DATE: Sunday, October 26, 1997              TAG: 9710240162

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 09   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  120 lines

FYI

FYI is an update of the news and happenings that have affected Virginia Beach during the past week.

What's a 16-year-old girl to do when her family leaves Virginia Beach for a tiny town in Wisconsin?

The answer is the same no matter when and where you are: ``When in Rome, do as the Romans do,'' as a wise man once said.

That's exactly what Robin Heather did. The former Kempsville teen quickly earned an appreciation for the great outdoors.

Her new hometown of Shawano, Wis., boasts less than 10,000 citizens, but the wildlife is something else.

While on a recent fishing trip along the Oconto River, she landed a whale of a fish. While not exactly a whale - Beach residents know about that firsthand - it was quite an impressive catch even by Cheesehead standards: a 37 1/2-inch, 14-pound northern pike.

She hooked the fish with a minnow and needed her dad's help to net and wrestle it into their canoe. Most catches in those parts average 4 to 6 pounds, so this trophy ended up at the taxidermist and eventually will adorn a wall in the Heather home.

Robin, a former cross country runner at Atlantic Shores Christian High School, is hoping to make such a splash on her new school's track team.

One thing not likely to change, though, is the family's football allegiance.

Though they now live about 40 minutes west of the mecca of Packer Backers, a.k.a. Lambeau Field in Green Bay, the Heathers remain tried and true Redskin rooters. Hot button issue

The Beach School Board introduced an electronic signaling device to record votes at Tuesday's meeting.

The voting board lists each member's name, next to a set of lights, green for yes, red for no. Touch a button, a vote is recorded. Seems simple enough. Until elected officials are added to the mix.

There was no problem with the voting board. It was just that the School Board was a little uncoordinated when it came time to tally the votes. Some voted before the electronic system was up. Others didn't push hard enough or pushed after the electronic system was closed.

``My green light is up there,'' Lynnhaven representative Nancy D. Guy insisted.

``I want to see the board light up,'' Donald F. Bennis, representative-at-large said, tapping his button.''

``None of this is going to work in the next meeting,'' Chairman Robert F. Hagans Jr. told Board Clerk Dianne Page, shaking his head.

``Why?'' she asked.

``Because I'm going to unplug it!'' Hagans said in between laughs.

Tim Jackson, the Kempsville representative, chuckled. Drainage project

Preliminary work on major storm water drainage improvements for two resort residential areas is under way.

Two engineering firms have been hired to conduct design studies for easing flooding in the North Lake Holly watershed and the Arctic-Baltic avenue corridor, with an eye toward starting construction in 1999.

The first project will cost an estimated $5.1 million and will cover basically a 38-block area from 20th Street south to Norfolk Avenue and from Pacific Avenue west to an apartment complex at Indian Circle.

The second will cost an estimated $1.9 million and cover roughly a 13-block area from 27th Street south to 23rd Street, bracketing both Arctic and Baltic avenues.

Funding for both projects is in the city's 1997-2003 Capital Improvement Budget, which was approved this year by the City Council.

Civic league leaders from the residential areas have urged planners to tie the drainage work in with future street improvements. What they have in mind is something akin to the recently completed beautification work along the Boardwalk and Atlantic Avenue and side streets.

A petition is being circulated in the neighborhoods to see if home and apartment owners are willing to accept a special property tax increase to pay for the streetscape improvements.

If the plan comes together residents could see flood-prone areas freed from high water during heavy rains. They also could see widened sidewalks, new street lighting and traffic signs, underground utility wires, street side landscaping and benches. In memory of Buff

Friends of the late Buff Taylor Koch, who died April 18 at the age of 41, have organized a campaign to raise money for a breast cancer foundation in her name.

They also are trying to establish a Buff Taylor Koch memorial garden at the end of 47th Street, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

The Buff Foundation has scheduled a family-style picnic Nov. 2 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at the Bay Colony Soccer Field on Bay Colony Drive to raise money for both causes. Organizers will provide the barbecue and live music.

Admission is $40 for families, $15 for adults and $5 for children. Children 6 and under get in free.

Tickets may be obtained by calling 428-2057 or by writing a check payable to The Buff Foundation, Post Office Box 641, Virginia Beach, Va., 23451. Study on Sandbridge

The city's Development Authority agreed last week to spend $42,500 on a study to find out if a luxury hotel and nature center would work in south Sandbridge.

The prestigious Cayuga Hospitality Advisors - an international marketing and development group whose members are graduates of or faculty members of the Cornell University Hotel School - will conduct the study.

It could be finished by year's end.

Donald L. Maxwell, director of the city's Economic Development Department, recommended proceeding with the research to see if a $20-million hotel for well off, ecology-minded tourists is practical and can be profitable.

Cayuga Hospitality will receive $40,000 plus $2,500 in expenses to do the work.

Money for the study will come from the city's Tourism Growth Investment Fund, which is fed by special hotel room and restaurant sales taxes as well as resort franchise and amusement fees. The City Council began the fund in 1991 as a tool to spur tourism projects.

Maxwell said the consulting fee is worth it, considering the project's ultimate potential.

``I think it is a very reasonable risk,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Robin Heather recently hooked a a 37 1/2-inch, 14-pound northern

pike.

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