DATE: Tuesday, May 27, 1997                 TAG: 9705240341
SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   45 lines

LOCAL SCENE

NORFOLK

MARTIN NAMED PRESIDENT OF NORFOLK & PORTSMOUTH BAR ASSOCIATION: Howard W. Martin Jr., a senior member of the law firm of Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, was named president of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association. He has been a member of the association for 26 years and has served on its executive committee since 1992.

ODU TO HOLD REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR: A regional development seminar titled, ``Regional Development and Our Environment: Opportunities and Challenges Facing Hampton Roads'' will be June 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Old Dominion University. The seminar, sponsored in part by Old Dominion's College of Engineering and Technology, will address environmental and developmental issues that can encourage or obstruct development in Hampton Roads. Alex Marshall, a journalist who specializes in urban and land use planning issues, will speak. Cost is $125. To register, call 683-5507.

CHESAPEAKE

BOYLAN NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF RESTAURANT THAT OPENS TODAY: Brian Boylan has been named general manager of Rio Bravo Cantina, a new Mexican restaurant to open today at 4105 Chesapeake Square Blvd. He was general manager of Applebee's in San Antonio, Texas.

NEWPORT NEWS

BIONETICS ACQUIRES MARKETING RESEARCH FIRM: The Bionetics Corp., a government-services company, recently acquired Market Researchers and Analysts, also of Newport News. MR&A also has offices in Richmond. The acquisition brings MR&A principal Christine Meade to Bionetics. Prior to the establishment of MR&A in 1991, she was program head of management and marketing at Thomas Nelson Community College.

VIRGINIA

CENTRAL FIDELITY TO BOOST DIVIDEND: The board of directors of Central Fidelity Banks declared an increase of 9.1 percent in the quarterly cash dividend to 24 cents per share for a new annual rate of 96 cents per share. The dividend will be paid on July 1 to shareholders of record June 13. MEMO: To submit an item, send it to Local Scene, The Virginian-Pilot

Business News Department, 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510.

Photos are welcome. Or fax your submission to 446-2531. ILLUSTRATION: Martin

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