Suffolk Living - November/December 2013

Page 1

suffolklivingmag.com

giving haiti, bagpipes AND A SUFFOLK TOUR

november/december 2013 • vol. 4, no. 6


“HOLY COW”

Are You Ready To

“MOOOVE”?

L. ELLEN & DAVID DRAMES Your #1 Realtors Serving All Of Suffolk!

539-0000 • 335-3400 Ledholycow@aol.com

13.1

#1 Listing & Sales Agent For Rose & Womble Realty Company! Olde Mill Creek - Suffolk $339,900

ROUTE 58 - Suffolk

WATER & MARSH VIEW!

COUNTRY LIVING AT IT’S FINEST!

$239,900

Whaleyville - Suffolk $147,900

PEACEFUL & QUIET!

Custom Built, Brick & Vinyl Colonial Home! Overlooks Water & Marsh, ¾ Acre Lot, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Sunroom, Formal Living & Dining Rooms & Fabulous Family Room, Approximately 3,200 SF!

Situated On 6 Acres, Fantastic Location, Updates Throughout, Living & Dining Rooms, Kitchen With Bar Open To Family Room, Attached 2 Car Garage & Enclosed Sun Porch!

Wow! True Country Living! Great Doll House! All Brick Ranch, Acre Lot, 2 Bedrooms, Great Room, Eat-In Kitchen, Updates Throughout, Enclosed Sun Porch & Laundry Room!

Waterford Oaks - Smithfield $259,900

Riverview - Suffolk $339,900

Pitchkettle Point - Suffolk $499,900

HUGE! HUGE! BACKYARD!

Original Owner! 2 Car Garage, Deck, ½ Acre Lot, 2 Story Colonial, 4 Bedrooms, 2½ Baths, Family Room With Fireplace, Living & Dining Rooms, Eat-In Kitchen, Bar Area & Approximately 2,300 SF!

Saddlebrook Estates - Suffolk $439,900

OVER 3,800 SQ FT!

Magnificent Masterpiece! Brick & Vinyl 2 Story Colonial, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Fabulous Family Room, Huge Eat-In Kitchen W/Bar & Center Island, Game Room 1st Floor Bedroom, Dining Room, Laundry Room & Over 3,800 SF!

LAKEFRONT VIEW!

LAKEFRONT!

Beautiful Waterfront View! 3 Story Contemp Style Home Situated On .67 Acre Lot, 3 Bedrooms, 2½ Baths, Sunroom, Laundry Room, Open Floor Plan, Kitchen With Bar Area, Elevator & Oversized Garage!

Inground Pool, 3 Car Detached Garage, Lakefront, Gazebo, Approximately 3,800 SF, 5 Bedrooms, 3½ Bathrooms, Living & Dining Rooms, Hardwood Floors, Family Room & Situated On Private Cul-De-Sac!

Route 460 - Suffolk $289,900

Holland Area - Suffolk

LAKEFRONT!

Approximately 13.680 Acres, Cleared & Wooded, Perk Site Approved, Road Frontage, Lakefront, Great Location, Ready To Build Your Dream Home! Situated On Lake Cohoon & Convenient To Route 460!

$119,900

19.55 ACRES!

Ready To Build Your Dream Home! Cleared & Wooded, Zoned For Horses, Road Frontage, Both Longstreet Lane & Dutch Road, Great Buildable Lot, Possible Split Available, Preliminary Plat & Perk Sites Approved!


My doctor said I now have the knee of a 20-year-old. William, Knee replacement patient

B

eing able to move without pain, to get around more easily, and to get back to activities you used to enjoy. Imagine what a difference that could make in your life. If knee or hip pain is affecting your lifestyle, the experts at

Sentara OrthoJoint Centers can help. Our joint replacement program features the latest surgical techniques, exceptional surgeons and staff, dedicated patient rooms and facilities, superior outcomes and faster recovery.

Sentara OrthOJOint Center速

View patient and physician videos at sentara.com/OrthoJointCenter, or call 1-855-2ORTHOJT (1-855-267-8465). sentara.com/OrthoJointCenter

Your community, not-for-profit health partner



nov.-dec. | 2013 contents EDITORIAL R.E. Spears III Editor Tracy Agnew News Editor Matthew A. Ward Staff Writer news@suffolklivingmag.com

ADVERTISING

Earl Jones Marketing Consultant Shelby Palmer Marketing Consultant Leanne Hundley Marketing Consultant Melissa Hamlin Marketing Consultant

Helping hands in Haiti

20

An 8-year-old girl sealed the deal for Chris and Christina Surber. Now, they are leading a continuing and recurring ministry to Haiti, and plan a trip in February with their whole family.

