THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604260156
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Eric Feber
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
More books, please
Recently the Chesapeake City Jail made a month-long appeal to Chesapeake's citizens for donations of books for the jail's inmates.
The response was underwhelming.
``We got very few books,'' said Lt. Joel M. Kirshon of the Chesapeake Sheriff's Department. ``We need many more.''
Kirshon said the jail's library needs hard-cover books in a variety of titles and subjects.
``Unfortunately we have all types and all classes of people in here,'' he said. ``So their interests range throughout the spectrum of subjects and titles.''
Kirshon said that a person in jail has a better chance at rehabilitation if he or she has something to read. At least the books will occupy an inmate's time and will stimulate his or her mind.
``We try to keep people informed, educated and satisfied as far as their intellect is concerned,'' Kirshorn said. ``We know from experience that books are a positive thing in a jail. Anyway, it's better than having someone sitting in jail wasting away doing nothing.''
Kirshorn said any type of book - textbooks, non-fiction titles, mysteries, romance novels, science-fiction - will be appreciated.
``We would welcome all types of books except, of course, any type of book on firearms or bomb making,'' he said.
If you want to help: drop off your hard-back book donations at the Chesapeake City Jail lobby, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about the jail book donations, call the sheriff's office at 547-6159.
Pride's loss
Speaking of donations, the Chesapeake Pride team could use a few to recover what they lost at the World Drug Conference it attended at the end of March in Cincinnati, Ohio.
According to the group's administrative director, Malia Piper, the Chesapeake Pride team performed well at this conference of 9,000 participants and one of its members, Amy Denise Jones, earned a national Pride Youth award, given only to five youngsters each year.
But the trip had one mishap, Piper said.
``We had one casualty,'' she said. ``On the way home, we were at the airport gate ready to board our plane. The airline officials were rushing people into the plane. A storm was approaching the area and they wanted the plane boarded as quickly as possible so it could take off to avoid the storm. Well, in the mad rush to get on the plane we left our video camera behind at the gate.''
If that isn't bad enough, Piper said the camera wasn't even property of the Pride Team. It was borrowed from the Oscar F. Smith High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
``We remembered the camera when we were up in the air,'' Piper said. ``So I guess we'll be doing a few fund-raisers to buy them another video camera. We could use some donations for that.''
But in light of the loss, Piper and the team are philosophical about it all.
``Well,'' she mused, ``at least I didn't lose any kids.''
Blooming Scouts
The next time your business takes you by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in the Chesapeake Municipal Center off Cedar Road, stop and smell the flowers.
And then thank Girl Scout Junior Troop 390.
Members of the group, led by troop leader Diane Conlon, recently planted a mess of wildflowers along the wooded area in front of the court building.
Those girls who participated in the spring planting were Jessica Henley, Talyn Santiago, Marci Ryan, Kristen Gallagher, Anna Merryman, Katie Haughinberry, Jamie Douglas and Allison Watts.
The girls were helped by Tori Landers, the city's municipal grounds supervisor.
According to Gail McClure Bradshaw of the city's Special Programs Department, the girls worked for several hours planting the seeds in bed areas prepared by Landers' crew.
``When these beautiful flowers start to grow and bloom, we can all thank Tori Landers and the energetic girls in Girl Scout Junior Troop 390,'' she said. by CNB