Partial shot of calendar cover. Please visit LynnhavenRiverNow.org to view entire cover!

Lynnhaven River Now, a non-profit group dedicated to cleaning up the river, has published a Lynnhaven River 2008 calendar featuring prizewinning photos, nature and environmental tips as well as a Lynnhaven Inlet Tide Chart.  The calendar photos are winners from a Lynnhaven River Now photography contest held last spring, co-sponsored by First Landing State Park and supported by a grant from Patagonia.

Sincere thanks to Linda of FIGG, Phil of Public Works of VB, Clark Nexsen, Randy Burkett-Aesthetic Lighting Design, InSites-Landscape Architecture, MAP Environmental and the entire team that put on the incredibly productive charette to work out the design features of the new Lesner Bridge replacement.

Also, special thanks to everyone who volunteered to stay & participate as long as they could in the new gorgeous convention center. The enlightening, fast paced & entertaining charette went from ~8:30am to ~4:30pm. Weren’t there? Shoulda been!

Quick shot of the book & Agenda pamphlet.

Shot of the constant depth modified cantilever construction with concrete box girder super structure that will have 9 piers – 150’ typical spans with a 225’ mainspan

image
Cross-section of the concrete box girder & pier.

This is a quick & dirty post about the process today.
We’ll link to sites of the Project Team & try to get as much on the web as possible about this exciting process – having serious input in the new signature bridge of our community.

As an example of the amount of detail that was discussed today…

We discussed at great length various elements of the new replacement bridge from aesthetic lighting, ensuring the bridge reflects a simple elegant design based on the Reflections – Natural/Recreational Theme, the pedestrian experience, landscaping… Did we mention you shoulda been there?!

Clark Nexsen & FIGG will no doubt present the experience of the charette & it’s results on the web as soon as possible.

Look for more info about the future opportunities you can have input including the public meeting schedule, alignment of the replacement, “the online experience” and more.

From a personal perspective, I really look forward to working with Clark Nexsen & FIGG going forward.

Oh yeah, funding for the bridge is currently only at the 35%-Design portion.
The ~$90+ million dollar project still needs help to secure 100% of the funding.

Dear Shore Drive Residents,

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone that helpped make Monday
night’s fundraiser at the Green Parrot a big success.  With their
dedication, we were able to raise over $700 for the SDCC’s NoIndigoDunes
Legal Fund.

A special thanks to Liz Dyer for the time and effort she put into making
this event happen.  Walt Stone and Leslie Cornwell should also be
recongnized for selling T-shirts and keeping the SDCC accounting straight
during this event.

Our two celebrity guests, Joe Bouchard and Richard Whittemore, should be
thanked for stopping by and talking with our group.  There words of wisdom
were very encouraging.

And last but not least, I’d like to say thanks to all of you that took time
out of your Monday night to come out and support this noble cause.

Until the next event, keep up the good fight,

Todd Solomon

RE ‘WHO ARE THE SANDLERS?’ (front page, Oct. 29): The Sandler brothers are very impressive. They took the money they inherited to grow an empire of businesses as well as philanthropic endeavors. They also appear to be very nice people.

But today we recognize the impact that humans have had on our environment. It not only impacts the beauty we see but also the quality of life that our children and grandchildren will have.
Read & comment on letter to the editor at Pilotonline.com’ bLetters.

In ‘A kayak ride for the Sandlers’ (letter, Oct. 30), Barbara Gunn has a great idea to help the Sandler brothers continue the legacy their family started many decades ago. Give Indigo Dunes back to the people to enjoy as a nature reserve. There is an even greater legacy for the Sandler brothers. Come back to where the Sandler legacy started Norfolk.

Read the entire letter to the editor entitled “Wards Corner needs Sandlers”.

Mr. Spore’s letter [1pg pdf] in response to the Bayfront Advisory Committee’s letter about the proposed dredge spoils facility being located at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp.

After seeing the last opinion review in the newspaper, I won’t bother going into detail about why the proposed Indigo Dunes development is so completely out of whack? with sensible community planning or any overall public benefit. 

Or how this Bayfront project is an outright defiance of every regulatory guideline to protect vulnerable watersheds and their wetland buffer areas against the #1 threat to their existence: developments like Indigo Dunes.

Be sure to check out a very cool walking tour of Pleasure House Point.

Since you can’t walk on PHP any more, this is one great way to check out some of it’s beauty.

Great White Heron cruising around Pleasure House Creek & PHP.
[Photo taken before PHP was no trespassing.]

There is still seating available for the Lesner Bridge Design Charette.  If you are interested, please RSVP to 385-4131 by Oct 31st.

It’s November 7th Wednesday, from 8:30am-4:30pm.

If you are planning to go and would like to attend a pre-meeting gathering of other SDCC/Shore Drive residents, please [encode=todd@sdcc.ino?Subject=Lesner Bridge]email Todd[/encode] and he’ll notify you of the time and place for this meeting.

