Gold Wing Road Riders visit King's Fork

Local Gold Wing Road Riders Keith Lindgren, Doug Gillam and Trish Adams provided motorcycle safety tips in Joshua Worrell’s health and physical education classes at King’s Fork High School. Some 72,000 Gold Wing Road Riders are part of an international social organization of Honda Gold Wing/Valkyrie owners and enthusiasts dedicated to friends, safety and knowledge. Sharing firsthand experiences in rural and urban riding is a great way to make the road a bit safer for all. I never was able to make the move from a neighborhood bicycle to motorcycle. While they seemingly are similar, there is a much different feel for the road, and I have a very healthy appreciation of the hazards. I’m glad the Gold Wingers help reinforce caution and safety.
                                                  

Christina Fleck’s sixth-block Algebra 2 class at King’s Fork High School had a visit a few weeks back from WTKR. News anchor Kurt Williams was there to present Fleck with the TV station’s People Taking Action Award. Thanks to a nomination by senior Anita Wunnenberg, Fleck got the recognition she richly deserved for her creative methods for teaching math basics. With the help of students Kashan Askew and Rachel Lee King, Kurt got a refresher on POOP (Pull Out Opposites in Parentheses) to help solve quadratic equations after factoring. The kids posed in pretzel-like yoga positions to model various mathematical functions and performed karate moves to demonstrate exponential operations.

Oakland Elementary School’s annual P.B. Rogerson production is now in its second-generation cycle. Years ago, the school’s physical education teacher, Anne McCoy, enlisted her playwright mom to write a play/skit for the kids. For the next five years another even more elaborate production was presented. Music teacher and director Rena Long has been working with 11 third- through fifth-graders since early March on “Jelly’s Big Jam.” Under art teacher Jodi Linkous, the stage crew produced an affordable, believable Southern front porch by using a few sections of PCV pipe, a basic screen door, lots of white paper strips as siding and a couple of rocking chairs. True to form, the script uses cue cards for audience participation (boo/cheer), exaggerated Southern drawls, and names such as Mack Donald, Dusty Rottenwood and Sheriff Will Ketchum. Jelly the goat and Buttercup the bull are key unseen players, integral parts of the production. Enthusiastic students have sold more than 150 tickets to offset expenses for this dessert and a show production.

Do you or your family have magazine subscriptions? We have a few with varying renewal plans and dates, so it’s a bit of a challenge to stay on top of them. We recently received a billing from SBS for our Science News subscription addressed to The Billue Family. Fortunately, my husband checked the label on the last issue and saw we had months left on our subscription and actually called to verify the upcoming $90 charge. While quite official looking, this was a total scam! Just saying … you might want to double-check any payments before you routinely provide your hard-earned dollars to nefarious robbers!

For those of you who grew up with R2D2, Darth Vader, Yoda, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, you will have the opportunity to re-live those fantasies and pass them on to the next generation at the North Suffolk Library Saturday at 10 a.m. The library, at 2000 Bennett’s Park Road, is celebrating Star Wars Day with family-friendly crafts, cool snacks and great games. Costumes are encouraged for any age! May the force be with you!

Do you have a story to share about yourself, a family member or neighbor? Please let me know at k.billue@charter.net so I can spread your news to Your Corner.

Girl Scouts' anniversary marked in Driver

Girls and women across the country are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts this year. Members of Troop 5292 from Driver hosted a birthday party at Beech Grove United Methodist Church and invited scouting groups from Driver to attend, including Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts. Limbo, bingo, corn hole, balloon popping, noodles on a stick and bolt-building were some of the indoor activities. Homemade sugar cookies were made by some older troop members as part of the refreshments.
  

Maxapolooza, the Eclipse charity event organized by fairy godmother Cathy Darden for her 5-year-old great nephew with brain cancer, was a community success story. Enough money was raised for Max to continue his treatment through September. Plenty of folks attended and helped in any number of ways. Many items in the silent auction were novel: boat cruises on the Nansemond River, a chauffeured party bus ride and a well-stocked vodka lover’s basket. Lots of local artists contributed items – Joyce Timberlake, Wayne Martin, Bob Burnell, Paula Hicks, Ann Preston, Phyllis Wells and Mary Ann Leake to name a few. Outdoors, the music and food were in generous supply. 
 

