DATE: Tuesday, October 7, 1997              TAG: 9710070317

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  109 lines

HAMPTON ROADS - NEWS BRIEFS

VIRGINIA BEACH

Navy plane will fly rescued whale to new home today

A Navy transport plane will leave today for Baltimore with an unusual cargo - the pygmy sperm whale that has been under the care of a Virginia Marine Science Museum team.

The 9-foot, 670-pound whale will be taken to the National Aquarium for long-term care and rehabilitation.

The female whale and her baby were rescued from the beach at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge more than a week ago. The baby, which had seemed the healthier of the two, died Saturday morning for unknown reasons.

The mother's health, meanwhile, seems to have improved.

REGIONAL

Regional consultant set to give 3 presentations

Consultant Rick Horrow will give three public presentations this week explaining his process for boosting the local economy.

Horrow has been hired by the Hampton Roads Partnership, a regional group of business, academic and political leaders, to build public support for construction projects, possibly including a convention center, a sports arena and a regional vo-tech school.

He will address two groups today: the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors at 4 p.m. in the county administrative building, and the Chesapeake Coalition of Civic Leagues at 7:30 p.m. in Oscar Smith High School, 1994 Tiger Drive.

On Thursday, he will speak to the Williamsburg City Council in City Hall at 2 p.m.

PORTSMOUTH

Group receives national award for Admiral's Landing

The Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority has received a national award for development of Admiral's Landing, a condominium project on the downtown waterfront.

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials gave an Award of Merit to the Portsmouth authority for the development, which started in 1987 when a 1.8-acre tract was sold to a subsidiary of a local savings and loan. The complex was known then as King's Landing.

The unfinished buildings were seized by Resolution Trust Corp. after the savings and loan folded in 1992. PRHA bought the property in 1993 and sold it to another developer, who completed the condos last year.

City accepting applications for 1998 leadership course

Applications are being accepted for the second class of the city's Vann H. Lefcoe Leadership Development Course.

The next class will start Jan. 14. The deadline for applications is Oct. 31. As many as 15 persons may be chosen for participation.

The course, which will meet each Wednesday night for 12 weeks, was named for a lawyer who died of cancer. The program was started with contributions from his friends, and operates in conjunction with the Portsmouth Partnership, a private nonprofit organization that promotes economic and community development.

Participants must live or work in Portsmouth. They will learn about the city in weekly discussions led by a variety of people, including city officials and volunteer workers. The course will be conducted by Horace Savage, a retired school administrator who is an active community volunteer.

Some financial assistance is available for participants whose employers will not pay the $100 tuition. For more information, call Betty Jo Gwaltney at the Portsmouth Partnership, 664-2562.

Candidates for sheriff take questions from public

Candidates for Portsmouth sheriff - incumbent Gary Waters, Paul J. Battle and Voyce D. McGinley - will speak at the Cradock Property Owners Association at 7:30 p.m. today at the Cradock Recreation Center, 45 Afton Parkway.

A question-and-answer period will follow their presentations.

This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, call Elizabeth Croker at 485-2798 or Dolores Wyatt at 485-9471.

YORKTOWN

Campfire program offered as part of Victory Weekend

The National Park Service will present a one-hour campfire program at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 near the re-enacted, 18th century encampments at the Yorktown Visitor Center.

The program will be part of the Yorktown Victory Weekend.

Yorktown Historian Diane Depew will talk about what life was like for soldiers ``behind the lines.''

The program is free. Visitors should bring a flashlight. For more information, call 898-3400.

ALSO. . .

Virginia Beach - Regent University will honor fitness expert Jake Steinfeld today for his consistent philanthropic support of the university's film program. The ceremony will be open to the public and will be held in the university's library auditorium at 7 p.m., with a reception to follow. Steinfeld will be on hand to greet fans during the reception and to sign copies of his book ``Power Living by Jake: Eleven Lessons to Change Your Life.''

COMING UP SATURDAY

Virginia Beach - The Knights of Columbus, Father Habets Council 4632, will sponsor a Columbus Day dinner dance at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at 1236 Prosperity Road. The supper will include an Italian buffet. The cost is $12.50 per person. Call Lou Soscia at 486-1297. MEMO: Staff writers Paul Clancy, Karen Weintraub and Ida Kay Jordan

contributed to this report.

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