THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608090175
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 141 lines
Does no one care about downtown merchants? It isn't enough that we have no clothing stores or Woolworth's? Now, we could lose Virginia Stationery as well.
I was the sole customer with one saleslady, the manager, to wait on me. I found it frightening! Yes, that's the word.
Another asset could disappear by the new year. Surely, there are enough business offices at City Hall, for heaven's sake, to keep this store in Portsmouth!
Inferior goods are no bargains even if they are cheaper. While I am not in business, I find Virginia Stationery indispensable.
Wake up, Portsmouth, and let's keep this store where it belongs!
Eleanor Kanter
Harbor Court
July 26, 1996 Pet cat missing
On Sunday, July 21, our cat ``disappeared'' from our neighborhood in the Wellington subdivision of Western Branch in Chesapeake. He was wearing a collar with an identification tag that had his name on it, plus our name, address and phone number.
After an exhaustive search of our neighborhood and calls to all of the local animal shelters and hospitals, we can only come to the conclusion that someone picked him up and took him home.
He is a small white cat with touches of orange on his ears, back and tail. His most distinguishing feature is his large, blue eyes.
We are writing this letter in hopes that whoever picked him up will return him to us. He is a much loved, member of our family and we miss him terribly. No questions will be asked if he is returned. We are offering a reward for his safe return. If you have our cat, please call us at 686-2486 or return him to us. We want him back home where he belongs.
Larry and Pat Denlinger
Elkton Drive
Chesapeake
Aug. 7, 1996 Only tax sales
I feel the people of this great country should not pay income tax. The money you earn should be yours, all yours, to spend as you please.
The solution:
I propose a flat sales tax. If we have a flat sales tax - example, 20 percent to federal, 10 percent to state - we would pay 30 percent on everything we purchase.
Those who buy $200,000 houses would pay their 30 percent. If they buy a $30,000 house, they pay their 30 percent. I believe it will average itself out.
The more you make, the more you spend, the more taxes you pay. Just think of the trillions of dollars spent in this country every year.
Other pluses: no more W-2 or 1099 forms. Plain and simple, no more filing taxes. Plus, the IRS would only need enough employees to process businesses, who are collecting the taxes.
Another plus would be anyone making money under the table would still pay when they spend.
All money made illegally, all visitors to this country, also would help this country when they spend.
People making poverty wages would have to be given a photo ID card, like a Department of Motor Vehicles driver's license. This license would exempt them from sales tax. They also should have to sign a form.
I don't have all the statistics on money spent in this country, but, I feel if we have this sales tax, this great country would be out of debt.
When I say tax everything bought, I mean everything - ships, planes, houses, cars, buildings, stocks, toothpicks.
Just consider it, all the money you earn is yours - all yours.
Joseph T. Battaglia
Hawthorne Lane
Aug. 1, 1996 Cemetery much improved
I take this opportunity to publicly extend my personal thanks and that of my organization to Sheriff Gary Waters and his most efficient staff for their enthusiastic assistance in restoring Cedar Grove Cemetery to its rightful condition. This has been accomplished and is still on-going through the sheriff's Work Release Program.
I pay particular tribute to the following individuals who have supported the restoration program on a weekly basis, accomplishing projects that would have been otherwise attempted:
Sgt. Martha Bierbaum and Sgt. Raiford Clemons, work release coordinators; and Deputy L.M. Flythe and Deputy S.L. Grimes, crew supervisors.
These dedicated and industrious individuals, together with their work release inmates have and still continue to provide a real service to our city. The inmates consist of both male and female crews that produce solid results in a pleasant and efficient manner.
It has been my great pleasure to have been on the receiving end of their services for several months. When you are downtown again, drive through historic Cedar Grove Cemetery and view the improvements firsthand. They have truly made a big difference in the appearance of this national historic landmark.
Again, I sincerely thank and applaud them for their excellent services.
M.H. Morris
Commander
Stonewall Camp No. 380
July 31, 1996 Churches welcome Navy
The seven traditional Olde Towne churches of Portsmouth extend an enthusiastic welcome to our new waterfront residents at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
The ``convenience berthing'' program which relocated nine ships among the piers, berths and wharfs of NNSY certainly provides many conveniences in addition to those occasioned by the berthing itself.
Capt. William Klemm, commanding officer of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, addressed many of them in the Currents article of Aug. 4. Capt. Donald Loren, commodore of the destroyer squadron with offices at the Naval Shipyard, stated, in the same article, he would like for the personnel on the ships to get to know people in Portsmouth better. To that end, please know that the seven Olde Towne churches extend their warmest welcome to the officers, to the men and to their families to come, share and continue their religious pilgrimage with the denomination of their choice. Each church has its own unique history and character. Each church pre-dates the Civil War. One church, Trinity Episcopal, pre-dates the nation. The history of the other six churches parallels the history of our nation.
There is no better place nor opportunity to get to know the people of Portsmouth than through its historical churches. All have been Navy-oriented for generations. Each and every one is within convenient walking distance from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard if walking is your thing, otherwise bus service is conveniently available.
The denominations represented and their locations are as follows:
Trinity Episcopal, High and Court streets.
First Presbyterian, Court and King streets.
Monumental United Methodist Church, Dinwiddie and Queen streets.
St. Paul's Catholic Church, High and Washington streets.
St. John's Episcopal Church, Washington Street and London Boulevard.
Court Street Baptist, Court and Queen streets.
Emanuel A.M.E. Church, North Street.
Bill Smith
Church historian
Court Street Baptist Church
Aug. 5, 1996 by CNB