DATE: Friday, July 18, 1997                 TAG: 9707180008

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters

                                            LENGTH:  103 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

TRIBUTE

Mitchum a great actor

Thank you, Mal Vincent, for the tribute to Robert Mitchum. You took the works out of my mouth. He was indeed one of the screen's greatest actors.

Mary K. Whitehurst

Chesapeake, July 5, 1997

NORFOLK

More Nauticus talks, more Nauticus debts

Well, residents of Norfolk, your city is talking with consultants again. This time one group says for less than a million dollars you can focus on a change in technology, and another estimates this cost between $3 million and $6 million. I estimate that you are going to get stuck with $1 million to $6 million (in debt?) if you don't stand up and tell your City Council to get real.

You are already deep in debt because the consulting firm that you paid originally said 850,000-plus people would come to Nauticus each year. Get real.

Maybe consultants should be made to back up their projections against their fees.

Robert F. Hedrick

Virginia Beach, July 10, 1997

Nauticus needs a shot of ``virtual reality''

As a participant in the development of Nauticus and a persistent supporter (in taxes and talk), I congratulate you for your July 10 editorial, ``All at sea.''

Nauticus is a good, viable concept, poorly executed and horribly marketed. Even so, it is still financially ``successful'' when you combine indirect expenditures and their impact with direct revenues, which is the bottom line on which our taxpayers should focus.

Well over $60 million is invested in Nauticus. To propose an infusion of $1 million to $6 million more to reposition Nauticus as a showcase for ``ocean technology'' is positively ludicrous.

Nauticus needs definition, meaning and exciting marketing, together with a winnowing of the worst exhibits and attractions and the creation of one spectacular feature - a Shamu of Seaworld or an Alpengeist of Busch Gardens - a ``virtual reality'' experience that is a ``must-do, must-see'' for tourists and locals alike.

Nauticus can become a more vital part of the marvelous package of entertainment opportunities this region offers and a facility of which the people of Norfolk can be proud.

J. Daniel Ballard

Norfolk, July 11, 1997

TAYLOR SCHOOL

This historic structure would benefit all

Frances W. Beckner (letter, July) writes that she would be part of the group trying to save Taylor if she thought it were possible. She is convinced it is not.

The misconception that Taylor cannot be saved has prevented many who would like to renovate the school from working toward that end.

When renovation of Taylor was studied by the current architects, the budget for the project was less than $3 million dollars.

For that amount of money renovation could not have worked.

However, a plan for renovation using today's Taylor School budget of more than $6 million would be fantastic! Design Review members were in favor of renovation but were not allowed to consider that option since that was not the plan presented to them.

Likewise, Planning Commission members were allowed to comment only on the plan brought to them by the School Board - a plan for a new building.

The Norfolk City Plan adopted in 1992 calls for renovation of Taylor School and preservation of its historical aspects. The current plan for a new and larger Taylor is counter to the general plan of the city.

The School Board (a nonelected body controlling 41 percent of this city's budget) has made the decision to tear down a building that belongs to the citizens of Norfolk. This decision was made without any detailed cost analyses of either plan.

Norfolk citizens deserve a detailed cost analysis of both options. We deserve a thorough renovation plan. We deserve the right to question a hasty decision which is counter to a previously conceived long-range plan for this city.

Taylor can be saved.

Glenda G. McKinnon

Norfolk, July 11, 1997

PATRIOTISM

There's nothing rude about those little flags

In your July 3 editorial ``Don't be rude,'' I was insulted by the remark that little flags most likely will be stuck in the grass by salespeople or political candidates.

In the Bay View-Ocean View area, 15,000 little flags were purchased for July 4th by our delegate - not from your pocket or anyone else's. The other organizers, our civic league president and his wife, recently received a presidential citation for their work in our community.

There was no breach of etiquette with this endeavor. It was with one purpose - that being our love of country, community and Old Glory.

As for your remarks about leaving flags out in the rain being disrespectful, you should travel throughout the country and overseas to see the graves of all those men and women who gave their lives for our country and flag (including men on my ship during World War II). Their graves have flags on them rain, hail, sleet and snow.

Vernon O. Mills

Norfolk, July 10, 1997

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