| Several members of the Peninsula Airport Commission this week defended the decision to close the Newport News airportâs trailer park and force out 77 tenants -- calling it a necessary step to prevent the struggling airport from having to spend millions of dollars to fix it up. But one commission member, Newport News City Councilwoman Sharon P. Scott, said the decision to close the trailer park could have been better handled by the airportâs staffers. She also termed the dollar amount the airport offered to tenants to leave early -- or a maximum of $2,000 if they left by May -- was âan insultâ to park residents. Scott asked for a status report on the trailer park as the Peninsula Airport Commission was about to end with no discussion of the trailer park. The commission never voted on the closure, and has deferred to its executive director, Mike Giardino, on that decision. The boardâs chairman, Jay Joseph, a strong backer of the decision to close the trailer park, said it needed to happen because the airport canât afford the money to fix the parkâs failing infrastucture. Read more in the Sunday Main News section
Remember eating a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar as a kid? Layers of strawberry shortcake crumble, and vanilla and strawberry ice cream. It cooled the soul on hot days and left smiles on faces. Relive this experience without having to chase and yell at the ice cream truck. Ease on down the road to Gimme the Sweets for the strawberry crunch cheesecake, also referred to as the strawberry shortcake cheesecake. It deserves a storefront of its own. Yes, itâs that good. The fresh fruit aroma makes the mouth water. The cold, soft crumble is a familiar topping fit for an adult young at heart; the cream cheese melts smoothly on the tongue. The moist strawberry cake crust sets this cheesecake apart from those made with graham crackers. Itâs like eating two cakes in one. Get the last bite by scraping the strawberry glaze that has settled at the bottom of the container. This decadent dessert leaves a lightweight, satisfying feeling. Read more in the Sunday Break section Detonations echoed across the Back River as dynamite planted under tree stumps liberated them from the loamy swamp. Away from the blasts, the chatter of men filling in craters mingled with the sounds of axes chopping and saws gnawing at Virginia pines. And 105 years ago, the construction of the flying field in Hampton had begun. The U.S. government had acquired the swath of land â once a closely knit neighborhood of plantations between the branches of the Back River in Elizabeth City County â for the militaryâs first installation devoted to air power. On the fringes of the Army airfield, the first laboratories of NASAâs predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, were born. Today, the chest-rattling roar of the F-22 Raptors thunders above Langley Air Force Base, which employs some 15,000 airmen and 5,000 civilians. It is the headquarters of Air Combat Command and home of the 1st Fighter Wing and 633rd Air Base Wing. The neighboring NASA Langley Research Center plays a critical role in the U.S. space program and has contributed to the first manned missions to the moon. Read more in the Sunday Break section A well-known public relations and marketing professional who rekindled the regionâs Homearama died unexpectedly on June 10. Mary Prier of Norfolk was 62. Running in many different circles, she was involved in various community service endeavors in addition to a marketing career that spanned a host of industries including health care, tourism and housing. âShe always had a story to tell and with so much expression, passion and enthusiasm,â said Barbara Morrison, Virginia Beach Fire Departmentâs public information officer. âHer face would light up, her eyes would get big and she had the biggest smile.â She leaves behind her husband, Jeffrey Prier, and a wake of people shocked and deeply saddened by her untimely passing. Prier also leaves a lengthy repertoire of accomplishments to her name. Read more in the Sunday Work & Money section 75 Years of Sitcoms Parade Picks - What's on your Bucket List Walter Scott Asks ... Martin Short | 