July 4th festivities in Hampton Roads

Join the celebration of our nation's 236th birthday with parties and pyrotechnics.All phone numbers are the 757 area code unless otherwise noted.

30th Annual AT&T Fourth of July Great American Picnic & Fireworks. Patriotic tunes by the U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band, fireworks (9:30 p.m.) food and more, 5-10 p.m. at Town Point Park, Waterside Drive, Norfolk. 441-2345. www.festevents.org.

July 4th Celebration. Music, children's activities, food, fireworks (9:30 p.m.) and more. 4-10 p.m. Mount Trashmore Park, 310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach. 385-2990. www.vbgov.com/specialevents.

Stars & Stripes Spectacular. Music, fireworks (9 p.m.), food, children's activities and more. 6- 9:30 p.m. Constant's Wharf Park and Marina, 110 E. Constance Road, Suffolk. 514-7250.www.suffolkva.us/parks/events/.

Stars & Stripes Explosion. Fireworks (launched from a barge off 20th Street at 9:30 p.m.), music and more at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Details: 491-7866. www.beachstreetusa.com.

Independence Day Celebration. "Salute to the States" featuring Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums with musket and cannon salutes (10 a.m.), "Reading of the Declaration of Independence" (noon), fireworks (9:30 p.m.) and more. Colonial Williamsburg. 800-447-8679.www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/summer.

Cradock's 94th annual Patriotic Salute & Children's Bike Parade. Children's bike parade at 9:30 a.m. Afton Parkway and George Washington Highway, Portsmouth. 485-9471.www.historiccradock.org.

4th of July Stars in the Sky. Fireworks (9:30 p.m.), music and more. 7-10 p.m. Victory Landing Park, 23rd Street at the James River, Newport News. 926-1400.

July Fourth Celebration. Opening ceremonies at 11 a.m., bicycle and float parade (11:30 a.m.), fireworks (9 p.m.) Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 1589 Steeple Drive, Suffolk. 238-2359.

4th of July Celebration. Parade, music and more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lakeside Park, 1441 Bainbridge Blvd., Chesapeake. 543-0828.

Liberty Celebration. Featuring re-enactors, artillery demonstrations and more. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Yorktown Victory Center, 200 Water St. 253-4838.

Patriotic Pyrotechnics. 9:30 p.m. Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. 800-343-7946.

Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular. 9:25 p.m. milepost 11.5 on N.C. 12, S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head. 252-441-7132.

Sources: hamptonroads.com

Ron Howard: What I learned from Andy Griffith

Ron Howard shares memories of Andy Griffith and professional and life lessons learned from him.

Andy Griffith, left, and Ron Howard starred together on "The Andy Griffith Show." (File photo / September 8, 1998)

Early in the second season of "The Andy Griffith Show," I ventured a suggestion for a line change to make it sound more "like the way a kid would say it."

I was just 7 years old. But my idea was accepted and I remember standing frozen, thrilled at what this moment represented to me.

Andy asked me, "What you grinnin' at, youngin'?" I said it was the first idea of mine they'd ever said yes to. Without a pause, Andy responded for all to hear: "It was the first idea that was any damn good. Now let's do the scene."

That inclusiveness that allowed a child to truly be a part of something as unique and memorable as"The Andy Griffith Show"is something I will forever be grateful for.

Andy Griffith entertained us for decades on stage, via our radios, sound systems, TVs and up there on the silver screen.Comedy, drama or music, he brought his love of performing to each creative undertaking.

He was known for ending shows by looking at the audience and saying "I appreciate it, and good night." Perhaps the greatest enduring lesson I learned from eight seasons playing Andy's son Opie on the show was that he truly understood the meaning of those words, and he meant them, and there was value in that.

Respect. At every turn he demonstrated his honest respect for people and he never seemed to expect theirs in return, but wanted to earn it.

He taught me a great deal through the examples he set and the approach to our work on the set. I learned about comedic timing, paying off characters in the third act of a story line, and the equal values of both focused rehearsal and, at particular moments, of total chaotic spontaneity.

I saw him lobby against jokes that were admittedly funny but that were at the expense of and undercut the long-term reliability of a character.

I was fortunate to witness and even participate in thousands of minutely detailed creative problem-solving interactions with Andy always tirelessly engaged.

