Volume 4: Issue 3 - Hope House Foundation

THE BUZZ
Newsletter Date:
October 31, 2012
Joke of the
Quarter:
By: Lori Shapiro
Issue # 3 Volume 4
Reaching Out: By Mr. James Burney
If olive oil is made
from olives then
what is baby oil
made from?
Inside this Issue
Reaching Out
1
Fins, Feathers and Paws
2
My Trip to NASA
My Experience in SAFE Class 3
Special Olympics Bowling
4
My Experience at St. Andrew’s
Church
Worker Bees
5
A Review of Mom and Pop’s
Rock News
6
This is What I Think
7
Hart to Heart
Touring the White House
8
Cast Your Vote on Nov 6th
9
From Ivy Kennedy: Self
Advocate
The Journey of My Marriage 10
Places to Eat
11
Healthy Recipe of the Quarter
Events
The Buzz Cook-off Results
12
When I
spoke at
the Arc
Convention in
Virginia
Beach this
past August, my main concern was that
the listening audience would get a clear
understanding in their heart and mind of
what I was saying to them. At the same
time, I was trying to paint a picture of
the daily struggles that a person with
disabilities goes through in life.
The Friday of the Arc Convention, I
spoke about self-advocacy and peer advocacy. I talked to the audience about
how I moved from being a selfadvocate, one who just thinks about me
and my own needs, to becoming a peeradvocate, one who fights for the rights
of others. My main message was that
everyone can get the things they need in
life and they can live independently by
advocating for themselves and speaking
out. It is also important to advocate for
others because some people need help
making ends meet. If I only advocated
for myself it would be selfish. I want to
encourage more people to advocate for
themselves and others.
situation. I feel good knowing that the other
person trusted me and accepted me as a
peer advocate to help them with their personal problems. Advocating for others
gives me something productive to do in my
life. Since I have become a peer advocate, I
have joined the Our Voices committee and
the Voices of Virginia Advocacy group. I
have participated in advocacy functions, I
have met with the attorneys from the U.S.
Department of Justice to fight for the rights
of people in institutions and I have spoken
in Richmond to change disability laws in
Virginia. Reaching out is not just about you
but about others and their needs too.
Self-advocacy and peer-advocacy go hand
in hand. I first learned to advocate for myself and others from my family as a young
child. Reaching out and helping people has
always been a part of my life. I really enjoy
helping people because it gives me a great
sense of accomplishment. I want everyone
who is a part of Hope House Foundation to
know that I am always here if you need
someone to talk to or need help with an advocacy issue. I will not judge you or criticize you. I am only here to help or simply
lend an ear if you just need someone who
understands to vent to.
Don’t be afraid to contact me at [email protected] if you would like to
When I advocate for another person, I
talk or if you want to get involved in self
feel a sense of self-worth because I have and peer advocacy.
helped that person through a difficult
THE BUZZ
Page 2
Fins, Feathers and Paws: By Jeremy Norman
This is Jeremy with a new article on my pet rat, Whiskers. It all started when I
was going to get some mice for my ball pythons, Jake and Syler. I noticed that
Syler was bigger than Jake so I bought a small rat for Syler. When I brought the
mice and rat home to feed the snakes, I put two mice in the tank for Jake. Then I
put the rat in for Syler. I looked at the rat and I started remembering all of the fun
times that I had with my pet rat Snowball and that’s when I thought to myself, “I
cannot do this.” Syler was getting ready to strike when I put my hand in the tank
to get the rat out. The rat ran up my arm and Syler almost bit me. I pulled my hand out just in
time and saved the rat. I decided to give Syler two mice, since I wasn’t going to let him eat the
rat.
I held the rat and looked at it. It looked so innocent and sweet that I realized that I could never
feed a rat to a snake, ever. Mice are a different story because all of the mice that I have ever held
bit me. I never had a rat bite me. When the rat was in the tank I was thinking that it was not right
because I felt like I was feeding my pet to a snake. I’m glad that I decided to just feed my snakes
mice. So I took the rat to my coordinator and I did not know what to do with it. She told me it
can be my buddy and that I should name it Stripe because she has a black stripe down her back.
