The Virginian-Pilot

urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:1234 HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com http://www.pilotonline.com The Virginian-Pilot 2010-09-02T18:22:28-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567618 So long, Norfolk; next stop: Baltimore 2010-09-02T21:09:20-04:00 2010-09-02T20:59:07-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK Three Norfolk Tides players quietly prepared for the next phase of their careers Tuesday night. Together, they represented the first wave of reinforcements destined for Baltimore when major league rosters expanded the next day. Individually, their backgrounds reveal a trio of players traversing the winding road of pro baseball, all at different points along the way. The Orioles began the process of September call-ups by tapping outfielder Nolan Reimold, shortstop Robert Andino and first baseman Brandon Snyder from Norfolk. Starting pitcher Chris Tillman, who worked 6 2/3 innings Tuesday for the Tides, is expected to join them. Other possibilities include pitchers Troy Patton or Alberto Castillo, who could provide bullpen help. "Everyone knows what day it is," manager Bobby Dickerson said. "It's an exciting time for those guys and an exciting time for our organization." Though the three already called up have the same destination, the promotion had a different meaning for each. Reimold hit rock bottom this season and battled for months to return to where he still thinks he belongs. Andino is a veteran, with 342 major-league at-bats, but has enjoyed little success. Snyder, a former first-round draft pick, will soon make his big-league debut. Reimold dressed in silence Tuesday, grabbed a bat and shuffled alone to the cage for extra work with hitting coach Richie Hebner. As the season wore on, this became a near-daily ritual. Later, Reimold acknowledged his excitement and gratitude at returning to the Orioles. Now, he needed to work. This season taught Reimold, 26, that success in the majors can come fast and disappear even faster. The Orioles expected Reimold to bat in the middle of their lineup this season; instead, he faltered early, prompting a demotion to Triple-A. Throughout the first half of the year in Norfolk, his batting average hovered around .200. "You get to that point where it's either sink or swim," Reimold said. "Either get yourself together or just get out." The second half reenergized him. He started playing like the guy who hit 15 home runs for Baltimore in 2009. He raised his average to .249 and leads the Tides in on-base percentage (.364). "I'm going to go back up there to forget about the first half of my season and focus on the positives," Reimold said. Andino tried to downplay the promotion. He hopes he will play well enough this time to stay. Still, after shuttling between the majors and minors every year since 2005, he realizes he probably should mitigate his expectations. He still thinks he can contribute in the big leagues. He's having his best minor-league season, leading the Tides in RBIs (76) and leading the International League in hits (144). But his lifetime .213 average in the majors with Florida and Baltimore speaks for itself. Andino has amassed nearly three years of service time, playing in the majors for a portion of the last five seasons. This will be No. 6. At 26, he knows his window of opportunity will soon close. "Go talk to Snyder," he said, gesturing across the clubhouse toward his teammate. "This is his first time going up there. He can probably tell you more than me." Snyder quickly packed. He tried to mask his glee, but the enthusiasm shined through. A baseball adage says players should "act like they've been there before." But Snyder hasn't, and that first call-up only comes once. "It's a really, really nice surprise," Snyder said. "I'm very, very thankful and very, very fortunate to even have this. It's just awesome." The Orioles selected Snyder No. 13 overall in the 2005 draft, but his minor-league stats have been inconsistent. He hit .257 in Norfolk this year with nine home runs and 43 RBIs and has never topped 13 homers in a season. Yet, this call-up represents an opportunity to impress new manager Buck Showalter. A good month with Baltimore can make all the difference heading into 2011 spring training. "Just the fact that they're giving me an opportunity to go up there and play and show what I can do is really special, and I really appreciate it," Snyder said. "I just want to go up there and do well." That's one part of the story all three players share. Jared Diamond, (757) 446-2039 jared.diamond@pilotonline.com Norfolk, VA Anonymous So long, Norfolk; next stop: Baltimore The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567618 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567617 Labor Day closings in Hampton Roads, Virginia 2010-09-02T20:58:11-04:00 2010-09-02T20:54:25-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

