DATE: Sunday, July 13, 1997                 TAG: 9707110273

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 09   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - VIRGINIA BEACH

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people involved and the competitors for making the Jose Cuervo Gold Beach Volleyball Tournament this past weekend a truly enjoyable and exciting experience for all.

It may be hard to understand the magnitude of this tournament because there was no coverage of it by The Virginian-Pilot (Maybe it would have gotten in the paper if a competitor bit someone's ear off).

Anyway, this is a national beach volleyball tour sponsored by Jose Cuervo backed by millions of dollars. There are only 10 stops nationwide leading up to the tour championship in Fort Lauderdale in October. Virginia Beach was lucky to be one of the stops this year.

Oh, by the way, congratulations to the local boys who took first and second (John Ek, Craig Scott and Chris Watson) who will be on their way to Florida in October. I know Fort Lauderdale is waiting for the tour with open arms. Thanks 96X for your sponsorship along with many oceanfront businesses.

Mary Leslie

July 1 Why represent woman only?

In a recent issue of The Beacon, I noted an attorney's advertisement stating that he and his partner ``Represent women only in divorce.''

Why doesn't he just tell it like it is? Since women usually are awarded more money, he wants a percentage of the higher dollar amount. Representing the loser doesn't pay as much.

Wonder what sex he would pick as an an attorney to represent him? I feel discriminated against. Is there an attorney in the house?

Butch Baum

June 17 Column gave another view

Letter-writer Michael Barrett, who says that The Beacon is betraying its name, should look up ``Beacon'' in the dictionary.

Among its meanings is a light to warn of danger. That is what The Beacon columnist was doing when he wrote of the Hampton Roads Partnership.

Since a member of The Beacon's parent company is a leader of the ``Partnership'' I thought the column reflected well on the newspaper's attitude toward free speech and the columnist's courage.

Barrett says we need a world class convention facility, a major league stadium, a natatorium, world class golf courses etc. One question he doesn't answer is where the money for all these goodies is coming from.

We drew a pretty tight line on school financing, and are facing a referendum on keeping our libraries up to date.

We seem to have endless spending projects coming up. None of them involves paying half the price of a Norfolk arena.

Barrett says that ``a predominant majority of involved citizens in this great city want us to move ahead on creating a regional metropolitan area.''

Perhaps the citizens I know aren't ``involved'' enough to count, but as a member of three civic groups, and one in contact with leaders of three umbrella civic groups, I can say one thing. I find little or no support for any plan that includes building a Norfolk arena with Beach tax funds. In fact, it has been suggested that a referendum be held on the matter to make Beach desires perfectly clear before hired gun Rick Horrow comes up with his expensive package. Think about it, City Council.

Edward F. Bacon

July 7

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