
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 1, 1993                   TAG: 9307300005
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NEWS BOXES OFFEND SENSIBILITIES

Preserving the attractive appearance of our neighborhoods is a matter of considerable importance to all residents of Blacksburg. Consequently, citizens such as myself are deeply disturbed by the recent installation of curbside delivery boxes by The News.

The bright-green plastic boxes, conspicuously imprinted with "The News" logo, constitute an intrusive form of advertising and contribute to an already cluttered landscape. As such, they threaten both our privacy and the aesthetic quality of our community.

It is clear that Blacksburg's present sign ordinance is wholly inadequate in that it affords no protection from this form of visual assault. It is indeed unfortunate that local businesses, such as The News and the Roanoke Times & World-News, take advantage of this technicality to serve proprietary interests at the expense of the community welfare.\ Ruth Ann Smith\ Blacksburg

by CNB