THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 23, 1995 TAG: 9503210098
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 128 lines
Norfolk, for years, treated Ocean View as a second-class area while revitalizing downtown. Ocean View Golf Course has been suffering as well. Ocean View is the only city-owned golf course within the city limits and is a very good layout; however, Norfolk has made no effort (in my lifetime) monetarily or by negotiations with lessees of the course to rebuild greens (which are slightly better than concrete and contain numerous types of grass and wood), tees, etc.
The course now stands as one of the worst in Tidewater and always will unless Norfolk stops treating Ocean View as a second-class area.
John Tenney
Bill Street Love that battleship
Please allow this misplaced Virginian, who lived in the commonwealth 63 years, to express an opinion on the battleship issue. The battleship is my favorite ship. It has character, beautiful lines and a symbol of power that is unequaled by any other ship in the fleet. I certainly hope a real effort will be made to secure one for the greatest military area in the world.
I have been aboard the North Carolina at Wilmington and the Alabama at Mobile, and I would strongly recommend that the decision makers tour ``Battleship Park'' just outside Mobile, Ala., before making their final decision. The North Carolina is impressive, just being there, but the Alabama has been placed in a beautiful setting, along with the submarine Drum, and a large field of military aircraft, including the B-52 Stratofortress ``Calamity Jane.''
Several strong attractions make the Mobile Battleship Park an example of good planning:
1. The park is outside the city with easy access from Interstate 10, with no congested traffic to deal with.
2. The park consists of large acreage for display of the planes, with plenty of uncongested parking space. There is a charge of $2 per car at the entrance as a parking fee.
3. Access to the Alabama and Drum is through a nice gift shop, lunchroom, restrooms and ticket booth. The only charge to the park - aircraft display - gift shop, etc. is the $2 per car parking fee.
4. Access to the Alabama, including the Drum, is $5 per person for seniors and $5.50 for others.
5. Both the Alabama and the Drum have clearly marked, self-guided tours that do not require attendants or guide personnel.
6. The tour of the Alabama includes several decks below the main deck, and several levels of the superstructure. The tour of the Drum includes the entire length of the submarine below deck.
There are several nice restaurants close by, outside the park. It is a real experience to visit the park and is a model for any city that may be contemplating such a facility.
Yes, get a battleship if possible. Find a location that can be developed into a regional park. Cooperate with other Tidewater cities for a change. Acquire aircraft and other military hardware. Make it a Tidewater Military Park for all branches of the Armed Forces.
But do not get a battleship or any other military attraction if you have to jam it down in the middle of the already overcrowded Waterside area, which would only add to the already outlandish traffic and parking problems.
L.W. McDowell
Powells Point, N.C. Leave well enough alone
Navy medicine, as presently managed by the Navy, is one of the finest parts of the Department of Defense. It is not a separate function added to the Navy. It is a real part of the Navy. Medical personnel, through rotation of duty, serve on board Navy ships, and learn, firsthand, how Naval personnel work, sleep and perform their battle duties. Triage on board ship assigns first medical priority to the injured who can be immediately returned to their guns to do battle.
And Naval personnel on duty away from home are strengthened by the knowledge that the Naval medical facilities, including hospitals and emergency rooms, are available to their dependents.
Furthermore, as part of the Navy's operational readiness, dependents and retirees are assisted, through pamphlets and special functions, to learn to take care of their own medical problems, as far as possible, up to the need for emergency room service. When the whistle blows and the nation goes to war or to an emergency status, medical officers in the Naval Reserve will be recalled to active duty and many civilian doctors will be drafted. This leaves Naval dependents scant medical service, and their having the ability to take care of themselves and of each other is critical.
Naval dependents being able to take care of their own health problems has other benefits in peacetime, including minimum loss of work time, minimum expense, and the pleasure and exhilaration of good health.
Excellent health care for the whole family plays a large part in Navy reenlistments.
Navy medicine really helps the whole community. As other segments of the population observe the results of Navy families being able to take care of themselves, and of each other, they begin to ask for, and to practice, the same procedures.
All of us must join forces to keep Congress, or any medical association, or any civilian pressure group from changing Navy medicine from the way the Navy manages it today.
H.W. Dusinberre
Virginia Beach He wants answers, too
I too am curious as to what is being constructed on Azalea Garden Road and Leafwood Drive. I am referring to the letter by Alfred M. Jacocks published by The Compass on March 2.
I have the following questions:
1. What is being constructed?
2. Who is having the work done?
3. Who is paying for the project?
4. What is the estimate of cost?
5. What is the estimate of the time of completion?
Gerald V. Van Tiem
Walters Drive Answered questions
I recently wrote to you seeking answers to two matters. The first concerned the ongoing construction at the corner of Azalea Garden Road and Leafwood Drive on the shore of Lake Whitehurst. The second was the Norfolk International sign. My letter appeared in the March 2 issue of The Compass.
I promptly received replies, including complete, detailed answers to my questions from David S. Rosenthal, Norfolk Reservoir manager, and Kenneth R. Scott, executive director of Norfolk International Airport.
I sincerely appreciate your courtesy in printing my letter and wish to extend my thanks to Mr. Rosenthal and Mr. Scott for taking time from their busy schedules to reply to my request for information.
Alfred M. Jacocks
Heutte Drive by CNB