Seatack s First School Board Candidate Sharon R. Felton. Lifetime Seatackian Makes History in Virginia Beach

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1 Official Newsletter of the Seatack Community Civic League Seatack Community Civic League is accepting new members! Join us for JUST $12 per year! Enjoy the following benefits of membership: Membership Card Voting rights Privilege to post announcements in the SCCL newsletter (some rules and regulations apply) Complimentary entry to the SCCL Annual Meeting and Election of Officers Reception Ability to serve on the SCL Board or as an SCL Officer (based upon need and outcome of majority vote.) SPECIAL NOTE: Senior Citizens 75 years of age or older, who have resided in Seatack for 50 years or more, are exempt from paying the yearly dues and are still recognized as members in good standing with all the above mentioned benefits. APPLICATION ON PAGE 5 For more information on membership, contact Elizabeth Mills, 2nd Vice President or ggluckygirl@yahoo.com January 2012 Winter Edition Lifetime Seatackian Makes History in Virginia Beach January 7, 2012 Happy Historical Day that was the phrase coined by Seatack senior, Ms. Verta Mae Dukes as the City of Virginia Beach in partnership with the Seatack community Civic League came together to honor and recognized Mr. Joseph V. Grimstead for a lifetime of service to the community. To commemorate his contributions and dedication to the community, the Seatack Community Recreation Center was renamed The Joseph V. Grimstead Seatack Community Recreation Center. The ceremony, emceed by Cindy Curtis, Deputy City Manager in Va. Beach, enticed more than 300 supporters to include the Seatack Community, government officials, Masonic Lodge members statewide, and more, to gather to witness, yet another victory of the Seatack Community Civic League, led by President E. George Minns. For more than 5 months, President Minns had been in conversation with officials from the City of Virginia Beach serving as the chief champion of the renaming of the center. The [unborn] baby, 40 years from today, has a right to know the [true] history of Mr. Joseph V. Grimstead, Sr. contributions to all of the citizens of Virginia; as well as a right to know the [true] history of the "Seatack Community and Recreation Center", which is unlike any other recreation center in the City. This statement was the driving force behind the petition led by Mr. Minns. Mr. Grimstead is the 2nd African American cont. on page 2 Seatack s First School Board Candidate Sharon R. Felton Seatack is a community of firsts. From a volunteer firefighter squad of all black men, to residents who were 10 time winners on the Showtime at the Apollo, Seatack loves to celebrates its sons and daughters who are making a name not only for themselves, but the Seatack Community as a whole! Meet Sharon R. Felton, a life long resident and Seatack s first Applicant/ Candidate for the City of Virginia Beach School Board. Sharon answered the call when a seat became vacant on the school board in December cont. on page 3

2 Page 2 Below Bishop BK Thoroughgood; Mr. Grimstead; Mayor Sessoms; and Victor Grimstead Below Members of the Most Worshipful Princess Hall Grand Lodge of VA; Mr. Grimstead; Mayor Sessoms The Current Lifetime Seatackian Makes History in Virginia Beach (cont. from pg. 1) to have gained building naming rights in the City of Virginia Beach. School on North Birdneck Road. A Brief History The land where the Joseph V. Grimstead, Sr. Seatack Community and Recreation Center is now located has served many purposes over the past 200 years s - Part of the almost 100 acre farm of the Thoroughgood Family. February 4, Mr. Joseph C. Williams (Thoroughgood Family) sold two acres of his land for $ to the African American community of Seatack to build a school for the Negro children of Seatack Princess Anne County School Board built and opened the first Seatack Elementary School May 20, A Civil Defense Unit was organized in Seatack. Building on Seatack School land became the Office of Civil Defense. Right Mayor Sessoms; E. George Minns; Bishop BK Thoroughgood; Bishop Ted Thomas; Rev. Vernon Ricks Above Fire Chief of the city of Virginia Beach greeting Mr. Grimstead July The Seatack Volunteer Fire Department Company No. 12 was formed. This was the first and only black owned and operated Fire Department in the United States. The Seatack Public School League deeded the property to the Seatack Volunteer Fire Department after Princess Anne County opened Seatack Elementary August 8, Joseph V. Grimstead, Sr., as President of Seatack Community Property, Inc. signed the Deed of Dedication of the Seatack Center land over to the City of Virginia Beach in exchange for the City to build the Seatack Community and Recreation Center that exist today on this site. For the complete history, visit Purchase your Joseph V. Grimstead Commemorative Pack to include: DVD of the Ceremony Official Program CD of Photos of the ceremony $25 for all three items! BEST VALUE! or $10 each. These items are being produced based upon order. Due to the high demand, orders may take up to 2 weeks for delivery. Contact E. George Minns or georgeminns52@yahoo.com

