Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 31, 1992 TAG: 9203310262
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Kathleen Wilson
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The group gathered in the school's library Friday afternoon, where the shelves are filled with such children's classics as Maurice Sendak's "Where The Wild Things Are" and Margaret Wise Brown's "Goodnight Moon."
For the past six weeks, Yvonne Hopkins' third-graders have been working on their stories, which were typeset and hardbound with right Mickey and Minnie Mouse motif covers as part of a partnership program the school has with Shenandoah Life Insurance.
The pupils filed in solemnly, all in their Sunday best, and took turns sitting in an ornate rocking chair to read their stories to the group of parents who were there to witness this special debut.
Each book included a dedication and information about the author. Favorite subjects included pets and aliens.
From Donald Morris' "Aliens" we learned that aliens "eat flesh, drink blood and have oozis."
Christine Pultz's "My Pet" was a plea for a dog. "I wish I had a dog," she wrote. "Her name would be Prissy Poo. We are going to grow old together. And when I get bigger, she's leaving home with me."
There were action adventure tales like "Nintendo Power" and "Clash of the Champions." Robert Keo Bennett wrote about a 52-year-old black Ford in "An Old Car."
There was even romance.
"My favorite cartoon is Mickey Mouse. I watch him everyday," April D. Dunbar wrote. "The best one ever is when he falls in love with Minnie Mouse and they kiss and walk in the moonshadows." April help up her book to share its illustrations, and Minnie was wearing bright red lipstick.
Curtis Blankenship, a crane operator, took part of the afternoon off for the reading by young Curtis. "He must have been in a hurry this morning," his dad whispered when the kids entered. "He forgot to spike his hair."
Once the formalities were over, the young writers got down to the serious business of eating cake and drinking punch. At one point they were flapping their arms around and chanting the television commercial jingle, "I feel like chicken tonight, chicken tonight."
"You're gonna be chicken tonight if you don't slow down and clean up this room," Hopkins warned.
The annual Roanoke Symphony Ball swept its way through the Patrick Henry Hotel Saturday evening with cocktails in the lobby, dinner in an elegant dining room, a silent auction on the mezzanine and finally dancing in the hotel's ballroom.
"I couldn't buy the Hotel Roanoke just to give you another ball, so this is the best we could do," Heidi Krisch joked. Since the Hotel Roanoke was turned over to Virginia Tech two years ago, the symphony has had a rough time finding an appropriate location for this chichi event. After Saturday night, I'd say the search is over.
Jim Hinson and Colette Davidson chose the occasion to announce their engagement. The president of First Virginia Bank will wed the manager of Fields Properties on May 23 in Bermuda.
And beginning an annual tradition, the symphony dedicated this year's ball to longtime volunteer Pat Cutter. Wearing a lovely aqua floor length gown, Mrs. Cutter received a standing ovation, a large spray of spring flowers and a 14 carat gold pin for her contributions to the symphony.
The room was filled with elegant basic black. Fashion hits included Heidi Krisch's short, white, spangled, strapless dress with a black polka dotted bubble skirt.
The symphony's executive director, Margarite Fourcroy, looked sensational and every bit a ballerina in a strapless gown with a fitted spangled bodice and a voluminous skirt with layers of black tulle.
Frances Kahn's Rose Stavali wore a short, backless, khaki taffeta dress with a tuxedo collar and black fishnet stockings.
Over dinner at one table, Mimi Butler mentioned to Robert Barnes how long it had been since she'd visited with her guardian and a former roommate. Not a problem in this jetset crowd. Barnes, a private pilot, took Mimi on a four-day trip to Mississippi and Arkansas to catch up with both the guardian and the roommate.
While Mimi and Robert were making travel plans, Robert's wife, Chris, filled me in on plans for this year's Polo Cup.
"We're hoping to bring in the British Armed Services Team," she said, admitting that when the Polo Cup started she "knew not a phantom about how to go about pulling off an event like this."
This evening was anything but stuffy. Mimi Butler had a rubber cockroach perched on her shoulder. Glenn Thornhill Jr.'s table must have been strategically placed near the door for all its rowdiness.
Bill Otey III gave me his business card. Just what exactly does Mr. Otey do?
According to his card he's a "Virginia Gentleman, Naval Officer, Hedonist and Victualler."
THE PARTY LINE: If you'd like to invite free-lance Mingling columnist Kathleen Wilson to a party or social gathering, call her at 981-3434; when asked for the mailbox, dial MING (6464) and press the key. Or write her in care of the Features Department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.
by CNB