The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, December 19, 1995             TAG: 9512190011
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A18  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   26 lines

HATS OFF TO MARY

I wish to thank The Virginian-Pilot for publishing the article ``Local self-help efforts win governor's awards.'' One of the people mentioned was my good friend, Mary Watson.

I've watched her grow and develop as a community activist for Habitat for Humanity and for Portsmouth Community Development Group. She and I became friends while working together for the first home built by Habitat in Portsmouth, laughing at our struggles to pull electrical wire, to carry and nail up plywood and wallboard and to sand wallboard joints.

That house led to the activities in which Mary is now involved. Congratulations to Governor Allen and PCDG for recognizing the talents of this unusual woman.

JOANN MAZZETTA

Chesapeake, Nov. 29, 1995 by CNB