Driving through Virginia Beach during a rainstorm can sometimes feel like driving through a river. High water levels and poor drainage contributes to car accidents and major hydroplaning for drivers. Located at sea level, Virginia Beach struggles when it rains because there is nowhere for the water to runoff. City officials at Virginia Beach public works are in the process of constructing a drainage outfall that will help with draining at the north end of Virginia Beach. This project has seen its share of controversy, with community members seeking to block its progress. The drainage system project began in late 2009 and is set to finish in 2011.

Click Below to look at the official Storm Drainage Outfall Map

Web Map rev Flood Map 03-25-10 copy

There are a many different phases of this project, which begins on land and is finished off the coast of Virginia Beach in the Atlantic Ocean. Dan Adams, project manager at Virginia Beach Public Works, explains the drainage system as a pipe system, which will filter storm water out into the ocean instead of into the roads, causing flooding.  He also explained how once the landside of the project is finished, divers would be laying pipes into the ocean floor and connecting them with the system built on land. The project required a barge, for bringing in the heavy materials, landing right on the beach for unloading. If the barge had not been able to deliver the materials, wide load trucks would have been required to drive the materials to the site. This would have taken long amounts of time for the delivery as well as numerous cranes to unload the heavy materials. The project is still in the land phase, which includes placing piping in the ground and creating a pump station at 61^st street. The 61^st street drainage outfall is not the first drainage project constructed at Virginia Beach. There have been similar construction projects on 42^nd street as well as 79^th street. The current state of the project has caused lane closures on Atlantic Avenue, a major roadway in the beach area. Problems and complaints with the project are common and will most likely continue during the summer months.

Click Below to Listen to Project Manager, Dan Adams further explain the drainage outfall project.

Dan Adams Intervew

The North Virginia Beach Civic League has supported the project for over 10 years according to their president, Kimberly Goolde. There are a few community members, however who are taking their complaints to court. They fear that the project will pollute their beach as well as the ocean environment. The project has been on the books for years, but some neighbors feel as though they were not well informed. Kevin Martingayle, who is the attorney representing those who oppose the project, describes how project information was relayed through the North Virginia Beach Civic League.

“ The city seems to think that relaying information through a civic league is good enough, but it’s not. Some people do not like to go to civic meetings and they should not have to.”

Martingayle took on the case due to the fact that the project is 5 houses from his home and he wanted to be the voice for his family and neighbors.  The community members that Martingayle represents feel as though the pump would pollute the area bringing highly polluted storm water into the ocean thus washing it to the shoreline. Martingayle suggests that the water could possibly contain oil, grease, fertilizers and dog feces. Other pump systems such as the ones on 16^th and 42^nd street have not functioned properly according to Martingayle.

To combat negative press the Virginia Beach public works have had meetings through the North Virginia Beach Civic League to allow neighbors to voice their concerns. The 61^st street drainage outfall project also has a filter that will be in place to treat the water, which will make the storm water clean. The storm water will be pumped 1,200 feet from the primary sand dune.

The construction project itself is going well according to Dan Adams, who said that summer traffic would not be made worse by the project. The construction has caused some Virginia Beach residents to rearrange their daily routines. Katherine Marsh, a North End resident, walks each morning and has found the construction difficult to maneuver around, saying “ I have had to change the route I walk and sometimes I choose to take alternate routes in my car so I don’t have to go through the construction site.”

Click Below to listen to Katherine Marsh, who lives near the construction.

Neighbor Interview

There are definitely mixed feelings when it comes to the 61^st street drainage project. The construction has continued, as some neighbors fight the progress in court.  Community members still have another year of construction before its scheduled completion. The project will help prevent flooding in the area as long as neighbors continue being tolerant of the inconvenience.

On average it takes a woman 65 minutes to get ready for a night out. This includes getting showered, primped and usually getting yelled at by your significant other. After all is said and done there is still one more addition left to an outfit, picking the perfect handbag. Accessorizing has become extremely important and wearing the right bag can make or break and outfit. Today’s blog post will be dedicated to looking at the new accessorizing trends with handbags.

