Sutton’s attorney, Ari Stein, confirmed his client had decided to drop out but didn’t offer a reason for the change of heart. The decision leaves Sutton’s opponent, Mark Bohenstiel, as the only candidate who will appear on the November ballot. Incumbent Jessica Owens is not seeking reelection.

Sutton’s decision came shortly after Virginia Beach Circuit Court Judge Afshin Farashahi declined a request from Bohenstiel for an emergency order that would have prevented Sutton’s name from being included on the ballot as the registrar’s office prepares to send out mail-in ballots and begin early voting next week. Bohenstiel filed a lawsuit last week in which he claimed Sutton had failed to meet all the requirements needed to be eligible to run.

Farashahi’s ruling on Monday, however, was only a temporary measure until a trial on the matter could be held. No trial date was set, but it would have been held before the election.

Bohenstiel’s case centers on the petitions Sutton submitted to qualify for the race. Candidates had to obtain 125 valid signatures from qualified voters in the district. While Bohenstiel’s lawsuit didn’t challenge the authenticity of the signatures, it did question the dates included with some of them, as well as the process followed when the petitions were notarized.

During a hearing Friday before Farashahi, Sutton testified he did his best to follow all the rules for obtaining and submitting signatures. The retired teacher and school administrator said he dated the pages of signatures he collected as Feb. 3, which is when he began gathering them. Some, however, were obtained on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5, he said.

A former student of Sutton’s who attends the University of Virginia helped collect signatures, along with two of his fraternity brothers, Sutton said. A notary public in Charlottesville who notarized the petitions submitted a written statement in which he said the petitions were signed before they were presented to him. In such cases, he wrote, the standard practice is to have the presenters swear to their signatures in the notary’s presence and then re-date them. They weren’t re-dated in this case, he said.

Farashahi said there wasn’t enough evidence presented at last week’s hearing to indicate whether Bohenstiel was likely to succeed at trial.

He also said that while Bohenstiel would suffer “irreparable harm” if Sutton’s name is included on the ballot at this time, and then he’s later determined to be ineligible, the harm to Sutton would be greater if he were kept off the ballot now and then were to prevail at trial.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com

The Hispanic fusion restaurant opened in June by economist Marilyn Castro, a Puerto Rico native, who wanted to jazz up the morning scene and provide jobs for people.

The menu ranges from omelets to pancakes and waffles, to a burrito and a quesadilla made with a choice of protein. Dishes showcase ingredients such as Argentinian sausage, sweet potatoes and Mallorca bread, a sweet bun originating in Mallorca (Majorca), Spain’s Balearic Islands. Castro gets the bread imported from Puerto Rico but creates every recipe. The restaurant also serves nine types of mimosas, including horchata, tamarind and guava.

I dined at one of the six tables on my visits.

The appetizers are a must-have. I tried three on two occasions and I loved them all. My favorite is the egg and sausage empanada ($4.50). I could eat one or two every day. It was fried golden, packed with protein and didn’t weigh the belly down. Pastry perfection.

The Cuban egg roll ($7) pulled up next with flavor from the sandwich’s ingredients. It was cheesy from the Swiss, savory from the ham and tangy from the pickles. The shape, however, was thinner and longer than a traditional roll nor did it have the same crispy texture. I still loved it. Kudos to the chef.

I let out an “ooh” when the Mallorca bread loaded with Bavarian cream ($7) arrived. Lots of smooth cream sat in the middle of thick and fluffy bread. It was decadent, not too sweet and paired well with tea.

The breakfast burrito ($14) and fries also made a great duo. I’m glad they came on the side because my biggest complaint about burritos is the often unseasoned and undercooked potatoes on the inside. The burrito had fluffy scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and my choice of protein, which was bacon. Each mouthful contained a full breakfast entrée. I plan to get this again. Delicious.

The pork chop and creamy waffle meal ($15) were fantastic too. It came with a choice of coconut, spicy or regular syrup. I selected spicy. Juice oozed as I cut into the fried meat. I liked the seasoning but it was a little too salty. I dipped my fork in syrup but it was too spicy. I asked for regular and it did the trick. The sweetness gave the dish more balance. I snarfed on the pork chop down to the bone. The crispy waffle had a fluffy interior like it was supposed to. No complaints.

Customers could also get the sweet potato waffle which I highly recommend. No syrup is required just the greatness of the vegetable in a cake batter. 

I wrapped up my stay with a pina colada sangria ($9) and I was feeling good after a few sips. It was prepared with white wine and still had a fruity-creamy consistency. I never imagined these two getting together — talk about late to the party.

Breakfast was the best meal of the day.

