THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512010161
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
When the city's new conservation license plate was officially launched last week at a kick-off at Greenbrier Mall, Gloria and Robert Elko were two of the first residents in line to purchase some.
``We bought two, one for each car,'' said Gloria. But the Elkos didn't purchase the plates to impress tailgaters.
``We moved here in July from Edison, N.J., and we want people to know where our new home is,'' said Gloria.
The plate, which features a canoeist paddling against the backdrop of a large sun and cypress tree, doesn't have the city's name printed on it, but the Elkos think the design will be enough to prompt questions from others.
For each plate sold after the first 1,000, the city receives $15 per plate for local conservation efforts.
The retired couple added many people are confused as to the whereabouts of Chesapeake.
``They think we're on the Chesapeake Bay or we're part of the Eastern Shore,'' Robert said. He only has ice for you
He only intended to help out a friend but ended up a winner.
Congratulate Brett L. Patten, chef at the Greenbrier Country Club, for winning the first-place award at the ice carving competition sponsored by Signet Bank Nov. 18 at Norfolk Waterside as part of the 11th annual Grand Illumination ceremonies and parade.
He won for his chilly sculptures of a reindeer and a sled, carved out of two 300-pound blocks of ice.
Although an experienced ice carver, the self-taught Patten never really entered into any competition. Until a friend asked for help.
``I never did it before,'' Patten said ``Many times these types of events get too competitive. I was only going there to help out a friend, who is a chef at the Town Point Club.''
Patten said his friend was to head the ice carving but at the last minute could not make the event due to an emergency at his work.
``I just decided to start on the reindeer and focus on that,'' Patten said. ``But I got into a zone and everything came out right.''
So right it helped win him the competition's first-place plaque, which now hangs in his home.
Each sculptor was given two hours to design, create and complete his frozen art work. Patten thinks the judges may have been impressed with him finishing on time.
``I think that may have clinched it with the judges, that I finished within the time constraints,'' he said. ``But if I could have had another half hour it would have been perfect.''
Patten said he was pleased he finished on time, in spite of the problems.
``It was all pretty amazing,'' he said. ``Everybody there was using chain saws to cut the ice, and occasionally it would blow the power. Several times we ended up working in the dark, and then it was hard to judge what you were doing. But it was a lot of fun. I certainly took it down to the wire.''
Patten, who used to be chef at the Town Point Club in Norfolk, has been with the Greenbrier Country Club for the past five months. Before that the Boston native worked as a chef in California and Florida.
Although he doesn't compete in sculpture competitions as a rule, he does create ice statues every week for the Greenbrier Country Club's weekly Sunday brunch. Past creations have included swans, flower vases and cornucopias.
He said creating sculptures is the same as an artist creating statues out of marble or wood. He said he uses chain saws, chisels, knives, hammers and drills.
``I use anything that will get the job done,'' he added.
- Jennifer O'Donnell and Eric Feber by CNB