BACK BAY — Here are some images from the past year that appeared on the pages of The Independent News.
Thank you to contributors David B. Hollingsworth, Michael Schmitt and Sandi Snider for terrific work, some of which appears here.
We are grateful for your support of our paper. We return in print on Sunday, Jan. 2.
End of an Era
Longtime Virginia Beach School Board Member Dan Edwards retired following his defeat in the Kempsville District race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Edwards served on the School Board for 22 years, and much of that time was spent as the board chairperson. [David B. Hollingsworth/For The Princess Anne Independent News]
Fishing in the Cold
Art Mitchell, a retired city employee, fishes with friends on a cold morning on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, at Rudee Loop in Virginia Beach, Va. [John-Henry Doucette]
Organic Oasis
Cashier Ocean Brown assists Yardan Shabazz of Brigadoon, a regular customer of The Organic Food Depot, at the business' location on Commuter Drive in Virginia Beach on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. The Organic Food Depot started as a buying club and now has a dedicated online business and retail locations in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Wrong Way
A car that had run off Princess Anne Road overnight is seen in the morning at Vaughan Farm's Produce's strawberry field on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021. [Vaughan Farm's Produce/Courtesy]
Big Legislation for VB
A bill introduced by state Del. Kelly Fowler, D-21st House District, and ultimately adopted by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Ralph Northam will lead to lasting change in local elections in Virginia Beach. [Courtesy]
Creeds Ruritan Community Fundraiser
Young volunteers Lake Vaughan, 17, and Xander Jakimjuk, 5, deliver orders of barbecue to customers waiting in drive-through lines during the Creeds Ruritan Club's 2021 Bar-B-Que on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at the Creeds Ruritan Community Complex in Back Bay. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Oceanfront Violence
Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate briefs the City Council on Tuesday, March 30, following the Friday, March 26, shooting incidents at the Oceanfront that led to two deaths, including one in an officer-involved shooting, and multiple injuries. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
BBQ Back in Pungo
The owners of Pungo Boys BBQ, new to Pungo Square Shopping Center in "downtown" Pungo in 2021, are Jeff Dudley, Doug Humphrey, Bill Dixon and Allan Brock. [David B. Hollingsworth/For The Princess Anne Independent News]
Berry Nice
Braxton Mahoney, 3, of Chimney Hill shows off a freshly picked strawberry at Cullipher Berry Patch in rural Virginia Beach. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Oceanfront Art
Chris Fuentes paints one of several neighborhood identifier murals in the Vibe Creative District at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on Saturday, April 17, 2021. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Oceanfront Art
Norfolk artist Yvonne Frederick paints her design on one of several neighborhood identifier murals in the Vibe Creative District at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on Saturday, April 17, 2021. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Celebrate
Mary Fontana applauds during a performance by the recording artist and country performer Roger Adams at Sullivan House, a senior independent living community near Strawbridge, on Friday, April 23, 2021. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Green Run Garden
Two-and-a-half-year-old Emilia Riordan is ready to start planting at the new community garden in Green Run on Saturday, May 15, 2021. [David B. Hollingsworth/For The Princess Anne Independent News]
The Rodeo Returns to Pearl's
MacKenzie Davis, 8, comes face to face with a grinnel, also known as a bowfin, during the weigh-in at Pearl's during the 2021 rodeo on Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Knotts Island, N.C.. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Save Local News
Five-year-old Caden White saw a rally jin support of local journalism on Saturday, May 15, 2021, at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach and walked over to see it with his father, John White, a local teacher. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Slow Down In Sandbridge
Sandbridge residents, particularly along the oft-traveled Sandpiper Road, want people passing through to slow down. Dozens of residents have posted signs urging people to drive like their own kids live there. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Taking Flight
A group of terns — and a nearby gull — take flight at False Cape State Park in Virginia Beach, Va., on Saturday, June 12. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Cleanup at False Cape
Valerie Vanchieri of Sandbridge and Michelle Cobb of Virginia Beach walk along the ocean at False Cape State Park while keeping an eye out for litter during a beach cleanup on Saturday, June 12, 2021. Cleanups of the remote beach are held monthly. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Wind Power
One of the two test turbines for the Dominion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project are seen 27 miles off the Virginia Beach coast on Wednesday, June 16. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Primary Day
Democrats Kim Melnyk and Tracie Liguid touch elbows in a greeting on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, while campaigning on Primary Day at the polling location at Green Run Elementary School in Virginia Beach. Both sought the party nomination in the 84th House District. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Livestock Show & Sale
Wyatt Schratwieser, 17, of Gibbs Woods, N.C., listens to Dr. Scott Greiner of Virginia Tech, who judged the livestock show portion of the 2021 Virginia Beach 4-H Livestock Club Show and Sale. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Livestock Show & Sale
Kolby Snow, 17, of Blackwater, shows her steer, Hank, during the 2021 Virginia Beach Livestock Club Show & Sale at the Creeds Ruritan Community Complex in Virginia Beach, Va., on Friday, June 4. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Peach Festival
Shawnice Denton and 2-year-old Rylan Denton ride the Super Jet during the Knotts Island Peach Festival on Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Knotts Island, N.C. The family traveled all the way from Newport News to enjoy the festival. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Sweet Summer Crop
Farmer Robbie Vaughan of Vaughan Farm's Produce shows off one of the you-pick berries at the family farm in southern Virginia Beach. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
By Hand
Pat Creekmore Lewis, a retired teacher, shells beans by hand at Creekmore's Place at the Virginia Beach Farmers Market. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Abbott Leaves Office
