McAfee Alerts

McAfee Alerts have been added to my blog. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Buffalo Riders of Hampton Roads

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I have posted photos of the annual Buffalo Riders Parade on my Flickr site. Click on the link or copy and paste. > http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldetownephotos/sets/72157623351280055/

2012 photos here > http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.353839394650007.88715.123815644319051&type=3#!/media/set/?set=a.3302301079672.304027.1332321700&type=1

Olde Towne Scottish Walk

Thanks to David Cartier for permitting me to repost his entry from his blog, "What's New in Olde Towne". To mark the coming New Year, a crowd will gather in Olde Towne Portsmouth for the 12th Annual Olde Towne Scottish Walk this Thursday, December 31, 2009. The Olde Towne Scottish Walk is modeled after Scotland's Hogmanay Festival, a day when townspeople honor their community and merchants and offer blessings for prosperity in the coming year. The Olde Towne Scottish Walk, a procession of locals, family, friends an visitors led by pipe-and-drum bands, starts at Queen and Washington streets and ends at High Street Landing in Olde Towne Portsmouth. Participants will gather at 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Monumental United Methodist Church. After the tuning of the pipes (about 4 p.m.) the walk will make its way through the streets of Olde Towne to the foot of High Street. At High Street Landing, there will be a flag raising ceremony honoring George Washington's raising of the first flag "the Grand Union" on New Year's Day. Participants in the walk will all join hands and sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ as a way to thank the local merchants for their work in the holiday season and to wish the community ‘good luck’ in 2010. Many people are familiar with ‘Auld Lang Syne’ yet few may actually know what 'Auld Lang Syne' is all about. Of course, many people will instantly associate the words with "Scotland" or perhaps ‘New Year’. Some people consider it to be an international expression of friendship, fellowship and hope. Others perceive it to be a simple song, presented at the conclusion of a social gathering, remembering the past and re-affirming the importance of our future, and those important to us. Of course ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is ALL of these things! "Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish poem that was written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. It is well known in many English-speaking (and other) countries and is often sung to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight. Canadian band leader Guy Lombardo is often credited with popularizing the use of the song at New Year’s celebrations in America, through his annual broadcasts on radio and television, beginning in 1929. The song became his trademark. And, what actually is the Hogmanay Festival? Hogmanay Night, celebrated on December 31st every year, is still strong in Scotland and comprises several deep-winter activities, many of which, like Hogmanay, derive from early pagan rituals. This celebration dates back as far as the Vikings. Its roots are found in the pagan practice of fire and sun worship during the dark months of winter. Later this became the Roman celebration of 'Saturnalia' where the people celebrated without any inhibitions or restraint. The Vikings celebrated a variation of this festival and called it 'Yule' which later became the 12 days of Christmas or 'Daft Days'. Although Hogmanay is a great reason for merriment one must not forget the more benevolent values that represent the soul of Hogmanay. Hogmanay is a time for charitable goodwill and acts of kindness to one’s neighbors, a night to renew old acquaintances and to reflect on lessons learned from the past year and to make the following year a success. On that note, here’s to 2010 and a happy and prosperous year to all the readers and contributors of our blog, ‘What’s new in Olde Towne’. Happy New Year! So, come wear your warmest woolens and plaids and join in the fun. For more information, contact Susan Heeley Cocke at 757.650.3052. Be sure to look for the lighted boat parade along the Elizabeth River seawall at 8 p.m. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Throughout his hospitality career, David Cartier has been responsible for marketing destinations from Maine to Virginia. He will share the latest on the people, events and what’s happening in historic Olde Towne, Portsmouth. David, along with his wife Betsy own and operate Starboards Coffee Kiosk at High Street Landing, where they provide area information to locals, visitors and boaters alike.
 Follow Up: Under a sky of "Scottish Sunshine" several hundred people paraded through Olde Towne Portsmouth behind a bagpipe band and honor guard to the beginning of High Street at the seawall on the Elizabeth River. Auld Lang Syne was sung and a ceremonial program commemorating the Revolutionary War with a Flag Raising ceremony of the Grand Union Flag of 1776 and addresses from interpreters portraying Benoni Bradner of New York, the Rev John Braidfoot, Anglican priest from Portsmouth, and Gen Joseph Reed who delivered a message from General Washington in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The ceremonies concluded with a rousing thirteen-gun-salute as each of the original states' names were called out. The warmth of the afterglow continued down High Street and into the local pubs and eateries where music was enjoyed and new friendships were made and old ones rekindled. For some photos of the events, please click on the TITLE above or visit my Flickr Photostream > http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldetownephotos/sets/72157623003586735/

Photos of "Holidays In Olde Towne" posted

Click on the link above to go to the photo set on my Flickr Photostream. Or here >
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldetownephotos/sets/72157622990072694/

I haven't edited these yet. They are just for a sneak preview. Email me with your requests or feel free to download. Thanks, Clyde

Holidays in Olde Towne ( Portsmouth VA )

I wanted to spotlight one of my favorite landmarks and post some of the upcoming events for the Holidays in Portsmouth, but it looks like my friend David Cartier beat me to it. He has done all the legwork and he and his wife, Betsy have composed a newsletter that covers everything. I doubt there is anything left to say except Thanks for all you've done for Olde Towne, Portsmouth and me especially.

Check it out here > Starboard's Guide to Holidays in Olde Towne

and here: Starboards Coffee Kiosk

more events > http://www.portsvaevents.com/december_09.html

printable PDF > http://www.portsvaevents.com/downloads/OldeTowneHolidayMusicFest-EventGuide.pdf

Olde Towne Home Tours

Veterans' Day

A Soldier Died Today

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier—
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Join the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans Organizations in honoring our nation's veterans. This parade begins on Atlantic Avenue at 17th Street and continues to the Veterans Memorial on 19th Street.

Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race - Results

The results are in ! Although the Pride of Baltimore II crossed the finish line first, a handicap advantage awarded Lady Maryland with the 1st Place honors. http://www.schoonerrace.org/results09.htm