DATE: Friday, March 28, 1997                TAG: 9703280542

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   81 lines

LOCAL SCENE

NEWPORT NEWS

MARINERS MUSEUM NAMES DIAMONSTEIN AND FRICKS TO BOARD OF TRUSTEES: The Mariners Museum named Alan A. Diamonstein, a partner with the law firm of Diamonstein, Becker and Staley, and William P. Fricks, chairman and chief executive officer of Newport News Shipbuilding, to its board of trustees. Diamonstein will serve on the board's trustee and governance committee and Fricks on the museum and long-range planning committee. They replace Thomas N. Downing, of counsel with Kaufman & Canoles in Newport News and Braden Vandeventer Jr., of counsel with Vandeventer, Black, Meredith & Martin in Norfolk.

HAMPTON ROADS

HAMPTON ROADS EMPLOYMENT JUMPS 4.6 PERCENT: Employment in Hampton Roads jumped 28,400 in January, rising 4.6 percent to 649,800 from the level of January 1996, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. The service sector added 10,900 jobs from January to January, growing by 6.2 percent. The business and professional services sub-sector contributed to much of that growth, adding 5,000 jobs. Construction employment was helped along by a milder winter, posting an 11.8 percent growth rate, or 4,300 jobs. Transportation and the ports grew by 1,500 jobs or 4.8 percent, the VEC said.

NORFOLK

POLLARD'S CHICKEN OPENS TWO LOCATIONS: Pollard's Chicken and Catering opened a location in Waterside and will also operate a concession at Ocean Breeze Park, which will open May 24. With the two additions, Pollard's will be operating seven locations.

RASHKIND LISTED IN BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA: Alan B. Rashkind of the law firm of Furniss, Davis, Rashkind and Saunders has been listed in the 1997-98 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the field of personal injury litigation.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OFFERS TIPS ON WORK-AT-HOME SCHEMES: The Better Business Bureau is offering advice on how to avoid the many schemes being perpetrated against those who want to work from their homes in a newly revised booklet ``Tips on . . . Work-At-Home Schemes.'' In addition, to help consumers avoid being victimized by work-at-home fraud, the booklet suggests various questions to ask before parting with one's money. The book is available free of charge by sending a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope to the Better Business Bureau, 586 Virginian Drive, Norfolk, Va. 23505.

VIRGINIA

AREA HOME SALES DOWN FROM YEAR AGO: Pending home sales for Tidewater, the Peninsula and Williamsburg declined in February to 1,617, a 6.4 percent decrease from the same period a year ago, according to Virginia Association of Realtors. Sales totaled 1,729 in February 1996. For the first two months of the year, 2,914 houses were sold. That's down compared with 3,217 that were sold in the first two months of 1996. The two-month pending home sales, houses under contract but not closed, are the best indicator of local sales. In February, 5,590 homes were reported under contract for the state of Virginia, up 14 percent over last year.

EXPLORATORY WELL AGREEMENT: Knoxville-based Energy Search Inc. signed a joint development agreement with Richmond-based Dominion Resources Inc. to drill an exploratory well on 3,700 acres of Dominion property that runs contiguous to 17,000 acres of Energy Search property. Energy Search, an independent oil and gas development and production company, said a successful test could lead to a 20-30 well drilling program in the Appalachian Basin.

MEDIA GENERAL DECLARED DIVIDEND: Media General Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of 13 cents a share on common stock payable June 13, 1997, to stockholders of record on May 30, 1997. Media General is an independent, publicly owned communications company situated primarily in the Southeast with interests in newspapers, broadcast and cable television, recycled newsprint production and diversified information services.

GEORGE MASON BANKSHARES DECLARES DIVIDEND: The Board of Directors of George Mason Bankshares Inc. declared a quarterly cash dividend of 14 cents a share to stockholders of record April 7, 1997, payable April 15, 1997, representing a 7.7 percent increase over the previous quarterly dividend of 13 cents a share. George Mason Bankshares Inc. is a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Fairfax.

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Diamonstein

Fricks KEYWORDS: HOME SALES EMPLOYMENT RATE

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