DATE: Wednesday, September 17, 1997         TAG: 9709170518

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: Staff writers Mike Abrams, Joan Stanus and Ida Kay Jordan

        contributed to this report.

                                            LENGTH:  113 lines

HAMPTON ROADS

VIRGINIA BEACH

Stadium construction

delayed while city

asks for new bids

The city has suffered a two-week construction delay in building its 6,000-seat stadium project.

The Beach's Development Authority learned about the delay at its monthly meeting Tuesday. But Mark R. Wawner, the city's project development manager, said the multipurpose stadium should open as planned in May.

One of the construction bidders mistakenly assumed the city would pay to import fill dirt to the site. Other bidders didn't make that assumption. So in the interest of fairness, the city decided to ask for bids again.

In the meantime, planners changed parts of the 150-acre complex's design to eliminate the need for crews to import dirt.

Beach officials broke ground on the $9 million facility - future home to the Hampton Roads Mariners soccer team - earlier this summer. Crews will work throughout the fall, winter and spring to build the stadium, not far from the GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater.

Wawner cautioned that any additional delays in the bidding process, or during construction, could cause problems at the end of the project.

``We're praying we have a dry winter,'' he said. ``. . . Every day we lose now is a day we add on at the end of the schedule.''

Traffic routes will change

during Oceana air show

People entering Naval Air Station Oceana for the Neptune Festival's Twilight Air Show on Friday at 5 p.m. can enter the Main Gate off Oceana Boulevard and the rear gate off London Bridge Road.

On Saturday and Sunday, all traffic departing the base through the main gate and back gate will be one-way from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. This includes London Bridge Road from the air station back gate to Shipps Corner Road.

Because there will be only one-way traffic departing the air show from the base after 3:30, the main gate and back gate will be closed to incoming traffic.

On Saturday after 3:30 p.m., vehicles entering the base for the Pam Tillis concert will be parked in the Wherry housing area off Harpers Road. Buses will provide transportation from the parking area to the concert.

REGION

Grant will enable Hope

House to expand program

Hope House Foundation has received a $109,500 grant from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities to expand its ``Pathways'' program into three more Hampton Roads communities.

The program, which promotes integration and inclusion opportunities for people with disabilities, was created in 1995 with seed money from the state board. The Norfolk Foundation, Norfolk Human Services Council and Hope House have since helped to support the program.

With the two-year grant, Pathways coordinators plan to establish program chapters in Hampton/Newport News and two yet-to-be-determined Southside cities.

Now based solely in Norfolk, the program links volunteer mentors with disabled participants, one on one, and operates community group meetings for more than 100 disabled individuals in Hampton Roads. Meetings are held monthly at First Presbyterian Church on Colonial Avenue in Norfolk's Ghent neighborhood.

The new funding will allow Hope House officials to offer training and seed money to other area agencies in neighboring cities so they can sponsor and operate their own Pathways program.

``Pathways is a great way to connect the community with people of disabilities,'' said Christine Rice, program coordinator. ``Getting this grant shows that the program is worthy of replication, that it's truly working. By establishing more chapters, we'll be able to serve a lot more participants.''

PORTSMOUTH

Company opens expanded,

$7.1 million building Friday

Lindab Inc., the Swedish company that opened its U.S. plant in an old Coca-Cola building in Portsmouth in 1993, is expanding. The company has tripled the size of the building on Airline Boulevard at the intersection of Victory Boulevard. The official opening of the new $7.1 million project is set for 5 p.m. Friday.

The original plant contained 47,000 square feet. That has been increased to about 160,000 square feet. The additional space not only increases the manufacturing area but also adds warehousing and shipping facilities.

Lindab is the world's largest manufacturer of duct systems for ventilation systems.

ALSO . . .

Region - Virginia Cooperative Extension is offering a free cholesterol education newsletter entitled ``Change of Heart.'' The newsletter includes six issues that will help one learn how to shop, cook and eat to lower cholesterol. Contact your local Extension office to register by Sept. 26. Call 683-2816 in Norfolk; 382-6349 in Chesapeake; 427-4769 in Virginia Beach; and 925-6409 in Suffolk.

COMING UP

TODAY

Portsmouth - Portsmouth churches, as well as individuals, have been asked to participate in Bells Across America at 4 p.m. to mark the signing of the U.S. Constitution at that time in 1789. The bell-ringing is part of the celebration of Constitution Week, Sept. 14-23, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Fort Nelson Chapter of the DAR is coordinating the annual activities.

THURSDAY

Virginia Beach - Adoptions from the Heart, a Philadelphia-based adoption agency, is sponsoring an information session on its China adoption program in Virginia Beach. For more information or to register, call (610) 642-7200.

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