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

DATE: SUNDAY, August 28, 1994                   TAG: 9408290018
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THIS DEVELOPMENT GETS HIGH PRAISE

In the Aug. 19 Current I read about the proposed retirement complex being planned for 300 acres in Northeast Blacksburg. Of course, much remains to be discovered about this project. But I must say that this is the first new development around Montgomery County that, in my nine years here, I have read about with pleasure. It sounds very well-conceived, and I hope it is not premature to praise the developers, and the architect, Bob Rogers, for their thoughtful work. (I hope my positive reaction is not unduly influenced by the fact that I live in Southwest Blacksburg.)

It is such a relief not to have to cringe at the description of yet another development proposal.

James C. Klagge

Blacksburg

Volunteers make a clean sweep of it

Fifty people braved the unusually high water of the New River on Saturday, Aug. 20, to pick up trash along the river's shores, as part of the New River Clean Sweep. This "first annual" cleanup was organized by the Keep Giles County Beautiful Committee, the National Committee for the New River and Partners for the New River (a Giles County coalition in support of the Giles county-New River Greenway Project). Sites included McCoy Falls, Spruce Run, Big Stoney Creek, Bluff City, Ripplemead and Wolf Creek Park.

One hundred forty bags of trash were collected, mostly drink bottles and cans and fast food wrappers. Also collected were motor oil containers, 2 fans, 8 tires, 1 door, 1 chair, 2 sofas, 1 bed and mattress, 2 1/2 pairs of shoes, a home perm kit, 3 pairs of glasses, 3 batteries, 1 fuse, 1 fender, 1 porno movie, underwear (not together!), 1 air conditioner case and compressor, 5 bags of old shingles, 1 plastic tarp and wire fencing.

Groups who participated in the cleanup included the Triangle Ruritan Club, students from Concord College, the New River Valley Environmental Coalition, the Blacksburg Bird Club, and Boy Scout Troop 707-Blacksburg Baptist Church.

Jean E. White, Volunteer Coordinator

Blacksburg

Educated yourself on health care

I urge all citizens to read "Consumer Reports, How to Resolve the Health Care Crisis - Affordable Protection for All Americans," written by the editors of Consumer Reports. This small book is a "must" for those who wish to be fully informed about health-care reform. It refutes misinformation from those groups who will lose power and great profit from a good health-care system. Some groups are Republicans, who wish to trash President Clinton; insurance companies, who will lose their high profits; some medical providers, who will lose power and profit; Democrats, who have their special-interest lobbyists to protect because of the money they have received from the threatening group (Boucher from the tobacco and gun industries; Warner and Robb, tobacco - I am not sure about guns).

Myths that have long been bandied about so often that gullible people ignorant of the facts have accepted these myths as the bible of health care in the United States. The book compares various health-care systems and writes about costs and other issues that citizens need to know about to make intelligent decisions and demand a better health-care system. The editors of Consumer Reports have no ax to grind. From their neutral position, they are the ideal organization to give an unbiased report.

Citizens need to educate themselves as the health-care controversy is going to be around for a long time, regardless of whether a bill passes this year.

Carolyn P. White

Blacksburg

by CNB