Jessica Abbott, who represented the Kempsville District on the Virginia Beach City Council, resigned from the council due to a health matter. [John-Henry Doucette/The Independent News]
First Precinct New Commanding Officer
Police Capt. Marcie Fox, who has served the Virginia Beach Police Department for 27 years, was named commanding officer of the First Precinct this summer. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Kempsville's New Rep
Former state Del. Rocky Holcomb, , who previously represented the 85th House District and who serves as chief deputy of the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office, was appointed to the vacant Kempsville District seat on the Virginia Beach City Council in August. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
New 4-H Agent
Jonette Mungo, Virginia Beach's 4-H extension agent for youth leadership and development, works with young people during a city parks and recreation summer program at Diamond Springs Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. [David B. Hollingsworth/For The Princess Anne Independent News]
Wood Resigns
Virginia Beach Vice Mayor Jim Wood announced on Tuesday, Aug. 24, that he would resign from the council to take a position in the private sector. His last day in office was Wednesday, Sept. 1. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Music At The VB Farmers Market
Billy Feserman, a vocalist and guitarist in East Coast Band, performs on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, during a Friday Night Hoedown at the Virginia Beach Farmers Market. [Michael Schmitt/For The Princess Anne Independent News]
The New Vice Mayor
Rosemary Wilson, who holds an at-large seat on the Virginia Beach City Council, was selected the new vice mayor by a majority of her peers on the council in September 2021. [David B. Hollingsworth/For The Princess Anne Independent News]
In the Running
Virginia Beach City Councilmember Aaron Rouse speaks during a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, at City Hall. Rouse was among three members of the council who sought the position of vice mayor following the resignation of former Vice Mayor Jim Wood. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Flooding in Southern Virginia Beach
Flooding in southern Virginia Beach can be driven by winds blowing from the south that push water up into Back Bay. Above, high water is seen on Horn Point Road in the Pungo area on Thursday, Sept. 23. A project that would get funding if the bond referendum passes is a marsh restoration project in Back Bay that aims to slow the advance of water in the bay when wind-tide flooding events happen. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Flooding Referendum
Toni Utterback, Virginia Beach's stormwater engineering center administrator, speaks about projects in southern Virginia Beach that would be funded if the flood mitigation referendum passes. Utterback spoke during a Princess Anne District Forum on Thursday, Sept. 23, at the municipal center. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Making the Case
Virginia Beach City Councilmember John Moss, who holds an at-large seat, speaks to members of the public about projects that will be funded in a flood mitigation bond referendum. The meeting was held on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, at Kempsville Recreation Center. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Equine Therapy
Members of the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol and the nonprofit Equi-Kids practice an emergency dismount while preparing for a new a therapeutic riding program for city public safety personnel. The program begins in October 2021. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Pumpkin Picking
Emma Rae Vitocruz, 5, celebrated her birthday by searching for a pumpkin at Hunt Club Farm in October 2021. [Sandi Snider/For The Independent News]
Running for Mayor
Latasha Holloway speaks at the courthouse in Virginia Beach on Monday, Oct. 25, about her effort to recall Mayor Bobby Dyer. With her, at left, is her attorney, Amina Matheny-Willard. Holloway was the initial plaintiff in a federal voting rights suit that, along with changes to state law, is changing the local voting system in the city. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
A Familiar Face
Businessperson Richard Maddox, one of the finalists for appointment to the Lynnhaven District seat on the Virginia Beach City Council, speaks during a special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at City Hall. Maddox previously represented the Beach District on the council. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
The New Lynnhaven Rep
Linwood Branch, a businessperson and former member of the Virginia Beach City Council, was appointed in October to fill the Lynnhaven District vacancy caused by the resignation of former Vice Mayor Jim Wood. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
VB Referendum Passes
Virginia Beach voters overwhelmingly approved a flooding mitigation bond referendum at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Funding secured through the bonds will fund 21 key projects throughout the city. [David B. Hollingsworth/For The Princess Anne Independent News]
Sandbridge Beach Ride
Supporters of the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol participate in the Beach Ride fundraising event on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Sandbridge. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Sandbridge Beach Ride
Sue Ambrose, a horseback riding coach from Amelia, smiles while riding through windblown foam along Sandbridge Beach. Ambrose was among a number of friends who traveled to Virginia Beach to ride and support the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol during an annual Beach Ride fundraising event on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Sandbridge. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Sandbridge Beach Ride
Linda Tindell of Chesapeake hugs her spotted mountain horse, Topaz, following the the Beach Ride fundraising event supporting the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Sandbridge. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Recount
Workers conduct a recount in the 85th House of Delegates District, and the result did not change the result of the close race. Karen Greenhalgh, a Republican challenger, defeated state Del. Alex Askew, a Democrat in his first term. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
Pungo Tree Lighting
Connor Stewart performs with Voices of Expression during the 14th Annual Pungo Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 4, in Virginia Beach. [David B. Hollingsworth/For The Princess Anne Independent News]
Pungo Village Tree Lighting
The Rev. David Ryu, senior pastor at Charity United Methodist Church, joins in with youth choir from the church during the 14th annual Pungo Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 4, in Virginia Beach. [David B. Hollingsworth/For The Princess Anne Independent News]
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