THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 29, 1997 TAG: 9701290462
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BATTINTO BATTS JR., STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 60 lines
The debate over what should sit in a second floor atrium of the Children's Museum of Virginia ended Tuesday night.
The City Council voted to adopt a proposal by the Portsmouth Museum and Fine Arts Commission to build an interactive model of the solar system in the atrium, which faces High Street. An antique toy and train collection, donated to the museum, will also be on the second floor.
Some residents felt a lighthouse motif was a better choice because it would reflect the city's maritime history.
Another group of residents, led by City Councilman Cameron C. Pitts, had lobbied for a carousel that children could ride.
But city officials say the model of the solar system, the suggestion of an ad hoc committee of Portsmouth residents, best fit the science and technology theme of the museum, which has attracted 300,000 people since it opened in 1994.
The continued success of the museum, located in the old Leggett's building downtown, is a critical part of a plan to attract more people to Portsmouth. And city officials say they feel more comfortable sticking with the museum's proven success.
``This is a very important decision for Portsmouth,'' said Ken Wheeler, director of marketing and communications for the city. ``The Children's Museum has been a major attraction for the city. We are talking about economic development; we are talking about drawing tourists. It is a real focal point of our marketing efforts.''
Renovation of the building's second floor and construction of the atrium has been completed. The solar system model, which would be interactive with the use of fiber optics, is still being designed, Wheeler said. The model and the toy and train collection are expected to be in place by mid-1998. The entire project is expected to cost $3.4 million.
Pitts said he accepts the council's decision and will work to help the new attractions become popular.
In other business, the council adopted a proposal to accept state funding for an additional prosecutor in the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney.
The attorney, along with a special victim advocate, and an advisory council on violence against women, would be added to the office to help prosecute violent crimes against women.
An increasing criminal caseload - particularly felony cases - has made it difficult for prosecutors to meet the special needs of victims of sexual and physical assaults, Commonwealth's Attorney Martin Bullock said.
In 1994, there were 762 domestic violence offenses in the city, but the number rose in 1995 to 1,161. And for the first eight months of 1996, there were 940 offenses.
``This program is just one of many efforts we're making to protect women,'' he said. ``It's an effort to make Portsmouth even safer for women, as well as everyone else.' MEMO: Staff writer Angelita Plemmer contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: [Color illustration]
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL