THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503010183
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Chatterbox is a not-quite-newsy look behind the scenes from City Hall to City Park.
CHANGING PLACES: The Portsmouth Museums no longer operate under the Department of Leisure Services headed by Lydia P. Patton. Instead, Deputy City Manager Tim Little will oversee the museums.
Patton's department recently relinquished operation of the Sleepy Hole complex. The golf course, park and campground and Obici House will be leased to a company that includes the golf pro, Jim Armentrout.
In addition, the city is negotiating with Ports Events to take over operation of Willett Hall, which also falls under Patton.
LOOKING TO BUY: Finally, somebody is going to do something about the long-empty Hofheimer's on High Street, the deteriorating building nestled in the corner of the new Children's Museum of Virginia.
The Tidewater Community College Foundation is seeking an option to buy the building, which includes the two small shop areas fronting on Middle Street Mall.
``We're investigating the building now,'' Al Bernard III, TCC director of development, said. ``I'm excited about it.''
As projected, a private bookseller and art supply dealer for the TCC Institute of Visual Arts would occupy the main part of the building. The mall space would be leased to other retailers.
BYE, BYE RICHMOND: Leah Stith has left her job as special assistant to Lt. Gov. Don Beyer.
``I'm going to stay away from politics for a while,'' she said Wednesday. ``Richmond has gotten very nasty.''
She didn't elaborate. Stith stopped working for Beyer on Feb. 6.
Stith, a member of the Portsmouth School Board, also is on the board of the Virginia School Association.
FUND SET UP FOR PATIENT: A fund has been established to assist with the medical bills of Elizabeth Kaye Clark, who received bone marrow transplants for breast cancer Dec. 28.
Clark, 47, wife of retired Police Capt. Paul E. Clark, received the treatment at Medical College of Virginia. Her insurance does not cover the costs. The Clarks now live in Roanoke, where he is regional field coordinator for the state Department of Criminal Justice.
Contributions can be made through the Organ Transplant Fund by calling 1-800-489-3863.
- IDA KAY JORDAN by CNB