What’s so scary about snakes?
When will we stop vilifying snakes, spiders, bats and other not-so-cute-and- cuddly creatures?
I am distressed at the responses in the Boo-Who? article (Cover story, Oct. 26).
Four out of five are scared of snakes (my hat off to Janet Martin who stayed within the supernatural world of fear), and Lisa Schaffner actually admitted to chopping a snake to bits.
If I were scared of dogs and went about chopping them into pieces, I would be locked up. This stereotype of Hollywood horror needs to be thrown out like the bloodthirsty Indian.
Bonnie Houck
City’s theater organs could use some help
Congratulations on a fine article about theater organs in Richmond (Cover story, Nov. 2). It is unclear if lack of funding or litigation against the contractor who damaged the organ at the Landmark Theater has stalled the effort to repair same.
I suspect that a benefit organ recital at the Carpenter Center would be well-attended if some organization like the Organ Historical Society wanted to initiate a drive to raise money for that effort.
Max Young
Another Joan of Art
As an experienced professional who has worked for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations throughout the country for the last 20 years, I say “Hurrah!” for your article, “Joans of Art,” and its recognition of the truly brilliant women who are helming the institutions in Richmond’s vibrant arts community (Cover story, Nov. 9).
I have had the great good fortune to work very closely with most of them and assert that any city in this country would be proud to have professionals such as Stoner Winslett, Stephanie Micas or Michelle Walter in charge of its artistic destiny.
I would like to point out the oversight — if only in geography — of one more “Joan.” Staci Robbins, executive artistic director of Ashland Stage, runs the only professional theater company in the greater metropolitan area which also houses an arts school for young people.
She is a worthy addition to your list and a significant contributor to the wealth of arts available in the area.
Philip Crosby
Correction and clarification:
“Roswell” airs at 1 a.m. Sunday on WWBT-TV Channel 12. The airtime was incorrect in the Nov. 2 issue. Style regrets the error.
Important information in a story about the renovation of homes on Cumberland Street in Oregon Hill (Street Talk, Nov.9) was inadvertently deleted. The $1.9 million renovations are a project of the Better Housing Coalition, which is leasing the homes from the neighborhood’s St. Andrew’s Association. The project will preserve the homes’ historic character while increasing the number of affordable rentals for low-income residents here.
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