Care-A-Van mobilizes volunteers
Thank you for the article “Mobile Medicine” news & features, Oct. 10. We appreciate the affirming and beneficial messages Brandon Walters conveyed about this highly successful outreach program and its dedicated volunteers. I want to clarify that Dr. Emilio Torres was working generously as a volunteer that day. Immediately prior to arriving at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, he was providing volunteer services at another church. I must also give credit where credit is due. It is the Bon Secours St. Mary’s Health Care Foundation that funds the lion’s share of the Care-A-Van budget. Last year, this organization contributed $158,000 to keep our volunteers, doctors and nurses on the road providing free health care services. Again, thank you so much for your support of our mission. Bon Secours Richmond relies on dedicated reporters such as Brandon Walters to let the public know there is help available to them. Edward F. Gerardo, Vice-President
Planning and Marketing
Bon Secours Richmond Health System All kinds dine at The Tavern
The first thing I did after reading your food critic’s review of The Tavern at Triangle Park food & drink, Oct. 10 was run to the nearest mirror. Was I one of the customers your writer described? “People who looked like they had just spent the last 30 minutes staring blankly into their refrigerator only to conclude that they lacked the groceries or the inspiration to wrangle up a meal in their own kitchen — family folk out for a meal.” A lot of family folk do a lot of eating out. Is that what they all look like? I don’t think so. On any given night of the week, I’ve seen all types of people eating at The Tavern. There are friends of all ages who’ve stopped by after work. There are thirtysomethings with their grade-schoolers (still in soccer uniforms) and the fortysomethings with their middle- and high-schoolers. On weekends, it’s fairly normal to see UR students enjoying a meal with parents who traveled in from out- of-state to visit sons and daughters. Even grandparents with grandchildren make the scene. There’s not a blank stare in the house (and it’s usually a comfortably full house). For me, the food is just fine, and I imagine that goes for the rest of the people and families who fill the restaurant night after night. These patrons don’t go to The Tavern with the expectation that they are walking into a “charming Colonial public house situated on idyllic manicured gardens.” After all, the words “tavern” and “park” shouldn’t (by definition) conjure up that image. Customers go to The Tavern because they want to relax over a good meal and enjoy the company of family and friends. Those are realistic expectations to have when you walk through the front door, and The Tavern meets them. David Hogge