THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 19, 1996 TAG: 9609170118
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 110 lines
Recently, the city decided to eliminate the pickup in East Ocean View of solid waste at the curb for apartments or non-customers of the City Waste. As for those of us who were here about 15 years ago, the litter and discarded trash that lined the streets and vacant lots was a disgrace.
Well, it has started again. With all the money the city is putting into East Ocean View, it would appear we would want to keep the areas trash free, not start huge piles that we had in the early years. If you remember, the city hauled hundreds of tons of trash just to get it cleared up.
Now the trash is again appearing not only on city streets but on properties that are abandoned, or it is being put on properties, such as mine, by the dumpsters, forcing the expense now onto the property owners with commercial pickup. We can't police our properties day and night, so don't say, ``Have them arrested for trespassing.'' What we need is roll-offs placed on some of the properties now owned by the city (NRHA) and sitting vacant, and making a collection site available will help eliminate the litter that is surely coming to the area again.
At least three roll-off sites in the East Ocean View area need to be established, with a pickup weekly. Otherwise, look out, we have just taken a step back 15 years.
Also, consideration should be taken of court-ordered possessions on rental property. The law reads (I understand) we must put on public property any belongings left or store them. If we put it on city property, then Solid Waste comes by and gives us a ticket.
Richard Kelly
Dick Kelly Real Estate Company Big, bad launching pad
While walking around downtown Norfolk on a sunny, serene Sunday afternoon, I hunted for great photo opportunities amid the setting sun and the angles created by Norfolk's beautiful skyscrapers and historical buildings. Downtown is really beautiful when you take the time to look at it.
I walked and walked, with great photo shots presenting themselves at every corner of this great modern and progressive downtown area; and then I finally walked right up on ``it.'' It was big and bad. I stepped up onto its launching pad, like some ride at a local theme park, and I almost felt the ground shake as I rolled my head back and scanned its long, tall barrel shooting into the blue sky. It went up and up, from its point directly in the center of our beautiful metropolis, and it was crowned with the work of a master artisan, gleaming in the southern sun.
I read the inscription painstakingly etched on the side of this intimidating capsule: ``OUR CONFEDERATE DEAD'' along with the famous Confederate flag, all right there in stone. Stunned, I fell back onto the cobblestone circle that I had gleefully driven around many times in the past, barely noticing the rocket that sat perched to blast off right in my hometown. Now, as summer winds down in the South, and people sleepily settle in for downtown Norfolk's ``reawakening'' this fall, I can only ask the question: Who's going to step up and light that baby's fuse?
Kenneth Gardner
Meads Road Honor the Constitution
The following letter first was published in the Sept. 5 Compass but is being published again because of production problems that caused the end of the letter to be deleted.)
Our Congress and the president in 1956 designated the week of Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week in recognition of the importance of their governing document for the greatest nation in history. We must celebrate the creation of our U.S. Constitution by remaining alert and diligent to its democratic principles. It is our cherished legacy.
All citizens of these United States should fly our national flag proudly the week of Sept. 17-23 in honor of one of our nation's most treasured documents, the Constitution.
Martha P. Beale
Harmott Avenue Living, eating healthy
You can clean your food thoroughly (``Handle carried lunches carefully to avoid any food-borne illnesses,'' Sept. 5 Compass), but it's still likely to kill you.
Meat, dairy and eggs are directly linked to many diseases, including heart disease, stroke, various cancers, diabetes, osteoporosis and impotence. The best way to combat illness is to change one's lifestyle. Give up meat products. Give up tobacco. Exercise regularly.
Telling people to wash and store safely their meat, mayo and egg salad implies that these foods are safe to eat. They aren't.
The No. 1 killer in this country is heart disease. In fact, men in this country have a 50 percent chance of dying from a heart attack. Giving up animal products cuts one's risk by more than 90 percent.
The meat and dairy industries prosper by ignorance and propaganda (the dairy board alone spends roughly $200 million per year promoting its product). Against this kind of power, getting the truth out is not easy.
It is time to educate the public about the true health effects of animal products: for a healthy life, go vegetarian.
Bruce G. Friedrich
Front Street Gambling destroys lives
It has come to my attention that Norfolk high schools have instituted a program to make students aware of the dangers involved in compulsive gambling.
I have seen firsthand how compulsive gambling can destroy lives of old and young people. It is an insidious disease that needs to be dealt with.
Thank you Dr. Nichols and Mr. Harrel for being sensitive to this issue.
Rabbi Aaron Margolin, Director
Chabad Lubavitch of Tidewater by CNB