Cooperative Living January 2020 - 6

Mailbag
READER FEELS THE LOVE
I am in a program called " The Look. "
We look for things that we believe make
this world a better place. I read the
comments from the 15 volunteer
cooperative lineworkers who traveled to
Bolivia in your November-December
issue.
I want to thank each one
not only for making this world
a better place with their
compassion to help others, but
also for giving me the feeling of
love. It is so great knowing we
have people in this world like
these 15 volunteer lineworkers.
- Hilary " Pete " Costello
Warrenton, Va.
RESTAURANT NAME SADDENS
AND APPALLS READER
It is impossible to decide which is
more reprehensible, the name Suicide
Bridge or your decision to highlight
this restaurant in your NovemberDecember
issue. As an advocate
for mental health care and suicide
prevention, it both appalls and
saddens me.
Did you know that suicide is the
second leading cause of death in those
15-24 years of age; and the third
leading cause of death for middle and
high school students; and, that in
Virginia we lose a young person to
suicide every two days?
Were you aware that in Virginia,
one person dies by suicide every
seven hours; and in 2017, more people
died by suicide then in alcohol-related
MVAs?
A " suicide bridge " is defined as a
bridge used frequently to die by
suicide. In 2001, a 48-year-old
Spotsylvania County woman died after
jumping from the I-95 bridge which
crosses the Rappahannock River. I
pray that her family and the families
of the countless suicide survivors
(family and friends who have lost a
loved one to suicide) never see this
issue of your magazine.
A great deal of my work as an
advocate is to remove the stigma
of mental illness and increase the
understanding of and the sensitivity
4 | Cooperative Living | January 2020
to those who suffer from mental illness
and suicidal ideation; and love them
as we do those with cardiovascular
disease, diabetes and cancer.
This restaurant and your decision to
highlight it do a tremendous disservice
to so many still in mourning.
- Pat Ivey
Locust Grove, Va.
VOLUNTEER
LINEWORKERS
DESERVE APPLAUSE
What a heartwarming
story to see these
volunteers travel to Bolivia
and improve the lives of
these poor village folks.
I have been to Lake
Titicaca and seen the lives
of these unfortunate people. The
volunteers deserve our kudos for giving
their time and efforts so selflessly.
God bless them and the people who
made this possible.
- Raj Lawande, M.D.
Haymarket, Va.
CLOSER TO ACHIEVING
HEAVEN ON EARTH
After reading the NovemberDecember
cover story (with tears
in my eyes throughout), I thought,
" This planet would be a heaven on
earth if everyone was as giving as this
group of angels. " Not only were the
lineworkers and Bolivians changed
forever for the good, but I'll bet your
readers are too. Thank you for helping
me to keep things in perspective and
for swelling and warming my heart.
In this time of " me first, " it seems
there is hope for love to shine after all.
- Janice Healy
Raphine, Va.
BOLIVIAN READER
THANKS LINEWORKERS
Thank you from the bottom of my
heart! How wonderful that you guys
did this great job for a country that
really needs a lot of help. You are
blessed instruments of God for these
people, for the new generations you
inspired and gave hope, and for people
like myself - a Bolivian that lives in
this amazing country - it means joy
and happiness! The pictures show
so much! Once more, thank you!
- Hugo Berrios
Woodbridge, Va.
ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND
I enjoyed your article on St. Michaels
in the Oct. 2019 issue. I am curious
to know, if you can furnish info as to
why the boat, by the lighthouse, has
the name, " Winnie Eslelle. " Just
curious. Again, I enjoyed the article
and look foward to reading the rest
of the magazine.
- Earl Lutz
via email
Editor's note:
According to the Chesapeake Bay
Maritime Museum, the boat was
named by Noah T. Evans, who built
it in 1920, after his two daughters.
He was a boatbuilder and operated
buyboats, buying fish and oysters
directly from watermen.
Correction:
The name Thacker was placed inadvertently
after Josh Golladay in a graphic in the
November-December issue.
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Cooperative Living January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living January 2020
