Look to the west

Dear Sir:
   What a shame Town Council did not honor the stated wishes of our beloved Dr. Jimmy Harris.
   However, there IS a viable memorial right here in Nottoway County to Dr. Epes Harris, Dr. Stuart White, Dr. Jimmy Harris, Dr. Steve Spence, and Dr. Charlie Rosenbaum and their former residency program at Blackstone Family Practice Center: Dr. Jonathan Marston and Dr. Clay Hall and their wonderful staff at Crewe Medical Center.

Randy Kile
Lunenburg Avenue

< Top >

No debate is needed

Dear Sir:
    I moved into Blackstone in 1957. Since then, there have been issues stirring to get people’s attention.
    I remember stray dogs, ABC, fluoride in the water, U.S.O. Building, schools and dogs, once more, requiring the leash law.
    Now, it is what to do with the
   Armory and what to name the Medical Center. There should be no debate over this.
    Just name it The Harris Medical Center or The Blackstone Medical Center.
   The Council should address the many more needs of the community and spend less time on one issue of debate.

Florence Cummins
Blackstone

< Top >

Right on, Syd

Dear Sir:
    I read with interest the recent stories about new gymnasiums the county intends to build at each of its three elementary schools.
    Many questions and concerns came to mind. I then read the recent letter in The Forum realized Syd Farrar beat me to the punch.
    Every question Mr. Farrar raised should be answered, and every concerned he voiced, addressed before the first contract is signed.
    Taxes are going up, food is going up, gas is high (though falling right now) and the country is on questionable ground financially.
    Is this really the time for a small, rural county in Southside Virginia to spend millions of dollars on exercise equipment?
    As Mr. Farrar pointed out, no matter the source of ‘grant’ money, it is still TAX money—which makes it OUR money, Period.
    The Nottoway Board of Supervisors has a responsibility to not squander OUR money, even when the State sends it to them.

John Duffy
St. Mark’s

< Top >

Just a thought

Dear Sir:
   After having read quite a bit about Blackstone’s plight concerning the name of the Town’s new medical center, I had a major revelation.
    Why not.....
    Are you ready for this?
    Why not name it the Blackstone Medical Center?

Tommy Barnes
Kenbridge

< Top >

Good move for both groups

Dear Sir:
    It perchance was serendipitous that on May 30, 2008 the Blackstone Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted as one of its top priorities to seek out permanent office space for the Chamber.
    The board did so with the understanding that the Chamber not only needed a permanent home, but that the Schwartz Tavern Authority also needed full access to its entire building in order to pursue its goals and realize its ultimate vision.
    The union between the Chamber and Schwartz Tavern has been a long and beneficial one for both parties, and though there are those who may insist that the Chamber is being evicted, I would posit that it is not an eviction that has taken place here, but merely the culmination of a very successful collaborative relationship; one where both parties realized almost simultaneously that it was not only time for them to move forward but to seek out and pursue their individual visions and goals.
    Therefore, on behalf of the Chamber Board, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Schwartz Tavern and its governing body, and to wish them the best of luck.

Cheryl Wilson-Sprinkle
Hungarytown Road
Blackstone; Chairman
Chamber Bd. of Directors

< Top >

Thoughts about “G. C.” Shepherd

Dear Sir:
    When I got a text message telling me that G. C. Shepherd had died I was saddened and immediately thought of the first time we had met, back in June 1998 as he and his wife, Geneva, had come to meet their new church and church family in Chincoteague Island, and we had come to look over the new preacher. G. C. had a warm smile, a firm handshake and a twinkle in his eye. First impressions matter to me, and he made a great one on my whole family.
    Two years is a short tenure in the Methodist Church today, especially as the conference has begun stressing the importance of longer pastorates. G. C.’s two years in Chincoteague would be his last before retirement, but they were vital, important years in the continuation of our church. G. C. arrived to find multiple problems.
    G. C. early on approached each challenge like a 35-year-old CEO who had been named to fix things quickly. One of my best friends commented that he “sure moves fast and works hard for an old guy.” Obstacles didn’t slow him, he seemed to feed on them. Criticism was met with love for the person offering it, and a promise to take it into consideration. I believe he knew that were he not to act fast, the church would end up a shadow of its former self, if not gone altogether.
    The changes that he brought on were emotional and met with resistance, but were also physical in that we could actively see from week to week the church becoming more and more strengthened. Both services not only had members coming back to church, but both services also started to receive new members. Our church was vibrant again, and in our eyes we were once again being led to be Christ to our neighbors, by a man to set out to be Christ to each of us, shepherding us in love like a father over a very large and diverse family.
    Towards the end of his tenure as his health was not good, there were times that he appeared too ill to preach, but he did. On one especially bad day in early December 2000 during a children’s message, he implored the children to pay heed to Christ’s word about loving one another and our neighbors. He kept stressing it over and over to the children, and was met by a chorus of “what ifs” from them. Again and again he told them to love, simply love because that is what Christ did and that is what we are expected to do.
    That’s the message we are left with. G. C. died on July 16. I feel this loss from far away and because of promises to my own children was unable to attend the funeral. G. C. leaves children and a legacy of love. There are people across the conference and further touched by him, from Wilsons to Urbanna to Norfolk to Chincoteague and small and large churches in between.
  The Conference and the community has lost a very special, loving person but we are better for having known him.