View public notice. [1pg pdf]

BAYFRONT?ALL-U-CAN-EAT? SHRIMP COOKOUT & PARTY!! (with Happy Hour Drink Prices)

Come on Down to the Chesapeake Bayfront for a great cause: Raising money to preserve and protect our community and its remaining beach and wetland resources. All donations and proceeds will go to the Shore Drive Community Coalition?s defense and protection fund in support of the Shore Drive-Chesapeake Bayfront Coastal Preservation campaign. 

NOV 5th- Monday Night from 6 to 9:00 pm
$20/advance – $25/door per person @ The Green Parrot Grille,
4494 Lookout Rd., Chicks Beach
For Tickets & Details: Contact Manager/Lori @ 460-4640 or Liz @ 425-2123 

Print the Whole Flyer & hand it out, hang it, mail it…..get the word out!
See the Whole Flyer [ 1pg PDF ]

Speaking about Art Sandler the article goes on to state how[h]e can speak with a college president about how education drives the economy one day and hang out with laborers the next.

Could that mean that he could eventually see the more enlightened, forward thinking value of turning Pleasure House Point into a learning center for the community? [ Learn more. ] After all, according to the article, he had a different career plan after college, …Art, a teacher. And, Art has a sleek home with eco-friendly features, including an energy-saving grass roof and a porous gravel driveway.

Read & comment on article at Pilotonline.com.

Photo of a portion of wetlands that are proposed to be destroyed.
Taken before walking on PHP was considered trespassing.
Please respect the owner’s property rights and do not trespass.

Thanks to ChicksBeach.com for promoting the fund raiser.

Read entire article & take poll at Pilotonline.com [Smoking ban is winning right now in the poll.]

Short of no rainfall, the solution is myriad – low-nutrient fertilizers, fewer lawn chemicals, more treatment of sewage, more buffer strips to catch farm pollution, no dumping of leaves and used oil down storm drains.
Read entire article at Pilotonline.com.

The Virginian-Pilot Joy Fund is a holiday charity that helps nearly 21 thousand children in Hampton Roads receive toys during the holiday season. In 1934, editor Tom Hanes wanted to find a way to help children in need, The Joy Fund was born and it is one of the area?s most respected andsignificant providers of holiday support for the needy. The Joy Fund works with public schools and social service agencies to identify children and families in need.  100% of every penny donated goes to purchase new toys.  The Virginian-Pilot pays for all administration costs. The Salvation Army helps to distribute toys to children who would otherwise do without.  Please help us bring joy to the children this holiday season.

Donations are accepted all year and are tax deductible.

To donate online.

Donations can be mailed to: 

The Joy Fund
PO Box 2136
Norfolk, VA 23510

Donations can be dropped off at one of these Virginian-Pilot offices:

150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk,
4565 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach,
5429 Greenwich Rd., Virginia Beach
921 N. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake.

Checks can be made payable to The Joy Fund. Donations will be listed in The Virginian-Pilot beginning November 4, 2007.

Watch for Virginian-Pilot ads for upcoming Joy Fund events to help raise money.

For additional information call Linda Hollingsworth, Marketing Specialist, Community Relations and Joy Fund coordinator – 757-446-2445 or email [encode=linda.hollingsworth@pilotonline.com?Subject=From SDCC.info]Linda[/encode].

This month’s presentation will be on the Virginia Pilot’s Joy Fund.  Ms. Linda C. Hollingsworth will give a brief presentation and explain how the Joy Fund and SDCC can potentially work together.  She will have a question and answer session after the presentation.

Nov. 5, Monday,  6-9 p.m. at the Green Parrot, 4494 Look Out Road, Chicks Beach

All you can eat shrimp
Happy Hour prices all night
Tickets: $25 at door   $20 in advance
(Liz Dyer 425-2123 or Manager at GP 460-4640)
Come support our Great Shore Drive neighborhood
Proceeds to benefit : Shore Drive Community Coalition’s Account to Oppose Indigo Dunes

Green Parrot on the web!

Includes:
STAFF REPORTS
    Lesner Bridge Charrette Overview – David Jarman, Public Works
    Shore Drive Corridor Improvement Projects Update – Heather Ham, Public Works
    Zoning Enforcement Update – Randy Wallace, Planning

Meeting Agenda [2pg PDF]

Virginia Coastal Access Now (VCAN) believes the public has long held a prescriptive easement prior to the Sandler?s acquisition of the property and that public access is now being illegally denied.  Our non-profit respectfully requests that the City require the Sandlers remove sections of fencing and the City erect public access signs.
Read entire letter at VCANACCESS.com.
View part of their inspiration for pursuing this.

The Design Subcommittee of the Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet at 8 a.m., Monday, October 15, at the First Landing State Park Trail Center Conference Room.  The Conference Room is located at the end of the park road leading south from the Shore Drive park entrance where parking is located to access the nature trails.