Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 19, 1994 TAG: 9411230029
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I suggest that those who would convert this area into a mecca for tourists spend a year living in a typical ``fun city'' such as Orlando to see for themselves what it is to contend daily with hordes of R&R seekers.
Say goodbye to reasonable traffic and travel times. Say hello to gridlock, pollution and noise.
Say goodbye to daily contact with friends and neighbors who care about where we live and its environs. Say hello to transients, only here for a good time and a place to sleep and eat.
Say goodbye to good, permanent job opportunities with a stable economy, a solid industrial base and civic-minded corporations. Say hello to entry-level service jobs as permanent as the weather and at the whim of fun-seekers who are here today and gone tomorrow.
Say hello to the parasites and petty thieves who are soon drawn to a tourist hub. Say hello to the blighting sprawl of ``umbrella'' businesses that open and shut with the fluctuations of the economy.
In short, say goodbye to the valley as a fine place to live and raise a family. And save one last farewell for the Blue Ridge, whose destruction seems inevitable thanks to greedy speculators and weak-kneed politicians and bureaucrats.
BUD SANTORO ROANOKE
Area events need more positive spin
THE OCT. 29 Extra section article by Mike Mayo (``Without a star, film festival doesn't shine'') prompts me to write. His negativity concerning the seventh Virginia Festival of American Film was another in a long line of criticisms by your reporters concerning just about any entertainment or sporting event that happens in and around the Roanoke area.
Mayo said the event lacked a major star or director in its lineup and a spark was missing. Rather than promoting the event and encouraging people to attend, he talked about the small crowds and unimpressive films.
I'm also concerned that your correspondents can go to Charlottesville to cover an event, but can't drive to the Salem Civic Center to provide coverage of the Rising Star 3 science-fiction convention held Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, which attracted visitors from as far away as England.
At that convention, such film stars as Jane Greer, Arlene Golonka and Deanna Lund, along with Babylon 5 star Richard Biggs, attended, and there was no promotion or coverage provided by this newspaper. For 19 years, this nonprofit convention has been held in this area to promote interest in science by bringing movie and Star Trek series stars such as Walter Koening, George Takei, Bibi Besch, Mark Lenard and Majel Barrett.
You write about wanting Roanoke to grow. Then promote events that take place here positively. Next year, Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, will be the 20th anniversary of Rovacon/Rising Star. I hope you'll provide coverage, promote this event, and encourage people of all ages to attend.
With positive support, better entertainers, writers, guest lecturers and sporting events may come here, which, in turn, will improve our quality of life.
SHANNON G. ABELL ROANOKE
Locomotion marvel mustn't rust away
I'M VERY disappointed in Norfolk Southern's decision to discontinue all steam operations (Oct. 29 news article, ``Last run for NS steam train''). After spending time and money to restore the J611, one of the best examples of steam locomotion and an engineering marvel, how could NS just put her out to pasture again? Railroading is a big part of Roanoke's history and that of surrounding towns and communities.
Without the revenue that steam excursions bring to the Roanoke Valley, the plan for revitalization of the Virginia Transportation Museum may suffer or die altogether. Perhaps Roanoke's Mayor David Bowers should rethink NS's tax variance.
When the J611 comes back to the Transportation Museum in Roanoke, I hope there'll be enough money appropriated for her archival storage. It would be a greater tragedy for the engine to rust away again due to the lack of protection against the elements.
I hope NS will reverse its decision for Roanoke's benefit, and for generations of children who have never seen or experienced the unique nature of a working steam locomotive.
LYNN D. SWAIN VINTON
Racial cartoon was a new low
I THOUGHT this newspaper reached a new low this summer when the editorial cartoon on Richard Nixon in hell was published, but I should have known you could top that. The Goldilocks cartoon of Nov. 14 takes the award.
What are the mighty editors thinking now? Let me see: We don't have any local sensational racism to draw off of today, so let's pull some in from out of town. Nothing like a little fuel for an eternal ember. Quite frankly, it gives me a bad case of heartburn.
RENE WIMMER ROANOKE
by CNB