SIERRA

1. The most important of all the referendums on the November ballot is the one for "education". More people would benefit from this referendum than any of the others. If the economic pie is ever to grow in a global economy, then education will have to be dramatically improved. If we want a better quality of life, to assist people in need and to allow more people to help themselves then more education is a most. A few more roads is not the best way to expend our financial resources.
2. The referendum for more parks and open space is a rare opportunity for making something better for all of us. As long as we have a responsive administration in Richmond, we need to do everything possible to improve the quality of life for all Virginians.
3. The referendum for roads will not solve all of our traffic problems. Much of the information being distributed implies that traffic will go away, non attainment of air quality will be go away and we will be able to leave the area in the event of a major emergency. Widening a few major roads will not make this happen.

   Widening 460 and route 64 for short segments will help daily commuters, but will only allow more cars onto a creeping parking lot during an emergency.

   The road designers in Northern Virginia learned that the only way they were going to dramatically improve traffic was to construct additional major arteries. Widening roads just ended up with more traffic.

   As much as I dislike the concept of the South Eastern Expressway for environmental and sprawl reasons, it would improve daily traffic into and out of the Beach. During an emergency it would be filled with cars from Chesapeake. People in Virginia Beach are not going to be able to leave the area unless they leave before everyone else, so if you live in VB find a shelter.

   The third tunnel and connector are good ideas if they include space for light rail.

   Conclusions: The road referendum will improve daily traffic for a few people. We will soon be in a air quality non attainment area, due to the fact that there is so much development going on in the region. During an emergency a few more cars will be able to get on the highways and the people in Virginia Beach must leave very early or find a shelter.

   Voting yes for the education and parks referendums will send the message to Richmond that the public wants an improved quality of life and is willing to pay for it. Improving 6 roads over the next 20-30 years with all the baggage that goes with the projects, is not going to solve our traffic problems. Richmond needs to take the responsibility to solve the problem and not just tinker around with it.

   Permit for the reservoir has been approved by General Rhoades of the Corps of Engineers on 1 October 2002. The local office of the Corps of engineers said this reservoir is not needed as an additional supply of water for the city of Newport News. However, Former governor Gilmore reversed that decision and asked the New York regional office of the corps to make the decision.

   Apparently the only one who can now stop the development is Governor Warner. Lets face it, if the reservoir is built and extensive development results on the peninsula, widening Route 64 won't make much difference to those on the South Side.

   Write or contact Governor Mark Warner and let him know your view at:

Office of the Governor
State Capitol
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Phone: 804-786-2211
Fax: 804-371-6351

   Or you may send an email to Governor Warner by clicking here:

   One of the best outings I have ever been on with Sierra Club was our visit to Nike County Park in Isle of Wright.

   It had rained very hard on the Friday. Still a handful of people showed up to do an inventory of species for the park management. You really can't manage a park for wildlife if you have no idea what species you are dealing with. So we were requested by Mitchell Norman of the local Raritan club to conduct an inventory of the species.

   This was most rewarding outing. The small group people identified all sorts of plants, trees, mushrooms, wildflowers, butterflies and 28 species of birds. The inventory of resident Virginia birds was very good and this represents a very healthy environment for local birds.

   The high point of the day was the discovery of the larvae for a spicebush swallowtail butterfly in the leaf of a sassafras tree by Oliver Todd. It displayed the classic huge head with apparent eyes. What a site!!

   We plan to continue the inventory by conducting monthly visits. If interested contact Fred via email or by telephone: (757) 467-2775.

   The topic is recycling. There has been considerable discussion recently concerning the cost of recycling. SPSA has indicated that with community subsidies it will not be able to continue curb side pickup of items for recycling. With this country's and the world's population increasing so much we can't continue producing such huge quantities of waste at the current rate without landfills taking up much of the country side and the pollution of the ground water taking place.

   Our presenter is Debbie Devine the director of recycling for Virginia Beach. She has held this position for a long time. She can tell us how Virginia Beach can continue curb side recycling. Come and learn more about the real issues of recycling.

   The date is 4 November, the time is 7PM and the location is the Virginia Beach Central Library.

   Every year in November we do an outing to Fisherman's Island on the Eastern Shore.

   It is normally a cool, crisp day and great for a hike on the beaches.

   Check the weather closely and bring a good lunch for afterward. We do work up an appetite.

   The date is 16 November, the time is 8 AM and we assemble in the parking lot at the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. We should be back to the parking lot by 12 noon.

   Come and share your holiday spirit with others with similar interests and values. In the past we had good turnouts and a great fun. This is a great way to begin the holidays!

   Our annual Holiday Party will be Sunday the 8th of December at the Dupuys. The time is 5-7 PM.

   All you need do is bring your favorite dish for our potluck meal. I'm always amazed at what a remarkable meal develops when people bring their favorite dish. There must be a god of potluck diners.

   For directions contact Barbara or Ted Dupuy at 483-1562.

   Three of our members built two cages for hawks and owls for the Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation. The members are Jimmy Bradshaw, Don Jeffries and Ted Dupuy.

   The cages are for program WAVE (Working All of Virginia's Environment) The program focuses on getting teenagers involved with wildlife. The trained teenagers assist the program director with presentations for elementary school students.