THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 12, 1996 TAG: 9605100171
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Around Town is a not-quite-newsy look behind the scenes from City Hall to City Park.
SHADES OF LBJ: State Sen. Louise Lucas, who undoubtedly remembers President Lyndon Johnson's press conference to talk about his health, is showing off her scar from a serious gall bladder operation just as Johnson did to prove he was in good health.
Vivacious Lucas was side-lined by the operation that left a long scar on her midriff, but Wednesday night she was back in motion at the annual Legislative Town Meeting in City Council Chambers.
``But I'm fine now,'' she said. ``I tell you though, I really was sick for a while.''
Lucas was delighted to have her grandchildren with her at the meeting and especially proud of her grandson, Ryan D. Eichelberger, a student at Lakeview Elementary School. Ryan led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag with great aplomb, even adding an unscripted ``please be seated'' at the end.
SHORTEST REMARK: At the Legislative Town Meeting recently, elected officials were recognized and given a chance to make remarks.
Mayor-elect James Holley stood up and said five words: ``Thank you for being here.'' Then the usually verbose politician sat down.
``That is about the shortest remark you'll hear from him this year,'' Councilman Bernard Griffin commented aloud.
Holley, incidentally, was wearing a plaid sports jacket after sticking to more conservative dark suits through the campaign. Over the years, Holley has been known for his expensive clothes, some of them quite bright, and he likes to make fun of his choice of an outfit for an occasion.
POWER OF LOVE: Critics say the story ``could melt even the hardest heart.''
Zita Winterberg Christian, a 1966 graduate of Portsmouth Catholic High School, has written her third romance novel, ``Just a Miracle.''
The Portsmouth native will return to the area to sign copies of her book at Chesapeake Square's Waldenbooks from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. The novel is published by HarperMonogram.
Christian lived in Portsmouth until she moved in 1967 to New England, where she attended the University of Connecticut.
Her first novel, ``Band of Gold,'' was released in August 1993. Her second, ``First and Forever,'' hit the bookstores in October of the following year. Both books were published by Harper Paperbacks.
Christian was born in 1947 in the Portsmouth Naval Hospital and grew up in Simonsdale. As a child, Christian attended Little Flower School, now Portsmouth Catholic Elementary.
She moved from Portsmouth to Rhode Island after a marriage at 19. - Rebecca A. Myers ILLUSTRATION: Lucas
Holley
by CNB