Handbags come in such wide varieties that it is hard to choose just one. This could explain why most women have dozens of bags. This spring oversized bags are a hot trend that don’t have to break the bank. Big satchel bags such as this one from Forever 21 can literally almost hold a small child. One word of caution when using oversized bags, they do sometimes act as black holes and personal items can and will disappear in them. For those who choose designer bags this Marc Jacobs satchel goes perfectly with a floral ensemble. White leather always gives off a summertime feel and can make all the difference in an outfit.

Cross body bags and shoulder bags are becoming increasingly popular this season. The attraction to these bags is the effortless style they create. Cross body bags literally become part of the outfit and can accentuate a woman’s figure. It is a hands free style that is simple and easy. Urban Outfitters has a great selection of cross body bags for those shoppers who don’t want to empty their wallets. If a top of the line brand is what you are after Chanel, Prada and Marc Jacobs all have a wide variety of stunning cross body bags.

Shoulder bags are similar to cross body bags with long straps in a relatively small space. The shoulder bag is obviously worn on the shoulder as oppose to being draped across the body. This Forever 21 shoulder bag, looks eerily similar to a Marc Jacobs, but for only $32.  Shoulder bags are versatile and can be dressed up with a dress and sandals or dressed down with a blouse and jeans. For an evening look, this Tory Burch bag is classic an elegant for a cocktail party or dinner date.

Clutches are a staple in the purse world because of their variety and glamour they bring to the table. This year metallic styles are very in and help to bring zest to an outfit. Box clutches are also very popular, offering elegance to any ensemble. This Sondra Roberts floral clutch, which can be found at Nordstrom, could be perfect with a little black dress and killer heels. Hobo is also a popular clutch brand and is always a classic that can be worn any season. This Urban Outfitters clutch is casual for daytime use and the intricate beading gives it a Boho type feel. If you are not looking to spend large amounts on clutches Forever 21 and Macy’s have large selections. Another option is always to go rooting through your grandmother’s purse collection. Vintage clutches are a treasure and can bring character to an outfit; it also makes for a great story.

Courtesy of Getty Images

Sunday night at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, celebrities were out in full force on the red carpet. The Oscars is pretty much like the Super Bowl for actors and actresses. It is also a huge night for the fashion industry.

The first question that is asked on the red carpet is always “who are you wearing”. Designers vie for celeb clients to wear their creations in order to create buzz for the line. Sometimes the “buzz” isn’t always a good one.

There were some major trends seen Sunday on the red carpet. Champagne and neutral colored dresses, heavy beading and metallic colors were just some of the popular choices for celebs. Some celebs took a risk and in some cases they turned up on the worst dressed list. Today’s entry will focus on the fashion winners and losers of the 82^nd annual Academy Awards.

Let’s begin with the red carpet bombs. First off we have Mariah Carey who wore a Valentino Haute Couture gown. This dress seemed extremely low key for the Oscars and it seemed awfully familiar like she had worn it to another awards show. Her style has become very predictable and she is a huge fan of showing skin with heavy jewelry.

What girl is not a fan of Sarah Jessica Parker, I mean who doesn’t love Carrie Bradshaw’s unpredictable style, but some were not fans of the Chanel gown she chose for Sunday’s award show. She has such an amazing figure that it seemed like a waste to put her in a tent like dress. She should be applauded for choosing such a bright color and the neckline was beautiful, but that was about it. Her gown at last year’s award show was amazing and her bar was set high for her appearance this year.

Fresh off the runway was the dress that Diane Kruger chose for the academy awards. Kruger has amazing style and has been praised for her fashion choices. Her Chanel Haute Couture dress, which featured layers and ruffles, did not help her climb up the fashion icon ladder. The Inglorious Bastards star looked washed out in the white dress against her light skin tone. The dress was too busy and it took away from her elegance as your eyes are focused on the many layers of the dress. The high neckline made it seem turtleneck like instead of offering a fresh spring look.

The ultimate red carpet fashion mishap had to have been Charlize Theron. Many bloggers and celeb media outlets have dubbed her gown as the “cinna bon” dress. It was a very becoming shade of lavender but your eyes were not drawn to the color. The strapless Dior gown accentuated her figure nicely, but the two “buns” on her chest took away from the entire experience of the dress.

