Polar Plunge is a commitment

There’s a joke about a chicken and pig who wanted to start a restaurant called Ham and Eggs. The pig declines, explaining the chicken would be merely involved while he’d be totally committed. When it comes to the Polar Plunge, I definitely fall into the involved category.  Each year, thousands of committed folks rush into the freezing Atlantic Ocean to raise funds for the Special Olympics. Chesapeake Bay Diving Center owner Malena Sharkey and her team will participate for the first time next month. Though she has a few men on board, most of her team are women. The team member’s husbands have signed on to babysit the kids during the event. “I think they’re chicken,” Malena says. The Port Norfolk business got into the holiday diving spirit with its Scuba Santa event at the Churchland Y last month. Santa was dive team member Barry Smith, whose son Ethan is a member of the Special Olympics. If you’re a chicken like me, but you’d like to help Malena’s group, visit www.cbdcscuba.com and click on the Polar Plunge link to make a donation.

Like most places of worship, Calvary Baptist Church offered music programs during the holiday. Carol Rowe of Pinecroft is a member of the church’s orchestra and praise choir and tells me the church had a full slate this Christmas. The musical festivities began with a cantata on the 11th. The next Sunday was a music workshop during the regular morning service followed by a visit later that evening by the Tidewater Community Concert Band. The children of the church presented their “Back to the Manger” musical on the 16th. One of the many things I enjoy about this time of year is the opportunity to reflect and look forward. On Dec. 21, Calvary had a remembrance service for members who’d departed during the year then finished off the season three day later with a candlelight Christmas Eve service.

The Women’s Advocacy Group, made up of members of the Portsmouth alumni chapters of Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Zeta Phi Zeta sororities, had a women’s legislative meeting at I.C. Norcom High School last month that focused on health care. More than 100 participants came out and learned how health care legislation impacts communities. Presentations from the American Cancer Society and Bon Secours Hampton Roads were followed by remarks from guest panelists and questions from the audience. Mayor Kenny Wright and state senators Mamie Locke, Louise Lucas, Ralph Northam and Yvonne Miller were in attendance. Barbara Ciara served as moderator. Churchland residents and sorority sisters Yvette Watkins Cherry, Lisa Downey Hood and Cynthia Morrison helped organize the program. A highlight of the event was the lifetime public service award bestowed upon Sen. Miller for her many years of community service.

The Retail Alliance hosts regular gatherings to keep small business owners connected and informed. Last month’s Pastry and Politics gathering was at Bangkok Gardens in the Churchland Shopping Center. Del. Matthew James was the featured speaker and topics centered on the economy and upcoming road tolls. Book Owl owner Nelson Velez was in attendance and says it was good to have that kind of accessibility and to have questions answered directly. Speaking of Matthew James, the 2012 session of the Virginia General Assembly convenes next week. Visit http://legis.virginia.gov to keep atop of the action.

Contact me at pamelawrites@hotmail.com or 717-0628 with Churchland news you’d like to see on this page.

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