Letters to the Editor - Nov. 5, 2008

From staff reports

Published: November 5, 2008

Thanks from Rockfish

Rockfish River Elementary School would like to thank everyone who helped make this year’s Community Workers’ Day a huge success.

The weather was beautiful, the presenters were enthusiastic, and our students came away from the event with a better understanding and appreciation of the many jobs that are performed right in our area — and they had a lot of fun, too!

Many thanks to: Donald May, VDOT; Dirk van Assendelft, Wintergreen Ski Patrol; Donald Hughes and Drew Covey, Virginia State Police; Jen Martin and Tammy Rondozzo, Staunton National Guard Armory; Jacob Floyd, CVEC; R.W. Woody and Tammy Fore, Wintergreen Fire Department; Mike Pappas and Helene Dodge, Nelson County Sheriff’s Department; Taylor Ashley and Kenneth Lee, Rockfish Valley Volunteer Rescue; Jim Truslow, Rockfish Valley Volunteer Fire Department; Martha Warring and Houston Roberts, Virginia Department of Forestry; Carroll “Bubba” Harvey, Harvey Logging; Bill Jackson and Amy DeBilzan; Stuart Harris; Jeff Tyree and Lee Miles, Verizon; Ronnie Quick, Afton Service Center; Carla Thompson and Sandy Solar, Nelson County Animal Control; and Todd Johnson and Duncan MacFarlane. 

Without the support of our community, we would not be able to bring such meaningful programs to our students! We love our community!

Stacey Johnson and Courtney Truslow
Community Helpers’ Day Coordinators
Rockfish River Elementary School

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Tye River thanks

The Nelson County Community Day of Caring was planned to be an outdoor family fun day at Tye River Elementary School on Oct. 25, national Make a Difference Day. Many community groups were involved in the planning. As it turned out, it poured rain, and activities were moved inside, but the warm feeling of all who participated provided “perfect sunshine.” The deepest appreciation and thanks are extended to all the Nelson County community organizations, families, staff and children that made that special day such a success.

Thanks to the Tye River Elementary School staff and PTO who planned and coordinated activities. All activities were free for the children. Jim Hall created the beautiful flyer that announced the event, and his granddaughter, Colby Tomlin, made the Spanish translation. The Ruritans provided the wonderful food they are already so well-known for. Trinity Episcopal Church and many PTO members topped off lunch with a delicious bake sale and other snacks. Teachers made and sold popcorn that was a big hit. Sandra and Greg Pollard made delicious funnel cakes that really added to the festive atmosphere. Food sales gifted generous donations to the TRES students’ El Salvador project to sponsor education for impoverished children in El Salvador. A display showed photos of the children being sponsored and depicted rural life in that isolated village.

TRES would like to thank the organizations that brought so much caring and fun to our students: The forestry department and Smokey the Bear, the sheriff’s department, McGruff, the crime dog and the drug dog, the Almost Home Pet Adoption Center/SPCA and their kittens and dogs, Blue Ridge Medical Center, various fire and rescue teams, NCHS Girls’ Soccer Team, Mayo Clarkson, YMCA, Katherine Townsend and The Historical Museum, the Girl Scouts, 4-H, Susan Stevens and the TRES PTO, the Fitzgerald Family, Beau and Louise Dodd, Ricki Perry, Richard Lilley, Nelson Middle School, Nelson County High School, University of Virginia and Sweet Briar College student volunteers and as well as administrators, teachers and their families.

Tye River students have learned that they can “make a difference,” and they have learned from caring adults in our Nelson County Community who modeled on Saturday what that looks like. Good citizens of today are influencing our citizens of tomorrow! Congratulations and many thanks to all!

Greg Hill
Principal