THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 1, 1995 TAG: 9412300252
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover story
SOURCE: [Tom Holden and Bill Reed]
LENGTH: Long : 144 lines
Carl M. White, a mailman:
``I've been in a long-distance relationship for three years with a woman from Newport Beach, Calif. This year we're hoping to solidify the relationship and we're in the process of moving closer together. She's moving to Atlanta. I'll be trying to follow her there within the year.
``My hope this year also is to spend more time with my children. I have a handicapped son and I hope to have less overtime and spend more time helping him with his speech therapy. I have a daughter in Hampton and I would like to spend more time with her, too. My oldest son is at Fort Valley State College in Fort Valley, Ga. I wish him the best of luck in keeping his grades up.''
Brenda McCormick, activist for the homeless and poor:
``In 1995 my hope is that we in Virginia Beach will learn to love mercy.
``Personally? I'm part of the we, honey. It's all of us. We all have to learn to love mercy. If we don't get that part, we're all in trouble.''
Bruce Phelps, student activities coordinator at Tallwood High School:
``For the schools, I'd like to see more positive things come out in the media. Some of the things they say are positive, but they often pick up on the negative. Personally, I wish good health for my family and myself. And I want to extend all the best wishes to my son, Jeff, who will graduate from First Colonial High School this year. And to my other son, Brian, that he has a successful year in class and athletics.
``And to my wife, Janet, for the continued success of our 23-year marriage, as of June 18. For the Little Neck community, where we live, I wish a happy new year. I also wish for a successful year at Tallwood in academics and athletics.''
Fritz Stegemann, pastor of Open Door Chapel:
``I think probably, mentioning the homeless we're getting more and more, instead of less and less. We're supposed to be having this great renewal and it's not coming. We need to give these people a place to work and earn a livelihood. And the reason they can't earn a living is they have no place to sleep.
``We need some sort of facility in Tidewater and Virginia Beach. We've got to have some place, a halfway house, where these folks can have a chance to get a job and get on their feet and until they get a place to live. I'm talking about giving them a chance - just a chance. The economy has put a lot of people out of work. They're frustrated. You have a lot of single-parent mothers, raising kids, trying to work. There is no coordinated program working toward a goal. There's nothing to give these people a chance. They're just behind the eight ball. They need a break.
``People are not interested in helping anybody but themselves. And we need to help them see the need. There is a certain thing that's happening to people when they give. The church says when you give you get. That goes for everybody. When you do something good for your neighbor, ultimately it all comes back to you. It comes back to the community.''
Valerie J. Brown, works at both QVC and NationsBank:
``What I'd like to see is for the kids to stop killing each other, especially those within the black community. They should get out of school, work hard and make a living like their parents have taught them. I'm getting so tired of reading the newspaper and seeing another story about these young boys killing each other over something stupid. That's what I want.''
William Gilliam, blues musician:
``I'd like to see something happen about this drunk driving - see somebody do some sort of alteration on that law. What I saw on television today about giving the police permission to take people's licenses away on the spot - I think that's unconstitutional altogether.
``People are innocent until a judge, not a police officer, proves them guilty before they can go before a judge. I can't see that. I'm ready to go into politics myself behind that. I'm ready to get me a soap box and go around to the shopping centers.
``I just don't see where this is going to help anything at all, because man cannot save lives. That is the work of God, to save lives.
``I've just been sick about that. Because I'm an entertainer. I go around and play at all these parties and everything. You mean to tell me if I have one or two drinks and some police officer is going to stop me and take my driver's license away? I just can't see that.
``I think I'm going to give up entertainment and go into the political world. I'd like to see that whole complete drinking law that they started out with - changed. And I'm not a drinker.''
Steve E. Esteban, part owner of Glory's Bakery:
``I wish good health for my family, that's the main thing for me. And business could improve a little bit. I'd like to see more jobs for the community. That's all.''
Genesis L. Marcum, master police officer in the Third Precinct:
``Basically I am involved in community policing. I like the concept of community policing, with the patrolmen taking an active part within the communities, to help bring them together and develop their objectives and goals.
``There have been several things we as a police department are doing. We're pretty much the guiding force for the citizens. They come to us and tell us what they'd like to see happen in their community and we go out and try to make it happen.
``I have some real strong religious convictions. I'm involved in Outreach Ministries. I personally oversee one particular revelation ministry. We go into different communities to help bring them together, to lay aside their prejudices. We advocate harmony.
``My personal goal? I'd just like to be instrumental in bringing the community together in Virginia Beach. I think we're doing a good job of it - so far.''
Sofia Creque, travel consultant:
``The travel industry will boom this year. It will be the most profitable business in years. It'll just zoom. I hope the community does better and we'll finally find out what happens to O.J. (Simpson). And I'd like to become independently wealthy this year so I can quit my stressful job.
``But most of all I hope that my son passes his courses. He's not doing so great right now. That's something I dearly hope for. And I hope that my teenage daughter listens to all the good advice that I've given her instead of going in one ear and out the other.''
Karen Doyle, waitress at Pizza Delight, which her husband Sam owns:
``I'd like to see more people get involved in stopping crime. Something happened recently that brought this home to us.
``Personally? I would like to see his (Sam's) grandmother get better. She had a heart attack recently.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Karen Doyle, waitress at Pizza Delight, which her husband Sam owns:
``I'd like to see more people get involved in stopping crime.''
Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Carl M. White, a mailman: ``My hope is to spend more time with my
children. I have a handicapped son and I hope to have less overtime
and spend more time helping him with his speech therapy.''
Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Genesis L. Marcum, master police officer: ``My personal goal? I'd
just like to be instrumental in bringing the community together in
Virginia Beach. I think we're doing a good job of it - so far.''
Steve E. Esteban, bakery owner: ``I wish good health for my family,
that's the main thing for me. And business could improve a little
bit.''
Valerie J. Brown, who works at both QVC and NationsBank: ``What I'd
like to see is for the kids to stop killing each other.''
by CNB