Money is tight; but you know grants and funds are out there for nonprofits. Lillian Baily of Tidewater Community College’s Non-Profit Academy will give a Grant Writing 101 Workshop presentation 10 a.m. to noon tomorrow at the North Suffolk Library, 2000 Bennett’s Creek Park Road. She will discuss grant preparation, key components, and an overview of proposal-writing basics along with common mistakes and how to avoid them. Take notes to make the most of her free presentation.

Do you have a story to share about yourself, a family member or neighbor? Please let me know at k.billue@charter.net so I can spread your news to Your Corner!

North Suffolk kids have fanciful day

Prince Charming with Cinderella was my first photo opportunity at the Hope and Happiness Spectacular on April 28 at Ebenezer United Methodist Church. More than 100 special- needs folks were entertained with fellowship, dancing, skits and refreshments revolving around classic fairy-tale characters. Glitzy lighting and high-tech sound enhanced the thrill of encountering Tinkerbell, Snow White, Rapunzel, Alice, the Mad Hatter and a very special mouse with very large ears. Autograph books were in rapid circulation between dances. Thanks to Michelle Holst, Lynn Pratt, Donna Saffold and a host of enthusiastic, costumed teen volunteers and others, the Hope and Happiness group had a memorable evening. Next up will be a Tides game this month thanks to the generosity of the Orioles’ home office. Want to know more about Hope and Happiness? Contact Lynn Pratt at 986-3353.
                                                                                                     

Here are a couple of literary accomplishments involving Your Corner. “Ookie!” is a new children’s book written by Chesapeake’s Emily Stoll and illustrated by Suffolk’s Jan Southard. Jan’s colorful artwork inspired the fanciful story about nanny bird Ookie in a magical forest. Baby birds are saved from injury and worse by helpful Ookie. Available through amazon.com and magicalforestbook.com, the book will be making the local circuit of art and craft shows as well as flea markets. Interestingly, these two women met through their affiliations with Philanthropic Educational Organization, a pioneer society for women founded in 1869 by students at Iowa Wesleyan College. The organization has provided more than $100 million in educational funding for deserving women over the most recent decade. Jan and Emily plan on contributing “Ookie” profits right back to Philanthropic Educational.
                                                                       

Some readers may have already been a part of the survey being conducted by Suffolk Public Schools. Maybe you qualified as a student, parent or employee for a specific version of this city-wide sampling. If you haven’t had your chance to voice your opinion, by all means spend 5 minutes answering multiple-choice questions on facilities, staff, curriculum, safety, quality and other important benchmarks. While there are no right or wrong answers, ignoring this opportunity puts you in the apathetic category. Nearly half of your local tax dollars fund this program guiding the next generation. Go to www.spsk12.net and click on the “What Do You Think about Your Schools?”.

The Nansemond River Preservation Alliance is presenting another in its River Talks series Tuesday evening at 8881 Eclipse Drive in the C.E.H. Ruritan Hall. Walter Priest with the NOAA Restoration Center and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science will be speaking on living shorelines. Refreshments start at 6:30 p.m., and Walter will begin his presentation at 7. Normally this is all quite informal but provides a wealth of valuable information, especially once audience questions get under way. If you’d like to learn more, call Elizabeth Taraski, executive director of the alliance, at 745-7447 or 708-6114.

Do you have a story to share? Please let me know at k.billue@charter.net so I can spread your news to Your Corner!
 

Hopping around Bennett's Creek

The Bennett’s Creek area was full of folks wanting to learn new things a few weeks back. My first stop was at the introductory session of The Dean’s List Dog Training School at Home Away from Home Boarding Facility. A dozen frustrated owners showed up without their dogs but with a variety of complaints: destructive behavior, house-training issues, jumping, reluctant leash walking, barking and selective hearing. Jeff Dean, our area’s dog whisperer and behavior specialist, has had 26 years of experience training good dogs to be great pets. Jeff says it is more a matter of training the owner to become a pack leader than the dogs changing their attitudes. I’ll check back in a few weeks and see how things are progressing. Next, I zipped over to the AAA Girl’s Garage Class next door. Ten women were wearing safety glasses and taking notes next to the garage lift to learn the finer points of brakes: shoes, drums, dust, pads, warpage, shimmy, and rotors. There were many more topics to cover, but mechanic JR Kellam and manager Erik Dalton were well prepared for the evening’s program. Goodie bags and refreshments were only part of the niceties to make this a useful and memorable night. The next free class is May 30 at 6 p.m. Call 963-1222 to sign up.
                                                                   

