Living in the shadow of the shipyard:
The history of the North End Huntington Heights neighborhood and Newport News Shipbuilding are closely intertwined.Â
The shipyard was established in 1886 as the Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Co., and the historic neighborhood sprouted up around it. In the early 20th century, the neighborhood was considered the height of luxury and home to many of the cityâs elite â including shipyard presidents and city mayors.
Today, the shipyardâs enduring success means the neighborhood abuts Virginiaâs largest industrial employer, with a workforce of 25,000 and facilities that span more than 550 acres along 2 miles of waterfront in the cityâs southern end.
But residents of North End Huntington Heights say growth in recent years has made the shipyard a problematic neighbor. And living in its shadow, a burden. Read more in the Sunday Main News section
The three guitarists stand in the narrow, one-car garage this Thursday evening, tuning their axes.
It's already 10 past 6 and drummer Noah Kathe, sitting behind his drums, is fidgety. This group doesn't get much time to practice. He twirls a drumstick and shouts, "Ready yet?" but his words are muffled by the noise pumping out of five portable amps, the screeches of the guitars searching for E major.
Finally, around 6:15, Nick Walsh takes the mic and The Ventricles are ready.
The members are all fourth-year Eastern Virginia Medical School students; they landed on the name Ventricles after a group consensus deemed the name Failure to Thrive "too metal."
In an age when Garage Band is better known as a phone app, the students pull out instruments and cram into a garage at the corner of Langley Road and Redgate Avenue in West Ghent to play cover songs. Read more in the Sunday Break section In the 1980s, before he was a Los Angeles entertainment executive, before he wrote and produced award-winning films, before he managed Olympic-caliber athletes, David McFarland was a heck of a competitor on Old Dominion University's swim team.
He was also terrified of a life-long secret, petrified of declaring himself gay. He didn't know any gay professional or collegiate athletes to identify with, and the loneliness shaped his work. His documentary, "Alone in the Game," exploring the challenges of elite LGBTQ athletes, premiered to critical acclaim at the 2018 AFI DOCS Film Festival.
McFarland is returning to Norfolk â "where I got my wings," he said, "and my courage to come out" â to show his documentary and speak at the inaugural Virginia Queer Film Festival, Wednesday through Friday at ODU. Read more in the Sunday Break section
Coming Sunday to Sports: Coverage of the Virginia High School League state semifinals, which will feature local baseball, softball and boys and girls soccer teams taking on the best from around the state.
Oh, and if you're looking for tickets to this weekend's games, they're $10 and are available only through the VHSL at vhsl.org/gofan.  Note To Readers: A reminder that Parade magazine is now only found along with your e-edition of either The Virginian-Pilot or Daily Press each Sunday morning. Print copies of Parade magazine ceased after the November 13th issue.
The Ed Sullivan Show TURNS 75
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