Press Release
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — On August 7, 1789, the bill authorizing the construction of Old Cape Henry Lighthouse was signed into law. Included on the City of Virginia Beach seal and operated by the nonprofit Preservation Virginia, Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is offering a day of special programming to celebrate “National Lighthouse Day.”
On Thursday, August 7th, 2025, from 10AM-5PM, guests can access both the Old and New Cape Henry Lighthouses, a rare opportunity as the “new” lighthouse built in 1881 is still in active service. The Virginia Beach Police Department and the U.S. Navy’s Environmental Mascot Stewie the Sea Turtle will be in attendance. Families can enjoy crafts and activities while learning about maritime life from local museums. Food will be available for purchase from the Marine Canteen Food Truck and local vendors will be on site. This event is free and open to the public.
new lighthouse was constructed.
“We at Preservation Virginia are proud to be stewards of the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse,” said Will Glasco, Preservation Virginia CEO. “As Lighthouse Day approaches, we invite the community to join us for a memorable experience. If you’ve never seen the lighthouse before, this is the perfect opportunity to explore and enjoy all that historic Cape Henry has to offer.”
The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, the first federally-funded project of the U.S. government, was authorized by George Washington and overseen by Alexander Hamilton. The lighthouses are located near the “First Landing” site of early English settlers headed to Jamestown. Built with Aquia sandstone like much of Washington, D.C., the lighthouse safely guided sea travelers for almost 100 years before the
Both Cape Henry Lighthouses are situated on an active military base, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. The lighthouse is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A shuttle system allows visitors to travel from the base security gate to the location of the lighthouses. In order to attend this event, guests over the age of 16 must present a valid REAL ID. Be sure to visit our website at www.capehenrylighthouse.org to learn more about rules and regulations for visiting the base.
About Preservation Virginia: Preservation Virginia is a private, nonprofit organization seeking to inspire and engage the public in fostering, supporting and sustaining Virginia’s historic places through leadership in advocacy, education, revitalization and stewardship. The organization operates six historic sites open to the public: Bacon’s Castle, the John Marshall House, Cape Henry Lighthouse, Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown, Historic Jamestowne and Smith’s Fort; while being the statewide voice for historic preservation issues. Learn more at www.preservationvirginia.org.
Community
SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS, NEWS AND PHOTOS
The Flagship welcomes submissions from ourreaders online. Pleasesubmiteventshere: www.militarynews.com/users/admin/calendar/event/ Pleasesubmitnewsandphotoshere: www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/submit_news/
Surfers Healing, helping autistic children ride the waves returns Aug. 15th-16th to the Virginia Beach oceanfront, founder Izzy Paskowitz shares his story
InterviewByYiorgo
SurfersHealingVirginiaBeach,founded20 yearsagoandthisyeartakingplacebetween 4th-5thstreets,returnsAugust15thand16th tobringjoy,happinessandthethrillofalifetimetochildrenofallageswithautism.This phenomenal magical surfing event gives children on the spectrum an opportunity to experienceahandson,ridingthewavesexperiencelikeneverbefore.
Last year I was fortunate enough to talk to the Director of Surfers Healing Virginia Beach Scott Cohen who was excited to tell usaboutsuchaworthwhilecause “It’sheartwarming every year to see the looks on the parents’ faces and the excitement on the athletes faces every time they walk to the water, get on that surfboard with our amazing surfer volunteers and ride the waves together.” Scott went on to say, “The Tidewater community is extremely giving with their resources and the volunteers that help to make our annual event successful every year For that, we’re all very grateful. I also want everyone to know that all are welcome toourfreeeventtheweekendofAugust15th and16th.Comeonoutandcheerourathletes as they ride the waves. Indeed, it will be an exciting weekend of surfing for the autistic children, with food, fun, vendors and a 5K run. You can get more info at: https://www surfershealingvb.org/ Also last year, we were fortunate to have spoken with Israel “Izzy” Paskowitz, the founder of Surfers Healing. Here below are excerptsfromthatfascinatinginterview Yiorgo:CanyoutellusaboutSurfersHealinghappeninginVirginiaBeachtheweekend ofAugust15th-August16th?
