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Letter to the editor

Reader Exchange: Keep troops, homeless children toasty

By Linda D. Cole and Ingrid L. Kohler, Times Staff Writers
Published October 20, 2007

We are deluged by a lively response to the offer of knitting patterns for items to keep U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan warmer this winter.

In conjunction with this news, Linda Foxbower, who contacts REX on occasion in reference to American Legion Auxiliary projects, writes that the ladies of the Auxiliary's Unit 104 in Pinellas Park have begun assembling Christmas shoeboxes for soldiers.

During November the holiday packages will be shipped out. Linda says that if you wish to donate any of your knitted items to be placed in these boxes, please take them to the Auxiliary, at 7550 60th St. N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781. For further information, Linda may be reached at 727 544-8726.

"A Labor of Love Ministry," made up of women from Suncoast Cathedral, are still making quilts for homeless children. The industrious group's sizzling needles have already depleted the supply of batting and print fabric donated to them in June.

Pieces of material, plain or printed, in lengths of 2 yards or more, and lightweight batting will be greatly appreciated. The ladies also need yarn for afghans and baby yarn for infant items. Please contact Lucille Wilson at (727) 570-8263.

Maybe the group needs to contact Cindy Berbach of St. Petersburg, who wants to donate fabric to an organization that sews for the needy. She is also giving away dress patterns sizes 12 and 14. Please call (727) 526-2864.

Barbra Whetstone of Spring Hill purchased a set of china dessert plates, tea cups and a serving plate at an antiques shop in Inverness a few years ago. The salesperson said the matching teapot was on display at the hotel next door, but by the time Barbra got there with her wallet, the teapot was gone.

She still dreams of locating a matching teapot and wonders if there are any in Exchange Land. It sounds very pretty: bone china, in a light pink with gold trim, and stamped with "Colelough," Made in England. Please call (727) 389-3376 or e-mail bjw11646@earthlink.net.

Cherie Lorentz of Holiday has found a two-piece cast aluminum cake pan in the shape of a lamb. Not only would Cherie like to have a recipe for her acquisition, she needs a little instruction on how to bake in it (do the pieces fit together during baking or are they baked separately?) If you can help Cherie, call her at (727) 942-7457.

Joann Arbeen of St. Petersburg received a set of Boonton ware dishes as a wedding gift more than 50 years ago. Time has exacted a toll over the years, and the Arbeens could use some replacement pieces, notably dinner plates and cereal bowls. Joan wonders if Exchange Land is home to extraneous pieces of Boonton ware, or if REXers know where to locate it.

The staff quickly looked up the topic online and, while noticing that Boonton ware items are for sale there, also observed that color wasn't mentioned in Joan's letter, though it was in our search. Joan's number is (727) 896-0777, so if you have insights or Boonton ware to pass along, give her a call.

The Arbeens also want to give away four large bags of magazines: two bags of the Numismatist, two bags of Canadian Rail.

Karyn McGuire, who teaches struggling readers in a Pasco County middle school, hopes to unearth some gently used hardcover Dr. Seuss books. The kids hold a Dr. Seuss celebration in March, and Karyn hopes by then to have enough books to give each child one.

Karyn also reads aloud to her students each day and usually has to perch atop a student desk to see the entire class as she does so. If somebody has a single barstool in good condition with arms and back, it would make this teacher's job much easier, to say nothing about what it would do for her back. Karyn may be reached at (727) 389-4176 or karynmcg06@yahoo.com.

Cathy Lyons of St. Petersburg purchased an AccuChek Compact Diabetes Monitoring Kit from Walgreen's about three years ago. It is in its original box and has never been used. She would like to give it to someone who can use it. Cathy may be reached at cathy-lyons5524@hotmail.com.

Thank-you note

Bob and Bev Shipley wrote to say they received several replies to their request for an 8-track player for their mother, who turns 90 at the end of the month. Thanks to Jackie Kitler of Palm Harbor, Sarah Albertson of St. Petersburg and Mary of Spring Hill, a great player and a box of 8-track tapes are heading up to Ontario, Canada, to make Bea Shipley's birthday a special one. Many thanks to everyone!

[Last modified October 19, 2007, 09:19:24]