DATE: Friday, June 20, 1997                 TAG: 9706200732

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  135 lines

HAMPTON ROADS BRIEFS

The Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority unanimously endorsed a plan this week for a 19-unit residential apartment building for low-income, physically disabled adults.

Accessible Housing Corp. of South Hampton Roads, a volunteer nonprofit organization working to build handicapped housing, wants to construct a building on a 1.5-acre parcel within the single-family-home Campostella Square redevelopment project near the Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church. The corporation will break ground on a similar 25-unit, federally funded apartment building in the Wards Corner section of Norfolk in August.

Authority members did not specify whether the land would be sold, leased or rented to Accessible Housing Corp.

President Robert A. Horan said his organization targeted the Campostella site because of an under-served disabled population in Chesapeake and the site's close proximity to a bus line. Horan said the building's residents would lead independent, often employable lives with limited assistance from an on-site staff. Police and dogs search for prisoner who escaped

Police and sheriff's deputies were searching late Thursday night for a prisoner who escaped during a transport between facilities.

Police officials said the black male prisoner was last seen in a blue jumpsuit behind the Captain D's seafood restaurant on North Battlefield Boulevard.

Sniffing dogs were assisting in the search, police said. No other information was available on the prisoner late Thursday. Cuffee recognized with Julian F. Hirst Award

Deputy City Manager Clarence V. Cuffee on Thursday was awarded the Julian F. Hirst Award for Distinguished Service by the Hampton Roads chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.

The annual award is one of the region's most distinguished accolades for any public administrator on the federal, state, local and university level. Cuffee is the award's first honoree from Chesapeake.

Mayor William E. Ward, in his nomination of Cuffee, called him ``one of the most community-oriented individuals I have ever known.''

Cuffee, a native of Portlock, has served as Chesapeake's deputy city manager for the past 10 years. He has twice served as interim city manager - once when former City Manager James Rein took a leave of absence to care for his wife, and once again after Rein's firing in 1995.

Cuffee also has served as director of human services for the city of Norfolk and has spent a large portion of his public career teaching at Norfolk State University and in Chesapeake public schools. He is a doctoral candidate in social work at Norfolk State University. Summer school begins Monday for grades 6-12

The district's summer school program for students in grades 6 through 12 will begin Monday at Indian River High School, Great Bridge Middle School and Western Branch High School.

Students who have not already done so may sign up for a summer school course on Monday at their respective sites. Classes begin at 8 a.m. and run until 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Courses taken for a full credit will run from Monday to Aug. 13 and will cost $90 for Chesapeake residents and $120 for nonresidents. The first session of courses taken for a half-credit will run from Monday to July 17. The second session will run from July 21 to Aug. 13. Half-credit courses will cost $45 for Chesapeake residents and $60 for nonresidents.

Students who are repeating courses for credit should check with their home school principal for approval.

Parents of elementary school students taking summer school classes - which begin July 7 - should have been notified by the district of school sites and bus schedules.

Parents with questions should call their summer school sites, or call the district at 547-0153. NORFOLK Workshop's goal: Help revitalize Norview area

Norview's Five Points Partnership will hold a community planning workshop, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in Norview High School.

The brainstorming session, known as a charrette in architectural circles, will be a key part of the partnership's efforts to revitalize the Norview area, which is made up of about 12 neighborhoods near the center of Norfolk.

The charrette will be led by volunteers from the Young Architects Forum, an organization of architects, professors, interns and students. The group has been studying the Norview area for six months at the request of the partnership.

The goal of the charrette is to explore some key issues in Norview, such as crime, recreation, business and community connections. The program is intended to help the Young Architects prepare a set of revitalization goals and design guidelines for the community.

The morning session, 8 a.m. to noon, is open for general public participation and will include neighborhood presentations.

From 1 to 4:45 p.m., neighborhood representatives will break into work groups.

The public also may attend the wrap-up sessions from 4:50 to 6 p.m.

The charrette, which is free, will include a light breakfast and lunch.

For more information, call Bev Sell, 857-1794. PORTSMOUTH Freighter bound for city runs aground in James

An Italian freighter carrying ammonium phosphate ran aground Thursday in the James River about 40 miles northwest of Portsmouth, and the Coast Guard was overseeing efforts to refloat the vessel.

The 592-foot Aman Pulo lost power and its bow ran aground about 6 p.m. while the vessel was en route from Hopewell to the Portsmouth Marine Terminal, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Steven Baker.

There were no reports of injuries to the merchant vessel's crew, Baker said. Also, he said, there was no indication of any leak of cargo or fuel.

The ship has a 24-foot draft, Baker said. An attempt to refloat the vessel with help from a tug was planned for the next high tide.

ALSO. . . Chesapeake - The Chesapeake Crime Council will sponsor its fifth annual 5-kilometer run at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, beginning at the Chesapeake Civic Center. Registration begins at 7 a.m.

A $12 fee will be charged for the 5K run. The council will use proceeds from the event to fund several of its programs, including an annual crime prevention picnic to educate members about security issues; a $200 annual scholarship for high school graduates interested in law enforcement careers; and a National Night Out to fight crime, said council member Christine Gish.

For details, call 543-2692.

COMING UP

TODAY

Portsmouth - The American Cancer Society, Maryview Hospital and the Portsmouth Health Department are sponsoring free mammograms at Maryview Hospital, 3636 High St. The mammograms are available for women over 40 who meet income guidelines and have little or no insurance. To make an appointment, call Sherri Simmons at 396-6826. MEMO: Staff writers Mac Daniel, Matt Dolan, Mike Knepler and Nancy Young

contributed to this report.

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