DATE: Sunday, August 3, 1997                TAG: 9708010288

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 08   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  111 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - CHESAPEAKE

July 19, 1997. Let's see how many months have passed since they opened that lovely Rite Aid store at the corner of Battlefield Boulevard and Cedar Road.

For although my memory forsakes me at times, it hasn't been long enough to forget about that beautiful big, green, grassy hill, shaded by old trees. A small piece of undeveloped land saved by owners until their death. A historical site that only true Great Bridgers remember. An oasis in the middle of a hurry-up, build-it-up, leave no-stone unearthed city.

Because we need another store, another bank, we cannot leave one peice of land undeveloped. I know as time goes on, the implants to the area have little sentiment for that piece of land. And only true natives to the area remember when.

When they started to drive the survey stakes and unearth that beautiful hill of clay and old trees, everyone was in protest. Natives and implants all rose to the protest. Save the site, they screamed. No one will patronize the business put there, they said. It's not Rite Aid; it's the site.

But Rite Aid, with all it has to offer the people of Great Bridge, was sure that in time we would succumb to convenience. I remember when convenience was a drive to South Norfolk to the closest pharmacy. I remember when Cook's Hardware, Skipper Old's, Ms. Lemons, Earl's Market and Tatem's Hardware were convenience.

Anything else was a trip to town. With four lanes of highway, a bypass, a high-tech bridge, stores galore, I ask by one question: why couldn't one small piece of land with all that history be saved from money mongrels.

July 19, 1997. As I waited in line at the Wendy's drive-thru and watched the cars enter the site across the street, my memories took me back in time - to a grassy, green hill spotted with trees, holding the relics of natives' pride.

I see you fellow comrades surrendering to convenience.

Felicia D. Hopkins

Head of River Road Bike bandits

10 My son has been hit again by bike bandits. Hopefully, he has learned you cannot turn your back for a minute, because a thief is always lurking.

I would like to tell the bike bandits, who stole my son's and a friend's bike from Wal-Mart in Western Branch, I hope you truly enjoy my son's bike. As you know it is not a cheap bike.

What you do not know is that he earned the money to buy the bike by cutting grass in 90-degree weather and by saving his birthday money.

He turned his back and it was gone.

If you could answer one question: What do your parents say when you come home with a stolen bike? Are they not paying attention to what their children are doing?

Parents, wake up and take an active part in your child's life. If they are stealing bikes now, will you turn your back when a stolen car is in your driveway?

Gail Melton

Monterey Court Neighbors didn't help

Recently, I moved into a newer subdivision in Chesapeake, Stonegate, thinking I had made a great choice.

I have since learned it does not matter where you live. People are human and, faced with fear, they do not always react in a positive manner.

My husband and 4-year-old daughter were walking our very small dog when two rottweilers (both well heavier than 100 pounds) attacked my husband trying to get to our dog. In the process, my petite daughter was knocked to the ground.

When she got up she was screaming, ``they are killing my daddy.'' To our surprise, people outside in their yards did nothing to help in the situation. They did not even try to take my daughter out of the way to prevent injuries.

All in all, my husband sustained nothing more than a few bad scratches and my daughter a skinned ankle.

I guess you could say we learned a valuable lesson. Never depend on a stranger's help and never walk our dog without protection, such as pepper gas.

I hope when I am faced with a tough situation, I will be the one person who takes a risk to help another, no matter if they are a stranger or not.

I am thankful that my family was unharmed, but I would like owners of potentially dangerous dogs to keep them pinned up or secured in a locked game. You never know when your dog will attack.

Valarie Forbes

Carriage Court Antique-car retort

Regarding the letter, ``Antique cars deserve break,'' in the July 25 Clipper, I wish Mr. Bond success with his ``hobby.''

I find it ironic that he feels his hobby should be afforded special state and city legislation for a tax break. My point, which Mr. Bond has lost, is equity. Why is my auto taxed while his ``hobby'' auto is tax free?

I'm sure there are many other hobbyists who are donating thousands of hours of time and money to charity as well. Using Mr. Bond's logic, why not create a class of tax-free aircraft and boats for charitable hobbyists as well?

If we are not collecting revenue from antique automobiles, why do we need this new tax-free definition?

I am very surprised to read that Mr. Bond finds that it is difficult to appraise these antique autos. My casual review of the local bookstores finds a plethora of pricing guides. Also, I'm sure the auto hobbyists have their autos insured. The insurance industry has had little difficulty in assessing the value of these antique autos. If Mr. Bond's vehicle is stolen or irreparably damaged, I am confident his insurance company will compensate Mr. Bond for his loss.

Mr. Bond states it is unfair to tax his hobby auto like ``other daily use'' vehicles. The state law granting tax-free status to antique autos is very vague. The guidance is that these antique vehicles are not for general transportation purposes. However, in my travels in Chesapeake I often observe licensed antique vehicles in local bank and shopping center parking lots, or on our main thoroughfares. These auto owners are not at some charity event or show. They are doing their daily errands.

Perhaps I need to reconsider my hobbies and interests. I'm really interested in a 1967 Pontiac GTO or a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1. . .

Brian K. Whitesell

Lambourne Court

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