THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 11, 1996 TAG: 9609100131
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 136 lines
A 126-POUND PIG and 37 pork shoulders slowly roasted on a bed of hot coals, their pungent aromas permeating the humid air Saturday afternoon at the large pool in Salem Woods.
Steve Doll opened the lid of the massive black grill every so often to carefully slice sections of the porker and place them in a foil roasting pan. Clyde Cristman then carried the pan to the five or six waiting carvers in the pool house.
While energetic children splashed in the L-shaped pool under a hot sun, the carvers piled tender white pork slices into roasting pans. They joked as they cut, popping pieces into their mouths as they worked. Others placed stacks of hamburger buns, condiments and heaping containers of potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and tropical fruit onto a long table.
There was, literally, enough food to feed an army.
This was the fifth Salem Woods Pig Pickin', an event that brings out even the most reclusive of homeowners in this middle-class Kempsville subdivision.
Organizers placed the pig on the grill at 6:30 a.m. and opened the pool at 11 a.m. Doll, vice president of the civic association, said the Pig Pickin' was started in 1988 as a ``last fling for the summer.''
``The first year we had 120 people,'' Doll said. ``We'll probably see 80 families today.
``With dual working families, it becomes very difficult to be involved (in the civic league),'' he added. ``That's why it's nice to have this.''
If it's not Pig Pickin's, neighborhoods are holding holiday picnics, parades, parties and dinners in efforts to bring residents together. Judging by Salem Woods' Pig Pickin', it works.
Clyde Cristman, taking a breather from pork transporting, said that civic leagues have become more important in the past few years.
``The influence that associations can have on city government is great,'' he said. ``If we go to a City Council meeting and have a representative speak for us they listen. The city has been very responsive.''
Historically social in nature, civic leagues also have become hotbeds of grassroots activism.
Nothing brings residents together like adversity. Just ask Fred Greene, president of the 27-year-old Sandbridge Beach Civic League, which also staged its annual Pig Pickin' on Saturday as a fund-raiser for the fire and rescue squad.
After an eight-year struggle, Sandbridge is finally getting sewers. Homeowners are still working on the other ``S's'' - sand replenishment and safe roads. Of the 1,400 households in Sandbridge, about 900 belong to the civic league.
In an unusual move, homeowners recently voted to tax themselves 6 cents more per $100 of real estate value to pay for sand replenishment.
``We are certainly politically active to get the three S's,'' said Greene, who has lived in Sandbridge for two years but owned a house for 12 years. ``We provide the city annually in excess of $1.5 million in taxes, but provide millions from the tourism business.
``Sandbridge in the past always felt that it was separate from the city,'' he added. ``We all need to recognize that Sandbridge is a part of Virginia Beach.''
Homeowners in Shadowlawn, an older, established neighborhood close to Rudee Inlet and the resort area, banded together when faced with a potential school district rezoning three years ago. In fact, the long-defunct civic league became reactivated during that time. Linda Hinnant, past president of the Shadowlawn Civic League, said they now have a good foundation for a strong civic league and a sense of community.
``This common cause showed us that we had other things in common,'' said Hinnant. ``Our primary goal is to protect the integrity of the neighborhood. We have to co-exist with businesses. I wouldn't use the word `political,' because we don't take sides, we only deal with the issues.''
In any neighborhood, friendly neighbors are more of a pleasant surprise than an expected right. Linda Hinnant and her husband, Kent, have lived in Shadowlawn for 22 years and always have found their neighbors to be friendly.
When the Hinnants took their only daughter to Yale University several weeks ago, Linda cried the whole way home, she said. As soon as they arrived, neighbors called or came over to offer support.
``They know how difficult it is when a child leaves home,'' said Hinnant. ``Neighbors can't take the place of family but there is a place for them.''
It helps to have an active civic league that holds regular events for members and homeowners. Immediate neighbors may hang out after work for drinks or talk over the clothesline, but it takes work to get to know others.
In Pembroke Meadows, numerous events such as a Halloween Walk, Christmas party, Spring Fling cleanup and cookout, potluck dinner, a partnership with the local elementary school and a sponsorship of a Boy Scout troop help to bring residents together.
``This is very friendly, safe neighborhood'' said association president Steve Hawthorne. ``People are out walking their dogs or exercising together, having dinner. It's our own little community within a community.''
Sandbridge is in a unique position because of its isolation and desirability as a vacation spot. That, and the three S's, have made the community ``very, very close-knit,'' said Fred Greene. The neighborhood also holds two cleanup days, a children's Christmas party, an Octoberfest and the Pig Pickin'.
``We know who's sick, who has died and try to keep track of that either verbally or in our newsletter,'' he said. ``We hang out at the Baja Restaurant or the Sandbridge Restaurant.
``This is like frontier living. We're close, no doubt about it.''
In Cape Story by the Sea off Shore Drive, residents celebrate the Fourth of July with a parade (this year was the 33rd annual event) and fireworks on the beach (18 years). About 3,000 people attend that parade, said association president Brian Sagedy. A children's picnic in the spring and an Oyster Roast in the fall are popular events. The neighborhood also benefits from a bike trail that empties into First Landing State Park. Of the 650 households, half are rentals.
``There's always people walking on the bike trail,'' Sagedy said. ``It's a pretty active place.''
Back at Salem Woods, the Pig Pickin' was in full swing. Sunburned kids and adults waited patiently for the melt-in-your-mouth pork in a line that snaked around the pool to the pool house. Steve Doll, Clyde Cristman and the others put the finishing touches on the bountiful feast before opening the doors to the hungry horde.
``This is a good deal - for $20 you can feed your whole family,'' said Cristman, surveying the scene. ``Salem Woods has always been a friendly neighborhood but actually, there are people here I haven't seen since last year's event.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos, including color cover, by STEVE EARLEY
Pool parties, pig pickin's and parades are all part of the
activities used by civic leagues to get folks acquainted
Steve Allen gives his son, Oliver, a rocket boost during the pool
party/pig pickin' in Salem Woods.
Steve Doll, right, vice president of the Salem Woods civic league,
mans the massive grill as Everette Herndon waits to carry off a tray
of roast pork. Doll helped start the pig pickin' in 1988.
As the smell of roasted pork wafted over the party, energetic
children splashed in the L-shaped pool in Salem Woods.
ABOVE: Enjoying their annual neighborhood get-together are Mike
Booth, left, John Richardson, Mark Canfield and Mark Camsky.
LEFT: John Carasella, left, and Bernie Belan dig into the buffet
line. by CNB