesapeake Bay BridgeTunnel and the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, with rocks and pilings providing both food and protection.

As the shallow waters continue to warm through June, numbers will increase, and the fish will begin to move to slightly deeper waters, backing off flats to drop-offs nearby. Numbers of fish can still feed on baitfish coming off the flats, but have the comfort of marginally cooler

waters. By July, the shallow waters are getting so hot the fish will begin backing out to the mouths of large channels, preparing to retreat to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and the inshore wrecks and various manufactured reefs available in our area. The Thimble Shoals and Baltimore Channels will produce much fish as they transition.

Billy Sugg is a longstanding member of the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office, having served almost three decades. Thanks to his father’s influence, he has been a local angler for even longer than that.

WHAT’S BITING

Alec Yuzhbabenko

Whether in the beach town of Odesa, Ukraine, Mobile, Alabama, to Virginia Beach, Virginia, Alec Yuzhbabenko always had the opportunity to keep his toes in the sand. Since he was active, he always wanted to be near the water and enjoy the beach and do something while there. That something was to surf. However, until the move to Virginia Beach, Yuzhbabenko found the waves in Odessa and Mobile nearly nonexistent. Although he enjoyed the beaches, he chose to immerse himself in the action sport of skateboarding.

As a child, Yuzhbabenko’s dad was involved in the shipping industry in Ukraine. While the family loved their home country, they chose to travel extensively throughout Europe. When the opportunity presented itself to pack up and relocate to the United States, his parents did what they thought was best for their children’s future. As it turned out, they made the right decision.

Yuzhbabenko was educated in Virginia Beach Public Schools, then graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in architecture. He figured that while his dad was an engineer and his mother an artist, architecture would offer the best of both worlds, given his inherited skill set.

After decades of skateboarding as an alternative to surfing, Yuzhbabenko broke his ankle. The injury devastated him. The idea occurred to him to return to his equally passionate sport of surfing. Virginia Beach allowed him to learn and hone in the sport again. Once he got back on his board, he started a surf club at Virginia Tech with many like-minded friends. Landlocked and unable to travel to exotic surf destinations, he and his buddies brought the surfing lifestyle to the mountains in every way they could. Their start was setting up imitation surf parks outside the dining hall to simulate surfing. They also ventured out and began crafting surfboards.

While Yuzhbabenko continued his study of architecture and remained active in surf culture, his friends were participating as interns in Europe. As a youth, Yuzhbabenko had seen much of Europe already, so he concentrated his interest upon the architecture of every country he visited and eventually landed his first internship in the United States. However, his second internship with the prestigious SMO in Chicago was the one that firmly bolstered and solidified his belief that his path of study was spot on. Although the internship kept him extremely busy, he did manage to keep an eye and ear on the happenings in Virginia Beach. He learned of the legendary 19th Street Dome from friends who would talk about how they, or their parents, saw the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, the Police, Fats Domino or any number of great acts from back in the day. When told that “The Dome” had been razed in September of 1994 due to structural deterioration, he couldn’t believe it: The Dome was an iconic piece of architecture erected in 1957 and the first of its kind in the country. The memories and impact it had on those who experienced it were immense.

Yuzhbabenko’s perspective was that architecture should have an emotional effect. For decades he became obsessed with The Dome and the vacant surrounding property. Yuzhbabenko’s emotional tie to the property led to the idea of doing his thesis on the now-vacated site. He wanted to take the land that once proudly supported The Dome and turn it into something more iconic and emotionally satisfying. “I wanted to duplicate the impact, not replicate The Dome itself,” says Yuzhbabenko.

While the City of Virginia Beach couldn’t seem to find the right fit for the site, this architecture student at Virginia Tech was working on a plan

by

[

nadine paniccia ]

From the mountains of Virginia to a former iconic site in Virginia Beach: A surf park is born from the vision of a local architecture student.

unbeknownst to them. While writing the concluding touches of his thesis, he believed a European block design concept for a surf park would be unique and out-of-the-box. His professors must have agreed, as this concept received high accolades. Yuzhbabenko completed his studies, and with graduation upon him, the thesis ended in book form: “A Hybrid Typology.”

Yuzhbabenko viewed the City of Virginia Beach as home and a place that had given him many opportunities, including his love of surfing. Unlike many fellow graduates, Yuzhbabenko chose to stay local and give back to his adopted home, taking a position with Norfolk, Virginia, architecture firm Hanbury. While working, he began to ask himself, “How can I make an impact in the place that raised me? What must I do to feel a part of the community to get the best results?”

Meanwhile, the City of Virginia Beach sent another RFP (Request for Proposal) for The Dome site. As luck would have it, Yuzhbabenko’s firm would put an RFP presentation

response together. Yuzhbabenko’s boss knew he had written his thesis on The Dome site, so he pulled him into the project. After going to the drawing board many times and the project taking many twists and turns, the company assigned the site name Atlantic Park by Venture Realty and Pharrell Williams—who applauded Yuzhbabenko’s vision and gave a hardy stamp of approval. Thus, the surf park concept was born. The recognition was a huge boost of confidence for a newly graduated architect.

Atlantic Park is soon to become

an icon on the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Yuzhbabenko hopes that “the project will be so inspiring that future projects will be motivated to be even more iconic.” If the creative work he has done early in his career is any indication, Yuzhbabenko’s future projects are sure to be very inspirational.

Nadine Paniccia works at the Sandler Center for Performing Arts. She earned a degree in journalism from Utica College of Syracuse University and enjoys writing, reading, live music, time with her granddaughter, Rory, and paddle boarding.

RENDERINGS COURTESTY OF VENTURE REALTY GROUP

Taylor’s

Do it Center

By Yiorgo

A family affair where “traditional old values get the job done!”

Multiple generations are involved in the family business

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAYLOR’S DO IT CENTER

aylor’s Do it Center, from its inception as the Fuel, Feed and Building Supplies in Virginia Beach more than 90 years ago to the 21 neighborhood Taylor’s Do it Centers today, have flourished and remained true to their beginnings. The old traditional values of excellent service, cleanliness, and product knowledge, to mention a few, are all alive and well at the stores, making them thrive. Add to that the four generations of Taylors actively engaged in the everyday running of the neighborhood stores; no wonder the community’s needs—the number one goal—are always achieved.

It was in 1927 that original founders James Jordan, Audie Fisher, Edward Hardy and Willard Ashburn raised $1,750; soon after that, Robert Taylor got on board and the business of Fuel, Feed and Building Supplies was born. They quickly began to supply and deliver building materials by horse cart. As the town of Virginia Beach grew, so did the company, and later they added Mobil fuel oil to the products they supplied.

Surfing in Virginia Beach in the 1960s became very popular, and a young Hobie Alter met with an equally young Dawson Taylor, who in turn agreed to sell Hobie’s new line of fiberglass surfboards at the Fuel Feed store on 19th Street. Thus they were one of the first Hobie dealers on the East Coast, and Fuel Feed helped sponsor the first Surfing Carnival in Virginia Beach—now known as the East Coast Surfing Championship.

