I have heard that some people have complained about the Special Olympic STARS Event that has recently been held at the Good News Fellowship Church Church in Covington is entirely too long and they think the ones involved should do duets to make the time go by faster and do in an hour instead of two hours which is too long in their opinion.
It is bad enough that the community cannot sponsor and let them hold at the Masonic Theater as they originally stared there and now cannot afford to sing in this theater. Also, JRE was shut down where most of these people enjoyed working. I would like to thank Good News Fellowship Church and their congregation for allowing this event for the last several times to be held at their church. I truly appreciate your church allowing them to use your place of worship so that can perform. May God Bless your church.
These special “STARS” this is their night to shine and entertain us and they love singing and performing for the audience. They are each unique in their own song selections of their style of music and it would be unfair to them and those attending to make them pair up with another person and do duets for the sake of time. This is the craziest thing I have heard and I do hope it is only a rumor.
If this rumor is indeed true to the person or persons who complained if you have someone performing and want them to go first so you can leave and not have to sit there for two hours ask those in charge. For everyone else let the others enjoy their choice in songs, and their special time on the stage ALONE.
I would say 99% of the people coming enjoy every minute of the two-hour show and would agree with me that you should not take this time away from them. I know many people are upset about hearing this as I was when I heard so please voice your support for these special “STARS”. Don’t let a few people take this joy away from them. Please everyone who enjoys this show please give your support to keeping it as is.
Bonnie Tucker, 515 Bird Farm Road, Covington, VA 24426
Editor’s note: The Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Shriver on July 20, 1968, when the Kennedy Foundation in a joint venture with the Chicago Park District held the first Special Olympic Games (track & field, swimming, and floor hockey) for about 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities at Soldier Field in Chicago. Athletes from 26 states and Canada competed.
Special Theatrical Artists Revue & Showcase (STARS) was founded by the Clifton Forge based Appalfolks of America Association in 1996 when a troupe of 10 performers with intellectual challenges and/or physical disabilities performed its variety show in the Historic Stonewall Theatre that was renamed The Historic Masonic Theatre after Appalfolks donated the theatre to the Town of Clifton Forge in 2003.
While a member of STARS may also participate in the Special Olympics, the two programs are not affiliated. STARS has grown from a troupe of 10 to 30 performers.
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