It’s hard to believe a whole year has gone by since the last Walk for Babies, but here we are again ready to walk 70 miles from Williamsburg to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

While Jimmy Ray and I are on the road, people passing by are always asking what are you doing this for? and really it’s an awareness-raising stunt so people will want to learn more about the March of Dimes.

We are both so grateful for the healthy babies in our lives and WAVY TV and Eagle 97.3 and all the organizations that support the walk want to do everything we can so that all babies have that chance at a healthy start and hopefully when people see how much fun Jimmy Ray and I have fun walking together they will want to find a walk in their community and also pitch in to help the babies.

This year is Jimmy’s 20th walk and my 10th and it’s also extra special for me because a few days ago I found out I’m going to be an Auntie. Because there is a possibility of some complications my little niece or nephew may be born a little early, it’s a concern but not as scary as it would be without the March of Dimes. Knowing that because of this organization doctors will know what to do if this little baby can’t go full term is a comfort to my brother, his wife and our whole family.

Over the years, we’ve met many families with a story like that and we look forward to hearing their latest chapters again this year.

Make sure you stop and see us along the way!

My pal Jimmy!

Check out my Twitter page for updates throughout the walk.

A dress made out of popcorn, a snazzy car, an action clapboard,  red carpet…

Popcorn dress at The Founders Inn & Spa booth.

Seared scallops with risotto, deconstructed Steak Oscar, venison meatballs, braised pork cheeks….

Some of the chefs' creations

A silent auction, a live auction featuring boat trips, hotel stays, cooking classes, jewelry, wine dinners and more….

Kerri & Nicole with Pete Decker III introducing the chefs in the background

That’s the fun side of the March of Dimes Signature Chefs event at the Founders Inn And Spa in Virginia Beach on Sunday, October 17.  WAVY and WVBT Fox 43 have been proud sponsors for several years now and I’ve also been a part of it for quite some time. Kerri Furey joined me this year with co-hosting duties.  Attorney Pete Decker III was the main emcee. My childhood classmate, Keith McBride was the auctioneer and he had several people open their wallets and bid hundreds of dollars on special packages.

I mentioned the fun side of the event and it’s evident in the pictures I took, but the main reason we come together is to raise money in honor of healthy babies. Guests learned about the need for more research and funding. We even saw a clip about one of the chefs and his family’s experience with two premature babies. Here’s the deal: according to the March of Dimes- about half a million babies are born too soon and too small each year.  Prematurity is the number one cause of newborn death and disabilities. Mothers can do everything right, and still have a preterm delivery. The organization helps parents, health professionals, and the community with education and research to serve as a champion for ALL babies.

Sushi Aka's booth

Back to the food- which is just incredible every year. Chefs offer small plates of sampled dishes that reflect the season or the event’s theme. This year’s theme was “Gourmet glitz and glamour…Hollywood in Hampton Roads”.

Atlantic Shores' crab corn pudding and tenderloin

There was a lot of pork this year, Virginia-based food, and some cute Hollywood dishes, like the chocolate Oscar statues standing in mousse, created by Atlantic Shores.

Atlantic Shores' Chocolate Oscar statues in mousse

Here’s the list of the chefs and restaurants:

Food experts Patrick Evans-Hylton, Tammy Jaxtheimer, Peter Coe, Deon Foster, Patrick Reed, Debbie Freestone, and Sarah Boos served as judges. Chef Steve Gellas from Primo 116 in Suffolk took top honors.

Primo 116 Bistro chef, Steve Gellas

He won the Chef’s Choice Award and the Dish of Hampton Roads for the braised pork cheeks with butternut squash risotto.

Chef Gellas' award-winning pork cheeks dish. Photo by Patrick Evans-Hylton

Hampton Roads Magazine will feature Chef Steve on its January cover.

Here are the other winners (thanks to Patrick Evans-Hylton for sending me this update)

Best Presentation:
A visual and edible work of art.
Chef Leon Buenviaje, Smithfield Gourmet Bakery & Café – Smithfield
Seared Scallops with melon crème anglaise, foie gras gastrique and accompanied with a sweet potato and squash cake garnished with Smithfield ham

Most SOL (Sustainable, Organic & Local) Dish:A dish that includes components of sustainability, green ingredients and green techniques. Chef John Maclure (with Sous Chef Emi Ostrander), TradeWinds inside the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center – Virginia Beach
Giving Thanks For All Our Local Farmers – fresh turkey with Pungo Creek Indian Cornbread with Graves Mountain apples, Bees Knees honey and accented with vegetables from Dave & Dees Mushrooms, Cape Charles tomatoes, Scott Farms beans and our own property’s herb garden

Best Dessert:
Chef Richard Boone, Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro – Virginia Beach
Virginia Caramel Apple Custard Cake
(Also my favorite- very yummy!)

