THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505050210
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
During the Azalea Festival, more than a dozen Portsmouth families hosted the members and families of the Petersfield Constabulary Band. Because Petersfield is a suburb of our sister city of Portsmouth, Eng-land, the festival committee asked our Sister Cities Commission to assist in housing the band. Commission member Rene Brown, her husband Bob, Paul and Mary Norris were able to find host families to accommodate the entire band.
What a great credit all of the host families are to our city! It is this kind of volunteer spirit that makes Portsmouth the unique place that it is. What a wonderful opportunity they offered to our international neighbors when they shared their Virginia homes, lives and history. Hearty thanks are owed each of the families and a debt of gratitude is due the Browns and Norrises for a job well done.
Gail Cunningham
Idlewood Avenue
April 28, 1995 A special neighbor
It was more than 16 years ago when he became involved in the Olde Towne community with the purchase of a duplex. The first Olde Towne resident to greet us was our neighbor, Gaston ``Gus'' Foote.
From the beginning, Gus was a special neighbor - one who was always there with a helping hand and advice, while educating us about his first love, the Olde Towne community.
As a family, we felt we had a special relationship with Gus, and as time would show, this same feeling was held by other families and Olde Towne residents. Gus was always doing - whether it was house sitting, walking the neighbors' dogs, mowing lawns or just visiting and sharing the goings-on in the community.
The Bible gives an account of an individual asking Jesus ``Who is my Neighbor?'' (Luke 10:25-37). The parable Jesus used to answer this question is the popular parable of the good Samaritan. Gus was that type of neighbor - going the extra mile without thought for himself.
For us, Gus will always be synonymous with Olde Towne. He'll be missed by many, but not forgotten.
The Brooks family
Kingman Avenue
May 1, 1995
A farseeing editor
I see Ida Kay Jordan is farseeing enough to know who can afford to pay more in taxes but some can not afford the increase to pay for the Children's Museum of Virginia.
Maybe City Manager V. Wayne Orton will not turn the ones away who can't afford to pay their tax increase. Maybe Ida Kay could stand at the door and make the decision.
Robert L. Wilson
Century Drive
May 1, 1995 Inflicting pain
The sadness of the bombing in Oklahoma City is beyond any words. No person can see the pictures, hear the stories and not feel an ache in their heart and a sick feeling in the stomach.
When the news broke, people did rush to judgment and go directly to a known adversary. It is an easy assumption to make. Unfortunately, sometimes our enemies can be among us, looking just like everyone else.
In many of the news programs and newspapers, I heard time after time people saying, ``I can't believe an American would do this to other Americans.'' Should not the point be, why any person would do this to other persons, regardless of race, nationality or religion?
It's another example of man's inhumanity to man.
Helen R. Schloss
Suffolk
May 4, 1995 by CNB