He proved hour by hour, episode by episode that creativity and neurotic angst were in fact not inexorably linked. He led by example and we demonstrated that a cast and company could play practical jokes on one another, laugh 'til they cried and still get 12 pages of the script shot every day while producing a No. 1-rated show.

And, as I look back today, knowing that Andy's vision yielded a show that still airs daily all over the country and holds an absolutely unique place in the annals of its medium, I'm reminded of another lesson taught by example.

Do all that, and don't forget to have as many laughs as you can along the way.

Ron Howard played Sheriff Andy Taylor's son Opie on "The Andy Griffith Show" from 1960 to 1968 beginning when he was 6 years old (he was 5 when the pilot aired in 1959). The young actor was credited on the popular series as Ronny Howard. He appeared again with Griffith in the 1986 TV movie "Return to Mayberry" and last worked with him on behalf of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign on an online political comedy sketch on the Funny or Die website.

Howard went on to become one of Hollywood's top movie directors with such hits as "Splash," "Cocoon," "Parenthood," "Apollo 13," "Ransom" and "A Beautiful Mind," which won four Oscars in 2002 including director and best picture.

Sources: latimes.com

Fireworks explosion sets NH house ablaze, fills it with smoke; 9 people, including kids, hurt

PELHAM, N.H. — A fireworks explosion likely inside a home set it ablaze Tuesday night and filled it with smoke, injuring at least nine people, police said.

When police officers and firefighters arrived at the home around 7:30 p.m., there were lots of fireworks in and around it, the police department said. The initial report was fireworks had blown up in the home, police said.

Firefighters put out the blaze.

The nine injured people ranged in age from infant to adult. Two children were taken to Boston hospitals for treatment.

Neighbor Richard Souza, who lives on a street behind the home in Pelham, a town of about 13,000 residents an hour drive south of Concord, said the people who live in the home set off fireworks every year for July Fourth.

He said there seemed to be a lot of fireworks going off Tuesday night and soon after fire trucks roared into the neighborhood and firefighters turned their hoses on the home.

“It sounded like they were squirting the house down,” Souza said.

A medical helicopter flew in to take an injured person away, he said.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sources: washingtonpost.com

Andy Griffith dead at 86

(CBS News) Actor Andy Griffith, whose portrayal of a rural sheriff in a popular 1960s TV show earned him the title of "America's Favorite Sheriff," died Tuesday morning. He was 86.

His death was confirmed in a statement from the Dare County, N.C., sheriff's office.

Griffith died at his home on Roanoke Island, Dare County, N.C., at approximately 7 a.m.

CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reports that while Griffith's long career stretched from nightclubs to radio to movies to music, it was a role as a small-town sheriff that made him beloved to millions of Americans.

Viewers tuned in to "The Andy Griffith Show" not to watch Sheriff Andy Taylor solve big crimes, but to watch him solve the little problems of life in the fictional Mayberry, N.C. Don Knotts played Deputy Barney Fife, and Jim Nabors portrayed Gomer Pyle, the gas pumper. Most critics consider the show, which ran from 1960 to 1968, one of the top four or five sitcoms ever shown on television.

"The Andy Griffith Show" was one of only three series in history to end its run at the top of the ratings. "I Love Lucy" and "Seinfeld" also bowed out on top. Griffith said he decided to end the show "because I thought it was slipping, and I didn't want it to go down further," reports The Associated Press.

Andrew Samuel Griffith was born June 1, 1926, in Mt. Airy, N.C., a town much like Mayberry. As a child, he sang and played slide trombone in the band at Grace Moravian Church. He originally wanted a career as a musician, but his skills as a storyteller, mixed in with lots of country humor, soon came out. His acting career started with the role of Sir Walter Raleigh in Paul Green's outdoor pageant, "The Lost Colony," in Manteo, N.C.

Griffith graduated with a degree in music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1949. After graduation, he taught at a high school in Goldsboro, N.C., before moving to New York. He soon became a regular on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Steve Allen Show" in the 1950s. In 1955, he starred in Broadway's "No Time for Sergeants," earning him a Tony nomination for outstanding supporting actor. Two years later, Griffith made his film debut in "A Face in the Crowd," alongside actress Patricia Neal. In 1960, he found himself with another Tony nomination, this time for best actor in the musical, "Destry Rides Again," in 1960.

