It's WINDSday | January 24, 2024

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

It’s 4pm, and at Mike’s Break Room off Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach, a tableful of Detroit Lions fans is cheering for their team to beat Tampa Bay and move on to the NFC title game. 

But owner Mike Wilson, who was celebrating his birthday along with his wife, mother-in-law and daughter, knew the best was yet to come this day. Because at 6:30pm, the front and back rooms would be full of followers of the Buffalo Bills, as they entertained the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC semi. “We are here every game,” said Ponch Cabaday, the leader of an 85-person strong group of Bills lovers who brought their business here nine years ago. “We love Mike and what he does for us and the community, including a free fish fry during the Miami game and helping us raise $87,000 for charity.”

Soon enough, Ponch and his party were whooping it up, ordering food and drink and urging the pride of upstate NY to stop the Chiefs, a constant nemesis, and take a step toward their first Super Bowl victory after four consecutive losses in the early 90’s. 

Even with football revenue, Mike Wilson, a Bayside High grad and new WINDSday Partner as well as other sports bar owners he knows, are struggling. And it’s because the lucrative skill games he hosts are currently shut down, thanks to the courts.  The legislature may legalize them and impose a 15% tax.

“I don’t know if we can stay open without the games,” says Mike, who says they net him $8,000 a week. “Since they pulled the plug, we have cut staff, raised prices and delayed necessary renovations.”

Even though the Lions won this day, Buffalo lost to KC 27-24, effectively ending the football season at Mike’s. “If the Bills aren’t playing, we’re not coming,” says Ponch, yet another punch in the gut for sports bars in Virginia who look to Richmond for skill game salvation. For Mike’s Break Room, that can’t come soon enough. 

We caught up last week with former Virginia Beach councilman and delegate Glenn Davis who is now the Director of the Virginia Department of Energy. His goal? Help make “Governor Youngkin's All-American, All-of-the-Above Energy Plan (which includes offshore wind) a reality for Virginia.” You go Glenn.

In this photo taken at a reception in Richmond hosted by Conservatives for Clean Energy (CCE) are (l-r) Stephanie Hazekamp, Chairman of Young Republicans of Virginia; Glenn Davis; State Senator Tara Durant (Fredericksburg); Thomas Turner who heads the CCE in Virginia; and Victoria Higgins with the Chesapeake Bay Climate Action Network. 

Given how new the wind energy industry is in Hampton Roads, finding experienced people to train technicians requires imports.

Like Tracey Butts. The 25-year-old Kansan took an intense 240-hour Renewable Energy and Communications Tower Technician Program at Airstreams in California, then worked on towers in Texas, Pennsylvania and Idaho.

“I really wanted to teach though,” says Butts. And while on a job in Montana, he learned of an opening at Centura College in Norfolk. “Fate was looking out for me.” 

Today Tracey is instructing young climbers on how to troubleshoot turbine component problems, extract injured workers and do it all safely while also learning how to beome GWO (Global Wind Organization) certified. “I love every minute of it,” says our newest tower tutor. “And now I’m engaged.” Perhaps we now have this talented midwesterner in our community for life. 

The food served at O’Yummy Sushi on Great Neck Road is decidedly Japanese, but the décor is Chinese. Credit that to Jasmine Lin and her team, which preps and serves a delicious product and plenty of it. 

Try three types of sushi, sashimi and rolls, and if you’re still hungry, ask for more. It’s all you can eat for one price. “For us, this is better than a buffet,” says Jasmine, “because we only make what you will eat. No waste.”

Jasmine arrived in the US from China in 1995 because that country’s one child policy at the time put a premium on boys. “Many girls were abandoned.” Dumb for them, lucky for us because many American families adopted the babies.  

As for the art, pictures, plants and other colorful items that line walls and mantels, Jasmine says they are “good luck” charms.

So if you need a little of that and a lot of Volcano Roll (salmon, crabmeat, cucumber), Twin Tower (eel, shrimp tempura), Crazy Monkey (fried banana, spicy crab) or something more traditional (California, Boston, Tuna, Avocado), dine in or take out a box from O’Yummy. Could be your lucky day.  

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