DATE: Tuesday, November 11, 1997            TAG: 9711110007

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B12  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters

                                            LENGTH:  103 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

TRICK OR TREAT

Halloween isn't taboo to all ``religious parents''

I am the mother of a 4 1/2-year-old boy. I also edit our church newsletter, serve on the board of my son's Christian day school and am involved in developing a children's chapel at our church. Imagine my surprise at reading your Oct. 31 article, ``Many schools toning down Halloween celebrations,'' which stated that steps were being taken to ``avoid offending religious parents.''

I am not offended by Halloween celebrations and resent the classification of ``religious parents'' when referring to some who are. How we raise our children is a sensitive, emotional issue and one we all do differently. Don't exclude me from the category of Christian or religious parent because I choose to bestow upon my son the fond memories of Halloween that I recall as a child.

Donna Duncan

Virginia Beach, Oct. 31, 1997

HEALTH CARE

Put babies on their backs, prevent SIDS

Recent news reports suggest that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may be linked to child abuse.

SIDS is a real medical condition that claims the lives of more than 3,000 infants each year. Despite ongoing research, we still don't know the root causes of SIDS, and SIDS can't currently be predicted or prevented. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1992 announced a new, science-based recommendation: Placing babies on their backs or sides to sleep can reduce the risk of a baby dying from SIDS. In October 1996, the AAP revised its recommendation, stating that placing babies on their backs to sleep provides the greatest protection against SIDS.

To help spread this message, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the public-private ``Back to Sleep'' campaign. Largely due to increase in awareness, SIDS deaths declined by nearly 40 percent between 1992 and 1996, saving the lives of nearly 1,600 babies each year. However, SIDS remains the leading cause of death in infants one month to one year.

Every single person who cares for our children must receive a clear, consistent message: Place our babies on their backs to sleep - it can help to save their lives.

For more information, call ``Back to Sleep'' toll-free at 1-800-505-CRIB.

Tipper Gore

National spokesperson

Back to Sleep Campaign

Washington, D.C., Oct. 31, 1997

TAYLOR SCHOOL

Just say no . . . to gum trees!

Each individual should follow his quest, and I have found mine. I hate gumballs. So I read with interest the Oct. 17 article, ``A cost of new schools: 27 trees.''

All four of my children graduated from W. A. Taylor Elementary School. This gave me many opportunities to walk on the school grounds, and the playground is always full of gumballs from those trees.

At times I swear there are a million gumballs on the ground and still a zillion waiting to fall. Once on the ground, these things are dangerous. Hazard signs should be posted, ``Watch for fallen gumballs.'' They are waiting on the ground to twist ankles.

I am convinced gumballs are not even biodegradable. These things never go away. Gumballs make a horrible noise when spinning around under your lawnmower, and they come sailing out in who knows what direction.

I see no issue. Build a new school and cut down the gum trees. Replace the existing gum trees with friendlier trees.

Pepe Yanez

Norfolk, Oct. 27, 1997

UNION KEMPSVILLE

Preserve historic African-American school

I hope the community will support the efforts of Edna Hendrix and others to preserve the building that once housed Union Kempsville High School (news, Oct. 21). In light of what the city of Norfolk has done to destroy the historic area of Church Street, I fear that the same fate might be in store for that bit of African-American history

While in many other areas there is a conscious movement toward preserving the African-American past, this area seems to be bent on destroying it. I encourage Virginia Beach school officials to be creative and find some means of taking public notice of the struggle involved in the building of Union Kempsville High.

Benjamin D. Berry Jr.

Professor of American Studies

and History

Virginia Wesleyan College

Norfolk, Oct. 22, 1997

VOLUNTEER

A youth's appeal: Give a little of your time

As a 16-year-old junior at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy and a volunteer in several organizations, I find it very discouraging when I read in the paper that various places are searching for volunteers week after week, because they don't have any people actually volunteering.

I think that organizations should have many people volunteering of their own free will and that everyone should become actively involved in giving back to the community without having to be asked to do so. However, this does not seem to be the case in our society, so I, as a concerned Hampton Roads youth, am asking everyone to give just a little of his or her time to volunteer; it can only make things better for everyone.

Brittney Salmon

Suffolk, Oct. 31, 1997

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