In 1972, Griffith started his own production company. Throughout the '70s, Griffith continued his TV and film career, appearing in 1975's "Hearts of the West" with Jeff Bridges. He relaunched his 1960s sitcom, rebranding it as the "The New Andy Griffith Show," in 1972. It lasted one year.

Griffith made a big return to television in 1986, playing the title role in the TV legal drama "Matlock, which aired until 1995.

In the 1990s, Griffith also appeared in TV movies, including "Scattering Dad" and "A Holiday Romance."

He made a guest appearance on "Dawson's Creek" in 2001 and had a role in director Adrienne Shelley' 2007 film "Waitress," starring Kerri Russell.

Griffith never forgot about his music roots. He received a Grammy Award for best Southern, country or bluegrass gospel album for "I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns," in 1997.

The actor has been plagued by health issues through the years, suffering a heart attack in 2000, which led to quadruple heart-bypass surgery. In 2007, he underwent hip surgery after a fall.

Griffith recently lost a good friend, actor George Lindsey, who starred on "The Andy Griffith Show." Lindsey died in May at age 83.

At the time, Griffith released a statement saying, "Our last conversation was a few days ago ... I am happy to say that as we found ourselves in our eighties, we were not afraid to say, 'I love you.' That was the last thing George and I had to say to each other. 'I love you.'"

Griffith was married three times. His first marriage to Barbara Edwards ended in divorce in 1972. They had two children, Sam, who died in 1996, and a daughter, Dixie. He was married to Solica Casuto from 1975-1981. Griffith wed his third wife, Cindi Knight Griffith, in 1983.

"She and I are not only married, we're partners," Griffith said of his wife in 2007, according to The Associated Press. "And she helps me very much with everything."

Griffith received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2005.

Sources: cbsnews.com

Anderson Cooper comes out as gay

Anderson Cooper has made it official: He's gay.

The host of "AC360" and "Anderson" has never publicly confirmed that detail about his private life before, but he's never denied it, either. Cooper's sexual orientation has long been an open secret, but it took an Entertainment Weekly cover story about gay celebrities to prompt the newsman to finally come out.

Daily Beast blogger Andrew Sullivan, another openly gay newsman, wrote to Cooper asking for his reaction to the story and published the response on his blog, The Dish, on Monday morning.

In the email, Cooper states, "The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud."


He also discusses his reasons for keeping these facts obscured for so long. He writes, "I've always believed that who a reporter votes for, what religion they are, who they love, should not be something they have to discuss publicly."

But Cooper has rethought that stance and admitted that by keeping facts about his personal life private, he has inadvertently created a public perception that he's "uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid."

By coming out, he's hoping to dispel all those misperceptions, or as he says, "I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don't give that up by being a journalist."

As public acceptance of gays continues to rise, more and more celebrities are choosing to go public in low-key ways that are almost non-events. Earlier this year, "Big Bang Theory"star Jim Parsons went public with his sexual orientation as an aside, tossed off midway through a New York Times feature about his stage career.




Sources: latimes.com

Holmes faces Cruise, Scientology in fight for Suri

A helicopter believed to be carrying actor Tom Cruise arrives at the airport in Reykjavik June 30, 2012. Actress Katie Holmes has filed for divorce from her superstar husband Tom Cruise, ending a six-year marriage that produced one daughter and captivated celebrity watchers worldwide. The source said Cruise is out of the country filming a movie in Iceland.

Credit: Reuters/Ingolfur Juliusson

(Reuters) - Actress Katie Holmes faces two strong adversaries in her legal fight for sole custody of 6-year-old daughter, Suri, as she battles estranged husband Tom Cruise and his Scientology religion, experts said on Monday.

The "Dawson's Creek" actress, 33, made headlines last week when she filed for divorce from "Mission: Impossible" actor Cruise after nearly six years of marriage and one child.

While Holmes, Cruise and representatives for both have remained quiet about the reasons for the high-profile split, speculation in the media is that Suri, now at the age when she begins a formal education, and the Church of Scientology, of which Cruise is a key member, are central to the breakup.

"What's interesting is that there's three players in this case - the mother, the father and this very controversial concept of Scientology," said New York-based divorce lawyer Lubov Stark.

"The daughter is in the middle of this whole divorce. She seems to have been raised in Scientology up to this age, so if the judge comes in and gives custody to Katie Holmes, she can change (Suri's) religion," Stark said.

