WVEC Anchor Blog

Storm preparation with a twist

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:10:14 -0500

I've covered plenty of storms in my almost two decades here at WVEC. But preparing for Hanna has been a little different. See this time around I also have to prepare for my family. In storms past I know just to pack my bag and head to work because that's where I'll be riding out the storm. When I got married I packed my bag and my husband knew he could handle everything on his own. But now we have a child and preparing for a storm takes on a new twist. I still pack my bag but now I also have to make sure my boys are going to be taken care of during the storm while I'm away at work.
This time around my family is planning to ride out the storm at home. So I needed to make sure that there was enough food and water for them as well as batteries and other things they may need in case we lose electricity. It's funny we always tell people the importance of being prepared but as journalist that means being ready to cover the story. This time around I know exactly what it's like to get ready for a storm when you don't have to work. I also now know firsthand how important it is to do. So when you hear us doing stories about getting prepared for upcoming storms like Hanna do me a favor make sure you listen because it really is news you can use.

Crash Course in World Affairs

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:11:23 -0500

Some reporting today suggests Sarah Palin, the republican pick for VP, will head home in a few days to spend time with her son, who is heading off to Iraq, and to brush up on foreign and domestic policy issues before being thrown to the wolves--the national media.

If you were a member of the media, and had three questions you could ask Ms Pailn, what would they be?

Sure, a lot of reporting so far on the governor has missed the mark and, on some levels, has been unfair. But she is running for the second highest office in the United States and could someday be our president.

So, what is it you'd like to know? You be the reporter.

Take Hurricane Season Seriously

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:12:43 -0500

In what's become a busy hurricane season, Hanna is on our radar screen right now and our eyes also are on Ike--another big storm churning off the coast.

Right now our crews are gearing up to provide the best coverage possible to keep you and your family safe. We're planning where we need to be to gauge the power and path of the storm.

I can tell you getting it right and not overeacting are keys to planning and executing our coverage.

From the weather lab to our crews in the field, we take this very seriously.
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Make make sure now you have what you need to to keep you family safe--food, water, a plan to evacuate, some extra cash.

We'll have complete coverage during the critical hours of the storm.

Rock and Roll Half Too Hot to Handle

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:41:22 -0500

Last Sunday, some 16,000 runners lined up at the Virginia Beach Convention Center shortly before seven o'clock in the morning to run the 8th annual Rock and Roll Half Marathon.

The race is a premiere running event supported by great volunteers and residents of neighborhoods along the course who get up early and cheer on friends and strangers.

I've run almost every Rock and Roll Half in Virginia Beach, and each year I end up wondering with each bead of sweat if this is the wrong race--13.1 miles, at the wrong time of year--summer in the south.

Back in the pack where I run, where mere mortals grunt and groan, most people were just trying to survive by both walking and running.

I saw too many runners drop and heard to many sirens as paramedics rushed in to help. This is all supposed to be fun.

My guess is it would not be hard to find a medical professional who agrees that running 13.1 miles in the heat and with 97% humidity isn't a good idea. Yet, I don't hear anyone speaking out on this.

Perhaps some people don't know how challenging it can be to run a half marathon, or
some fall short in their training and still try to run the race.

The Rock and Roll Half Marathon is a great event--part of a great weekend.

Can we do this next year in, say, October.

What a breakfast!

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:48:01 -0500

Last weekend my family and I got a chance to have "Breakfast with the Animals." What a treat! We got to the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk bright and early for a Saturday morning and we not only got our breakfast but we also got to watch the animals at the Zoo eat their breakfast.
At only 15 months old I think my son found all the people more exciting than the animals. But my husband and I couldn't believe how close we could get to the animals and what a treat to see their reactions at meal time. We really are lucky to have such a wonderful Zoo right here in Hampton Roads and it's just getting better with the train on the way. I think my son will appreciate the Zoo even more when there's a cool train he can ride. But until then we plan to keep going to the Zoo in hopes that my son will get more interested in the animals. Right now he just like popping up through the round windows of the prairie dog exhibit... but I have a feeling that's going to change... because those baby lions are getting pretty big and they sure are fun to watch.

A Sign of things to Come

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:42:08 -0500

Swimming sensation Michael Phelps has promised to put forth a gold medal effort toward his goal of changing the sport of swimming in America. As Michael Jordan changed basketball, Phelps says he will use his influence in and out of the water to enhance water safety for children.
Leslie Paul of Virginia Beach is already a stroke ahead of Phelps. Last year Paul launched the RAPS program at Carolanne Farm Swim Club. Really Awesome People Swimming is her answer to the sad statistics that show minority children are more likely to drown because a disproportinate number of minority children do not know how to swim.
Over the past two summers Paul and her fleet of expert instructors have taught some 300 children how to swim.
To buoy her efforts, Tom Gill of Aquawear in Virgina Beach is pledging a one dollar donation to RAPS for every Phelps fan who signs a banner congratulating Phelps for his stellar performance during the Olympics.
The banner is on display at Aquawear on Newtown Road, not far from Interstate 264.
Gill promises to deliver the banner to Phelps upon his return to Baltimore.
To learn more about this charity event, contact Tom Gill. His email address is tom@aquawearswim.com.

