THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 14, 1995 TAG: 9512130130
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
On Saturday, Dec. 2, Nansemond River High School's football team did something only a few teams accomplish. It played in a state semifinal championship game.
The spectators also did something. With only about five minutes left in the game, a large percentage of the Nansemond River fans left.
These young men and their coaches had worked three to five hours a day, five days a week, since August, to get to this game. When other students had a day off from school, the players were on the practice field. And because the score was not in our favor, the fans did not see fit to give these players five minutes of their time.
We must let our young people know we support what they do and that we stand behind them, win or lose. Walking out on them does not show support. I'm sure seeing the fans leave added to the disappointment they were already feeling.
As a parent of a player on this team, I would like to thank all the coaches for their time, effort and dedication to all the players. Congratulations to the entire team for a job well done.
Lesley A. Staley
Burnett's Way
Suffolk The handicapped need a stop at the front door
I am a very irate, handicapped senior citizen making my home, along with others, in Suffolk Tower Apartments. Until recently, it had been a wonderful place to live. But thanks to our very uncaring city officials, we have been robbed of our loading zone in front of the apartments.
Apparently they care more about a ``free traffic flow'' than about the handicapped and senior citizen. I wish one of our brilliant city officials or our keepers of the law would explain to me and other citizens who are law abiding, even registered voters, how we are supposed to get out for medical appointments if a person cannot stop for two minutes in front of the building to pick up or discharge a person.
Some of us on walkers or other aids cannot walk to the back of the building, nor down to the very inconvenient loading zone. We appealed to you, our noted officials, on behalf of the residents and businesses. It fell on deaf ears.
Now I am appealing to you again on behalf of the ill, elderly and handicapped. Don't you care about anyone? Suppose one of your dear relatives lived here, would your attitude be the same? Petitions were forwarded to council, to no avail.
Now we are spreading the word to remind everyone that you all are elected officials. Elections will take place again. Hopefully, some of you hardhearted officials will be replaced by some who care for their constituents.
I am one of many disgruntled residents of ``Surprising Suffolk.''
Cora H. Holland
North Main Street
Suffolk Will it be a real plan or just some more talk?
Present and past city management and members of the City Council cannot seem to grasp the meaning of the military saying, ``Plan to work, and work to the plan.''
We are in the process of developing a new 10-year Capital Improvement Plan when we have not started or completed many needed projects left over from past plans - some more than 15 years old.
The 1982 CIP listed projects that have not even started. We then got the 5-year CIP that removed many of the 1982 projects and gave new ones. And here we are, in 1995, adding more projects.
Management said it was too costly to provide promised basic service projects to one section of the city. And three months later it approved, at a higher cost of $14 million, a courthouse complex and the remodeling of City Hall for $1 million to $2 million - projects that were not listed in any previous CIP.
We now see all the beautiful, multi-colored charts, pictures and graphs in bound folders prepared by management for the new CIP. What we have seen in past years points to the same old story - lots of paper and talk with no results.
Would it not be in the best interest of the city to eliminate this waste of labor and resources and put these funds to work to complete promised CIP projects? Will this new, 10-year CIP be the same old story wrapped in the same old line, with the only difference being the author?
Talmadge C. Jones
Harbor Road
Suffolk A first-class show
The Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society put on a first-class show with its 19th annual Candlelight Tour!
Only on rare occasions does the opportunity to see so much of Suffolk's history on display at one time present itself. The homes were artfully presented by the volunteers in their period costumes, and even ``Ms. Finney'' appeared to tell the story of her school.
The complimentary fresh roasted peanuts and hot chocolate were perfect for the cool afternoon and evening. But the treats for sale were our favorite.
The Historical Society deserves a huge ``well done.'' Thanks for the delightful time in Old Suffolk.
Harry Lee Cross III
North Main Street
Suffolk Superb talent displayed
I recently had the pleasure of attending the Governor's School for the Arts' production of the opera ``Dido and Aeneas.''
I was very impressed by the high caliber of talent and professionalism presented by these students, who come from all over Hampton Roads. The production was one of the most outstanding works presented by high school students I've seen.
Too often, we only hear about the problems created by and surrounding today's young people, but this group of individuals, under the direction of Mr. Alan Fischer, needs to be recognized for their superb talent and dedicated work. It was a rare treat to see this level of opera performed by high school students. We should consider ourselves very fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful music created by these bright, young voices.
I urge our community to support the efforts of these hard-working, gifted young people, who could very well be tomorrow's leading opera performers. And to think they had their beginnings right here in Hampton Roads!
Diane Toohey
Virginia Beach by CNB