THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511020173
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
The fund-raising for fire-ravaged Princess Anne High School never seems to stop, and now the civic energy that fire unleashed is moving toward community building as well.
On Saturday, four leading churches from Thalia will host a party to celebrate the efforts and sacrifices made by students, faculty, staff and parents who have helped raise money for the Princess Anne Recovery Fund.
The fund is the adopted name for the money raised by untold hundreds of volunteers and anonymous people who have contributed cash to help teachers and students buy items not covered by insurance.
On Sept. 1, an arsonist's fire nearly destroyed a wing at the school on Virginia Beach Boulevard, forcing the school system to relocate many of the school's 2,300 students to Celebration Station, located at the boulevard and Little Neck Road.
The party is being held at Thalia Trinity Presbyterian Church, 420 Thalia Road, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The other nearby churches include Thalia Lynn Baptist, Thalia United Methodist and Emmanuel Lutheran. Green Run Baptist is also helping.
There will be something to do for all ages.
Children can take pony rides, have their faces painted, play games or watch shows put on by the TGIF Missions Group Puppeteers.
Parents can enjoy a range of student-sponsored programs, including a drill sponsored by the Princess Anne NJROTC Cadets and music by the high school's string ensemble.
About 25 local merchants have contributed services and gifts to the party. There will be a raffle of a weekend excursion for two at an Oceanfront hotel. Tickets are $1 each. Thalia Exxon has offered a car repair gift, while Uncle Harry's ice cream parlor has donated ice cream and hot dogs to help raise funds.
There will be country music, a few selections from the Virginia Coast Chorus ``Sweet Adelines'' and a performance ending the day by The Doorway Singers with selections from ``An Evening in Old Virginia.''
``I'm very grateful that the churches have come together,'' said the Rev. James Young, the pastor at Thalia Trinity. ``Usually, what you hear is how churches fight and disagree. This is a wonderful testimony on how good people working together can celebrate life.''
The party was the idea of several church members who shared it with others and allowed the idea to take root, he said.
``People have literally come out of the woodwork to help,'' he said. ``It has just been great. Even some of the synagogues, while not directly involved, have publicized this in their publications and supported it in that way. It really has been a community effort.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff file photo by MORT FRYMAN
Among other activities, Princess Anne High School students conducted
a carwash at Thalia Shell to raise money for the school's fire
recovery fund.
by CNB