THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 23, 1996 TAG: 9606210223
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 68 lines
Racial harmony displayed by churches
Those who think there is no racial harmony should have been at London Bridge Baptist Church on Sunday night, May 26, when we hosted the minister, choir and congregation of First Lynnhaven Baptist Church.
We prayed, sang, clapped, laughed and cried together and were greatly uplifted by the message of First Lynnhaven's minister, Dr. Edgar Williams Jr. It was a time of real fellowship, and afterwards we talked together, shook hands, embraced and wished each other well.
I think a lot of those who are looking for racial harmony are looking in all the wrong places. It isn't found where sensational news stories happen and everyone involved has some personal agenda to follow. No, it's found in the everyday practice of our faith.
Nancy Clements
Member, London Bridge
Baptist Church
May 28
Monorail, not light rail
Light rail between Norfolk and Virginia Beach? Why do we always follow other cities? In this area where many people have traveled far and wide, we need something to get people interested.
Instead of spending millions to put a few railroad cars on existing rails, we need something different, attractive. Why not a monorail, built high enough so car and train intersections are not blocked (all we need is another reason to block traffic), with raised stops. After all, we are entering the year 2000. Let's modernize our mode of transportation. I might even ride something this interesting. But after all, I live in a city that forgets to rent the Pavilion (on time) for high school graduations.
Mark Tyree
June 13
Relay for Life a winner
As many of your readers know, the American Cancer Society's 1996 Relay for Life Event held May 31 and June 1 at Great Neck Middle School in Virginia Beach was a huge success. More than $300,000 was raised to fight cancer. The Tidewater area can certainly be proud of the part it takes in this national fund-raising program.
I am a three-year breast cancer survivor recently diagnosed with a recurrence and I would like to thank eight women who raised over $900 during the Relay for Life in my honor. Janis, Anita, Connie, Nancy, Abbie, Page, Kim and Della, your friendship and dedication can never be adequately expressed by a simple thank you. While the continued search for a cure for cancer seems agonizingly long, your combined act of kindness and charity will one day help thousands of cancer survivors and, for me, it has opened my heart to the true meaning of friendship.
Dolores M. Firnstahl
June 10
Put your dog on a leash
I would like to urge all readers to be considerate and keep your dog on a leash whenever you're out. I walk my dog every day and always see owners let their dog(s) run around. I can't even walk my dog now without carrying pepper spray and am on constant look out for other dogs because my dog and I have been attacked twice, and approached many times, by dogs.
Even if your dog is well behaved, or even trained, you never know how your dog will behave around another! The city requires you to have your dog on a leash at all times anyway.
Please respect that, and remember there are other people who may be out with their dog(s). I shouldn't have to worry about what your dog would do.
Darlene M. Churchwell
June 17 by CNB