As I held the rat I got closer and closer to it. Its whiskers tickled me. So I thought that this rat’s
name would be Whiskers. All of the staff fall in love more and more with Whiskers everyday,
just like I do.
Rats are very low maintenance pets. For a pet rat you just need food, bedding, chew sticks, a water bottle, a wheel and a house for them to hide. You can keep your rat in a twenty gallon tank. I
already had all of these things at home from other pets I had in the past. I am going to make sure
that Whiskers and my little family of animals have a good life together. So for all of you all that
love animals, I hope your first pet is a rat so it does not become part of the food chain. I hope you
all have enjoyed this article. This is Jeremy saying over and out.
My Trip to NASA: By Paul Martin
Last weekend I went to NASA in Hampton, for the 95th Anniversary Open House. When we got
to the gate we were greeted by a guard, who gave us directions
where to go. The first thing I saw was the big hangar building
where they keep the research planes. It was a huge building.
While I was there a lady put a NASA tattoo on my arm. Now I
have my wings! I also saw a space module and where it was
built. The NASA people gave me a poster of an astronaut, a book,
a picture of the Mars Rover and stickers. I also saw the NASA
fire truck and firehouse. I hope I get to go again next time.
THE BUZZ
Page : 3
My Experience in SAFE Class: By Keisha Turner
Hi, I’m Keisha, I live at the Bison Team of Hope House Foundation and I want to tell you my story about Sexuality, Abuse,
and Friendship Education class (SAFE). I was in SAFE for
three years. I learned about safe sex and how women’s body
parts are different from men’s body parts. This is new information that I did not know before I started taking the class. I
also learned the difference between the various types of diseases
that you can get from having sex. We learned how to be safe,
how to have sex the right way, how to be protective and how to
put on and use condoms. The best way that you can be safe if
you are having sex is to use condoms properly. You should also use birth control to protect yourself from pregnancy, but that does not protect you from STDs. You can prevent having intercourse and relieve these stresses by telling the person, “I’m not ready to do this yet” or to refuse to
do it.
I also learned that when a couple goes out on a date and one person takes the other person to a restaurant or the movies, you aren’t allowed to act inappropriately in a public place. Certain things
should be done only in your home or in a hotel. Sex and kissing are only appropriate in a private
place. These thing shouldn’t happen in your family’s home either or on a bus or anywhere else
that can be considered public. There are some things that are okay to do in public. It is okay to
hold hands with your date or to give him or her a hug.
In SAFE class we also learned how to treat others with respect. You can show respect to your
partner by saying “I’m not ready yet or at all” or by saying “give me some time to think about it.”
When you say these things the other person can show respect in return by saying, “if you’re not
ready yet I understand and I won’t push you to the limit.” Each person should try to communicate
to the other how he or she feels. I also learned that on all dates you should be respectful and treat
others as you want them to treat you.
SAFE Tip of the Quarter: I would recommend for other people to go to SAFE class so
that they can learn about different things the correct way. I
know that I learned a
Your whole body is private until
you give permission for someone lot when I was in
class that I can use at
else to see or touch you! Most
people think its ok to touch places home. Thanks for
taking the time to
like hands, on the shoulders or
read my article!
give a pat on the back but if it
makes you or someone else uncomfortable there is nothing wrong
with saying no.
THE BUZZ
Page :4
All About Special Olympics Bowling: By Tim Howard
Hi, my is Tim Howard and I like to bowl with the Special Olympics on
Friday nights from 7pm to 9pm at AMF Little Creek Bowling Alley as a
part of their bowling league. I bowl really, really, really well and sometimes I bowl strikes and spares. I love bowling and I really look forward to the Friday nights that I get to spend with my friends at the Special Olympics. Sometimes when I have extra money I like to buy a
snack and a drink while I’m at the bowling alley. I also like to participate in the Special Olympics state games and tournaments where we compete against other teams
and win. I just love to bowl!
