DATE: Saturday, September 13, 1997          TAG: 9709130378

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  123 lines

HAMPTON ROADS - NEWS BRIEFS

SUFFOLK

Road detours to end Monday with opening of railroad overpass

No more detours for Riverview residents trying to reach City Hall. No more fighting downtown congestion for Lakeside residents heading to the North Main Street commercial strips.

A year and a half of detours will end Monday when the new railroad overpass on North Broad Street opens. The former wooden bridge was demolished in April 1996, to allow construction of a new concrete and steel span.

The bridge was recently renamed the James C. Causey Jr. Memorial Bridge for a former city manager, who retired in 1971.

Temporary light signals have been installed at the intersection of North Broad and West Constance Road at the northern foot of the bridge. The Virginia Department of Transportation will be installing permanent lights.

A dedication ceremony will held later.

PORTSMOUTH

New Rite Aid store opens at London Plaza center

The grand opening of a new Rite Aid store at the corner of London Boulevard and Elm Avenue is today at 11 a.m.

Activities will include free face-painting for children, a Portsmouth Fire Department truck on display and free blood pressure screenings. MCI will give away a phone card with every prescription filled.

The new 11,000-square-foot store, which employs 12 people, replaces a smaller Rite Aid at London Plaza shopping center. The $1 million development features a drive-through pharmacy and a private pharmacy waiting area, a one-hour photo lab and a wide selection of convenience foods.

The development site was assembled by the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which acquired several small and deteriorated buildings and some vacant parcels.

SACLANT director to speak at TCC on world affairs

Ralph J. Nahra, director of analysis and research on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT), will speak at the Portsmouth Campus of Tidewater Community College at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Nahra will discuss such world issues as Middle East challenges, NATO, lessons of the Bosnian conflict, refugee situations and America's role in establishing stability around the world.

Nahra, president of the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads, has 25 years of experience in global affairs, maritime matters and NATO alliance issues. He has been adviser to 10 Supreme Allied Commanders Atlantic.

The talk will be in the Portsmouth Campus Waterfront Conference Center.

To make reservations, call 822-2222. For more information, call Betty Lohman at 822-2180.

VIRGINIA BEACH

Events raise awareness of local watershed areas

Two events to raise awareness of the Southern Watershed Area, which encompasses the southern half of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, will take place today and in October.

A watershed stakeholder workshop will be today at Salem Middle School from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. To celebrate the joint interest in the SWA, a Green Sea Festival is being planned for Oct. 18 at the Northwest River Park in Chesapeake.

The SWA includes the watersheds of Back Bay, the Northwest River and North Landing River. It contains a wealth of natural and cultural resources unique to South Hampton Roads. Both events are a result of a joint initiative between Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, working in tandem with the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and the Virginia Coastal Resources Management Program.

The workshop will be a dialogue between people with interest in the watersheds in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, said Eric Walberg with the planning district commission. It will include an overview of the area along with a look at management initiatives and at collaborative efforts between the cities. Question-and-answer sessions will also be held.

Salem Middle School is at 2380 Lynnhaven Parkway. Workshop times are 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 420-8300.

Bring your gigantic fruits, veggies to the Country Fair

Monster tomatoes, weighty watermelons and super squash could win backyard gardeners as much as $50 Sept. 20 at the Neptune Festival Country Fair Day at the Farmer's Market.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the heaviest tomato, cantaloupe, watermelon, yellow squash, bell pepper and pumpkin. Applications may be picked up from any market merchant.

Mark Holland of Holland Produce at the market is the official ``weighmaster.''

First prize in each class will be $50, second place will be $25 and third place will be $15. The grower of the vegetable will be allowed it keep it after it has been weighed, but winners are asked to display their giant vegetables during Country Fair Day activities. The only requirement is that the owners grew their entries themselves. Backyard or commercial growers are welcome.

Country Fair Day will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Other events will include a pig race, tractor trot, cow-milking contest, cooking competitions, line dancing, a maze and agricultural games. There will be agricultural exhibits, pony and wagon rides, and a petting zoo. The Farmer's Market is at the intersection of Princess Anne and Dam Neck roads. Call 427-4395.

COMING UP

TODAY

Norfolk - The annual Berkley Day reunion will take place from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Berkley Park on Berkley Avenue. Current and former residents of the southside community and others in the area are invited to attend the event, which will include picnic fare, music, and reminiscences through talks and pictures. For more information, call Joyce Henry at 664-6479 or Minnie Madrey at 543-1712.

Virginia Beach - The local Hispanic community will celebrate National Hispanic American Month with a festival Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church on Great Neck Road. Festivities include food, crafts, dancing and music. Call 490-7896.

WEDNESDAY

Portsmouth - Portsmouth churches, as well as individuals, have been asked to participate in Bells Across America at 4 p.m. Wednesday to mark the signing of the U.S. Constitution at that time in 1789. The bell-ringing is part of the celebration of Constitution Week, Sept. 14-23, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Fort Nelson Chapter of the DAR is coordinating the annual activities. MEMO: Staff writers Susie Stoughton and Ida Kay Jordan contributed to

this report.

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