On the cover:

sales@suffolklivingmag.com

PRODUCTION Troy Cooper Designer

24

ADMINISTRATION Steve Stewart Publisher

Suffolk Living is published six times per year by Suffolk Publications, LLC. P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 www.suffolklivingmag.com (757) 539-3437

Candlelight tour

Some of the most iconic homes in Suffolk will be open for tours in December.

Bagpiper

28

Playing the bagpipes well enough to take center stage requires commitment to the art.

32

GET TO KNOW | LeOtis Williams

36

WHERE AM I? | Guess the location correctly and you could win a $25 gift certificate.

Photo by Troy Cooper

Advertising rates and information available upon request. Subscriptions are $20 annually in-state; $25 annually out-of-state; $30 for international subscriptions. Please make checks payable to Suffolk Publications, LLC• P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439


6 suffolk living

what to do

"A Christmas Story"

Continuing The Suffolk Art League’s annual Juried Exhibition continues through Dec. 20 at the Suffolk Art Gallery. The exhibition highlights works in all media by both members and non-members. Exhibitors were competing for a total of $2,600 in prizes, along with the opportunity to present a one-person show at the gallery next year. Tonja Softic’, a professor of art teaching printmaking, drawing and book arts at the University of Sarajevo, was this year’s judge. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 925-0448. Saturday November 16 The Children’s Theater of Hampton Roads will present “The Not-So-Scary Nightmare Adventure” at 11 a.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. The play follows Bri, a young tooth fairy on the adventure of a lifetime. Tickets are $5 each and can be ordered online at www.suffolkcenter.org. For more information, call 923-2900. Friday November 22 The Bethlehem Ruritan Jam will be held at 140 Manning Road from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. featuring Barry Fedesco “The Italian Cowboy” and “The Variety Pac Band.” There is no admission charge, but donations to the tip jar for the band will be appreciated, and there will be snacks for sale.

Saturday November 23 The Suffolk Grand Illumination will kick off the holiday season in Market Park at the Seaboard Station Railroad Museum. The event will feature the lighting of the Christmas tree, horse and carriage rides, holiday movies, arts and crafts for kids, hot cocoa and apple cider and Christmas carols. Santa will arrive by motorcycle in time for photos with the little ones. The event starts at 6 p.m. and is free. The United States Air Force Heritage of America Band will perform at 7 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. The band was one of the original Army Air Corps bands, created by order of the Secretary of War in 1941. It is based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. The show is free and open to the public. For more information, call 923-2900. Saturday & Sunday December 7 & 8 The Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society will host its 37th annual Candlelight Tour, which this year will feature homes in the historic Bennett’s Creek area. The homes on the tour this year include the Obici House, the Willis Home, the Cornell Home and the Northey Home. Look on Page 24 for more information about the homes that will be opened for this special event, and check out www.suffolkhistory.org or call 539-2781 for more information.

Send us your news To submit your calendar or news item, simply email it to: news@suffolklivingmag.com

Saturday December 7 “A Christmas Story,” the classic Christmas movie about Ralphie and the Red Ryder BB gun, will be shown at 2 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Tickets are $5 at the door. Saturday & Sunday December 14 & 15 Ballet Virginia will reprise its popular performance of “The Nutcracker Suite” at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Shows are at 3 p.m. each day and are preceded at 1:30 p.m. by the Sugarplum Tea, when children of all ages have a chance to meet the characters and enjoy light refreshments in the Enchanted Forest set up inside the venue. Tickets for the ballet are $25 each, and the Sugarplum Tea can be experienced for just $15 more. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. suffolkcenter.org or call 923-2900. Saturday December 14 The Suffolk Holiday Parade, a downtown tradition, will light up the streets with illuminated floats, high school marching bands, dancers and equestrian groups entertaining the entire family. The parade starts at 7 p.m. For more information, call 5144130.


suffolk living

7

what to do Sunday December 15 The Suffolk Visitor Center will get a big helping of the Christmas spirit with a visit from Santa from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a traditional holiday tea at 2 p.m. Visits with Santa are free. It costs $15 per person to enjoy the tea and refreshments. Reservations are required for the holiday tea. Call 514-4130 for more information. Santa will return to the Visitor Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 21 and from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 22.

