DATE: Friday, October 10, 1997              TAG: 9710080125

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 02   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   75 lines

TOWN TALK

Mugs? This place has 'em.

Visitors to St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Great Bridge can't help but notice the congregation's impressive collection of coffee mugs shelved in the church's kitchen.

More than 200 mugs adorn five, 8-foot-wide wooden shelves. Some of the cups sport the logos of local radio stations and banks; others display the ``mugs'' of kitty cats, family members and characters from the comics.

Rev. Michael Jones, rector of the church, said the collection is the result of a push from the parish to reduce the amount of styrofoam and paper products.

But John Berquist, a teen-age member of the congregation, explained the abundance of coffee receptacles much more simply.

``We just like coffee,'' he said.

- Jennifer O'Donnell A few good ones left

One rainy afternoon last week, the cavalry arrived to rescue one stranded, forlorn driver on Kempsville Road.

It all started during one of those hectic afternoons where appointments were backing up and the messy weather was not helping the late afternoon schedule.

When suddenly, to add to the list of moans and groans, came a flat tire. The tire did not die gradually and gently; it was more like a sniper shot.

After a few choice last-rite words, the driver eyed a can of ``quick fix,'' a part of a jack and the bicycle-sized spare tire.

Just as the driver wondered where to begin, a small pick-up truck whipped over to the side of the road. With one quick look, the driver said, ``I believe you could use some help.''

Although the rescuer was on the way to his own appointments, and had gear in his truck soaking up the rain, he rolled up his sleeves, eschewed the ``quick-fix'' and set about changing the tire.

All right, maybe Joe Simmons, owner of his own roofing and vinyl siding repair business, was not really the cavalry, but to the desperate don't-know-how-to-change-a-tire driver standing in the rain on a curve on Kempsville Road, he certainly was.

But looking back, it would probably have been better to refer to Simmons as a good Samaritan. As he drove off, instead of the typical ``Have a good day,'' he left with an even more comforting message:

``Take care,'' Simmons said. ``And be safe.''

- Susan Smith Cutting out crime

Robert G. ``Buddy'' Bagley, former Chesapeake city councilman and well-known Chesapeake booster and volunteer, had a fun idea for the Chesapeake Conference Center's gala grand opening party that took place Sept. 29.

Why not buy a bunch of those life-sized cardboard cut-outs of famous personalties and film characters?

The cut-outs were purchased using donated corporate funds, also used to pay for the center's opening party. They were placed at various spots around the center so guests could have their photos taken standing next to such well-knowns as Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe and even Darth Vader, the heavy-breathing villain of Star Wars fame.

Everyone loved them and Bagley even entertained the idea of reusing the cut-outs at other city functions and socials.

Unfortunately, he and others at the center's opening didn't count on the larcenous ways of one or more individuals.

In short, six of the eight cut-outs were kidnapped.

To whoever took the cut-outs: c'mon, get real, are they that important you had to steal 'em? Get a life.

So watch out for clandestine photographers offering a deal on a photo with Bogie.

- Eric Feber ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by GARY KNAPP

A cupboard in the kitchen at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Great

Bridge holds more than 200 mugs on five, 8-foot-wide wooden shelves.

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