DATE: Sunday, August 10, 1997               TAG: 9708080201

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 09   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:   66 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - CHESAPEAKE

I am writing in regard to the article, ``Chesapeake earns respect,'' in the July 20 Clipper. I was extremely disappointed in the minimal coverage of softball in Chic Riebel's article.

The softball majors (aged 11-12), just like the baseball majors, had never won a game in the District 8 tournament until this season. And as Riebel wrote, ``It showed that the league had arrived in the most high profile of the Little League categories.''

That first win for both the major teams was a great accomplishment. The major softball girls won their first three games against Accomack Central, Green Run and Plaza, respectively. The dropped their final two games to Aragona-Pembroke, games which were more like battles than games. The three victories were the most of any Chesapeake Little League team.

All 14 members of the softball majors worked hard and were determined to win. This hard work and determination paid off, as they brought home the title of District 8 runner-up.

It is disappointing, as a former softball player and coach, for Chesapeake Little League to see 14 girls play as hard as they did and receive only one sentence of recognition.

Riebel's article was entitled ``Chesapeake earns respect.'' Well, Riebel should have given the softball majors the respect they deserved, too.

The members of the 1997 major all-stars were: Amanda Bach, Laura Baxley, Laura Costanza, Christy Cadle, Sabrina Kunz, Michelle Carlson, Ashley Carlson, Kristen Blake, Terra Lowe, Shauna Morrison, Megan Baker, Casey Byrum, Kathy Pleban and Mary Morales.

Rachel Starr Inge, 18

Melonie Court We need Boys/Girls Club

This is a copy of a letter sent to the Chesapeake City Council and the Planning Commission.

I am a 35-year-old mother of two boys, aged 11 and 8. Our family resides in Greenbrier.

I am also employed by a large corporation in Virginia Beach where my sons attend the Virginia Beach Boys and Girls Club of South Hampton Roads for the summer. This is their first summer there and they love it.

My question is: Why is there no Boys and Girls Club in Chesapeake? I am truly impressed with the Beach facility and the positive things they are doing with children. They offer field trips, computer classes, before- and after-school care, transportation and many other activities.

This is an excellent and inexpensive place for working parents to take their children. The Virgina Beach location is highly endorsed by Charles Barker of Charles Barker Toyota. Mr. Barker helped with fund-raising to get a new multi-million dollar Boys and Girls Club for Virginia Beach that is still under construction.

I love Chesapeake all the new businesses and restaurants that it is attracting, but it saddens me that thers is no positive place for children to go for before- and after-school care and during the summer months. If our children have no positive places to go during these time frames, then where will they go? A child with nothing to do or go often gets in trouble.

Please, please, for the sake of our chidlren and this city that is constantly in the news as ``the place to live,'' do something about bringing a Boys and Girls Club to Chesapeake.

Regina M. Land

Sugar Tree Court

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu