DATE: Friday, October 31, 1997              TAG: 9710290113

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 02   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  100 lines

TOWN TALK

Joyce Carver has lost a member of her family. She's sad and she wants him back.

The Chesapeake resident had her two beloved pet dogs taken from her on Oct. 11 in the Albemarle Acres neighborhood where she lives.

She said a very reliable witness saw a man hustle her two dogs into a white Cavalier on the corner of Centerville Turnpike and Mount Pleasant Road.

Since then she has canvassed the neighborhood, posted fliers and dropped by Chesapeake Animal Control, looking for her two furry family members.

Her persistence has paid off, somewhat. While visiting animal control on Oct. 20, she found one of her wayward dogs, her 2 1/2-year-old black Labrador retriever, Charlie.

She was naturally overjoyed. Charlie, who had been struck by a vehicle, was found by a woman in Burton Place, who called animal control.

Charlie is doing fine now, but both he and Carver want Kelsey, an 8-year-old chocolate colored Labrador, back to complete the family.

``He's a sweet old dog,'' she said. ``I've been walking around the neighborhood, knocking on doors, talking to people. I'm sure Kelsey is out there and that someone has him. I don't want to cause anybody any trouble and I'm not looking for revenge. All I want is my dog back.''

If you have any information, Carver at 482-3224.

- Eric Feber If it ain't nailed down . . .

By reading the weekly crime report provided by the Chesapeake Police Department, one can see that thieves WILL steal just about anything.

(Note: We do not in any way trivialize burglaries. We know the homeowners feel violated, and we certainly hope the police catch any and all of the miscreants who perpetrate these crimes).

But it's still a head-scratching exercise when perusing the crime reports to read about the weird and mundane things people will steal.

Take for example a burglary last month in the Kemps Crossing area of Washington Borough. The thief, who let himself or herself in by way of an unlocked side garage door, took some currency and a bunch of Nutty Buddy ice cream cones! Police should look for a villain with a severe ice cream habit or one prone to periodic freeze headaches. Look for a ne'er-do-well who loiters around the local Dairy Queen.

Then, there was this incident in Western Branch.

Again, some money was lifted and an address book. Yes, a simple address book. Were there some hot phone numbers in that book? Or did the lowlife simply refuse to pick one up at the nearby stationary store?

Or mull over this burglary that took place last month in Deep Creek.

It seems someone entered a construction site and lifted 299 2x4 studs and 41 plywood boards. Maybe this crook was looking to build himself a storage shed for the rest of the things he steals from hard-working folks.

- Eric Feber/Deloris Moyler A garden of memories

Chesapeake's Economic Development Director Donald Z. Goldberg and Mayor William E. Ward recently traveled to Japan to persuade businesses to locate in the city. Goldberg won't reveal if he found any prospective businesses, but it appears he has found inspiration.

While most tourists simply bring home souvenirs, Goldberg would like to recreate a little piece of Japan here in Chesapeake.

Goldberg says he'd like to persuade local businesses to contribute to creating a special garden at the Chesapeake Arboretum. It would be a Japanese-style garden, similar to ones at Redwing Park in Virginia Beach and at Norfolk's Botanical Garden.

With 11 Japanese companies in the city, Goldberg said there's sure to be a lot of interest.

- Liz Szabo Looking for a song

Virginia Hughes is looking for a song and she hopes someone out there can supply her with the complete lyrics.

The Great Bridge grandmother is in her 70s, and she's trying to remember the words to a song she heard sung to her by her mother when she was growing up in Colerain, N.C., on the Chowan River near Edenton.

Hughes said she's recovering nicely from a partial stroke she suffered a while back and one of the pleasant side effects of that recovery is remembering that song that takes her back to her childhood.

``Ever since I recovered, that song has been in my mind,'' she said. ``I can just remember how it starts and that's all, and I'd love to know all of the words.''

Hughes said the song begins:

``The preacher went a'huntin'/On one Sunday morning . . .''

``I asked my sister about it and she also remembers my mama singing it to us,'' she said.

Not only does she want the song's complete lyrics for her own benefit, but she would like to pass the ditty along to her grandson, 5-year-old Ryan Shepard.

``I'd like to sing it to him the same way my mother did,'' she said. ``I don't want to die until I can get that song and share it with him.''

Hughes said she's asked many people about the song, but has yet to find someone who can recall the tune. She thinks it may be a folk song indigenous to that part of North Carolina where she grew up.

``I guess they only know it down here in possum huntin' country,'' Hughes said.

Anyone who recognizes the song, has a title or additional lyrics may contact the Clipper office at 436-6490. We'll pass on the information to Mrs. Hughes so she can sing it to Ryan.

- Eric Feber

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