Southside Sentinel

Southside Sentinel | Opinion

One Woman's Opinion

Letters to the Editor

updated 5/7/08

by Mary Wakefield Buxton

No opinion this week.

Vistas belong to the people

To the Editor:

It is my hope that the plan to build a three-story condo at the foot of our town bridge will be denied.

It is sad to think that the beloved historic view of Urbanna Creek from our beautiful Urbanna could be completely obliterated by yet more condominiums.

It seems to me that if someone purchases a marina that is part of the heart and soul of a small town, they should not expect to sell it for a condominium project at some later date. Such a radical change in downtown Urbanna could destroy the charm and character of our precious town.

I was born and raised in a small town like Urbanna—Vermilion, Ohio—at the foot of Lake Erie and my town had the Vermilion River along its banks just as Urbanna has Urbanna Creek. Sure enough, someone came along with a great money-making plan and tore down all the historic fish houses along the curve of the river and, you guessed it, replaced them with a solid block of condos. Now, no one can see the river from the park in downtown Vermilion—a view that was essential to our charming little town.

Such a huge change to the heart and soul of a small town on a body of water is not only a crime against the people who live in it, it is downright sickening.

The Rosegill developers were far-sighted enough and cared enough about preserving the local vista to save the view of the Rappahannock River in their plans, a view that centuries of residents have loved every time they drive to the crest of Route 227, and look out upon that great blue ribbon we know as our river.

A view belongs to the people. It is like the air that we breathe. It should never be taken from us. Property owners along Urbanna Creek should respect it.

Mary Wakefield Buxton
Urbanna

Thanking those who labored in love

To the Editor:

We at Christ Church Parish would like to thank all those who labored in love to make the recent Garden Club Tour a wonderful success. I would personally like to thank all whose labors made possible the incredibly beautiful “Flowering of the Church” at Christ Church Parish and the many who visited and celebrated with us.

Fr. Paul Andersen, Rector
Christ Church Parish

Running aground in Broad Creek

To the Editor:

On Friday evening my wife and I went to our boat harbored in Broad Creek in Deltaville. We went to clean and provision for a Saturday day sail. Our neighbors at the marina came by to visit and told us of their experience of going aground in the Broad Creek channel the day before. Aground so hard, that a towing service was dispatched.

So here is my dilemma. The Mrs. now expresses a very anxious concern with going sailing today. It’s a beautiful Saturday morning and I am sitting.

I do not reside in Middlesex County Supervisor Jack Miller’s district; however, I have written him for two reasons: he has an email address listed on the county website (thank you), and he voted to table the dredging of Broad Creek discussion.

I am a taxpayer in Middlesex County. I reside in Middlesex County. I am an active and registered voter in Middlesex County.

I have started a business in Middlesex County. I shop with local merchants.

I do not have children in the Middlesex County School System. I do not have public water or sewer.

I do not have trash pickup at my home.

I do not have the contentment of safe passage in the Broad Creek channel.

The water and the kind people are two tremendous assets of Middlesex. I am now hindered from one of those assets.

Michael Grose
Hartfield

Litigation would be too expensive in taxation case

A brand new definition of the political expression “Special Interest Group” has been offered by (now) ex-candidate Bob Henkel. According to Henkel, any group of town residents who take issue with him are political hot heads or agents of special interests, but not the groups usually associated as special interests, developers, real estate magnates, or even county municipalities.

He also misrepresents at least one of the “groups” he complains about in his letter to the Sentinel quitting the town council race (May 1, 2008). He states: “They want the town to pursue litigation as to whether this is legal or not. . . .”

That statement is false. And if he had read any of the information packages we have handed out to each council member over the past year and a half he would know that.

We have steadfastly insisted that litigation is not the method to accomplish this. From the beginning, we have said that negotiation and/or legislation is the best method and that we believe litigation would be too expensive.

Henkel whines in his letter about being “stonewalled” when, in fact, he has managed to do exactly that to us by continually ignoring our requests for a meeting with the Town Finance Committee. That meeting has yet to take place.

Congratulations to the newly elected mayor and council.

Ed Starbird
Ben Pollok
Urbanna

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