Traffic cameras were installed in several intersections around the Beach to stop people from running red lights. The camera takes a picture of the car and license plate as it runs the light and the driver is sent out a ticket in the mail.

After concerns over privacy issues, the cameras went away several years ago, but are now back due to numerous red light accidents, and a sagging budget.

The fine for running the light is $50. If you are ticketed by a policeman for the same offense, your fine would be $150 plus points to your license.

Just for the record, I’m amazed at the number of people who run red lights down here. I suppose it’s due to the amount of traffic and the small amount of time the lights remain green, or maybe people are just impatient? I highly recommend when driving in VA Beach area to look both ways before proceeding when you get a green light at an intersection.

Of note is that a pair of eagles is nesting at the Gardens! Yes, really!

The pair has made 2 huge nests in a section of the garden. Eagle nests are incredibly large. I never knew! I say 2 nests because the pair abandoned their first nest after an owl took one of their eggs.

The Garden staff have set up telescopes so you can catch a glimpse of the eagles and also put up video cameras so you can get a closer view. For those of you who can’t make it to the area, you can check it out on the web.

I’d definitely recommend stopping in and checking it out if you can get to the beach this summer.

The VA Arts Festival holds a Tattoo Festival every year in Nofolk, VA at the Scope. Tickets start at $20 a piece and is well, well worth it so I hear.

The tattoo festival is actually a festival modeled along the festival in Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland. It has drums, dancing, pipers and a bunch of other exciting events.

Norfolk is a short distance from VA Beach…so I thought I’d include this!

This just goes to prove that good TV is always good even decades after it was created. My daughter Bekki especially loves the episodes where they play the banjo and sing. I like the show because it’s genuinely funny, and the people are actually NICE to each other unlike today’s shows where most of the humor that exists is basically one liner put downs. I also don’t have to worry about the show containing inappropriate situations or language.

I told my children that Andy Giffith actually lives close by(at least that’s what I had been told. They didn’t believe me–like usual.

Today, I’m at home pulling sick baby duty while they are off attending church and I read an article in the local newspaper about this very subject. Ah, proof that Mom indeed was right.

I never knew that Mr. Griffith had acted in “The Lost Colony” play on Roanoke Island! I found that to be very interesting. By the way, if you are in Virginia Beach visiting, it’s a nice drive to Roanoke Island. We took the children there a few months ago, and although they weren’t perfoming the play in the open air ampitheater by the water, we explored the musuem and walked around the park grounds. Supposedly, they’ll begin excavating the site this year to find out more about the colony.

Back to acting….I heard on a local radio station that the sheriff from “The Dukes of Hazzard” TV show also lives in North Carolina. Who would have guessed?

I said the same thing. Government offices, including the city offices are closed everywhere today in celebration of this little known holiday.

In fact, my daughter’s class was to visit the library today and suprise! it was closed.

What is exactly is Lee/Jackson Day? It appears to be a holiday only celebrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia to celebrate the birthdays of Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson. It is celebrated the Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

According to information, the holiday was created in 1889.

Who knew?

The planetarium is located at the government complex in Chesapeake, which is about 30 minutes from the beach front with traffic time.

The planetarium presents a 1 hour public program on Thursdays around 8pm, depending upon the time of year. For additional information, you can call the planetarium at 757-547-0153.

Our family’s favorite ethnic food store is The Delicate Oriental Grocery. This is the neatest store as it has all kinds of food from Japan, Vietnam, the Phillipines, and China. Adding to it’s “cool” factor was our experience the first time we went there. We came in and saw 2 oriental women with tongs running after a crab that had escaped from the basket. He was quickly making his way to the door. Now that’s one smart crab!

One of the other interesting cultural things in the store is the altar in the back of the store complete with offerings and incense burning.

We bought quite a few items and enjoyed reading the labels and looking at the products which were quite different than traditional “American” food. The store has fresh vegetables and also seafood as well.

The only downside–they take just cash! Remember to bring some along if you visit.

Actually, I should correct that to say that Virginia is a dangerous state to drive. Many people are from other areas of the country and so they aren’t entirely familiar with the roads. Add to that the sheer amount of traffic on the roads which are up to 6 lanes wide with no shoulders for emergencies. Sprinkle in a few agressive drivers and a dash of folks engrossed in cell phone conversations. Stir in a few drunk drivers and well, you’ve got it. Here we are.

I only half jokingly tell visitors that they should look both ways before pulling out after the light changes green. I can’t even begin to tell you the number of people I’ve seen running red lights, or just plain driving thru a red light because they were busy I suppose? Who knows.

“They” speak about creating better highways. I really think that much of the blame lies with the drivers themselves. Seriously, look around you and see exactly how many people are gabbing on their cell phones or checking out the GPS system. It’s a lot.

Just a friendly reminder–be safe and stay alert when driving!

There’s everything from upscale shopping(the MacArthur Mall in Norfolk and Towne Square in Va Beach) to the bargain shopping venues.

Did you know that The Dollar Tree has it’s corporate office in Chesapeake, VA? That’s right, it all began here.

The Dollar Tree has also expanded in our area anyway with an upscale party goods store and also a holiday store(these stores have inexpensive, quality products, but not necessarily for $1.00). A new addition to the stores in our area is a bakery. Yes, a bakery at the Dollar Tree. I love going in to the local store and just inhaling–hey that’s free.

Ok, with 5 kids, I spend quite a bit of time looking around the bargain stores, I’ll admit.

Last year, our local store actually handed out 10% off coupons. Wow! In addition, I caught a sale at the store last spring where the easter decorations were marked down to 25 cents each.