Most importantly are the best-dressed picks for the awards show.  Penelope Cruz has an old Hollywood glam look to her and her gown was no exception. The dark red Donna Karan strapless pleated dress was stunning and was accentuated with minimal jewelry. Her beauty seemed especially potent in this dress and was by far one of her best gown choices.

Nicole Richie was also a favorite on the red carpet. Her Boho chic style transferred over into a red carpet knockout. The Reem Acra gown had heavy intricate beading with a plunging back line. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, which was an extremely popular hairstyle for the night. The large sleeves of the dress helped to show off the intricate beading.

Meryl Streep also makes the cut for best dressed as her white Chris March gown was extremely flattering. The empire waste and not-too-low-cut front was an age appropriate ensemble for the legendary star.

One of if not the favorite dress of the night had to have been Sandra Bullock’s Marchesa gown. She came up a huge winner at Sunday’s award show and her attire was right on point. She played on the metallic trend and used a bold lip color to add to her classic glam look. The dress had very delicate flower embroidery flowing into a gold train. Many media outlets buzzed that Sandra herself looked like an Oscar and she was sure to be a winner by the end of the night.

The fashion at the Academy Awards proved to literally be sparkling and lived up to its name as Hollywood’s biggest night. As awards season has hit its climactic end, we must look forward to next year or maybe just replay the red carpet pre-show on our Tivos.

Oh the weather outside is frightful…but not for too long. Spring is just around the corner and soon enough we will be trading our pea coats for tank tops. As college students begin to pack for spring break they may want to make room in their suitcases for new spring fashion trends.

There are numerous springtime wardrobe fixtures that don’t have to break the bank and also give a just-off-the-runway type feel. Today’s post will be listing off some of the new trends for the Spring 2010 season.

Look for pastels to make a huge splash this spring, such as peach or violet. Yellow will also be extremely popular along with white, but only after Memorial Day right?

It takes some courage to sport the new trend of  boy shorts/hot pants and ripped denim. Nicole Richie can be seen wearing this trend with a casual flowing tank . A flashback to 80′s fashion is part of the light wash denim trend, which should be a staple in your wardrobe if not for the versatility alone. Pair a light denim wash jean with a simple black tank and bold jewelry accents making for the perfect day to night look.

This winter the popular trend was military jackets and this will be seen in spring fashion as well. Military jackets and tanks, seen exclusively here at Forever 21, go extremely well with skinny jeans or even shorts. Speaking on jackets, ladies don’t put your blazers away just yet. Spring fashion relies heavily on blazers, especially when those cold spring nights sneak up on you. This Urban Outfitters blazer, which can be dressed down with shorts and a tank or more formal with a skirt and heels, is easily transferred from a day to night look.

In the springtime, many people just jump right into flip flops, bypassing one of the favorite spring trends…cowboy boots. Boots with a floral, ruffled dress makes for the perfect afternoon date look. Cowboy boots don’t always have to be expensive, check out these Frye boot look-a-likes that Target is currently selling. Boots give spring dresses a light breezy feel with a little southern charm. Gladiator sandals that many fashionistas bought two years ago can again be worn this spring. These sandals go perfectly with a high waisted skirt and bangle bracelets.

Boho chic will again be in high demand this spring. For inspiration, again always look to Nicole Richie, who recently debuted her Winter Kate Collection. Her collection offers some great ideas for your spring wardrobe. The tomato colored sheer vest seen here in her look book, would look stunning with a white tank top and ripped jean shorts. Her line is so bright and fresh that it just screams spring time. When trying to match jewelry with a boho chic look, switch over to Nicole Richie’s jewelry line House of Harlow. Some of these items are high end, but can serve as a stimulant to help you next time you are jewelry shopping. Large bangles are a huge trend for spring and summer. It definitely gives off the feel of Cleopatra and ancient Egypt. A good piece of advice for those searching for one-of-a-kind pieces would be to keep your eyes peeled when attending local farmers or flea markets. Vintage jewelry is always distinct and can be found in the strangest places. You will find that you get the most compliments on jewelry found at markets and vintage clothing stores.

Spring fashion is such an exciting time, so leave the layers at home and begin to clean out your closets to make room for all the colorful items we all so desperately need.

