Great news about Momma Kitty, her family was found and they’re all reunited!

[encode=tim@sdcc.info?Subject=Pet Finder]Email us & hopefully we can help[/encode] if you have a missing loved one.

Thanks to all who have worked on looking into, in great detail, the proposal to build a permanent Dredge Spoils Transfer Station at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility.

Special thanks to those who attended this evening’s City Council Open Mic night.

And, more importantly, thanks to City Council for scheduling a Public Hearing and Q & A about this proposal!

Set your calendar:
Public Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19th at Bayside Middle School at 6:30pm.
Prepare & bring your detailed due diligence kind of questions.

The time & more info will be posted here the second we have it.
On the very slim chance you don’t check out this site everyday, we’d encourage you to consider signing up for our eNewsletter and we’ll email ya know the details as soon as they’re firmed up.

After two years of work, our Lynnhaven River NOW Athey Oyster Reef is under construction!

It?s a beautiful day to take a walk and watch our protected oyster sanctuary reef ?grow? before your very eyes.

Work will continue through this week in Long Creek and it is easy to see from Dockside Inn, Bubba?s, Lynnhaven Seafood, Chick?s Oyster Bar or from the Lesner Bridge.  The reef is being built on top of the concrete debris from the old bridge and uses the oyster shell collected from restaurants and citizens through our Save Oyster Shell campaign.  Funds for the reef?s construction were provided by Fish America Foundation, the City of Virginia Beach and Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

Here are two photos from Day 1 (2/4/08) as construction began:

Before shell placement has begun.

Shell placement has begun.

Check out LRNow’s website.

She’s missing near Chicks Beach around Sandy Bay Drive.

please contact [encode=benns51@cox.net?Subject=Momma Kitty]chris benns[/encode]

757-630-5954-cell
757-547-5689 -work
757-460-5954-home

thank you
chris

Attend City Council’s Open Mic Night tomorrow evening.
City Council session starts at 6pm and there are only 2 items on the Agenda. Open Mic Night starts directly after meeting.
There are a number of people attending making a presentation about why putting this operation at the LBR is a bad idea & should be reconsidered. You do not have to speak to have a positive impact.

[encode=moberndo@VBgov.com?Subject=Lynnhaven Boat Ramp]Email Mayor Obernodorf[/encode] & let City Council know what you think of putting the permanent operation at the LBR.

[encode=justin.worrell@mrc.virginia.gov?Subject=Lynnhaven Boat Ramp]Email VMRC Regulator[/encode] & let him know you object to the LBR being used as a permanent dredge spoils transfer station.
You must include your full name and full address to get on the record.

View then sign online Petition to oppose the proposed location of a permanent or temporary dredge spoils transfer site.

Latest comment from online Petition:
Please don’t allow dump trucks to share the LBR w/ boaters……. I don’t want to have to fight for space and it one of only 2 ramps that I know of that I can access the bay and ocean in the Va Beach area. -Yorktown

Google Map to Building #1 at Municipal Center.
View Larger Map

Enter at front of building only.

Adam Bernstein, a police spokesman, said the robbery occurred about 6 p.m. at the Food Lion in the 5100 block of Shore Drive. It was unclear how many customers were in the store at the time.
Pilotonline.com.
WTKR.com includes still photos from video surveillance.

Police are asking that anyone with information regarding this case to call the Virginia Beach Crime Solvers Office at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.  Callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward if their information leads to an arrest.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7 to 9 p.m.
Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th St., Suite 1

Topic:  Managing Stormwater: Our Escalating Challenge

Pre-registration is required; space is limited.

To register call 385-3111.
(Please do not call the Convention Center.)
More info at VBGov.com.

…her job is to serve as a bridge between the public and the paper. She will listen to and report on complaints from readers… Her columns will appear on the Sunday op-ed page.

Contact Joyce Hoffmann: 757.446.2475, or .

Thanks to Laurie for the tip about this:

BeachButterflies.org.

