DATE: Friday, April 4, 1997                 TAG: 9704020111

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 02   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   99 lines

TOWN TALK

It seems Chesapeake has some killer bees.

Not the deadly variety but award-winning little honey-makers.

According to Philip A. Johnson with the Chesapeake Arboretum, more than 60,000 bees were recently removed from a barn on the Arboretum premises by a local beekeeper

The bee expert then took his buzzing captives to a number of bee shows in Virginia and to competitions out of state.

Reports tell us that the Chesapeake bees won awards at each event.

And just what are bees rated on at these shows?

No, not spelling.

They are rated and judged based on color, health, activity and the ability to swarm, to name a few. The bees were also judged to be one of the purest strains of native bees around, not tainted by any disease.

After their award-winning competition tour, the bees were returned to the Arboretum and placed in a condo hive where they can busy themselves pollinating all those flowers at the Arboretum site.

- Susan Smith A felicitious feline

The Chesapeake Humane Society calls her Autumn, but she just as well might be Athena for the way she sprang - full-grown and regally - into their lives.

The Humane Society has been adopted by a certain long-haired tortoise shell female cat that, in spite of her beauty and royal bearing, no one else seems to want. Autumn - named for the gorgeous fall colors of her fur - has been coronated the animal shelter's official mascot, according to shelter employee Cathy Umberger's article in the ``Paw Print'' newsletter.

Autumn ``obviously considered herself above fraternizing with other four-legged animals,'' Umberger wrote. ``Soon, she let it be known that it was not necessary to cage her at night. She would watch over things and when staff arrived in the morning, Autumn was there to greet them, demanding to be brushed.''

Although Autumn has now apparently taken over the animal shelter, she came to the Humane Society homeless. Shelter supervisor Laura Moreau picked up Autumn as a stray in Western Branch last September. A woman who had spotted Autumn thought she must be lost, and was sure that someone out there was looking for her. Autumn, who was found in beautiful condition, with declawed front feet, was clearly no stray.

Autumn's savior did all she could to find her owner, mounting flyers in the neighborhood before finally calling Chesapeake Animal Control. The shelter kept Autumn for five days before putting her up for adoption. They even published her photograph in the Clipper.

By this point, Autumn had insinuated her way into the shelter so successfully that the staff had little choice but to surrender to her charms. ``She patrolled the rooms as if overseeing her territory,'' Umberger wrote.

Fewer than one out of 10 cats are adopted, with more than 2,600 animals going unclaimed in Chesapeake every year.

Although many unclaimed pets are put to sleep, the shelter staff decided to make an exception in Autumn's case. The staff chipped in to pay for her vaccinations, feline leukemia tests, collar, tag and anti-flea treatment.

- Liz Szabo A relaxing sport

Some people were born to be low-impact.

Robert M. Christian, 9, attended a recent Saturday clinic at the Cahoon Plantation driving range and shared his, uh, motivation behind pursuing the golfing life.

``It's just a fun sport,'' said Christian, golf-club in hand. ``It's easy. You don't have to try hard. You don't have to run.''

Watching it on television, the young Chesapeake resident liked the way people looked when they were hitting the ball.

``They looked like they were relaxing,'' he said.

But atop Christian's head was a cap reading ``SOCCER,'' a sport that typically requires lots of exercise.

Don't you have to try hard in soccer? Don't you have to run a lot?

``Not when you're the goalie,'' he said.

- John-Henry Doucette New business owners

Rakesh K. Kapania, 38, and Ishwer Ahlawat, 42, are partners, long time friends and both hail from India.

Though they have been in the U.S. more than a decade, they came to Chesapeake just under two years ago, to run the Quick Service Mart on Great Bridge Boulevard.

Kapania came with his family by way of Boston. Ahlawat came from Brooklyn where he owned a newsstand. His family is on the way. The convenience store was owned by a mutual friend who became sick and returned to India. The pair bought the business, and Chesapeake is now their home.

Albeit, a bit slower-paced than their former residences.

Quick Service Mart is like a lot of convenience stores along this city's country roads. You can get a pack of smokes, your favorite beverage, a candy bar or a variety of food items.

And that's also where you can usually find Raymond Neal, 71, who has worked at the store for 27 years.

He's seen seven owners come and go.

The ownership grand total?

``Eight of 'em, I guess,'' said Neal, after bagging an order of fried potatoes for a trucker pressed for time.

And now Kapania and Ahlawat have the place, though these businessmen plan to stick around awhile.

- John-Henry Doucette

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