THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 16, 1996 TAG: 9608150152
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 203 lines
I agree totally with your recent article which says that people and the police worry about jet skiers who don't know the rules. And well they should. One reason that the jet skiers and other boaters don't know the rules is that it is very difficult to find out what the rules are.
Motorists receive booklets from the Department of Motor Vehicles that outline the rules. Traffic rules are displayed by signs as one drives down the road. Local boating regulations are a bit more difficult to determine. In general, except for slow-no wake signs (for some craft these two requirements are mutually exclusive), few if any rules are posted - or in fact publicized.
Last year, I tried to find out the limits of the no wake zone in the Lynnhaven Basin. I asked a marine patrol officer and her response convinced me that she had a lot of latitude in determining the limits. I called the city and was shunted to about 10 different departments plus the Coast Guard and the Corps of Engineers. No one, including the Marine Police, could tell me what the limits are. I finally gave up.
If the governments have rules to be followed, the rules ought to be reasonably available to the persons affected. Perhaps an easy solution is to provide a copy of all local boating ordinances and no-wake zone laws with the annual personal property tax bill for watercraft.
James G. Burritt
Aug. 5 Re-enactment well done
The weekend of Aug. 3 and 4 was an enlightening one for me and I am sure for many who attended the Vietnam Revisited at Camp Pendleton.
For many younger folks that were not around or old enough to remember what was happening to our military and to our nation, it was an education in history. The veterans did an excellent job of showing how it really was with the horrible booby traps and ambushes.
Vietnam happened and is history. Perhaps our decisions in the future generations will be made based on this vital part of our nation's history. Lest it will not happen again. Don Hipple
Aug. 5 More answers are needed on light rail
The call for a referendum on light rail by council member Louisa Strayhorn at the July 9 meeting of the Virginia Beach City Council is most welcome provided taxpayers have access to hard-to-secure details of the project. It took a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get these facts:
The cost of the project escalated from $164 million in 1991 to $376 million now, more than double. Why?
Engineering and administration costs jumped from $18 million in 1991 to $74 million now. These costs are based on the base fixed cost of the project, the higher these costs the higher the E and A costs. This is the second highest cost of the project, most unusual.
The consultant suggests funding by a gasoline tax increase of 4.3 cents per gallon and a sales tax increase of one-half of 1 percent to all citizens.
A consultant says ``affluent people ride light rail, less affluent ride the bus,'' and that most of the 7,000 daily riders will be white collar workers commuting to and from work on the $376 million light rail. This is hardly ``mass'' transit.
The binding referendum should be before a vote is taken on the revised study that will include the Naval Base line to give City Council guidance on funding the $4 million study, which is the next step in the project. It will allow the 600,000 drivers in Tidewater to express their thoughts on funding a $376 million transportation system for 7,000 ``affluent'' office workers.
W. Thomas Sawyer Jr.
July 24 Use surplus money on drainage needs
I was delighted to read in the paper that Virginia Beach finished the 1995-96 fiscal year with $13 million left.
Delighted because for 37 years, my community of West Oceana Gardens has been told that everyone at City Hall knows we need drainage, but there is no money.
Surely that money or a part of it is tax money from this community which has finally surfaced. None has been spent here, so it must be.
I am tired of being told, as I was recently, that my community is in ``the plan,'' but there is no funding. Being a part of ``the plan'' doesn't impress me at all.
I would much rather be a part of a well-drained community.
Water, water everywhere and not a drop will drain.
Jerry Etheridge
Aug. 12 Amphitheater's prices must be re-examined
I have visited the amphitheater four times now thinking that it would get better each time. Parking included in the ticket price, a great idea. No long lines getting in. But $1.50 per ticket! You can't bring lawn chairs, but you can rent them there. Refreshments, $4 for a glass of lemonade. And now the latest obstacle: umbrellas.
The evening of the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert, radio station 106.9FM was advertising to bring an umbrella and come out and enjoy the concert. When we got there they wouldn't let you in with one. We had seats undercover and wanted the umbrella for when we left if it was raining to get back to the car. This is the most ridiculous rule I have heard of.
Virginia Beach Amphitheater management needs to take a few lessons from the managers of the Tangier Country Music Festival in Crisfield, Md., on the Eastern Shore. They don't charge for parking and provide shuttles free of charge to the concert site. They allow one cooler (no glass bottles) and the lines for food are still long and they also allow umbrellas. They are used in between shows. When the show starts the umbrellas come down so everyone can see. I pay just as much for my ticket as the person sitting in front of me but if they choose to stand during the concert I can't even see the show. Event staff does not tell them to sit down. It's too bad a good thing such as the amphitheater has to be ruined by the management and the greedy city of Virginia Beach.
