THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608290458
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 70 lines
Hundreds of folks plunked down 10 bucks apiece Wednesday night to fish for Granby High School.
The derby at Harrison's Fishing Pier in Ocean View was organized by Del. Thelma Drake to bolster activists trying to persuade the city to think twice about cutting gym renovations from a project to expand and repair the school.
City officials said at a meeting on the project Monday that they would try to find the $3 million needed to fund the gym work, a big-ticket item eliminated when bids for the school project came in $4.4 million over what was budgeted.
But Fleater Allen, PTSA president, said she wasn't satisfied.
``I didn't hear `yes,' '' she said at dusk Wednesday as a stiff ocean breeze made the long fishing pier sway. ``I heard, `looking for the money,' `hope.' But I didn't hear `yes.'
``I'm from Missouri,'' she said. ``Show me.''
Allen is among a large and growing group of activists lobbying the City Council to make up the shortfall.
In June, the school system had to pare down the renovation project because the low bidder came in at $25.4 million; only $21 million had been allocated for the project. Among the items eliminated from the plan was hardware for the computer program.
But it is the dilapidated gym that has raised the ire of PTSA members, business people and others.
A portion of the money raised in the fishing derby will help pay for newspaper advertisements - one appears in today's Norfolk Compass - that aim to raise public awareness about the plight of the 57-year-old school.
Cindy Jordan, who graduated from Granby High School in 1975, said her alma mater was so important to her that she wanted to do what she could to help.
``It's a nice big school, ought to stay that way,'' she said, casting out onto the choppy water. ``I had a lot of fun there, and I'd like to see it taken care of.''
Said Drake, a Republican whose district includes Ocean View and Granby High: ``I've said all along that if it needs to be a joint venture of city and community, I'm sure the community will do its part.
``I looked at the gym. It's awful. My feeling is that just painting it would be throwing good money after bad.''
Drake, who admits she's not much of a fisherman, held her pole like a lance - as though ready for battle.
``I got one!'' she called out mid-sentence.
``I didn't get it,'' she said when the line went slack.
Louise Howe, first to catch a fish Wednesday, graduated from Granby in 1965.
``They found the money for stadiums for Booker T. (Washington) and Lake Taylor high schools,'' Allen said. ``When they want to find the money, they can find it.''
The Greater Wards Corner Business Association several weeks ago set up a bank account to help the PTSA. Some $2,300 has accumulated since.
``This has to be done,'' Allen said. ``We will not give up. We're going to inundate them with our hopes.
``They think John Q. Public is not smart enough, but they're finding, where there's a will there's a way.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Gailann Meredith of Norfolk, left, who won the ``First Fish'' award,
decorates the pier at Ocean View on Wednesday with Rochelle Brice,
7, and Ricky Brice, 8. The fishing derby was held to raise money and
awareness about repairs to Granby High School.
KEYWORDS: GRANBY HIGH SCHOOL FUNDRAISER RENOVATION by CNB