DATE: Sunday, October 26, 1997              TAG: 9710240226

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:  239 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR- SUFFOLK

The Isle of Wight Historical Society is about the business of raising $528,000 for the restoration and preservation of Boykin's Tavern.

Tax deductible contributions may be made payable to The Boykin's Tavern Fund, Isle of Wight Historical Society, P.O. Box 121, Smithfield VA 23431.

The Historical Society is mailing out information and requesting donations for this most worthy cause to individuals, organizations, businesses and society members, as charity does begin at home.

Gov. Allen has been asked to place the Boykin's Tavern Initiative in his 1998 General Assembly budget for $100,000, and the Board of Supervisors is preparing to re-apply for a federal ISTEA Grant. Other grants are being pursued, and county fund-raising events are being planned.

Del. William K. Barlow and Sen. Richard J. Holland, honorary chairmen, are in leadership positions and are at work providing total support.

An anonymous donor, asked for $1,100 to pay for a historic highway marker, provided $1,500.

Dotty Face of Smithfield is chairperson of organizational support, Branch P. Lawson is chairman of business support, and Evelyn D. Chandler is chairperson of the Boykin's Tavern Initiative, on behalf of the Historical Society.

For more information about the Boykin's Tavern Initiative, to the Historical Society, c/o Evelyn D. Chandler, P.O. Box 121, Smithfield VA. 23431, or call (757) 238-2842. The fax number is (757) 238-9114.

Evelyn D. Chandler

Smithfield A memorable outing for the library workers

The Isle of Wight County Library/Smithfield Branch hosted recently the annual In-Service Day for the Walter Cecil Rawls Regional Library System with a trip to the new State Library of Virginia in Richmond.

It was an extremely interesting and beneficial day, and I would like to thank those in the community who contributed toward its success:

Gwaltney of Smithfield Ltd. and Smithfield Packing Co. Inc. sponsored the chartered bus. Door prize donors included Ashton Galleries, Bon Vivant Market, The Christmas Shop, Cloud Nine, The Collage, Jenette's Country Store, Joyner of Smithfield, Little's Flower Shoppe, The Lord's Vineyard, Modlin's Printing, Plante's Coffee House, The Punkin Patch, Smithfield Flower Shop, Smithfield Jewelers, Smithfield Ice Cream Parlor and Southern Accents.

Support of the community always has played an important role in the growth and productivity of the Smithfield Branch Library, and it continues to do so. Thanks to all who helped to make this such a memorable day for the staff of our regional system. To my staff in Smithfield, my deepest gratitude for all the ways you helped during the months of planning for this special day.

Emma Jean Brady

Branch Manager

Isle of Wight County Library

Smithfield Branch Dan Evans for the 79th

For many, politics always has been a dirty business.

I was a supporter of Johnny Clemons until he dropped out of the race in the 79th House District. I supported him because he stood for the people.

I would like to thank Dan Evans again for deciding to run and to say that Dan is someone who stands for the people. He is a business person and a father. He works for an important Portsmouth business. He's not a lawyer. He is one of the people.

Unlike Johnny Joannou, Dan is running for the people and not for himself. The people of Suffolk told Johnny ``no'' six years ago. Then they told him ``no'' again when he ran two years ago. It's time now to tell him ``no'' against Dan Evans.

Ed Brown

Kings Point Road

Suffolk Hey, get it Wight

I would like to bring your attention to the misspelling of Isle of Wight County.

In the Oct. 19 edition of The Sun, the county's name was spelled ``Isle of White.''

I am 13 and have lived in Isle of Wight for 7 years, and the whole time it has been spelled ``Wight,'' not ``White.''

Keep up the good work and please continue printing The Sun, especially the 20 Questions section on people. (This is where the mistake was made.)

Jennifer L. Chitwood

Stevens Drive

Carrsville Say no to developers

The financial mess Suffolk is in is not because of a lack of tax dollars but because we have a very weak council, which bows to every wish of the city manager and to the wishes and desires of developers.

Council was elected to serve the citizens, not the city manager and the developers. We see the planning board has approved a 99-home subdivision and denied plans for a 155-home development. Now will council approve?

On the editorial page of The Virginian-Pilot on Aug. 21, the editor expressed what I believe is the sentiment of most citizens of Suffolk in his article, ``Suffolk Land Use, JUST SAY NO.'' It is time Suffolk says no to more new development. Suffolk is out of control, and there is no one on council, as well as the city manager and his staff, who has the guts to do what has to be done.

I hear and have heard the sob story many times from several members of council that there is nothing they can do to stop the developers, because they had been approved years ago. So what? Why are they approving new developments and allowing rezoning from industrial to residential development? Whose city is it?

Just look at the school situation alone. The average household has more than one child of school age - a very conservative number. Ninety-nine homes means approximately 99 students; that equates to three classrooms. Who pays the bill to provide schools and services required by this growth? The developer? No, he takes his profit and leaves the taxpayers with the bill.

Suffolk cannot continue to be the bedroom for Hampton Roads?

It is time our council says no to new development and keeps promises made 22 years ago.

Talmadge C. Jones

Harbor Road

Suffolk Cruel words

I am writing concerning the article ``Should terrible varsity programs be disbanded?'' by Paul White (The Sun, Oct. 12).

