DATE: Friday, October 3, 1997               TAG: 9710010135

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 12   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   34 lines

DARE FAMILY DAY TO INCLUDE KARATE AND ``MONSTER'' FIRE TRUCK

When a torrential downpour last spring forced organizers to reschedule DARE Family Day, they chose early October, hoping for a beautiful autumn afternoon.

The event now is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Portsmouth City Park.

Held annually since 1989, DARE Day is an anti-drug celebration honoring the graduates of the DARE program but open to families throughout the city.

DARE, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a 17-week program taught to fifth-graders in both public and private schools.

``Each year, it just gets larger and larger,'' said Lt. Brenda Lundy of the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office. ``We expect about 8,000 this year.''

Some of the highlights of this year's event include a bike rodeo, karate and sumo wrestling demonstrations, entertainment by the Churchland Middle School jazz band and a children's choir, as well as displays by the Corvette Club and Virginia Beach's ``monster'' fire truck.

``We're also going to have a `Jaws of Life' demonstration at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to show people how firemen take passengers out of a wrecked vehicle,'' Lundy said.

In addition, demonstrations will be given by the Hampton Roads Water Efficiency Team and a helicopter team.

Pokey Smokey train rides, hot dogs and drinks will be available free of charge.

For more information, call Lt. Betty Aronson at 393-8310, Ext. 3173.

- Rebecca Myers Cutchins ILLUSTRATION: Photo

The Sheriff's color guard will participate in DARE Family Day

Saturday.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu