DATE: Friday, September 12, 1997            TAG: 9709100139

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 09   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 
                                            LENGTH:  101 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - CHESAPEAKE

On the evening of May 27, smashing bandits struck Pocaty Road. They smashed practically every mailbox in sight and came onto our property to remove a shadow figure of a fisherman with a bamboo pole and line fishing in our ditch.

Whoever these pranksters are, I guess they get their kicks by ruining everyone's personal property. Maybe one day when they become adult enough to accept responsibility they might realize that it costs money to replace these mailboxes.

The figure they stole from our property was quite unique the way it stood trying to catch a fish in our ditch - just a conversation piece. They came well equipped with a screwdriver and removed the figure from a tree and put back the screws that had held him there.

It just proves that you can't put anything near the road and trust people to leave it alone. Nothing is sacred anymore.

It's really quite difficult to accept these changes in our area, which was once serene. Where does the responsibility lie? It hurts to see Chesapeake now ridden with graffiti, where there was never any before. Surprisingly, no one seems to care anymore.

Joyce di Monda

Pocaty Road Unanswered questions

Neither the Chesapeake City Council nor the Planning Commission has held an honest, open, above-board, newspaper-advertised public hearing, as required by law, on the location and design of Highway 168, the Battlefield Boulevard toll road to the North Carolina line. The council will soon ask for construction bids on the road.

These are some of my concerns that have not been answered:

(1) Where is the contract with the toll road investors? It has neither been explained nor made public.

(2) Why is a major traffic interchange being built in the middle of a farm, the Edinburgh project? Traffic to the east will dump at the entrance of Southeastern Elementary School at two-lane South Battlefield Boulevard and to the west at Sign Pine Road in the middle of a nursery.

(3) Why is there no overpass at East St. Brides and the toll road for easy access to the St. Brides Fire Station, where thousands of people live? A $2 million overpass is planned for Hillwell-Peaceful-Battlefield road, which dead ends into the Caroon Farms, home of the rich and famous.

Why was 500 feet of sound wall left off at Whitehurst Road and south end of Great Bridge Bypass, but other roads in the area were covered? Yes, this is where Ye Olde Council Watcher lives! The four-lane interchange at Great Bridge Bypass, Hanbury and South Battlefield Roads near Great Bridge High and Middle schools may increase traffic 10-fold, but there are no plans in the budget to widen these dangerous two-lane roads and no sidewalks or bikeways planned.

I contacted Public Utilities Director Amar Dwarkanath almost a month ago with my concerns, which he promised to handle promptly so I could get them into the records of the recent public hearing held by the Department of Transportation and Chesapeake Public Works. But as of this writing, I have had no reply, which is surprising because he is usually very prompt with complaints.

Why is the mighty people's protector, The Virginian-Pilot, so silent on this toll road? How about the businessman's union, the Chamber of Commerce? They have designed most of the screwed-up, dangerous, traffic-jammed roads we now have.

Last, but not least, what does the Chesapeake Council of Civil Leagues, have to say?

Carl Burns

Whitehrust Road Political coverage

It appears to me that The Virginian-Pilot is forgetting to cover the important House of Delegates races.

I am extremely excited to see Dan Evans leading the front of the pack to replace Billy Moore in the House. I've known Dan for a long time, and he is truly a man of character.

He will also work with Gov. Jim Gilmore to fight to reduce the car tax. He'll also vote to put more teachers in the classrooms.

This election is extremely important, and I hope Dan Evans can get a little more coverage from the paper.

Chris Sanchez

Angus Road Hispanic heritage

Since 1988, the president has proclaimed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month. He calls upon all government officials, educators and people of the United States to honor this observance with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities and encourage all Americans to re-dedicate themselves to the pursuit of equality.

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 School Board in Virginia Beach to request their support in observing this national celebration. Their response was positive, and they signed a resolution to recognize National Hispanic Heritage month in Virginia Beach public schools.

I think several schools still need our help. You can help them by decorating the school hall with posters of famous Hispanic people, invite a Hispanic speaker or maybe during this month (Sept. 25-Oct. 15). The school can have a day for the children to eat Hispanic food or listen to Hispanic music.

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

Norma L. Reyes

Virginia Beach

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