GRAND ILLUMINATION

Friday December 20 The bold sounds of the VSO Brass will ring in the holiday season with a blast at 8 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Featuring the gifted musicians from the VSO brass and percussion sections, this concert is filled with wit, virtuosity and the music of the holiday season. For more information or tickets, visit www.suffolkcenter.org or call 923-2300. Saturday December 21 Join the biologists at the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge for a "lousy" bird walk. The event is free, but reservations are required. Dress warmly. In the event of rain, the walk will be canceled. Check the Refuge's Facebook page for weather announcement. Call 986-3705 for more information.

WHY PAY MORE?

• CHEVROLET • BUICK • GMC

1201 Armory Drive • Franklin • 562-3151


8 suffolk living

Suffolk Living All Year

su ff ol kl iv

in gm ag .c

Subscribe and you can get Suffolk Living delivered to your door six times a year. Don’t miss out.

om

suffolk summer and s, m u t ts l m a r k et co n tr o r em o te pl a n es

su ff o lk

li v in g m

Six times a year in Suffolk

a g .c o m

for ju ly /a ug

su ff ol kl iv

in gm ag .c

.4 • vo l. 3, no us t 20 12

Out-of-state subscriptions

powwo w

om

T r ac T ors, a Tr and a c a n o e ib e r id e

se p te m b e r/ o ct o b e r 2012 vo l. 3 , n o. 5

s u ff o lk

li v in g m

$20

for

$25

a g .c o m

Call to subscribe no ve m be

r/ de ce m be

l. 3, no . 6 r 20 12 • vo

suffolklivingmag.com

ba

539-3437


suffolk living

9

on mission

SL in HAiti

The Rev. Chris Surber and wife Christina sit with children and mothers of the village of Montrouis, Haiti, during a visit in September in support of Empowering Haitian Moms, a group whose founder, Stacie RiderUlysse, left, moved to Haiti after a visit to help with earthquake cleanup resulted in a conviction to help poor people in that nation.

Submitted Photo


10 suffolk living

suffolk scene

Driver Days

Driver Days brought crowds of people into the village Oct. 19 and 20, with a street parade, children’s attractions, food vans, car show, motorcycle poker run and more. Clockwise from above: 4-year-old twins Lauren and Caitlin Outlaw hang out with 6-year-old twins Aubrey and Jordan White; J.B. Rattles deposits a snake on the head of Lindy Lee; volunteers with the North Suffolk Circle of the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters are Ciara Patton, 9, and Sis and Debbie Lauver; and Chance, 5, and Justus, 3, Eckstrom take a wagon ride. PHOTOS BY Matthew a. Ward


suffolk living

11

• Asphalt Paving • Stone & Mulch Sales • Grading • StreetPrint Parking Lots & Driveways www.blairbros.com

Providing Quality Paving Since 1968

757-538-1696 1 Blair Brothers Rd., Suffolk, VA


12 suffolk living

suffolk scene

Liberty Church Opening

Hampton’s Liberty Baptist Church held a grand opening Sept. 7 for its modern, 600-seat satellite campus in Harbour View. Clockwise from above: Eliese Degroff and Deidre Jeter enjoy the sunshine; Jalen Dixon, 13, Jordan Moore, 9, and Jamar Dixon, 10, enjoy the festivities; inside the church’s kids’ section are Kathy Parsons, Kellie O’Brien and Jan Holland; 19-month-old Kalani Brown plays with mom Tamara Brown; and Daniel 13, and Isaiah, 16, Williams shoot hoops. PHOTOS BY Matthew a. Ward


suffolk living

13

on vacation SL at mt. Rainier

Cheyenne Nelson, right, and sister Aubrey Ann took a field trip to Mt. Rainier in Washington after Cheyenne, a homeschooled kindergarten student at Penrose Academy studied volcanoes in class recently. The Suffolk family hiked a short way up the massive volcano and took Suffolk Living magazine and a snack along for the tour. Next time you’re out of town, be sure to take along a copy and get your own photo to share with other Suffolk Living readers. Email photos to news@suffolklivingmag.com.

