The Gift That Keeps Giving

My 25^th anniversary @ TV 9 was celebrated on August 3^rd, but it has turned into the gift that keeps on giving. I continue to receive good wishes from viewers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! And gifts are coming in too.

I received a beautiful silk scarf from Cyndi Lubus decorated with painted breast cancer ribbons. We met about 10-years ago for a Buddy Check 9 report.

Monday a “Shelf Sitter” arrived in the mail. Instead of the black & white checks of the Harlequin figure, the costume, from head to toe is decorated with the cancer ribbon. It’s beautiful; my thanks to designer Judith C. Alston.

Then there’s Joni Reylea. A breast cancer survivor and an artist, I profiled the artist in a 2005 Buddy Check 9 report. Joni doesn’t walk the ACS Cancer Relay or the Komen Race for the Cure…but she uses her talent to raise funds and to celebrate those touched by cancer. She started painting a series of flowers she called “First Blooms.” Now those “First Blooms” are reproduced on umbrellas at $20 each. Portions of the proceeds are donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information contact:

JCRelyea First Bloom Collection

4196 Merchant Plaza, Suite 621

Lake Ridge, Virginia 22192

or E-Mail Skyewind@aol.com

You can learn more about Joni in the Buddy Check 9 section of wusa9.com. Make a note, the September Buddy Check 9 report will discuss Breast Cancer & Fertility. And yes, we still have the gold truck.

Have a great rest of the summer.

The Personal Computer, MTV and Andrea Roane

What do these three have in common? We are all celebrating our 25th
anniversary this year.

I have been so overwhelmed with emails, cards and letters from viewers
that I am using my first blog entry to say thank you very much. I
appreciate all who have taken the time to write or call and express your
good wishes. I've thoroughly enjoyed covering politics, sports, crime &
justice, education, the arts and women's health issues and meeting so
many of you over the past 25-years. I am deeply grateful to you for
watching any or all of that time.

The years at TV 9 have been interesting, challenging and rewarding. But
it's not over yet! I look forward to our spending many more mornings
together.