Betsy Pollard, a Suffolk fifth-grader at Isle of Wight Academy, was recognized by the Tidewater Music Teachers Forum as this year’s recipient of the $250 David Carr Glover Scholarship. Besides having to perform in front of a panel of judges, Betsy had to submit a written essay on what music means to her. Chesapeake piano teacher Joan Edwards, who teaches Betsy, obviously is delighted with her student’s recognition. For those of you who haven’t had the piano instruction experience, David is one of this area’s most renowned musicians. His teaching books are still a standard, but he is perhaps best known for helping to create and arrange the theme song of the original Mickey Mouse Club. His longtime association with Walt Disney Studios brought him recognition for his arrangements in the Peter Pan, Davy Crocket and Sleeping Beauty films of the 1950s. We have an autographed Disney Piano Coloring Book from our daughter’s foray into lessons. It is dated 1988, the year he died. I am glad the Music Teachers Forum is keeping his name alive.
                                                             

I got a note from Sandy Muller of Suffolk’s Master Gardeners filling me in on all activities of this organization. There are training classes every February and March, and 27 new Master Gardener interns are trying to fulfill their extra 50 hours of service to the community. The Ready Set Grow program for first-graders has been in all of Suffolk’s public elementary schools and some private ones to fulfill the SOLs area of plant growth and development. Rain-barrel classes are offered at the Suffolk Art Gallery, a community garden is under way in Whaleyville and demonstration classes for the esoteric art of canning are planned. Courtyard and butterfly gardens are under construction at local schools, and gardeners continue improvements at the Sleepy Hole Park children’s garden. Twice-a-year plant sales help to support these efforts. If you’d like to master your own yard and lend a hand elsewhere, call the Virginia Extension service office at 514-4331.

The Suffolk Fire Department has a couple of timely services available that don’t involve fighting fires. Due to the mild winter, mosquito issues are sure to be a humdinger this summer. Suffolk residents can pick up a monthly allotment of dunks at the Bridge Road, Bennetts Pasture Road and Kings Highway stations. Dunks are donut-shaped pucks embedded with a biological pesticide that kills mosquito larvae common in stagnant water. There are six dunks to a package, and they each last about a month. But don’t just use one; spread them around to mosquito-prone areas in your yard to help out your family and your neighbors. If you have youngsters or grandkids between the ages of 7 and 10, its time again to register for Fire Camp, the weeklong half-day program that exposes children to safety lessons they need for everyday living. Besides firefighting, bike and water safety, they learn first-aid basics and search-and-rescue practices. The deadline for registration is June 8. There will be two sessions at the Bridge Road station July 23-27 and Aug. 6-10. The cost is $65 per camper. Call Pam King at 514-4542 or Jeanie Brinkley at 514-4551. Download application materials at www.suffolkva.us.

Do you have a story to share? Please let me know at k.billue@charter.net.

In May, we’ll all have a prayer

The 61st National Day of Prayer is May 3. Ebenezer UMC Church at 1589 Steeple Drive in Eclipse is offering a community observance for people of all faiths. An outdoor Meet at the Cross event will occur at 8 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.; scriptures will be read and prayers will be offered for national and world concerns. During other times, the public is invited to nail their prayers to the cross. If inclement weather, mobility or privacy are issues, the sanctuary will be open for private prayers from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. If you are able, bring a canned good donation. The Continental Congress in 1775 asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation. May prayer always be a part of our history.

More and more businesses seem to be pairing with nonprofits. The altruistic trend benefits all. Goodwill spokesperson Danielle Cronin let me know that Zoots dry cleaners have made a commitment to Goodwill’s job-training program. Buy anything at a local Goodwill between now and June 15, and you can get 20 percent off dry cleaning or tailoring services at any Zoots locations with your Goodwill receipt. While this retiree tries real hard to avoid clothing choices that require dry cleaning, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. This will make it a just a little bit easier.

