ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 24, 1995 TAG: 9512260019
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TYPE: LETTERS
As I write this letter of appreciation, I recognize that Christmas is only days away. This reminds me that there are many who helped make the Montgomery County Christmas Store a reality this year. Through the generosity of countless individuals, organizations, churches and businesses, this countywide project provided dignified assistance at Christmas to 1,368 low-income families. We appreciate the coverage given to the Christmas Store by the New River Current in articles by Adrianne Bee.
This nonprofit organization, in operation since 1982, depends on this kind of support to continue. As fund-raising chairman for 1995, I am keenly aware of where we stand in our financial support. This year's budget of $110,000 will fully underwrite the 1995 store.
As of Dec. 19, we have received $98,200. You may have read that we had already reached our goal: what that meant was that we had reached $85,000 by the time the store opened Dec. 6, a goal set by my committee for that purpose. We continue to pay bills for the 1995 store well into 1996.
As we approach Christmas Day and other celebrations of the season (including the end of the tax year), may each one of us count our blessings and remember the needs of our neighbors. If you have not yet made a tax-deductible contribution to the Christmas Store, you can do so by sending a check to P.O. Box 221, Blacksburg 24063.
Thank you in advance, and may the joy and spirit of this holiday season fill your heart and home.
L. Glenn Tyndall
Fund-raising chairman,
Montgomery County
Christmas Store
Much to know about Vivian Blaine
Vivian Blaine recently died at age 74. She was best known for her role as Adelaide, the second lady in the 1955 movie musical, "Guys and Dolls." She was already in her 30s when she sang "Adelaide's Lament" to us.
It is sad that after reading the report of her death, we still know so little. I believe you cannot know who someone is without knowing who she was and what she looked like between the ages of 13 and 30, when one's biggest dreams are dreamed.
In 1945, Vivian Blaine played Emily Edwards, the second female lead in the Rodgers & Hammerstein movie musical "State Fair." In 1945, she was a lovely actress. Although her stage career extended from age 3 to at least her early 40s, no doubt she had hopes at age 24 of a longer, more prosperous film career than was to be her lot. No doubt, too, she expected one day to take time to have children. She married three times. I very much doubt she expected to die 50 years later, childless, and for many years, at least by the general public, largely forgotten.
However much excitement there may have been in her life, one has to wonder if, when she reviewed her past, she was able to find more than a small fraction of the genuine happiness she once had every reason to hope for. Those who have that kind of happiness right now in the midst of their families might do well, particularly at this season, to take a moment to feel sympathy for those who have much more fame and much less family.
Mike Marlowe
Blacksburg
LENGTH: Medium: 64 linesby CNB