Submitted Photo

SL at Walt Disney World

Desiree and Paul Page of Carrollton took a copy of Suffolk Living magazine along on their recent trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., where it made an appearance on the train platform at the Main Street station in the Magic Kingdom, left, and with Buzz Lightyear in the background while in line for the Toy Story Midway Mania ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Submitted Photo


14 suffolk living

suffolk scene Touch a Truck

The Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society’s Touch a Truck, Train and More event was held downtown on Oct. 5. Kids of all ages got the chance to check out construction equipment, fire trucks, ambulances, antique cars and more. Clockwise from below, Jack Kokosinski and Michael Work, both 3, check out the train caboose; Gunnar Smith, 4, pretends to steer a 1927 Ford One Ton Truck owned by Gerald Griswold, right; Jackie Wilco helps her son Max Wilco down from a fire truck; and 6-year-old Will Lewis tries out the controls on an excavator owned by Ryan Construction. Photos by Tracy Agnew


suffolk living

15

on vacation SL Goes to Oderzo

After Suffolk officials gave a bronze plaque last year to a delegation of visitors from Oderzo, Italy, the Italian town built a monument to house the plaque. When a delegation of folks from America visited Oderzo earlier this year, the Italians held at ceremony in the 300-year-old municipal building, before closing the city streets for a parade with a brass band, fire and police, along with city officials and the entire group from Suffolk. When the group arrived at the monument, the unveiling was done by Jolyne Dalzell, great-niece of Amedeo Obici, who spent his early years in Oderzo before moving to America and, ultimately, Suffolk. Participants in the unveiling all got a copy of Suffolk Living magazine, which had included a long feature on Planters Peanuts, the company Obici founded.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Mortgages FRO M TH E N EI G H BO R WH O’S FI NAN CED N EW AD D RESSES since 1941

We’ll help you move.

That’s what good friends are for. At Bronco, we offer Mortgages, Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit. Talk to one of our friendly Lending Specialists, and let someone you already know help you open new doors. 757.569.6000 • www.broncofcu.com

Federally insured by NCUA

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LENDER


16 suffolk living

NOW HIRING Caregivers & PCA’s

757-774-5051

3614 Pruden Blvd., Suffolk, VA 23434 deneen.evans@homestead.com www.HISC712.digbro.com homeinstead.com/712

The World’s Trusted Source of Non-Medical Companionship and Home Care of Seniors. • Companionship • Meal Preparation • Transitional Care • Respite Care • Light Housekeeping • Medication Reminders • Escort to Shopping and Errands • Personal Care Our services grow as Caregivers & PCA’s nd new and innovative ways to meet the needs of our clients

“Dedication to Service Above Self”

✓ Specialized Shoulder, Hip, Knee and Joint Replacement Program ✓ Specialized Arthritis Pain Management Program ✓ Specialized Post Stroke Recovery Program


suffolk living

17

suffolk scene Taste of Suffolk

Taste of Suffolk was held Sept. 14 in downtown Suffolk. Local restaurants offered low-cost samples of their food. Clockwise from below, Susan Glover of Simply Susan’s and her sisters, Nancy Arquette and Patti Callahan, who came from New York to help her prepare for the event; Tammy Harrison and Marvin Woodward of Hilton Garden Inn Harbour View prepare chicken salad croissants; Lavonne Fletcher and Barbara Kapinus enjoy the fine weather; Princess Clinton and Lataisia Parrish run away after getting a hug from Elmo; Kendra Olds and her children, Kelsie and Kambrian Olds, create peanut flags to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Planters Peanuts in Suffolk.

PHOTOS BY Tracy Agnew


18 suffolk living

SUFFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRESENTS

List your organization’s scholarship today. Visit scholarships.spsk12.net SPS’s own search site for national, state, regional, and local scholarships available to Suffolk students

Compare and Save • No-Hassle FREE Estimates

Mega ʻDors & Windows

Entry Doors • Garage Doors • Replacement Windows 15521 Carrollton Blvd. • Carrollton, VA 23314

757-238-9149 www.garagedoorsandmore.com

5849 Harbour View Blvd. Suite 250, Suffolk, VA 23435

757-337-4018 CornerstonePrivatePractice.com


suffolk living

19

suffolk scene

PEanut Fest Parade

The Peanut Fest Parade was held Oct. 5 in downtown Suffolk. Clockwise from above, the Nansemond River High School band struts its stuff; the Planters Nutmobile made an appearance; volunteers advertise the Touch a Truck event that took place after the parade; the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy marching band performs for the crowd; the Khedive Shriners and their horses are always a crowd favorite.

PHOTOS BY Tracy Agnew


20 suffolk living

Hearts for Haiti


suffolk living

21

Christina and Chris Surber found a heart for Haiti through the connections they made with the people there, but especially with the children, and in particular with 8-yearold Carmelie, far left.

