THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 25, 1995 TAG: 9506230178
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Main Steet Station, Suffolk
A driver is surprised to see sad-faced paper flowers in the place of the beautiful red geraniums that had been blooming in barrels at the CSX railroad station.
Sue Woodward, a member of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society and the SOS Committee, says that someone stole the geraniums and petunias that the committee had planted there to beautify the station. They were removed, possibly during the wee hours of Saturday, May 27.
Thieves also decided they could use the geraniums from a raised flower bed across Main Street that had been planted by the City of Suffolk.
``Before that, the people at Leggett's Seafood Market told us they had had to replant them every morning because someone kept pulling them up,'' said Woodward, who has worked with other committee members to raise funds to restore the damaged CSX building and beautify the historic area.
Pat Snyder, also a member of committee, decided to replace the missing flowers with the sad-faced paper blooms.
``We've had to work real hard to dwell on the good,'' Woodward said. ``The Historical Society has received a wonderful anonymus donation.''
- Shirley Brinkley Saturday, June 10
3:45 p.m. - West Constance Road, Suffolk.
A fluorescent green sign displays a warning, but the passer-by only catches the first part, ``Caution all persons entering Riverview,'' before the stoplight turns green.
The motorist wonders if the neighborhood has been quarantined.
At the next traffic light at North Broad Street, she spots a similar sign and slows to read the wording. No plague, thank goodness. It's just the 50th birthday party of one of the residents.
``You might want to increase your auto insurance,'' the sign says.
- Susie Stoughton12:45 p.m. - Shoney's, Airline Drive, Portsmouth Wednesday, June 21
Community activist Lula Holland has worked hard to become the assistant director of social services in Portsmouth. She's worked as a live-in maid. She's done factory work at Planters. However, before earning a scholarship to study nursing at Norfolk State University, she first owed the school $50. If she didn't pay, she couldn't take her final exams. Well, Holland was dating a beau at the time and decided to find out if he would pass the test for a more long term commitment.
``I asked him for the $50,'' she recalled with a smile. ``When he gave it to me, I knew then I wanted to marry him.''
That was more than 20 years ago, and Lula and Helleon Holland have been married ever since.
- Terri Williams Thursday, June 22
1:25 p.m. - Suffolk Fire headquarters, Market Street.
A family dog became a hero earlier this morning when he barked and woke his master, alerting him that the house trailer was on fire, says Jeff Messinger, fire spokesman.
``That just shows you that a dog's nose is 100 percent more sensitive than a smoke alarm,'' Messinger says. ``Guess which one went off first?''
- Susie Stoughton
1:25 p.m. - At stoplight, Constance Road and Main Street.
S ometimes, reading bumper stickers and other messages on automobiles is a day brightener. Other times, they make you wish you could be somewhere else - especially when there are children or guests with you - at least until traffic starts flowing and the message moves on.
This day, though, a taxicab from Portsmouth is bearing an uplifting message for anyone getting close enough to see it: ``Praises go up and blessings come down.''
- John Pruitt ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Perhaps the driver of this car heading down Main Street in Suffolk
needs more trunk room.
by CNB