Planned Parenthood is located on Hydraulic Road, a 4 laned main thoroughfare; its neighbors on Hydraulic Road include restaurants, gas stations, churches, businesses, and other professional buildings.

Women can have consulations and medical examinations; they can be councilled on pregancy prevention and proper personal heath care. Pregnant women can get pre-natal care for themselves and their future babies, they can have first trimester abortions, and they can take advantage of the adoption services offered. Women can receive full reproductive health care.

Planned Parenthood is not a hospital; it does not provide overnight care or hospital services.

Ms. Townsend, her neighbors, and theCentral Virginia Family Forum led by Mr. Bouch, may claim that they are concerned with the property values of the GardenCourt neighborhood, but if the 2964 Hydraulic Road building contained a dental surgery office, they would not be here today protesting.

At stake is the right of all women, young and old, poor and rich, black, brown and white, to a full range of safe, legal, and affordable reproductive health care services.

We are here to urge the Albermarle County Board of Zoning Appeals to uphold the earlier decision which justly and wisely granted Planned Parent the right to locate its new offices on Hydraulic Road.

Ruth Barolsky (electronic mail, November 11, 2004)