Suffolk family forges strong connection story by R.E. Spears III photos courtesy of Chris Surber

Nobody is quite sure what happened to 8-year-old Carmelie’s parents. She’s living with a woman she calls her grandma, but that’s what everyone in the little village calls the lady, and it could be that she has no blood relation to Carmelie at all. That’s just the way things are for millions of children in Haiti, and it broke the hearts of a Suffolk pastor and his wife. Chris and Christina Surber will be headed back to Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, in February. It will be his second visit and her third. When they travel this time, they’ll be taking their own children — ranging from 18 months to Carmalie’s age — along for the mission experience. It’s hard to tell who is more excited about the

upcoming trip — the pastor and his wife, who ache to help the little girl they say is the reason they feel so connected to this destitute place, or their children, for whom this will be their first mission trip. Eight-year-old Sebastian Surber, who wants to teach an art class for the kids in the village of Montrouis in Haiti: “Dad, you know — we can use anything to teach them about Jesus!” Five-year-old Ephram Surber, cashing in $99.01 in change at a Coinstar machine: “All I want to do is help those kids in Haiti, Dad. They’re my friends.” Thirty-six-year-old Chris Surber, who has pastored the missions-minded Cypress Chapel Christian Church for about two years: “My hope is to transform that one little girl’s life and teach her about Jesus.” See Haiti page 22


22 suffolk living

Visiting Montrouis, Haiti, in September in support of the Empowering Haitian Moms ministry, Christina Surber (right) and husband Chris found a people suffering from abject poverty but happy and loving, despite their circumstances. The organization helps feed the children and their mothers, gives them spiritual guidance and helps improve their living conditions.

HAITI continued from page 21

The Rev. Surber is often passionate about things and ideas, but when he talks about Haiti the passion moves to a whole new level. “This is a place where such pure ministry is happening,” he says. “God has used hundreds of my sermons to allow me to paint myself into a corner. I want to take a breath of fresh air,

which is a funny way of putting it, because the air isn’t always fresh in Haiti.” Indeed, on his flight into Port au Prince with Christina in September, he says, he looked down at the desolation surrounding the airport and thought he could not possibly understand why his wife seemed so excited to return.

“When I first got on the truck in Port au Prince, I wanted to turn around and go home,” he says. After a day or two among the people of Montrouis, things were beginning to change: “I had a feeling … of really wanting to embrace that place and at the same time wanting to run away.”


suffolk living

23

HAITI continued from page 22

Surber describes Haiti in terms you might expect from someone with young children. If you shipwrecked a bunch of kids on a deserted island and then came back in 40 years, he says, you’d expect — at best — to find them barely surviving. That’s what Haiti looks like, and the 2010 earthquake only exacerbated an existing problem, he says. There are no sewer systems, people bathe publicly in the same wells and fountains where others get their water, there is an epidemic of orphaned children and the Haitian government is loathe to allow most of those children to be taken out of the country, either for adoption or for modern medical treatments. With its land 98-percent deforested, Haiti is an ecological disaster. With 80 percent of its population living below the poverty line and 54 percent in abject poverty, Haiti is an economic disaster. And with a sometimes bizarre mix of Protestant Christianity, Catholicism and voodoo, Haiti is a spiritual disaster. Yet Surber sees hope amid what even he describes as chaos. “The people, by contrast to the environment, for the most part are so happy and appreciative,” he says. “They’re quick to smile and have a sense of humor.” “God is at work there,” he continues. “There seems to be a revival taking place there, and people are stepping away from superstition. You can feel the potential for change in that country. “In Haiti, I showed up with a Bible, and people wanted to know what I had to say.” ←


24 suffolk living

in the news

Candlelight Tour Event features homes in historic Bennett’s Creek area story by Kate Cross, Special to Suffolk Living drawings by Lee King

S

ome of Suffolk’s most iconic homes will be the stars of the show during the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society’s 37th annual Candlelight Tour Dec. 7 and 8. The theme for this year’s tour is “Between the River and the Creek,” and it will highlight homes in the historic Bennett’s Creek area. Featured homes this year will include the Cornell Home, the Willis Home, the Northey Home and the Obici House.

The Nansemond River, like the James, was a superhighway for the early English settlers to this area. Capt. John Smith got his first look in 1608 at what would become modern-day Suffolk as he explored the area. Richard Bennett — for whom both Bennett’s Creek and Bennett’s Pasture Road were named — came to the area in the 1620s. He was elected to the House of Burgesses in 1629 and was appointed to the Governor’s Council in 1642.