The Church of Scientology was founded by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, and it describes its practices as a religion. The organization believes man is an immortal being whose experience extends beyond one lifetime, and it has attracted followers including Cruise and John Travolta.

But some observers - including media mogul Rupert Murdoch - liken it to a cult. Critics think the group coerces followers to think like they do, and they accuse Scientologists of harassing people who seek to quit.

On Sunday, following last week's news of Holmes' divorce filing, Murdoch took to Twitter and called Scientology "a very weird cult" and Scientologists "creepy, maybe even evil."

SCIENTOLOGY AND THE MEDIA

"Scientology is a potentially unsafe, if not dangerous, organization," said Rick Ross, a New Jersey-based expert on cults and controversial movements who has served as an expert witness in court cases.

"I've received complaint after complaint over the years from former members."

Ross said Holmes' custody battle could hinge on whether Cruise decides to fight Holmes for custody of Suri and how much information comes out about Scientology practices, which the Church may not find in its interest.

Representatives for the Church did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Ross said it is unlikely the Church would get directly involved in the custody battle as it could bring negative publicity, but he believed members could leak information to "intimidate or discredit" Holmes.

Lawyer Stark said custody proceedings will differ substantially depending on whether they take place in New York, where Holmes filed, or California if Cruise can get the case moved to the state in which he resides.

In California, Stark said the courts presume joint custody, leading to a greater likelihood a judge would give both Holmes and Cruise the ability to make decisions for Suri.

"If the judge says they should have joint custody in California, then Katie would not have the ability to take Suri out of this religion altogether," said Stark.

In New York, the courts look at the best interests of a child and who's going to make decisions and care for the youngster. In that case, a judge might be asked to consider Cruise's religion, although the possibility appears remote.

"Religion can always come into it, but it's rare for a custody battle," said Josh Forman, a matrimonial attorney and partner at Chemtob Moss Forman & Talbert in New York.

Like Ross, Forman believed any negative publicity from a long trial might lead to a private settlement.

"I don't think it would be very good for Tom's career if he is seen as having a huge, dragged-out custody battle with Katie. I think they should really settle, and I see this as settling."

Source: reuters.com

10 Best Beaches In Hawaii

Hawaii has some of the best beaches in the world, some accessible only by helicopter or landing watercraft, some built around the high drama of intense waves crashing against razor-sharp lava rocks, and some that literally disappear under the high winter surf on the north shores of the islands. But which beaches are best for a day at the beach?

To find out, we asked the subscribers to our monthly newsletter, Hawaii visitor-industry businesses, and visitors to the Best Places Hawaii website for their votes for the beaches in Hawaii that are best for visitors. We asked for nominations in terms of beauty, activities, amenities, access, sand, and safety.

The staff at Best Places Hawaii voted, too, and we have personally visited all these beaches, most of them many, many times. Go to these beaches first, then to any others of your choice.

1. Lanikai Beach, Oahu

Considered by many locals to be the best swimming beach in Hawaii, Lanikai’s clear waters, clean, wide beach, and swaying coconut palms also make it a photographer’s dream. A mile-long stretch of powdered-sugar sand is perfect for sunbathing. Sparkling turquoise waters sheltered by a wide, protective offshore reef provide ideal swimming conditions. Other popular activities on Lanikai include kayaking, outrigger canoeing, sailing, surfing, and windsurfing. With the twin Mokulua Islands in the distance (one called the "Chinaman's Hat" due to its profile), Lanikai Beach truly lives up to its translated name of "heavenly sea."

2. Hanalei Bay Beach, Kauai

Lovely Hanalei Bay on Kauai’s North Shore may be the most beautiful beach setting in all of Hawaii. Hanalei is the largest bay on the island of Kauai and nearly a perfect semi-circle of white sand. Behind the beach is an utterly breathtaking backdrop of waterfalls and emerald mountain peaks wrapped in mist, soaring thousands of feet towards the heavens. The beach is two miles long, 125 feet wide, and bordered by the Hanalei River to the east and the Waipa River to the west. The ocean bottom slopes gently to overhead depths, and there are large coral reefs at both ends of the bay. Every ocean recreation activity you can imagine is available, from boating and windsurfing to kayaking up the placid Hanalei River. The bay is very popular with serious surfers. There is a public boat ramp and a 300-foot long pier used for fishing and swimming. The many “no dogs” and “no jumping off the pier” signs are blissfully ignored.

