ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 7, 1995 TAG: 9512070018
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: FROM OUR READERS
TYPE: LETTERS
Dear Neighbors:
While driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, my friends and I stopped to enjoy the autumn leaves.
After posing for photographs, I realized I had locked my keys in the car. It was not a good situation for three college females. Fortunately, after a few minutes of panic, a minivan pulled over.
The driver offered to let us use his car phone, but we didn't even know whom to call. His wife then offered to drive us back to school to get my spare keys and pick up a friend's car.
With their three kids sitting together in the back and the three of us in the middle, we drove 30 minutes back to Roanoke. The family was very nice to us the whole way, doing its best to make conversation to keep us relaxed.
When we left their van, we repeatedly thanked them, but we did not get their name and address to send them a proper thank you.
We're hoping they will read this and realize how much what they did was appreciated. Everyone seems to believe that people these days are uncaring and self-serving. Well, we personally know of a family in Roanoke who will still take the time to help when you are in need.
Thank you for restoring our faith in mankind.
Emily Schorpp
Karla Olson
Anna Stanfield
Hollins College
Dear Neighbors
I would like to express my admiration and thanks to Roanoke City animal control officers Chris Wimmer and W.T. Rock for their heroic efforts that saved the life of Tanner, a 4-year-old golden retriever.
It is comforting to know that such unselfish, caring people still exist in our society, and even more reassuring to know that these men are in positions of authority.
Thank you officers for a job well done. Roanoke City should be very proud.
Tricia Tinsley
Dear Neighbors
I was impressed with the turn-out for National Deaf Awareness Week. I want to congratulate our community on the interest it took during the last week of September. I believe that it is important that our community get involved with our deaf citizens. It is good that the interest in our community for the hearing impaired is increasing. I would like to encourage everyone to learn more about our deaf community so that perhaps in the future, communication might be easier.
Brad Blankenship
Dear Neighbors
We have just become permanent residents of your beautiful and truly remarkable valley.
We literally picked up and left New York City on Sept. 23. We wanted to give our three sons (12-year-old twins and an 8 year old) a chance for a safe and decent life before New York City could dig its claws into them.
On the way down we blew our car engine, 42 miles north of Roanoke. As we stood on the side of Interstate 81, Tom, a tractor-trailer driver, stopped, picked us up, drove us to Troutville. He also arranged for a tow truck.
After being towed to a motel, we called Liberty Cab company to take us looking for an apartment. Despite my New York misgivings, we got a driver named Marshall, who was truly a godsend. He gave us so much help and encouragement when we needed it most.
He introduced us to another driver named Alamo, and they helped us find everything we needed. Marshall inadvertently got us an apartment. We were looking for a new microwave, and he suggested a store, where we met a salesman, Tim Hash. While he helped us with the microwaves, I told him of our adventures and the hard time we were having getting an apartment in Roanoke.
Hash gave up the phone number of Susan Hubbard of Pebble Creek. She went out of her way to help us, and on Oct. 5 we moved into our new apartment. Our three boys are registered in their new schools (Hidden Valley Junior High and Green Valley Elementary).
So many people, whose names we will never know, have been helpful and courteous beyond belief. It's so refreshing to be treated like a human being again. The good people of Roanoke have restored our faith in humanity. We were strangers in need of friendly faces and a kind word. We've been blessed to be able to settle in this Valley, and everyone has made us feel like we belong here. We are proud and honored to be members of the Roanoke Valley community.
Thank you to everyone who helped us, and may God bless you all.
Mary and Doug Mandel
Roanoke
LENGTH: Medium: 89 linesby CNB