DATE: Saturday, November 8, 1997            TAG: 9711080256

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   72 lines

LOCAL SCENE

HAMPTON ROADS

PEREZ-LOPEZ RECEIVES AWARD: Rene Perez-Lopez, vice president for information systems and director of the library at Virginia Wesleyan College, received the American Red Cross Volunteer Recognition Award for his 20 years of service as chairman of the Tidewater chapter of the American Red Cross Language Bank. During his tenure as chairman, he helped compile a book of volunteers who are available to translate for non-English speaking individuals in the Hampton Roads community who find themselves in emergency situations.

NORFOLK

HILL RECEIVES FBI AWARD: The Norfolk division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation selected Irvine B. Hill for its annual FBI Director's Community Leadership Award. The award is given to 56 recipients annually across the nation to recognize individuals for outstanding community service through unselfish dedication and leadership. Hill, a former Norfolk mayor, is vice president of public affairs and community programming with Cox Cable where he also hosts the weekly ``Tidewater Speaks Out'' cable program.

ST. MARY'S HOME CHANGES NAME: St. Mary's Infant Home has changed its name to St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. The home serves children from birth to 18 years of age whose conditions are the result of various birth disorders, accidents, illnesses and child abuse.

ENGLISH NAMED NEW CEO: Edward B. English was named the new president/chief executive officer of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Hampton Roads. English, who was most recently a project manager with CACI Inc. in Springfield, Va., replaces former president/CEO Jerry Grohowski, who became the CEO of the Charlotte, N.C., Better Business Bureau in September.

PORTSMOUTH

COURT APPROVES CLOSING OF PORTSMOUTH MONTGOMERY WARD AUTO STORE: Montgomery Ward & Co. Inc. announced Friday that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware has approved the closing of 47 stores, including the Montgomery Ward Auto Express outside Tower Mall. The closings are part of the retailer's cost-cutting moves as it attempts to restructure its finances in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The auto store opened in 1973 and employs 12 people. It occupies a 16,000-square-foot building on Victory Boulevard. The Montgomery Ward Clearance Outlet inside Tower Mall will remain open. Montgomery Ward still has full-line department stores with Auto Expresses at Norfolk's Janaf Shopping Center, Chesapeake's Greenbrier Mall and Chesapeake Square Mall, and Virginia Beach's Lynnhaven Mall.

PFEIFFER'S MOVES: Pfeiffer's Books Cards & Fine Wines has relocated to Devonshire Square in historic Olde Towne. Their new address is 606 High St. The shop has added the Sunflower Cafe featuring light fare, fine wines and micro beers by the glass. The shop also specializes in Virginia Gourmet products, gift baskets and special orders.

VIRGINIA BEACH

METRO INFORMATION SERVICES NAMES TWO NEW VICE PRESIDENTS OF OPERATIONS: Metro Information Services named Ronald D. Cheatham and Michael G. Martin vice presidents of operations effective Jan. 1, 1998. Cheatham joined Metro in 1993 as a marketing account representative and has been director of the Nashville, Tenn., office since 1995. Martin joined the company in 1989 as a marketing account representative and has been marketing director of the Winston-Salem, N.C. office since 1989.

VIRGINIA

PASSA NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CSX INTERMODAL: Lester M. Passa has been appointed president and chief executive officer of CSX Intermodal Inc. in Richmond according to CSX Corp., the parent company of CSXI. Ronald T. Sorrow, whom Passa succeeds, will remain with the company through March of 1998 to assist with the unit's annual planning process, ensure an orderly transition and to allow Passa to complete his assignment related to the Conrail transaction for CSX Transportation, the company's rail unit.

HALIFAX SELLS OFFICE COMPLEX: Halifax Corp. in Alexandria said it had concluded the sale of its twin-building office complex and the lease-back of the company's headquarters building. The Fairfax County complex will stil be called Halifax Office Park. Purchase price was $5.25 million. ILLUSTRATION: Perez-Lopez

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