DATE: Tuesday, October 14, 1997             TAG: 9710140290

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   58 lines

ANOTHER NICE DAY, THEN IT WILL COOL DOWN A BIT TEMPERATURES WILL BE MORE SEASONABLE BY WEDNESDAY.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Today, Hampton Roads will be blessed with wonderful weather, but by Wednesday, temperatures are expected to drop about 15 degrees.

Don't fret. You won't need the parkas just yet. Temperatures should be in the mid-60s, just about right for fall. (Remember fall? Has that warm demeanor, then gets chilly and moody? Drops leaves everywhere and hangs around for three months?)

On Monday, an extension of several sun-kissed days, Norfolk's high was 78 degrees, about 10 degrees above normal.

The Columbus Day holiday provided many civilians and military folks with a day off work. Some cities let kids out of school.

For the most part, Hampton Roads residents enjoyed a major day of leisure. They worked on lawns. They rode, some bare-chested, on bikes. They absolutely chilled.

``We hope it never, ever ends,'' said 40-something Dee, as she dug her tanned toes into the sand at Chick's Beach. Dee and her daughter Sarah withheld their last names, but not their love of the weather. Sunning near the Duck-In, they practically had the beach to themselves.

``We're sad winter's coming, then we'll be crying everyday,'' said 23-year-old Sarah, a student at the College of William and Mary.

The fun in the sun stretched to Norfolk's Northside Park, where children enjoyed a holiday from school.

``It's good weather for tennis,''

said 16-year-old Enrique Treto. ``This weather gets you in the mood for it.''

Treto and his fellow Granby High School opponent, Michael Rio, 16, said ``everybody'' was enjoying the day off.

Nary a leather-covered seat was empty at the park's Imagination Island, and little ones clambered on the jungle gyms.

``I think it's grand for this time of the year,'' said Bill Bishop, who was watching three grandchildren on his day off.

``But I don't mind fall weather either.''

That's good, because there's a chance rain and cold air will move into the region tonight.

``I really can't be cool. I'm happy when the sun is shining,'' said July-born Chris Karo, 29. ``Days like this - I love it. I like to keep my tan year-round.''

Karo sat in the midafternoon sunlight on his lawn in Virginia Beach. The front door to his Kenley Road home was open, the latest jams pumping from a stereo inside.

``It's beautiful,'' Karo said. ``I wish it was hotter.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

VICKI CRONIS/The Virginian-Pilot

Covered in sand, Shawn-Aaron Collins, 9, grimaces as his mother,

Teasha Perry, wipes his face and cousin, Miguel Malaret, draws

designs. They spent Columbus Day at the beach in Ocean View.

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