BY JANE BLOODWORTH ROWE VIRGINIA BEACH — I walked northward from False Cape State Park toward Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge when I spotted the dead whale, visible from at least a mile away despite the intermittent rain and low lying clouds.… Continue Reading
BY VENI FIELDS NORFOLK — For days before her life changed forever, Janet Peery told her physician husband that it was just an upset stomach. Soon doubled over in a wheelchair outside the x-ray department of a Wichita hospital on the… Continue Reading
BY JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE PORTSMOUTH — The admiral, in civilian attire, entered a room within St. Andrew Lutheran Church on Wednesday, Feb. 20. He walked toward a circle of blue folding chairs. Members of the Hampton Roads Survivors of Suicide Support Group,… Continue Reading
THE INDEPENDENT NEWS VIRGINIA BEACH – State Sen. Frank Wagner, a Republican from Virginia Beach, announced on Thursday, March 7, that he will not seek reelection to the 7th District seat he has represented since 2001. Including time in the… Continue Reading
BY JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE KNOTTS ISLAND, N.C. – A Dollar General store is coming to Knotts Island, the small Currituck County community that, aside from ferry service, is isolated from the North Carolina mainland but connected to rural areas of Virginia… Continue Reading
THE INDEPENDENT NEWS VIRGINIA BEACH — Coastal Cattle, a family Hereford farm, celebrated its new Beef Shack retail shop at 2337 Vaughan Road with a grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 9. “It’s our version of a produce stand,” farmer Billy Vaughan said… Continue Reading
BY JANE BLOODWORTH ROWE BACK BAY — Laurie Roland adores scented candles, and now she’s found a way to channel that into a part-time business. Roland, owner of Pungo Candle Company, fell in love with Yankee Candles several years ago when… Continue Reading
THE INDEPENDENT NEWS CREEDS – The brothers behind Blue Pete’s Restaurant plan to open a new restaurant at the former location of Creeds Café. Nick Cleanthes said he and his brother, Aristotle Cleanthes, are looking at breakfast, lunch and maybe… Continue Reading
BY JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE COURTHOUSE — Raj Islam resigned as chairperson of the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission on Friday, March 1, though he said he will continue to serve as a member. The criminal charges that led to his resignation as chairperson… Continue Reading
THE INDEPENDENT NEWS PUNGO — The community came out as a “Hudson Strong” force of love on Sunday, Feb. 10, at Blue Pete’s Restaurant to raise money for a foundation carrying forward the memory of Hudson R. Foschi, the 4-year-old… Continue Reading