I also want to tell you about what I like to do for Halloween. On Halloween I like to go home and
pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters, or beggars as I like to call them. I also like to make up
goodie bags for them and tell them “Happy Halloween!” I like to dress up for Halloween. Sometimes I dress in a scary costume and sometimes I dress in a friendly costume. I always look forward to buying my costume at Party City or another Halloween store. I like to host and attend
Halloween parties where I can wear my costume. This year I am hosting a Halloween party at my
day support program. I can’t wait to attend and spend Halloween with my friends.
My Experience at St. Andrew’s Church: By Kevin Latham
Hello! I would like to take the time to talk about my experience at St. Andrew’s Church. I have been attending this
church for a couple of years now. I’m involved in many aspects of the church such as Bible study on Wednesday nights
and church service on Sunday mornings. I have volunteered to
help out a child by donating $20 in order for a child in need to
participate in their summer program for Vacation Bible
School. I have made other donations such as canned foods
and donating a pack of socks for Father’s Day to be given to
fathers in homeless shelters. It makes me feel good to help
the church in any way I can. I also get to spend some family
time with my grandma as well as other church members that I have bonded with over the past couple of years. I enjoy the choir and the band at the church who lead us into worship every Sunday
morning. I take pride in helping out the ministers with passing out the church programs every Sunday morning, as members enter the church. I have also been involved in raising money for the
church by selling pumpkins; this is something I plan on doing again this year. I love being involved in the church and helping others.
THE BUZZ
Page 5
Worker Bees: An Interview with Tom Brown
Tom Brown began employment at Portco in March 2009. This interview describes his experiences as work.
How many hours a week do you work? 16 hours a week: four hours a day Monday-Thursday.
What are your job tasks? Some days I pack lures into bags and other days I do laundry.
What is your favorite part of your job? When it’s my turn to do laundry.
What is your least favorite part of your job? Sorting out the lures when they get mixed up by other people.
How do you stay motivated to go to work every day? Knowing that I will get my paycheck and
have money to pay my bills, to get extra cable channels and have some spending money.
If you could have any job in the world what would it be? I’d be a stock person at Food Lion. The
pay would be pretty good, plus I’d like the hours and benefits.
What do you believe your case manager’s role should be in helping you find a job? She should
help me find a job coach and a better job that I like.
What advice to you have for people looking for work? Call your case manager and ask them to
help you find a job and ask them to help you get a job coach.
A Review of Mom and Pop’s Restaurant: By Nick Wright
Hey guys I wanted to let you know about a restaurant that I tried out that is VERY wheelchair
friendly! It’s called Mom and Pop’s Restaurant and it’s located at 331 E Bayview Boulevard between Granby Street and Tidewater Drive. Not only is it wheel chair friendly, but the staff there
are great! They were over at my table talking to me a lot and making sure I had everything I needed. I had minestrone soup, hamburger steak with mushrooms and gravy, mashed potatoes and
mixed vegetables. For dessert I had coconut crème pie, it was the BEST! All of their food is
homemade. They have American and Greek food as well as seafood. I’m sure anybody would be
able to find something on the menu that they like.
Since my first trip there I have been back a few more times with my brother Adam. My friend Ms.
B has tried it out as well and loves it. Each time she goes out to eat that is where she wants to go
because it is easy for her to maneuver around with her wheel chair and not bump into things. So
give it a try I promise you won’t be disappointed!!!
If you have any comments, opinions, or just want to contribute contact the
Hope House Foundation Administrative Offices at 625-6161.
THE BUZZ
Page 6
Rock News: By Justin Brown
Hi, my name is Justin Brown. This weekend, I had the chance to interview my favorite local band, Borderline Crazy. They are a classic
rock cover band from Virginia Beach. They are very talented and play
everything from Three Dog Night to Salt n Peppa. All of the members
have great stage presence and put on a good rock show.
