THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410210321
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Eric Feber
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
``We were packed,'' said a delighted Deborah L. Forwood, director of community relations for Oscar Frommel Smith High School after Sunday's dedication of the new $23 million facility. ``We had anticipated about 500 people, but got double that amount. We didn't expect such a large crowd.''
Thanks to advertising, word-of-mouth, good Sunday weather and strong, long-lasting school spirit, the event was a rousing success.
``We have a tradition of school support,'' Forwood said. ``And, of course, people wanted to see the new building.''
Raymond Jones, an Oscar Smith alumnus, former spokesman for the Chesapeake Public School system and now director of WHRO public radio, was host for the one-hour dedication ceremony. Also present were Dr. Edward Brickell, president of the Eastern Virginia Medical School and a Smith alumnus; Chesapeake Mayor William E. Ward; Chesapeake Sheriff John R. Newhart; Chesapeake superintendent of schools C. Fred Bateman; and Shirley Forbes, president of the Chesapeake Parent-Teacher-Student Association.
``We had several other special guests, too,'' Forwood said. ``There were past principals, South Norfolk High School graduates, and we even had the valedictorian of Oscar Smith's first graduating class in 1955.
Forwood said the audience included several generations of students and teachers.
``I saw one of my old teachers, and then I saw several students I once taught,'' Forwood said.
As the crowds filed into the school to take their seats in its shiny, new auditorium, they were serenaded by the Oscar Smith Band. During the ceremony, the Smith Singers performed rousing renditions of the national anthem and the school's alma mater. While guests feasted at a special reception, they were treated to audio sweets served up by the Oscar Smith High School Orchestra under the direction of Nancy Howland.
The PTSA parents served crab balls, meatballs, chicken, fruit, vegetables and pastries to the hungry crowd. All of the reception's cookies and brownies, in fact, were created and baked by the school's catering students.
The entire Sunday event was sponsored and paid for by Huntsman Chemical Corp. and Commerce Bank. All the flowers were courtesy of Linda's Florist. HAUNTED GRAFFITI
There's a trailer sitting on Volvo-Penta Drive that's covered with graffiti, but don't call the police. The Chesapeake Jaycees commissioned artists to cover the vehicle with seasonal, spooky artwork.
The artwork was rendered by a two artists from Norfolk, one 17 and the other 21. Both want to remain anonymous and let their work speak for itself, said Jennifer Graham, state director of the Chesapeake Jaycees.
``We want the truck to act as a huge billboard for our fund-raising Haunted Forest,'' Graham said. ``We feel this original art will do the trick.''
The truck serves as a storage area for the forest's props, costumes, scenes and special effects.
``They used spray cans and did all of the art free-hand, right there on the spot,'' she said. ``They came up with all of the designs.''
The art features a Halloween motif, of course, which includes witches, vampires, Frankenstein monsters, devils and even Jason's infamous hockey mask.
``We want the trailer to become a billboard-on-wheels, advertising our Haunted Forest,'' Graham said. ``We've gotten comments on it already. People can hardly miss it.'' by CNB