THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603270112
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
We, the members of the Wilroy Civic League, hereby endorse Mr. Leroy Bennett for councilman of the Nansemond Borough.
Mr. Bennett joined the Wilroy Civic League when he moved to this area 26 years ago. He served as president for 14 of those years. We have known him to be a dedicated, tireless and fearless worker for the good of his community.
During his early tenure as president, he was deeply involved in the fight to get city water in the neighborhood. Through sheer persistence, we finally prevailed.
At other times, Mr. Bennett had to fend off challenges that we did not consider to be in our best interest. If it had not been for his courageous leadership, the beautiful homes of Cedar Lake would not be in existence. In their stead would be a traffic-snarling, air-polluting borrow pit.
There have been numerous attempts to have properties rezoned to accommodate multiple-family housing in Wilroy. This did not fit in with the long-range plans of the residents. Mr. Bennett led the fight against these rezoning requests, and today we can look with pride upon the new beautiful, affordable homes that grace this stretch of Nansemond Parkway between Canaan Church and Wilroy Road.
The one area of success that has eluded Mr. Bennett during his civic league membership has been the failure to bring sewer services to the community. Leroy Bennett lives here. He does not have this basic of human services. He knows what it's like to be in the ``five-year plan'' for 25 years.
Not only has he been a dedicated servant in the Nansemond Borough, but if one looks at his list of accomplishments, it becomes apparent that he has been equally concerned about the welfare of the entire city. He served as board member and chairman of the Industrial Development Authority from 1987 to 1994. As a councilman, he would be keenly aware of the critical need for more industry in our city.
Currently, he serves as chairman of the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Mr. Bennett knows about the housing needs of Suffolk. We need a councilman who can communicate this knowledge to those councilmen and members of the public who do not have first-hand knowledge of the situation.
We believe that when citizens of this city come before council with varied problems, they want their representative to be responsible to them and them alone. The last thing they need to hear is that ``you voted me into this position, but I owe my allegiance elsewhere.'' We know that Leroy Bennett will put the needs of the people first. He lives down there.
Elsie Copeland
Reporter
Wilroy Civic League Citizens' love, concern eased pain of tragedy
I am the wife of a Chesapeake firefighter and a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2449.
First, I would like to express my deepest sorrows and sympathies to Frank's and Johnny's families, friends, and fire fighting and EMS brothers and sisters and their families. This is a tragedy that no one should endure.
My life has been touched by knowing so many of the men and women in the department since my husband has been in. But I realized moreso this week how even more special and precious these people are. Not only do they have life-endangering jobs that are physically and emotionally taxing, jobs that most people I know could not handle, but they love people and they love each other. There is a strength there that is unbelievable.
This past week, I have met, hugged and cried with men and women (some I knew, most I didn't) who have come from within the Chesapeake Department and the Hampton Roads area to as far away as Canada, Wisconsin, Connecticut and small counties in Virginia I never knew existed, to pay their respects to these fallen firefighters and their families. Although I sadly regret the tragic circumstances under which I have come to meet these people, nonetheless, my life has been deeply blessed by the love and comfort they have given to me and to one another.
I am writing not just to express my sorrow and condolences, but to appeal to those firefighters to maintain those bonds that were so strong to begin with and that have grown triplefold this past week. Gather together and fight for what is right, for what you need to keep yourselves and the community safe, be it more manpower, equipment or benefits. You need to do it!
Thanks to the citizens, not just of Chesapeake but of the Hampton Roads area, for your support. It really helped all the firefighters to know that the love and concern in the area is so strong. I also appeal to all citizens to support your firefighters' associations. They are the voices of the firefighters, the ones who risk their lives and their families' futures to save your lives and your futures. Write to and call your council members, not just now but in the future, when issues and concerns are brought forward.
God bless the families, the firefighters and EMS personnel, their friends and the community, who have all been touched by this.
Lisa J. Kreisel
Beamon's Mill Trail
Suffolk by CNB