THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602020169
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: Long : 280 lines
I feel as though I have had a death in my family. I have been a resident of Woodmont Drive for more than 30 years, and we have just lost our neighborhood to the Centerville curve.
It doesn't make any difference how many years you have lived in one place and paid Chesapeake's high taxes. You may think that you are secure. Well, think again! They can come by and take that away from you at any time. I am losing friends and wonderful neighbors of 25 years, and that kills me inside. Alternate 1, passed by the City Council, will demolish my neighbor's home against his will.
In the recent controversy over the curve, we only stated facts that we researched and studied, but it fell on many deaf ears. We did not tell any lies. We did not go out with a petition that only stated ``to vote for Alternate 1'' without explaining all of the facts involved. Those who gathered the signatures on the petitions had nothing to show people signing the petition what Alternate 1 would do to a neighborhood. We thought that was unfair to us on Woodmont Drive. How could a street with five homes compete against a neighborhood consisting of Centerville Turnpike, Centerville Farms and Land of Promise Road? We did not tack up posters that only stated to ``come to the council meeting and support Alternate 1 or 2 or nothing.''
A lot of people did show up for the council meeting in support of Alternate 1, but some decided to leave when they realized that long-time friends of theirs were on the other side, who were trying to protect the loss of their homes and street.
We were never opposed to making the curve safer and still are not. We advocated for more than a year that the city install flashing lights, lower the speed limit, enforce the speed limit and install rumble strips to encourage motorists to slow down coming into the curve. We honestly felt and gave sound provable facts that Alternate 8 would make the curve safe and at a cost of more than $500,000 less expensive than Alternate 1.
And what did one council member propose in a ``last-minute'' declaration after vehemently pushing through Alternate 1? He asked that the interim period between the time the city implemented Alternate 1, that the city ``lower the speed limit, install flashing lights and place radar cars on Centerville to enforce the posted speed limits.'' I am happy that the council agreed with him, although it was more than a year after our suggestion and after the death of another motorist who didn't have the benefit of those improvements.
Some people will sign anything placed in front of them. The most important thing I have learned from this whole ordeal is that I will never again sign another petition. Frequently you do not know the real story and particularly the views of those on the other side of the issue. You do not realize the lives you might affect or destroy nor can you see their faces.
Watch out, people! It might be your neighborhood or your home next time.
Thanks to Mayor William E. Ward, Vice Mayor Robert T. Nance Jr. and Councilman John M. de Triquet for believing in us and trying to save our neighbor's home.
Dolly Atwood
Woodmont Drive Reassess attitudes
In response to the letter to the editor from Jerry Windley, ``No Division I grades'' (The Clipper, Jan. 28), I feel the need to comment. Because I am one of those football coaches who is also a guidance counselor in the Chesapeake Public Schools, I am in a position to shed a little clearer light on the subject.
Mr. Windley states that ``in the 1994-'95 school year, no athlete in this area had a score on the SAT high enough to be awarded a scholarship to a Division I college.'' There were two football players at Western Branch alone who qualified for scholarships last year. Several other athletes, male and female, throughout the city received partial and full scholarships.
Secondly, in response to Mr. Windley, he is correct that the Virginia High School League requires only a ``D'' average to participate in any VHSL activity, which includes debate, forensics and cheerleading.
What is the real purpose of participating in high school activities? To win a college scholarship? I hope not! Is this why our students spent hours of their free time after school in the chorus room or memorizing speeches for forensic tournaments? Who's to ``blame'' if one of our all-city singers does not receive a singing contract with a major recording studio? The point of our high school extracurricular activities is to provide a wholesome, well organized activity to enrich our children's daily high school experience.
My goal is to teach my players teamwork, dedication and pride in a task well done, as well as sound football techniques, which will, hopefully, lead to a victory on Friday night. I submit that students can graduate with a ``D'' average. Why forbid them to participate in an activity which studies have shown keeps kids in school and thus graduating, because they can't make ``C's'' or better in all of their classes?
Finally, the intent of the letter seemed to castigate coaches for not ``making'' their players perform better on the SAT, especially those coaches who are also guidance counselors. Where should that responsibility be placed? I submit that our role as counselors, coaches and teachers is to support the job that parents are doing to encourage their children to achieve their full potential in school. We have parents at Western Branch who are very supportive and work together with our teachers and me, as their child's coach and counselor, and we still can't motivate some of these kids to do their best in school! There was an article in the Teenology section of Friday's Virginian-Pilot written by Kimberly Freedman that the writer of ``No Division I grades'' should read. Miss Freedman quotes Jeffrey Penn, a spokesman in the New York office of the College Board (the organization that issues the SAT), as stating that ``the SATs measure developed skill, not innate abilities.'' This points up the importance of what our student-athletes have achieved in the classroom from the time they entered elementary school. Some students are just not in the position to succeed in college nor score well on the rigorous SAT.