Foreign languages have never seemed to get the respect here that they do in other countries. Both my husband and I suffered through French in high school and college, and can only remember a few of the basic phrases. We’ve always admired our foreign-exchange students, who generally juggle a minimum of three languages. Maybe they get such an early and intense start that this becomes second nature. At any rate, I was delighted to see that students of Kim Seavey, Robin Patton and Stefanie Hicks at King’s Fork High all participated in National Foreign Language Week activities. This year’s theme “You’re Connected … Now Communicate” was carried through in poster and T-shirt contests. International films, homemade food from foreign lands, trivia quizzes and ethnic attire helped round out the week’s activities.

Ten-year-old Elainey Bass keeps adding to her resume. The straight-A fourth-grader at Northern Shores Elementary recently received an award for her first-place entry in the Young Writer’s Competition. She will be the youngest member of a 40-person cast of “Hairspray” this weekend by the Virginia Musical Theater at the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach. Elainey will be playing the part of Little Inez, who doesn’t get to audition for Corny Collins Show because she is black.
                                                                          

When I visited Bennett’s Creek Park before the Sertoma Chili and BBQ Fest, I discovered a whole different story. First of all, the club changed the format for its fundraiser this year and charged $20 to cover a full chili and barbecue meal with all beverages and entertainment included. So the club membership was behind the grills and pots this year. While I was chatting to Ed Gutshall, a former club president and instigator of the inaugural chili competition, something caught my eye on the tennis courts. A dozen fellows on roller blades were playing some type of hockey; I walked over and started asking questions. They offered me a helmut and a stick, which I declined. While it might not be good for the court surface, it turns out this was the National Suffolk Hockey League, which generally shows up at the park about 10 a.m. Saturday mornings for street hockey. Anyone can join in, and there are very few rules. Want to learn more? Visit their Facebook page and let them know you’d like to give it a whirl.

Do you have a story to share about yourself, a family member or neighbor? Please let me know at k.billue@charter.net.

North Suffolk alpaca herd's loss is spectators' gain

The alpaca herd at Cheshire Farm in Wonderland Forest off Nansemond Parkway reluctantly welcomed shearers Jay Mariacher and Bobby Herget last week. A very pregnant Eureka was first up for this springtime ritual. Once in a stretched-out position on her side with feet secured by bungee cord, Eureka quieted down and let Jay take her 4-inch to 5-inch-thick first fleece from her torso. It rolled off in one piece. He explained alpaca shearing is a cross between dog grooming and sheep shearing. While he takes off between 4 and 5 pounds of exquisitely fine fiber, he leaves a short coat and puffs on the head, tail and legs. These help minimize bothersome flying insects and provide sunburn protection. After a nail clipping, Eureka was back on her feet in 20 minutes and no worse for wear. Balthasar’s protests were squeaky sounds that sounded more like a bird than an animal. His coat was six to eight inches thick, surprising for such a mild winter. Apache followed with his mottled coat of gray, red and white. Owners Michael and Karen Garton were joined by the Covey brothers of Endless Farms in Surry in handling the alpacas from paddock to shearing tent and back. Karen now has another year’s worth of wool for all her spinning and fiber projects.
                                                              

With two years of Etiquette Du Jour at Royal High Tea experience behind them, Dawn Bennington’s fourth-graders at Creekside Elementary School ably demonstrated their savoir faire. Decked out in springtime finery with curls, dos, braids, ties, gloves, the young ladies and gentlemen ably partook of the tea, truffles and petit four offerings served on china with a black and white linen tablecloth. Battery-lit tea candles and silk flowers adorned each cozy table. Once tea and treats had been consumed, it was time to move on to the next phase of social graces: toasting. Most folks don’t realize that within another decade or so, some of these boys will be a best man at a friend’s or relative’s wedding. Having the opportunity to gently but forcefully tap your cup or glass, arise and boldly express thanks, kudos, and special recognition to someone takes a bit of gumption. There were shouts of “Here! Here!” as Sarah, Antonio, Michael, Sayuion, Cheyanne and Jackson each offered a toast for the occasion. Cups were clinked together, sips were taken, and the next toaster presented his or her offering. At the conclusion of the tea, ladies curtsied and gentlemen bowed to their companions. The original intent of this annual exercise was to introduce and hone manners, but one of the related benefits is fewer lunchroom incidents. May I now propose a toast to Ms. Richardson and all the sponsors and volunteers who make this a memorable event.

