Suffolk United Way had another great event Thursday, giving it a big boost toward its 2005 campaign goal.

The fund-raising golf tournament, headed up by Suffolk Treasurer Ron Williams, raised about $20,000, 25 percent increase over the previous year. That's nearly $40K from the two September events, the other being Nosh on the Nansemond.

Much of the additional money came from a ball drop, new this year. Folks purchased numbered golf balls for $20 each. Williams went up in a helicopter over Nansemond River Golf Course and dropped all of them near a flag stick. The one that came closest to the hole netted a cool $1,000 for Donna Pope from the Suffolk Department of

Neighborhood Development Services. Congratulations to Donna..

I played, or at least participated. It was the first time I had touched my sticks since Memorial Day n you can have the heat. While it took about nine holes to work most of the kinks, it was still fun. The Addison Group's Tom Powell invited me to join his team. We had a good time and at least did not completely embarrass ourselves, this despite the fact that Tom had to leave after about four holes to go model at the Queen's Luncheon then returned after missing five holes. J.R.. Ruggiero from the city's parks and recreation department had to try to hold things together while he was gone and did OK.

Be watching the News-Herald for the United Way campaign's thermometer, which will be running during the month of October. It's so important that we reach our goal in Suffolk so that United Way can work for all of us.

Anyway, congratulations to Ron and everyone who worked hard so that a lot of people could have a lot of fun for a good cause.