Over time, Bennett received a large land grant from the King of England, and all of the homes in this year’s tour stand on what used to be his land. The Cornell Home

The Cornell Home, also known as Eagle Point Farm, is located at 5301 Bennett's Pasture Road and is owned by Dr. and Mrs. George Cornell. The current owners’ parents bought the property in 1946. The original farmhouse with grand See CANDLELIGHT page 25

“Between the River and the Creek” is the theme for the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society’s 37th annual Candlelight Tour on Dec. 7 and 8, and it will feature some of the Bennett’s Creek area’ best-known homes, including, at left, the Northey Home, and, at right, the Cornell House.


suffolk living

CANDLELIGHT continued from page 24

views of the river was built in 1908. Members of the Cornell family have made additions and improvements to the house through the years, including larger windows to embrace the sweeping river views. Treasured family furniture and portraits, as well as artwork done by the ladies of the house and artistic friends, adorn the home. Also of note are an original carbide gas light fixture and the gas house in the yard. The Obici House

The Obici House, located at 4700 Sleepy Hole Road, was once the home of Amedeo Obici, founder of Planters Peanuts, and his wife Louise. Amedeo Obici, an Italian immigrant, came to Suffolk in 1913 to build a plant for the business he and his brother had started in Pennsylvania. In 1924, he and Louise bought more than 260 acres on the Nansemond River. They moved a circa 1870 farmhouse to the property and built around it, creating an Italian villa they called Bay Point Farm. They planted hundreds of trees on the property and accented the natural beauty of the place with statuary. Louise Obici died in 1938, and her husband followed in 1947. After a period of private ownership, the property was sold to the city of Portsmouth in 1966. Eventually that city built Sleepy Hole Golf Course on the Obici land. In 2002, the city of Suffolk bought the property and leased the entire site to Ronnie Rountree. Rountree oversaw a major renovation of the Obici Mansion, preserving many of its original fixtures, as well as beautiful See CANDLELIGHT page 26

25


26 suffolk living

CANDLELIGHT continued from page 25

stained glass windows. The house is now an events facility with a basement pro shop. The Willis Home

The Willis Home, also known as Town Point Farm, is owned by the Leonard Willis family and located at 2527 Bridge Road. Town Point was the name given to the land early in the written history of the area. It was farmland for centuries but truly came into its own in the late 19th century under the hand of Confederate veteran Willis John Lee. He engaged in truck farming, opened a store and built a cotton gin, and the name Town Point Farm came to stand for quality. In 1895,

Lee and his wife Jennie built the large Victorian home that stands near the Nansemond River Bridge today. They built a schoolhouse on the property for the children of the area, and provided the teacher, as well. The schoolhouse now has other uses but will also be open for the tour. The Northey Home

The Northey Home, owned by Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Northey, is located at 117 Riverside Drive in Bennett's Creek Landing. Like the other homes on the tour, this house enjoys amazing views of the Nansemond River, but it is much younger than the rest.

The traditional home, built in 1992, stands on original Town Point Farm land, not far from the site where archeologists found evidence of a substantial 17th-century dwelling. There has been speculation that it might have been the home of Richard Bennett. Tickets for the tour can be purchased at the Suffolk Visitor Center, the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, A. Dodson’s, 18th Century Merchant and Bennett’s Creek Pharmacy. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the tour. For more information, call 539-2781, check the historical society’s Facebook page or visit www.suffolkhistory.org. ←

Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society member Lee King made the pencil drawings of the four homes that will be featured in the organization’s Candlelight Tour this year. Among the buildings that will be open for public tours are, above, the Obici House and, at left, the Willis Home.


suffolk living 27

on vacation

SL in florida

Above, from left, Gail Hinton-Copeland, Joyce E. Garretson and Jacquelyn Brown, all of Suffolk, stand at the Antarctica pavilion at Seaworld in Orlando, Fla., while on a “girls’ summer vacation” there in August. Garretson recently retired from Suffolk Public Schools, and the three were celebrating with a trip to Florida, taking Suffolk Living magazine along for the trip. At left, Garretson stands with a statue of a Roman soldier at the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, and Gail Hinton-Copeland, below struck a similar pose. Next time you’re traveling, take us along, have someone snap a photo and then email it to us at news@ suffolklivingmag.com. We’d love to see where we’ve been.

