THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996 TAG: 9610240148
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 128 lines
I find it completely appalling that certain people in the city of Virginia Beach find it absolutely necessary to build something, be it a shopping mall or a grocery store, on every square inch of natural ground. I think Beach residents should concentrate on trying to preserve their city for all its worth.
I am only 17, yet I see examples of our city being built up all around me. For example, when I was younger my mother and I used to go to my grandparents' house past Bayville Farms. I used to love driving by and being able to see the cows graze in the rich, green pasture. But just a few years ago, a developer decided to make the farm a country club/golf course. In my opinion, I would much rather drive down a country road, and see ``country,'' rather than a ``country club.''
Erin Heischober
Sept. 26 Halloween not Satanic
We have another example of misinformation in the letter of Oct. 6 from Thea Spitz. Spitz described Halloween as a Satanic holiday, then continued on to say that it was Druid. First of all, Druidism is not Satanic. I guess some Christians believe than anything that is not Christian is Satanic. Second, Halloween is not even a Druid holiday.
I'd like to know where Spitz purchased that encyclopedia, and what century it was purchased. According to the 1996-97 version of Grolier's encyclopedia, Halloween (now a children's holiday) was originally a Celtic festival for the dead, celebrated on the last day of the Celtic year, Oct. 31. However, the elements of that holiday were incorporated into the Christian holiday of All Hollow's Eve, the night preceding All Saints' (Hallows') Day. And until recent times in some parts of Europe, they believed that this was the night of the witch.
So, I would suggest that people research more carefully their facts before they embarrass themselves with these ridiculous gripes. And Halloween is about as Satanic as skipping church every once in a while.
John Stofka
Oct. 13 Student-athletes must earn the right to play
No pain, no gain is not the attitude of all student-athletes. In Virginia Beach City Public Schools, the requirement to play sports is to maintain a ``D'' average in five courses. This minimum is exactly that, a minimum. One can pay little attention in class, do no homework, and scrape by with a D.
Those who pay attention in class and complete their homework naturally fare much better. But doing well in the classroom is a choice, as much as playing on a junior varsity or varsity sports team is a privilege. If a student chooses to do no work and merely exist in class, he or she should receive a fitting punishment. Not only should that student fail, he or she should not be permitted to play on a sports team.
The school system is lowering its standards by allowing a D student to star on a sports team. The system sends the message that it is acceptable to be a poor achiever in the classroom if one can make up for it on the playing field. In this, school has ultimately lost its purpose.
The founders of this city built public schools with the intent of educating all young citizens of Virginia Beach. Education should extend to athletes. If athletes are exempt from high standards, the goals of public education have not been met.
The school system needs to wise up. They are setting students up for failure by not requiring an athlete to earn the right to play sports. A 2.0 grade point average is not impossible. It is even a requirement to be accepted into many colleges.
Chera Reid
Oct. 21 Don't cut back trees along Shore Drive
If the Virginia Beach traffic engineers' idea for lowering the number of accidents on Shore Drive is to get rid of all trees within 24 feet of the roadway, then I suggest getting rid of the traffic engineer.
The trees aren't the cause of the accidents. Careless, drunk and speeding drivers are. It's possible some have been the result of front wheel blowouts. Rather than spending $1 million to chop down trees, use the money for better road and traffic surveillance. Possibly a few more signs and stiffer penalties for violations would help.
If you go off any road at high speeds, even ones with no trees within a half-mile, you're still going to have an accident of some kind.
I have never driven this route, in either direction, without being passed by drivers going at least 10 to 15 miles per hour faster than the legal 55 mph speed limit.
Leave what little beauty we still have left as it is.
A. Rothenberg
Oct. 10 City Council is ignoring worst need of homeless
I read with disgust the article titled ``Beach is urged to sidestep shelter for homeless'' (Oct. 9, The Virginian-Pilot). How dare these high and mighty City Council members decide to ignore the worst need for the homeless there is. While a program to provide a ``day-service-center'' and transitional housing are admirable, they are only throwing away money.
These upper-income people will never know the meaning of being homeless. They make far too much money to ever go there. However, those of us who are living paycheck to paycheck praying that we can make it one more week know all toowell the fear of being homeless. Homeless people need a place that is safe and warm to sleep, some place they can get clean clothes, bodies and a hot meal as well as some medical care for illness. No employer will hire anyone whocomes to apply for a job that is wet, smelly and filthy. Go put your job program there. As far as transportation to and from work, well, don't you have to be well enough to work? Are you going to stay that way sleeping outside wherever you can in whatever weather conditions are present? NO!
Transitional housing is another matter entirely. There isn't enough to go around and under their program there never will be. Charging a modest rent? Ha! Most of these people could only get minimum wage jobs anyway, what do you expect them to have left after they eat and get the necessary things like medical care or electricity or gas? Take their money. Then throw them out when the time limit is up with barely enough to pay rent saved up so they can be homeless again in six months. This sounds like a real solution.
What about preventive measures? What about a homeless shelter for families and single people alike? A place they can stay until they get on their feet and their children can go to school, and they can get job training and medical care. I think that may be a vision too broad for these people to grasp.
If they are concerned about finding a place to house the homeless, what about some of these properties that are HUD-owned homes that haven't sold used as temporary housing. What about running it like the foster children program? Pay some caring families a small amount of money to cover expenses for taking in a homeless person or family. If you aren't going to build them a shelter, then put the money to good use at least.
In the time when politicians, city councils and lawmakers are stressing the ``united family,'' why are they doing the exact opposite with their decisions and spending the money? That $800,000 was given to them by HUD to build a homeless shelter. To not do it seems to be a misappropriation of government funds.
Cheryl J. Conrad
Oct. 8 by CNB