Also in the 1960s, Dawson Taylor, Jimmy Jordan, and Chick Jordan—the sons of the founders—along with Marshal and Audie Fisher, joined together and in 1965 opened the very first “home center” in the region at Princess Anne Plaza and joined the True Value hardware cooperative.

The next several decades saw tremendous growth. By the late ‘70s, the company left the Virginia Beach boardwalk and opened stores in the

Hilltop, Kempsville, and Haygood neighborhoods. It was in 1990 when the decision was made to leave True Value and affiliate themselves with more than 3,800 other independent hardware and building supply retailers across the country and around the world and joined Do it Best Corp.

Taylor’s Do it Centers continue to be a family affair, with all three of Dawson’s sons following in their father’s footsteps. Their oldest son, Bob Taylor, became company president, but left in 2001 and became CEO of Do it Best Corp., Taylor’s buying cooperative. Joe Taylor is the company’s current president and CEO, and Russ Taylor serves as vice president/operations manager.

I talked with Joe Taylor recently about being elected chair of the 12-member board of directors for Do it Best Corp. and about Taylor’s Do it Centers in general. When asked about his recent election to the Do it Best board, Joe said, “I was very fortunate. I was selected secretary my second year, vice president my third year, and here I am, chairman now, and it’s cool.” Joe continued, “I’ve chaired many boards, and this one is the best. It is quite an honor because it’s in my business, in the field that I love, and I get to look out for the needs of all my fellow members. That is pretty neat.”

The Do it Best concept is simple: a co-op representing members buying items together. They combine their purchase needs so they can buy and distribute better. The more you buy from a company and the more efficient you are, the co-op enables you to get rebates on your purchases. Do it Best provides a lot of inventory and services to help businesses thrive and grow. As Joe said, “We have large distribution centers with quick turnaround on products within a day or two. We can react quickly, especially during hurricanes and storms, much faster than big boxes

like Home Depot and Lowe’s. It’s a relationship, a great partnership that has helped us grow our business to what it is today.”

Since then, Taylor’s has added locations on Colley Avenue and Little Creek in Norfolk, at Great Bridge in Chesapeake, Poquoson, Moyock, NC, Bennett’s Creek in Suffolk, and at Marina Shores and Courthouse in Virginia Beach. In 2016, Taylor acquired Pleasants Hardware with eight locations in Richmond, Virginia.

When asked about those early growing years, Joe reflected on the 1980s—it was a scary time for the company because that’s when the big-name hardware companies opened up in Virginia Beach. “I remember reading that when the two biggest boxes, Home Depot and Lowe’s, started, one of the two places

Being from this area and a frequent shopper at Taylor’s Do it Centers, I remembered when they were True Value. I asked Joe why they no longer decided to associate themselves with True Value, especially since 1990 was during a recession when they moved. Joe was very forthright with his answer. “It got to the point that they were not efficient anymore. How efficient your co-op is determines your rebate, and with True Value it had dwindled to so little that it had us looking at another co-op.” According to Joe, “Do it Best is so darn efficient with no long-term debt, runs a tight operation, and gives us a nice healthy rebate, and especially when we have a lot of stores as we do, we count on that rebate to help us grow. We put a lot of money into that switchover, but it

where the war broke out between the two was Virginia Beach, Virginia. We did a lot of soul-searching about how we were going to survive. We always get asked, ‘How do you compete against the big boxes and stay in business?’ Honestly, it’s been easy to compete, thrive and grow. We have gone from five stores in 2000 to 21 stores today, so it has been a great story.”

was our best move.”

As a delighted Taylor’s customer, it was a great move. And as for Joe, he was quick to add, “There are plenty of customers that want the convenience that neighborhood shopping with our unique niche categories has to offer. When you come into Taylor’s, you expect customer service and we make sure you get it.”

Taylor’s Do it Center is one of Virginia Beach’s oldest retail businesses and continues to be run by the family.

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So what will customers find that are unique to Taylor’s stores? Joe happily added, “Our garden [center] is our signature department. We have greenhouses at many locations, selling beautiful flowers and hanging baskets in the springtime. We are one of Scott’s biggest independent dealers in the country. Lots of soils and mulches, and gardenrelated products. Outdoor living like Big Green Egg, Weber grills, and everything related. Customers can only buy Stihl outdoor power equipment at independent hardware stores. We have Stihl at all of our locations. It’s a huge part of our business. It’s the number one rated power equipment in the industry. Our philosophy is to be 3-5 miles from the big box stores and locate our stores in the neighborhoods where

our customers live.” Joe proudly added, “We are also a very femalefriendly store. I would say 55% of our customers are female.”

You can see and hear Joe’s love and pride for his family’s business. When I asked him what he is most proud of when he walks into any of their 21 stores, he said, “You know, I was born in Norfolk, raised a businessman, and live here at home in Virginia Beach doing what I love daily. We have been very fortunate with the loyalty and longevity of our employees. Taylor’s has well over 300 employees. Our general manager just retired last year. She joined the company when we were both seniors in high school. We have folks that have worked with us even 20-40 years. That is a testament to the family nature of our company.

I can visit all of our stores every six weeks. I know the names of our employees in every location, and we do family things with our employees. Ultimately, it all brings us full circle to the excellent service our employees provide our customers.”

As Joe continued to reminisce, a big smile came upon his face. “Our stores are immaculate and as neat as a pin, and that’s because of my dad and my grandfather, a naval academy man. He had store inspections every Friday morning. We started at 7:30 in the morning and walked the entire store, ensuring everything was organized and clean, and we checked the bathrooms. Our stores look that way because of my dad and grandfather.”

Finally, I could not resist and asked Joe to share a pinch-mewow moment in the business that he experienced. “It has been so rewarding that we have grown to the level that we have. We purchased Pleasants Hardware in 2016. They were a chain of eight stores in Richmond, Virginia, and they came up for sale. I’ll never forget showing it to my dad and saying what a great opportunity it would be for us to get eight stores in a market less than two hours from us. A business that is exactly like ours, over 100 years old, third generation business, same niche, and consumer base. I worked hard on making a purchase attempt, and we almost didn’t get it. In the end, we were awarded those stores and have grown to 10 stores in the last few years. That was a ‘wow moment’ that we were able to make that kind of acquisition, improve our economy and take us to a different level. We are recognized nationwide for that accomplishment. We were very proud we got those stores.”

Yiorgo is an arts, entertainment, and sports writer. A stage, television, and movie actor. And a sports entertainer, educator, motivational speaker, writer, storyteller, and columnist.

FACT’s new Autism Resource Center provides support and hope

Autism Spectrum Disorder is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States, and its prevalence has increased by 241% since 2000. When a child is diagnosed with autism, it can be a challenging time for the whole family. However, there are many ways that families can cope with this diagnosis and help their child thrive. Families of Autistic Children of Tidewater (FACT) is a local nonprofit that aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism in our community and provides support and information for their families.

My brother, Brian, is 20 months younger than me. When I was four years old, Brian was diagnosed with autism. Although I do not remember my brother being born or his diagnosis, both of those events would go on to shape my life and career.