Stacy M. Budd
Portsmouth
Aug. 6
I recently attended a concert at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater, excited about the prospects of seeing our area's latest social attraction. I was thoroughly impressed with the facility, the politeness of the staff, the security, and the overall layout of the grounds. My hat's off to all involved in making this a success.
I am, however, extremely disappointed with what I believe is a monumental rip-off at the concession stands. I did not realize until after the show that part of what I spent on food and beer went to a charity.
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with monies going to a worthy cause. Shouldn't we be informed, though, that nearly one-third of everything we spend at the concession stand is going to charity? While they're at it, let us know which charity we're donating our money to.
Four dollars for a beer? Two dollars and fifty cents for a soda? I think amphitheater management owes the public an explanation, and then a change in their mode of conducting business.
Chuck Flaherty
Aug. 8 Killer robs man of his pet duck
On Aug. 2, between 3 and 3:30 p.m. near Old Dam Neck Road and Upton Drive, a kind, generous, 90-year-old gentleman, who is deaf from age, walked slowly and carefully from his garden to his house. He is very well liked by his neighbors and has lived in this neighborhood since 1921. He has to sit down and rest frequently, so chairs are placed in strategic spots.
The old man made his way to within 20 feet of his back door when suddenly he stopped and slowly knelt down. Reaching down he slowly lifted the lifeless body of a female mallard duck. A bullet hole oozed blood from the wound near its wing. The old man screamed from shock and disbelief that someone would do such a thing. He tearfully embraced his dead pet.
He had cared for the duck for six years in all kinds of weather. The duck was two days old and had been abandoned by its mother when he became its caretaker. The duck was the man's pride and joy, as well as an inspiration for the old man to recover from brain surgery just five months ago. Tears ran down the old man's face as he rose and carried his dead pet to his back door steps where he sat down and rocked back and forth crying profusely.
His 83-year-old wife came out to console the man, together they grieved. After a while, they walked slowly to the edge of their garden, picked up a shovel and began to dig. Placing the lifeless duck's body in the hole the old man covered the hole with rich black damp soil and was heard saying ``Why, couldn't it be me instead?'' As the couple passed the duck's pen with the swimming pool, nest and cracked corn on the ground they knew their days would be duller and more lonely without their ``Dolly.''
They slowly closed the gate that was left open daily for the duck to follow them. The old man knew there would be no more water to carry, food to put out or hours of watching his pet entertain.
Joyce Harper
Aug. 3 Story behind photo revealed
This letter is in reference to the ``Through the Years'' photograph and caption in the July 7 Beacon. The ``Mr. Murrell'' to whom you refer as the man who purchased Baines Store in 1961 seemed to have disappeared from the scene after he retired. Not so.
Actually, your Mr. Murrell was a Mr. Marrow who is 84, a widower since 1993, and still lives within walking distance of the northeast corner of what is now Mill Dam Road and Great Neck Road. According to the deed to the property, my parents, William D. and Myrtice W. Marrow, purchased it in 1958 from Icer Baines Whitehurst and her second husband, John Whitehurst.
The name of the business changed to Great Neck Grocery. In 1967 the old store was torn down and the one-story building presently on the site replaced it. My parents operated Great Neck Grocery until their retirement in 1976. Although it continued to operate as a grocery for several years, ``the corner'' was leased in 1982 for the operation of a restaurant, which at this time is known as ``Bucky's.'' My father still owns the property.
His reaction to the photograph and caption was that it took him 84 years to get his name in the paper. Wouldn't you know it, they had the wrong one.
Earnest E. Marrow Sr. Kellam High thanks community
On behalf of the Kellam High School class of 1996, we would like to thank the community for its help in making Celebrate Life 1996 (the after graduation celebration for graduates) a huge success.
Seventy-five percent of the Kellam class of 1996 attended this event - an alcohol, drug and fatality free All Knight Long celebration at the Princess Anne Recreation Center.
The many hours of preparation from parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders and citywide volunteers from Kellam High School were phenomenal! All 10 high schools in Virginia Beach were able to provide a fun and safe night for their high school graduates on graduation night.
Our committee members were absolutely wonderful - from activities to volunteers, each member did a fantastic job!
May the tradition continue! And the best of luck to the class of 1997.
Nancy C. Martin
Susan W. Whitesell
Co-Chairmen Celebrate Life
Aug. 12 by CNB