DATE: Thursday, March 6, 1997               TAG: 9703060379

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

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HAMPTON ROADS

The American Red Cross will sponsor a blood drive to find potential bone marrow donors for Justin McComiskey, a Chesapeake teen-ager with a rare disease called MPS or mucopolysaccharidoses.

Justin's body lacks an essential enzyme, which causes a variety of serious health problems, including an enlarged spleen, severely cloudy vision and difficulty breathing. The 16-year-old has had surgery 17 times. He breathes through a tracheotomy tube and uses a wheelchair outside the home.

The blood drive will be held March 15 from noon to 7 p.m. at St. Matthew's School, 3316 Sandra Lane, Virginia Beach. For more information, call 523-1521.

Volunteers will be asked to pay $19 for the test and to donate two tablespoons of blood. The Red Cross will notify potential donors. Justice chosen to oversee the 12th annual Torch Run

Interim Police Chief Richard A. Justice will be Hampton Roads director of the 12th annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, which benefits Virginia Special Olympics.

Justice will oversee recruitment, fund-raising and public relations for the torch run.

In May, runners will carry the Special Olympics torch more than 1,800 miles across the state, ending the run in Richmond at the Special Olympics Summer Games in early June. More than 3,400 people ran in the event last year.

Justice, a native of Chesapeake, has worked for the Chesapeake police since 1966. NEWPORT NEWS NAACP president Mfume to speak at conference

Kweisi Mfume, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, will speak at a regional NAACP conference in Newport News on March 15.

The conference will include NAACP branches in Maryland, Washington and Virginia.

Linda Byrd Harden, executive secretary of the Virginia NAACP, said Mfume's appearance comes at a time of growing complaints across the state about discrimination.

Mfume will return to the area on March 26 to speak at the annual awards dinner of the Urban League of Hampton Roads in Norfolk. SUFFOLK Jaycees seek nominations for man of the year award

The Suffolk Jaycees are seeking nominations for the 1997 Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award.

Nominees must be 40 years old or younger and live in Suffolk.

Nominations, with complete resumes, may be sent by April 4 to: Randolph A. Raines Jr., committee chairman, P.O. Box 1458, Suffolk Va. 23439-1458.

An awards banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 19, at the Suffolk Holiday Inn on Pruden Boulevard.

For more information, call 539-2400. PORTSMOUTH Roots, rhythms and rituals celebration begins Friday

``Roots, Rhythms and Rituals'' is the theme of this year's edition of ``Indomitable Spirit VI,'' an annual celebration of African-American life.

The celebration will begin at 7 p.m. Friday at the Little Theater of Wilson High School, 1401 Elmhurst Lane. Sponsored by the Portsmouth Community Services Board, the event is free and open to the public.

The program will include a traditional libation offered by a Yoruba priest, presentations of gospel rap and jazz, a fashion show and messages that proclaim the lessons of the past.

For information, call 393-8618. ALSO. . .

Norfolk - After nearly a yearlong, nationwide search, City Manager James B. Oliver Jr. has selected Donald A. Haupt Jr. as the director of the Department of Fire and Paramedical Services.

Haupt has served as the acting director of the city's fire and paramedical services since former director Ron Wakeham resigned last May. He is also past vice chairman of the Governor's Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board.

The Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival has appointed Peter C. Lawrence as managing director of the festival. He will oversee operations of the festival to focus more exclusively on artistic programming and long-range planning.

Lawrence has served as director of development for the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts and director of marketing and development for Norfolk Botanical Garden.

Portsmouth - Those with tickets for comedian Paula Poundstone's Willett Hall performance are reminded that the show, originally scheduled for Saturday, was canceled several weeks ago.

Ticket refunds are being handled at the purchase location only.

For more information, call the Willett Hall box office at 393-5144. COMING UP

Today

Virginia Beach - The Virginia Beach School Board will hold its first public hearing on the superintendent's 1997-98 proposed operating budget. The budget, as proposed, could require a tax increase under a new spending formula approved last week by the City Council. The hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Larkspur Middle School, 4696 Princess Anne Road.

Also, the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission's regular monthly meeting will be at 4 p.m. at the Municipal Center Complex, Building 18. The public is invited to attend these meetings.

Norfolk: The 1997 Hampton Roads Volunteer Achievement Award honorees will be recognized at the annual awards banquet at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott from 6 to 9 p.m. Call 624-2400 for ticket information.

Portsmouth: I.C. Norcom High School is holding Scheduling Night at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. Scheduling Night, for parents and students, features course options and tips for standardized testing.

The school is at 2900 Turnpike Road. For details, call 393-8793.

Friday

Virginia Beach - A hearing in Circuit Court on who's responsible for fixing Colechester Road. The case, which pits the city of Virginia Beach against local farmer Steve Barnes and Thompson's Grading Co., was postponed last week. MEMO: Staff writer Ida Kay Jordan contributed to this report.

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