Autism is a lifelong neurological and developmental disorder that affects the social and communication skills in children. Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. Brian is one of the sweetest, cuddliest and goofiest people you will ever meet. He loves everybody and is a delightful person despite the fact he is minimally vocal with high support needs. The most straightforward example I can give to describe Brian’s support needs occurs whenever we eat. When deciding what to order for dinner, I

always offer Brian options, like “Would you rather have a hamburger or pizza?” Most of the time, Brian will repeat the last word said, so I ask the question again but in reverse, “Do you want pizza or a hamburger?” We usually process this until Brian picks the first option or says one independently without prompting.

Growing up, Brian had a lot of challenges. I love my brother—and we were always close from a young age— but that didn’t mean it was always easy. While Brian may not speak much, he is knowledgeable and learned from a young age that when the telephone rang, our mom would be distracted, and that was his opportunity to escape out of the house and head to one of our neighbor’s pools for a quick dip. Many of our neighbors got familiar with Brian quickly and would inevitably bring him back to our house in soaking-wet clothes from his most recent adventure.

As he got older, Brian also developed some aggressive behaviors. Like all of us, Brian gets frustrated and has wants, needs and emotions that drive his behavior. Unlike most of us, however, he needs to gain verbal communication skills to convey what those wants and conditions are. Imagine having an ear infection but you’re unable to tell anyone about that ear infection or ask for help or treatment. Understandably, this frustration can lead Brian to some minor aggressive behaviors.

As you might guess, years ago not many programs

By Tyler Williamson

were staffed and equipped to work with individuals on the spectrum with higher support needs like my brother. My family often struggled to find traditional after-school and summer care for Brian, as he needed constant one-on-one supervision and someone empathetic and patient enough to work with a child who could not communicate his wants and needs in the traditional, verbal sense.

But there was always one place where Brian was welcomed and safe and celebrated for being who he was and loved for his differences: Brian was one of the first six campers with autism to participate in a one-week summer camp through FACT.

FACT’s summer camp was aptly named Camp GonnaWannaGoAgin’, and since it started in 1997, this name has held! Brian has been attending every year for the past 26 years.

FACT ended up being a home not only for my brother, but for me as well. Every summer during college, I would come home so I could work as one of the camp counselors. Years later, when I was interviewing for legal jobs at law school, the question often came up: “What’s this Camp GonnaWannaGoAgin’ on your resume?” My answer was the same every time: “It was the best job I ever had. I got paid to run around places like Ocean Breeze and the Aquarium with many awesome kids with autism.”

FACT meant so much to me and my family, and after practicing law for a couple of years, I decided to join the board to try and give back

to the organization that changed the lives of my brother as well as mine. I loved that board work so much; the stars aligned when I was able to leave my legal career and became FACT’s second-ever executive director when my predecessor—who ran the program for 22 years—decided to retire. I could not be luckier to have found a home with an organization that does such meaningful work in the Hampton Roads community.

Autism rates are growing

In 2023, the prevalence of autism rose to 1 in 36 children born in the United States—a number which has grown exponentially since my brother was diagnosed in the early 1990s when the rate was 1 in 1,000 children. In the seven cities of Hampton Roads, there are more than 4,700 children with autism in the public school system. This number does not include all homeschooled kids, students in private schools or the thousands of adults with autism in our region. As the rate of autism continues to rise, so must the resources available for families and individuals with autism.

For more than 26 years, FACT has offered social and recreational programs that motivate individuals with autism to engage with peers and the community. Our programs

enhance social and communication skills by utilizing similar-aged nondisabled peer volunteers and highly trained staff. Our focus on social integration helps to foster awareness and acceptance of individuals with autism throughout the community. The most impactful social interventions are the communication skills acquired by providing positive and natural peer interactions. Peer influence has a profound, long-lasting effect on an individual’s outlook for the future. FACT’s goal is to ensure those influences are positively motivating.

Establishing roots

This year FACT is getting a long-term home located in Virginia Beach. The 21,900 square-foot Autism Resource Center—due to open in June—will be a state-of-the-art facility where FACT and seven other organizations will provide complementary services to thousands of individuals with autism and similar disabilities, along with services for their families. By collaborating, cooperating and cohabitating with other organizations, FACT’s Autism Resource Center will provide a fantastic opportunity to create a supportive, loving and nurturing environment for individuals throughout their lifetime.

NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION

Brothers Brian (left) and Tyler

FACT staff kicked off renovations on the Autism Resource Center in September 2022. L-R: Program Director Sheri Bragg, CEO Tyler Williamson and Program Manager Jessie Pitts.

The building is centrally located on Virginia Beach Blvd., right off the Rosemont exit from I-264 and along the bus line, making it easily accessible for families around the region. Some of the many features include:

• Friendship Hall (an approximately 5,000 square-foot multipurpose room) where FACT will host summer camps and year-round art, music, leisure, life skills, social and educational programs;

• The biggest sensory gym in Virginia Beach (approximately 1,900 square feet) designed as a fun, naturalistic play area to help individuals with sensory processing needs learn to regulate their brain’s potential adverse reactions to external stimuli by developing coping skills for these experiences using vestibular and kinesthetic inputs;

• A gym for sports and recreational programs (approximately 1,900 square feet);

• Office and activity spaces for seven other organizations benefiting those with autism and similar disabilities. The nonprofit partners will provide:

• Social and recreational programs

• Speech, occupational, physical and applied behavioral analysis therapies

• Life skill classes

• Employment for individuals with autism

• Educational programs

Renderings of the multipurpose room (left) and sensory gym (below).

COVINGTON, HENDRIX, ANDERSON ARCHITECTS

Social and recreational programs are vital to FACT participants.

MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM/THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION

• Parent training and support groups

• Psychotherapy and mental health services

• A place where individuals with autism and neurotypical community members can unite to foster integration

Because children with autism are children first

These seven simple words guide every thought, goal and program FACT offers. The organization has grown dramatically since those six kids with autism attended FACT’s camp in 1997. In 2022, we served 335 separate individuals with autism who registered for 961 different programs. All of our programs are about having fun and enriching lives with everything from monthly community outings, sports, art, music, dance, educational, and life skills programs, and Camp GonnaWannaGoAgin’— which now serves more than 240 individuals with autism every summer. FACT is essential to families like mine because we do not turn anyone away for behavioral issues and we provide the staffing needed to ensure all individuals on the spectrum are cared for, are safe, have fun and can be themselves.