3 Page 3 The Current Seatack s First School Board Candidate (continued from pg.1) Per the City of Virginia Beach law, the sitting board has the power to interview and appoint an applicant/ candidate to an open seat. 13 applicants across the City, from all walks of life submitted applications. After an initial public hearing of all applicants, 5 finalists were chosen; among them Seatack s own, Sharon Felton. The final public interview was held on December 16, Each of the 5 applicants were given 10 questions to answer ranging from their knowledge of Compass 2015, the school boards strategic plan, to questions about their method in which they would handle hot topics such as budget cuts, cell phones, and redistricting. In the end, Felton was not ap- pointed to the seat. Her passion for education and her willingness to cooperate was very well received by the School Board and members of the public. The seat was given to a prior appointee, a lawyer from Virginia Beach, who was not voted in by the voters in the last election. But that has not deterred Sharon Felton from seeking the seat in the next election. She has dedicated the next few months to reaching out to the city at large to meet the people and let them know that she is seeking office to represent the parents, students, and community at large regarding the education of our children. Her qualifications are as follows: Lifetime resident of Via Beach A product of the Va Beach School System Her children and grandchildren are products of the Va Beach School System She hold s a bachelors degree in History, minor in Education. (Honor graduate) She is currently working on her Graduate/Masters Degree in Education. For more information call Sharon Felton directly at or her sharonr.felton@gmail.com 200th Celebration Commemorative Items for Sale! Seatack 200th Year Celebration Souvenir Journal - $35.00 Professionally printed glossy journal includes historical facts and photos about Seatack; Seatack Family photos and Ads, and words from our supporters, sponsors and friends. Three Pack - $25 BEST VALUE! To include: DVD/Video of the 200 th Black Tie Gala Event October 15, 2011 CD of Seatack History Slide Show CD of 200 th Black Tie Gala Photos (or purchase individually for $10 each) Seatack Medallion w/ Blue Ribbon - $25.00 (shown to the right) Seatack Crest Button - $5.00 Seatack Community 200 Years " Baseball cap - $15 (allow 2 weeks for delivery) Proceeds benefit projects and functions of the Seatack Community Civic League. Contact GG Mills to order or purchase your Seatack Commemorative and Logo Items! or visit

