THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 18, 1995 TAG: 9506160165
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
Friday, June 9
11 a.m. - Newspaper office.
``I've got a great story for you,'' says a female voice on the phone. ``I'm calling from Richmond, and you know how you have those amphibious duck rides down there in Virginia Beach this summer . . .
``My parents have a house in Sandbridge and they belong to an investment group called the Progressive Investment Gourmet Society - PIGS. ``They're down there this weekend and as their outing they're going to ride the duck from Gus' Restaurant at 57th Street to their house in Sandbridge.
``I just think it's so funny. The pigs riding the ducks!''
- Melinda Forbes
Saturday, June 10
9:40 p.m. - The 500 block of 16th Street.
The resort strip is overflowing with traffic and pedestrians for the North American Fireworks Competition.
No parking spaces are to be found at all, so frustrated motorists stop their cars next to stop signs, fire hydrants, no-parking signs and tow-away zones.
One couple pulls their Mitsubishi Galant into a surprisingly ample tow away zone right next to the full Star of the Sea parking lot.
A spotless Mercedes convertible pulls in beside them. A Yuppie couple jump out of the car and head for the beach.
The well-dressed woman, with upswept blond hair and dangly earrings, stops and turns to the other couple. ``If they come around, tell them we'll be right back,'' she instructs.
The other couple look at her and laugh. ``Yeah, right,'' says the male.
The majestic display of fireworks begins and the crowd on the streets oohs and aahs.
They can't hear the accompanying music, but the booming fireworks are causing something to happen in the parking lot. The noise is setting off car alarms, and a cacophony of sound blares through the air, each alarm playing a different beat.
The man sitting on the Galant's trunk chuckles.
``Getting serenaded by car alarms - that's a new one,'' he says.
- Pam Starr
Sunday, June 11
7:45 p.m. - Bicycle path at 17th Street
As a young woman lies flat on her back after a collision with a bicycle, Shore Patrol and others
kneel to help her.
An elderly woman, who is watching, snaps, ``With all the Virginia Beach Police around why is it that they won't do something as simple as telling people not to walk on the bike path.''
She walks away angry as the local cops run to the scene.
- David Hollingsworth
Monday, June 12
5:30 p.m. - Pets Warehouse
``Does he bite if you touch him on top of his head,'' asks a young male customer, his hand an inch or two above the head of a small green parrot sitting on a low perch.
``I don't know,'' says the nearby clerk.
She pauses then says, ``Why don't you try it.''
- Melinda Forbes
Tuesday, June 13
noon - Chimney Hill Townhomes
A woman steps out of her house and gets her usual front door greeting.
Siblings in latest batch of baby mourning doves in the nest sitting atop a porch column stare at her as they do each day.
The nest has been there since spring, and this is the third time baby doves have hatched. Each time the male and female dove take turns chick-sitting while the other searches for food.
In a few days the nest will be empty again awaiting the next delivery.
- Alexis Smith
2:10 p.m. - City Council chamber.
Amber Medlin, Miss Virginia Beach, and Laura Anne Shelton, Miss Tidewater, are on hand as the council session begins. They are summoned to the dias to receive honorary city cups from Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf.
The mayor hands the packaged cups to the young women, both of whom are wearing glittering tiaras, and tells them the city is proud of their accomplishments.
Medlin and Shelton thank her, speak briefly and, gifts in hand, start back to their seats.
Medlin suddenly turns. ``Oh, I almost forgot,'' she says. ``We have to carry on a tradition.''
She and Shelton scramble behind the circular council table and each plants a kiss on a cheek of Councilman John A. Baum. Baum was accorded the honor last year and is similarly rewarded this year, Medlin explains, because he has served on the council longer than any of his peers - 21 years.
``I just try to do my duty,'' said a grinning Baum, his face reddening slightly.
- Bill Reed
8 p.m. - Clerk of Court Office at the Municipal Center.
A small group of vigorous campaigners wait for the election results to see if their candidate is winning.
An election worker, who hands in his results after a long day at the polls, asks the clerk for the latest tally. He gives a loud whoop when he's told which candidate is ahead.
At that, someone on the opposing side says, ``Be quiet you little weasel.''
The pollster replies, ``You shouldn't be in politics if you can't take losing.''
Again he is loudly told to shut up and is called a weasel.
The commotion brings out election workers and a sheriff's deputy asking what's wrong
Shamed into silence, the heckler backs off.
- Alexis Smith ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
A construction worker is framed in a maze of steel as he walks on
what will become the roof of the Hannaford Food and Drug Superstore.
The store is being built at the intersection of Corporate Lane and
Cleveland Street in the Pembroke area of Virginia Beach.
by CNB