If you’ve ever been in a butterfly house, you know what an incredible experience it is!

Climate change is a topic much in the news these days.  As a coastal community, Virginia Beach is extremely vulnerable to the effects of even minor sea level rise. 

On Thursday, March 6th at 7:00 PM, Lynnhaven River NOW is sponsoring a public meeting and presentation on Climate Change and Coastal Virginia.  Our guest speaker will be Ron Gird of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Climate, Weather and Weather Services.  Ron Gird is a climate specialist and has studied the possible effects of climate change extensively. 

This meeting and presentation are free and open to the public and will be held at the Cape Henry Collegiate School Auditorium at 1320 Mill Dam Road in Virginia Beach.

For more information please contact the Lynnhaven River NOW office at 757-962-5398 or [encode=kforget@lynnhaven2007.com?Subject=From SDCC.info]email[/encode] .

Please join us for a thought provoking presentation on this very timely topic.

According to the Pilotonline.com article:

Sessoms – $321,000
Oberndorf – $5,600
Weeks – > $1,000

The City sent out rejection letters to everyone who submitted a bid to get a long term lease for the City Marina.

We thank City Council & all those involved who helped make this happen.
We particularly look forward to the public’s involvement from the beginning of the process once it’s started again.

View rejection letters & some revenue info. [7pg pdf]

Historically, SDCC has been funded by it’s $25 membership fee & income from our annual oyster roast. SDCC now has a Special Projects Fund.

Don’t have the time to volunteer to help make our community a little better?

Mail your donation to:

Shore Drive Community Coalition
P.O. Box 55254
Virginia Beach VA 23471

Write your check or money order to:

Shore Drive Community Coalition, Special Projects Fund
[SDCC, Special Projects Fund will also work.]

Why?

Here’s the short version:

Another JPA that was submitted for Indigo Dunes.

Today around noon, Irene from the Beacon was at the Boat Ramp interviewing people about the dredge spoils transfer station. They showed off their website, BoatRampClosing.com,  flyers, & a petition that they’re circulating.

Look for the story with photos this week in the Beacon.

From LRNow:

Excess nutrient run-off is a serious water quality problem in the Lynnhaven River.  It leads to excess algae which clouds the water and eventually leads to decreased levels of oxygen and possible toxins from algal blooms.  We experienced these algal blooms in all of our local rivers, including the Lynnhaven, this summer.

A variety of methods can be used to slow and reduce run off from properties. A rain barrel is one way to reduce the amount of water entering the river through the storm water system.  Lynnhaven River NOW and Mike?s Rain Barrels are offering a Rain Barrel Workshop on February 23rd from 10:30-12:00 at the Maintenance Office of the Bayville Golf Course, 4137 First Court Road, Virginia Beach. The cost of this workshop is $45 (includes materials for one rain barrel) and the class is limited to 15 people.

State officials this week set aside 90 acres for future oyster-restoration efforts in the Lynnhaven River, and also created the only permanent public oystering ground in the river, to be located in Broad Bay.
Read & comment at Pilotonline.com.

SDCC General Meeting – Monday Jan 28, 2008
7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall

Program:
Mr. Peter Doherty, an expert in the field of ornithology (birds), will be the guest speaker at the SDCC general meeting. Mr. Doherty will be explaining his recent field ornithology activities in our area.  He has been working for BioDiversity Research Institute, capturing, banding and bleeding marsh birds, including rail, snipe, sparrows, warblers and wrens, as part of a federal court order arising out of past mercury discharges in the lower Penobscot River and upper Penobscot Bay.

VBTA will share info about the “Homestead Exemption” Bill working its way through the State Legislature.
Press Release for Conference this coming Saturday. [1pg pdf]
Dr. James Koch, previous President of ODU, will present his “State of the Region” too.

Thanks to Cherie for forwarding this scam!

Here’s how it works:

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you’ll be better prepared to protect yourself.