THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, February 20, 1997           TAG: 9702200140
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: HAMPTON                           LENGTH:   29 lines

TOM HANKS VISITS HAMPTON TO SHOOT SPECIAL FOR TELEVISION

Actor Tom Hanks, in town to film a television special, playfully hurled a pebble toward the office of Mayor James L. Eason.

``He's a man whose city faces some very serious problems,'' Hanks joked Wednesday after filming a scene described as a mock public meeting in City Council chambers with Eason and others.

About 60 people gathered later to watch outside City Hall as Hanks, director Rob Reiner and a crew of about 20 put together parts of ``I Am Your Child,'' a one-hour ABC special.

The show, to be narrated by Hanks, will focus on the city's Family Resource Project, which teaches parents how to raise healthy families.

The special is scheduled to air April 28.

Kathy Fisher, a city employee, knew the passenger on the elevator with her looked familiar, but she didn't recognize Hanks at first.

``Then I figured out who he was,'' she said. ``He was very personable. It was the highlight of my day.''

Filming also was done at Hampton University.

The show, in the works since last year, is being produced by Connecticut-based New Screen Concepts in conjunction with Reiner's Castle Rock Entertainment.