THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 9, 1995 TAG: 9507070077
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 141 lines
Friday, June 30
12:53 p.m. - Independence Boulevard at Haygood.
Wendy's restaurant is on the second day of its grand opening. A first-time customer is in line to pick up her food from the drive-through window. Three smiling faces are staring at her. The first person, hands her the food, the second person says ``Thanks for coming'' and the third yells from the back. .
- Patty Jenkins
Saturday, July 1
Noon - Pembroke area apartments.
Lenny Gibson, a pre-schooler, strolls up to his much-older cigar-smoking neighbor and looks at him with concern.
``Is that a cigar,'' he asks.
``Yes.''
``My momma's cousin used to smoke.''
``Oh, yeah?''
``Yeah. He's dead.''
- Gary Edwards
2:15 p.m. - Lynnhaven Mall parking lot outside Leggett.
A couple is walking toward their car, a Mitsubishi Galant. The man, moving to the driver's side, finds that he is too close to the black Ford Thunderbird parked next to the Galant.
``Step away from the car!'' a digital voice commands. ``You are too close.''
The man laughs and stops. He gets a little closer to the machine, as if teasing it.
``This is your second warning!'' the disembodied voice says. ``Step away from the car or the alarm will go off!''
The man can't resist a little more mischief. He stays rooted to the spot and waits for the inevitable.
``This is your third warning!'' the voice says. ``The alarm will go off.''
Within seconds a blaring alarm punctuates the humid air. The screeching stops after about 10 seconds, much to the relief of passersby.
- Pam Starr
Monday, July 3
8:15 p.m. - 24th Street Park.
Popular crooner Frankie Valli is a few minutes into his performance in front of a full house at 24th Street Park.
He pauses in his music to welcome the audience. ``It's great to be back in Myrtle Beach,'' he announces over the loudspeaker.
Concertgoers are stunned at his slip. A few begin to boo.
``If he thinks he's in Myrtle Beach,'' says a man in the back of the park, ``let him go to the city of Myrtle Beach to get his check!''
- Melinda Forbes
8:45 p.m. - 24th Street Park.
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons are well into their free concert on this perfect summer evening.
The audience, composed of all ages, is singing along and swaying to old favorites, ``Rag Doll,'' ``Sherry,'' ``Walk Like a Man,'' when a teenage boy makes his way through the crowd. He pauses in front of a group of 40- and 50-something fans and with a puzzled look on his face, asks ``Who is this band?''
``Frankie Valli . . . The Four Seasons,'' answers one of the men. Getting a blank look from the teen, he continues, ``A group from the '60s.''
``Oh,'' the teen nods, glancing at the man and his friends. ``Your music.''
- Melinda Forbes
Tuesday, July 4
6 p.m. - Ben Hogan Drive in Larkspur.
The second annual Grodner's July Fourth Parade, led by grand marshals Alex, 6, and Sterling, 8, is a little known offshoot of the festivities near Mount Trashmore.
This salute to the holiday features some 25 kids and parents decked out in red, white and blue outfits, including one ``Miss Liberty.''
Neighbors, who were notified of the parade by flyer, cheer along the one-square-block parade route. None seem to miss the bands, floats and horses.
The parade ends without a hitch - and with no need for an odorous city cleanup.
- Mark Kozak
7:30 p.m. - Sloppy Joe's on Rudee Inlet.
Sitting on the deck of the new restaurant one of three people suddenly feels a splat on the side of his leg.
He looks down and sees what appears to be a large bird's deposit. Then, a lady sitting behind the trio shouts out ``oh my!''
The first target turns to the second target. ``You too?'' he asks.
The three ladies at the second table, apparently concerned about another dive bomber abruptly get up to finish their stay indoors.
The first group stays outside, laughing at their friend who discovers he has been hit in more spots than his leg.
- David B. Hollingsworth
8:45 p.m. - South Independence Blvd., between Holland Road and Edwin Drive.
A couple parks and walks toward Mount Trashmore to watch the fireworks, scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. Suddenly fireworks illuminate the rainy sky over Lake Trashmore. The couple, along with dozens of other people headed to the park, stop to watch.
``I thought they weren't supposed to start until 9:30!'' one spectator complains.
``We might as well watch them from here,'' another one says. ``By the time we get to the park they'll be over.''
The crowd settles down, expecting a magnificent fireworks show. But the less-than-thrilling explosions last only 10 disappointing minutes. After the final burst of color, a chorus of ``boos'' resounds through the crowd. People turn and reluctantly walk in the rain back to their vehicles.
- Pam Starr
9 p.m. - Edwin Drive.
Traffic is bumper to bumper as a string of cars pulls off Princess Anne Road onto Edwin Drive where a policeman is directing traffic. It's obvious to all that the northbound motorists are headed for Mount Trashmore where the July Fourth fireworks are scheduled to lift off in 30 minutes.
It doesn't take long, though, for the two-lane Larkspur thoroughfare to achieve gridlock. The southbound lanes almost immediately come to a halt as well, while a steady stream of pedestrians flows south along both curbs.
Finally, a woman rolls down her car window, despite falling rain, and asks what has become of the fireworks. ``Have they been canceled?'' she intones to a middle-aged couple.
``No. They already shot them off,'' a thoroughly drenched woman responds without slowing her steps. ``They shot them off early because of the rain. They only lasted 10 minutes.''
``Oh, no,'' the motorist groans. She adds a ``thanks'' to the passerby then rolls up her window for the long wait ahead.
- Kevin Armstrong ILLUSTRATION: A group bath
Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Using a cooperative approach, Charmeka World, 16, Roenna World, 29,
and Traci Ford, 29, all of Norfolk, take advantage of a boardwalk
pump to wash the sand off their feet after a Sunday night stroll
along the beach.
by CNB