If you are female and free this evening, you might want to call AAA at 233-3889 and register for Girl’s Garage Class, which begins at 6 p.m. The two-hour class is designed to acquaint participants with standard maintenance needs and how to perform basic checks on tires, brakes, fluids and lights. A well-maintained vehicle is both safer and more dependable. Attendees will receive a thank-you bag with gauges, washer fluid, coupons for service and additional items valued at over $35. AAA is at 3529 Bridge Road.

While most basketball fans had their fill of the NCAA by April 2, March Madness actually continued until April 6 at Oakland Elementary School. The annual school event is a constructive method of corralling enthusiasm just before a vacation. Fifth-graders who have  maintained a C average in all subjects and shown good citizenship for the third marking period are eligible. Students can choose to play on the court against the staff team or volunteer for the cheerleading or drum teams. All these special teams meet after school the four days before the April 6 Rumble event. This year, physical education teacher Anne McCoy was so impressed with the good sportsmanship of Red Team and White Team student players, she allowed them all to participate in the championship game against the Oakland staff. The four-minute quarter format lent itself to student dribble and shooting challenges in between, which enhanced the final score, and provided a breather for the staff team. The entire school comes to the gym with encouraging signs and posters for their favorite players, and builds anticipation for their opportunity to participate in the next few years. Travonda Demiel, staff team captain and teacher assistant, was encouraged by the participation of three new teachers this year. The addition of Joel Tise, a phys-ed sub and husband of third-grade teacher Mrs. Tise, and the only male on the staff team, was welcome as well. Ultimately, the kids prevailed 48-36, but not before considerable Braves team spirit was exhibited on both sides of the court.
                                                           
Do you have a story to share about yourself, a family member or neighbor? Please let me know at k.billue@charter.net so I can spread your news to Your Corner!
 

Boy with cancer needs your help

Five-year-old Max Wilford of California has his very own fairy godmother who lives here in Eclipse. Her name is Cathy Darden, and she is actually Max’s great-aunt. Cathy has put together something she’s calling Maxapolosa for April 21 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the C.E.&H Community Hall, 1600 Eclipse Drive. Maxapolosa proceeds will be divided 80 percent for Max’s direct care and treatment for brain cancer, and 20 percent to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for conquering kids’ cancer. Cathy has arranged for two bands, Johnny Bland and Rich Whiskey, a bake sale, silent auction, door prizes, chili cook-off, Brunswick stew and barbecue, and a grand raffle prize of a 47-inch 3D TV with 3D glasses and Blu-ray player. Kids under 12 get in for free, and the entry donation is just $10 per person for a mellow afternoon of good fun for a great cause. Pediatric cancer is a particularly cruel disease that devastates the entire family. If you’d like to help Cathy in any way with this project, call her at 641-8418. You could be earning your wings as well.

Librarians Sarah Newton and Brooke Rasche cooked up another Iron Chef Challenge recently at the North Suffolk Library. This time it was Battle Candy Sushi. Twenty kids from 12 to 19 were randomly assigned to one of six teams. After deciding on team names, the kids donned their plastic gloves and set to work torturing Rice Krispies Treats into a variety of shapes and sizes. The overall assignment was for each team to fashion two different sushi-looking tidbits each with six identical pieces. The required secret ingredient was Nerds; all of the concoctions had to have a Nerd or two included. When you have an assortment of materials including Fruit by the Foot, colored licorice twists, Swedish Fish, dried apricots, shredded coconut, jelly beans, marshmallows and Airheads, how can you not have fun? Inventive creations were flat, rolled, barreled, sliced, coned and in colorful round balls. The kids were so enthused the 60-minute limit was way too much time. A lightning round was quickly put in place to select the final winning team. This time, jelly beans were the secret ingredient. Ultimately, the Candy Dragons team took the honors, but assuredly all the participants had a creative and satisfying afternoon.

And since there’s not another opportunity to mention this, mark your calendar for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Weather permitting, don your flip-flops, capris and luau shirts and come out for a free steel drum band performance. Where? The North Suffolk Library at 2000 Bennetts Creek Park Road just off Shoulders Hill Road. For more information, call 514-7150. This is one time you won’t hear shhhh!