I, too, am disappointed that not all of my players with Division I ability go on to play college football. But, we have former players who are very successful in the armed services, apprentice schools and the world of work. I am as proud of these young men as I am of the ones who have gone to college, regardless of whether they played college football or not.
The high school football coaches in the city of Chesapeake take their responsibilities for guiding our student-athletes very seriously. We have good, responsible coaches who provide a positive influence on our city's youth. I feel it is time we reassess our attitude about why we encourage our children to play high school sports in the first place. If it's to win a college scholarship, then I submit that the child is in it for the wrong reason.
I think I speak for my fellow head football coaches in Chesapeake when I say that we would welcome support and encouragement from all of our citizens in helping our students achieve success (whether it be football, baseball, chorus or technology) to produce responsible citizens for our future.
Lew Johnston
Head football coach
Western Branch High School Good man, good heart
In more than 23 years of working in military and paramilitary organizations, I have known many people who were called ``colonel.'' I can think of none that wore the title with more honor, and less pretense, than Colonel Noah Byrum.
I have just learned that Chesapeake recently lost Colonel Byrum suddenly, and I am deeply saddened by the news. My most sincere sympathy goes to his immediate family, his Chesapeake Sheriff's Office family, and to all of the citizens of Chesapeake who have lost a valuable public servant and an awfully good man.
When my father died, Colonel Byrum and Sheriff John R. Newhart allowed me to bury my deputy sheriff's badge with him. There was no hesitation when I asked to do so, because he and the sheriff respected family values and the ideals of law enforcement. Noah called me at my parents' home in West Virginia to offer his sympathy, and it was obvious that he was sincere. It is still a shock to me that I must now offer my deepest sympathy to his loved ones.
I could write pages about what a loving family man, excellent boss and dedicated law enforcement official we have all lost with the passing of Noah Byrum. But it is best summed up by saying that we lost something that we desperately need today - a good man with a good heart.
Goodbye, Colonel Byrum. You are already sorely missed.
A.C. ``Andy'' Black Jr.
Hornsea Road
I feel as though I have had a death in my family. I have been a resident of Woodmont Drive for more than 30 years, and we have just lost our neighborhood to the Centerville curve.
It doesn't make any difference how many years you have lived in one place and paid Chesapeake's high taxes. You may think that you are secure. Well, think again! They can come by and take that away from you at any time. I am losing friends and wonderful neighbors of 25 years, and that kills me inside. Alternate 1, passed by the City Council, will demolish my neighbor's home against his will.
In the recent controversy over the curve, we only stated facts that we researched and studied, but it fell on many deaf ears. We did not tell any lies. We did not go out with a petition that only stated ``to vote for Alternate 1'' without explaining all of the facts involved. Those who gathered the signatures on the petitions had nothing to show people signing the petition what Alternate 1 would do to a neighborhood. We thought that was unfair to us on Woodmont Drive. How could a street with five homes compete against a neighborhood consisting of Centerville Turnpike, Centerville Farms and Land of Promise Road? We did not tack up posters that only stated to ``come to the council meeting and support Alternate 1 or 2 or nothing.''
A lot of people did show up for the council meeting in support of Alternate 1, but some decided to leave when they realized that long-time friends of theirs were on the other side, who were trying to protect the loss of their homes and street.
We were never opposed to making the curve safer and still are not. We advocated for more than a year that the city install flashing lights, lower the speed limit, enforce the speed limit and install rumble strips to encourage motorists to slow down coming into the curve. We honestly felt and gave sound provable facts that Alternate 8 would make the curve safe and at a cost of more than $500,000 less expensive than Alternate 1.
And what did one council member propose in a ``last-minute'' declaration after vehemently pushing through Alternate 1? He asked that the interim period between the time the city implemented Alternate 1, that the city ``lower the speed limit, install flashing lights and place radar cars on Centerville to enforce the posted speed limits.'' I am happy that the council agreed with him, although it was more than a year after our suggestion and after the death of another motorist who didn't have the benefit of those improvements.
Some people will sign anything placed in front of them. The most important thing I have learned from this whole ordeal is that I will never again sign another petition. Frequently you do not know the real story and particularly the views of those on the other side of the issue. You do not realize the lives you might affect or destroy nor can you see their faces.
Watch out, people! It might be your neighborhood or your home next time.