Submitted photos


28 suffolk living


suffolk living 29

B

oisterous agpipes Optometrist gives the gift of music story by Tracy Agnew photography by Troy Cooper

T

he air that comes out of the musician’s mouth goes down the blowpipe, into the elkhide bag and out of the bass drone and two tenor drones. The reed vibrates. The musician chooses from nine notes on the chanter and squeezes the air out of the bag. The resonance chambers in the drones give the air the sound of the Scottish isles, the flavor of the highlands, the shape of the Irish fields of green. The bagpipes, with their many intricacies, require much time, effort and study, not to mention a private tutor who has mastered them, to become even an adequate player. But the complexities haven’t driven away Dr. David Lotz, an optometrist and family man who still manages to find time to practice his complicated — and expensive — hobby. He was already no stranger to music, having played the guitar for six years and the saxophone for eight years, when he fell in with a pipe and drum band near his former home in Oregon. “I love the music,” he said. “I kind of connect with it. It’s like it’s in your blood.” For Lotz, bagpipes are definitely in the blood. His Scottish-Irish heritage comes through in his dress — just don’t call his plaid kilt a skirt, he says — and through his sound whenever he plays the pipes. While he comes by his talent honestly, he got into the bagpipes because he knew somebody who played. That’s how it is for most people. See Bagpiper page 30


30 suffolk living

Above, Dr. David Lotz's set of bagpipes is displayed on a bench at the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum. At right, Lotz displays his family's crest with the inscription "Per Ardua," which means "Through Adversity." Bagpiper continued from page 29

“You almost have to know somebody to get into it,” he said. While there are tutorial books bagpipers can buy to teach themselves what’s known as “little music” — chants, hymns and the like — what’s known as big music “has to be taught to you by someone who has mastered it,” Lotz said. The musician also must become master of his own lungs. He must keep a near-constant flow of air into the bag and use his arm to squeeze the bag to keep a constant flow into the drones. Once the musician has started playing, it’s hard to stop, so “grace notes” are used to embellish the music and keep up the constant sound. Speaking of the sound, not everyone loves it, Lotz said. Even his wife makes him practice in a room above the garage, where he has to use a set of indoor pipes. “There’s no gray area,” he said. “People love them or they don’t love them — they hate them.” It’s hard to love the price of the instrument. While there are cheaper sets available, Lotz splurged on his — $10,000 for a 1940s set made with real ivory. Older wood produces a better sound, he says. Lotz plies his craft at various events around town. Every year, he performs at the Relay For Life and at the wreath-laying ceremony at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery. “Weddings are fun; funerals are very emotional,” he said. “But there’s nothing like the wreath-laying at Horton. I’m a veteran, so you connect with that. It’s a great way to honor those veterans.” He spent six years in the U.S. Navy. Lotz says he won’t stop playing the bagpipes anytime soon, unless he loses his lung capacity. “I love the music,” he said. ←


suffolk living 31

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME. {While we do the cooking.} When you live at The Village, you’ll experience all the comforts of home—and a lot more. While you relax and enjoy the company of good friends in The Village’s new Back Porch Restaurant and Grille, our chef will be busy preparing you a delicious meal. You might think of it as the best dinner party you ever threw—without the work. Call today to schedule a personal tour of our newly renovated community and discover the charm and ease of maintenancefree living at The Village at Woods Edge. (757) 562-3100

The Village at Woods Edge

Small town charm. Engaging senior living.

Small town charm. Engaging senior living. Find us on Facebook.

1401 North High Street • Franklin, VA 23851 • www.villageatwoodsedge.com • (757) 562-3100


32 suffolk living

12,000 turkeys Williams’ generosity makes Thanksgiving special story by Tracy Agnew photos by Troy Cooper

D

uring the course of the last 11 years, LeOtis Williams has bought about 12,000 turkeys. This year alone, he purchased about 2,000 of them, along with 150 bushels of collards, 100 bushels of cabbage and 150 bushels of sweet potatoes. It might be safe to assume Williams has given them away in the past, and will give them away again this year, just so he didn’t have to cook all that food. But really, he donates them to the less fortunate in the community to help them. “I feel as if no man, woman or child should have to go to bed hungry,” Williams said. “For a lot of folks, this is the only way of having a Thanksgiving dinner.” Williams drew inspiration from his mother, Marvis Milteer, who instilled in her six children the value of helping others.

“When I grew up, my mom used to feed people in the neighborhood,” Williams said. “I decided I wanted to make a difference.” The first year of the giveaway, he bought 175 turkeys. The number has increased every year since then. Williams buys the food with money he earns through his businesses — a lawn service, rental company, investment company and a self-service ice dispenser. He sends vouchers to about 130 churches, civic leagues and other organizations, who give them to folks they know are struggling. The scene on the last Saturday before Thanksgiving is always chaotic on Old East Pinner Street, where Williams’ offices are located. Folks line up for the food and receive coffee and doughnuts, and later hamburgers and hotdogs, as they wait. This year, more than 100 volunSee TURKEYS page 34


suffolk living 33

LeOtis Williams shows off one of the 2,000 turkeys he will give away this year on the weekend before Thanksgiving.


