DATE: Saturday, October 18, 1997            TAG: 9710160014

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  125 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

CAMPAIGN `97

FOP member

supports Gilmore

Garth Wheeler, president of the Virginia State Fraternal Order of Police, does not speak for me.

As a 30-year police veteran and member of the F.O.P., I enthusiastically support the candidacy of Jim Gilmore. It appears that an organization that supported both Governor Allen and Ollie North has moved in the opposite direction with its endorsement of Beyer. Could union tendencies finally have come to full bloom, or is it political opportunism?

Dan Kappers

Virginia Beach, Oct. 7, 1997

SOCCER COMPLEX

Clubhouse, restrooms

are on drawing board

In response to the Oct. 4 letter, ``New soccer complex no joy for parents'':

Christine Carroll may be pleased to know that restrooms are included in the proposed clubhouse at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex. The clubhouse will be constructed when the HRSC has raised enough money to build the facility. In the meantime, porti-jons will have to do.

Ms. Carroll complained about the long walk to the fields. When Beach FC, the Virginia Beach Soccer Club, the Atlantic Soccer Club and the Southeastern Women's Soccer Association formed HRSC and designed the facility, we first studied what others had done. We selected a model that separated kids from cars, rather than one that interspersed them. In view of the safety of our children, we believe that we made the right decision.

Michael J. Barrett

HRSC Developer

Virginia Beach, Oct. 6, 1997

New soccer complex

a delight to players

I am replying to Christine Carroll's Oct. 4 letter, ``New soccer complex no joy for parents.'' My first reply is that the soccer complex was not created for the parents.

As a former Beach FC player and current Women's League player, I give a big hand to those who made this dream a reality. Ms. Carroll complains about the ``unkempt facilities.'' Were her children not formerly playing on the same horrible fields as the rest of us soccer enthusiasts? Was she driving to a neatly cut Bermuda or fescue field that was correctly lined, had proper bathroom facilities and great parking? I think not.

For years, our soccer leagues have complained about the horrible and inadequate number of fields for the growing number of teams. Most of the area leagues finally united, created the Hampton Roads Soccer Council and began to turn a dream into a reality. Through a partnership with the city of Virginia Beach and private donations, they have built one of the best complexes on the East Coast.

The $2 million she claims has been ill-spent went to providing 19 constantly maintained fields in one location and an opportunity for all levels of play to occur at once. The only comments you will hear from those using the facility are positive.

Michelle M. Martinez

Norfolk, Oct. 5, 1997

EDUCATION

National test

a waste of money

What's all the flap about this national test the Department of Education wants to develop?

Don't President Clinton and other supporters know that we already have several nationwide tests? They're called ``achievement tests'' and they are available not just for fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math but for most subjects, offering far more comprehensive testing than his proposed Department of Education test.

So why does President Clinton want to spend $15 million (the first year!) reinventing the wheel?

Mary S. Howald

Zuni, Oct. 2, 1997

POT SMOKING

Stop drug use

at concert venues

I applaud the Sept. 19 letter, ``Drug use troubling at Amphitheater concerts.'' This is also a concern of mine. The problem is that there are too many users and not nearly enough police available to control the problem.

I have also been made aware of the smoking of marijuana at outdoor family concerts at Waterside. There is too much of this in too many public places.

Facilities such as these must take responsibility to do everything in their power to prevent this illegal behavior. Drug and alcohol abuse must not be tolerated.

Bernice Field

Virginia Beach, Oct. 7, 1997

HIGHER ED

ODU progress, plans

impressive

Town-N-Gown is an organization of university, community and national defense supporters of Old Dominion University. This group was recently invited to the campus for a visit with President James V. Koch and other university staff, who reviewed for us the university's accomplishments and exciting new programs.

Although Town-N-Gown meets each month on the campus, we were unaware of the level of progress and national prominence Old Dominion has achieved over the past few years. A review of plans for the development of the University Village east of Hampton Boulevard underscored for us how essential that phase of growth will be for continued progress of the university and its programs and for enhanced economic development for our city.

Lucille G. Sebren

President, Town-N-Gown

Norfolk, Sept. 29, 1997

BEACH BULLIES

King Neptune sets

off the meter maids

I just want to say a big thank you to the Virginia Beach City Council, the Hotel Association and the Neptune Festival. When you drive to the Oceanfront to watch a 9:30 fireworks performance and all the parking lots are full and you find a parking spot on a side street, here comes the meter maid to give everyone a parking ticket.

I guess Virginia Beach needs to nickle-and-dime everyone a little more. It's one foolish way to discourage tourism and drive away local or Virginia residents.

Charles C. Pearcy

Virginia Beach, Oct. 7, 1997

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