From the Prez of OPVRS:

Dear friends and neighbors;

I am organizing a working party to help the Rescue Squad recover from the effects of last weeks storm. We will begin at 9 am Saturday. Mostly we will need help cleaning the floors and airing out the furniture. We can take a closer look then for other issues that may have effected the building.

Thank you for your help.

Brian Ledwell
Executive Board President
Ocean Park Volunteer Fire and Rescue

About their damage from Nor’Ida.

From City’s Media & Communications Group:
Subject: News Release – City Asks Citizens to Report Storm Damage – November 2009 Nor’easter 020

The following is provided for your information:

City Asks Citizens to Report Storm Damage – November 2009 Nor’easter 020

Release Date:  Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:45 a.m.

The City of Virginia Beach is asking citizens to report damage to their homes, businesses, cars or other property from last week’s storm. The city will provide a summary of this information to the state and federal governments. Please report damage at http://www.VBgov.com/stormdamage and fill out a brief form, or call the city’s 311 information line (outside Virginia Beach, call (757) 385-3111). Citizens will be asked to provide:

  * Location
  * Type of damage
  * Name
  * Contact information
  * An estimate of the severity of the damage

Damage must be caused by the northeaster from Wednesday, Nov. 11, to Saturday, Nov. 14.  This information will be used by officials to accurately determine the extent of the damage from the powerful coastal storm.
###

Note: props to June for coming up with “Nor’Ida”. Seems like the name should stick.

Note: This was not hi tide.

Editors note: This is encouragement to help OPVRS. Since SDCC has not met, nor voted on – this is not yet an official endorsement.
Common sense says – they help us – we should all certainly step up and help them.
From an email:
Subject: Ocean Park Meeting Room IMPORTANT!
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:26:06 -0500

Dear Friends and Neighbors;

Our Headquarters at Shore Drive and East Stratford Road has sustained a moderate amount of damage to the building from the recent storm.
While in the recovery process, we will be mainly operating from the First Landing Station at Great Neck Road and Shore Drive.
Repairs will need to be made to various areas within the station therefore, all scheduled events for the Meeting Room and Conference/Training Room must seek other locations to hold their activities until further notice.

Thank you for your understanding during this challenging situation.

Brian Ledwell
Executive Board President

—
Brian Ledwell
cell (757) 719-7700
brianledwell@cox.net

Hope every one is safe and secure. We were lucky enough to get power back at 9:29pm this evening.

Ocean Park on southside of Lesner Bridge had sections, like ours, that were pummeled with 2 high tides that rivaled those of 2003’s Isabel. Accurate information was incredibly challenging to come by. Thanks to the Police, Fire & Rescue that patrolled during the height of the storm. Interestingly, it appears that during the worst of it, many had no idea how under water areas of Ocean Park were.

Undoubtedly there has been massive damage in flood prone areas of all of Shore Drive and surrounding Hampton Roads. You are fortunate if you’ve had none. Please consider those of us who have.

From Cape Story’s Neighborhood Watch, there have been at least 3 vehicle break ins in the last couple days. All vehicles were locked and had various things stolen. Police reports were filed.

1:The following was received from a resident on Wake Forest St. between the bike path and Poincianna.  If anyone knows anything about this or saw anything unusual on Saturday night, please call the police. 
“In the 2200 Block of Wake Forest Street sometime Saturday night (Nov 7), my work truck was broken in to and about $2000.00 worth of power tools were stolen. Also taken from the bed of the truck a tool box with approximately $800.00 worth of hand tools.  I have filed a police report.”“

2:Last night, Tues 11/10, between 6:30 p.m and 6:45 this morning,  a SUV on Bayberry St near Poincianna was broken into. The vehicle was locked and the owner is not sure how it was entered.  Money, driver’s license, and ID cards were taken.  The police were notified this morning.  If anyone has any information, please call the police at 385-5000.

3. The following was received from a resident on Walke St.
Same thing happened to me on Walke Street, on the trail side of Shore Drive between 10:00 pm. (Tues 11/10) and 8:00 am this morning.  Two cars ransacked including the trunk.  Still trying to figure out what is missing.  I have not yet made a police report.  I will do so this morning.  Thanks!”