Children and young adults with autism gain ambition and confidence by being immersed in community activities and surrounded by positive role models. We have had the honor of witnessing so many first experiences:

• Swimming

• Playing on a team

• Ordering food

• Attending a dance

• Making a friend

We provide a supportive community and a sense of fulfillment, self-confidence, and mental wellness. The self-assurance gained from so many “firsts” has led to extraordinary paths, such as meaningful employment and college. There are four main categories of FACT programs:

Camp Programs consist of Camp GonnaWannaGoAgin’, Spring Break Camp, Winter Break Camp, and Bike Camp (where we teach individuals with autism how to ride a bike). Camp GonnaWannaGoAgin’ is FACT’s most extensive and longestrunning program that serves between

40 to 45 individuals with autism and 20 neurotypical peers weekly during the summer. Our camp involves daily community outings to Ocean Breeze, the Virginia Zoo, the Norfolk Botanical Garden, Jump Trampoline Park, Pinboy’s, etc. These outings help foster integration and promote awareness and acceptance of individuals with autism. The demand for camps equipped to work with individuals with autism is extremely high. In 2022, we opened registration for summer camp, and within 15 minutes, all six weeks were on a waitlist. FACT also hosts a variety of programs throughout the school year.

Social Programs are monthly community outings to places like Tides games, the Aquarium, mini-golf, Busch Gardens, etc.

Sports Programs are 8-week programs during the school year that run once a week either after school or on the weekend (basketball, soccer, bowling, kickball, etc.).

Leisure Programs are similar to the Sports Programs but are for non-sport activities our individuals with autism may be interested in—art, camping, coding, cooking, dance, drama, karaoke, etc. FACT generally provides six sports/leisure programs a week, so there is a program for everyone’s interest.

To provide the best possible services for individuals with autism at the new Autism Resource Center, support is needed. More than 85% of FACT’s revenue every year comes from donations and grants from the community. Our biggest annual fundraiser, the Party Under the Stars, is May 20th. We are so excited to once again host this fantastic party that helps raise crucial funds for our social and recreational programs for

DAVID POLSTON

The Autism Resource Center gym will provide 1,900 square feet of space for sports and recreational programs.

local individuals with autism. The event usually attracts more than 400 guests and brings in over one third of FACT’s yearly budget. More details and to purchase tickets: ShiningStars. givesmart.com

There are three other ways you can help FACT’s various programs:

1) Spread the word about FACT and the Autism Resource Center to local families.

2) Volunteer: There is always a need for more neurotypical volunteers ages 10-17 to be peer buddies

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

Tyler Williamson is the chief executive officer of Families of Autistic Children of Tidewater. He encourages persons interested in FACT, autism itself or programs provided by the Autism Resource Center to visit their website or contact him directly: (757) 422-2040

tyler@camp4autism.com

for our participants, especially at summer camp.

3) Donate: There is a $3 million capital campaign to fund renovations to the Autism Resource Center, better methods of transportation and expanded programs to meet the growing needs of individuals with autism and their families in Hampton Roads.

Families of Autistic Children of Tidewater 3509 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23452

www.camp4autism.com

MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM/THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION

notable potables

Cool drinks for summer days

Sure a cold beer is nice (and easy) when you’re out on the beach or golfing all day in the hot sun. But if you plan ahead, there’s something satisfying when you stay in and make a special cocktail—or two—to enjoy at home.

THE DRINK Orange Creamsicle Fizz

This a very light-bodied yet flavorful drink that isn’t too sweet. The key to this is an orange & cream seltzer water (no-cal, no sugar), which provides some nice carbonation. If you do want it a bit sweeter you could add some of the maraschino cherry juice.

THE DETAILS

Cocktail Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka

• 1 oz triple sec

• 6 oz orange & cream seltzer water

• Orange slice

• Maraschino cherries

THE METHOD

Make the cocktail

Place vodka, triple sec and seltzer into a large glass with ice and stir. Strain into a tall glass, add fresh ice and garnish with a skewer of cherries and an orange slice.

* Don’t have triple sec? Other orange liqueurs can be substituted such as Grand Marnier, Cointreau or Orange Curaçao.

I used Divine Clarity vodka, handcrafted in Bristow, Virginia, by Murlarkey Distilled Spirits—available online (murlarkey.com) and at select ABC stores. It is 100% pure Virginia corn vodka with a smooth mouth feel and finish.

The orange & cream seltzer water? WalMart!

[ by julie fanning ]

PHOTOS BY JULIE FANNING

THE DRINK

Limoncello Prosecco

So easy. So Italian (inspired). And a perfect brunch sipper.

THE DETAILS

Cocktail Ingredients

NOTE: This makes a pitcher of drinks

• 750 ml (bottle) prosecco

• 8 oz limoncello, chilled

• Blueberries, fresh or frozen

• Fresh peppermint*

• Lemon slices

THE METHOD

Preparation

Pour the prosecco and limoncello into a pitcher and stir. Chill before serving.

Make the cocktail

Place a handful of blueberries in a glass, top with ice and fill with the mixture from the pitcher.

Garnish with a sprig of peppermint and a slice of lemon.

* Fresh thyme would be a nice substitution if you don’t have mint.

THE DRINK

Pineapple Coconut Margarita

Typically piña coladas are way too sweet for me. So this ends up being a wonderful compromise for a tropical poolside indulgence that is full on flavor but not too heavy.

THE DETAILS

Cocktail Ingredients

• 2 oz tequila

• 1 oz coconut milk

• 2 oz pineapple juice

• 2 teaspoons agave*

• Lime juice (from one lime)

• Granulated sugar**

• Pineapple chunks

THE METHOD

Preparation

Pour a bit of lime juice onto a small plate and coat rim of rocks glass by dipping into the juice.

Pour a mixture of about 3 Tablespoons of sugar onto a small plate. Dip and roll the edge of the rocks glass into the sugar, then set the glass aside.

Whether you use full-fat coconut milk or lite, you will

need to pour the contents of the can into a measuring cup and use an immersion blender (or hand whisk) to incorporate the coconut cream that usually settles at the top of the can with the thinner milk liquid. Make the cocktail

Place tequila, coconut milk, pineapple juice, agave and about 2 oz of lime juice into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Add some ice to the sugarrimmed rocks glass. Strain liquid mixture into the rocks glass and garnish with a skewer of pineapple chunks.

* I used an organic, raw agave—which has a deep caramel color.

** I mixed granulated sugar with coarse glitter sugar crystals in a pearl finish—found in the cake decorating section at an arts & crafts store.

By Alex Marjanovich

JACKALOPE FESTIVAL BRINGS WORLD-CLASS ACTION SPORTS TO VIRGINIA BEACH

If you are an outsider to the sport, skateboarding is a fascinating realm to explore. When you drive past a skatepark, a collection of ramps, or any place where skateboarders congregate, observing the sense of community surrounding it is always interesting. In June, Virginia Beach will be honored to host the American debut of the Jackalope Festival, Canada’s largest action sports showcase in recent years. The festival features sports such as skateboarding, bouldering, and base jumping, showcasing up-and-coming talent in an athletic field garnering Olympic attention. What started as a more minor event of roughly six thousand people in their first iteration in 2012 saw more than twenty-two thousand people attending in 2022.

Canadian Olympian and national champion sport climber Alannah Yip

PHOTO: Mathieu Tranchida

The American debut of Jackalope in Virginia Beach is part of a three-year contract for the city. Micah Desforges, the founder & CEO at Tribu Expérientiel—organizers of Jackalope—explained how an unplanned stop at a dive bar during a trade show led to him meeting local action sports enthusiasts that changed the trajectory of the festival. Initially aimed to have a prepandemic debut on the West Coast, the organizer’s plan fell through but serendipitously found an action sport goldmine in Hampton Roads.

