For one afternoon, the Western Tidewater Services Board became a miniature Woodstock. At the Tidewater House talent show, more a dozen WTSB consumers showed their skills

Tom Mabe belted out &uot;God Bless America.&uot; Albert Mills sang about how happy he was that everyone was &uot;So Happy Together.&uot; Walter Delk and John Wilcox partied with a guitar, and John Spicer danced the afternoon away. Ryan Watts took a step – actually, a flying kick – away from the musical offerings and did a martial arts display. And everyone received a pair of rewards at the end of the event – a certificate of appreciation and a standing ovation from their friends and WTSB employees.

&uot;We want to be an up-and-moving (facility),&uot; said employees Andrew Holliman, the event’s Master of Ceremonies. &uot;We want to bring our talent out to formulate our skills and be better suited to serve the community.&uot;

As if Wilcox’s rendition of the Temptations’ &uot;Treat Her Like a Lady,&uot; wasn’t energetic enough by itself, fellow consumer Judith Carroll got up and led several others in an impromptu dance routine.

&uot;John is my best friend,&uot; said Carroll, who’s been visiting the WTSB for the past five years. &uot;Anytime I need something, he’s always there. I don’t have any brothers, and he’s like a brother to me. I started dancing when I was about six, and it’s my hobby.&uot;

&uot;I like entertaining and I like to perform,&uot; Wilcox said. &uot;I like to make people happy through my music skills, and I think I did.&uot;

Spicer went through a fast-paced rock-and-roll song and dance show.

&uot;I was an entertainer at one time in California and Virginia, and I retired,&uot; he said. &uot;I sang rock and roll and country. I wanted to entertain and make the girls happy. It felt real good; I like to entertain people.&uot;

As the event wound down, Holliman and fellow employee Fred Potter handed out the certificates.

&uot;We treat them all equally,&uot; Potter said, &uot;because they’re all winners.&uot;

Kay Spruill got an award for her self-composed song, &uot;Mama, I Remember.&uot;

&uot;That was for my mother, who passed away,&uot; she said. &uot;I remember her smiles, her talks, and her laughter. She always laughed a lot, and she taught us to love each other.

&uot;I was kind of nervous at first,&uot; she said of her song, &uot;but then I got into it. I felt all warm inside. I dedicated it to everyone who has lost a mother, like I have.&uot;

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com