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To the editor:<br />
In “Karen Gearreald is Tops,” The<br />
Downtowner, Mid-July, 2016,<br />
Gary Ruegsegger captures a passion for<br />
the New York Yankees of one of the most<br />
ardent baseball fans in our community.<br />
Little known is an event which occurred<br />
in 2008 demonstrating Dr. Gearreald’s<br />
athleticism by attempting what<br />
few totally blind people would consider.<br />
For 23 years, area Lion clubs sponsored<br />
the “Lions Journey for Sight,” a<br />
5k (3.1 mile) run/walk at Fort Story.<br />
Vision impaired folks looked forward<br />
to the event each year. They were hosted<br />
by members of local Lions clubs, escorted<br />
over a one mile course and treated to a<br />
picnic lunch prepared by Lions. Each<br />
guest received a medal for participating.<br />
I mentioned the event to Professor<br />
Gearreald, and although she walked<br />
shorter distances in her neighborhood<br />
for exercise, she never attempted 3.1<br />
miles. She did, however, express interest<br />
in the longer distance, and I offered to be<br />
her coach.<br />
In preparation for the event, several<br />
times each week for three weeks, we<br />
Letters<br />
trained together walking arm-in-arm on<br />
the track behind Granby High School.<br />
We became accustomed to each other’s<br />
pace, and gradually increased the distance.<br />
On our last training walk, we set<br />
a goal of completing the race in less than<br />
60 minutes, a challenge to many sighted<br />
individuals.<br />
On race day we lined up at the back<br />
of the pack and at the sound of the horn<br />
were last to cross the start line.<br />
Still outbound on the course, we encountered<br />
runners and walkers heading<br />
back to the finish line shouting words of<br />
encouragement. In the last 200 meters,<br />
several walkers who had completed the<br />
race came back to accompany us.<br />
The only totally blind walker in the<br />
5k race, the last to start was the first to<br />
finish. We had neither jogged nor run a<br />
single step. The clock read “57:25.”<br />
We had achieved our goal.<br />
Peggy Ruegsegger, Gary’s wife, said it<br />
best: “God put Karen on the earth to give<br />
the rest of us a little humility.” -- Jordan<br />
“Buddy” Levitin<br />
• • •<br />
1. Best Hair and Tanning Salon --<br />
Sunkiss Tanning in East Beach.<br />
Check them out at 4486 Pleasant<br />
Avenue, Unit A. Norfolk. Call (757)<br />
362-0091 for complete information.<br />
2. Best Bartender in Chelsea -- Stephanie<br />
of the Torch. She’s awesome.<br />
3. Best Bartender in Downtown Norfolk<br />
-- We love Ashley Johnson of<br />
the Norfolk Tap Room at Granby<br />
and Main streets. Way to go, Ashley!<br />
4. Best 7-11 Cashier -- Patrick Acejo of<br />
the Redgate Avenue 7-11 in Ghent.<br />
Good job, Patrick!<br />
5. Best Grocery Store Cashier -- Dale<br />
of Farm Fresh in Ghent. Dale is<br />
courteous and makes the last part<br />
of your visit pleasant no matter how<br />
much you have to spend. Terrific job,<br />
Dale!<br />
6. Best Neat Dog of the Month -- Teagan,<br />
a fantastic German Shepherd/<br />
Lab mix, is bringing happiness to his<br />
lovely master, Maddie Smith. Teagan<br />
enjoys walking on the beach when<br />
the weather permits.<br />
7. Best Quaint Music Venue -- The<br />
outside deck of the Sunset Grill in<br />
YOU’RE<br />
THE<br />
BEST!<br />
Willoughby is definitely one of the<br />
most pleasant listening spots in all<br />
of Hampton Roads. Up close and<br />
personal. Great roster of entertainers,<br />
too. Call for information -- (757)<br />
588-1255.<br />
8. Best Combination Sandwich -- The<br />
Prime Rib French Dip at the Norfolk<br />
Tap Room also scores high marks.<br />
Yum!<br />
9. Best Server of the Month -- Our terrific<br />
friend Katlyn Schnare of Tortilla<br />
West is tops. Fabulous job, great lady!<br />
10. Best Excitement to Come -- The<br />
NFL Football season is starting very<br />
soon. Terrific, right?<br />
• • •<br />
It also measures<br />
intelligence.<br />
This device<br />
measures blood pressure. But it also says<br />
something<br />
about your common sense. Because using it for<br />
regular checkups helps detect high blood pressure before it’s too late, which is<br />
definitely a smart move. To learn more, visit<br />
www.americanheart.org or call 1-800-AHA-USA1.<br />
This space provided as a public service. © 1998, American Heart Association<br />
Note: The halftones in these ad slicks are pre-screened. Please do<br />
not increase or decrease the size of the ads as they appear here.<br />
Attention<br />
Business Owners:<br />
Do You Have A New Business?<br />
Is Your Business Ready To Celebrate<br />
An Important Anniversary?<br />
If So, Call The Downtowner<br />
And Ask About Our Popular<br />
Front Cover Business Profile.<br />
The Next Available Opening For<br />
This Effective Promotion<br />
Is The March, 2017 Issue.<br />
Call Us To Reserve Your Space<br />
At (757) 627-2216.<br />
14 The Downtowner - Norfolk, Virginia Mid-August, 2016
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