From LRNow:
  * Hosted by the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club (CG&YC) and endorsed by Lynnhaven River Now and the Clean Marina Program
  * Lighted, decorated boats will leave CG&YC at 6:00 p.m. on 12/5/09, travel up Linkhorn Bay to Broad Bay, to the south channel of Long Creek, up to the Lesner Bridge, and loop around and head back the same route.  ***Fun to head to your favorite restaurant along the river and watch from there! **
  * Boats will be decorated with lights and themes celebrating the entire holiday season.  Open to all motorized pleasure and commercial craft (must be able to maintain a constant speed of 5 – 7 knots with appropriate safe distance between vessels).
  * Mandatory Captain’s Meeting on 12/2, 6:30 p.m. at the CG&YC
  * Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for Best Decorated and a number of other categories
  * Party at the Cavalier immediately after the parade.

For all the details and a registration form, email: holidayonthebay@cox.net or call Terry Connelly at 757-435-6411.

More at VBGov.com.

President:  Grace Moran

Vice President:  David Williams

Secretary:  Todd Solomon

Treasurer:  Steve Kohler

Heidi and Dorinda, thank you so very much for all the contacts you made and all the rejectiion you endured in coming to this goal.  I hope that the team that you have assembled will serve the Shore Drive community as ably as have past Executive Boards. 

We sent it Thursday November 5th ‘09 11:42am EST. 

A reminder that tonight you can find out more about the replacement for the Lesner Bridge. If you use Shore Drive, you certainly know tearing down and replacing the Lesner Bridge is going to be a large part of your life for a few years.

The Official Page at VBGov.com has links to various info & presentations including one to SDCC.
Official CIP Page from The City.
Final Draft of Environmental Assessment. [220 Pg PDF]

If you have trouble opening any links please email or the .

The Meeting is today, Thursday, November 5, 2009 from 5-7pm at Cox High School.

[Editor’s Note: I bet if you ask politely, especially since replacing the Lesner Bridge is a once in a lifetime project and will affect so many lives in so many ways, The City will have more Public Meetings at different times closer to the Bayfront Community.]

Release Date: Friday, October 30, 2009

The Planning Commission is currently reviewing a proposed amendment to the City Zoning Ordinance that will regulate Electronic Display Signs, also known as LED signs. The Planning Commission is seeking input regarding the ordinance and the issue of Electronic Display Signs.

The workshop is scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2009, at 5:30 p.m., and will be held in the City Council Chamber, second floor of Building 1, at the Municipal Center.
Please be aware that this proposed ordinance only addresses on-site signs. It does not pertain to billboards. There are currently no ordinance changes to the City of Virginia Beach’s regulation of billboards under consideration by the Planning Commission. Billboards remain prohibited within the city.
The proposed ordinance for on-site Electronic Display Signs can be viewed by downloading the document from the following Web address or by requesting a copy from the Planning Department – (757) 385-4621 or planadmn@vbgov.com

Click to access 20_ElecDisplaySigns_AMD.pdf

For more information, contact the Planning Department at (757) 385-4621 or planadmn@vbgov.com

Download and read the 18 page pdf.

From Pilotonline.com:

Arnold Lee Jones, 21, of the 3700 block of Dupont Circle, Virginia Beach, died Friday from severe head injuries, police said in a release today.

Editors note: That is the 5th death since 1996 at the Don Julios – Salty Dogs – Croakers block. There is also retail shops, offices, high rises, no crosswalks and the average speed there is ~54mph. Based on experience attempting to cross there successfully, it appears many drivers accelerate trying to “catch” the green at the Lesner Bridge.

Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) General Meeting Agenda

Monday, October 26, 2009

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall (parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Call to Order

General Announcements – Grace Moran

Request to waive officer’s reports.  Distribute minutes to be voted on at November meeting.  Announce slate of candidates for 2010.

Program/Presentation – Part One – Pleasure House Point: The Possibilities

          Tim Solanic

Power Point iPhoto Presentation

Discussion and Question and Answer session about innovative use of Pleasure House Point property.Program – Part Two – Comprehensive Plan Update

Discussion of suggested revisions to Section Three (Suburban Area) and Section Six (Transportation), which can be previewed at http://www.vbgov.com/planning or http://www.vbgov.com/bayfront, by clicking on Comprehensive Plan Update.  Brief statement by Dave Williams addressing Section Six.