Rekaya Gibson, 757-295-8809, rekaya.gibson@virginiamedia.com; on X, @gibsonrekaya

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If you go

Where: 2720 North Mall Drive, Virginia Beach

Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday

Prices: $4 to $11 appetizers, $12 to $15 entrees, $9 mimosas and sangria

Details: 757-904-5561; https://breakfastbarva.com

The black and white murals in the monochrome restaurant evoke the look of a coloring book in need of crayons. Everything at 2D Cafe & Eatery is outlined in black, including the wall design, ceiling tiles, sofas, stools and floors, to create cartoon vibes.

In June, Monica Kiraly and her husband, Ali Abay, opened the Instagrammable cafe on 11th Street and Atlantic Avenue. The couple owns three other Oceanfront businesses: Basil Pizza, 204 Pizza and La Dulce Vida.

Kiraly said she loves coffee shops and thought the Oceanfront needed more. So, when her husband went to a 2D cafe in Turkey and brought the creative idea back, Kiraly was sold. Her only concern was finding someone to the paint the 2D concept.

The couple hired two J-1 art students from Thailand to paint the design. The students took three weeks to complete the painting and worked on their days off from their housekeeping jobs at an area hotel. The State Department’s J-1 exchange visitor visa program enables international students to work seasonal jobs.

“I was a J-1 student myself seven years ago,” Kiraly said. “I knew the students coming to Virginia Beach had lots of potential and skills.”

Cafe menu items include Turkish dishes, coffee, iced lattes, boba drinks, bagels, salads, wagyu burgers and dumplings. Kiraly said the best sellers are the signature iced lattes such as Dulce de Coco (dulce de leche cream and coconut cold foam), Strawberry Bliss (strawberry puree, vanilla and strawberry cold foam) and Biscoffee (Biscoff cream, vanilla and cold foam).

Cig kofte, or small and spicy bulgur wheat meatballs, is one of the most popular Turkish dishes. Turkish desserts include baklava, custards, “burnt” cheesecake and others.

The cafe is very active on Instagram and gets tagged frequently. Within the first month, a customer asked to have a photo shoot at the location.

“Most of our customers come because of the 2D concept,” Kiraly said. “We want to keep them happy with the good food, not just the cool design.”

Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net

___

If you go

What: 2D Cafe & Eatery

Where: 1102 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach

Info: 2dcafe.com

Neopestalotiopsis disease, which first appeared several years ago in Florida, can cause light to dark brown spots on plant leaves and rotting of the fruit. To avoid it, some local growers started getting their plants from a supplier in Canada. But now, major nurseries there are also seeing symptoms, and they’ve recently warned the fruit growers.

“They are basically canceling orders (and in many cases refunding the deposit) or telling plug plant producers and farmers to take plants at their own risk — no reimbursements for bad or infected plants delivered this year,” said Phil Brannen, a professor in the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Georgia, in an Aug. 21 post on the university’s cooperative extension’s website.

It’s not the first time Hampton Roads has dealt with a strawberry disease, but this one could have a major impact on growers who count on the popularity of the fruit.

“That’s a major crop that draws the consumers to the farms,” said Jayesh Samtani, associate professor and small fruit extension specialist at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. “It’s the first crop that gives you fruit in the spring season.”

The disease can reduce a grower’s harvest by as much as 50%, Samtani said.

“It’s scary for sure,” said Roy Flanagan, Virginia Beach’s agricultural extension agent and owner of Flanagan Farms, which offers u-pick strawberries in the spring. “It’s a new enemy of the plant that you’ve got to figure out to combat.”

Virginia Beach is the commonwealth’s largest producer of strawberries thanks to the area’s temperate climate and nutrient-rich soil. The value of the crop in Virginia Beach ranges from $750,000 to $1 million per year. Meanwhile, a strawberry farm in Virginia Beach sees an estimated 1,500 visitors each week in May, according to the city.

Some area farms were able to order healthy cutoffs, or bare root plants, from California this year before they sold out, according to Samtani. Flanagan Farms and Cullipher Farm are among those. Others will take the risk with the Canadian plants or cancel their orders.

The situation likely will have long-lasting repercussions.

“The disease has a tendency to stay in the soil from one season to another,” Samtani said. “Even next year, if your plants come in clean, it would not be advisable to use the same site.”

Cindy Weatherly, who operates a farm in Pungo and Cindy’s Produce, a farm stand on Harpers Road, will skip growing strawberries this year to avoid contamination.

“This is an aggressive strain,” Weatherly said. “I don’t want to introduce a disease into my soil that I know nothing about until I watch someone else take care of it.”

To help stave off the disease, which thrives in warm climates, some growers will receive their plants a little later than normal, Samtani said. Strawberries in southeast Virginia are typically planted from last week of September through the first week of October. Chandler, Sweet Charlie, and Ruby June varieties are mostly grown locally.

Samtani plants berries at the research center each year. He’s expecting strawberry plants to arrive Oct. 10.