C. Ray Daisey
Chincoteague Island

< Top >

Way to go, Nottoway!

Dear Sir:
   Nottoway County is to be commended for its decision to build gymnasiums at its three elementary schools. It is such a positive step in the right direction to combat the escalating surge of childhood obesity and other health risks pertaining to lack of exercise.
   We are continually hearing and seeing our children developing diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure that once were only seen at an adult age. The research and statistics showing this trend is staggering.
    The benefit of exercise is not a new concept, and recent studies have also shown that there is a clear connection between the brain and exercise. I found this new study in my recent purchase of the book by Harvard psychiatrist, John Ratey, entitled, Spark, The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. In my opinion, it is a must-read for anyone interested in more information about the importance of exercise.
   I am an elementary physical education teacher in Lunenburg County. I have both an elementary education degree and a master’s in physical education.
    I have been teaching for 19 years, and I have seen the positive effects that exercise has on my students. I can’t claim to have done any research studies, but I feel I help my students in the classroom through my teaching.
    My teaching methods are quite different than those used back when I was a youngster. It’s not roll out the ball. I try to keep my students continually moving and strive to incorporate the Virginia SOLs in my lessons.
    Students in my class create letters and numbers with their bodies and jump ropes. They read words from the three dry erase boards I have in the gym. They are given math problems and answer them by dribbling the answers and other ways. They have used measuring tape to find the perimeter and area of the gym and other places throughout the school. They are asked to move around the gym in various ways by acting like something that begins or ends with a certain letter.
     Last year, I placed a huge map of Virginia on the entire gym floor using floor marking tape. With this, the students were asked to do exercises in groups in the various sections of the state. These are only a sample of what can be done in the physical education setting.
     The point I am trying to make is that the students in Nottoway County not only will become healthier through their new gyms, but they will become stronger academically as well.
    Kudos to Nottoway County!

Joan Sudec
10th Street
Victoria

< Top >

Quit complaining!

Dear Sir:
    I have a monstrous complaint. I moved to Blackstone in 1992, and have received the Courier ever since. Every edition has a group of people complaining about things in Blackstone. Since I moved here, I have seen so many changes for the better.
    Blackstone has done so much to make the town a much better place to live. The complaints from a sector of people are complaints that are unwarranted. If these people can find a perfect place to live, let me know so I will never go to live there.
    About some of the complaints: I have been active with the police department and impressed about how they work. I ride with one of them quite often, and am able to see what they do.
   I’ve been at dinner with them when they’ve gotten a call. They quit eating right away to answer the call, sometimes not able to finish their meal. When they are able, they back-up one another on each call, in case more than one officer is needed. I could go on and on about this, but there is no need. Get out and see for yourself.
    About the Town Manager and the Clerk being husband and wife; if they are capable, why not? Mrs. Palmore was working here before Mr. Palmore became Town Manager. Every time I want to have a conference with one of the leaders (Mayor, Town Manager, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, etc.), I am received warmly and they are willing to listen.
    I’ve been impressed that in every function I’ve attended, the Mayor has been in attendance, not to take pictures, but doing his role as Mayor.
Why can’t we be positive about things instead of griping about everything? If you are not happy here, go live elsewhere.
    Come on people, enjoy living in your community, and quit your complaining.

Everett Amos
Blackstone

< Top >

We need to recycle

Dear Sir:
    As I read the paper and notice that trash pick-up may be cut to once a week, fine with me; but, we can keep these jobs if we were to go green. That means for us to recycle.
    We can learn a lot from Ft. Pickett’s recycle program. We could therefore keep jobs and have less trash to pick-up. I have talked to many people in Blackstone, and all of them are willing to participate in it (recycle). When I lived in Richmond, we had once-a-week pick-up of trash and a recycle day, too. I agree we don’t need pick-up twice a week; but, employees need those jobs. Are there any suggestions, Mayor?

Jeffrey L. Macher
Tunstall Avenue
Blackstone

< Top >