Photo Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

photo courtesy of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week 2010

This week marks the first full week of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City. There are certain designers that always tickle my shopping bone and send me out to the nearest mall if at most to glance at the latest collections. Fashion week is almost like a national holiday for some and I am no exception. I will be updating with my favorite designers and their collections revealed this week.

Shows on Monday included Zac Posen, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier, Jill Stuart and Marc Jacobs.

Zac Posen set the stage for the day with neutral tones and stunning layered pieces. Trendy blazers made an appearance as well as high shoulder dresses. Floral prints are also in high demand for fall lines. Short hemlines were common with this show especially seen in the floral and velvet mini-dresses.

Carolina Herrera made a splash with deep red dresses and fur-lined coats. Her collection echoed elegance as her formal dresses are sure to be seen on the red carpet at the Oscars in two weeks. The combination of red and gray made a perfect balance making this dress pop on the runway. My personal favorite was the layered red dress topped with a skinny black belt, which reminded me of the dress Heidi Klum wore to the 2008 Oscars.

Jill Stuart went for a more gothic glam with heavy black pieces and killer over-the-knee-boots. The only problem I had was with the large top hat worn with a few of the items. It looked to me like a gothic cat-in-the-hat type deal. The coat collection in this show was spectacular. Classic pea coats and heavy scarves were a staple on the runway, helping to accent the fall look.

Monique Lhuillier’s collection offered the most variety as her color palette ranged from deep red to seaweed green. Lhuillier is known for dressing many stars at the Oscars and these dresses are no exception. The formal gowns displayed on the runway such as this classic black empire waist would be a perfect fit for maybe a Penelope Cruz or an Angelina Jolie, but then again Angelina did black last year. One shoulder gowns also got a lot of attention, especially this gorgeous piece. The classic black seen here seems like it is channeling Audrey Hepburn with the simple black and high neckline.

Last but not least my personal favorite Marc Jacobs. His collection debuted on Monday evening and it is already receiving high praise from bloggers and news outlets. Some are saying that this is quite possibly the best show of his career. Although I was not present at the show (if I was then I was probably dreaming), I am hearing the buzz over the Internet about how Marc started the show. Apparently he took to the stage in a simple black Bottega Veneta suit and tore off ceiling length brown paper to reveal numerous models waiting in a giant crate like contraption.

According to fashion blogs, the show was extremely low key with only a few recognizable faces like Vogue editor at large Andre Leon Talley. Recently, Marc Jacobs was in the news for banning celebrities from coming to his fashion shows. It seems as though even without the A-list clients his collection is still a hit. Marc told the New York Post he felt as though having celebrities at his shows is “boring” and he was streaming his show online in order to increase his audience.

The collection included many two-piece items, offering a classic elegance to the line. Every look had a working girl type feel to them with neutral tones and grays.  The A-line skirts were a hot item on the runway. Mary Jane shoes were popular with almost every piece modeled, offering a 1920’s look to the collection. Fur was also very popular with Marc Jacobs. My favorite look included a fox fur dress ensemble that looked stunning with long evening gloves. It seems as though PETA will have their work cut out for them after the presentation of all the fall fashion lines.

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Wildlife strikes have occurred throughout the history of air transportation. The FAA releases data each month detailing strike occurrences, but still many airports vary on when and how to report a strike.

By Taylor Oliver

Last January, Americans became aware of the growing problem known as bird strikes after flight 1594 crashed into the Hudson River. Thankfully in this particular circumstance there were no fatalities and Captain Sully Sullenberger became the new American hero. Large jet engines are not built to operate after a bird strike, especially that of a larger bird. Sandy Wright of the National Wildlife Research states, “When a 12 pound goose collides with an airplane the impact is equal to that of an elephant stampeding over a parked car.” This kind of force has serious consequences and with increased air traffic, the likelihood of bird strikes increases. Bird strikes are also more common during migration season, which is during late summer and early fall. Each month the Federal Aviation Administration releases data that details bird strikes that have occurred. The report contains great details even including the bird species and the cost of repairs to the plane.