The Henley family is one of the city’s largest strawberry producers, growing them across 10 acres. They received the tips of strawberry plants from a supplier in Nova Scotia and have been rooting them in trays, said farm owner Barbara Henley. She’s already noticed some signs of the disease in one of the varieties, but is on track to plant in three weeks.

“Ours look fairly good,” Henley said, also a City Council member. “I’m afraid to say too much.”

The research center is advising growers about how to mitigate the disease if plants are infected. One option is fumigating the soil, which involves injecting a synthetic chemical gas. Sanitizing clothing, equipment, machinery and pruning tools also will be critical.

And fungicidal treatments can also help keep the disease under control. However, the most effective chemical — thiram — is being phased out by the Environmental Protection Agency, Samtani said.

Some factors, like weather, will be out of the control of growers. A dry, mild spring could keep the disease at bay.

“We don’t really know what’s going to happen until it all unfolds and the season progresses,” Samtani said.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com

Phelps and his friends and associates in the field of living history have played a major role in shining the limelight on the Great Bridge battle in December of 1775 as a significant element in America’s struggle for independence.

As a youngster, Phelps’ fascination with the battle began with a diorama on display in the local library. He examined the diorama closely. It inspired an abiding interest and pride in local history.

Then Phelps participated in a simple commemorative ceremony near the Chesapeake Central Library on Cedar Road. Over the years, local reenactors formed the 7th Virginia Regiment and the 14th Regiment of Foote that ultimately served as host units for the annual battle reenactment.

Phelps and his colleagues in the 7th Virginia invited other living history organizations including the Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown-Yorktown foundations to participate in what has become an immensely educational annual weekend event.

Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism offered support for the event, including programs, a public address system, public seating, and shelters. The Norfolk Historical Society and the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution set up exhibits.

Prominent city officials, impressed with the portrayal of local Revolutionary War drama on the simulated battlefield, also enthusiastically supported the annual event and advocated establishing a museum at Great Bridge to promote Chesapeake’s Revolutionary War legacy.

Sadly, Ronald William Phelps died Aug. 25. He has left an enduring legacy.

The annual Battle of Great Bridge reenactment continues to offer lessons in American history to the general public, especially local youth. The Battle of Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways Foundation, via the battlefield park and museum at Great Bridge, offers visitors a comprehensive examination of Great Bridge’s Revolutionary War history.

For those who knew Phelps, it will be impossible to attend a battlefield reenactment, walk through battlefield park or pass through the museum galleries at Great Bridge without thinking of Phelps and remembering his devotion to local history.

If there is a heaven for reenactors, “Colonel” Phelps — in spirit — has probably already met with the souls of  departed British soldiers and patriot militiamen to begin planning for yet another reenactment within the pearly gates.

After all, the 249th anniversary of the Battle of Great Bridge, on Dec. 9, is only three months away.

Actually, it’s a life block. What do I mean? I officially graduated to the empty nest years. Now what? Like a writer’s block, I’m kind of frozen. How do I start this new chapter? I have no idea.

When I started writing my motherhood novel 22 years ago, I had to jump right in immediately. It didn’t matter that I had no idea what to “write.” Heck, I wasn’t even a qualified author. I felt like a hack.

I just started slapping words on the page. Nurse, change diapers, clean, eat and repeat. It’s a blur, and it whizzed by fast. Toddler years were nonstop with milestones, teaching the ABCs, potty training, terrible twos and so on.

I had three kids in five years and just kept writing new pages. My writing started to flow as my mommy confidence grew. My favorite stories were planning themed birthday parties, coaching soccer, attending school performances, making and baking crafts and snuggling on the sofa. That was the quickest chapter of my life. I blinked, and I was done. I felt like I deserved the Pulitzer Prize.

Many parents warned me that I should cherish those chapters because they’re the shortest and sweetest. Honestly, I wished some of it away longing for the next chapter. I couldn’t help brainstorm about the years when the kids could drive and be self-sufficient.

Well, those days came quicker than expected. My favorite pages were enjoying the friendships of young adults and cheering on their successes. However, I still spent many days flipping through the previous chapters to remind me of toddler times.

Over the years, I’ve been pleased with my “motherhood” book. Like many moms, I’d fix some grammar mistakes such as a curse word here or there in frustration or other mommy missteps.

Overall, I’m pretty proud of the 22-year novel. I have chronicled the lives of three amazing characters. However, this last chapter is a doozy. I’ve been dreading the “empty nest” chapter forever. It should start with the words, “drip, drip.” That’s the sound of my tears that have been flowing for the last month.

My kids are ready, so I’ve done my job. I’m happy for them, but I’m incredibly sad for me. I want to keep writing with them forever.

I’m suffering from pre-children amnesia. I’m not sure what I did before writing this book. How can a day revolve around me and not my kids? The empty house is eerie. I long for chaos.