The Eggstravaganza at Bennett’s Creek Park on March 31 was not dampened by a few intermittent raindrops. The under-10 age group turned out in droves accompanied by doting parents, grandparents, siblings and other relatives. The pony ride line was the longest, the petting zoo participants the most patient, and the face painters and balloon sculptors the most attentive to individual requests. I enjoyed yet another singalong rendition of “The Unicorn Song” … green alligators and long necked geese … by the C. Shells. One of the most interesting contraptions I encountered was the double-seated stroller with a rumble seat owned by the Kempinger family of Harbour View. With infant twins Lillian and Tristan, and 19-month-old Sophie, family outings are a logistical challenge for parents Antoinette and Stan. There simply aren’t enough arms to go around. They have found this device particularly helpful, although it is practically the size of a small golf cart. It must be worth the money and effort, since everyone was all smiles.

The Fleet Reserve Association’s Americanism Awards were passed out recently by Branch 40 members Jim Scarbro and James Campbell. With more than 30 secondary schools participating and more than 300 essays submitted, Suffolk students walked away with five of the six possible awards. Congratulations to Brionna Hunter from Nansemond River High School and Brittany Brooks of Lakeland High for their second- and third-place finishes in the high-school category. Astoundingly, three John Yeates Middle School seventh-graders from Christina Klein’s classes were well rewarded for their efforts. Emmanuel Nnawulezi and Brittany Littrell were only topped by MacKenzie Roach who took first place and was overall winner of this year’s competition. Each winner received an award and an American flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol with a certificate of authenticity from U.S. Sen. Mark Warner. MacKenzie also received a personalized plaque.

Foreign languages have never seemed to get the respect here that they do in other countries. Both my husband and I suffered through French in high school and college and can only remember a few of the basic phrases. We’ve always admired our foreign exchange students’ linguistic abilities, these kids generally juggle a minimum of three languages. Maybe they get such an early and intense start that this becomes second nature. At any rate, I was delighted to see that students of Kim Seavey, Robin Patton and Stefanie Hicks at King’s Fork High School all participated in National Foreign Language Week activities. This year’s theme “You’re Connected … Now Communicate” was carried through in poster and T-shirt contests. International films, homemade food from foreign lands, trivia quizzes and ethnic attire helped to round out the week’s activities.

Do you have a story to share about yourself, a family member or neighbor? Please let me know at k.billue@charter.net so I can spread your news to Your Corner!

New farmers market coming to North Suffolk

Our warmer than usual winter has tempted many to plant vegetables and flowers earlier than normal. If by chance you find you’ve missed this window, or prefer to let the professionals do the planting and harvesting, you don’t have long to wait. A new organic Farmer’s Market will open in Harbour View beginning on Thursday, April 19 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. At the intersection of Harbour View Boulevard and Hampton Roads Parkway, the market will face the back entrance of Harris Teeter. There will be plenty of off-street parking in the semi-paved area. Carrollton’s Batten Bay Farms will sell its vegetables, eggs and flower selections while Zuni’s Broken Arrows Farms will feature grain-fed meat. Dave Russell of Russell’s Seafood in Portsmouth will be rounding out the trio selling scallops, soft shell crabs, oysters, rockfish and other locally-caught seafood.
                                                 

I stopped by Lone Star Lakes Park in Chuckatuck on a misty Sunday morning to visit with the Kingsboro Bowmen and the scores of archers from near and far that were participating in the first outdoor competition of the season. This was a 3-D event with trophies in 12 categories including elite, youth, women and kids under age 12. The shoots are arranged in a wood-like setting using three-dimensional forms of game. Fortunately, the use of all this skill and talent is no more violent than golf. Archers could even buy mulligans for an added comfort zone. Newcomer Matt Nixon from the Lake Prince area showed off the clown nose temporarily awarded to the worst shot. I saw a rainbow wig arriving which I can only assume filled a similar role. Some of these latter-day Robin Hoods take the sport seriously, while others are in it for the fresh air, camaraderie, family bonding and a bit of exercise. If I didn’t already have tennis and golf on my plate, I might seriously look at this sport with a built-in range so conveniently located for Your Corner. To learn more, visit www.kingsboro.bizland.com or contact club president Andy Willman at andy.willman@gmail.com.
                                                                          

