Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 27, 1995 TAG: 9503270009
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
This assumes ``rougher neighborhood areas'' are the cause of welfare parents. Have I got news! Many parents are on the brink of poverty.
I was living independently, but have had to give up my freedom to care for my child. My child is the most important thing in the world to me, and no sacrifice is too great. If my child's father and other fathers accepted responsibility for the children, there would be less need for welfare.
There are few child-care centers within reach of many of our salaries. Child care is always best when provided by the parents. Necessity has made less-than-satisfactory arrangements acceptable, but far less nurturing.
My child's father can be found on the golf course, in the park waxing his car or at local bars tipping bartenders, instead of buying diapers and helping take care of his daughter.
Fortunately for me, I can care for my baby because I have a home to come to and financial aid to provide for her needs. An orphanage might provide some of a child's needs, but could not give the individual attention and love that every child needs to grow up healthy in mind and spirit. I know if welfare is cut, the children will suffer.
CATHERINE M. SMITH SALEM
County's visioning needs help of all
THE HEADLINE, ``The county's myopic visioning,'' on Douglas Chandler Graham's March 1 letter to the editor should have been ``Mr. Graham's myopic visioning.''
It seems that his diatribe against visioning in general and the county's citizen input specifically is counterproductive, shortsighted and detrimental to the county's future. He's so negative that apparently he believes that no planning process should be implemented, and the county should respond to future community problems in a knee-jerk fashion. Should Roanoke County not try to ascertain the community's values, hopes and dreams, and plan accordingly?
Graham apparently has already defined the present and future character of the county from ``introverted'' Vinton to Southwest County's rich cats. I hope the rest of the community isn't as negative and fixed in its vision for the county. I hope other citizens will attend the April 1 meeting, and dare to dream for the county's future.
We're a community of diverse people, as Graham so caustically stated. But we need to find common ground, a common direction and a common vision by which we can operate in the 21st century. I applaud this process, and look forward to contributing to it as I hope all Roanoke County citizens will, including Graham.
DONALD R. WITT ROANOKE
City calendar promotes recycling
REGARDING Jeff Borthen's Feb. 28 letter to the editor, ``Bureaucrats need not spend it all'':
He felt that money was spent unnecessarily on the Roanoke City Recycling Curbside Collection Calendar. I appreciate the opportunity to respond because questions he raised may well be asked by others.
The calendar was produced due to economics. In 1992, the city was exploring ways to expand its recycling program with limited resources. It decided to change recycling collection to every other week, which saves manpower wages and equipment costs. The key to a successful change hinged on making sure our customers knew what day their recyclables would be picked up.
We needed an effective public-information tool that customers would view as a ``keeper,'' something they'd hang on to and refer to regularly. We've produced a recycling calendar every year since, and citizen response, through letters, calls and participation in our recycling program, has been overwhelmingly positive.
The calendar has also been a way to recognize the arts and talents of regional artists. Every calendar produced has contained artwork donated by artists, and this creative effort has even won a national communication award.
With donated art and careful attention to costs, we've been able to produce the calendars at a fraction of the cost of similar commercially produced calendars.
The National Recycling Coalition has found through its research: ``Education and information play a fundamental role in increasing public participation in any recycling program. It's essential for each community to invest in building public awareness.''
LAURA R. WASKO Recycling Coordinator City of Roanoke ROANOKE
Elvis Presley is still dead
I'M SICK and tired of reading articles about Elvis Presley. He's dead! Come in out of the cold and realize, regardless of the cause of death, he's gone.
I cannot totally blame this newspaper for printing such articles, because of the fanatics that crave this type of literature. But what does this say for the community this newspaper serves?
Is the policy ``any news is good news'' the bottom line? There are many past and present individuals who present conviction and valor. So, how does the newspaper staff decide on who gets an article?
This has gone on long enough! The ``Elvis controversy'' exists in the minds of those who lack depth and can't face reality.
DAVID COLLINS SALEM
Take advantage of closing bases
A LOT of news stories lately are dealing with prisons - lack of room for prisoners, and two inmates per cell.
Most of this problem could be solved by using closed military bases. A lot of these are near towns and cities, but with proper fencing, i.e., electric high voltage, should take away local residents' fear.
Why not use what we have in place. Hire local people as guards to offset the impact of the base closings on local areas.
We cannot keep up with the flow of prisoners, unless we get smart and use what we have.
HAROLD S. PENDLETON SALEM
by CNB