THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 24, 1996 TAG: 9604230140
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Linda McNatt
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
Ms. Jeanne Walsh
Elementary School
Rockville Center, NY
Dear Jeanne:
On a warm, sunny day in Virginia, your ``Explore-a-Bear'' came to visit the Smithfield office of The Virginian-Pilot. He was with the nicest lady, Jean Kukucka, the woman whose name and address just happened to be on your list of places to send the bear you named ``Teddy'' as part of your fourth-grade social studies project at Hewitt Elementary.
I'll tell you, Teddy must have been enjoying himself here. Spring, you see, has finally arrived. After all the cold weather and snow we had this past winter - unusual for Virginia - there were some of us who thought spring never would come.
Smithfield, where Teddy stayed with Jean and her husband Tom, is a small town in Isle of Wight County, in southeastern Virginia. The town is filled with old houses, and, this time of year, tulips and daffodils and all kinds of flowers are blooming everywhere. Trees are beginning to bud, and dogwoods, Virginia's state tree, are bursting into bloom, adding a lacy elegance to every street and rural roadway.
Jean has no idea how she came to be included in Teddy's itinerary. But she really has had fun being a part of his travels. She and her husband, Tom, have no children of their own. Both of them enjoyed being able to help a little girl with a school project.
We understand that the idea was to have your bear travel around the country and collect memorabilia wherever he went. We all agreed that your class did a great job in executing the idea. In the box with Teddy, you had included information, instructions, stamps for return postage and postcards to keep you up-to-date on your bear.
When he arrived, Teddy already had collected souvenirs from the states of Washington, Missouri and Florida. Since he has been in Isle of Wight, he really has gotten around.
Jean took him to college with her, where she will graduate next month as a registered nurse. Tom took Teddy on a tour of our historic downtown area, with a courthouse built in 1750. That's a long time ago.
Isle of Wight County is very close to Williamsburg, the Colonial capital of this country, and Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America. It also is home to St. Luke's Church, built in 1732, the oldest church of English foundation in the entire United States.
On the tour, Teddy had his picture taken with a hostess at the county's visitors center, which is at the courthouse. He also had his picture taken in the town's ice cream parlor and sandwich shop.
Jean told me, ``I have a collection of bears, and I'm going to take his picture with them, so Jeanne can see who Teddy visited with.''
She also took a picture of their house, so you'll be able to see where Teddy stayed.
All of us here at the Smithfield office of the Pilot, Virginia's largest newspaper, wanted to be a part of Teddy's trip, so we sent you a Virginian-Pilot key ring, a pen and balloons for everyone in your class.
I know you must be anxious to have Teddy back at home in New York with you. But Jean wanted him first to visit her aunt in California and a friend in Wisconsin. Both of them, when I talked to Jean last week, were looking forward to his visit.
When you do finally get your little traveling friend back, I'm sure you will know everything you ever wanted to know about Virginia, thanks to all of the travel brochures Teddy picked up while here. Everything from the Eastern Shore to the beautiful mountains. Virginia is quite a nice state.
And guess what? Teddy won't be lonesome in that box during the rest of his travels. Jean bought him a little traveling companion. You can see the little fellow in the photo above.
I'm sure you can't wait to see Teddy again. By now, you've probably received the postcard we sent you from our office staff to tell you he was on his way home.
As soon as this issue of the Isle of Wight Citizen comes out, you'll get a copy of this column - a letter to you. And we hope that this community newspaper that comes out once a week will help you to feel you know our area even better.
Isle of Wight is a very friendly, very caring community. Teddy is a lucky bear to have been here for a while. Maybe, someday, you can visit, too.
Please let us know how you do on your project. We'll be waiting to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Linda McNatt ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
Jean Kukucka with Teddy, the roving bear.
by CNB