In 2008, there were over 7,500 reported incidents of bird strikes. Most of the strikes occurred during the month of August, which as stated before is when the migration period begins for birds. The FAA advises airports to follow guidelines that hinder birds from settling in an airport habitat. Some of these guidelines include diminishing wetlands around the airport and not allowing specific plants to grow that could provide food or shelter for the wildlife. Airports must meet FAA requirements for wildlife hazard management, in order to prevent serious crashes.

In March 2008, a small Cessna plane leaving the Oklahoma City airport collided with an American white pelican causing the plane to crash just two minutes after takeoff.  The pilots and three passengers were all killed as a result of the bird strike. The National Transportation and Safety Board suggested that the FAA did not enforce their hazardous wildlife requirements for that particular airport, which is located near wildlife “attractants”. The recommendations to the FAA by the NTSB also suggested that a wildlife damage management biologist should assess any airport near woodlands, wetlands or water.  The NTSB also blamed the FAA for not publishing proper information that could help pilots deal with bird strikes if they occur. The raw data released by the FAA has not always been available for the public to view.

Over a 19-year period, the FAA collected bird strike data with hopes to ensure better airport safety. The FAA feared that by releasing the data to the public, airlines and airports would be cast in an unfair light based on the information found in the records. The data could in fact lead one to believe that a certain airport has more strikes than others, however it contains vital information for the public and pilots to learn from past incidents. Certain states and airports have more bird strikes than others, but perhaps that is because of the location or reporting requirements.

In Virginia, Norfolk International Airport has the highest number of strike reports for 2008 with thirty-two incidents. Richmond International reported nineteen incidents coming in behind Norfolk. Travis DeVault, who works as the field station and project leader at the National Wildlife Research Center in Sandusky, Ohio cautions not to draw conclusions from FAA data. Travis suggests that every airport varies on strictness, when reporting wildlife strikes. Norfolk International may in fact not have more strikes than Richmond, but just stricter reporting guidelines.  In the past only around 20 percent of wildlife strikes were reported, now Travis says the percentage is higher.

The National Wildlife Research Center in Sandusky, Ohio is part of the U.S Department of Agriculture. This particular field station in Sandusky deals specifically with wildlife strikes. There are 12 research biologists on staff, who investigate and experiment with wildlife strikes. The station is located at a NASA base, where wildlife strike research also serves to help the space program. NASA also has a concern for bird strikes due to the bird and vulture population located near their launch pad in Florida. Research at the Sandusky research station ranges from agriculture experiments to radar detection. Right now, biologists are working with technology that could help replicate bird vision giving them an insiders view on how birds perceive aircraft. Pulsing lights are also a large part of the research at the station according to Travis,

“Pulsing lights help to advertise the aircraft to birds giving them a chance to move out of the airspace.”

Some of the more bizarre strikes do not even occur with birds. In one circumstance in Florida, turtles were on the runway during a take off run. The most common species of birds to strike an aircraft is the mourning dove. Birds become even more hazardous to aircraft when they fly in flocks. Geese that fly in flocks present a greater risk to aircrafts than any other bird. The most dangerous type of species to hit a plane is deer. Deer can wander onto the runway unaware of their surroundings causing extreme damage. Most airports have a zero tolerance policy for deer and unfortunately the only resolution to the problem is by lethal means. In one instance at the Leesburg Municipal Airport in Virginia, a white tailed deer was on the runway as the plane came in for landing. The cost of repairs to the plane was over $35,000 dollars. The white tailed deer population is on the rise and poses problems for civil aircraft. There were 430 deer collisions with civil aircraft from 1990-1999 according to the FAA.

In Colorado a white American Pelican hit a business-operated plane causing over $2 million dollars worth of damage. Airlines cannot ignore the importance of taking precautions to prevent loss of human life as well as the loss of large sums of money. According to Travis Devault, wildlife strikes cause over $625 million dollars in damage to aircraft annually in the United States. The increase in public information on bird strikes should help to bring awareness and promote safer air transportation.’

Click on the chart below to view complete details:

Type of Species and Occurrence

Sources:

http://strikevideos.blogspot.com/

http://wildlife.pr.erau.edu/WildlifeManagement.htm

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/spotlight/birds_perceive_aircraft_Sep09.shtml

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0UBT/is_37_12/ai_50350272/

NERD BOX:

All Data used to create this article was available on the FAA mitigation website, which is all public record. Most of the analyzing was done in Microsoft Access or Excel. One problem with the data is that all records are not complete and as mentioned above not all airports report every strike. There is no law that requires civil aircraft to report each and every wildlife strike that occurs. Numbers could be different if every incident was reported.