Thanks to Mayor William E. Ward, Vice Mayor Robert T. Nance Jr. and Councilman John M. de Triquet for believing in us and trying to save our neighbor's home.
Dolly Atwood
Woodmont Drive
In response to the letter to the editor from Jerry Windley, ``No Division I grades'' (The Clipper, Jan. 28), I feel the need to comment. Because I am one of those football coaches who is also a guidance counselor in the Chesapeake Public Schools, I am in a position to shed a little clearer light on the subject.
Mr. Windley states that ``in the 1994-'95 school year, no athlete in this area had a score on the SAT high enough to be awarded a scholarship to a Division I college.'' There were two football players at Western Branch alone who qualified for scholarships last year. Several other athletes, male and female, throughout the city received partial and full scholarships.
Secondly, in response to Mr. Windley, he is correct that the Virginia High School League requires only a ``D'' average to participate in any VHSL activity, which includes debate, forensics and cheerleading.
What is the real purpose of participating in high school activities? To win a college scholarship? I hope not! Is this why our students spent hours of their free time after school in the chorus room or memorizing speeches for forensic tournaments? Who's to ``blame'' if one of our all-city singers does not receive a singing contract with a major recording studio? The point of our high school extracurricular activities is to provide a wholesome, well organized activity to enrich our children's daily high school experience.
My goal is to teach my players teamwork, dedication and pride in a task well done, as well as sound football techniques, which will, hopefully, lead to a victory on Friday night. I submit that students can graduate with a ``D'' average. Why forbid them to participate in an activity which studies have shown keeps kids in school and thus graduating, because they can't make ``C's'' or better in all of their classes?
Finally, the intent of the letter seemed to castigate coaches for not ``making'' their players perform better on the SAT, especially those coaches who are also guidance counselors. Where should that responsibility be placed? I submit that our role as counselors, coaches and teachers is to support the job that parents are doing to encourage their children to achieve their full potential in school. We have parents at Western Branch who are very supportive and work together with our teachers and me, as their child's coach and counselor, and we still can't motivate some of these kids to do their best in school! There was an article in the Teenology section of Friday's Virginian-Pilot written by Kimberly Freedman that the writer of ``No Division I grades'' should read. Miss Freedman quotes Jeffrey Penn, a spokesman in the New York office of the College Board (the organization that issues the SAT), as stating that ``the SATs measure developed skill, not innate abilities.'' This points up the importance of what our student-athletes have achieved in the classroom from the time they entered elementary school. Some students are just not in the position to succeed in college nor score well on the rigorous SAT.
I, too, am disappointed that not all of my players with Division I ability go on to play college football. But, we have former players who are very successful in the armed services, apprentice schools and the world of work. I am as proud of these young men as I am of the ones who have gone to college, regardless of whether they played college football or not.
The high school football coaches in the city of Chesapeake take their responsibilities for guiding our student-athletes very seriously. We have good, responsible coaches who provide a positive influence on our city's youth. I feel it is time we reassess our attitude about why we encourage our children to play high school sports in the first place. If it's to win a college scholarship, then I submit that the child is in it for the wrong reason.
I think I speak for my fellow head football coaches in Chesapeake when I say that we would welcome support and encouragement from all of our citizens in helping our students achieve success (whether it be football, baseball, chorus or technology) to produce responsible citizens for our future.
Lew Johnston
Head football coach
Western Branch High School
In more than 23 years of working in military and paramilitary organizations, I have known many people who were called ``colonel.'' I can think of none that wore the title with more honor, and less pretense, than Colonel Noah Byrum.
I have just learned that Chesapeake recently lost Colonel Byrum suddenly, and I am deeply saddened by the news. My most sincere sympathy goes to his immediate family, his Chesapeake Sheriff's Office family, and to all of the citizens of Chesapeake who have lost a valuable public servant and an awfully good man.
When my father died, Colonel Byrum and Sheriff John R. Newhart allowed me to bury my deputy sheriff's badge with him. There was no hesitation when I asked to do so, because he and the sheriff respected family values and the ideals of law enforcement. Noah called me at my parents' home in West Virginia to offer his sympathy, and it was obvious that he was sincere. It is still a shock to me that I must now offer my deepest sympathy to his loved ones.
I could write pages about what a loving family man, excellent boss and dedicated law enforcement official we have all lost with the passing of Noah Byrum. But it is best summed up by saying that we lost something that we desperately need today - a good man with a good heart.
Goodbye, Colonel Byrum. You are already sorely missed.
A.C. ``Andy'' Black Jr.
Hornsea Road by CNB