Michelle is outstanding on lead vocals and is entertaining, too. Ernie
is an awesome drummer and keyboard player. He also performs lead
and backup vocals. Carson is terrific on lead guitar and occasionally vocals, also. Cole rocks the
bass guitar and back up vocals.
They have a wide range of musical influences. For the percussion side of the house, Phil Collins,
Liberty Devito and of course, The Beatles. Ernie, who once performed at Carnegie Hall, also was
influenced by 80's Electronica. (Think Herbie Hancock.) Michelle’s vocal influences are unsurprisingly female. She lists Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston at the top. She also of course is
influenced by The Beatles. Cole, the bass player has been influenced very much by The Beatles
and John Paul Jones of Led Zepplin. Carson on lead guitar gives credit to his brother for being
very influential early on in his childhood. In later years, he was influenced by Radiohead and
Buena Vista Social Club.
I asked the members of Borderline Crazy what bands put on the best show. They listed Papa
Roach, Little River Band, Tom Petty, ZZ Top and the Deftones. With such a wide variety of musical influences I thought it would be difficult for them to list their favorite genre of music, but it
was not. They all said classic rock. Listing a favorite band was also an easy task. Cole-Beatles
and Black Sabbath. Michelle-No Doubt. Ernie-Genesis. Carson-Incubus.
I have been to local establishments to see Borderline Crazy for five years. They are personable,
talented and so much fun to go see. I really think they are ready for bigger things and will continue to support them. I highly recommend you go out and catch one of their shows. I can promise
you will not be disappointed.
The Hope House Advocacy Committee is wishing
you a wonderful upcoming
Holiday season and we
want you to remind your
Direct Support Staff that
you have the right to religion and visitors.
Take time this holiday season to send
cards, attend events and church, have a
holiday party or cookie swap.
Diabetes Tip of the Quarter:
Spread out your meals:
Eating 6 times a day (3 smaller meals and 3
snacks) instead of 3 big meals will help your
body use calories efficiently and manage
blood sugar better.
By doing this you’ll have the energy you
need. This will also prevent spikes in blood
glucose and prevent weight gain.
If you have any comments, opinions, or just want to contribute contact the
Hope House Foundation Administrative Offices at 625-6161.
Page : 7
THE BUZZ
This is What I Think…
A Critique Column: By Blake Thomas
Hi my name is Blake Thomas and I like to play video games. The types of
video games I like to play the most are wrestling games. The game I will
talk about this time is called W12. I play this wrestling game a lot. I got it as
a gift for Christmas last year from my mom. She bought it for my Xbox 360.
I was excited when I opened my gift because it was the game that I wanted
the most!
I give this game two thumbs up. This game is fun to play. The characters
look like real people when they wrestle. It has my favorite wrestler, the Undertaker. I like the Undertaker because he looks very scary and when he comes out, he has creepy music that reminds
me of a funeral. I also like when he takes his hat off and his eyes roll to the back of his head and
you can only see the white parts of his eyes. I also like when the undertaker wrestles Triple H.
Triple H is very mean. It is cool when Triple H comes out and gets in the wrestling ring and he
sprays water out of his mouth on to the ring. He is also very strong with big muscles. The best
part is when I play as the Undertaker and Triple H is my opponent. The Undertaker kicks Triple
H’s butt. When the Undertaker does his famous move, the body slam and the tombstone, that
means he is about to win the match.
Some people may not like playing this game because there is a little bit of blood in it and some of
the music is somewhat scary.
There are other wrestlers in the game like Christian and John Cena, but you have to go out and get
the game yourself to play to find out what other wrestlers are in the game. Maybe your favorite
wrestler is in it!
Hart to Heart– Trust: By Dr. Hart
If you want to be in a relationship with a person, there should be levels of trust. There should be
no cheating. There should not be anyone else in the relationship with those people because it
makes things worse. If a person only wants to be with one other person, that’s the way it should
be. And if a person wants to be with someone else, they should tell the person they are in a relationship with first instead of trying to hide it.
