DATE: Tuesday, September 23, 1997           TAG: 9709230224

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  145 lines

HAMPTON ROADS [BRIEFS]

VIRGINIA BEACH

Special license plate

honoring museum

has finally arrived

They're here.

It's been four years since Virginia Beach Del. Robert M. Tata introduced legislation to allow license plates honoring cities and counties; two years since the Virginia Marine Science Museum began taking orders for a specially designed Virginia Beach tag and nearly three months since Marilyn Kleintop of the museum staff sent the required 350 advance orders to Richmond.

Late last week, the plates featuring a pair of dolphins, a rising sun and and the words ``VIRGINIA BEACH'' began showing up in the mail boxes of those who laid out an extra $25 for the privilege of advertising their allegiance to the resort city.

The distribution caught museum staff by surprise.

``Wow, they're here?'' a jubilant Kleintop asked when told of their arrival Monday. ``That's great.''

After 1,000 of the special plates are sold, the museum will begin receiving $15 each year for each plate in service. It will use the money to help finance the team that rescues stranded marine mammals.

So far, only plates with numbers have been issued. Those who paid an extra $10 to have them personalized will have to wait a little longer, Tata said.

``Mine haven't come yet but I'll be looking for them.'' Chesapeake

Application list now

open for public housing

The Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority is accepting new applications for the Public Housing and Assisted Housing Programs by appointment only.

Applicants should call the housing authority for an appointment with a leasing specialist. Income levels differ for each housing program, so interested persons are encouraged to set up an appointment to assess their eligibility for the once-closed waiting list.

Before the waiting list opened Monday, Sylvia Copeland, the authority's director of housing management, said there were fewer than 50 people waiting for public or assisted housing. That list could be expanded to as many as 467 families. The same would apply to the city's Section 8 certificate program, which provides rent subsidies for private residences. There are 150 families on a list that will be expanded to accommodate more than 800.

To obtain an appointment for Section 8, call 543-6847 on Monday or Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. To get an appointment for Public Housing, call 543-6847 on Tuesday or Thursday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hearing-impaired people may call 523-1316.

NORFOLK

``Tenants Town Hall'' forum

set for Norview/Five Points

The first ``Tenants Town Hall Meeting'' will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Norview/Five Points area of central Norfolk. It will be in the Wellington Oaks Multi-Purpose Room, 1251 Bunsen Court, Norfolk.

The forum is the first tenant-outreach effort of the Five Points Partnership - a coalition of citizens, businesses, schools, churches and public-safety officials in Norview and other neighborhoods.

The session will focus on legal rights and responsibilities. Panelists will be Chris Caswell of WAVY television's ``Renters' Rights'' feature; Diane Kelly, supervising deputy clerk of Norfolk General District Court; attorney Kirk B. Levy; city officials Ron Milbourne and Jeff Graves; and landlord Jack Jacovedes.

Norfolk police crime-prevention officer Trudy Richardson, who helped plan the forum, hopes tenants and landlords will listen beyond any immediate complaints and understand one another's stake in the community. ``I don't look at this as two hours on who should do what if a drain stops up'' but a step toward more community building, she said.

For more information, call coordinator Bev Sell, 857-1794.

Rogers resigning as

director of marketing

Samuel B. Rogers, director of marketing since June 1994, announced Monday that he is resigning.

Rogers, 45, will leave Oct. 10 to become vice president for communications and tourism for the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Rogers will be involved in promoting Philadelphia travel in international markets, one of the major appeals of the job.

``It's just a great professional and personal opportunity,'' Rogers said.

While in Norfolk, Rogers headed up the city's award-winning Virginia Waterfront Campaign, a three-year effort to boost tourism in the region. He also played a key role in the first Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival last spring, which recently won statewide recognition for promoting cultural tourism.

Rogers also was involved in the successful Virginia Is For Lovers Hydroplane Race in Norfolk's Willoughby Bay, which brought the high-speed boats to the region for the first time in decades.

Rogers became the city's first director of Marketing and Communications when that department was formed in summer 1995. The office later expanded to oversee operations of the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau.

City Manager James B. Oliver Jr. said in a statement Monday that he was ``deeply disappointed'' to see Rogers leave.

``Sam is a true professional whose vision and execution have allowed Norfolk to emerge in national and regional marketing,'' Oliver said.

Rogers is returning to familiar territory. Before arriving in Norfolk, he was executive vice president and director of public relations for Elkman Advertising and Public Relations, a private firm in a Philadelphia suburb. Prior to that, he served in various positions with the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

SUFFOLK

United Way will benefit

from Wednesday fund-raiser

Help the homeless Wednesday by eating a hot dog. Support scholarships for needy youth at the Suffolk Family YMCA by having a hamburger.

Outbid everyone to buy a leather pocketbook or a fishing reel, and help the Children's Center work with children with disabilities.

City employees will kick off their United Way campaign from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Wellons and Spring streets across from police headquarters. Proceeds from lunch sales and activities will go to the United Way.

Volunteers have organized a silent auction of donated items, a bargain table of goods, a bake sale, and a $1 raffle for a choice of two Shrimp Feast tickets, a $50 savings bond or a lunch cruise for two on the Spirit of Norfolk.

The Health Department will check blood pressure or cholesterol for $1.

For information, call Marie A. Dodson, chair of the city's United Way campaign, at 925-6447.

Schools group wants ideas

for housing more students

A committee trying to come up with alternatives to accommodate a growing school enrollment other than by building more schools wants your ideas.

The School Board-appointed Alternative Methods Committee is holding two public hearings this week: tonight at Lakeland High School at 215 Kenyon Road, and Thursday at Nansemond River High School at 3301 Nansemond Parkway. Both hearings will begin at 7 p.m.

The committee was formed this year after the City Council declined to fund all of the School Board's requested school-construction projects. Among the committee's possible solutions to crowded buildings: year-round schools; double shifts; cutting kindergarten from full to half days; eliminating art, music and separate special-education classes; offering additional classes earlier in the morning and at night; and leasing commercial space for schools.

Written comments may be sent to The Alternative Methods Committee, c/o Suffolk Public Schools, P.O. Box 1549, Suffolk, Va. 23439-1549. For more information, call 925-5500. MEMO: Staff writers Mike Knepler, Ida Kay Jordan, Matthew Dolan, JoAnn

Clegg and Stephanie Stoughton contributed to this report.

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