ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 22, 1996 TAG: 9612230014
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
At what price development?
Before moving to Blacksburg five years ago, we lived for 65 years in southern New Jersey and witnessed firsthand all the signs of "progress." There comes a price - a very high price - with expansion, development, commercialization, increased housing and population.
What is starting to happen now to the New River Valley befell the beautiful rolling fields, woods and farmlands of southern New Jersey. Once a peaceful countryside (not to be confused with the chemical plants and oil refineries of North Jersey), this once rural part of New Jersey is now covered with large housing developments, mega-malls, four-lane highways, huge schools and lots of concrete, black top and cars.
With it all came a rocketing crime rate making it necessary for ever increasing police patrols. For example, branch police stations were established at the malls. Surveillance police personnel are now stationed on mall roofs with binoculars and radios watching for car thefts, muggings and vandalism. It's all part of the "progress" package!
And, if anyone thinks the congestion at U.S. 460 and Peppers Ferry Road is bad, they should experience a three-mile backup where four-lane NJ 55 merges with the six-lane freeway to Philadelphia. Those beautiful rolling fields and farmlands are now history.
The farms and friendly, slower-paced lifestyles most of us truly enjoy here in the New River Valley will also be history if the present trend continues. Already we are hearing about the unsightly changes in the plans for the "smart" road heretofore kept a secret by Virginia Tech. Those changes will forever affect the attractive area where the road will be built. Add to that what is happening before our eyes along the U.S. 460 "strip" with a small mall, new bowling alley, more fast-food outlets, restaurants, muffler shops and a tall bank building all on the land that was once a horticulture farm.
In 10 more years, at the present trend, will we see another example of the result of "progress" here in the New River Valley? What a terrible waste that would be! But then, we would have "progress".
James H. Hain
Blacksburg
Praying players were 'true winners'
Last month, Virginia Tech defeated the University of West Virginia. This was a great victory for Tech and a heart-breaking experience for West Virginia.
After the game as we, the spectators, were leaving the stadium, we gazed upon the middle of the football field where football players were kneeling in a large circle praying. I was amazed. It looked like a flower in full bloom. Yellow and blue mixed with maroon and white. The titanic struggle was over.
Here we were "the true winners." All human glory is fleeting, but these athletes were acknowledging that "God's glory is eternal." Surely these football players were the "true winners" because they were saying "the Lord thy God is one God." Amen.
Ted Hayman
Blacksburg
LENGTH: Medium: 60 linesby CNB