THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 23, 1995 TAG: 9511190032
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the widening of Battlefield Boulevard from the south end of the bypass to the North Carolina line. As a person who constantly travels the roads in and around Great Bridge, I feel that this is an important road improvement project, but not the most important road project in the city. In fact, I rate it at about No. 5 in the order of important road improvement projects for this part of Chesapeake. What follows is my analysis of the situation.
The vast majority of the Great Bridge population base lives north of the south end of the bypass, and are not affected by this stretch of Battlefield Boulevard on a daily basis. This section of road becomes a problem on the weekends during the summer months due to tourist traffic. This road project will primarily help the merchants and property owners of Nags Head, as well as all of the tourists going to Nags Head. Why not leave Battlefield Boulevard alone and extend the bypass to the North Carolina line as a toll road? The Nags Head traffic could be directed down the bypass, which would leave Battlefield Boulevard for local traffic. If the road had a toll, the people who benefited most would help to pay for the project.
I still think that there are four other road projects that would significantly impact the daily lives of many more Chesapeake residents.
The most important road project in the Great Bridge area is at the other end of the bypass. As I tell many people, ``There is no good way out of Great Bridge.'' On my map for the past eight years has been a road called the proposed Oak Grove Connector linking the north end of the bypass to I-464. This one road would do more to alleviate traffic problems than any other road. It would take pressure off North Battlefield Boulevard, Great Bridge Boulevard, Dominion Boulevard and Kempsville Road every day of the week. It would help commuters get to and from work much more easily, free up the secondary roads of congestion, as well as provide a better route for tourists going to Nags head. This road is a must in the near future.
The second, third and fourth road improvement projects are easy to figure out. It is past time to replace the outdated system of drawbridges that currently plagues the roads in and out of Great Bridge. Take your pick: Battlefield Boulevard, Centerville Turnpike or Dominion Boulevard. These bridges are a detriment to local traffic and commerce in the Great Bridge area. Something needs to be done about them soon.
That brings us back to South Battlefield Boulevard. This is an important road project, but I would like to see the other road projects that I mentioned done before it is done.
Jack Graf
Blackthorne Drive Responsive councilman
About one year ago I was having difficulty with the city of Chesapeake in regard to a vacant house beside my property. For three months the city did nothing but give me lip service.
One evening I called Councilman Robert T. Nance Jr. with my problem, and the matter was resolved in seven days.
I'm not a member of the Republican Party, nor have I ever met Mr. Nance. That didn't seem to matter to Mr. Nance. What he heard on his end of the phone was a citizen with a problem. And he solved the problem.
Mr. Nance seems to be a straight-forward, no-nonsense kind of person who takes his office and responsibilities to the citizens very seriously. Chesapeake has yearned for leadership like this for quite a while.
Mr. Nance also displayed a great deal of respect for his office and the citizens in his part of the dismissal of City Manager James W. Rein. Councilman Nance was very public with his opinions and intentions involving Mr. Rein. He didn't go behind closed doors and conduct business nor did he hold secret meetings. The citizens of Chesapeake are not accustomed to such openness from its leaders.
Keep up the good work, Mr. Nance.
Walter W. Bank IV
Fairhaven Road Determined cheerleaders
The Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department had its annual ``Cheering Day'' last month. This is for all the Chesapeake recreation cheerleaders to compete with squads from all over the city.
Although the training division (7- and 8-year-olds) are not judged, they are allowed to perform.
Late in the afternoon, the last training group lined the field, awaiting their turn to perform in front of the crowd. As a slow, steady rain began to descend, each squad hurried to find shelter after their routine was completed.
The Western Branch Vikings were the last squad to take the field. As their routine started to get under way, the rain began to pound them. No one except for the Western Branch Mohawks squad remained on the field. These girls continued and completed the routine they had worked so hard perfecting. At the end of their performance, the spectators who braved the rain cheered the children on with a roar.
Although this sounds trivial, to me it says a lot about not only these wonderful girls but their families and the community.
With all the guns, drugs, violence and lack of parental support a lot of our youth face today, these parents should be very proud.
The sense of responsibility and dedication these 12 little girls exhibited deserves praise. Obviously, they have a very strong family support system.
When something as simple as 12 children cheering in a downpour, can bring a large community to its feet, that says a lot about that community!
As a parent and coach of these girls, I walked away not only proud but with a warm heart.
Donna White
Cornet Street by CNB