“When we started talking, I must admit, Virginia Beach was not on the radar. Then we looked at the city’s legacy on action sports culture, the longest-lasting surfing contest in the world, and a large skating community,” said Desforges. The location was pragmatic for Desforges’ team and the city itself, with a tradition of Canadian tourism in the area. The state sees half a million Canadians passing through each year, and Virginia Beach is a popular location. Due to the pandemic, the numbers dwindled, but Desforges sees Jackalope as a way to rejuvenate this specific demographic of the area’s visitors. “It made a lot of sense when the city officials said they wanted to bring back Canadian visitors. With the pandemic and the border closed for more than two years, there was a desire to reintroduce Canadian tourism,” Desforges explained. “We put the puzzle pieces together and decided to create an awesome new event that celebrates the culture, the action sports and will generate more business for the city.”

Virginia Beach offers Tribu Expérientiel an extensive beachfront with acres of space to put on a show never seen before. The organizers plan on constructing a skatepark for the event that will be designed by West Coast engineers. “The key component is the beach itself, as we are setting up on the oceanfront

YANN ROY

“[Initially,] Virginia Beach was not on the radar. Then we looked at the city’s legacy on action sports culture, the longest-lasting surfing contest in the world, and a large skating community.”

~Micah Desforges

DAN MATHIEU

MATHIEU TRANCHIDA

by 31st Street,” said Desforges. “We are building this awesome, unique, world-class skate park. I am emphasizing this because it really is a thing of beauty.” When someone is going to a festival, whether it is music or sports, one of the most significant issues is the cost. The tickets themselves cost a small fortune, and that is before lodging and travel costs are factored in. However, Jackalope is unique because its admission is entirely free. “For us, it is crucial to bring more people to those sports,” said Desforges. “The key was to make the event as accessible as possible and go the extra step to ensure it.”

Jackalope’s mission is to bring the world of action sports to people who might have never thought about getting into it. The festival, which houses world-class athletes, venues, and competitions, is a one-of-a-kind experience that celebrates the culture as a whole. By making it accessible to all ages, Jackalope is open to anyone to join the community.

Rumors through the grapevine had teased that a special guest would appear at the festival, and it is none other than the face of action sports himself, Tony Hawk. A ten-time gold medal winner at the X-Games, Hawk is an icon in the industry. His presence appeals to the younger and older generations of athletes and enthusiasts visiting Virginia Beach in June. “We had Tony two years in a row in Montreal, and we saw how powerful his name plus his brand is,” Desforges said. “He’s a legend that appeals to a multi-generational crowd. He is, in fact, the biggest name in the action sports industry.”

Along with Hawk, Jackalope will feature a panel of renowned athletes in the field and a variety of head-to-head competitions, such as Elliot Sloan, Bucky Lasek, and Tom Schaar. Local and foreign vendors will open pop-up shops for merchandise and refreshments. At the same time, the organizers

plan to offer after-party events for attendees following the end of daytime and evening festivities. The competitions are developed to push athletes to do daring stunts and break records in action sports. The matches themselves are separated into skateboarding, base jumping,

and bouldering. Competitors will be able to win $20,000 in the skating portion and $10,000 for bouldering. Freestyle motocross exhibitions and skimboarding events will also occur for those specific action sports fans. The festival will take place from June 2–4. The website developed by Tribu offers links that help travelers from out of town find housing and offers an in-depth look into the festival’s layout for those wishing to learn more about Jackalope. Desforges and his team have set out on the mission of unity and celebration in a significant subculture in the Americas. The first iteration of Jackalope has the potential to form a long and fruitful partnership and create a Hampton Roads staple for years to come.

skateboarding bouldering base jumping

skimboarding breakdancing motorcross

Jackalope.tribu.co/virginiabeach/

Alex Marjanovich is a recent graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a focus on multimedia journalism. Alex will be working in medical recruitment in Roanoke, Virginia, with aspirations to pursue a career in law.

DAN MATHIEU

KIERON YATES

Preserving the Chesapeake Bay’s Rich Ecosystem

BY JASMINE SHENG

ave you ever taken your boat out to the Chesapeake Bay and wondered how the area is supporting the seafood industry? Hampton Roads is home to some of the most well-known seafood in the United States. A quick 0.1-mile stroll from the Virginia Air and Space Center is home to the new Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, notably known as the Virginia Seafood AREC, or VSAREC. Being wedged between two of the oldest seafood processors—LD Armory Company and Graham & Rollins Inc.—allows the VSAREC to build strong relationships with the neighboring seafood community. The new $10 million laboratory space also helps support Virginia’s seafood industry and beyond.

“We are in the perfect location for making an impact in the seafood industry because the seafood industry is so big right where we are. Same with the Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton Roads area and within Virginia in general as it is a big cultural thing as people love their seafood in Virginia,” said Charles T. Clark, aquaculture economics and marketing research for the VSAREC.

The organization’s leadership says that the 22,224 squarefoot facility enhances research capacity, positioning the center to support the industry and its research partners. “Our main purpose is to respond to stakeholders in the seafood industry and beyond the seafood industry,” said Jonathan van Senten, economist and assistant director at the VSAREC and assistant professor in the Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

PHOTOS BY KERI ROUSE FOR VIRGINIA TECH UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

The crucial role of the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center in the seafood industry

“We do things like partner with others in offshore winds, coastal resilience, food safety, new novel technologies and technology adoption. Even though we are named the Virginia Seafood AREC, the implementation of the work we do goes beyond seafood.”

Choosing to build a new laboratory facility in the Hampton Roads area is optimal for VSAREC’s research as the area is renowned for being a hub in the seafood industry. The Virginia Seafood AREC helps to serve watermen, crabbers, aqua culturists, and seafood distributors with a focus on aquaculture, microbiology, engineering and food safety training.

“The seafood industry in Virginia and especially the Hampton Roads area has fishing ports, processors, distributors, lots of watermen and fish farms within the waters in the area,” said van Senten. “That has been part of this community for a long time. The working waterfront historically has been an important part of the commonwealth and it is still here today.” The research that the Virginia Seafood AREC conducts

heavily involves the relationships that they have built within the industry. Fishermen, watermen, aquaculture farmers, seafood processors, and distributors all work diligently to provide seafood to consumers within Virginia and on a national level.

“Location is important because we are a kind of steward for the industry. We have connections within the industry, so we are constantly up to date with their challenges and with how they’re performing. Our location definitely helps out our ability to research and our ability to collaborate and build relationships with the industry,” said Clark. “To build

good relationships, we have to put a lot of time into gathering data that we need for studies, and that involves visiting the farmers and conducting the surveys with them. I was visiting farmers all across the East Coast to sit with them and complete surveys, have interviews and learn about the firm. There’s a lot of time and trust building that goes along with the research.”