The ACC football conference houses some of the most accomplished teams in the nation including Virginia Tech and the University of Miami. Success for a team is not only about the win they get each week; it is also about how much money a team can bring in each season.

A team must have success on and off the field, bringing in revenue to support the team without overdoing expenditures. Every year, institutions must report their athletic data to the U.S. Department of Education for the annual Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act. The most recent data reported is for the 2007-2008 school year. The Univeristy of Maryland was the only ACC school that did not report their data for 2007. The data reveals that revenue brought in by some of the most popular teams is just not enough to cover operating expenses.

The Atlantic Coast Conference consists of 12 division one teams all located on the East Coast. Virginia schools included in the ACC are the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Richmond residents usually find themselves in heated debates over whom to root for, University of Virginia or Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech has been a part of the ACC only since 2004, but they have proved themselves to be the team to beat, winning the ACC championship three times.

The popularity and success of Virginia Tech football contributes to the profits produced each year. Other fan favorite, University of Virginia, does not always show success on the field with a 5-7 record in the 2008 season.

Loyal fans like Drew Bahen of Richmond refuse to admit they have hit a rough patch, “it’s all about the support of the fans if we stick it out with our team, then we will see more success,” Bahen said.

Looking at success off the field in the ACC, there is no surprise that Virginia Tech brings in just over $30 million in revenue, while UVA brings in $20.4 million a year.

Interestingly enough, Virginia Tech was not the top revenue earner according to the Equity in Athletics Data. Clemson took the top slot as most revenue earned in the ACC with 33 million dollars.. Boston College had the most total expenses in the ACC with $23 million, but the program only took in $18 million, leaving them with a deficit of $4 million. UVA had the second most expenses for their football program with $21.9 million.

On the downside, when football teams have more expenses than revenues, the result is a deficit for the program. Expenses can include daily operation, travel, equipment and coaching salaries. Revenues include ticket sales, licensed apparel and alumni contributions.

The data provided does not include private donations made to the programs, which could affect the rankings. So what teams have the most profit?

Clemson once again comes in as the football program with the most profit at $13.7 million. As previously mentioned, Boston College had a $4 million deficit, giving them the title of football program with the biggest loss.  Duke came in just behind Boson College also with a deficit of 4 million dollars.

When looking at Virginia schools in the ACC, UVA shows a deficit for the program. The program at UVA brings in about $20 million but spends $21 million, producing a million dollar deficit. Calls to the athletic office were not immediately returned. Virginia Tech produced an $8 million dollar profit from their football program, which made them the third most profitable program in the ACC.

Frank Governali cooks up his specialty fried dishes as part of the second annual Chef Showdown in Shockoe Bottom.

By Taylor Oliver and Renne Perron

The smell of fried dough permeates through the 17^th street Farmers Market, enticing people as they stroll past. The source of this tempting scent is none other than Frank Governali. As a weekly vendor at the market, Frank cooks up specialty items such as steak on a stick, fried strawberries and fried Snickers. This weekend he’ll also be competing in the 2nd Annual Shockoe Chef Showdown at the market, placing his fried items on the judge’s plates.

Childhood

Before he began frying, Governali grew up a native Long Islander in a quiet neighborhood far from the fast paced life of New York City. He left home at the age of eleven and got his first apartment when he was thirteen. About four years ago, Governali came to Richmond on a whim to help out a friend.

Life in Richmond

Although he didn’t initially intend on staying, he ended up staying in the capital city for the next few years. His love of cooking led him to create Mark Anthony’s Menu, which offers catering services and fresh specialty items. The company was inspired by a tragic event in Governali’s life. His brother passed away in 2003 at the young age of seventeen. After his death, Governali took to food as a memorial to his brother, who also shared his passion to cook. It was cooking that helped him get through the tough time.

