THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412280185
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
It's the end of the year and time once again for The Clipper's annual Arts and Entertainment ``awards.''
Each year this column recognizes people or groups who have helped further the cultural climate in this city. They are busy, talented and creative people who have helped make the city a little brighter, a little more colorful and a little classier.
These pats on the back are based on our subjective judgment and are listed in no particular order. Nor are they all-encompassing. So, if you did help contribute to the cultural climate of Chesapeake, Hampton Roads, the state or the country and weren't mentioned this year, take heart. We'll try to get to you in 1995.
Congratulations to the 1994 honorees. We're happy you're here in Chesapeake.
The Martin Family - Mom Susan Martin and her children - Seth, 17; Leah, 13; and Jared, 10, all students at Atlantic Shores Christian School - make it a family affair when they perform in seasonal productions put on by the Virginia Beach based Tattercoats Ltd. musical ballet theater. Susan Martin said the dancing and rehearsing keep them together as a tight family unit. In addition, they enliven area stages with spirited dance moves.
Christopher Clark - Remember that name. Soon you'll see it plastered all over classical compact discs featuring organ or piano music. The 14-year-old Norfolk Academy student and South Norfolk resident is real keyboard phenomenon, an ace student and a typical adolescent who loves to run track and mess with computers. Thank Christopher's parents - Wesley and Irene Clark, both educators - who helped support and nurture their son's talent and ability.
L. Randy Harrison - She's Chesapeake's new arts coordinator, who began her job last April. She brings to the job a rich experience having worked with museums, Pembroke Mall, the American Heart Association, Downtown Norfolk Development Corp., Congressman G. William Whitehurst's staff, as well as having taught art in Germany and at Chesapeake's TCC campus. Harrison knows both the fiscal and aesthetic importance of art to a city and has dynamic plans for the city's arts and cultural climate.
Jeff Bunn, Kenny Stuart and Kristy Thiemens - Certainly the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department is filled with talented and dedicated staffers, but recreation specialists Bunn, Stuart and Thiemens have made special contributions to the work of their department and the city's cultural climate. In addition, they have helped fascinate and entertain thousands of Chesapeake youngsters.
Wendy Haley - Usually one hears about popular published authors living in New York City, Los Angeles or some idyllic New England village. But we have Wendy Haley, a Western Branch mom who makes a living at churning out romance, mystery and horror novels. She may not win a Pulitzer Prize, but the knowledgeable and talented writer knows how to spin a good yarn and fill each page with vivid suspense, passion and heart-thumping tales.
Chesapeake Pride and Jeff Scott Williams - This group of volunteer teenagers continues to perform dynamic and inspirational anti-drug song and dance routines for schools, church groups and organizations. One of its founding members, Jeff Scott Williams, now a '94 Oscar F. Smith High School graduate, deservedly won the Pride National Youth Award last spring at an international Pride conference in Philadelphia. Although he is no longer a high school student, Williams continues to work with the group.
The Galileans - This Chesapeake-based gospel group has been together for 40 years. Several former members have gone on to become top professional nationally known gospel performers. Led by founding member and director Ken Channel, the quintet performs its tight old-time gospel harmonies all over the state and beyond.
David Johnson Jr. - Professionally, Johnson is known as Son of David, a Christian rapper who spreads a positive word of faith and good works. He was once himself a troubled youth bent on a course of drugs and crime. He cleaned up his act, began his career and eventually got signed by the Houston-based Pure Records label.
Cecil Christian - This South Norfolk native is known to his many fans simply as ``Major,'' a rising comedian who has performed throughout the state and beyond, having appeared on stage with Joan Rivers and with Alan King on an HBO comedy special. Currently Major is knocking 'em dead on ``Club Riverfront,'' a locally produced late-night Friday music dance television show on WGNT. There's interest in Major from the Fox Network.
Chris and Jerry Wellings - This Wingfield Avenue couple does its thing only one time a year: Christmas. But what a ``thing'' it is. They embellish their home with more than 18,000 lights and special effects and then don costumes of Santa and Mrs. Claus, greeting hundreds of children every year, giving them candy canes and seasonal cheer. They also take it upon themselves to purchase and give out stuffed bears to sick Chesapeake kids. If you don't believe in Santa Claus, just drop by their home. They're Chesapeake's answer to ``The Miracle on 34th St.''
Patricia Southall - She's charming, beautiful, intelligent and the runner-up to the title of Miss USA. The Western Branch High School graduate, who worked in Gov. L. Douglas Wilder's office, has won many high school, regional, college and national beauty pageant awards yet she maintains a down-to-earth attitude. She'll soon wed Martin Lawrence, comedian and star of the Fox network situation comedy ``Martin.'' Lucky Mr. Lawrence.
Friends of the Chesapeake Public Library - These tireless volunteers make our libraries better in so many ways. They promote reading, literacy and the importance of books and libraries. Through their annual book sale and a few other library-related money makers, the group raises funds to purchase extra equipment, computers, furniture and other items for each city public branch. The group also helps finance special events like the summer children's reading program, children's author events along with the annual Civil War Day, Sheep to Shawl and the Poetry Festival.
Tidewater Scottish Festival - Who would have thought that bagpipe music, Scottish dances, games, workshops, kilts and tams would find a home in the land of grits, clogging and pig pickin's? Well they have. Organizers of the Tidewater Scottish Festival have helped put Chesapeake on the map and made the city a little more cosmopolitan by moving its big annual event to Chesapeake City Park. The festival is known throughout the country and draws people, groups, clubs and artisans from all over the United States and the British Isles.
Robert Hitt - Chesapeake Planetarium director Robert ``Bob'' Hitt is a thinker, educator, dreamer, tinkerer and craftsman as he makes the wonders of the heavens come alive for thousands of Chesapeake schoolchildren. On Thursday evenings he presents free programs to the public dealing with such subjects as Stonehenge, UFOs, the signs of the zodiac, ancient astronomers and many other fascinating space-related subjects. When not showing off the heavens, Hitt paints them. His expert air-brush space landscapes and still-life paintings are bought by collectors and have appeared on calendars and in various national publications. by CNB