THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190170
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 114 lines
Monday, May 8
3:30 p.m. - Cenit Bank on Independence Boulevard.
A sign in the drive-through window says, ``When driving away . . . Please beware of duck nesting in bush. Thank you.''
- Lori A. Denney
6:15 p.m. - Holland Road.
A bumper sticker on a tan Geo Prizm reads: ``It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.''
- Holly Wester
Friday, May 12
8:45 p.m. - Ramada Inn, oceanfront.
The band, set up in the small ballroom, begins playing hip-swaying beach music to an empty room.
Through the open doors come members of the Virginia Beach School Board, the school system's staff and their spouses. Quick observation reveals that this is no ordinary meeting.
Some of the women are wearing sundresses or rompers; some of the men, including Superintendent Sidney L. Faucette, are wearing coats and ties with shorts.
Smiles are plastered to their faces. A few are carrying beers.
They have spent all week hosting a serious conference for members of the National Federation of Urban and Suburban School Districts, discussing weighty issues of public education.
Tonight, it's time to party.
- Elizabeth Thiel
Sunday, May 14
3 p.m. - The Express, Lynnhaven Mall.
It's a buy one, get one half price sale on rayon sundresses and the store is packed with women trying on the merchandise.
One woman is in a dressing room with her toddler and is obviously getting more impatient by the second.
``I told you to shut up!'' she screams, as the child cries. ``I'm not going to wait any longer. One more word and I'll hit you!''
The toddler wails louder, unable to help himself. The father, sitting outside the room in a chair, ignores the cries.
``That's it!'' she screams. Loud thwacks can be heard across the store. ``I've had it! Now stand in the corner and don't move until I'm done!''
The child continues to cry, but he's only whimpering now.
- Pam Starr
Monday, May 15
1 p.m. - Witchduck Road at the Expressway overpass.
An 18-wheeler bearing the name of a Texas corporation pulls off to the side of the road, well out of the way of traffic.
A thirtysomething man and woman get out of the cab. The woman is visibly pregnant. A half grown black Lab, attached to a long leash, jumps out of the truck after them.
The trio, the man and woman walking hand in hand and the dog exploring the undergrowth, take a leisurely walk down the busy road before returning to the vehicle.
- Jo-Ann Clegg
2:15 p.m. - A doctor's office on Kempsville Road.
A short blond woman, about six months pregnant, is talking on the phone in the hallway of the waiting room.
``Well, it's a girl!'' she says into the receiver with a sigh. ``Yeah, I'm glad but he's not. He really wanted a boy. He told everyone it was going to be a boy.
``I don't know what he's going to do now!''
- Pam Starr
7:30 p.m. - K-Mart at the corner of Laskin and First Colonial roads.
The two kids are getting restless in the long check-out line.
Eventually, it's their turn. The mother empties her cart, placing her items on the counter. A few packages of candy bars. A box of Legos.
The son climbs into the cart.
``Now I know what a grocery feels like,'' he says.
- Elizabeth Thiel
Wednesday, May 17
12:30 p.m. - Corner of Constitution and Virginia Beach Boulevard.
T white Mazda Miata convertible with the dark-haired woman at the wheel sports the bumper sticker - uppity women unite.
- David B. Hollingsworth
6 p.m. - South Independence Boulevard in Glenwood.
A group of neighbors are outside enjoying the balmy weather and chatting. At times they hear what sounds like a baby screeching or cats fighting and keep looking around to see where the noise is coming from. All they spot is a man on the other side of the grassy berm walking his dog.
As the man gets closer, however, the neighbors see that there is a huge blue and gold macaw sitting on the man's shoulder. The bird, a Toucan Sam lookalike, keeps squawking and spreading its wings. The man is also holding a green and yellow parrot on his forearm. The neighbors stare in fascination as the man approaches.
``That is the first time I have ever seen anyone out walking their birds,'' one of the neighbors says.
The man laughs.
``It never fails,'' he says. ``You take one out, they all have to go out! It's such a nice day the birds wanted to go, too.''
- Pam Starr ILLUSTRATION: Look out below!
Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Large seagull sculptures on tall polls stand guard over joggers and
strollers on the Boardwalk at 18th Street. The birds are part of a
number of different sculptures in the Boardwalk enhancement
project.
by CNB