People’s Choice:
Selected by event attendees.
Chef Shawn Cotton, Atlantic Shores – Virginia Beach
Crab Corn Pudding with Lobster Medallions, Tenderloin with Orange Balsamic, cipollini onion relish over goat cheese and foie gras truffles rolled in gingerbread crumbs with spiced apple compote

Chef’s Choice:
Selected by all participating chefs for a dish whose technique and artistry are truly appreciated by other culinary professionals. (It was cool to see the chefs taste and rave about each other’s dishes)
Chef Steve Gellas, Primo 116 – Suffolk
Locally-Grown Braised Pork Cheek with Butternut Squash Risotto

Best Decorated Booth:
The booth that is decorated in a way that most creatively represents the event’s theme.
Eric Doarnberger, Swan Terrace at Founders Inn – Virginia Beach
Panko-Encrusted Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Napoleon

Congrats to all of these chefs for a wonderful evening. They all donated their time and talent to this event and certainly have a lot to be proud of. When you visit their restaurants, make sure you pass along an extra thank you!

2010 March of Dimes Signature Chefs

Do you have dinner plans this Sunday, October 17th? Join me and Kerri Furey as we emcee the March of Dimes Signature Chefs event at the Founder’s Inn & Spa in Virginia Beach.

Nicole emcees the 2009 March of Dimes Signature Chefs event

If I remember correctly, this will be my 8th year helping out with the event and it’s always a good time.

March of Dimes Signature Chefs creations from 2009

Chefs from all across the area will whip up their best dishes that guests can sample and vote on.  You can also bid on several packages in the live auction. The money raised benefits the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes Mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. It carries out that mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies’ lives.

2008 Signature Chefs Ambassadors

To purchase tickets, contact Kristin French  at 757-361-0000 Ext:407 or kfrench@marchofdimes.com

Fox 43 is a proud sponsor of this event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Thanks to all who stopped by the WAVY/FOX 43 booth at the 2010 NAS Oceana Air Show in Virginia Beach.  A few years ago, we had sweltering heat. Last year, it was freezing and windy. This year, the weather was perfect!

Nicole and Kerri meet fans at NAS Oceana

Thousands of people came out to see the Blue Angels and other pilots and all of the businesses that had booths at the annual event. Because of the large crowds it took some time to get on base and park. I joined Kerri Furey, Tom Schaad and John Massey on Saturday, September 18.

Handing out autographs and other WAVY & Fox goodies

It’s always nice to meet the folks who are tuning in and to win over some new viewers. Congrats to all who won cool prizes when they played corn hole at our booth.

Nice meeting you all!

See you again next year!

Hi everybody…here are some pictures from the Diamonds in the Sky GalaI recently hosted at the Hilton at the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach.  This little guy is Jacob Ralston, a five year old cancer survivor and my little buddy! Jacob’s Dad just told me his latest scans were all clear and we are all thrilled for this adorable little kindegardener! Keep smiling Jacob!

Now talk about girl power!! Check out Katie on my right and Wynter on my left…both ready to party and raise money to help the “We Promise” foundation grant wishes for children with life threatening diseases.  These girls became fast friends…they  looked great, but more importantly were both feeling even better!

And last but not least…Zachary…I met him a couple of years ago at a Relay for Life event in Suffolk  and did not recognize him last week! He has grown so much and it was wonderful to see him and his parents again. Zachary helped auctioneer Kyle Hause  send some lucky bidders home with some terrific prize packages…all to benefit the “We Promise Foundation”

And  the incredible Terri Polo , perhaps best known as “Pamela Martha Focker”  in the “Meet the Parents” movies, was back for a second year  lending  her star power to this event as our celebrity emcee.   We hope to see her, and YOU for the 6th Annual Diamonds in the Sky Gala in September 2011!

Hi everybody…I really should be in bed but I’m just really excited about tomorrow’s Walk for Babies with 97.3 the Eagle’s Jimmy Ray!! We get started at the Williamsburg Country Club at 7:oo am and will finish 16 miles later at the Langley Federal Credit Union in Oyster Point…make sure you come say hello! I’ll be keeing you posted on our progress and share pictures and stories from the road right here on this blog…so stay tuned and don’t forget to sign up to follow WAVY-TV 10 on twitter! Nighty night and God bless the babies, and the March of Dimes!

Did you see that!?!?!? Bayonet blades whizzing by my face, rifle butts (I said butts spinning next to my noggin…just another day at work right?