Israel “Izzy” Paskowitz: I would love to and actually before we begin, since the Flagship Newspaper is a Navy paper, I want to brag about my son-in-law Matt Allen who two years ago at the age of 41 enlisted in the Navy Currently Mattisofficiallydesignated as Surface Rescue Swimmer (SRS) onboard the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71).Iamsoveryproudofhim.”
Now, to answer your question, Surfers Healing is why I’m on this planet. Our VirginiaBeachcampisatwodayevent,averaging about 220 children per day, per camp. It’s a fun event with many activities and resourcebooths It’sabeautifulbeach,Ilove thelocation,withthesmall,funwavesthatwe can maximize our efforts in the water with thechildren.It’saninterestingdynamic,with an amazing surf community that loves their waves and the surf contest that goes with it. It’sagreatlocationforsurfingandit’slikeLas Vegas on the beach for all the tourism that goeson.
Y:HowdidtheSurfersHealingcampstart inVirginiaBeach?
IP: We have the camp in Virginia Beach because the wife of Paul R. Vaughan, one of thelocalsurfersthattaughtalotofpeopleto surf had passed away years ago, and his wife wantedtodonatesomemoneyinhismemory Iaskedher,wellcanwecomeouttoVirginia Beach and spend the money locally? And that’s how autism surfing started in Virginia Beach.Whenyouwalkuptothecamp there isabillboardwithacollageofpicturesofPaul ridingthewaves.
Y: How can people make contributions, becomevolunteers,etc.?
IP: First, I would like for people to watch thevideosandpicturesathttps://www.surfershealingvb.org/ We are always looking for partnershipsanddonationsstillafterallthese years, in order to maintain what we do and takeusintothenext25years
Y:Tellusaboutyourearlylifegrowingup
IP: I had a very unique experience My father was a WWII Navy veteran, Stanford educated doctor, and we lived in a camper that sleeps six. We were poor as church micebecausemyfatherjustwantedtotravel around the United States, Mexico and Israel to surf There were 11 of us and when you stuff 11 people in a camper that sleeps 6, we were very close to each other. I loved it We are half Mexican, half Jewish and when I was 13 we traveled to New York City in our camper for my Bar mitzvah and celebrated ourJewishtraditionsonthebeachandwher-
ever we were We didn’t know any different. Wecouldseepeoplelivinginhouses,driving fancy cars and we wanted that but everyday wassouniquetous Wewouldsurf,surf,surf butthenexploreandmeetpeople
Y:Youwentontobecomeaprosurfer
IP: I was a really good surfer. And really, reallyhandsome IwasaprosurferandIhad endorsements At the top of my career I had a great relationship with Nike I was in ads with Bo Jackson, Agassi, Michael Jordan, it wasincredible,butIhadIsaiah.
Y: Because you had gotten married and startedafamily
IP: I got married very young to the prettiest girl in town and I just wanted to be normal like everyone else We had our first child, a beautiful daughter Isreaella, and our secondchildIsaiahwasautistic Thatwasthe wrenchinthegearsforme Ididn’tknowhow todealwithautismatallasayoungmanand providing for my family was very, very difficultbecauseIhadnoeducation
Y:WhydidyouandyourwifestartSurfers Healing?
IP: It was a dark place in my mind and a hole in my heart. I had really thin skin and everything really bothered me and it hurt. One day I took Isaiah in the water with me and everything changed. I wish I had taken him in the water sooner The parents these days say, I don’t know if you can handle my child. That’s exactly the way I was. There’s no way my son can surf that’s off the table because he needed to be like me But in reality it didn’t matter as long as he was in the wateronaboardsurfing,wewereconnecting, we were just like any other father and son. It washeartwarmingandcreatedarelationship,
ABOVE: Izzysurfingwith a child at a
we bonded and we started Surfers Healing by taking his class out surfing It was maybe six kids, as a special day program I enlisted six guys, my original six, then we took out another six kids, and that was over 28 years agoinSantaOnofre,California.
Y: How did you put such an amazing, diverse team of volunteers, surfers, workerstogethertogiveuptheirtime moneyand everythingelsenotjustforVirginiaBeachbut theotherlocationstoo?