3. Kaanapali - Black Rock Beach, Maui

For some reason, this beach has many different names (among them Keka‘a Beach, Canoe Beach, Dig Me Beach). Whatever you call it, Kaanapali Beach in West Maui is a watersport lover’s paradise. Virtually every type of ocean recreation is available. Snorkeling and scuba diving are outstanding. The Black Rock is a large lava rock that divides the beach. This is a busy, popular beach that fronts two resorts. What you give up in solitude you gain in big time fun—shopping, restaurants, boat tours, fishing, kayaking, sailing, sunbathing, people-watching, and more.

4. Hanauma Bay, Oahu

Pretty and popular, Hanauma Bay is a victim of its own success. Formed thousands of years ago by the flooding of a volcanic crater, this nearly circular bay is home to an amazingly diverse and abundant population of fish life. Hanauma Bay is one of the best and most popular snorkeling and swimming areas in the world. However, excessive swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving have threatened the bay’s marine residents. The area’s designation as a marine life conservation district in 1967 wasn’t enough protection, so in 1990 strict visitor limits were initiated. Hanauma Bay is another of Hawaii’s most beautiful bays, but to enjoy its treasures you’ll have to plan ahead and arrive early for a visit.

5. Ke'e Beach Park, Kauai

Incredible sunsets are synonymous with Ke‘e Beach Park. Located literally at the end of the road on Kauai’s North Shore between the dramatic Na Pali Coast and Limahuli Stream, the reef lagoon at Ke‘e Beach is a favorite snorkeling site. The water is clear and there are tons of colorful reef fish and turtles. Ke‘e Beach has a very tropical look with a backshore lushly vegetated by ironwood trees, coconut palms, ti, and guava.

6. Kapalua Bay Beach, Maui 

Golden sand, swaying palms, calm waters. What more can you ask for? It’s just another day in paradise on this West Maui pocket beach. Situated between two lava points and bordered by a coconut tree grove, Kapalua is known for its tranquil surf, ideal for the less-than-adventurous swimmer and families with small children.

7. Hapuna Beach State Park, Big Island

A one-half mile long band of white sand that is over 200 feet wide in the summer months plus clean, clear water would describe anyone’s perfect imaginary beach. In winter, wild, thundering waves pound the shoreline. Fortunately, Hapuna Bay, on the Big Island’s west side, is for real and it is the most popular beach on the island. The ivory sands slope gently into a shallow sandbar that extends approximately 25 yards into the ocean. Swimming and boogie boarding conditions are excellent. Abundant fish and coral make for superb snorkeling and the wide beach is just right for frolicking and sunbathing.

8. Hulopoe Beach, Lanai

Formerly known as the “Pineapple Island,” where for decades the fruit was grown by the Dole Company, Lanai is now a remote and secluded vacation destination. Hulopoe Beach Park is an exquisite pocket beach at the head of Hulopoe Bay. The shoreline is quite steep, making it fine for swimming. Hulopoe has some of the best snorkeling in all of Hawaii due to the rich variety of colorful fish and stunningly clear water. The waters of Hulopoe Bay are part of the marine life conservation district, so fishing is limited to hook and line from the shore. For romance and intimacy, you won’t find a better beach than Hulopoe.

9. Poipu Beach, Kauai

The most popular beach on Kauai’s south shore, Poipu Beach is ideal for families. A small boulder breakwater creates a protected pool-like area where children and parents can play and snorkel. Outside the swimming area, the ocean bottom slopes gently to overhead depths. The south shore’s bays create year-round ideal wave conditions for body boarders and surfers. The beach is a pretty curve of white sand about 1,000 feet long and 50 feet wide, with plenty of room for sandcastle building or strolling. Sunbathers are occasionally joined by endangered monk seals that come up for a snooze on the shore.

10. Papohaku Beach, Molokai

How about miles of long, straight white sand beach, hundreds of feet wide, completely empty except for skittering crabs and soaring sea birds? Papohaku Beach is as close as you can get to the deserted tropical island of your dreams. Located on the west end of Molokai, which itself is between Oahu and Maui, Papohaku Beach also offers swimming, snorkeling, bodysurfing, body boarding, and surfing. This is the beach where you leave your troubles behind and get away from the world. On this remote beach on this remote island, the only footprints in the sand may be your own




Source
Images Source: Google.Com


See Also: Fraser Island - The Largest Sand Island In The World