DATE: Thursday, March 13, 1997              TAG: 9703130009

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B12  EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  124 lines

LETTERS [TO THE EDITOR -- THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT]

If City Council has any doubts about the proposed soccer stadium, all they need do is drive by any park or field in Virginia Beach on any given afternoon or Saturday. There are over 1,100 children playing recreational soccer in the Great Neck area alone this spring. Add to that number the number of children playing for the advanced and travel teams and multiply by all of the other neighborhoods in Virginia Beach and the numbers are astronomical.

Soccer is a sport enjoyed equally by males and females, adults and children. The same parents who taxi their children back and forth to practices and games are looking for affordable and fun activities to share with their families. The Mariners and a future MLS team would fit that bill.

Do not let the lack of enthusiasm for the Rhinos influence your decision. Virginia Beach is a soccer city. We want, and will support, a soccer stadium.

Beth and Bruce Baines

Virginia Beach, March 5, 1997 JUVENILES Program's pluses were overlooked

I have watched and listened to the media and public during the past week, and I am very disheartened to realize that people are willing to accept less than accurate information. I feel that I must remind everyone that many positive and good things have happened during the past several weeks at Tidewater Residential Institute.

First and foremost, we have attempted, where many have not, to implement a program to adddress the problem of juvenile crime in the state and in our local community. This program was designed to provide a positive environment where juveniles could learn new and appropriate skills in order to become more productive citizens when they return to their communities. I believe we were making significant progress in the lives of those 24 who remained with us, and I wish the public had been able to see this for themselves.

The 24 boys who were removed from our facility on March 4 were visibly upset and angry that they were being made to lose their opportunity due to the actions of two other residents, yet they were able to maintain their composure and they calmly allowed themselves to be handcuffed or shackled to board vans to return to facilities that they did not want to return to. Unfortunately, none of this information makes for headline news.

Second, I want to publicly recognize the terrific, and professional, staff who committed themselves to working with youth at risk. During this past very difficult week, each managed to remain professional and were able to remain positive role models. I only wish there were more people in our communities who shared their belief in the potential of youth.

Patricia M. Weller

Acting superintendent

Tidewater Residential Institute

Norfolk, March 7, 1997 SUPPORT Rare disease patients sought

Corticobasal Ganglionic Degeneration (CBGD) is an uncommon disease that is frequently mistaken for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or stroke because of symptoms that it shares with each of these conditions. CBGD is a progressive and untreatable neurological disease that robs its victims of their independence. Because of its rarity, little research is being done.

The National Organization of Rare Disorders lists 12 patients identified as having CBGD, and I have found a data base in California with approximately 30 others throughout the world.

Since my husband has recently been diagnosed with this devastating disease, I would like to identify others in the Tidewater area with the hopes of forming a support group. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with possible CBGD, please contact Sandra Roberts, 140 Dover Circle, Norfolk, Va. 23505.

Sandra J. Roberts

Norfolk, March 5, 1997 NORFOLK Fund our libaries

Norfolk has chosen an outstanding and very talented library director with the appointment of Sally Reed. Now give her the support she needs to do the job.

If, as we are told, we have money for shopping malls and hockey teams, certainly we should easily be able to come up with a minimum of 1 percent for our community's intellectual pursuits.

Barbara Fulp

Norfolk, March 9, 1997 REGIONALISM Big projects no boon to small towns

According to a recent article, the mayors and chairs of 15 communities in the Hampton Roads area are going to be asked to hire a consultant to tell them what kinds of projects are needed in this area. It seems to me that these communities should already know what their needs are.

I have resided here long enough to know that more museums, arenas, cultural centers, stadiums and other projects that will directly benefit only a small number of people are not very high on the average taxpayer's list of priorities.

Also, contrary to the view of many, the Hampton Roads area can in no way be compared to Cincinnati, Tampa, St. Louis, Detroit or even Oklahoma City. Basically, Hampton Roads consists of 15 small- to medium-sized communities that have their own agendas, problems and needs and are finding it extremely difficult to support their own schools or infrastructures.

Moreover, the beneficiaries of these proposed projects would be to a great extent restricted to the larger communities. The smaller communities would be required to contribute their tax dollars but not get anything of equal value in return.

John F. Nelson

Suffolk, March 4, 1997 RECYCLING Beach program is the right idea

I have to applaud the city of Virginia Beach on its new recycling program. Their decision to scrap the Southeastern Public Service Authority's ridiculous curbside service should be followed by the rest of Hampton Roads. It is absolutely shocking to think that cities in our region are paying 50 cents a household to empty twice monthly a container not much larger than a shoe box.

I do not use the grossly inadequate curb-side service provided in Chesapeake because the container provided by SPSA is so small it only holds two days' worth of my recyclable items. Also, the few items it holds tend to blow out of the shallow container into the surrounding neighborhood. Instead, I choose to make trips to the local drop-off site.

It appears to me that SPSA's current curb-side pickup service does more to discourage recycling among residents by providing a constant source of irritation. Virginia Beach's plan of using a 95-gallon container is much more reasonable and is certain to encourage increased recycling efforts.

Tom Wagner

Chesapeake, March 8, 1997

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