4 January 2012 Winter Edition Page 4 Honoring 200 Years of Seatack October 14 16, 2011 the Seatack Community Civic League Board of Directors hosted the 200th Birthday Celebration of the Seatack Community. Under the leadership of the event cochairs, Chasta Mangum and Elizabeth GG Mills, the 200th Celebration was the highlight of the fall/ winter season in the Virginia Beach community. The festivities began with a meet and greet on Friday evening at the Best Western Hotel on the Oceanfront. Over 100 people enjoyed food, fellowship and fun as past times were relived and the future was much anticipated. Saturday morning was Community Day. Families gathered on the grounds of the original Seatack Elementary School (now the Law Enforcement and Training Academy) to enjoy a carnival type atmosphere. The attendees were serenaded by the gospel sounds of local choirs, soloists, dancers, all originating from the Seatack Community. It was an evening of elegance as more than 450 people gathered at the Virginia Beach Convention Center for the 200th Black Tie Gala. Government Officials, supporting civic leagues, corporate sponsors, were all in attendance. The most important attendees were the generations of Seatackians that joined together to honor and commemorate our rich history and prosperous future. Kurt Williams of News Channel 3 served as the Master of Ceremonies for the gala and engaged the audience with his quick humor and his ability to connect with our heritage and history. Bishop Barnett K. Thoroughgood served as the key note speaker. His message of the past, present and future, invoked feelings of nostalgia, appreciation, pride, and unity amongst the Seatackians in attendance. His message highlighted our history and how it has shaped us to continue to press on and preserve what makes us strong each other. Pastor Aloysius Albritton honored the audience with his rendition of You Raised me Up, Mr. Joseph V. Grimstead was the recipient of the Life Time Achievement Award; recipients of the Trailblazer Award included Ms. Rosa Norman, Ms. Sadie Shaw, Bishop Barnett K. Thoroughgood, and Ms. Susie Whitehurst. Thank you to our sponsors; Bishop Barnett K. Thoroughgood and the New Jerusalem COGIC; City of Virginia Beach; Towne Bank; and Mr. Gary McCollum. Thank you to the local businesses, local churches and community organizations who purchased tables.; and thank you to the Diamond, Emerald, Platinum and Silver patrons. If you are interested in purchasing commemorative items from the 200th Celebration to include a souvenir journal, medallions, buttons, hats, DVD of the Gala, see the back for pricing or visit seatackcivic.org. To view more photos from the event visit

5 SEATACK COMMUNITY CIVIC LEAGUE Membership Application Membership is open to all residents and friends of the Seatack Community. SCCL Membership is $12 per person per fiscal year. The fiscal year is July 1 June 30. Name: FIRST LAST MI Address: City: State: Zip: Home Phone: Cell: Date of Birth: Employer: Spouse s Name: Position: Please list other community organizations, civic leagues and clubs that you belong to: Check all that apply: I currently reside in Seatack I own property in Seatack My family resides in Seatack I am a former resident of Seatack I work in Seatack Other: I am interested in: Serving on the Board Public Relations/Marketing Newsletter Youth Committee Serving as a Street Captain Fundraising Neighborhood Beautification Membership Drives Other: SPECIAL NOTE: Senior Citizens 75 years of age or older, who have resided in Seatack for 50 years or more, are exempt from paying the yearly dues and are still recognized as members in good standing with all the above mentioned benefits. Exempt Seniors still need to complete an application. Return application and payment at a monthly Civic League Meeting; to any SCCL Board member or mail to PO BOX 4252, Va Beach, VA Please allow 2 weeks for processing. Membership cards and copies of the SCCL By-Laws and Constitution are available for pickup at regularly scheduled SCCL meetings. There is a charge to replace lost membership cards. For more information you can seatackcivic@gmail.com or call E. George Minns at

6 Seatack. A great place to live...an AWESOME place to call home. A Message from the President E. George Minns Dear Citizens, God is Boss. Seniors are still in charge of Seatack. The sky is the limit. nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" SEATACK COMMUNITY CIVIC LEAGUE Address: PO BOX 4252 Virginia Beach, VA seatackcivic@gmail.com Web: Board of Directors E. George Minns President Sharon R. Felton 1st Vice President Elizabeth GG Mills 2nd Vice President Chasta Mangum Treasurer Trameka Smalls Secretary Pastor Aloysius Albritton Chaplain Ernest Sunny Harris Member at Large Doug Harris Member at Large Ben Thompson Member at Large If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream---and not make dreams your master; If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same:. If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch -and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss: If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much: If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son! - William Kipling This is why I do not ask anyone s permission to be myself; nor should you. Seatack need not seek permission to be Seatack. It was, is, and still shall remain Seatack. We know who we are; see you at The Top. Seatack Community Civic League invites you to our monthly meetings! Date: 1st Monday of each month Time: 6:30pm Place: Joseph V. Grimstead Seatack Community Recreation Center All are welcome to attend. To be placed on the agenda, you must contact President E. George Minns at least one (1) week prior to the meeting. Only topics beneficial to the Seatack Community and it citizens will be considered.