THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601050165
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 157 lines
The yard of a home on Longwood Avenue, Suffolk
The young man, who is blowing leaves with a lawn mower, stops to chat as neighbors walk by.
He's feeling better, he says, recovering from the flu that has plagued so many people recently.
His father, who recently had a quadruple heart bypass, also had been sick, he says. And his mother had a mild case, too.
The bug had disrupted the holidays for the family.
``I didn't finish my Christmas shopping, but I don't even care,'' he says. ``We've got the best Christmas present possible. Pop's home for Christmas.''
- Susie Stoughton Thursday, Dec. 28
2:20 p.m. - The lunch counter at Nansemond Drug, Suffolk
T he couple has finished eating and as they stand up to leave, she speaks to the cooks behind the counter.
``I had to bring him to this restaurant,'' she says, nodding her head to the young man with her.
``Everybody has to eat a cheeseburger and french fries here,'' she says. ``We'll be back spring break.''
- Susie Stoughton Tuesday, Jan.2
8:30 a.m. - Linden Avenue, Suffolk
T he neighbor is heading out to his car, two young sons accompanying, when he stops in his tracks, feigning amazement.
``Look,'', he says, ``a tree has popped up in the yard!''
Actually, it is on the strip between his front yard and the street. And the tree has popped down, not up.
A glance up the street - and a later ride in other areas of the city - shows the phenomenon widespread, as Christmas trees head for disposal.
Only a few years ago, the trees would have been combined with other garbage to clog landfills. Nowadays, though, recycling gives the trees new life as mulch, duck blinds and even beach-building barriers.
Next spring, when the neighbor is mulching plants, we'll try to remember to ask if he thinks his mulch includes his Christmas tree.
- John Pruitt Wednesday, Jan.3
5 p.m. - Carolina Highway
I t makes you feel proud - sort of.
The car in front has not one, but two, bumper stickers exuding patriotism. Each has a picture of the flag of the United States of America.
There's more. Each bumper sticker carries the slogan: Drive American.
Yea!
Only problem is, the car is an old Datsun.
It's the thought that counts.
- Frank Roberts Thursday. Jan. 4
9 a.m. - Driving west on U.S. Route 58
T he sign advising motorists that they are entering Suffolk's city limits from Chesapeake seems to be the dividing line between bare, frozen ground and a ground-covering of the first snow accumulation of the season.
Looks as though Suffolk's landscape has been dusted with a layer of powdered sugar! This is a welcome and rare sight in an area that often passes the winter months without glimpsing a snowflake.
Motorists can enjoy the picturesque landscape without worrying about icy roads . . . another plus!
- Shirley Brinkley Thursday, Jan 4
3 p.m. - Suffolk Planning Department
B osses and their staffers rarely have outside interests in common. But Assistant City Manager William E. Harrell and new Planning Department Executive Director Paul Fisher do. They're both artistic.
Harrell, who oversees the Planning Department, writes poetry. Fisher paints. And they're both pretty good at it.
Harrell once did poetry readings and Fisher has won awards. But when you ask these bureaucrats to expound on their talents, they become shy.
``Oh, I'd rather you not print that about me,'' says Fisher, who has wonderful, three-dimensional paintings in his office.
Harrell says he hopes to write a book one day - but he's sketchy about the details.
- Terri Williams
4:30 p.m. - The yard of a home on Longwood Avenue, Suffolk
T he young man, who is blowing leaves with a lawn mower, stops to chat as neighbors walk by.
He's feeling better, he says, recovering from the flu that has plagued so many people recently.
His father, who recently had a quadruple heart bypass, also had been sick, he says. And his mother had a mild case, too.
The bug had disrupted the holidays for the family.
``I didn't finish my Christmas shopping, but I don't even care,'' he says. ``We've got the best Christmas present possible. Pop's home for Christmas.''
- Susie Stoughton
2:20 p.m. - The lunch counter at Nansemond Drug, Suffolk
T he couple has finished eating and as they stand up to leave, she speaks to the cooks behind the counter.
``I had to bring him to this restaurant,'' she says, nodding her head to the young man with her.
``Everybody has to eat a cheeseburger and french fries here,'' she says. ``We'll be back spring break.''
- Susie Stoughton
8:30 a.m. - Linden Avenue, Suffolk
T he neighbor is heading out to his car, two young sons accompanying, when he stops in his tracks, feigning amazement.
``Look,'' he says, ``a tree has popped up in the yard!''
Actually, it is on the strip between his front yard and the street. And the tree has popped down, not up.
A glance up the street - and a later ride in other areas of the city - shows the phenomenon widespread, as Christmas trees head for disposal.
Only a few years ago, the trees would have been combined with other garbage to clog landfills. Nowadays, though, recycling gives the trees new life as mulch, duck blinds and even beach-building barriers.
Next spring, when the neighbor is mulching plants, we'll try to remember to ask if he thinks his mulch includes his Christmas tree.
- John Pruitt
5 p.m. - Carolina Highway
I t makes you feel proud - sort of.
The car in front has not one, but two, bumper stickers exuding patriotism. Each has a picture of the flag of the United States of America.
There's more. Each bumper sticker carries the slogan: Drive American.
Yea!
Only problem is, the car is an old Datsun.
It's the thought that counts.
- Frank Roberts
9 a.m. - Driving west on U.S. Route 58
T he sign advising motorists that they are entering Suffolk's city limits from Chesapeake seems to be the dividing line between bare, frozen ground and a ground-covering of the first snow accumulation of the season.
Looks as though Suffolk's landscape has been dusted with a layer of powdered sugar! This is a welcome and rare sight in an area that often passes the winter months without glimpsing a snowflake.
Motorists can enjoy the picturesque landscape without worrying about icy roads . . . another plus!
- Shirley Brinkley
3 p.m. - Suffolk Planning Department
B osses and their staffers rarely have outside interests in common. But Assistant City Manager William E. Harrell and new Planning Department Executive Director Paul Fisher do. They're both artistic.
Harrell, who oversees the Planning Department, writes poetry. Fisher paints. And they're both pretty good at it.
Harrell once did poetry readings and Fisher has won awards. But when you ask these bureaucrats to expound on their talents, they become shy.
``Oh, I'd rather you not print that about me,'' says Fisher, who has wonderful, three-dimensional paintings in his office.
Harrell says he hopes to write a book one day - but he's sketchy about the details.
- Terri Williams ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Suffolk residents awakened Thursday morning to see just a hint of
snow and ice glazing barren branches. by CNB