Living with a parrot

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:24:28 -0500

Life with an almost 15 month old is always exciting. Everyday is a new experience... not just for my son but for my husband and myself as well. Little Parker is at that age where he's not just running all over the place but he also tries to repeat everything you say. Which as any new parent will tell you means you better be careful about everything that comes out of your mouth.
I've heard plenty of stories from my friends about their children repeating a word or two that Mommy or Daddy accidentally let slip out. So we've been really careful to make sure Parker only hears words we want him to repeat.
We've also been working really hard at teaching him manners. I know he's not even a year and a half yet. But I believe it's never to early to learn manners. Well this morning I got my reward. My son loves bananas and every morning he eats a whole one usually cut up by his Daddy. Well this morning when my husband brought us the bowl of cut up banana pieces my son did the sign for "thank you" and said "Daddy" afterwards. I gotta tell you I've had a lot of wonderful experiences in my life and this one sure ranks up there pretty high.

Getting it Wrong, Again!

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:40:24 -0500

For several months now, I've been finding a number of retailers, grocery stores and pharamacies in Hampton Roads wrongly charging sales tax on nonprescription drug items.

Based on the feedback I've received from viewers about my reports, people don't like to
pay a penny more in tax than they should. With gas at $3.75 a gallon, I can't blame them.

A lot of people didn't realize that ten-years ago the state made products like medicated mouthwash, powder and shave cream, eye drops, and first aid items tax free.

Apparently, I lot of stores didn't know either. And when stores get it wrong, you pay!

This past weekend, I went to buy some running shoes and I saved a few bucks. I like that.

My daughter and I headed off to pick-up some school supplies and we saved a few dollars there as well.

We went to another store for more school supplies where I also picked up a few tax-free nonprescription drug products just to see if the Department of Taxation is working H-A-R-D to make sure stores aren't over charging us.

I can't say I was surprised, but on the state's tax-free weekend where I got a break, on running shoes and school supplies, I was charged tax on over-the-counter items that were made tax-free ten-years ago.
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When will stores get it right?

When will the Department of Taxation make them get it right?

Who knows!

For now check your receipts and you can get a list of these tax free items at WVEC.COM.
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Weathering a recall

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:42:41 -0500

It seems there's a new recall on something just about daily. But today we did a story that hit really close to home for me. The pacifiers that are being recalled are my son's favorite. I got an email about it from the company and of course panicked because I thought oh no I'm giving my son something that could choke him, even if it was unknowingly. Then it hit me "oh no he has to have his favorite pacifiers to go to sleep at night... and if he doesn't sleep that means I don't sleep." What's a parent to do?
Well I called the toll free number the company offers and left a message. To my surprise the owner of the company called me back. She's a mother herself and even though no one has been hurt by the problem with the pacifier she still wanted to do a voluntary recall. She said she couldn't sleep nights thinking someone could be hurt. Then she said she would send the replacements as soon as possible and I could just send my old ones back as soon as I get them. Wow, a business owner who really shows how they care about their customers.
Now I'm anxiously waiting for the new pacifiers to arrive. In the meantime my son is having to get use to the old pacifiers he doesn't like. And when he goes to bed and when he gets up in the morning he still gets mommy to help him look and see if we can find his favorite pacifiers. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep up the game. Hopefully the Post Office will get them here soon. Then we'll be safe, happy and yes sleeping through the night again.

Worthy of more than our thanks....

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:47:54 -0500

This week we had some Fort Story soldiers return home after serving 15 months in Iraq and today Mike Gooding did a story about the USS Cole returning after a six month deployment. He talked about one sailor who because of pre deployment workups and other duties had to be away from her young son for a year. I have to tell you both these homecomings and all the others we've had recently have made me even more thankful for our military.
I love a homecoming in fact it's one of my favorite stories to cover but the length of these deployments are difficult for most of us to even comprehend. My son is almost 14 months old and I can't imagine having missed a day of his life. But these Soldiers and Sailors do make that sacrifice for us. And as any parent will tell you it is quite a sacrifice. Their work fighting for our freedom not only puts them in harms way at times but it also keeps them away from their loved one... and to me that's worth of more than our thanks!

Time to slow down...

