DATE: Friday, March 28, 1997                TAG: 9703280630

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  150 lines

HAMPTON ROADS

3 Republicans file

for commissioner

of the revenue

Three Republican candidates filed this week to run for the city's commissioner of the revenue office.

They are:

Charles E. ``Charlie'' Gibson, 64, of Ocean View. Gibson worked for 36 years in Norfolk's commissioner of the revenue office, retiring in December as senior chief deputy in charge of business licenses. Gibson, touting his on-the-job experience, said customer service is top priority. He also advocates increasing efforts to collect delinquent taxes to avoid tax increases and opening neighborhood outlets during peak tax times for residents to pay taxes and obtain city vehicle stickers.

Robert A. ``Bob'' Smith, 41, of Lindenwood. Smith, making his third run for the office, is a customer service specialist for Household Credit Services of Chesapeake. His top issues are customer service, creation of satellite offices and extended ``breadwinner'' hours. He also said he would fight for personal-property flat tax once vehicles reach a certain age.

Neal S. Windley, 54, of Elizabeth Park. Windley is a former assistant city manager and departmental director for Norfolk, where he worked for 28 years. He wants to enhance ``customer-friendly'' service, expand locations for purchasing city decals, expand office hours and increase interaction with the business community.

Republicans will elect a nominee in a June 10 primary. The winner will face Democrat Sharon McDonald, who secured her party's nomination at a caucus last week.

The incumbent, Democrat Sam T. Barfield, is retiring this year after nearly 28 years in office.

CHESAPEAKE

Health Department moves,

limits services temporarily

Citizens seeking the services of the Chesapeake Health Department during the next three weeks will not find them in the usual place.

The Health Department's offices at 748 N. Battlefield Blvd. were closed Thursday and will remain closed until April 21 while maintenance is being done on the building.

Limited services will be available in temporary office space outside the Great Bridge facility, while some services have been transferred to the South Norfolk Health Center at 490 Liberty St.

During this time, information about Health Department services is available at the following telephone numbers:

Great Bridge Clinic - 382-8612

Reports on communicable diseases - 382-8681

WIC - 382-8608

Home health - 382-8699

Environmental health - 382-8672

Great Bridge Administration and health director - 382-3633

Birth or death certificates - 543-3548, Ext. 41.

SUFFOLK

City asks for citizen input

on use of federal grant

How to spend a $765,000 federal grant will be the topic of a community meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, 530 E. Pinner St.

City representatives want citizen input on spending the Community Development Block Grant, federal money for neighborhood improvement projects benefiting people with low to moderate incomes.

City officials will be at the meeting to answer questions. Ideas about spending the grant must be written on forms that will available at the meeting.

In the past, most of such funds have gone to extend water and sewer lines. The money also can be used to help fix houses, improve recreational facilities and help low-income residents become homeowners.

Attorney general candidate

Stolle to speak at meeting

State Sen. Kenneth Stolle (R-8th) will discuss his candidacy for state attorney general at a breakfast meeting Saturday at Bunny's Restaurant, 1901 Wilroy Road.

The meeting, open to the public, will run from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

Stolle, a Republican from Virginia Beach, is a former detective in the Virginia Beach Police Department. He is now a lawyer in private practice. Stolle has served in the Virginia Senate since 1991.

Stolle seeks to succeed Attorney General James S. Gilmore III, who has announced his campaign for governor.

PORTSMOUTH

12-hour music marathon

will benefit cancer victim

A 12-hour marathon of rock and country music to benefit Debbie Minick of Portsmouth, a cancer patient, will be staged Saturday at Stooge's in the Timberlake Shopping Center on Holland Road in Virginia Beach.

Minick is the wife of musician Steve Minick, and his friends in the music business have banded together to put on the benefit. She has a form of brain cancer called glioblastoma.

There will be live rock 'n' roll and country music from local bands from 2 p.m. until 2 a.m. Those who attend will be asked to make a minimum donation of $5.

Rally will honor founder

of child abuse campaign

Bonnie Finney, a former Portsmouth resident who started the nationwide Blue-Ribbon Campaign to Prevent Child Abuse, will be honored at the Portsmouth Child Abuse Prevention Rally on April 5.

Her grandson, Michael W. Dickinson, was beaten to death when he was 3 1/2.

Finney became a child-abuse prevention advocate, urging the wearing of blue ribbons to symbolize the bruises of abused children.

The rally is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Cradock's Afton Square on Afton Parkway. City Councilman Cameron Pitts and Commonwealth's Attorney Martin Bullock are to speak.

The rally will offer music, food, entertainment, games and prizes for children and adults, as well as displays and information on child abuse.

The Portsmouth Sheriff's Department will offer its Ident-A-Kid service, and the Health Department will give free immunizations and lead-poisoning checks. Information also will be provided on teen pregnancy, AIDS and substance abuse.

For more information, call Judy Shepherd at 397-1159.

ALSO. . .

Chesapeake - March Cromuel, president of the Chesapeake chapter of the NAACP, will be the guest of honor at a roast Saturday at the Holiday Inn-Chesapeake. Proceeds will benefit the college fund of the Norfolk State Alumni Association's Chesapeake chapter. Tickets cost $25. Call 461-6801 or 543-4020.

COMING UP

SATURDAY

Virginia Beach - The Virginia Beach SPCA is sponsoring Photos with Bunny Rabbits from 1 to 4 p.m. at the shelter, 3040 Holland Road. In lieu of getting a live bunny for Easter, parents can have their child's picture taken with a shelter bunny. A Polaroid photo is available for $2.50 or parents can bring their own camera and take the picture themselves. All proceeds will benefit the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Norfolk - Norfolk's Department of Recreation, Parks and General Services is sponsoring a Children's Spring Celebration at Ocean View Beach Park, 100 W. Ocean View Ave., from noon to 3 p.m. Activities include egg hunts, face painting and egg races. Call 441-2400. MEMO: Staff writers Jon Glass, Louis Hansen, Janie Bryant, Katrice

Franklin and Ida Kay Jordan contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: Gibson

Smith

Windley

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