One focus of research for the VSAREC is to help understand how the industry changed after the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, seafood producers faced challenges such as implementing new guidelines and safety measures for processors and wholesalers. The industry also faced supply chain issues that stemmed beyond the industry. Seafood restaurants shut down which was hard for the seafood industry because the bulk consumption of seafood is consumed in restaurants and less within homes. The pandemic also changed consumer preferences within the seafood industry.

The research had the goal of identifying what issues people within the seafood industry were suffering from in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and how to tackle the issues. The research conducted demonstrated a need for assistance within the seafood industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research then had a direct impact on the industry in helping provide alleviation from the negative impact from supply chain issues.

“We did a national study of what was going on in the industry and collected that information, wrote reports and got the information out there for our federal partners,” said Senten. “They took that information and used that as part of their justification to include aquaculture as part of their relief program for the USDA. If it had not been for that effort, then it is likely that aquaculture would not be included in some of

The Virginia Seafood AREC helps to serve watermen, crabbers, aqua culturists, and seafood distributors with a focus on aquaculture, microbiology, engineering and food safety training.

the federal relief efforts that farmers could apply for assistance.”

The seafood industry also plays an important role in Virginia’s economy. Governor Glenn Youngkin has stated that Virginia’s economy has been boosted due to the seafood industry being a $1.1 billion industry. Researchers do a deep dive in analyzing the seafood economy and market research to help further understand how to navigate possible aquaculture challenges fisheries could face.

The VSAREC also has a research focus on quantifying farm level events. “The research goal was to determine the individual farm costs of regulatory compliances. This includes the costs of permits and licenses,” said Clark. “Unfortunately, in Virginia and other states within the country, these things don’t happen overnight. There is a burden of costs associated with the permits and licenses because there’s lost opportunity costs for not being able to grow. Outside of permits and licenses, there’s also certain compliance activities you have to partake in mostly dealing with food safety. The goal of the research is to identify the cost of compliance and identify if we could streamline any permit approval processes to save time and make it less burdensome on the farmers.”

The Virginia Seafood AREC features a sustainable food systems program that aims to help individuals to understand cellular agriculture, bioprocessing, food safety, smart agriculture and alternative protein sources. Using innovative technologies will allow researchers to gain a better understanding of food safety, quality and production. The food safety program offers technical assistance to businesses to help them make sure that their products are up to industry standards in quality and safety.

These training opportunities also allow the researchers and extension specialists to communicate

with members of the seafood industry and understand firsthand the challenges they face. The opportunities for training include quality, sanitation, allergen controls and good manufacturing practices that are provided in English and Spanish. The new programs will also work alongside the Virginia Tech Smart Farm Innovation Network to help build new seafood frontiers.

The VSAREC does not exist to just help support the seafood industry, but to allow visitors and residents of the Chesapeake Bay area to learn more about the waterfront. It allows individuals to get a deeper understanding of the importance

of the local seafood industry within the Chesapeake Bay. The Virginia Seafood AREC also features research that helps to understand freshwater, brackish and saltwater systems.

“If people get familiar with the industry, then they’ll take that knowledge into the supermarket and might consider a local option because the local option is supporting their community and is fresher and benefits the industry as well,” said Clark. “The center is open to the public and does have high schoolers visit the building to get hands-on experience learning about the seafood industry and systems within the industry. Having younger groups get involved with the Virginia Seafood AREC will get individuals aware of the industry.” People will travel far and wide to get a taste of the famous seafood in Virginia. Not only will consumers be consuming delicious seafood, but they will be supporting a well-regulated and managed industry. Supporting and buying local seafood will ensure food quality and the sustainability of local fisheries while supporting the local economy.

The research and reported findings the Virginia Seafood AREC sent to federal partners resulted in aquaculture being included in COVID-19 relief efforts that farmers were entitled to.

“Something that is not fully understood and appreciated is that by buying local Virginia seafood, you are supporting an industry that is doing the right thing. Every consumer has purchasing power and every decision you make has an impact,” said van Senten. “It gets very confusing as there are so many different labels out there and so many different programs, so I do think that it can get overwhelming for consumers to make good decisions. I would

certainly feel comfortable saying that Virginia products are a good decision because that as an industry, we know first-hand that it is well regulated and well managed.”

The VSAREC facility is not alone; it is part of a network of Agricultural Research and Extension Centers, throughout Virginia. There are 11 centers in cities such as Warsaw, Suffolk, Blackstone, Painter and Glade Springs. Each facility has a different focus on the work they provide

within various industries. Each center allows stakeholders to find ways to implement their new technology which allows them to help preserve the environment while also providing for their stakeholders.

While the laboratory space for the Virginia Seafood AREC may be brand new, the VSAREC is no stranger to the Hampton Roads area. The center has operated within the Hampton Roads area since 1975. The old facility had problems, including flooding from the high tides and storms. The flooding would disrupt the aquaculture research and their microbiology lab.

“The new building allows us to expand our capacity for everything that we do and take it to a new level. The lab is bigger and better with new equipment and new capabilities,” said van Senten. “Now we have a BSL2 lab which we didn’t have before. We can work with pathogens in that lab that we couldn’t before. In the past, we could work with warm water species because we didn’t have a way to chill the water down. Now we have chillers in the system and can work with cold water species.”

The new facility enables the Virginia Seafood AREC to expand its reach and serve new projects and partners in numerous ways. However, one aspect will always remain the same: individuals can count on the VSAREC to help bring awareness and support to the seafood industry within the Chesapeake Bay area and beyond.

Jasmine Sheng is a junior at Virginia Tech studying digital marketing and multimedia journalism. She loves baking, watching rom-coms, and trying new foods. You will most likely find her listening to music or drinking coffee.

www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/virginia-

COURTESY OF RRMM ARCHITECTS Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Portsmouth Rolls the Dice

Portsmouth, from time to time, has been a troubled city. And like many troubled cities, Portsmouth has embraced casino gambling as a possible solution for improvement. Rivers Casino recently opened, yet there are already reasons to expect the casino to disappoint everyone involved: the city looking for tax revenues, the workers hoping for jobs, or the investors expecting hefty returns. From the kerfuffle opening week about the abundance of cigarette smoke to the news in early May about unlicensed slots in use and minors gambling at the tables, the first few months have been anything but smooth sailing.

Outside of Las Vegas—which now only accounts for 20% of the gaming industry nationwide—casino gambling has evolved into a downscale business. Affluent and educated people visit casinos less often than poorer people do for the same reasons that the affluent smoke less, drink less and weigh less. Unfortunately for the casino industry’s growth hopes, downscale America has less money to spend today than it did before 2019. Nor is downscale America sharing much in the recovery. That being said, commercial casinos in the United States won more than $60 billion from gamblers in 2022, the best year in the industry’s history. Figures released February 15, 2023 by the American Gaming Association, the gambling industry’s national trade group, show that in-person gambling remains the bread and butter of the industry, accounting for more than 80% of its revenue. Online betting provided nearly a fifth of the industry’s revenue. Tribal gaming in 2022 was projected at $41 billion—add that to the above amount and take a deep breath.