34 suffolk living turkeys continued from page 32

teers will sort, hand out and help carry the food, and the Bon Secours Care-A-Van will be on site to provide free medical care. Folks will also receive education on the Affordable Care Act. In the middle of it all, Williams will be nowhere to be found, probably hiding in the office. “It’s not about me,” he said. His next project, unsurprisingly, also involves food and helping the community. “I’m trying to hopefully get this food bank off the ground,” he said. “That’s my goal for next year.” Williams also serves year-round on the Salvation Army board and as a commissioner on the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority board. “It’s all about making a difference,” he said. “It’s just such a good feeling that I have to see so many people able to benefit from this program. “Times are hard, and I’m just grateful God has blessed me to be able to provide a service to my fellow man.” ←

Folks line up to receive free Thanksgiving provisions courtesy of LeOtis Williams during a previous turkey giveaway. This is the 10th year of the giveaways, which started 11 years ago. Williams skipped a year, but otherwise the number of turkeys has increased every year.


suffolk living 35

Why I chose The COVE

for my pet’s EMERGENCY CARE: PET: Rebel 9 ½ Yr. Old Dalmatian TREATED FOR: Extensive wound repair and management after a dog fight

The COVE team is super friendly and helpful. We thought we received extra special attention until we noticed that everyone received that level of care!

thecovevets.com FB-030 Western Tidewater Living June_7.5x4.93_3.pdf

1

6/8/12

— Cailey Auvil.

4:25 PM

6550 Hampton Roads Pkwy, #113 • Suffolk • 757.935.9111

reliable We believe that your money should always be where you are. Our mobile banking makes it easier than ever to check your account balances, transfer funds, find a branch or ATM, receive alerts and more – all from your mobile device. To learn more, visit us at farmersbankva.com, or call 757-242-6111. Courteous | Prompt | Reliable | Secure


36 suffolk living

where am I?

I

n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is. If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@ suffolklivingmag.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!


suffolk living 37

index of advertisers Autumn Care.....................16 Bennett's Creek Pharmacy..39 Blair Brothers...................11 Bond's Fine Cigar Shop.....11 Bronco FCU......................15 Chorey & Associates.........40 Cornerstone Private Practice....18 The Cove...........................35 Davis Drug........................12 Davis Lakes........................11 D.B. Bowles Jewelers.......18 Drs. Jett, Sellers and LaRusso..16 Dr. Steven Gwaltney, DDS........4 East Coast Homes.............18 East End Baptist Church….11 Ellen Drames.......................2 Farmers Bank.....................35 Harbour Veterinary Office...18 Home Instead Senior Care...16 Home Video Studio............11

Last edition’s Where Am I?

Isle of Wight Academy.......16 Mega 'Dors........................18 Mike Duman Auto Sales......7 Nancy's Calico Patch.........35 Nansemond-Suffolk Academy...14 Nansemond Veterinary Hospital.....37 Producer's Peanuts..............9 P D CCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 Rawlings Mechanical.........11 R.L. Howell........................7 Sage Organics...................11 Sentara............................3 Suffolk Public Schools........18 Triple T Sports..................37 Velveteen Rabbit...............18 The Village at Woods Edge.....31 Virginia Fire Extinguishers...11 Have your business listed here! Call 539-3437 to advertise in Suffolk Living.

For many of those (and there were a bunch!) who knew where the roofline that appeared in the Where Am I feature in the September/ October edition where am I? of Suffolk Living I magazine, it is part of a favorite piece of downtown architecture. The French Empire-style home is located at 251 N. Main St., between the traffic light and the Masonic lodge. Angela G. Sexton, a land records technician in the Suffolk Assessor’s Office, had her name randomly chosen from among those who got the right answer, and she has won a $25 gift certificate to the advertiser of her choice for her eagle eye. For this month’s challenge, see Page 36. 32 suffolk living

n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is. If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers.

So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

Want to advertise in Suffolk Living and reach 42,500 potential customers?

suffolkliving mag.com

Call us

757-539-3437

Like us on Facebook For

Monthly Specials!


38 suffolk living

scrapbook

SUFFOLK IN THE SNOW: This undated (though the cars certainly tell a story) photo of Suffolk after a snowfall is believed to have been taken in Hall Place.

— Photo Courtesy of Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society


ONLINE ORDERING

SCAN FOR WEBSITE



Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.