THE BUZZ
Page 8
Touring the White House: Contributions from
Michael Brown, John Suszynski and Donald Tinglan
Six individuals supported by the Harrington Team of
Hope House Foundation and three staff members
went to Washington D.C. to tour the White House recently. It took more than five months of waiting, but
two weeks before the tour date, the approval was given. The office of Senator Jim Webb sent the tour reservation tickets and we were on our way.
We took a scenic drive up Route 17. We saw farm
animals, beautiful trees, flowers and small towns. We spent the night at La Quinta in Waldorf,
Maryland which was 30 minutes away from D.C. We had to wake up very early in order to get
ready and arrive at our tour on time. On the way, traffic was very bad and we ended up being
late, but the park ranger said that we could still take the tour, thankfully. We had to go through a
lot of security checkpoints and show our IDs. While going through the checkpoints Donald
Tinglan enjoyed waving at all of the uniformed agents in front of the White House. We all enjoyed getting to see the President’s dog on the grounds.
Inside the White House, we saw the many colored rooms and all of the photographs on the wall.
When reflecting on the photographs on the walls, John Suszynski stated, “I liked seeing President Obama’s pictures.” There were very informative people in each of the rooms giving interesting facts about the room. It was great to see all of the antique furniture, photographs, paintings and other artifacts of our nation’s history. Michael Brown particularly enjoyed all of the
sites, stating, “It was nice, I really liked the pictures.” We weren’t allowed to take photos of anything, but just being there was worth it. It is not something that you get to do so easily anymore.
After the tour, we walked to the front of the White House and took pictures outside the gate. We
also visited the White House Visitors Center where they showed a video, sold souvenirs and allowed people to take pictures of paintings and other artifacts.
Then it was time to drive back home. We stopped for lunch at Conflict Resolution Tip
McDonald’s on
of the Quarter:
the way back.
When we arrived
back at home we
were tired, but we
were happy. It was
a great trip with
lasting memories.
Commit to working it out. Take
charge of the process by committing to a resolution. With the
other individuals involved,
brainstorm resolutions to the
conflict that allow everyone to
win.
If you have any comments, opinions, or just want to contribute contact the
Hope House Foundation Administrative Offices at 625-6161.
Page : 9
THE BUZZ
Cast Your Vote on November 6th: By Kevin Benton
I would like to talk a little about the presidential election and voting. On November
6th this year, American people get the opportunity to vote for the President of the United States. We get to vote for either President Obama, Democratic, for his second term,
or for Mitt Romney, Republican, who is running against Barack Obama. There are
other smaller parties such as the Green, Constitution and Libertarian parties, but the
Democratic and Republican parties are the most popular.
Every person who is a registered voter is authorized to choose the next president. To
be eligible to vote you must be a VA resident, be a US Citizen, be at least18 years old,
not be registered to vote in another state and be mentally competent. You must bring
your identification in the form of a voter card or a formal ID. There are many folks at
the polling locations to help voters through the process. You can also have staff help you if necessary.
The election this year is also including a question on the ballot. This year’s question talks about the legislative sessions. At the end of each session, the General Assembly is required to meet again in a “veto”
session. The only bills that the Assembly can consider are bills that have passed during the session or bills
that the Governor has sent back with his vetoes or amendments. The Constitution NOW requires that the
veto session must begin on the 6th Wednesday following the end of each session. The PROPOSED
change will allow the Assembly to delay the start of the veto session for up to one week. I agree with the
PROPOSED change because they may need a break for their physical or mental health so that their minds
can be clear while making so many important decisions for us. I am going to vote for Obama on November 6th to give my input and vote for a candidate that has my best interest at heart. Exercise your right to
vote for either candidate and see you at the polls next month!
