Merle Monahan/Contributing Writer
merlemonah@aol.com

IVOR— On July 1, Tiffany Vick will take her seat on the Ivor Town Council. In doing so, she will be just the fifth woman to serve on the Ivor council in more than 100 years, and as far as anyone can remember, at 24, she is most likely the youngest.

Vick takes her new position in stride, however.

“I’ve always been interested in our town government,” she said. “Now I’ll be able to take part and hopefully, I can do some good.”

A native of Ivor and graduate of Southampton High School and Old Dominion University, the young health care student has had several part-time jobs while attending Sentara College of Health Services. Vick will graduate as an echo cardiograph technician in May of 2015.

She said she had not thought much about serving on council until several people in town urged her to run.

“The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea,” Vick added with a grin.

She garnered just one vote short of 100 percent, “not bad for a first-time candidate,” her supporters say.

Vick, however, said, “I’ve got a lot to learn; I’m not out to set the world on fire just yet.”

But the new councilwoman has some ideas to bring before council during the next few months, she said.

“I love this little town,” she went on, “and would like to see it grow.

“We need to find a way to bring in more small businesses, something that will draw people here.

“I don’t want us to ever lose the small-town atmosphere that we’ve always had,” she continued, “but we do need more new people.”

Vick said that there are a few issues to be dealt with.

“We do have some drainage problems, but council has been working on that for a while and I’m sure they will continue until it has been corrected.”

On the other hand, Vick noted that good things have also been happening in town.

“This has always been a close-knit community, but it has begun to come together even more for special occasions,” she said. “Like the annual Christmas parade and party, which were initiated by Mayor Sandra Vick, no relation.

“This was just started a couple years ago, but people come into town from all around the community and it has been a big hit.”

Another attraction has been the church and Little League softball games. Vick, as a matter of fact, is secretary of the Ivor Community Athletics, the association in charge of the sports.

But she feels the town just might grow with more people taking part in its activities, if there were more functions for its residents, “like maybe a fall festival, or a 4th of July celebration.

“This is my first time in the political area,” she added with a smile, “so there is a lot that I don’t know.

“I am excited and proud to have been elected to council, though,“ Vick said, “and I would like to thank all who voted for me.”

NAME: Tiffany Vick.
AGE: 24.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THIS AREA: I was born and raised here.
HOMETOWN: Ivor.
OCCUPATION: I work part-time as the events coordinator at the 4-H Conference Center in Wakefield, while attending the Sentara College of Health Services in Chesapeake to become an echo cardiograph technician.
MARITAL STATUS: Single.
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND AGES: None.
FAVORITE NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN: Any night out to dinner with family and friends.
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Any steak house in the area.
FAVORITE FOOD AND BEVERAGE: Steak and sweet tea.
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU: I took dance lessons for about 10 years when I was growing up.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOU: I don’t consider anyone a stranger; I love people.
PETS: I have two dogs and a cat.
WHAT IS YOUR WORST HABIT: I try to do too many things at one time.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY: Reading.
PET PEEVE: I don’t like for people to tell me they’re going to do something, but don’t. In other words, people who don’t keep their word.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED: As an independent, strong woman.
IF YOU HAD 10 MINUTES ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, WHAT WOULD YOUR TOPIC BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY: I would talk about one of the most important rights that we as citizens have — the right to vote! I listen, especially during an election, as people criticize and complain about the candidates, yet they don’t bother to vote. They don’t seem to realize that they have the power to change what they don’t agree with. I would like to see these people get involved, attend meetings and try to find solutions to the problems they believe are present. To sit back and do nothing but talk will not change anything.