Courts and municipal offices Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach City offices and courts will be closed Monday. Financial institutions Most banks and credit unions will be closed Monday. Contact specific institutions. Garbage collection Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk and Virginia Beach No regular trash collection scheduled Monday. Portsmouth Trash normally collected Monday will be picked up Wednesday. Hampton Roads Transit On Monday HRT will operate on a Saturday schedule. Call (757) 222-6100. Postal service Post offices will be closed Monday, with no regular mail delivery. Public libraries Chesapeake and Norfolk Libraries will be closed Sunday and Monday. Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach Libraries will be closed Monday. Public schools Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach Public schools will open Tuesday for the 2010- 11 year. Recreation centers Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach Centers will be closed Monday. State offices DMV All Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers will be closed Monday. Service for many common transactions is available 24 hours a day at www.dmvnow.com. ABC Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control stores will close at 6 p.m. Monday. Norfolk, VA Anonymous Labor Day closings in Hampton Roads, Virginia The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567617 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567616 Correction from The Virginian-Pilot 2010-09-02T20:53:42-04:00 2010-09-02T20:51:48-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

CORRECTION

CORRECTION A story on Page 2 of Thursday's Sports section about Penn State selecting Robert Bolden as its starting quarterback contained an error. The Associated Press, relying on information from the university, erroneously reported that it would be the first time a true freshman opened the season as starting quarterback. Penn State now says that Shorty Miller, a true freshman in 1910, started the first game of the season at quarterback. Norfolk, VA Anonymous Correction from The Virginian-Pilot The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567616 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567614 Ex-owner of wetlands site sues, may delay conservation plan 2010-09-02T20:49:53-04:00 2010-09-02T20:32:42-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

VIRGINIA BEACH The plan to preserve a major undeveloped tract of waterfront property in northern Virginia Beach has hit an obstacle. Wayne McLeskey Jr., who once owned the 122 acres of wetlands, sandy beaches and forest near the Chesapeake Bay, has asked a judge to temporarily halt the sale of the land for environmental preservation. The suit, filed in Virginia Beach Circuit Court in late August, has the potential to delay the deal between environmental groups, the city and Wells Fargo bank, or even increase its $13 million price tag. The issue: According to McLeskey, developer L.M. Sandler & Sons promised to realign and pave a road for him and provide a stormwater outfall for another of his properties as part of the agreement for the property. The work was supposed to be done as part of Sandler's plans to develop the land into a 1,000-home complex called Indigo Dunes. The road and utility work were on top of the nearly $30 million that Sandler paid McLeskey for the land in 2007. Sandler, which is financially stressed and has lost control of the property to the bank, is unlikely to fulfill its promise, said Carl Isbrandtsen, an attorney for McLeskey. The new owners, a partnership that would include the city, should, Isbrandtsen said. "My client wants what he bargained for," Isbrandtsen said. The Trust for Public Land, which is leading the partnership in the purchase of the property for conservation, is aware of the lawsuit, said Kent Whitehead, the Chesapeake project director for the organization. "It may cause a slight delay, but we remain confident that the conservation of this property will eventually come to fruition," Whitehead said in an e-mail. The preservation plan calls for Virginia Beach, the trust and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to all help with the purchase of the land. Virginia Beach would contribute $5 million; the Chesapeake Bay Foundation would put in $1 million; and the city and trust have applied for a $3 million federal grant. The Trust for Public Land is also willing to sell a portion of the land for commercial use. The deal was to be finalized with Wells Fargo by the end of the year. W ells Fargo still wants to sell the land for conservation, but the timeline is uncertain, said Kristy Marshall, a spokeswoman for the bank. City Attorney Mark Stiles said he was not aware of McLeskey's arrangement with Sandler until he saw the lawsuit this week. "It's certainly something we're concerned about," Stiles said. "We have not fully evaluated the suit." McLeskey, who at one point considered buying the property back from Sandler, is no longer interested in acquiring it, Isbrandtsen said. The lawsuit is an attempt to get Sandler, the bank, the city and the trust to come to a resolution about McLeskey's road and outfall pipe, Isbrandtsen said. "This allows everybody to take a deep breath," he said. "Everybody ought to be able to sit down and agree to this." Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com Norfolk, VA Anonymous Ex-owner of wetlands site sues, may delay conservation plan The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567614 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567611 Man admits killing rival suitor outside Norfolk pizza shop 2010-09-02T21:01:58-04:00 2010-09-02T20:27:00-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK A 21-year-old pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Thursday in a shooting that left a man dead outside a pizza shop. Terry Ryan Robinson admitted to shooting and killing Drew Lodge last year near a Delvecchio's restaurant in the 7500 block of Virginian Drive. Robinson also pleaded guilty to a felony weapon charge. Robinson and Lodge had been arguing over a woman who was dating both men, according to a stipulation of evidence filed in Norfolk Circuit Court. On April 28, 2009, Robinson spotted Lodge at the restaurant around 7:15 p.m. Robinson fired several shots at Lodge from his car and sped off, according to the stipulation. Police were called to a parking lot outside Delvecchio's about 7:30 p.m., where they found Lodge dead. They located Robinson seven hours later, according to court records. Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced in December. Norfolk, VA Anonymous Man admits killing rival suitor outside Norfolk pizza shop The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567611 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567610 As Cowboys, Jets falter, history shows meaning of NFL preseason: nothing 2010-09-02T20:21:27-04:00 2010-09-02T20:17:55-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