Life at the market

Today marks his ninth day at the 17^th street Farmers Market in Shockoe Bottom and already fans have stopped by to see what he is cooking up. Cindy Adams, a photography vendor at the Market, walks by to check out the menu selection. Her personal favorite is the zeppole or as what she describes as the “Italian fried dough”. Other favorites include the fried sausage and peppers. Another vendor, Mary Kroll otherwise known as “the goat lady” praises Governali for his variations on zeppole.

“This past Thursday he did zeppole with Creole shrimp in the middle topped with bleu cheese, which sounds like a strange combination, it was actually marvelous,” she said.

Today is a special occasion as he places his dishes to the test at the 2^nd Annual Chef Showdown. His fried strawberries, zeppoli and steak on a stick are among the dishes being tasted for the competition. For the big day, Governali has his sous chef Chris Gibson to help in preparing the dishes. Gibson praises Governali for his food and character:

“It doesn’t even feel like going to work it’s more hanging out and enjoying the market,” he said.

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Want to hear more about the rules and judging for the Chef Showdown? Click here to listen to the event producers discuss rules, judging and the planning process.

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Future

In the future Governali hopes to open up his own restaurant which would feature affordable dishes in a café atmosphere. As he describes his perfect restaurant Governali makes a point to say that it is important to him to give back and help those that are less fortunate. He strives to be able to create a restaurant where everyone can afford to eat and he can showcase his talent.

As people pass by, Governali calls out to them and invites them to try his food. If they seem hesitant at all, he offers them a fried shrimp or strawberry for free. He explains that he just enjoys seeing the look on people’s faces when they try his food, and that is why he keeps cooking.

“I’m living my dream, this is my dream” said Governali.

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Want to see pictures and here music from the chef showdown? Click on the picture to watch an audio slideshow from the event.

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Richmond boasts numerous authentic Cuban restaurants, but there may be a new competitor, especially when it comes to the Novo household of Midlothian. Cuban-American Raul Novo uses his hereditary skills to stir up top-notch Cuban cuisines and traditions to his family’s dinner table and beyond.

by Taylor Oliver

Cuban-Americans in Richmond

Richmond boasts numerous authentic Cuban restaurants, but there may be a new competitor especially when it comes to the Novo household of Midlothian. Cuban-American Raul Novo uses his hereditary skills to stir up top-notch Cuban cuisines and traditions to his family’s dinner table and beyond.

Trip to America

Black and white photographs of his birthday party in Cuba show Raul Novo as the kid who had to be held back from the cake. That same tenacity and spirit still is still apparent to anyone who has come in contact with Novo.

Raul Novo came to America from Cuba at the tender age of five. His family made its way to the U.S. on the Pan Am airlines “freedom flights”. According to Novo, these flights were only available from 1960 to 1961 and flew directly from Cuba to the United States. Novo’s mother and father settled in Chicago as they began their new life in America.

Memories of a distant culture

Novo, 53, has very few memories of his life in Cuba due to his young age. When he left, his mother was an attorney and his dad was a physician. But, he can recall, walking to Catholic school in his uniform wearing Navy blue shorts and an oxford shirt. Life in Cuba came to an end as the Novo family left their belongings and relatives to start their life in America.

Life in America

Novo is now an attorney himself, taking after his mother and he practices in the Richmond area. His family came to Richmond after his father took a position as an anesthesiologist at St. Mary’s Hospital in Henrico County when it first opened in the 1960s. There are less than 2 percent of Cuban Americans living in the Richmond area. It was not the most popular spot for the Novo’s to make their home; but it was an easy transition.

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Want to learn more about Cuban-Americans living in the Richmond area? Click here to listen to a detailed interview with Cuban/Richmonder Jose Lorenzo.

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Keeping Cuba close to heart

Cuban traditions are a staple in the Novo household with cooking being at the top of the list. Roast pork and black beans over rice are a personal favorite of the family’s. Alex Novo, the eldest son of Raul, gives rave reviews for his father’s slow roasted pork, saying it’s phenomenal. Many traditions that had originated in Cuba are now “Americanized” as Novo says, meaning they have an American twist put on them. The relationship between Cuba and the U.S., respectively, was a friendly one before the anti-Castro sentiment in America, which developed during the 1960s.

