tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post6994943589022663389..comments2024-03-28T13:46:38.346-04:00Comments on Pardon Me For Asking: On The Passing Of Bette Stoltz, Who Helped Revitalize Smith Street, "The Little Street That Could"Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882047670852126739noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-79467925755848651432015-11-27T12:08:39.791-05:002015-11-27T12:08:39.791-05:00Here's a video I came across by Bette's Da...Here's a video I came across by Bette's Daughter Erica which perfectly illustrates Bette's lifelong dedication to her work and community. As a Smith Street business owner for over 9 years, and a lifelong resident of the neighborhood, I have seen the transformation of Smith Street first hand. I agree with her views on where Smith Street has been headed and why it's occurring, which is a shame. She will surely be missed. <br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqddnni7wXcMaxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-16912805094019563072015-11-23T21:15:49.653-05:002015-11-23T21:15:49.653-05:00I know, Margaret. I walked down Smith Street toda...I know, Margaret. I walked down Smith Street today with a very heavy heart. I can imagine that feeling will linger for quite some time.Katiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484246196723019291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-81137563575202892722015-11-23T20:55:03.788-05:002015-11-23T20:55:03.788-05:00Bette's email to you shows what a clear thinki...Bette's email to you shows what a clear thinking articulate dedicated knowledgeable soul and communicator she was. I can't really look at the pictures - I can't really believe she is no longer with us. Rest in Peace, Bette. So great you posted her words, Katia.Margaretnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-35356603395160438942015-11-22T20:32:17.086-05:002015-11-22T20:32:17.086-05:00Thank you for this post -- I hadn't realized s...Thank you for this post -- I hadn't realized she passed. I've only know her about 3 years (as long at my restaurant has been open), and she was a wonderful source or support for us and the community and will surely be missed.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02196033389748847127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-40632012738200543102015-11-22T16:01:56.059-05:002015-11-22T16:01:56.059-05:00Hi Katia,
Thanks so much for sharing the news of B...Hi Katia,<br />Thanks so much for sharing the news of Bette’s death, but what a shock. And thanks for sharing her last letter to you.<br />In the last year, when I ran into her, I wondered if she’d been ill. She didn’t look her usual self but she still had the same sparkle.<br /><br />In the long years I’ve lived here on Smith, I remember Bette from the start, when she turned the empty space two doors from me into a thrift shop to train women in sales. It was quite a success as both a store and a training center, I was told. I still miss that shop! And the Soup Tasting was such a great idea. I told her so and thanked her for some of the other events she created.<br /><br />Her letter touches on ways the area is losing much of what made it great, much of it to her efforts. I’ve noticed how the new spots are all about drinking, not eating. But it wasn't until I read that she couldn’t get enough restaurants to participate in the Soup Tasting that I realized how much things had changed for the worse.<br /><br />It’s hard to believe she’s gone. What a sad loss.Marcianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-25089242574320560592015-11-20T22:50:22.416-05:002015-11-20T22:50:22.416-05:00Phaedra, what beautiful words. My children and I w...Phaedra, what beautiful words. My children and I will miss Bette tremendousky. Cynthianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-75998134211532333122015-11-20T20:33:07.327-05:002015-11-20T20:33:07.327-05:00What a lovely thought and image, Phaedra. What a lovely thought and image, Phaedra. Katiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484246196723019291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-68633217513152767522015-11-20T19:34:32.304-05:002015-11-20T19:34:32.304-05:00Thank you for this Katia... My heart is so very, v...Thank you for this Katia... My heart is so very, very heavy right now. The lioness of love has left the building... Thankfully she left Bette seeds everywhere, including inside us. XoAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01987595847378801413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-44574935144522225922015-11-20T16:01:33.290-05:002015-11-20T16:01:33.290-05:00I know how you feel, Jim. All we can do is to hon...I know how you feel, Jim. All we can do is to honor her by continuing to be involved as she was and to hope that one day, Smith Street will shine again like it did ten, twenty years ago when she dedicated all her time to helping young restauranteurs and businesses open up their businesses here when the rents were so much more reasonable.Katiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484246196723019291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-35462988167643653892015-11-20T15:38:47.716-05:002015-11-20T15:38:47.716-05:00Katia, thank you so much for this tribute. It'...Katia, thank you so much for this tribute. It's just so hard to think of her NOT being on Smith Street (and everywhere else) but the tone of discouragement in her incredibly accurate reading of the state of Smith Street et al is so sad. Makes me want to go out and knock some Bette-sense into some real estate vultures!<br /><br />Jim VogelJameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11035045384082269369noreply@blogger.com