For the record here are the top 10 casino income generators across the country: the Las Vegas Strip ($8.2 billion, up 17%); Atlantic City ($2.8 billion, up 8.5%); Baltimore-Washington D.C. ($2.2 billion, up 8.7%); the Chicago region

[ by berry brunk ]

Do cities benefit or suffer from a casino opening?

KAYSHA

spanning parts of Illinois and Indiana ($2.1 billion, up 6.1%); the Mississippi Gulf coast ($1.6 billion, down 0.5%); New York City ($1.5 billion, up 2.6%); Philadelphia ($1.4 billion, down 1.8%); Detroit ($1.3 billion, down 1.4%); the St. Louis market spanning parts of Missouri and Illinois ($1.1 billion, up 3.6%); and the Boulder Strip in Nevada ($966 million, virtually flat compared with last year).

Casinos that do stay in business yield less to their towns and states. Revenues from Maryland’s first casino, in Perryville at the northern tip of Chesapeake Bay, dropped 30 percent from their peak earnings in 2008, and are expected to decline even more rapidly in the future as

competitors proliferate.

Yet the truly bad news about casinos is not found in the tax receipts. It’s found in the casinos’ economic and social impact on the towns that welcome them.

Until the late 1970s, no state except Nevada permitted casino gambling. Then Atlantic City persuaded its state legislature to allow casinos, in hope of reviving the prosperity of the battered resort town. Hotels sprung up along the seafront and thousands of people were hired. Yet the rest of Atlantic City saw no benefits at all. All these years later, it still has desperate trouble sustaining even a single grocery store.

No one should look to casinos

to revive cities, because that’s not what casinos do. But it has taken a surprisingly long time for city governments to acknowledge a fact that was well understood by the 19thcentury Americans who suppressed gambling in the decades after the Civil War.

The impact of casinos on neighboring property values is “unambiguously negative,” according to the economists at the National Association of Realtors. Casinos do not encourage non-gaming businesses to open nearby, because the people who most often visit casinos do not wander out to visit other shops and businesses. A casino is not like a movie theater or a sports stadium, offering a time-limited amusement. It is designed to be an all-absorbing environment that does not release its customers until they

Despite its gambling industry, Atlantic City still has trouble sustaining even a single grocery store.

have exhausted their money. The Institute for American Values has gathered the best evidence on the social consequences of casinos. That evidence should worry any responsible city government.

People who live close to a casino are twice as likely to become problem gamblers as people who live more than 10 miles away.

As casino expansion reaches its limits, the towns and cities that turned to gambling to escape their problems may discover that they have accepted a sucker’s bet: local economies that look worse than ever, local residents tempted into new forms of selfdestructive behavior, and a dwindling flow of cash to show for it all. With the enormous growth of FanDuel and other sports betting sites, or the 2023 advent of Ethereum gambling, those who want to spin the wheels, beat the dealer on a hot hand or roll the dice do not even have to leave their house to do so.

Berry Brunk is the president and publisher of Boulevard Media, LLC. He has worked with many Native American communities on both coasts to help them with technology, healthcare and economic development projects.

Pros of GamblingLegalized

Revenue for Governments: One of the main arguments in favor of legalized gambling is that it generates significant revenue for governments. Casinos and other gambling establishments pay taxes on their revenues, which can be used to fund various public services, such as education and healthcare. Additionally, governments can also earn revenue from licensing fees and other charges.

Job Creation: Legalized gambling creates jobs in the construction, operation, and maintenance of casinos and other gambling establishments. Additionally, it also generates jobs in the hospitality, retail, and service sectors. This can lead to increased economic activity and lower unemployment rates.

Tourism: Legalized gambling can attract tourists to an area, which can help to boost the local economy. Casinos, in particular, are often considered tourist attractions.

Consumer Protection: Legalized gambling ensures that establishments are regulated, monitored, and audited for fair play and the protection of players. This also allows for the identification and exclusion of problem gamblers.

Cons of GamblingLegalized

Addiction: One of the main arguments against legalized gambling is that it can lead to addiction. Gambling addiction can have serious consequences, including financial ruin and mental health problems. Additionally, gambling addiction can lead to other forms of addiction, such as substance abuse.

Crime: Legalized gambling can lead to increased crime, including theft, fraud, and embezzlement. Gambling establishments can also attract organized crime, which can lead to money laundering and other illegal activities.

Social Costs: Legalized gambling can have negative social consequences, including family problems, bankruptcy and homelessness. Additionally, it can lead to a decline in social values and moral standards.

Impact on Other Businesses: Legalized gambling can lead to the displacement of other businesses, particularly small ones. This can occur as a result of increased competition and a shift in consumer spending towards gambling establishments.

Destination: Virginia’s Northern Neck

As a teacher I wear a lanyard with the keys to the building along with my ID badge; this is housed in a case bearing the phrase “Travel is my therapy.” I really do love to travel as often as possible. Recently my wife and I drove through the Monitor-Merrimac Tunnel to Newport News and onto Route 17N (George Washington Memorial Highway) toward America’s Historic Triangle: the cities of Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg. On the first part of the drive, just before the Coleman Bridge, we turned left to enter the area known as Historic Yorktown.

Yorktown

Yorktown is where the American Revolutionary War ended. You will only drive a little distance after seeing the Victory Monument. It’s on the water’s edge with plenty of parking, so please read the inscriptions on this obelisk. Most main sites are within walking distance of Riverwalk Landing, but there are a few steep streets. You should reserve three to four hours for a quick tour. A longer, guided tour covers Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestown/Jamestown Rediscovered, Jamestown Settlement, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and Yorktown Battlefield.

The must-sees places are the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, The Watermen’s Museum [1], and Historic Grace Episcopal Church. Along Riverwalk Landing are bed-and-breakfasts, antique stores, cafes, restaurants and gift shops.

Gloucester

Twenty miles from Yorktown we arrived in the city of Gloucester. If you want to be like the locals, pronounce the name glaa-str. Strange, but true. Gloucester is a small town on the Middle Peninsula (like most on the Northern Neck), but it has its fair share of history and charm. Gloucester County was established in 1651, just a few decades after the Jamestown Settlement in 1607. A walking tour through the city provides a glimpse of 15 sites. The entire walk will take about 30 minutes of your time with leisurely-paced foot power. The driving tour

[ by rick polston ]

This area is surrounded by 465 miles of shoreline. Seafood, fine wine, historic inns, quaint towns and unique shopping barely scratch the surface of what the Northern Neck has to offer.

[ PHOTOS by Rick Polston unless otherwise noted ]

STEVEN TUNG

TENNIS, ANYONE?

Ace

Also available: 25 outdoor clay courts, pickleball, tennis lessons and clinics, and pro shop.

allows you to see 16 additional sites with public accessibility. The hours at these sites vary from season to season.

One of the locals recommended a visit to the Gloucester Museum of History. This museum was once a tavern that was built in the year 1770. Today, you can browse more than 3,000 objects, from documents and photographs to large antiques. Gloucester is so steeped in history that you could spend an entire day there.

