THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 12, 1994 TAG: 9406100218
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Frank Roberts
DATELINE: 940612 LENGTH: Medium
Complaints - complaints about not enough to do in Suffolk, especially for the kids. But when something interesting does crop up, it's a struggle to get participation.
{REST} The school system arranged for a June 20-24 Great Dismal Swamp study but, at this writing, it is being canceled because not enough youngsters signed up.
It included a field trip to el swampo and would have been an interesting way to spend four days.
Also - the Tidewater Soaring Society offered kids from 10 through 14 free rides, plus the opportunity to pilot a glider. The event took place Saturday and would have been repeated if enough families showed interest.
Only a handful signed up for this opportunity that, by the way, is available nowhere else in Hampton Roads.
\ I imagine there are older books around, but Evelyn Graham came up with a copy of a 140-year-old publication, ``A New & Popular Pictorial Description of the United States.''
The question to ponder is - how many `united states' were there 140 years ago?
\ One of my more enjoyable assignments was accompanying some Nansemond Parkway Elementary School second-graders - Toni Harbage's class - on a visit to the destroyer tender Yellowstone.
The trip was arranged by Chief Petty Officer Bob Dusanic, whose son, Brandon, is in the class.
\ Update! - as they say on ``Unsolved Mysteries.''
As of Aug. 1, it will be Warrant Officer Bob Dusanic. His new assignment will take him to the aircraft carrier George Washington.
Also leaving the Yellowstone is Capt. Ronald C. Berning - who is switching to a desk job.
Dusanic, by the way, is an exemplary Navy man and parent.
He is a Little League coach and, Harbage tells me, he never misses a PTA meeting when he is at home and attends most school functions. Do they give medals for that? They should.
\ I decided - in my next life I'm going to come back as a TV Guide writer. I don't usually see that mag, but when I do see it, I'm fascinated by the number of ``authors'' that cover one subject.
One page, for instance, has about four paragraphs - some television personality gossip. Five writers are credited with contributing to the half-page items.
Maybe one dials the phone, another brings the coffee. . . .
\ Speaking of writing, one of my favorite promotions is an annual Reader's Choice done by the Elizabeth City Daily Advance. Ostensibly, people vote for their favorite whatevers. Companies usually push their customers to send in votes, then the company takes out an ad. It's a no-loss situation for the paper.
One of this year's winners had to be a little distressing to the reportorial staff. Who won Best Newspaper Column? ``Pet of the Week.'' I mean, here are columnists slaving away, trying to be clever and what gets the most votes? A picture of Fido behind bars.
The contest is fascinating. Readers vote for such things as best car salesman (saleswomen not eligible, I guess), best photographer, best lawyer (yes, there were entrants in that category).
Get this - best food prices: Food Lion; best food selection: Farm Fresh. That puts shoppers in a dilemma.
And how can you resist this category? Sexiest lingerie. The winner - honest - Belk's - known as Leggett in our neck of the woods. Remember?
There is also favorite entertainment. The winner: Movies. Sure it's a favorite. That's why the town's theaters threatened to close.
A favorite category is best funeral services. Like, how do you compare? Er - excuse me, sir, were you buried satisfactorily?
Another favorite - best street name. The winner? Church Street. Holy asphalt, Batman.
by CNB