VIRGINIA BEACH Dan Lowe, the "elder statesman" of the School Board, has stepped down as the Bayside representative. After 11 years, "it was time," he said Friday. Lowe, 76, said he needs to be available for his large, extended family in Graniteville, S.C., and locally. School Board obligations make that difficult, he said.

By Victoria Bourne
Correspondent

According to groomer Rebecca Harner, if you're looking to spoil and pamper your canine companion, Preppie Pooch is the place to do it.
"We've tried to make it look like a human day spa," she said.

By Cyndi Kight
Correspondent
VIRGINIA BEACH
This Saturday, pet lovers can break out their bell-bottoms, tie-dye T-shirts and love beads to help some of the city's unwanted animals.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Red Wing Park will be the site of the first Woofstock presented by Virginia Beach Animal Control and the Virginia Beach Department of Health.

VIRGINIA BEACH For years, Gene Walters was one of the most widely recognized faces in Hampton Roads. He was in TV commercials all the time, always urging customers to "tell a friend" about shopping at Farm Fresh grocery stores. Walters, who headed Farm Fresh before starting his own grocery chain, died Wednesday after an illness. He was 86.

VIRGINIA BEACH The tight 21st District race took several dramatic turns Thursday, with a raucous rally outside the voter registrar's office, allegations of vote-count irregularities and finally a court order to temporarily stop a review of absentee ballots. The order, requested by incumbent Del. Bobby Mathieson, who is down by 16 votes, was delivered to the registrar's office about

VIRGINIA BEACH The state Supreme Court reprimanded a Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court judge Thursday for violating ethical conduct standards in a 2007 case.

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.

Natalie Cole is a big star. She's Nat King Cole's daughter. A celebrated musician in her own right. Actress. Nine Grammys. More than five No. 1 hit songs. Four platinum albums.

VIRGINIA BEACH 

VIRGINIA BEACH The idea of widening the "A" grade range in the city's public schools received a boost Wednesday night, but whether a change will be made was far from clear. The School Board agreed to endorse a grading-scale plan - even if it's the same as the current one - and take it to a public hearing in coming months.