Machicomoco State Park and the surrounding area features plenty of wildlife including deer, turkey, various species of songbirds and birds of prey. Paved trails follow along the main park road for walking or bike riding. Among the amenities are a campground with sites for camping by car or camper, tent sites,

three yurts, two picnic shelters, a boat landing with a pier and floating docks on Timberneck Creek for boat docking and fishing. There is a $5 fee per vehicle to enter the park.

Irvington

Today’s trip started out with overcast skies with hints of rain moving into the area. When the rain came, we found ourselves driving a few miles down the road from Gloucester and arrived in the quaint village of Irvington—population between 450 and 500.

Upon entering the outskirts of town, one of the first sights was two giant corkscrews [2] marking the entrance to The Dog and Oyster Micro-Vineyard, owned by The Hope and Glory Inn proprietors—which sits behind the winery. Previously known as the Dog and Oyster

Vineyard, they re-branded as a microvineyard with the goal of pairing their award-winning wines with locally harvested oysters and delectable foods prepared by Hope and Glory’s renowned Chef Meseret.

The micro-vineyard/oyster bar is

open Fridays through Sundays until 6 p.m. On the menu are various locally grown oysters—both raw and roasted. They serve an in-house charcuterie and Bloody Mary oyster shooters.

Hope and Glory Inn [3] features six unique rooms and seven cottages. Owner Dudley Patteson guided me to one of the dining areas displaying many national publication reviews— including commentary from Forbes Magazine and many others. Mere words cannot describe this wonderful and elegant inn.

The Tides Inn (just seconds away from Hope and Glory) is a waterfront resort nested on a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay— another perfect weekend getaway spot. Seventy guest rooms and suites offer breathtaking views of the water, shorelines, and gardens. Also on the premises is a twentyseven-slip marina welcoming sail-in guests. Have four hours to spare? If so, you can take a charter cruise with Rappahannock River Cruises departing from The Tides Inn.

Kilmarnock

When my wife and I drove the four and a half miles from Irvington, we found the city of Kilmarnock to be the quaintest and most enjoyable of our day trips. While cruising the main thoroughfare in Steptoe’s District we saw the city’s best. Unfortunately, we could not take full advantage of Steptoe due to the inclement weather. One can stroll along the streets and take in the various shops and restaurants or simply sit down and watch people—a favorite personal pastime. Typically visitors can find their fair share of antique stores in smaller cities. Kilmarnock is no different. Bring your keen eyes, and you might find the treasure you have sought.

Something unique that caught our attention appeared in front of several places along the main boulevard: large, painted pairs of

galoshes. The boots are part of the Waterman’s Way Art Project. Fifteen pairs of boots measuring three feet tall by four feet wide are uniquely painted by local artists and placed in front of their favorite local spots. The project celebrates the Chesapeake Bay’s watermen and seafood workers who provide crabs, oysters, and other seafood to the area.

Restaurants and good wine are plentiful in the city of Kilmarnock. For an overnight treat, plan a stay at the Kilmarnock Inn. The inn has suites available as well as eight cottages— named after the eight Virginia-born presidents. On the premises you can enjoy their popular restaurant, Filibusters, which is open seven days a week. Based on reviews, it’s a must-

try dining experience. For wine lovers, Good Luck Cellars boasts of having “Luck” as their middle name. Their goal is to pour good fortune into every glass served. They offer award-winning red and white wines from estate-grown grapes. Choose from flights, wine by the glass and by the bottle indoors or outside on the wrap-around porch and expansive green space. Outside food is allowed and the winery is dogfriendly.

Reedville

Our final destination of the day was at the end of U.S. Route 360 to the unincorporated community of Reedville—part of the largest fishing industry in America and in the late 1800s became the wealthiest area per capita in the country. Located on Cockrell’s Creek on the western edge of the Chesapeake Bay, Reedville is largely a fishing community for the Atlantic menhaden, a small oily fish harvested in the waters of the MidAtlantic Ocean. One corporation, in particular, utilizes the abundance of menhaden for its main product: fish oil and its byproducts. The Omega Protein Corporation calls Reedville its home. Omega Protein’s products include fish oil, fish meal, and proteins.

If you’re interested in historical architecture, Millionaire’s Row [4] can provide a glimpse of how the wealthy

sea captains from the 19th century lived—as well as other industrialists drawn to the area who built elaborate summer homes. Many of these stately Victorian mansions have water views.

For history buffs and anglers alike, no visit is complete without a trip to the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum, which is dedicated to preserving and honoring the rich heritage of the Northern Neck and lower Chesapeake Bay’s fishing industry.

To get out onto the waters of the bay, you can take a chartered cruise to Tangier Island and enjoy some of the best water views and seafood the area has to offer. Tangier Island Cruises [5] depart from Buzzard’s Point Marina from the beginning of May to the middle of October.

Many Virginians are not familiar with the Northern Neck. I readily admit that I knew very little about the area. Our day trip here was wonderful, and we plan a return visit soon under better weather conditions. While researching for and planning our trip, we found that the Northern Neck falls under what is known as Virginia’s River Realm, which lies between the Chesapeake Bay and the Rappahannock River. This area comprises eight towns, including Kilmarnock, Irving, and the community of Reedville (Urbanna, Lively, Saluda, White Stone, Topping, and Deltaville are the other five towns). The River Realm is surrounded by 465 miles of shoreline. Seafood, fine wine, historic inns, quaint, laid-back towns, antiques, unique shopping, camping, boating, river excursions, island cruises and casual food to fine dining are readily available. Sounds like the makings of another wonderful day trip. Or two.

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.

Yorktown

www.visityorktown.org

Gloucester driving tour: www.gloucesterva.info/ DocumentCenter/View/13865/DrivingTour-Guide

Gloucester walking tour: www.gloucesterva.info/ DocumentCenter/View/13866/ Walking-Tour-Guide

Gloucester Museum of History

6539 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061

www.gloucesterva.info/820/Museumof-History

Machicomoco State Park

3601 Timberneck Farm Road Hayes, VA 23072

www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/ machicomoco-sp

The Dog and Oyster Micro-Vineyard 65 Tavern Road, Irvington, VA 22480 www.hopeandglory.com/the-dogoyster-vineyard

Hope and Glory Inn

www.hopeandglory.com/our-inn

The Tides Inn

480 King Carter Drive, Irvington, VA 22480 www.tidesinn.com

Kilmarnock Inn

34 E Church Street, Kilmarnock, VA 22482 www.kilmarnockinn.com

Good Luck Cellars

1025 Good Luck Road, Kilmarnock, VA 22482 www.goodluckcellars.com

Reedville Fishmen’s Museum 504 Main St, Reedville, VA 22539 rfmuseum.org

Tangier Island Cruises

468 Buzzards Point Road Reedville, VA 22539 tangiercruise.com

COURTESY OF TANGIER ISLAND CRUISES

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: Phyllis Gerald Baltimore, MD Location: Cogans Pizza North in the North Colley (or “NoCo”) area of Norfolk

[ PHOTO by Berry Brunk ]

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