Letters to the Editor for Saturday, December 5, 2009

Film festival a ‘resounding’ success
On behalf of the 2009 CINEviews Film Festival Committee and the Riverviews Artspace Board of Directors and staff, I want to thank everyone who made the fifth annual film festival a great success. The theme this year was animation, and beginning with the Opening Night Gala on Nov. 20 and continuing through the last film Nov. 22, we enjoyed enthusiastic crowds and generous support from the Lynchburg community.

A special thank you goes to former Lynchburg resident (VES ’79) and our guest star, Mr. William “Tuck” Tucker. Tuck Tucker is the storyboard director for the Nickelodeon show “Spongebob Squarepants,” and we were honored to have such an accomplished, successful animator serve as our celebrity guest. Not only did he entertain with a wonderful program on opening night, he also conducted two drawing workshops Saturday that filled the Craddock-Terry Gallery at Riverviews with scores of future cartoonists and animators of all ages. He took the time after each workshop to sign (while always giving words of encouragement) every drawing handed to him by those who attended. His effort and enthusiasm were truly remarkable. Our thanks to Tuck and all who participated and to the patient parents who took the time to bring their children.

Several local businesses made the weekend special. The talented chefs at Avenue Foods, Bedford Avenue Meat Shop, Bull Branch, Depot Grille, Dish, Isabella’s, Mangia, Rivermont Pizza, Silver Pig Barbecue and Waterstone provided a wide variety of delicious hors d’oeuvres Friday night. The food was fantastic. Speaking of fantastic, so were our raffle sponsors. Amazement Square, Bedford Avenue Meat Shop, Blue Marlin Seafood, Bowen Jewelry, Craddock Terry Hotel, Holiday Inn Select Downtown, James River Float Company, Recycle Easy and Shoemakers American Grill generously donated gift certificates, accommodations and services to the 2009 CINEviews raffle. The Holiday Inn Select also donated the chairs we now have in our screening room, and the Easley Foundation supplied the funds for our new A/V equipment.

Special thanks also to our corporate sponsors for their financial support. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Virginia Film Office, Moore & Giles and Pathology Consultants of Central Virginia. CINEviews would not have been possible without their generosity.

And let’s not forget the citizens of Lynchburg and the surrounding area who came downtown to Riverviews Artspace to be a part of the 2009 CINEviews Film Festival. Without you, the efforts of all those above would have been for naught. Thank you!
ANDY MacCALLUM
Chairman
2009 CINEviews Film Festival

James family thanks
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the beautiful pavilion at E.C. Glass in memory of Nelson James.

The pavilion will serve as a headquarters for school/community tennis events.

We wish to thank the hundreds of people who donated to this project. Also, thank you to tennis team parents/coaches who launched the project: Peggy Andrews, Beth Doyle, Farley and Ed Dawson, Motsy and Jack Hanna and Jill Murray. Thank you to E.C. Glass Athletic Boosters for coordinating the financial aspects, Dave McAden, Beth Ann Good, Tracy Wheelock & Massie Ware. Thank you to school officials who facilitated the project: Kevin Latham, Chip Berry and Laura Nuckles. Thank you to those who worked on the site plan: Proctor Harvey, Harvey Design Land Architects, Peggy Whitaker, Kay Vaughan, Maggie Schewel, Kay Frazier and Jane White. Thank you to the general contractor, Johnny Wimer of Smith-Wimer, who gave so much time. Thank you to those who donated labor and materials: Bobby O’Brian, Lynchburg Ready Mix; Steve Lloyd, Lloyd Concrete Services; Don Floyd, City of Lynchburg; Bootsie Kidd, Wayne Kidd Roofing; Lloyd Agnew and Bruce Christian, N.B. Handy; Terry Cox, TLC Masonry, Clyde Smith, Custom Recast; Mike Robinson, Robinson Roofing; Bruce Pearson, Pearson Equipment; and Tommy Bryant, Bryant Electric. Thank you to Stuart Fauber, Greater Lynchburg Community Trust. And a special thanks to Bucky James for everything.

To everyone who helped, we are forever grateful for this beautiful memorial and will never forget your kindness.
HEIDI, JOHN and BLITZ JAMES
Lynchburg