Briefs: Shipyard to lay keel for Ford-class carrier

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding will lay the keel for the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, CVN-78, in a Nov. 14 ceremony.

The foundry at the Newport News shipyard recently melted 35 tons of steel to cast the strut arms needed to support the carrier's propeller shafts.

"We've completed about 5 percent of the ship's construction contract," said Mike Shawcross, vice president for the shipbuilding division's aircraft carrier construction programs.

The foundry was established independently in 1856 and purchased in 1902 by the Newport News shipyard. Since then, it has produced castings for hundreds of commercial and Navy ships. It is capable of producing 8 million pounds of castings annually, weighing from 1 pound to 70,000 pounds.

The carrier Ford, a $7.8 billion project for the shipyard so far, is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2015.

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Company to build $8.1 million facility for Norfolk Police

E.T. Gresham Co. Inc. has been awarded the construction contract for the Norfolk Police Department's 2nd Patrol Division, a new $8.1 million police facility.

The 42,269-square-foot building will replace the existing station and serve as the office for the Bomb Squad, Traffic Patrol, Harbor Patrol and Homeland Security divisions.

The new station will be near the old site, but on the other side of Oakwood Elementary School, which was next door.

Designed by RRMM Architects, the building is to be a LEED Silver project.

- Chris Dinsmore

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Portsmouth company wins contract up to $26.5 million

MYMIC LLC has won a contract worth up to $26.5 million from the Naval Surface Weapons Center, Indian Head Division.

Under the one-year contract with two option years, Portsmouth-based MYMIC will support the Defense Department's acquisition process. It will develop "capabilities-based assessments" to support investment decisions by the Pentagon's Joint Staff and the U.S. Joint Forces Command.

- Chris Dinsmore

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Items from closed-down restaurant to go up for bid

The furniture, fixtures, art and equipment of the now-closed Magnolia Steak & Seafood Co. in Norfolk will go up for sale at auction at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The restaurant, a cornerstone of the Ghent neighborhood for 18 years, closed late last month after struggling with the slow economy, its owners said.

Atlantic Asset Management Group Inc. is handling the auction of the restaurant's assets "to clear out space for a new tenant," the company said in a release last week. Interested buyers can bid on tables and chairs, freezers and refrigerators, tableware, cooking and bar supplies, a cigarette machine and an ATM.

- Carolyn Shapiro

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Technology company plans donation, offers challenge

DOMA Technologies of Virginia Beach is pledging to donate $5 million to charity over the next five years and issuing a charity challenge to individuals and businesses throughout Hampton Roads.

DOMA's software allows companies and health care organizations to convert paper documents into Internet-accessible digital images to improve efficiency and reduce expenses.

"As a company, we believe in being socially responsible and giving what we can toward a better future for those who are struggling and challenged," DOMA CEO Leticia Feliciano said.

"People in our community are really hurting, and we all need to pitch in to help improve their lives, and we need everyone's help."

To kick off the campaign, DOMA is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday at its headquarters at 2875 Sabre St., Suite 500, in Virginia Beach, when DOMA will present checks totaling $60,000 to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Naval Special Warfare Foundation and Jezreel International.