From Ivy Kennedy: Self Advocate at ivykennedy.com
October is Disability History and Awareness Month in Virginia. People's attitude towards disability is biggest barrier facing people with disabilities. I hope we can all agree that kids are more open minded than
adults. Kids minds can be molded to have different perceptions and different attitudes. Adults can change
their perception too, it's not impossible. Which is why I'm asking you to recognize October as disability
history and awareness month. Awareness is important but I feel that you can't necessarily teach someone
how to feel towards one another. Though by teaching about the history of a group it will lead to respect,
compassion, understanding and breaking stereotypes about people with disabilities.
This new knowledge that currently few know little about, would lead to including everybody in the community. No more leaving one out or shunning them or not employing them due to the fear of the unknown.
Speaking of employment, October is NATIONAL Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Virginia has designated the month of October as disability history and awareness month. Learning about
disability rights movement in schools as part of our country's history curriculum and about the positive
impact people with disabilities have had on technology and society, IS necessary. Just think about it, nearly every group that has fought for their civil rights are mentioned in school textbooks. Why aren't people
with disabilities? A flyer I created to be printed out or share this link on the internet:
http://www.ivykennedy.com/flyerpdf.pdf
Page 10
THE BUZZ
The Journey of My Marriage: By Vera Riddick
Hi! My name is Vera and I’d like to talk to you about my
marriage to Tone, my husband. I met Tone at Hope House.
I moved in a few years before him after I left an institution
in Petersburg. When I met him, he was dating a friend of
mine, but when they broke up we connected and began dating. Tone and I dated for a while and I decided that I wanted to get married so I brought the idea up to him. We
agreed that it was something that we both wanted to do so we got married in 1991 at
the Little Creek House, where we lived at the time.
Our decision to get married didn’t come without obstacles. Many people thought that we shouldn’t get
married because of our disabilities, but I was confident in my decision. When I told my dad and my sister
Rita that I wanted to get married they encouraged me just to date instead of getting officially married.
They were worried about me losing my benefits, but I told them that I didn’t want to just date, I wanted to
be married. My family knew that I had made up my mind so they told Tone to treat me right and not to
hurt me. When I got married, I did lose some of my benefits, but that was a choice that I was happy to
make. It did mean that we had to get jobs to make up for the lost income, so we both worked hard to
make sure we had enough income to support ourselves.
On our special day, there were a lot of people there to support us. Among those people were my family
and friends, including my good friend Rosa, who was my bridesmaid and also sang at our wedding. My
dad walked me down the aisle. At that point I was so nervous that I started shaking because everyone was
there watching me. My nervousness subsided and we continued on with the wedding. Although we
planned to get married outside, it rained, so we moved the wedding inside and still had a wonderful time.
There were many beautiful things I loved about the wedding, especially the dress that I picked out and my
bouquet of flowers. The cake at the reception was so good that I accidentally bit Tone’s finger while we
were feeding it to each other. It’s a memory I can still laugh about today.
After our wedding, we went on a honeymoon where we stayed at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. When
we returned home, Tone and I moved into an apartment. At that point I began to realize that being married can be easy sometimes but it can be hard sometimes too. I’m glad I got married though because I
love Tone. Rita says that Tone is like my butter, he melts me. Eventually, with the
help of others, Tone and I were able to move out of our apartment and purchase a
house together. We transformed the house into our home and
we enjoy taking care of it together. We planted flowers in the
yard and eventually added a deck to the house. It is a beautiful place where we can enjoy spending time together. My favorite thing about being married is the companionship and
knowing that I always have a friend who is there for me. We
are able to spend our evenings on our porch, watching others
go by, just as I always imagined.
If you have any comments, opinions, or just want to contribute contact the
Hope House Foundation Administrative Offices at 625-6161.
Page 11
THE BUZZ
Places To Eat: Del Vecchios: By Kristina Sherman
I like Del Vecchios. I like the fact that they have two sides, one
side where college kids can run in between classes and grab a slice
of pizza or you can pick up a pizza for take out and another side
where people can go in, sit down and have a nice meal. I went
with my friend to check out the restaurant side because I’d never been on that side before.