IP: You hit on the phrase, “No good deed goesunpunished. Theyaredoingsomething incredible but the biggest endeavor we’ve ever had, doing five states and seven camp tours,greaterthananythingwe’veeverdone andtheyaregoinghomeafterbeinggonefor 2 weeks and will struggle to pay rent. They don’tmindbecausetheyaresointothis They are very grateful to be let into the lives of parentswithautism.Itmeanssomuchtothe surfers to be a part of that and you can hear my guys and gals say to the families, thank youforlettingmebeapartofthisandtaking yourchildouttothewatertoridethosewaves together
Andthat’stheworldtome,itwarmsupmy heart and that’s what makes me cry when I hear the love and passion that my guys have for what they do I don’t call them surfers anymore, they are healers It’s more than a serviceorasportthatcanbemisconstruedas trivial. There’s so much magic that happens with acceptance and healing, an awakening that the family needs as they continue this longlifewithautismthatwillbedifferent.
Y:HowdidSurfersHealinggrow?
IP: We did summer programs then we did North Carolina 20 years ago and Malibu and San Diego and it just grew from there. I always worry about taking children out in a safewave Butconditionschangeinthewater. Also our group of volunteers got better and their length of time volunteering got longer Wehavesurferswhohavebeenvolunteering for 16, 17 and more years My goal for every child is to have only real hero surfers take themout,likeIdidmyson.
Yiorgo is an arts, entertainment and sports writer A stage, TV and movie actor, he is also a sports entertainer, educator, motivational speaker, writer, storyteller and columnist.
PressRelease
NORFOLK, Va.— Norfolk’sHalfMoone Cruise &Celebration Center,operated by Nauticus,announced an expanded slate of cruise ship portcalls from the world’s fourth-largestcruise company, NorwegianCruiseLine (NCL). In 2027,the 2,400-passenger NorwegianPearl is scheduled to call on Norfolkeachweek fromApril to August.Thesenewly-addedvisits—20intotal—represent one of the largestport-of-call commitments in Norfolk’s history and will introduce approximately 49,000 additionalcruiseshippassengerstotheHamptonRoadsregion. UnlikeCarnival Cruise Line’syear-round calls in which passengers set sail for theBahamas or Bermuda, NCL’s 2027 port-of-call activity positions Norfolkasanitinerary stop.While in town passengerscan opt totakeguided excursions or explorethe regionontheir own.
“We’ll have the opportunity to welcome nearly2,500 additionalpassengersandathousandcrewmembersevery single Tuesdayfor fivemonths,” said Nauticus executive director,StephenE.Kirkland.“Thatactivity,coupledwith ourCarnivalsailingseachweekend,representsabroaden-
ing economic impactfor this entireregion.” InFebruary,theCarnivalSunshinebegansailingweekly from Norfolk’scruise terminal; Nauticus haswelcomed morethan180,000uniquepassengervisitssofarthisyear Othercruise lines scheduled to visit in 2025 and 2026
include HollandAmerica, Princess,TUI Cruises,AIDA Cruises,Azamara, Seabourn, and Viking AboutCruiseNorfolk: TheHalfMooneCenterislocated at Nauticus along the downtown Norfolk waterfront. The 80,000 sq.ft. facility is hometoVirginia’sonly cruise ship program.CruiseNorfolkofferspassengersauniquesetting from which to begin and end their cruise as it shares its space withNauticus’ Maritime Discovery Center,sailing center and the historic Battleship Wisconsin. AboutNauticus:Nauticusisamaritimediscoverycenter located alongthe waterfront in downtown,Norfolk, VA, offeringauniqueformofexperientiallearningforallages ThroughinteractiveexhibitsandSTEMtoSternprogramming,Nauticus usesthe museum, Battleship Wisconsin, sailing center,and Schooner Virginia to tell thestory of themaritimeenvironment,industry,andthemilitary.The NauticusFoundationisthenonprofit,501©3thatsupports themission andactivitiesofNauticus.Nauticus’ mission is to benefitthe community througheducation, impactful experiences,andsharingaccesstomaritimeresources. For moreinformation, visit www.nauticus.org
Stop wasting time searching for talent. Find the right talentwith tribunepublishing recruitmentservices.
We work hardtomakeyour talent search easy. With our expansivenetwork of distinguished print and online publications andtheir respectivereach andreadership you’ll have access to toptalent from coast-to-coast Plus, enjoyadvanced job matching and ad targeting technology,accessprint and digital advertising opportunities,careerfairs and more.
Extend your reach. Access customized technology.Simplify your search.