One of the funny asides to every NFL season is how the Indianapolis Colts continue to debunk the already counterfeit theory that exhibition games presage what will take place when teams start using live ammunition. The Colts are in the championship mix every season and have reached two of the past four Super Bowls, but going into Thursday night's final exhibition, Indy had won four preseason games over five years. Because the Colts have Peyton Manning and a track record of shrugging off the practice schedule, nobody makes a fuss. For whatever reason, though, people who are paid to analyze these things are fretting a great deal over the preseason form of the Dallas Cowboys. And to only a slightly lesser degree, the New York Jets. Why? Maybe because in the world of 24/7 news, pundits absolutely must get worked up over something. If no crisis exists in the NFL, one must be created. Everybody knows that preseason results are meaningless - except when the media say they aren't. Are the Cowboys' and Jets' lackluster exhibitions any less insignificant than the Colts' losing efforts? Theoretically, no. Yet as a result of their dismal performances in games that don't count, a debate is under way about how good the Cowboys and Jets really are. Both teams are supposed to go a long way. The Cowboys have their fans worked up over the notion that they could become the first NFL team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. No pressure there, right? Led by the bravado of head coach Rex Ryan, the Jets are a very loud bunch that still talks a better game than it plays - on offense, at least. There's no containing the hype over Ryan's team, though - not after the promising showing last season and the appearance on HBO's "Hard Knocks" this summer. The Cowboys and Jets, though, have been better at making news than scoring preseason touchdowns. Tony Romo and Dallas' first-team offense put together only one touchdown drive - which was all of 8 yards - in its first four games. The offensive line hasn't been able to protect Romo, and the receiving corps appears pedestrian while awaiting the return of injured rookie wide-out Dez Bryant. Meanwhile, worrywarts detect some backsliding from Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. If it seems that way, it might be because his modest rookie performances were inflated by reaction to the team's playoff run. A couple of solid performances didn't make him Tom Brady. Sanchez helped fan the flames of paranoia among Jets fans last week when the first-team offense committed two turnovers and failed to reach the end zone in the first half against the Redskins. Speaking of the Redskins, what has anyone learned from their exhibition games? Not much, right? That's neither surprising nor cause for alarm. The exhibition season rarely gives up a lot of credible information. Whatever the Redskins' potential, they've been given a great opportunity with a prime-time home opener Sept. 12 against the Cowboys. Emotion and a fired-up crowd could carry Washington through before everybody settles in and begins accessing the Redskins' true potential. Leaving the gate quickly is every team's goal, but haven't we learned that the richest rewards are reserved for teams that peak later in the season? If the Cowboys and Jets are in best form right now, well, nothing is won in September. The 2007 Giants started their season 0-2, and finished only 10-6, before going on to win the Super Bowl. Shouldn't that be a lesson to people who jump to conclusions? Exhibition results have been discounted for too long to give them any credence now. Sit back and watch as the NFL issues people obsess over today are inevitably replaced by stories that never occurred to anyone while worthless exhibition games were being played. Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com Norfolk, VA Anonymous As Cowboys, Jets falter, history shows meaning of NFL preseason: nothing The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567610 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567609 American Legion condemns Stalin bust at site 2010-09-02T20:15:49-04:00 2010-09-02T20:04:39-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

