Growing Up in CradockThe December Challenge theme for ActiveRain blogger members is “Who Are You & Your ‘Aha’ Moment - Self-discovery and Personal Growth” For the first entry in this month's Challenge, I will share some of the things I learned while growing up in the Cradock community in Portsmouth, Virginia. Cradock is planned community and I will share information on the history of the community in an article at the end of this blog post.My early life will seem like ancient history for many readers. I was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on August 21, 1937. My first home was one side of a duplex at 55-57 Cushing Street in Cradock. That property was the first investment of a rental portfolio that was developed by my parents during my young years. In 1942, my parents built a new home at 10 ... 12/01/2025

Book Recommendation: Standing Dead by Margaret MizushimaStanding Dead (2023, Crooked Lane Books) is volume number eight of the Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series by Margaret Mizushima. Dolores and I have enjoyed this series and highly recommend these novels for your reading list. Click on the link to reach the website to learn more about the author and her books.Deputy Mattie Cobb and her sister, Julia, travel to Mexico to visit their mother, but when they arrive, they discover that she and her husband have vanished without a trace. Back in Timber Creek, Mattie finds a chilling note on her front door telling her to look for “him” among the standing dead up in the high country.The sheriff’s department springs into action and sends a team to the mountains, where Mattie’s K-9 partner, Robo, m... 12/04/2025

Protecting Against Hate Crimes Grant ProgramGov. Wes Moore (D) on Wednesday vowed to maintain increased security funding next year for nonprofits and religious institutions at risk of hate crimes – a key topic at the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington’s “Lox & Legislators” event in Rockville. The JCRC’s annual “Lox & Legislators” event focuses on a variety of public policy issues affecting the local Jewish community such as U.S.-Israel relations, Holocaust education and funding for nonprofit social service agencies.  The group holds similar events each year in Virginia and Washington, D.C.More than 300 people attended Wednesday’s event at B’nai Israel Congregation, according to JCRC spokesperson Adam Zimmerman.  Of those, about 60 were elected officials from... 12/05/2025

Christmas on the FarmCelebrate the holidays at Christmas on the Farm Join us Saturday, December 6, from 12–5 p.m. at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood for hayrides, crafts, live music, farm animals, and more! Free admission and parking!Click here for details. Chrysanthemum, Longwood Gardens,Kennett Square, Pennsylvania USA IMG 3454Canon PowerShot G11 CameraPhotograph by Roy KelleyRoy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 12/05/2025