THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410070246
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 135 lines
Wednesday, Sept. 28
2:50 p.m. - Virginia Wesleyan College.
A female student, tired from a long day in the library, dips into the teachers' lounge to retrieve a snack from the goody machine.
But posted above the coin slot of the bright red machine is a set of deterring instructions: FEED CHANGE SLOWLY, PULL HANDLE GENTLY AND IF IT TAKES YOUR MONEY, PLEASE CURSE SOFTLY.
- Holly Wester
Thursday, Sept. 29
7:50 a.m. - Bayside High School.
A first period Government class is interrupted by the moaning of a fire alarm. Surprised students get out of their seats and start to leave the room, expecting to hear over the intercom that it is a fire drill.
Instead, an unusual announcement is heard. ``Teachers and students, please exit the building immediately,'' replaces the normal ``This is a fire drill. Please head to the nearest exit . . . '' Once outside, the ``drill'' lasts much longer than previous ones and sirens are heard.
Some students cheer, some realize that they've left their keys or other valuables inside.
Soon, however, one fire engine is seen leaving. Another follows close behind it. The safety bell rings, and droves of disappointed students file back to class.
Later that day, Assistant Principle Roland L. Thornton explains the cause of the incident: a malfunction in the fire alarm system, caused by a clogged duct detector.
- Joe Marino
4:30 p.m. - Virginia Beach Boulevard.
The bumper sticker on a maroon Nissan Altima soothes anxious rush-hour drivers.
It reads: I'm too blessed to be stressed.
- Holly Wester
Friday, Sept. 30
1:15 p.m. - Outdoor Cafe at 35th Street and Oceanfront.
A table of four is being terrorized by a marauding yellow jacket.
It zeros in on a leafy salad, garnished with chicken strips ordered by a nervous woman in her mid-30s.
She frantically waves a napkin at the insect as it hovers briefly over a sliced tomato and then darts to a ham sandwich being consumed by the woman's table mate. A second napkin appears and flicks ineffectually at the insect.
Suddenly, it darts back to the leafy salad and the woman jumps to her feet and backs away from the table. As she does the yellow jacket buzzes in tight circles in front of her face.
Just as quickly it dips into a steep dive, streaking for a mound of cottage cheese on the plate of another diner at the same table, but eludes a fluttering hand before climbing for a second and third pass at the woman who is still standing.
The aerial jousting continues for a few seconds longer before the yellow jacket tires of the game and zips off to another table and a more appealing menu.
- Bill Reed
Saturday, Oct. 1
1:40 p.m. - 28th Street.
A car pulls into a metered parking spot, the only one left on the street.
The female passenger, clad in a bathing suit and shorts, jumps out and feeds five quarters into the meter.
``That gives us 1 hour and 40 minutes,'' she says to the male driver. ``Do you think that's enough time?''
He nods and then looks at the meter closely.
``Hey, is today Oct. 1?'' he asks.
``Yes, why?''
``We didn't have to pay!'' he yells, pointing to the sign on the meter. It says metered parking is in effect until Oct. 1.
``Oh, well,'' the woman says. ``This is our contribution to the city.''
- Pam Starr
3:30 p.m. - General Booth Boulevard.
Bumper sticker of the week: Hungry? Out of work? Eat your import.
- Holly Wester
3:55 p.m. - 24th Street Park.
The Neptune Festival has attracted a large crowd to the Oceanfront today, and hundreds of people are listening to a band play in the park. One couple sits on the grass, right in front of the rest-rooms, to enjoy the music.
A woman is standing next to them with a cute little dog, a dachshund-beagle mix on a leash. The couple strikes up a conversation with the owner and finds out the dog is female, named Mattie and was adopted from a shelter in January. The black, short-haired pooch is friendly and likes to be petted.
``She hates to be alone,'' the woman says, giving Mattie a couple of dog biscuits. ``When I go to work she tears the blinds, scratches at the front door. It's awful.''
After a few minutes the owner says she has to use the restroom, and asks the couple if they would watch Mattie. No problem, the wife answers, taking the leash. Mattie sits next to the strangers and watches her owner walk away. The husband looks at his wife and shakes his head.
``I think we just inherited another dog,'' he grouses.
``No, we didn't,'' she replies. ``She's coming back, don't worry.''
Sure enough, within five minutes the owner emerges from the restroom and takes back the leash. She thanks the couple and then laughs.
``When I was in there I realized you might have thought I wasn't coming back,'' she says, starting to walk away. ``I wouldn't have done that.''
- Pam Starr
9:40 p.m - Neptune Festival beer tent at 15th Street.
A small group of people, gathered to watch the fireworks, have fireworks of their own when one of the group members comes in with a case of Silly String.
The aerosol fun begins with friends squirting friends with the harmless string.
A grandmotherly looking volunteer sporting a Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters T-shirt comes between the friendly fire and claps her hands, announcing ``We can't have this. We cannot have this.''
While the rest of the full tent focuses on the fireworks, the cans are confiscated and the partygoers kicked out.
- David B. Hollingsworth ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JO-ANN CLEGG
Pets' day at church
Last Sunday was the day for the annual blessing of the animals at
Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Princess Anne Road. Father John
Hewitson, a visiting Australian priest, stands on the church lawn
facing 100 or so parishioners and what appears to be an equal number
of critters. Hewitson gives Charlie Seal's cat, Quicksilver, a
gentle rub. ``I've never experienced a service like this before,''
Hewitson admits. ``Back home, we're still thinking about doing it,''
he says surveying a mind-boggling assortment of things that bark,
meow, chirp, jump, climb, hop and slither. ``And,'' he adds
good-naturedly as an enormous chocolate Lab gives a pair of caged
bunnies a frighteningly hungry look, ``I believe when I return home,
I shall think about it a bit longer.''
by CNB