THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, February 15, 1997           TAG: 9702150227
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   80 lines

CUPID DOESN'T COME FOR FREE, BUT TEEN-AGERS ARE WILLING TO PAY SOME SCHOOLS SAY VALENTINE'S CAUSES MORE DISTURBANCE THAN DELIGHT. OTHERS LOVE IT.

Cupid packed some area high schools with his loot on St. Valentine's Day.

Offices, classrooms and conference rooms were filled with roses, balloons and stuffed animals - tokens of love and friendship among young people with money to spend.

Gift-giving among students and faculty on Valentine's Day has become so popular that the principals of some schools discourage excesses, believing the custom can interfere with learning.

Art V. Brandriff, principal of Western Branch High School, said the Valentine's Day deliveries had become so disruptive and such a burden on the office staff that vendors who try to deliver to the school are turned away. Officials at Great Bridge High School sent out letters to area florists before the holiday to ask that no deliveries be made. Gift-giving at both schools was allowed, but in moderation.

But at other schools the exchange of treats and treasures, like eternal love, was unbridled.

At Oscar F. Smith High School, administrators and staff signed for hundreds of bouquets of flowers, candies and balloons delivered for students. The conference room, where the items were held until after school, quickly became a fantasy land of hearts and flowers.

Kelly Kitchens, manager of the school store, said she ordered more balloons, candy and stuffed animals than could be stocked. But by lunch time the shelves were bare and the receipts from sales would not fit into the cash register.

In an average week, the store takes in about $250, Kitchens said. But this week, teacher and student last-minute shoppers spent almost $2,000 in Valentine remembrances. That amount was in addition to the deliveries that arrived all day from outside businesses.

At Indian River High School, Cupid arrived with the full support of James L. Frye, the principal.

``The kids go to a lot of time and expense to surprise each other,'' said Frye. ``It gets a little disruptive. But most of the time it's the good kind of disruption.''

Frye also said most of the gift buying was done in neighborhood stores, so the students as well as local merchants enjoy the holiday.

Jackie G. Hutcheson, the owner of Greenbrier Florist, agreed with Frye. Her staff worked until 2 a.m. Thursday, and they were back at work by 7 a.m. Friday. She hired extra help to assist with the orders and deliveries, which included included four high schools.

``The kids come in with their own money and are prepared to spend big bucks,'' Hutcheson said. ``Most of the time they know exactly what they want. Boys go for the balloons and animals. And more girls are sending boys flowers and candy now, too.''

Homemade valentines and chocolate-covered cherries are out. Long-stemmed, red roses costing more than $50 per dozen, stuffed animals and helium balloons from $1.50 to as much as $35 a bunch are now the gifts of choice.

At Indian River, the first delivery van arrived before the students, and the deliveries continued until almost the last bell of the day.

A 3-foot-tall, stuffed bear was delivered to one student, said Connie Withers, the school secretary.

Keisha Bardlavens, 17, also received a surprise. Her boyfriend, Antoine Jenkins, 19, showed up at the door of her journalism class with balloons, candy, a teddy bear and an invitation to dinner. Jenkins said the Valentine's Day goodies set him back almost $70.

``But it's worth it,'' said Jenkins after Bardlavens rewarded him with squeals of joy and a big hug.

There were sweet gifts, too. Megan Ashby, 17, received a heart-shaped cake from her mom and balloons and candy from her boyfriend.

The day left Eddie Cooper, 18, mystified. He received balloons and cookies anonymously. When he called the florist, they wouldn't tell him who his secret admirer was.

One young Romeo arrived at school with a dozen individually wrapped roses.

``There are 12 happy young women here today,'' Withers said. ``Unless, of course, they compare notes.'' ILLUSTRATION: IAN MARTIN

The Virginian-Pilot

After school Friday at Indian River High, friends compare

Valentine's Day treats: From left, Genese Rogers, 16; Curtis

Worsley, 14; Angela Weston, 16; and Tanika Brown, 16.