ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 24, 1997 TAG: 9702240074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: & now this...
Heartstrings, a Wichita, Kan., institute that works with children with severe speech defects, got a $500 valentine, thanks to the Aquatones.
The Aquatones, a Smith Mountain Lake barbershop quartet, delivered 27 singing Valentines - including one via car phone to Florida - during Valentine's Day weekend and had to turn down seven requests because of conflicts.
Aquatone members wanted to show their enjoyment of singing and raise money for the institute, the official charity supported by the the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Singing in America. The group picked up more than $700 from the $25 performances. After expenses for advertising and the the silk roses and Valentine cards delivered during performances, they cleared $500 for the charity.
"We had some great experiences. Everyone loved it and some got emotional," baritone Bill Wenzel said, adding several people even gave monetary tips.
The singers, all but one of whom are retired, put almost a thousand miles on tenor Joel Kramar's Ford Explorer during the week they performed.
The oldest honoree was a 104-year-old Roanoke woman, whose daughter ordered a singing valentine. A 6-year-old with the financial aid of an aunt surprised his mom on her job with serenading from the Aquatones.
But, The most difficult was the Valentine a Roanoke woman delivered to her mother in Atlanta. The Aquatones, piled into a Ford Explorer, drove around the Smith Mountain Lake area until they could find a spot to make the perfect telephone connection to Atlanta.
- JOANNE POINDEXTER
She came home with gold
Tina Camden, the Natural Bridge skier who represented Virginia in the Special Olympics World Games, is a gold medal winner.
Camden, 17, nearly did not go to the World Games in Canada this month, because she did not want to fly. In the end, she hitched a ride with her ski coach, Doris Fredricksen, and came home with a top medal for downhill skiing.
Camden also nabbed a bronze medal in the slalom and a fourth-place ribbon in the giant slalom, said Lauren Erera, spokeswoman for Virginia Special Olympics. The ski events were held in Collingwood, Ontario.
Camden also participated in opening day ceremonies in Toronto with the rest of the 2,000 World Games athletes and a number of celebrities, Erera said.
In addition to the Special Olympics activities, Camden - who had traveled little until recently - and her coach stopped off to look at Niagara Falls.
"They had a great time," Erera said.
- KEVIN KITTREDGE
A new post for Goodlatte
Add another feather to Rep. Bob Goodlatte's cap: He's been named a member of the committee that sets the agenda for House Republicans.
The 6th District congressman from Roanoke was selected this month for an at-large seat on the 40-member panel, which also includes GOP members with more formal leadership posts, such as committee chairmanships.
Goodlatte already holds some other lesser leadership posts: He's one of a number of assistant majority whips as well as chairman of a subcommittee that oversees the Agriculture Department's operations and nutrition programs.
- DWAYNE YANCEY
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