DATE: Friday, August 15, 1997               TAG: 9708130179

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 09   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:   74 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - VIRGINIA BEACH

I would like to voice my opinion, as a fairly new newcomer from another state.

Virginia, I have come to realize, is a money hungry state. Money for personal property, city stickers, decals, registration, etc.

When you buy a home, boat, car you are taxed then and every year thereafter. Our second car is a 1991 GEO and taxes were almost $200. I was thinking this was a big mistake, but I was informed it was not.

Since Virginia is bleeding everyone dry, why can't it at least have the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway paved and smoothed flat from the Oceanfront to downtown Norfolk - east and west bound? I have never seen so many pot holes and speed bumps in my life. I counted 48 holes and speed bumps on one trip.

I was shocked to find out that everyone used to have to pay money to travel this road. My question is, does Virginia get a cut every time anyone has to have an alignment done on his car?

S. Reid

July 28 Passersby helped overheated dog

One and half miles into an early morning run down London Bridge Road, my chocolate Lab, Taz, stopped running.

His eyes were glassed over, he was panting and he wouldn't move a foot. I panicked and waved down every pick-up truck that went by.

Thankfully a gentlemen turned around to help and with the help from a pedestrian, we lifted the dog into the back of the truck and went home.

I want to thank these men for their kindness and warn fellow runners that the ``dog days of summer'' are here, and since we can't monitor a dog's water intake the day before a run, we don't know how easily they could overheat.

Beth Hughes

July 22 Lifeguards' deeds should be noticed

I hope that all the people that live and/or play at Virginia Beach realize how lucky we are to have the smart, hard-working lifeguards protecting and overseeing our well-being.

I saw this first-hand last weekend. I was personally caught up in a situation between Second and Third streets, in the ocean between a small girl who couldn't swim and a strong rip tide. I personally, thank heavens, saw how quick and smart our lifeguards are.

I had been the closest person to the child and the first to come in contact with her. She was a small girl who was panicking and grabbed my neck almost in a choke-hold. I was caught under water every time a wave washed over us.

The situation got a little hairy for only a minute because the lifeguards were there beside us before we knew it.

The panicking girl apprehensively let go of my neck and I was free to swim and regain some control in the strong rip tide. I started swimming toward the shore and realized how strong the current was. I was lucky in that I'm a strong swimmer, but at one point I started to doubt my own strength. When I finally made it to a depth where I could stabilize myself, I looked over my shoulder and one of our faithful lifeguards was directly behind me and close if I had needed any help.

All of this story happened within a span of five minutes, from start to finish. And there were only two very short periods of time when I feared for my own safety, but the lifeguards were there protecting all of us, all ages and sizes.

I don't want this small episode in my life to pass without giving these smart and loyal men credit for doing such good work at a sometimes thankless job. You guys and girls are great! The people of Virginia Beach should feel fortunate and proud that we are so well protected.

A. Dunn

July 29

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