Family beliefs

The Novo family also has a “collective hatred” for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Raul even described his mother’s distaste for men who have beards. The “bearded saints” as they were called refers to Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, the leading figures in the Cuban communist revolution. Che Guevara has seen a recent rise in popularity specifically in the t-shirt world, as young adults wear red shirts with Guevara’s face stamped on the front. Novo said that every time he sees these t-shirts being worn he is tempted to ask the person if they understand who and what Guevara stood for.

Keeping in touch

The Cuban American population in Miami is exceedingly large as Cuba is only 90 miles off the coast of Florida. Many extended members of the Novo family reside in Miami. Novo described how his family in Miami has been sending medicine, food, money and clothes to Cuba for decades. His feelings on Castro are strong, but are not without warrant.

“If the U.S had chosen to squash Castro like a grape, we would all be better off today”, says Novo.

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Click the picture to view an audio slideshow about the Caravan to Cuba event which took place in Richmond. The event promoted communication and travel to Cuba and was hosted by the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party.

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Love for heritage

All unfavorable feelings aside, Novo looks at his Cuban heritage with pride. The Cuban-American culture in America thrives with music and food among other things. So what is Mr. Novo’s favorite part? Surprisingly Novo chose the art of argument, even though that was not a choice given.

“Cubans cannot shut up once you get us started on politics, music or food, so argument is my favorite cultural trait” Novo said.

Novo himself is also described as loud and energetic. Family friend Mason Fox, describes Mr. Novo as “the loudest and only male cheerleader at our baseball games.”

If Richmonders should ever lose their taste for popular Cuban restaurants like Kuba Kuba or Havana 59, they should look to the kitchen of Raul Novo; where their meal will include plenty of entertainment, conversation and superb food.

By Taylor Oliver

Gates opened at noon, but ticketholders arrived extra early to make sure they got a spot in the sold out crowd to see their favorite artists perform.

In its fifth year, Stone Soul boasts 20 acts with headliners such as Trey Songz, Jim Jones, The Clipse and Twista. The crowds were expected to reach from eight to ten thousand people. Food vendors and other sponsors of the event had booths set up for entertaining the large crowds during the musical acts.

According to Lieutenant Angela Greene of the Richmond City Police Department, the festival’s sponsors geared the festival towards families during the early afternoon hours with gospel artists and numerous activities for children. Children under the age of 5 were granted free admission to the event. The lines waiting to get into the concert were filled with children, teens and adults, who came out to enjoy their Saturday afternoon.

Local Richmonder, Jamie Dietz said that the family atmosphere helped to make the festival appropriate for all ages.

“The wide range of people at the concert creates such an interesting environment that is great for adults and kids,” said Dietz.

The latter part of the lineup included R&B and Hip-Hop artists for the older crowds to enjoy. Andrew Bahen of Midlothian said he purchased his ticket well in advance, anticipating that the festival would sell out.

“I am really looking forward to seeing The Clipse, but all the other acts look great too and I really can’t wait,” said Bahen.

Other attendees came from out of town to see the festival. Brittany Boden of Arlington said the lineup was just too good to pass up.
“Once I saw the artists who were coming to Stone Soul I knew that for the price of the ticket it was well worth it,” said Boden. Tickets were $20 in advance for the all day festival.

Greene said that the Richmond City Police Department had not done anything out of the ordinary with the large crowd that was expected. She said there were at least a dozen officers patrolling the grounds to keep everything under control. During the early afternoon, the only problems the police had were with illegally parked cars in no parking zones.

Crowd control had not become an issue in the first few hours of the festival, but with the headlining acts performing in the late afternoon, Browns Island began to fill up. Sean Malone of Fairfax said the large crowds would not keep him from seeing Twista and The Clipse.

“I can deal with the crowds and now that there is nice weather it makes it that much better,” said Malone.

Local Richmond radio stations Power 92.1 FM, Kiss 99.3 FM and Praise 104.7 FM were all at the festival promoting the event. Sponsors included Bud Light, FOX Richmond, McDonald’s and Kroger.

The festival proved to be a success among the music fans as well a success for a good cause. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales were donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. With the large attendees at the festival this year, it can only be assumed that it will be back again next year with another impressive line up.