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:37:14 -0500

We've all heard the say "from the mouths of babes." Well I got to find out what that means first hand from my 13 month old the other day. As any busy mother will tell you when you're trying to get it all done you don't really have time to "dilly dally." I guess my son realized that too. I had packed him and the car and we were heading to his school. I was trying to get him there so I could head out and get all the things done I needed to on my way into work. I guess as some point he must have realize we were in a hurry. Because as I was heading down the street I heard him repeating something in the back seat. When I asked him what he was saying he replied clear as day "go go go."
Well I gotta tell it hit me like a ton of bricks. I mean I know children pick up on a lot of things but I didn't realize my 13 month old was already picking up on mommy's busy schedule. I certainly don't want him to always feel like he's being rushed. So I guess from the mouth of my babe came some great words of wisdom... it's time to slow down and enjoy the ride.

Too Much Information!

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:13:58 -0500

The other night instead of counting sheep, I decided to turn on the television. There was C-Span. What better way to drift off to sleep?

I was surprised not to find one of those 2-am arguments by a enraged representative to an empty chamber about funding for a road project in a remote section of Wyoming,

Instead, C-Span was broadcasting a focus group. There sat a group of Americans who look like America, but in this case somewhere in Pennsylvania, sitting around a table answering a wide range of questions about the upcoming elections.

The focus group facilitator was trying to draw out of the group their opinions about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

What do you like about Senator Obama?

Are you ready for a woman president?

Who is the warmer candidate?

But what struck me as I watched this broadcast was how misinformed so many people around the table were when the discusison came to key issues in the campaign.

Some people in the focus group were confused about who our allies are in Europe.

There was confusion about who is fighting with us in Iraq and the administration's stated reasons for toppling Saddam Hussein.

It's a long way to the November elections. Each and every day we'll be bombarded with information about the candidates and the issues. The truth will surely not always be easy to find.

So, we're all going to have to do some homework and study.

This is a big election. Let's not get it wrong!

ZZZzzzzz

You've turned Browner

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:24:09 -0500

I love the fact that children don't speak in nuanced terms. I have been spending time at the Carolanne Farm Swim Club in Virginia Beach assisting with swim lessons for the Really Awesome People Swimming program. It is an outreach program founded by Leslie Paul who is on a mission to reach minority youngsters who for one reason or another have not been exposed to swimming lessons. In fact, research shows minority children are three times more likely to drown. At the end of our third lesson with the Lake Edward group, Leslie revealed to the children that the tall African- American woman who had been helping with lessons is Regina Mobley from 13 news. And just to prove it, we brought along a publicity poster from a couple of years ago. After visually confirming my identity one young man exclaimed, "You've turned Browner".
You gotta love it!

Times have changed...

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:58:22 -0500

I recently went to probably the best concert I've been to in a long time. I got a chance to see Billy Joel at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater. I don't know if you're like me but I have a list of performers I would like to see if given the chance and Billy Joel was high on that list. So of course we jumped at the chance to see him even though tickets were more than I've ever paid for a concert. But I have to say it was so worth it. It was like reliving the 70's,80's and 90's all in one night.
There wasn't a song I didn't know all the words to... as my husband can tell you. I even knew what songs he would pick for his encore. I also said we weren't leaving until he played them so it worked out.
But the wildest part of the whole concert was when I looked out at the sold out crowd and saw 90-95% of them holding up their cell phones to encourage him to come back out. Times have definitely changed. I can remember being at concerts in years past when it was cigarette lighters that people held up. So I guess while we may not be getting any younger.... we're are getting healthier even when it comes to concerts.

$212,000,000 and nothing to show for it!

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:27:25 -0500

This week The New York Daily News ran an interesting article on the huge price Hillary Clinton paid for her presidential run.

Senator Clinton spent $212,000,000 for 18-million votes.

The Daily News goes on to point out the senator spent more money to lose a primary election than any candidate in Democratic Party history.

I'm very suspect of the huge amounts of money these days in politics, I'm bothered by the amount of money in political campaigns and where the money comes from.

I'm sure there are some people who give to candidates without expectations, but I'm suspect of that. Too often I've seen people and businesses give to both candidates in a race. To me that's covering your bases and not always working to see that the stronger candidate gets elected.

Hillary Clinton invested about 11-million dollars of her own money in her campaign. I'm troubled by that as well. Should people of average means stay away from politics because they might not have the money to fund their campaigns?

The Daily News article, in tounge-in-cheek fashion, points out the $212,000,000 Clinton spent could have bought almost 10-thousand people a new hybrid Toyota Prius.

The money also could have bought 53-millon gallons of gas.

The senator also could have bought all 2,300 students at her alam matter, Wellesley College, a Porsche 911 Carera.

I don't mean to pick on Hillary Clinton here. There's just too much money in politics no matter the candidate, no matter the race, no matter the party!

$110,000,000 million dollars will be spent on secret service protection this year just for the presidential finalists.

In a time when people go to bed hungry in this country and gas is above four-dollars a gallon, making it tough for moms and dads to get to work each day and put food on the table, $212,000,000 seems like an even bigger figure than it already is.