ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Fairfax County is now officially home to one of the best beers in the world.

Port City Brewing Company’s Optimal Wit was awarded a gold medal Wednesday in the Belgian-Style Witbier category at the 2024 World Beer Cup, which bills itself as the most prestigious beer competition in the world.

“To win for a traditional style, you know, you’re beating the top breweries in the world,” lead brewer Mike Benish said Thursday.

The World Beer Cup awards ceremony was held in Las Vegas, and it honored the best beers in 110 categories. Organizers said that throughout 14 sessions spanning seven days, a panel of 280 judges from 37 countries evaluated more than 9,000 entries.

Optimal Wit competed against 88 other entries in the Belgian-Style Witbier category.

VIRGINIA BEACH — A man who prosecutors say was high on marijuana when he ran over two women in a Town Center crosswalk was found guilty Thursday of involuntary manslaughter.

The jury also convicted Nathan Poole, 26, of driving under the influence and maiming someone while driving under the influence for the August 2022 incident that left Rosa Blanco, 76, dead and her cousin, Concepcion Blanco, 79, seriously hurt. Sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 15.

Cases in which a driver is charged with killing someone while high on marijuana are rare, according to the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Among the issues that makes them challenging is that there’s no forensic standard for impairment with marijuana cases like there is with alcohol ones, where a blood alcohol level over .08 percent is considered illegal for driving.

“The facts of this case prove that there are risks and consequences for driving while impaired from marijuana use,” Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle said in a statement. “While there is no forensic standard for THC impairment, the jury clearly rejected the defense’s assertion that Poole was not impaired and sent the message that he should be held accountable for his actions that day.”

The incident happened on the afternoon of Aug. 22, 2022, at the intersection of Constitution Avenue and Main Street. The two women had gone to Tupelo Honey Cafe to celebrate Rosa Blanco’s birthday, and were walking in the crosswalk when Poole made a right turn from Main Street onto Constitution Drive and struck them in the crosswalk.

Video surveillance showed Poole didn’t apply the brakes as he drove his Dodge pickup over the women, according to prosecutors. Blanco died at the scene. Her cousin spent five weeks in the hospital.

An officer who arrived at the scene noticed the smell of “burnt marijuana” on Poole, prosecutors said. Poole failed multiple field sobriety tests, and told police he was a heavy marijuana user. He initially said he hadn’t used any since the night before, but later said he’d used some that morning.

A toxicologist testified that the level of marijuana in Poole’s blood indicated recent use, and that it would have had major effects on his judgment, attention, and reaction times.

“This is a very sad case,” defense attorney Diane Toscano said afterwards. “We mounted a strong defense but the jury disagreed. We respect their decision and will talk about our next legal steps.”

Toscano said the case is a good example of how little is known about “how much is too much marijuana before getting behind the wheel.”

“We have much clearer standards for drunk driving,” the defense lawyer said. And without a standard for impairment when it comes to marijuana — even though it is legal to smoke in Virginia — any amount in your system can spell big trouble in an accident. This policy issue needs to be tackled.”

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com

Crissy Johnson used journaling to document her thoughts, fears, revelations and heartaches during her son David’s cancer journey.

She compiled a stack of 15 paper journals, replete with details on treatments, medications and key caregivers, throughout the years. Johnson found that pouring her heart and soul into a journal helped her cope and provided a safe, creative and cathartic outlet after her son was diagnosed at 18 months old with neuroblastoma, a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells.

“I spent a lot of moments in the bathroom silently crying, but then put on my happy face to help get the rest of the family through,” she said of being in “survival mode.” “We just do what we have to do for our children.”

David, now 8, is cancer-free. He’s a Virginia Beach third grader who loves to play sports. He checks in with his oncologist every six months.

But it was the first four years of his life — in and out of Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters — that rocked the world of Crissy and her husband, Rodney.

Six rounds of high-dose chemotherapy required David to stay in the hospital for 26 days each time. Radiation treatment meant 20-day stints. Tumor resection and immunotherapy equaled more time away from his family, which includes three older siblings.

Johnson, a former medical assistant, said having some familiarity with medical jargon helped her understanding, which was both good and bad as she learned and digested more about the tumor attached to her son’s left kidney.

“I wasn’t comfortable with saying the word ‘cancer’ for a long time,” Johnson said.

But the words came when she wrote about her family’s experiences in two books, a memoir published in 2018, “Fighting for King David,” and “Residue of War,” an anthology of mothers’ stories, released in 2022. Both are available for sale on Amazon.

In 2020, she created MomAdvocate Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at helping other families affected by childhood cancer.

“I realized that the resources we needed were limited,” she said.

Crissy Johnson recollected the financial burden they endured to cover the cost of fuel for trips back and forth to the hospital and the added cost of takeout meals for the family of six.

That’s what led her to start the Fuel For The Journey program, which provides gas and grocery gift cards to local families in Hampton Roads with a child undergoing cancer treatment.

And as a nod to David, the foundation also hosts King David’s Costume Drive. David wore a Superman costume throughout his treatments, which Johnson said “allowed him to be an actual kid.”

Now in its fifth year, the foundation received more than 100 donated costumes last fall for pediatric oncology patients in treatment at CHKD to wear, Johnson said.

“We believe that every child deserves to experience the joy of dressing up and letting their imagination run wild,” the foundation’s website says.

Johnson volunteers her expertise to help other people turn their journal entries into books. All she asks for in return is a donation to the foundation.

“Community is everything to me,” she said.

Nikysha Noris read “Fighting for King David” during her son Xavier’s cancer treatment, which began in February 2021. She started her own charity event, Run for Xavier, to help others dealing with pediatric cancer. She is grateful another Virginia Beach mother shared similar experiences, including developing support outlets.

“We spoke the same language,” Noris said.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com

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If you go

What: 2nd Annual Cancer Awareness Gala, a night dedicated to celebrating survivors, honoring caregivers and supporting those still fighting.

When: 6-9 p.m., Sept. 15

Where: Luxury Affairs Event Center, 4010B Victory Blvd. Portsmouth

Tickets: $75-$100, Momadvocatefoundation.org/events