Published: August 12, 2008 05:11 pm      

‘Animal Farm,’ Edwards and rights of the elderly

Ed Trotta’s award winning stage adaptation of George Orwell’s (pen name of Erik Blair) “Animal Farm” (1945) will open at the Summit Players Theater in Bluefield on Sept. 4, 5, and 6. The play is highly political. It is probably the most famous satirical allegory of totalitarianism. The book was chosen by Time Magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels and won a Hugo Award in 1996. The opening will also be the first production by Summit Stage II. Trotta and Summit Stage II plan to premiere several new plays here in Bluefield. The sound and light man told me that the play has a ton (about 15) of characters. Ed Trotta is also the director.

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And while we are on the subject of politics, if you pay attention to the plot in the book, you may discover a parallel between the porcine characters in “Animal Farm” and Sen. John Edwards. Hence, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others,” a profound comment on the hypocrisy of governments that proclaim the absolute equality of their citizens but give power and privileges to a small elite, could also be a reflection on Edwards’ attitude and philosophy. Now we understand the $400 haircut and satin sheets. Brittany Spears may not have had this much attention. Edwards is washed up — ask Gary Hart.

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Congressmen Nick Joe Rahall, D-W.Va., has plans to visit Mercer County today. According to his office it looks like he will be in Princeton to visit the Glenwood Park Retirement Village and the Allegheny Woods Products Sawmill and Dry Kilns. Congress may have adjourned for a five-week vacation, but Rahall’s schedule looks more like work.

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Bluefield Va., Mayor Don Harris said “There ought to be a law ...” and he is going to work on getting one. According to Harris, an elderly Bluefield, Va., resident suffering from an advancing neurological disease lost the home they owned. The home, valued at nearly $92,000, was lost after this person had apparently borrowed a small amount of money from a lender and failed to pay the payments. The owner apparently was not capable of tending to financial affairs due to problems associated with the disease. The lender foreclosed on the home and sold it at auction for approximately $16,000 (a fraction of its actual value).

In situations of this nature the true value of the home could be liquidated to help pay for care or the sale postponed to allow the person to live the remainder of their days in their own home. Examining the issues further, it is also noted that the owner’s loss (the true value of the house versus the selling price) could potentially be transferred to the taxpayers if the ill owner does not have adequate insurance or other holdings to pay for care.

The elderly should not have their homes taken so easily and practically given away. Harris says this isn’t right. He said something needs to be done to protect people in these situations.

Let’s ask this question: Why did the lender not have the home appraised for its true value, set a realistic minimum bid, sell the home, and return the difference to the owner?

I’m sure someone has a quite legal explanation. It might be legal, but it won’t be right or just. According to Harris, the legal notices should have been placed in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in addition to another paper that is not widely circulated in Bluefield, Va.

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“Toots and Whistles,” a restaurant, opened for business last Friday on Bluefield Avenue here in Bluefield. The restaurant has a very nice décor, darned good food and good service. Owners Jim Hamm and Mary Gillespie catered to a nice crowd of locals on opening day. Among those there to show support on the first night was Bluefield’s city manager Mark Henne. The patrons were rewarded with an excellent meal. The restaurant is open early for breakfast and closes late in the evening. The railroad theme is a lot more like a fine dining car on the Powhattan Arrow than a whistle stop. Borrowing a few words — “Dinner in the diner, nothing could be finer ...”

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There you have it, a few words on items of interest to the area. Enjoy the blue skies above you and green grass beneath your feet today. And one more thing ... Bluefield is going to miss the smile and greeting we received from Sam Froy every day. Sammy, despite his own suffering, gave you his best. The folks here in town and at the post office are going to miss Sam.

Wilson Butt, a Bluefield resident, is a retired Department of Highways official.