Vote to Adopt Language Revisions as determined by discussion.

Distribute Draft Agenda for November meeting.

Adjourn.

Next Meeting:  November 30, 2009:  Elections and Housekeeping

Please check http://www.sdcc.info for details as they become available.

Budgeting for next year will be tough. Revenues will be down. For now, we expect a $49 million shortfall in fiscal 2010-11. How can we close that gap? Cutting services? Raising revenues?

The City wants to hear from YOU.  Four town hall meetings to discuss the upcoming budget. These meetings will be held through the fall to give you ample opportunity to listen, learn and talk with us. All meetings will be from 7 to 9 p.m. City Council members and city staffers will attend.

Meetings will be held:

  *Wednesday, Oct. 28, Larkspur Middle School, 4696 Princess Anne Road
  *Thursday, Nov. 5, Princess Anne High School, 4400 Virginia Beach Blvd.
  *Wednesday, Nov. 18, Green Run High School, 1700 Dahlia Drive
  *Thursday, Dec. 3, Kellam High School, 2323 Holland Road

Space is limited. If you plan to attend, please send an e-mail to budget@vbgov.com.

Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads and Virginia need a more sustainable, intelligent energy future. The Mayor’s Alternative Energy Task Force has been exploring options since June. Now it’s your turn.

To view briefings and documents from previous meetings, visit http://www.VBgov.com.

For more information, or to make your opinion known, contact Bob Matthias at 385-8267 or rmatthia@vbgov.com on or before October 26, 2009.

From Cape Henry Shores Neighborhood Watch:

The following home invasion occurred in the Reserve neighborhood off Great Neck Rd. I am sending this as a reminder to please keep your doors locked and do not open them unless you know who is outside.  This was very close to our neighborhood and it is very scary that it happened while still daylight.  The article was taken from the Virginian Pilot website.

“A child called 911 on Friday as his family’s residence was invaded by three armed men. Police who went to the home arrested one suspect and are looking for the other two men. The home invasion happened at 5:39 p.m. at a residence in the 1500 block of Mirassou Lane. A man who lives there had gone out to run errands, said Officer Margie Hobbs, a Police Department spokeswoman. His wife and three children were home. The woman came to the door when the doorbell rang, and three men forced their way in and brandished a gun, Hobbs said. A child upstairs called 911. The three men then made the family get in a closet while they ransacked the house and ran when they heard police sirens. Police arrested one man nearby on Burton Drive. The other two are described as black, ages 17 to 25, both with a thin build and wearing black clothing, Hobbs said. Police used a reverse 911 system to notify neighbors about the home invasion, she said. Police did not release the age of the child who made the phone call”.

Anyone with information may call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (562-5887).

You’ve heard rumors about Indigo Dunes, preserving PHP as a public park, that the City should pay $25M to buy it, etc.

Attend SDCC’s Meeting October 26th to find out:
the latest on Indigo Dunes & Pleasure House Point.
ask your questions and get answers about how to make PHP public open space.
view an idea to create an environmental learning center on PHP and how it could affect our beloved neighborhood.

Rumors of the Mayor, City Manager and the President attending are, as of the date of this post, unfounded rumors.

Watch this website and our eNewsletter for official info.

Clay Bernick and the City arborist will be on hand to discuss possible locations for planting live oaks. Topics of discussion will be the Shore Drive Corridor Plan and Appendix, the ULI Report and Design Guidelines as they relate to the draft Comprehensive Plan to be reviewed by the public on:
Thursday, October 22
Bayside Recreation Center
4500 First Court Road

Monday, October 26
Virginia Beach Convention Center
1000 19th Street

Thursday, October 29
Creeds Elementary School
920 Princess Anne Road
All meetings scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m

The Comp Plan may be viewed at VBGov.com.

BAC will focus primarily on chapter 3 ” Suburban Focus Area” relating to the Shore Dr. Corridor (SFA1).