Can we *really* insure every single American?

A girl named Buddy.(SportsU)

The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) January 6, 2008 She wins a car – and a day off Sometime in the next few days, Norfolk’s Amina Gueye-Ruiz will receive the keys to her new black, 2008 Saturn Vue.

Gueye-Ruiz, a part-time student, is also a full-time photo finishing technician at the Walgreens at Colley Avenue and 21st Street in Norfolk.

Her name was drawn to win one of 28 cars the drug store awarded nationwide to employees nominated for outstanding customer service. dresslongblacknow.com dress long black

Store manager Katherine Pezzulich said that since her store ranked among the top Walgreens in customer service, all the employees were nominated.

She learned Dec. 15 that Gueye-Ruiz had won, but could not tell her until Dec. 18, after all the arrangements had been made.

“That was tough,” Pezzulich said. “But when we did tell her, she was so excited she just squealed.” In a Dec. 21 ceremony, Gueye-Ruiz received a mock check for the amount of the car – and took the rest of the day off. uddy, a rescued green iguana, often stars in JB’s Rattles’ live reptile shows that introduce youngsters to the world of alligators, snakes and other reptiles.

“She’s adorable – and loves people,” said John Barnes, aka “Rattles,” a reptile specialist from Moyock, N.C.

He has collected reptiles and had them as pets since age 7, when he captured his first green snake. A home repairs contractor, Barnes also does snake removals from homes and businesses, returning the creatures to the wild.

Buddy, 4 feet long (counting her tail), had been kept by her previous owners in a chicken wire cage, and she lost several fingers trying to climb the sharp wire.

Even though Buddy is a female, Barnes decided to keep the name she’d been given by the previous owners.

But under Barnes’ care, she has recovered and enjoys meeting youngsters at libraries and schools, where the Barnes’ menagerie appears.

During January, Barnes invites students to make a poster and send it with a 300-word essay about reptiles.

The winner, he said, will receive a free, live educational reptile show at his or her school. For more information, visit www.jbsrattles.com, or call (757) 739-4917.

An important walk down the aisle Nancy Schreier of Virginia Beach will be one of a dozen amateurs walking the runway with professional models at the Uniquely Yours Bridal Showcase today at the Norfolk Marriott Waterside.

Each of the 12 amateur models, including one wearing a wedding gown trimmed in pink, is a breast cancer survivor.

Pearl Taylor, of Uniquely Yours by Pearl, is dedicating the show to two of her best friends, including Schreier, who are breast cancer survivors. Taylor said proceeds from admissions will be donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The show is from 11 a.m.to 5 p.m. Brides are free; otherwise, tickets are $5.

Schreier, 65, is a 19-year cancer survivor. She will wear a mother-of-the-bride – or groom – dress, long, black chiffon, and, she said, “a little sexy.” “We hope our modeling will be an inspiration to women to show that breast cancer is not the end of life; it can be the beginning,” she said. go to website dress long black

“A lot of women in the show are very young survivors, and we want to show that you can still look lovely.” Although Schreier is an amateur model, she’s an experienced mother of the groom and bride. Her son was married in New York in August. Her daughter was married 13 years ago in Norfolk.

215,000 The number of horses, ponies and mules in Virginia, according to the latest survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture . Quarter horses and thoroughbreds were the leading breeds in the state, and total value of all the equine was $1.65 billion . 6,700 The number of square feet of Norfolk’s new farmers market, formerly the Five Points Community Farm Market, scheduled to open this spring on Church Street, a few blocks south of Lafayette Park . The former Norview location closed Dec. 22.

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courtesy photo courtesy photo Nancy Schreier of Virginia Beach will be among the breast-cancer survivor/models participating in today’s bridal gown show at the Norfolk Marriott. courtesy photo John Barnes takes Buddy, his rescued green iguana, on the road with him for his reptile shows. “She’s adorable – and loves people,” Barnes says. Above Amina Gueye-Ruiz, second from right, poses with her winning check for a new Saturn Vue (inset), as her boss, Walgreens store manager Katherine Pezzulich, looks on. At left is Vince Wilkinson and, at right, Paul Ray, both district managers for Walgreens.