What now? My house guests have left along with my daily purpose. This is my life (writer’s) block. What do I write? I don’t have the answer, but at least my three kids can start writing their chapters. I hope they write bestsellers. I’ll always be there as their editor. Edits will come in the form of notes, texts and mommy lectures.

Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net

The Virginia Beach location at 4001 Virginia Beach Blvd. will be the ninth in Virginia, where it started in Richmond in 2011. Customers come to find home decor, antiques, jewelry, food items and other creative treasures.

Heather Reynolds, the first franchisee, said she first discovered Lazy Daisy in Williamsburg and was attracted to the layout and unique items. The regional chain also operates a store in the Tabb area of York County.

“It has an incredibly inspiring and peaceful atmosphere,” Reynolds said. “The open floor concept allows each artisan to fully express their creativity in their own unique space. It blends seamlessly with the rest of the marketplace.”

That marketplace is a lively hub of creativity, she added, and each artisan is carefully selected to reflect the style and decor that Lazy Daisy is known for.

The 11,000-square-foot Virginia Beach store will serve as a venue to more than 50 vendors, including business owner Heather Chirdon.

“This business model is a way to expand your small business without the overhead and other responsibilities of a traditional brick-and-mortar,” she said.

She added you don’t have to worry about utility bills, employees, maintenance, long leases or other owner responsibilities.

Chirdon, who owned Refine on West Great Neck Road, is familiar with the model after adapting her business to sell in the Painted Tree, a chain with a large Laskin Road location that rents space to shop vendors.

When she first opened Refine in August 2019, Chirdon had focused on the aesthetic side and services such as body toning, cryofacials and body slimming. She ran a boutique as a supplement there because she thought the Shore Drive corridor could use more retail options.

“COVID forced us to pivot into more of the boutique side, and it really had a major impact on our revenue,” she said. “We had a lot of momentum despite the pandemic, and local customers loved the ability to shop local during the holidays.”

The expansion of the boutique led her to Painted Tree in 2022, and she has since expanded into six other Painted Tree locations. While adapting to changing retail trends, she closed her own brick-and-mortar boutique in August. She will continue her Refine presence in Painted Tree and focus on online sales.

Chirdon said she’s excited to sell with Lazy Daisy to expand her business to the Town Center area. And by having store staff take care of day-to-day sales, Chirdon said she has more time to focus on other avenues.

Michelle Leshok, owner and founder of Lazy Daisy, said each vendor is special and unique.

“They have so many stories to tell themselves about how the store has changed their lives,” Leshok said.

For more information, visit lazydaisygiftstore.com. Interested vendors can email vendorinfo@lazydaisyvabeach.com.

Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net

When the 66-year-old didn’t answer their knocks on his door Sunday, they entered through an unlocked door. Upstairs, one neighbor found Seitz bound and dead on the floor and called police, according to a criminal complaint filed this week in Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

A cause of death wasn’t indicated in the court records and a spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office didn’t respond Thursday to a request for information.

While working Sunday to clear Seitz’s townhouse on Roebling Lane, officers found a barricaded door, the complaint said. Once in, they found Seitz’s son, Seth. The 25-year-old had abrasions on his hands and legs, and one hand was sprained and swollen.

On Monday, Seth Seitz was charged with second-degree murder. He’s being held without bond in the city jail. Annette Miller, one of two public defenders appointed to represent him, declined to comment on the case Thursday.

Court records show Seth Seitz has been charged with attacking his father and mother on multiple occasions over the past seven years. He’s also been charged repeatedly with violating protective orders preventing him from having any contact with them, and has been ordered to undergo multiple psychiatric examinations to determine if he was competent to stand trial. In order to be competent for trial, a defendant must be able to understand the charges they face and help with their defense.

The first time police responded to Scott Seitz’s house for an alleged assault by his son was in July 2017, records indicate. The complaint in that case said Scott Seitz had thrown away some “baggies” while cleaning his son’s room. When Seth Seitz found out, he became angry, punched his father in the arm, then fled with his father’s cellphone, the document said.

The next incident occurred in June 2022 and involved Seth Seitz’s mother. In that case, police reported Seth Seitz had grabbed his mother, shaken her, then picked her up and threw her into a banister when she refused to go buy cigarettes for him. The mother obtained a protective order preventing him from having any contact with her afterward.

Man charged with 2nd-degree murder in death of his father, Virginia Beach police say

Two months later, Seitz’s mother reported that he’d punched and slapped her in the head multiple times, then prevented her from leaving the house or calling police. In addition to the alleged assault, Seitz was charge with violating a protective order and was ordered jailed.

While incarcerated, he called his mother multiple times to ask her to buy food, clothes, toiletries and cigarettes for him, which she refused, the documents said. He also asked if she knew how serious the charges against him were, and whether he was “going to prison for the rest of his life for doing nothing,” the complaint said.

He was again charged with violating a protective order by contacting her, the records show.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com