The food was good and I thought that the ingredients tasted fresher than when I order take
out. I ordered a slice of veggie pizza with peppers and onions. It was really good and the
veggies were really fresh. I also ordered a slice of extra cheese, but I was too full to eat it. It looks good so
I’m saving it for dinner. Their slices are huge!
Considering it was pretty much college kids who work there and they had to take care of everyone in the restaurant, the service was not bad. It was actually pretty quick considering there were a lot of college kids in
there to eat. There were some other people in there too. It was very welcoming and the staff were nice. I
thought it was nice that the place hires college kids; since a lot of them need money, it has to be nice to know
that there is a place where you can get a job.
The restaurant is very accessible on both sides. There were no hills or steps to get into the front side. On the
back side where you can get take out, there was a ramp inside as well as one outside at the curb on the end. I
liked that it was accessible and a student even held the door for me when I was leaving!
If you want to check it out yourself their address is 1080 W. 47th St, Norfolk, VA 23508. They are open from
11am-12am Sunday-Thursday and 11am-3am Friday and Saturdays. I highly recommend stopping by for a
slice.
Healthy Recipe of the Quarter: Three Pepper Pizza
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Preheat oven to 450°.
1/3 cup tomato paste
Combine seasoning, tomato paste, and water in a small
bowl; stir well. Spread over pizza crust.
1/4 cup water
1 (12-inch) whole wheat pizza crust
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups diced green, red, and yellow bell pepper
1/2 onion, chopped
Top evenly with cheese.
Sprinkle bell pepper and onion evenly over cheese.
Bake at 450° for 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese melts.
Cut into 6 wedges, serve and enjoy!
Nutritional information: 236 calories per slice
Page 12
THE BUZZ
Events
Men on a Mission:
the Real Men of Jake’s Place
—an event to benefit Hope House Foundation—
The holiday season is upon us once again and, in addition to gift shopping, delicious meals, and spending time
with friends and family, it also means that it’s time for Hope House Foundation and Jake’s Place to team up
once again for their 7th annual holiday event! Join us on Sunday, December 2, 2012, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM for
Men on a Mission: the Real Men of Jake’s Place. This event, which is free and open to the public, is part of
Ghent’s Holiday Open House Weekend and will take place at Belmont House of Smoke (located at 2117 Colonial Ave. in Norfolk).
Come check out some hot packages as we show you the real men of Jake’s Place—men on a mission! This
one-of-a-kind event combines a hair and fashion show with an auction to benefit a fabulous local charity:
Hope House Foundation. We’ll have Hampton Roads’ hunkiest on display with a little something for everyone, whether you have a thing for a man in uniform or you prefer the geek-chic fellas.
Hairstyling will be done by the Jake’s Place team with clothes to be provided by The Quality Shops and the
Hope House Foundation Thrift Shop. Auction packages will consist of various must-have gifts from area businesses.
The Buzz Cook-off Results
The Buzz hosted the Hawaiian Luau themed cook-off
on August 21, 2012. This was the second time that the
Buzz hosted the cook-off. There was music, dancing,
and great food. Some of the dishes brought to the cookoff were barbequed chicken wings, pizza, mac and
cheese, pineapple upside down cake, lime sherbet
punch, and tuna salad. There was plenty of food for everyone and even some to take home.
The winners of the best dishes were chosen by their peers. The best side dish was won by David Jackson for his mac and cheese. The best dinner was won by Thelma Keel for her pizza. The best dessert
was won by Donald Tinglan for his pineapple upside down cake. Yum!
The Cook-off was a success! Everyone that
came had an awesome time. If you have
any suggestions or ideas for a Buzz event
please send your comments to [email protected].
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being a part of our regularly contributing staff writers please contact Erin Freeman at 625-6161 ext 519
or [email protected]. We look forward to reading new and exciting articles.