DATE: Sunday, September 28, 1997            TAG: 9709260389

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 20   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:   95 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - CHESAPEAKE

I am writing to you in regard to the article you printed in the Sept. 14 issue of The Clipper regarding ``Chesapeake's City Parks.'' In this article you listed five parks in the Western Branch area. Western Branch Community Center and the new ball fields on the rear of that property are shown as two of those.

I am concerned at what you listed as the other three. Your article listed a city park at The Crossings on Bruce Road, one at Hunter's Cover also on Bruce Road and one on Bruce Road Trail.

I have lived in Western Branch for 11 years, and I can tell you there is no park at The Crossings. A sign has been up since the development was started stating that this property is slated for a park. There is no park at Hunter's Cove, and as for a park on Bruce Road Trail, give me a break. A dirt path is not a park.

Sure, Hunter's Cover is only about nine months into its development, but The Crossings has been under way for about four years now, and it still has no park.

I know that there are many citizens who use the dirt path on Bruce Road for walking, running and bike riding, and I appreciate the city maintaining it for that purpose. But when I think of a park, I think of a playground with swings, slides and other facilities for children to play on.

The map showed all the parks that the other parts of Chesapeake enjoy that are up and operating and have been. Once again, this provides in print that Western Branch is the forgotten part of Chesapeake. Just look at the parks in Greenbrier and Great Bridge.

Come on, parents, write to the director of the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department, Claire Askew, and ask her when are we, the Western Branch community, going to get our fair share of parks for our children and grandchildren to enjoy?

A. Murphy

Valleyjo Place Veil of Subterfuge

On Jan. 21, the Chesapeake City Council voted to approve a spot rezoning on Kempsville Road from a residential classification to office and industrial classification. On Jan. 28, the council voted to rescind their approval based on an outpouring of citizens concerns. The matter was continued until Sept. 16, when the council wisely denied the petition by a vote of 5-4.

One of the most outspoken advocates for the approval of this rezoning was Council Peter P. Duda Jr. His compassion on behalf of the applicant was indeed heart-warming. There is not doubt in my mind that Mr. Duda's concern was based solely on the hardships the applicant would suffer when Kempsville Road is widened and that his support had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that her husband also happens to manage several of the golf courses frequented by Mr. Duda. After all, how could anyone question the motives of someone who would offer us such sage advice as, ``Everyone has traffic problems. Just live with it.''

It is unfortunate that the politicians of our time seem to be cloaked in a veil of subterfuge. PAC money, political favors and personal agendas often seem to be the guideposts of public policy. I think that's why it is so important to recognize those individuals who serve the public with integrity, wisdom and foresight. The resident of Chesapeake are fortunate to have such a representative, Council John M. de Triquet.

Councilman de Triquet consistently asks the tough questions. When others wonder whether new homes will be brick or vinyl, he asks, ``Does the city have the money and services to support this new development?'' When others would lead your attention toward the new revenues generated, his is the voice that points out that there will still be a million-dollar deficit. When others say, ``You must live with the traffic problems,'' Councilman de Triquet says the governing body has an obligation to its citizens to create an environment that is livable.

On behalf of myself and other like-minded residents of Chesapeake, I would like to commend Councilman de Triquet for his un-wavering commitment to managed growth, his responsiveness to our citizens, his willingness to ask the tough questions and, above all, proving that politicians and integrity can go hand-i-hand. I thank him for being a voice for the people.

Theresa Stephenson

Wynngate Drive Successful surgery

Recently, our vet, Dr. Rod Hartwick of the Island Wharf Veterinary Clinic, was featured in The Clipper for his pioneering work in laser surgery on animals.

Mentioned in the article was our 12-year-old cocker spaniel, Racky, whose tumor grew within weeks from a walnut-size lump to a grapefruit-size monstrosity. We discussed the technique with Dr. Hartwirk prior to scheduling surgery, and he made it sound so matter-of-fact that we didn't realize the significance of it all until we read The Clipper.

Racky's surgery was successful, and we are grateful to Rod, Jackie, Jeff and the rest of the Island Wharf staff for their exceptional skills and for their caring, compassion and wonderfully positive attitude during Racky's (and our) ordeal.

Watch for Dr. Rod on the Fox Network in October for his work with the laser!

The Neil Abramson Family

Locks Road

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