I look forward to receiving my copy of THE PIEDMONT AREA JOURNAL weekly and reading the Hill City Happenings by Ms. Joyce Price. As I reminisced on The Reflections of Black History, I received a pleasing surprise. Ms. Price spoke of quite a few teachers from Robert S. Payne Elementary School who made some impact on her life. I was overjoyed when I read among the very first names mentioned, that of my deceased mother, Ethel W. Paige, who along with the others mentioned were mentors for Black students in their days. I remember my kindergarten days (or shall I say half-days) at Payne School with Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Fisher and how I cried to stay at school when it was time to leave in the middle of the day. After that year I only got to return to Payne School when I went to see my mother or was referred to the school dentist, Dr. Wimbush. I will never degrade the education I received in the Lynchburg Public School System or the great teachers and principals I had at Armstrong Elementary School and Dunbar High School. Many of these individuals continue to be very active in the community and inspire me to keep looking up as I deal with humanity daily. THE PIEDMONT AREA JOURNAL has really grown over the years and I commend you and your staff for the work you are doing to keep the community informed. On behalf of the black community I say "THANKS." Sincerely, Jacqueline P. Reeves

Hello Mr.Mangum my name is Jeff Catlett. I was the one who called you last night to find out your correct web address(URL). Your website is one of the best that I have seen in quite sometime. It most certainly is informative and long overdue. I'm glad to see some of the great local civil right figures make it to the internet as they surly deserve to be there for others to read about. Also I noticed that your buddies across the hill at the News&Advance didn't waste any time stealing your idea of places a local newspaper on the internet. Anyway I have bookmarked your site and will tell others at my store about it. You would be surprise how many people in the Dearington section have computers. Best of luck with your site and keep up the good work!

SKYWARN VA. Jeff

The Legacy Project, Inc., wishes to thank the family of Junius A. Haskins, Jr., for designating it as a recipient of memorial gifts in memory of our beloved friend and late president, Junius Haskins. Junius was our leader in the difficult task of establishing an organization dedicated to preserving the history of African-Americans in the Lynchburg area. We were just beginning to savor the results of our efforts, such as the display of the large painting, "Lord, Plant my Feet on Higher Ground" in Lynchburg City Hall, when he met his untimely death, still fighting for the benefit of our whole community. He was so happy that the Lynchburg City Council had rallied to his request to display the painting and thereby show their commitment to inclusiveness. Junius' dream was to establish a permanent home for the collected memorabilia of African-American life in our area, similar to the Harrison Museum in Roanoke. We are a long way from that, but current projects include working with Tom Ledford fo the Lynchburg Museum System in developing a system of acquisitions and storage for photographs and other memorabilia of the African-American community, and developing a series of exhibitions that can be displayed on a portable exhibition module, for which we have just received a grant from the Easley Charitable Trust. Those in the community who wish to honor Junius in this way (and further his dream) may send tax deductible contributions to The Legacy Project, Inc., P.O. Box 308, Lynchburg, VA 24505. We would be most appreciative.

Joseph A. Berryman, acting president, the Legacy Project, Inc., Carolyn Bell, Delores Fowler, Walter Fore, Carla Heath, Carl Hutcherson, Jr., Gloria Simon, Willie Thornhill, and Ann Van De Graaf, members of the board of the Legacy Project, Inc.