THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701210425
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: 72 lines
Seniors want their news
Years ago, as an active member of the SEVAMP and The Mayor's Committee on Aging, I approached Dennis Hartig (when he was the editor of The Beacon) about having a senior citizen news page. After months of ``pestering'' Mr. Hartig, he agreed. First, it was in the Beacon every week, then every other week and now it seems to be included whenever there is space.
You have pages full of news for teen-agers and a full page in The Virginian-Pilot to cover military news but the senior citizen page is gone! We seniors read your paper thoroughly and we are your most loyal and most consistent readers. How come we are so neglected?
Every city I visit in this wonderful country, I always ask if they have a senior's newspaper or at least a section written for seniors in their local newspapers. The majority have such sections to inform seniors of their rights, of the agencies they can turn to for help, the free college courses that are available, the 10 percent off restaurants and what is going on currently at the recreation centers that involve seniors.
Please do something to keep your senior citizens informed and remember that if you are as lucky as we are, you may live to become a senior citizen and understand why I wrote this letter.
Madeline Nevala
Jan. 9 Reader likes new look
My congratulations go out to Mr. Dennis Hartig on his well-deserved promotion, and yes, also, to Kay Tucker Addis for her excellent work and future focus on our Virginian-Pilot newspaper. Like us all in some way, the paper was in need of a face lift and today as I opened my paper, I had to look twice (thought my glasses were failing), but the paper was really bolder in print and color and eye-catching all over.
Keep up the great work. I have heard many people comment lately, ``I am thinking of stopping my paper as it's the same old thing.'' Well, guys and gals you showed us all. What a new year and a good way to start off.
All your work speaks for itself.
Michelle (Bonnie) Shipp
Jan. 12 Reclaim Fairfield
Fellow Fairfield residents, we need to make a New Year's resolution to take back our neighborhood. We once had a quiet, safe neighborhood, but those days are gone. Are they gone forever?
No, not if we take action soon. We need to regain control over Fairfield.
How have we lost control of our neighborhood? We have lost control by doing nothing. I am told that we once had an active civic league. What happened? Over the past few years the traffic situation in Kempsville has gotten totally out of control.
Each weekday afternoon thousands of commuters ``cut through'' our neighborhood to avoid the intersection of Princess Anne and Kempsville roads.
As if that is not bad enough, most of them speed, run the stop signs, blast music, litter, and late at night they drive through Fairfield after drinking at bars. This poses a threat to all of us. We must put a stop to this.
The situation keeps getting worse and will continue to become more dangerous unless we collectively take action. Doing nothing got us where we are today. The only way to fix this situation is to take action.
The first step we can take is to rejuvenate the civic league. Please join me Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Fairfield Elementary School cafeteria. This will be a short meeting to determine if there is enough interest to pursue a solution to our problem. Other agenda items are: the crossing guard situation in front of Kempsville High School and establishing a Neighborhood Watch program.
Make a resolution to be there. We once had a great neighborhood, let us take action to get it back before it is too late.
Doug McLiverty
Jan. 2