By Rex Bowman The 2.5 million-member American Legion expressed its displeasure Thursday with the placement of a bust of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, saying the site has the "notorious distinction of probably having the only bust or statue of Stalin in America." At its annual convention in Milwaukee, roughly 3,000 delegates adopted a resolution telling the National D-Day Memorial Foundation that the bust is inappropriate. The foundation's decision to place the bust at the memorial in June, the legion said, flies "in the face of history which has seen countries tearing down - not erecting - statues of Stalin." The legion warned that the presence of the bust could dampen visitation to the memorial and curtail the number of people willing to volunteer at the site. About 75,000 people annually visit the cash-strapped memorial. The legion's decision to weigh in on the issue gives national scope and potentially renewed energy to the protest that flared up this spring. In July, the 59,000-member Virginia chapter of the American Legion came out against the bust, and veterans have picketed the memorial. The private D-Day foundation maintains that the bust, along with busts of other world leaders from World War II such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, is necessary to tell the full story of the June 6, 1944, Allied invasion of Normandy. A plaque attached to the Stalin bust honors "the tens of millions who died under Stalin's rule." Robin Reed, the foundation's president since late June, declined to comment on the American Legion's criticism. Reed noted, though, that he is nearly finished with a review of the Stalin bust and its future at the memorial. In its resolution, the American Legion said the bust should go because it can be interpreted as "granting Stalin a place of honor," and "showing insensitivity toward Polish, Czech, and Slovak Allies whose countries were enslaved by Stalin after the war." Two other organizations also have recently condemned the bust: the Central and East European Coalition, and the North Korea Freedom Coalition. Norfolk, VA Anonymous American Legion condemns Stalin bust at site The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567609 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567608 State Bar reprimands attorney who gave inmate short shrift 2010-09-02T20:03:43-04:00 2010-09-02T19:51:40-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

VIRGINIA BEACH A Virginia State Bar subcommittee has publicly reprimanded a Virginia Beach attorney for misconduct, according to a news release sent out Thursday. The subcommittee found that Robert Charles Neeley Jr. violated State Bar rules governing diligence and communication with a client. In May 2009, Willie Dollison, an inmate at Red Onion State Prison, wrote Neeley a letter, asked him to represent him, and included two $250 money orders, according to bar documents. Neeley deposited the money in an escrow account, then wrote Dollison and asked the inmate to contact him. Dollison wrote Neeley four letters about his case, according to bar documents. Neeley did not communicate with the inmate again until the inmate filed a complaint with the State Bar. Neeley agreed with the State Bar that he should receive a public reprimand, according to the bar's news release. A message left at his Virginia Beach office Thursday was not returned. Neeley will also have to buy case management software specific to law practices as part of the reprimand. Norfolk, VA Anonymous State Bar reprimands attorney who gave inmate short shrift The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567608 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567606 Score a point for academic freedom 2010-09-02T19:46:40-04:00 2010-09-02T19:39:49-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

