THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 9, 1994 TAG: 9409090579
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATRICK K. LACKEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Nonie Hale has the following message for the thieves who stole the portable sound system from her creamy yellow 1982 Dodge van overnight Wednesday.
``I want them to know,'' she said, ``they didn't take it from me. They didn't hurt me. They hurt our community and all the youth sports our community sponsors.''
An amplifier and two speakers, altogether worth about $1,500, were taken, said Hale. She said she doesn't have the money to replace them.
For 11 years - the past nine at Tarrallton Community Center in the Roosevelt Section - Hale has served as a disc jockey for fund-raising dances for community athletic leagues in several sports. Typically about 300 youths, ages 7 to 16, attend.
This year she will do about 20 dances that will raise about $20,000 for the community leagues. Her dances are already scheduled through February.
Maryanne Harrison, president of Azalea Athletic Association, said Hale serves as DJ for about five dances a year for her organization.
``They raise about $5,000 a year for me,'' she said, ``which suits about 25 to 30 players.'' A helmet alone costs $65, she said, and the children can't afford their own uniforms. A cheerleading outfit costs $160, she said. Her association sponsors eight football teams and seven cheerleading squads.
Harrison said Hale donates her sound equipment for announcers at cheerleading competitions and other fund-raising events and opening days.
For the dances, Hale typically charges $100 to $125. The money goes, she said, for new records and CDs to keep up with changing tastes of the dancers and for repairing equipment. She loses money over the year, she said.
The going rate for DJs, she said, is about $300.
Hale, 46, became involved in the community leagues while raising three daughters, all cheerleaders, and a son active in several community sports. After her children grew up, she continued working with the community leagues.
Hale's equipment was first stolen last January, she said, but the thief's mother made him return it.
Harrison asked whoever took the equipment this time to call her home number - 587-2726 - and say where the equipment could be recovered. If Harrison isn't home, an answering machine will take the message. Harrison said she would get the equipment back to Hale.
The next fund-raising dance is slated for Sept. 17, with Harrison's organization as the sponsor. Admission is $5, or $3 for youths with Tarrallton Community Center facility-use cards.
Bob Barbarise, the community center supervisor, said two police officers are on duty for the dances, which run from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Most of the dancers are 10 or older, he said.
``I feel bad for her,'' said Barbarise, referring to Hale's loss of equipment.
``Maybe,'' Hale said, ``if people who stole it understand they didn't steal from me, they stole from kids, they'll return it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER/
Nonie Hale stands by the van from which about $1,500 worth of
portable sound equipment was stolen. For 11 years Hale has served as
a DJ for fund-raising dances for athletic leagues.
KEYWORDS: BURGLARY THEFT by CNB