Today on Fox 43 News at 7 we had the Unites States Army Drill team here to promote the 2009 International Tattoo and these guys were AWESOME… they asked if I wanted to stand in while two soldiers hurled their rifles back and forth just a few millimeters in front of my head and I said, “SURE.” I don’t know if it was actually millimeters or inches but they were close mmmkay?

We also learned how to arrange flowers today, and next time you see Kelly Gaita…don’t just say “Hi”….say “Hi-YAH!” as she is now officially a trained killer. We sent her to find out if she could learn Karate and while our little grasshopper does needs to work on looking intimidating….she did snap a board like a saltine cracker. You can watch that video too at www.fox43tv.com

This no ordinary morning newscast people. See you at seven!

Today was the day Jimmy and I had been waiting for, a 20 mile stretch that really puts us to the test!  We made it, but as usual we couldn’t have done it without all of the support from the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s department, and the Police Departments of Suffolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth.

If you were watching WAVY News 10 and FOX 43 this morning…you may have noticed Delegate Chris Jones walking wih us. We always look forward to seeing his smiling face. He brings fresh energy and we always stop at the Bennett’s Creek Pharmacy (which was super-convenient because I needed some Ibuprofin and sunscreen today!)  When we went by the Carrolton Volunteeer Fire Department they pulled a couple of Engines out just to say hi…or maybe they could tell Jimmy’s feet were on fire! Just kidding! He’s actually walking faster than I am!  Suffolk’s fire station 5 also met us with some cold water and encouragement, so I thought it was only right to high five them all!!

When we came to the Mills E. Godwin bridge the three of us got kind of quiet, we put our heads down and just focused on trying to get over that thing!!!  After that it was smooth sailing to Hall Chevrolet in Chesapeake. The Western Branch Veterinary Hospital brought us $1,000 dollars for the March of Dimes, and we met a couple of once premature babies. First we met Virginia an 18 month old who was born at 23 weeks, and then Brice, who received surfactin when he was born early,  and now is a thriving eight year old who loves the Boston Red Sox….atta boy Brice.

After our stop for lunch we went on for the last 7 miles or so to the Midtwon tunnel. Fantastic day…can’t wait to see everybody at the oceanfront Sunday!

Check out our slideshow of walk pictures right here at WAVY.COM.

Now that Jimmy Ray and I have 30 miles under out belt we’re really looking to hit the half -way mark and we’ll do it tomorrow! Today we started from Patrick Henry Mall and wound our way into York County, then Hampton, then back into Newport News. Every time we crossed a city or county line the police officers were there to keep us safe. They all do a great job.

Jimmy and I even did a little running today through some construction so we wouldn’t cause too much of a back up. As usual, folks were great, making their donations, giving us water and the ladies at Hampton Foot and Ankle handed us some blister kits!!! So far our feet are holding up well, but we appreciate it!!!

We had another great turnout at Langley Federal Credit Union on Mercury where we stopped for lunch. It’s really great to catch up with the folks who come by every year.

Tomorrow is a big day…20 miles from the south side of the James River Bridge to the Midtown tunnel in Portsmouth. Wish us luck and remember it’s all for the March of Dimes!

What a great first day of the 18th annual “Walk for Babies!” That’s right, Jimmy Ray of Eagle 97.3 has been doing this for 18 years and WAVY TV joined in six years ago to help raise awareness about the mission of the March of Dimes. We felt a few rain drops as we got started from the Williamsburg Country Club, but over all it was great weather for walking. Thanks to the police officers from York County and Newport News who kept us safe today…

…and to all the folks who came out of their businesses to cheer us on. We enjoyed the smiling and waving and lots of horn honking! I really want to thank the folks who couldn’t make it to the “meet and greet” but made a point to find us on the road to give us a donation to the March of Dimes….Becky from Williamsburg, Harley Steel of the U.S. Army, and the tow truck driver…I didn’t get your name, but you know who you are and we thank you…and the March of Dimes thanks you too. We met so many great WAVY/FOX 43 viewers and Eagle 97.3 listeners when we stopped at the Langley Federal Credit Union on Oyster Point. My favorite was Will…he’s just three years old, and is very familiar with Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters.

He was so sweet. We watched a fire truck go by and then he gave me a big hug. When you check out the pictures, he’s the little guy in the red shirt….fire engine red!

Tomorrow Jimmy and I get started at 6:00 am at Patrick Henry Mall and will finish at the Langley Federal Credit Union on Mercury Boulevard. Make sure you tune in to WAVY News Ten Today from 5am – 7am , FOX 43 News at 7am and WAVY News 10 Midday for coverage of the walk. You can also sign up to follow me on Twitter! Please check out the March of Dimes page here at WAVY.COM to find out how you can sign up to March for Babies this Sunday at the ocean front!

See you in the morning!