It's satisfying to know that the University of Virginia is under no obligation to comply with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's demand for thousands of documents and e-mails related to climate scientist Michael Mann. But it's mortifying to realize that Virginia's top lawyer appears to know less about what it takes to get a subpoena past a judge than the most casual watcher of the TV series "Law & Order." "Because I said so" didn't work with the university's Board of Visitors, and it didn't work with Albemarle County Circuit Court Judge Paul M. Peatross Jr. This week, Peatross tossed out Cuccinelli's civil investigative demands, a type of subpoena, because he failed to provide "some objective basis" for his theory that Mann may have committed fraud. At an Aug. 20 hearing, Peatross prodded state attorneys to give him a hint as to what nefarious activities they suspected were going on, but they merely referred him to their court brief. "The Court has read with care those pages and understands the controversy regarding Dr. Mann's work on the issue of global warming," Peatross wrote. "However, it is not clear what he did that was misleading, false or fraudulent in obtaining funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia." Cuccinelli's brief is certainly worth a close read, if only for entertainment purposes. It includes several e-mails publicized by computer hackers in the so-called Climategate scandal. "Notoriously, although Mann did not write it, he was a recipient of an e-mail from Phil Jones," a key figure in the controversy, the attorney general writes, ominously. As if receiving e-mails from a controversial person isn't damning enough, Cuccinelli forges on to explain why he believes Mann is an adherent to "post normal science," a philosophy held by some scientists that in complex fields it is appropriate to advocate for public policy changes even if research has yet to prove their theories beyond a reasonable doubt. Exhibit A that Mann is post normal: When referring to fellow scientists, he uses the word "community" a lot. Well, twice. Including once last year on his blog. "Post Normal Science has produced jargon which might be misleading/fraudulent in the context of a grant application if its specialized meaning is not disclosed or otherwise known to the grant maker," Cuccinelli writes. So that's it. Cuccinelli wants U.Va. to turn over a half ton of e-mails so he can do a word search for "community." In a statement released Monday, Cuccinelli conceded that Peatross' ruling was "not an outright ruling in our favor." Indeed. The attorney general is already hard at work on a new subpoena, however, and he promises to give it another go soon. If he's looking for tips, "Law & Order" re-runs can be found on cable channels virtually 24/7. Norfolk, VA Anonymous Score a point for academic freedom The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567606 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567605 Helping the hungry 30 ways in 30 days 2010-09-02T19:39:30-04:00 2010-09-02T19:35:44-04:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

As another Labor Day approaches, the worst recession in decades is still very much with us. Many jobless Americans and their families - as well as people who are employed but struggling to make ends meet - will be fortunate if they can put food on their tables, let alone hold an end-of-summer picnic. Over the past two years, requests for help at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia have spiked 52 percent, largely as a result of the economic crisis. The agency now serves more than 380,000 people a year in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore. The story is much the same at the Food Bank of the Albemarle, which serves northeastern North Carolina, as well as similar agencies in communities across the country. This month, those organizations are making a special appeal for Americans to help the hungry. Food banks across the country are asking those who are faring OK in today's economy to ponder "30 Ways in 30 Days" to assist the unemployed, children, senior citizens and others in need. Help can take many forms, including one-time donations, monthly pledges, volunteering at a food bank or simply spreading the word about the services available. More information on the campaign can be found at hungeractionmonth.org. To find out how to assist the Foodbank of Southeast Virginia, visit www.foodbankonline.org or call (757) 627-6599 in Hampton Roads or (757) 787-2557 on the Eastern Shore. To help in northeastern North Carolina, visit www.afoodbank.org or call (252) 335-4035. By this time next year, it is everyone's hope that the unemployment rate will be lower than it is today. In the meantime, it's especially important that those who have the means to help now take the time to lend a hand. Norfolk, VA Anonymous Helping the hungry 30 ways in 30 days The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:567605 Change 0 Usable