DATE: Thursday, June 5, 1997                TAG: 9706030154

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: CLOSE-UP 

SOURCE: Kathryn Darling 

                                            LENGTH:   80 lines

KAREN SCHERBERGER FRAIM: DIRECTOR OF NORFOLK FESTEVENTS

In the mid-1970s, Karen Scherberger Fraim, director of Norfolk Festevents, was a Harborfest volunteer picking up trash and cutting pineapples in a concession stand. This weekend she's the head honcho at Norfolk's annual celebration on the waterfront.

Last October, Festevents was asked to take on the management, financial and production responsibilities of the city's annual launch into summer. Since it's inception in 1977, it had been staffed by volunteers.

The festival had just grown too big and needed staff with year-round resources to take on development, marketing, fund-raising and sponsorships, said Scherberger Fraim, a resident of the North End of Virginia Beach.

``It's a tremendous challenge, but it was something we were ready to do,'' she said.

Although she hasn't been in charge of the festival before, Scherberger Fraim has been to every Harborfest - working. She and her staff are at every event in Town Point Park.

But this one is the largest, she said.

This year's Harborfest will begin at a new time, 5 p.m. Friday, on the waterfront with the Parade of Sail, which includes Sinbad's pirate brig, Meka II, and the original African Queen. More than 65 official vessels will dock along the waterside. Many of the ships will be open to the public throughout the weekend.

The celebrations begin at 6 p.m. Friday with the Caribbean Street Festival, featuring Tito Puente and Pancho Sanchez. Concerts continue throughout the weekend with Three Dog Night, The Spinners, Chuck Berry, The Little River Band and more.

Saturday morning, more than 50 yachts in seven different classes will compete in the Harborfest Regatta Sailboat Race which begins at Lambert's Point at 10 a.m. The finish line is off Town Point and can be seen from the festival grounds around 1 p.m.

``Harborfest is the one event where everyone focuses on what we are - a waterfront city.''

Name: Karen Scherberger Fraim

What brought you to Norfolk? Born and raised in Norfolk.

Birthdate: Dec. 13, 1954.

Occupation: Executive director of Norfolk Festevents.

Marital status: Married Ed Fraim in October 1996.

Children: None, but I have a wonderful niece and nephew and children and grandchildren on my husband's side.

Last book read: I've read several lately, but I'm too busy to remember titles or authors.

Favorite movie: ``Jane Eyre'' with George C. Scot.

Favorite magazine: Gardening.

If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? No one - I love my life. I can't think it could get any better, except if I win the lottery.

Biggest accomplishment: That I'm still with Festevents after 15 years. I thought I'd last three.

Most embarrassing moment: None comes to mind.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'd have better eyesight.

Perfect way to spend the day: Anywhere away from home, relaxing with my husband.

Favorite vacation spot: Key West.

Pet peeve: People who complain, whine, and don't follow through.

First job: I was 15 and a sales clerk in a gift shop on Little Creek Road.

Worst job: Cleaning out grease traps at a local steak house restaurant when I was in high school.

Hobbies: I spend about all the time I have outside of work in my garden.

Favorite restaurant: A small Japanese restaurant sushi bar in Key West.

What do you like most about Norfolk? It's home. I grew up in Larrymore Acres. My mother still lives there.

What do you like least about Norfolk? Watching more and more neighborhoods become blighted and rundown, compared to earlier times when they thrived! ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by NHAT MEYER

Norfolk Festevents Director, Karen Scherberger Scherberger Fraim has

a long history of working at Harborfest since the mid-1970's - as a

volunteer.

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