By Cindy Butler Focke
Correspondent
LYNNHAVEN
Soon after moving into their dream home in 1975, Chet and Barbara Ehrenzeller heard a knock at the door while preparing Thanksgiving dinner.
It was Furman Dey, the only son of John B. Dey, for whom a nearby elementary school is named. The younger Dey had sold them the home and moved to a Norfolk retirement community.

VIRGINIA BEACH There 's more to Dr. Jay Starling than meets the eye. The retired ophthalmologist has a do-it-yourself side to match the precision and detail of performing eye surgery. "When you work on people's eyes, good enough doesn't cut it," the 60-year-old said. "It has to be perfect."

Deck the halls
 
This fall the Gracious Living section of The Virginian-Pilot will publish a list of holiday home tours taking place throughout Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina. If your club or neighborhood is planning one, we'd like to know about it.
Please send us the following information:

By Stacy Parker Correspondent OCEANFRONT He saved lives during the wreck of the schooner "Jennie Hall" in 1900 and witnessed the first major growth spurt of Virginia Beach in the years to come. John Woodhouse Sparrow played a role in Virginia Beach's rich history, and although he died long ago, his house remains a relic of the city's early days.

Move into the house where President William Howard Taft once came to dinner. Bring $ 1.65 million with you. That's the asking price of this mansion in Norfolk's historic Ghent.

SUFFOLK The city has rejected all of the proposals it received for the Obici mansion, calling into question the fate of the historic home. The city released a statement Friday evening saying that all of the proposals failed to meet one or more of the requirements for the project. Those criteria included financing capability, benefits to the city, and project experience.

Glimpsing the Carraway House these days, passersby probably have little idea how the traffic-clogged area used to look when the home was built in the 1730s. Back then, the wood frame house sat on an 80-acre property that was part of the village of Kempsville. The building will soon be up for sale, for anyone interested in owning a house with history.

By Sandra J. Pennecke
Correspondent

MIke and Allyson Macomber have called many places home over the years. Now, they're happy to add Williamsburg Commons to the list.
The couple and their children - Ryan, 12, and Kayla, 8 - moved into the Norfolk development in January. After seven moves in 15 years, the Navy family is familiar with settling into a new community.

By Sandra J. Pennecke
Correspondent

When the Schweikarts and Johnsons were looking for new homes the school district led them to Windrose Farms.
Both families wanted their children to attend Grassfield High, the new state-of-the-art school off Route 17 in the Chesapeake school district.

By Sandra J. Pennecke
Correspondent

Me'quisha Lowery was preparing to pick up furniture for her apartment when a sign for new homes caught her eye.
Three days later, she and boyfriend Rondell Farrier were signing the papers for their new home in Garnett's Watch.
Lowery and Farrier, both active-duty Navy members, were tired of renting an apartment and had talked about buying a home.