Author: jsinn7

Today the VB community showed up and surprised a beloved employee at Food Lion.

Earlier this week Brandon Stokes aka Shaggy from Z104 saw Austin Earlycutt limping while working at the Food Lion on Independence in Pembroke Meadows. He said he had been hit by a car on his E-bike and it had been destroyed. Shaggy then learned that Austin has been sleeping in a tent in someone’s backyard for a while now as well.

He asked if there was anything he could do to help and Austin said he just wanted to sleep in a bed. So this week people came out to support Austin and put him up in a hotel and they are now working on getting him permanent housing. And, someone donated a new Electric Bike for Austin so he can get to work. Others donated money and other necessities to help this man whom everyone has said, is an amazing human being. He was overwhelmed with emotion today at the surprise. The community turned out to show their love for a man who has been going through some tough times.

I look forward to telling Austin’s story and it will be the next feature from 757 stories.

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Independent Local Storytelling.

Today I met with folks at the Great Dismal Swamp in Chesapeake who are particpating in this year’s Tour de Cure to help the American Diabetes Association Mid-Atlantic with their efforts to find a cure. Tour de Cure will be at Windsor Castle Park in Smithfield, Virginia on April 25th. This is their story.

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Stand Up for Kids Hampton Roads posted a need for bottled water at their facility that helps “at risk” youth. Shaggy from Z104 heard about this need and talked about it this morning on his radio show with Executive Director Nicole Pixler.

They have been taking donations of bottled water all day at the radio station.

This is a story I wanted to tell. And this is the first of many to come from 757 Stories.

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“Shine” by Manuka

During Covid when I was in Michigan there was nothing to do so I would go out to natural settings, walk around, and fly the drone. This was from one of those cold winter afternoons at Asylum Lake in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I learned to fly drones here and this was the last time I went.

My friend Julie Earle messaged that she had just finished and released a new song for her group Manuka. The song was “Shine” and I listened to it that night and it sounded perfect to go with the drone video. I told her I would put together a video.

And then I moved to Virginia.

Last night I finally found this song and the drone footage I haven’t seen in 5 years, as well as all my other cool Michigan drone video.

Well Julie, I’m sorry it took 5 years but here you go. I hope you like it. I think the mood of the song and the cold starkness of the video work well together. Enjoy.