Mid-March isn’t just reserved for the Ides and St. Patrick. March 14 was a big day for students in Anne Branch’s International Baccalaureate math classes at King’s Fork High School. It isn’t often homemade pies and ice cream get mixed with formulas, equations, word problems and proofs. But thanks to a lighter interpretation of the ratio of a circumference of a circle to its diameter, Pi Day was observed with song, sweets and a history video clarifying its popularization in the 1730s by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler. Just in case readers need a refresher, Pi = 3.1415926535…
                                                                   

Sticking with the outdoor theme for the moment, I got an email back from the Great Big Backyard Bird Count with tallies from February and comparative information for years dating back to 1998. The most reported species for Suffolk this year was the red-winged blackbird, and for Portsmouth and Chesapeake the European starling. Interestingly, Williamsburg had 281 birdwatchers submitting checklists this year, second in the state behind Richmond. Chesapeake had 12 more checklists submitted this year, now up to 64. Portsmouth’s four checklists in 2011 grew to 10, and Suffolk went from 17 last year to 21 this year. Here’s hoping we have an even better showing next year.

Do you have a story to share about yourself, a family member or neighbor? Please let me know at k.billue@charter.net so I can spread your news to Your Corner.
 

Survey a way to plug public transit

North Suffolk readers might want to put your 2 cents in on a transportation survey being offered by the City of Suffolk.  No, it’s not about tolls or gas taxes, but it does involve something sorely lacking in this section of the city—public transportation. While it most likely will be years before this is seriously considered for North Suffolk, it can’t hurt to plant to the seed that there might be interest. Weigh in at www.suffolkva.us/suffolk-transit-survey.html  on this short 6 question survey. Most likely you’ll find that the open-ended write-in box seeking service improvement suggestions is the only pertinent question for us in the Route 17 corridor and adjacent neighborhoods. One day it might prove quite handy and economical to find a means to get from point A to point B around here without having to take a taxi, or bumming a lift from a friend or relative.

Northern Shores is a smart first

Northern Shores fifth-grade teacher Eric Pulley is delighted his Bunsenbot Team placed first in the regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament and will advance to the state level competition in mid-April. The competitions are worldwide and encourage creative problem-solving methods while having fun. The Northern Shores team selected the Weird Science problem, which required they create a skit about a fictional exploratory expedition incorporating basic scientific principles. NASA provided Earth photos that helped make the fiction a bit more realistic. The skit could not be more than eight minutes and the budget for props could not exceed $145. While Northern Shores has the bragging rights for Suffolk this year, kudos to Oakland Elementary, Creekside and Nansemond Parkway for participating as well. This type of competition is sure to make a lifelong impression on students since it requires teamwork, creativity and resourcefulness – all components useful in day-to-day living.
                                                    

Now that we have had six months of Big Blue recycling here in Suffolk, I’m happy to report that not only can you earn your own Recycling Perk points, but TFC is sponsoring a spring charity campaign. Local charities with 501c3 status need to be nominated by April 30 and let all their members, contacts and supporters know about the voting process that begins May 1 and ends June 15. The charity with the highest number of votes will receive $2,000; second-place honors bring $1,000; and third-place $500. While I was initially annoyed with the process of how we became a monopolistic Big Blue recycling city, I have to admit I have been pleased with the service and the perk-points program. With this new campaign, I think there will be many more satisfied customers.

Easter is April 8, and Suffolk Public Schools spring break is April 9-13. The parks and recreation department has two weeklong camps planned for youngsters that may prove helpful to some working parents. Lone Star Lakes will be the site for the Learning About Nature through Discovery Camp for children ages 7 to 10. It will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day and costs $45 for the week. Advance registration is required at Oakland Recreation Center. Call JJ Stephens at 514-7246 for all the details. Creekside Recreation Center will have a 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mash Up Camp for ages 5 to 12 that includes arts and crafts, games, social activities and field trips. The cost is $45, field trips are extra and advance registration is required in this limited enrollment program. Call LuKendra Banks at Creekside at 514-7245.

We’ve all read about the Postal Service deficits, and I’m sure there is more change to come. But as a consumer, I’m weighing in with my concerns. Who would want to entrust important documents, payments and greetings to a rusty, broken down-looking box like the one pictured here? While I tried to find out how much a replacement box would cost (with no luck), I did find the service is now in survey mode for retail post offices. Village Post Offices would be operated by local businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers, and would offer popular postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging. Want to learn more? Email vpo.inquiry@usps.gov or call 888-711-7577.
                                                                 

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