DATE: Wednesday, September 3, 1997          TAG: 9709030003

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  116 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR -THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

VIRGINIA BEACH

Clarifying a point

on Founders Village

In the Aug. 15 article, ``Beach may give CBN aid package for project,'' a reference was made to the $750,000 incentive provided by the city of Virginia Beach toward the development of the Founders Village retirement community. I was quoted as saying, ``That was nothing. I'm not going to downplay $750,000 but the main request we had was to have a working relationship with the city. That's why this is in Virginia Beach.'' Please allow me to put this statement into the proper context.

When asked by reporter John Murphy if the project was dependent upon the $750,000, I said, as a former commercial banker I would never state that the viability of a $100 million project was dependent upon $750,000 - an amount equal to less than 1 percent of the total cost; it was only part of what we were requesting from the city. Certainly, the incentive was not as significant to the viability of the project as other factors, such as the existence of an adequate market for our project, a prime mid-Atlantic location, and a beautiful site, even though the incentive dollars did play a key role in our decision to move forward. We value our exceptional working relationship with the city of Virginia Beach and look forward to our partnership in developing this high-quality retirement community.

C. A. Volder III

President

Founders Village

Virginia Beach, Aug. 21, 1997

EDUCATION

Help schools mark

Hispanic Heritage Month

In 1988, the president of the United States proclaimed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month. He called upon all Americans to honor this observance with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.

I came to Virginia Beach in 1994 and observed that most schools did not celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. I wrote and spoke to the members of the board of Virginia Beach public schools to request their support. Their response was positive, and they signed a resolution to recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month at Virginia Beach public schools.

I think several schools still need our help. They could decorate the school hall with posters of famous Hispanic people, invite a Hispanic speaker or maybe have a day for the children to eat Hispanic food and listen to Hispanic music.

The children will benefit by learning all the contributions Hispanics have made to this great nation.

Norma L. Reyes

Virginia Beach, Aug. 26, 1997

TALK RADIO

Thanks to Maddry

for Liddy column

Hats off to Larry Maddry for his patriotic column against G. Gordon Liddy and to The Pilot for printing it (Daily Break, Aug. 25).

It amazes me that Liddy is tolerated by the authorities mentioned in the article. I can only continue to turn off Liddy whenever I stumble on his frequency.

Herbert G. Robinson

Virginia Beach, Aug. 25, 1997

NORFOLK

Make Nauticus

a cruise-ship port

The recent cruise ships coming into Nauticus created much excitement and brought in tourists to visit Waterside, downtown and other local sites. This in itself may be the solution to having Nauticus bring revenue to the area instead of being the terrible drain it is today on our citizens.

Why can't Nauticus be a cruise-ship port instead of Newport News? It would certainly offer passengers a more practical and pleasing port to both board and disembark. It could have shops, restaurants, travel info and area tour registrations. The concept of Nauticus could remain by condensing the exhibits to only the most profitable and popular, giving it the title of maritime museum and cruise center. Someone should see if Richard O'Leary would consider being a part of such a project since he was instrumental in bringing the cruise ships to Nauticus in the past.

How about it? I think it would work and be a real jewel for the area.

Linda H. Enders

Virginia Beach, Aug. 28, 1997

HEALTH

Don't drive

with chest pains

I am relieved to read that the Virginia Beach Police Department's chief is recovering well after a short stay in the hospital recently (news, Aug. 22).

I would like to remind your readers of an important point. When experiencing chest pain, one should call for an ambulance or be driven rather than drive himself to a doctor or hospital.

Timothy M. Kearns

Virginia Beach, Aug. 25, 1997

MILITARY

VMI ranting shows

a lack of respect

I now know all I need, and far more than I want to know, about the events of the last week or so at Virginia Military Institute.

A picture in the Aug. 22 Pilot shows four senior classmen shouting at one of the young women who had just entered that establishment. Will the mothers, sisters and girlfriends of those individuals proudly carry copies of it in their purses to show their friends?

Young people capable of treating anyone else, of either sex, as these ``citizen soldier'' candidates were doing demonstrates a lack of respect for others that reflects on themselves and on the institute that, by custom, encourages such behavior.

VMI might profitably reassess the appropriateness in today's world of a hairstyle that was devised to rid the head of lice but was made obsolete by the spread of showers and bathtubs. Civilization, incidentally, is a place where even normal parental chastisement of children is often considered abusive.

Jack Palmer

Virginia Beach, Aug. 23, 1997

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