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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 15, 1994                   TAG: 9403150186
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: PATRICIA TAYLOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GROW, ACCEPT CHANGE, OR DIE

WHILE waiting in the Roanoke airport on Feb. 27, I picked up a copy of the Roanoke Times & World-News and read the news article, ``Beyond the borders'' by staff writer Dwayne Yancey, about the Roanoke Valley's problems and attitudes.

I grew up in Alleghany County, and like 60 percent of my classmates, left after I finished school due to the lack of opportunity in the area. I ended up in the Dallas area where attitudes are so much different from Roanoke-area attitudes as indicated by your poll. In the Dallas area, no one is bound to one city - a nine-county area makes up the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. The Dallas Cowboys are in Irving, the Texas Rangers in Arlington, the Mavericks in Dallas, and the rodeo in Mesquite. The rapid-transit system includes more than a half-dozen cities. People live in one place, work in another, shop in a third location, and go to entertainment centers in still another location. City and county boundaries are blurred, and we live in North Central Texas as opposed to a single city.

The Western and Southwestern parts of Virginia contain some of the most beautiful scenery in the entire country. Recreational activities are endless. Compared to Dallas, the location of the area is great - close to major cities, highways and trade centers - and the climate is mild. With so many good factors, it seems as though the area is in a prime position to grow.

However, residents have to realize that growth in and of itself isn't bad. Take a look at other areas and what they've done - both good and bad - and learn from it. In Hawaii, the growth on Oahu was unconfined and it spoiled much of the island. On Maui, they looked at what happened to Honolulu and put a regulated-growth plan in action, resulting in a huge increase in jobs and tourism, but in tune with the area. Then Kauai came along, looked at the other two islands, and developed a growth plan that left the natural beauty of the island virtually untouched, yet provided jobs.

I love Virginia and its mountains, and still consider it my ``home.'' I visit often. However, as in everything, you either grow and change, or die. It would be a shame for the area to decline and die when there's so much potential. I'd love to come back someday. But until attitudes change and there are good-paying jobs, kids will continue to grow up and leave.

Patricia Taylor, formerly of Covington, lives in Mesquite, Texas, where she's marketing manager for a restaurant chain.

by CNB