How could you let an article such as this be written in your paper?

Mr. White, these are young ladies you wrote about. It sounds to me as if you called the Indian River girls field hockey team losers and said they should be disbanded because they haven't won a game or scored a point.

You didn't mention the hard defense they have shown against their opponents all season.

Yes, Mr. White, we all have the right of freedom of speech, but when you singled out these young ladies and wrote that they aren't important unless they win, you humiliated them. Your words were cruel, and I think you are a heartless man.

School is about building up our children's self-esteem. What did your article do? Nothing but tear them down.

These children are our future. The Indian River girls field hockey team is doing something positive with their lives. They could have been elsewhere doing drugs, skipping school or worse. These young ladies chose to play field hockey.

These young ladies chose to spend every day after school for three hours trying to learn the game. The are winners and not losers.

I think Mr. White and The Virginian-Pilot owe the Indian River girls field hockey team a public apology.

When our children are working to achieve positive things, we should reward them with positive action.

Naomi M. McKinnon

Corby Circle

Chesapeake Hard-working team

I am the mother of two Indian River High School field hockey players. I was quite upset with Paul White's article about our team (The Sun, Oct. 12).

You have no idea of all the troubles our team has endured. For Mr. White to compare us to a seven-year state title finalist team really was unfair.

We might not win, but we do play hard. Many parents of our opponents have made comments about how well our defense plays and also about our good sportsmanship.

Just recently we have gotten a new coach who knows the game. She played field hockey herself, and she has really helped our girls learn a lot. I have seen so much improvement in the last couple of weeks. Our team understands so much more and is working more like a team.

To say that we should not play is so unfair because the more we play the more we learn and the better we can get. We have to play against the better teams so that we can learn from them. We might not win, but we keep trying. We try not to get discouraged, but it would be nice for some positive articles about our team.

We are a new team and many of our players had never even heard of field hockey before this year, but they are willing to give it their all.

We might not be as good as other varsity teams, but we do put up a good fight. You made it sound like the other teams just walk all over us. It really is not like an elementary school team playing a high school team or anything like that.

Our girls work hard and deserve their letters. Actually they probably work harder since they don't know everything already and can't play just on the experience they have learned. I haven't read such slanderous articles about male-dominated sports. Many male sport teams go years without even a score, but they are not singled out.

We don't get as much support from our own school as the precious football team gets. Our girls have to mow and mark their playing field and even put up their game nets.

Their playing field doesn't even belong to them. They have to use an elementary school's field so that our football team can practice on our school's open area. The football team can't practice in the stadium because they might mess up their precious field during the season.

Every other team comes before the field hockey team. It is new, so I guess it is unimportant. If the school took some pride in the team, we might just surprise them.

I am sure Coach Wendi Belmont will whip them into a challenging team for next year - with or without the school's support.

In our school's past, our football team has been champion, but does that make it any more important than the other teams? They may have been the state champions in 1995, but where are they now? But the school and the critics haven't turned on them as you did us.

I always believed in the saying, ``It doesn't matter if you win or lose; it's how you play the game.'' Our girls might not win, but I am proud of them anyway. Everyone should be given a chance.

Jeanne Yenni

Tanglewood Trail

Chesapeake Winning isn't everything

I am writing in response to the article written by Paul White entitled ``YES: There's no challenge for opponents; there's only humiliation for the hapless'' (The Currents, Oct. 12).

I understand that this was a debate between two grown men. What I do not understand are some of the comments made by Mr. White that really hurt our girls' field hockey team.

Did he ever think to call Indian River High School to find out if there were certain events that might necessitate a winless season? Our field hockey coach had to take a leave of absence. Another coach filled in who has training in soccer, not field hockey. A couple of weeks later a wonderful young lady who teaches at Indian River took the job. She played field hockey in college. What you do not realize is how hard it is to take another coach's place in the latter part of the season. She has taken over a spirited young team who has plenty of heart.

I did not realize that playing sports meant you had to win. I thought it was to teach certain elements, such as sportsmanship, leadership, companionship, etc.

Wendi Belmont, our new coach, has been delighted to see them grow during her first few weeks of coaching. During our morning announcements she always has something positive to say, such as how the team kept the opposing team from scoring, how the girls made a good block, etc. She doesn't downgrade the athletes. She always makes something positive from something that could be negative.

You stated that ``nobody feels good about these games.'' Our girls do. Ms. Belmont has taught them to feel good about a certain play they executed, about saving a score, etc.

I cannot believe you would make a statement that circulation is up because our field hockey team lost and readers can't wait to see it in the paper. Was your circulation up when Hickory lost all but one game last season or Nansemond River?

You stated that if we haven't acquired the necessary skills, then issue the sticks and pads and let 'em have at it. Our girls have lost all the matches with integrity, not humiliation. They now have a wonderful coach who is enthusiastic and will give her players 100 percent.

Did you even think to ask if our girls were cajoled into joining the team? No, our girls came to our principal and athletic director asking to start a field hockey team last year. No, we did not just fill the roster. They came willing and wanting to play. Yes, our girls wanted to play last year, and they came back this year. They are a team.

Cathy Ives Lewallen

Braves Trail

Chesapeake

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