Celebrating the Power of Wind, Clean Energy and a Green Environment

We wish there were more Alan Bomars out there. A superintendent at Newport News Shipbuilding, he’s fully aware of the coming of offshore wind; but as a weekly reader of It’s WINDSday, he also appreciates the opportunity we offer to share “power of wind” experiences.

Alan has them constantly, as a frequent participant in Hampton Yacht Club (HYC) and CCV-Racing contests in the Hampton Roads Harbor, site of the Monitor Merrimac battle. Alan invited us to join other sailors for one of their WINDSday races. 

Warriors Hugh, Jayna, Season, Amanda, Vince, Pamela, Sara Jo, Joel and Christina jumped at the chance to be casual crew.

What a blast! Seven boats in our fleet, with their sails aloft and their captains skillfully trimming and tacking to manage the 8 knots of breeze, maneuvered through the “course,” then made a mad dash for the finish line in the hour-long competition, more a tune-up for larger weekend regattas.

Alan and “roundabout” mate David Stalfort (pictured in the boat above) are active in Youth Sailing Virginia, helping disadvantaged kids on the Peninsula learn the ropes, starting with swimming.

Becoming proficient at sailing can lead to a career in the Coast Guard, where David, who works for the American Bureau of Shipping, which will classify offshore wind work vessels, was a captain.

The Hampton Yacht Club Past Commodore,  Leigh Chapman (posting WINDSday sticker) and her fellow members are obviously not afraid of the cold since they are hosting their annual Frostbite Series this fall. 

For more info, visit www.hamptonyc.com, 

www.ccvracing.us and 

www.youthsailingva.org. And be like Alan Bomar. Tell us your wind story at joel@rubincommunications.com. You might get a feature in a future "It’s WINDSday."

Jon Abrahams and his lively crew of shooters and editors at Jpixx in Virginia Beach have been by my side for most of a decade, producing videos for a host of clients.

Another Jon passion is baseball, specifically the Royals of Kansas City, his hometown. So naturally he was more than willing to commit some talent to join freelancer Doug Sesny (13 News vet) at Harbor Park on 9/14 to capture the sounds and sights (like my ceremonial first pitch) of WINDSday Night at the Tides. Check out the finished product.

Like my company, Jon could not run a successful business without his able wife. He met Teviya while both were students at the University of Missouri.

Today they have two talented kids (11-year-old Nova and 9-year-old Epic, love the names), and nine employees (at last count). For five years, their growing staff worked out of the family’s Larkspur home, stowing equipment everywhere and recording sound in the kids’ bedrooms.

“It was crazy, but I got used to it,” says Teviya, an art education major in college. Jon traces his love of videography to a camcorder his mom gave him.

Capturing events is a Jpixx specialty, but so are corporate projects. Check out www.jpixx.com for examples of their award-winning work. “I really like the WINDSday campaign,” says Jon. “It takes a serious subject and makes it fun and approachable.” That’s just the kind of formula that appeals to Jon, Teviya and the crew, who thankfully (says mom) are now in office space near Town Center.

Curbside Recycling is gone in Chesapeake, for now, but there are still ways to make sure your bottles, cans and paper stay out of the normal waste stream.

A citizens group called Chesapeake Recycles (www.chesapeakerecycles.com) is holding a public forum on October 26 (it’s a WINDSday!) from 6-7:30pm at ForKids in South Norfolk, 1001 Poindexter Street. 

There will be prizes, demonstrations and advice from industry experts. CLICK HERE to register.