THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100443
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
WEEKLY BRIEFING
FRIGATE KAUFFMAN RETURNS: The guided-missile frigate Kauffman ends a five-month overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth on Thursday, returning to Norfolk Naval Station for the first time since October. Vice Adm. D.J. Katz, commander of Naval Surface Forces Atlantic, earlier visited the ship, cutting the ribbon to open a 25-person berthing compartment the crew renovated. Lt. Cmdr. Dennis P. Danko, the Kauffman's executive officer, credited the crew with improving two other living areas as well by repairing bunks, lockers, sinks and decks.
BONE MARROW DRIVE: The U.S. Atlantic Fleet commander-in-chief is sponsoring several bone marrow drives this month. The Bone Marrow Donor Registration Program is open to all active-duty military, Department of Defense civilian employees and military family members between the ages of 18 and 60. The goal is to add at least 25,000 donors to the national registry each year. Bone marrow drives will be held at the following locations: Today aboard the submarine tender L.Y. Spear, Norfolk Naval Base; Monday at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center auditorium; April 22 aboard the destroyer tender Shenandoah, Norfolk Naval Base. All bone marrow registration drives will run from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.
HELPING SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Thirty-eight sailors from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower volunteered to work at the Virginia Special Olympics last month. They supervised the individual basketball skills competition, held at Bethel High School in Hampton, on March 22 and 23. In addition to supervising three events - the spot shot, target pass and 10-meter dribble - the Ike sailors helped with registering athletes and escorting groups to their events.
TREE-PLANTING AT AIR STATION: As part of a beautification project sponsored by the environmental department, 20 staff members and their families from the Norfolk Naval Base commander's office planted 1,500 trees Saturday. More than 4,600 loblolly pine and hardwood seedlings were purchased from the Forestry Department in Portsmouth, to be planted in conjunction with Arbor Day on Friday. Volunteers are needed to plant the remaining trees. If you are interested in working at the 8 a.m. event, contact Ens. Melissa Pease, 322-2901.
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION: Petty officer 2nd Class Christian Poss and Petty Officer 1st Class Dusty Cray have been nominated for recognition for their volunteer efforts at the Southeastern Virginia Training Center in Chesapeake. The two sailors, stationed aboard the recently retired cruiser Bainbridge, will be recognized at the 13th annual state Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services Board luncheon in Richmond on April 17. The Southeastern Virginia Training Center is home to more than 200 mentally and physically challenged residents.
FORT STORY BEACH PUT OFF-LIMITS: The beach behind the Cape Henry Memorial and the Cape Henry Lighthouse at Fort Story has been placed off-limits. The beach is closed for a dune erosion control project, and it is expected to remain closed for 40 days.
LECTURE AT OCEANA: The Hampton Roads Naval Museum, along with the Hampton Roads Squadron of the Association of Naval Aviation, will present the third in a three-part series by noted author and historian Amy Waters Yarsinske on Thursday at Oceana Naval Air Station's officer's club. ``From Wildcats to Tomcats'' focuses on the historic role of Oceana from 1938 to the present. Cost of a buffet dinner, which begins at 6:30 p.m., and the lecture, which starts at 7:30, is $14.90. For information, call 491-1528, 496-9248 or 627-9568.
FAMILY SERVICES
MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD: In recognition of April as ``Month of the Military Child'' and ``Child Abuse Prevention Month,'' area Navy Family Service Centers are sponsoring numerous special events for children and their parents. Picnics, fairs and parenting workshops are planned throughout the month. For more information, call your local Navy Family Services Center.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
RETURNING:
The nuclear submarine Albany returned Friday , after a three-month deployment to the Western Atlantic. The submarine covered more than 20,000 miles and made one port call to Halifax, Nova Scotia, during its deployment. by CNB