Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses has been documented.

Direct link at Center for Disease Control.
Direct link at Virginia Department of Health.
Direct link at World Health Organization.

Google News. Yahoo News.

From the Virginia Bicycling Federation:

The Virginia Bicycling Federation (VBF) announces the creation of a bicycling education fund in remembrance of Daniel Wayne Hersh, an avid Virginia Beach cyclist who was killed by an overtaking motorist while bicycling locally on April 19.

Donations can be made in Hersh’s name to:
Virginia Bicycle Federation
P.O. Box 5621
Arlington, VA 22205

To properly direct their contribution, donors need only include a simple note on their check stating “Hersh Memorial”. The Virginia Bicycling Federation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all contributions to the Hersh Memorial Fund are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Memorial Ride scheduled for Sunday.
An update including placement of a ghost bike.

Video Tribute to Mr. Hersh.

Further information on Donating/Joining the VBF.

Previously at SDCC.info:
Bicyclist killed on Shore Drive this morning
Cyclist killed was hit before
Over 50 comments at Pilot article about cyclist killed on Shore Drive

The article as of the time of this post has ~50 comments.

According to Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles Manual, Section 2, page 23 it clearly states:

Bicyclists: Bicycles are considered vehicles
and have the same rights-of-way as motor
vehicles. Bicyclists are also expected to
obey the same traffic rules and regulations
as vehicle drivers; however, many are
children who may not know or obey the
rules. Slow down when you approach
bicyclists. Give them plenty of room when
passing and be prepared to stop suddenly.
Look for bicycles on all public roads except
where prohibited by a sign.

From the Virginia Coalition for Open Government.

From Pilotonline.com:

Hersh rode 20 to 30 miles a day, including to and from his workplace on General Booth Boulevard, and was on a 30-to-40-mile ride when he was hit from behind in the Sunday morning twilight along Shore Drive, his son said.
And…
While pedaling along Pleasure House Road, a vehicle abruptly turned, and the cyclist slammed into the passenger side…

Previously at SDCC.info.

SDCC General Meeting – Monday April 27th, 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall (parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

Print this Agenda and bring it with you. [2pg pdf]

Program/Presentation – Lillie Gilbert, of Wild River Outfitters, will take us on a virtual tour of the Lynnhaven River. Discover some of its secret spots and the best places to put in a kayak or canoe.

The general agenda for the evening will be:
Officer’s Reports – Brief Reports
Secretary – Todd
Treasurer’s Report – Leslie
Vice President & President –Introductory Remarks

Old Business-

Indigo Dunes Project – Update to the status of the USACE review of the application for renewal of the existing, but soon to expire JPA. Also, there has been no date set for the State Water Control Board hearing or the circuit court appeal by the City of Virginia Beach.

Update on Lesner Bridge Replacement – The City has run into some unexpected snags with regard to a southern alignment of the replacement. Fully aware of the objections of residents who would be negatively impacted by a northern alignment, the City is revisiting all alternatives, including the possibility of a more centered alignment, even though it could mean nearly a year of two lane traffic across the span.

Pound Pole Fishing Nets – The Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VMRC) has approved the siting of three pound nets in the area between Ocean Park, Baylake Pines, Chesapeake Beach and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The Board of Ocean Park Civic League has elected to appeal this decision and is presenting a motion to that effect at the next general membership meeting on May 7, 2009. Chesapeake Beach Civic League and Baylake Pines Civic League are being asked to do the same.

Beach Replenishment – Status of city negotiation with property owners along the affected beaches, if available.

New Business –

Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) Update – SDCC and the Bayfront Advisory Committee are jointly addressing two issues of interest to residents along the Shore Drive Corridor. Those issues are the complaints by neighbors adjacent to Chick’s Oyster Bar concerning disturbances to their peace and tranquility; also, the safety of the intersection of Shore Drive and Kendall, where speed and reduced visibility pose a hazard to pedestrians and to ingress and egress from Cape Henry Shores and, to a lesser extent, Cape Story by the Sea.

Review and comment of City’s website regarding Shore Drive issues – The BAC and City staff would like the resident of Shore Drive to review and provide feedback on the City’s website regarding Shore Drive related items. How easy are the sites to use, What is missing? What works and what doesn’t work? The SDCC will be sending an email out with more specifics asking for your input, so stay tuned.

Possible changes to the bike path intersections in Cape Story – City Councilman Wood and City Staff continue to work with Cape Story and Cape Henry Civic Groups to discuss safety improvements to the bike path intersections in their neighborhoods.

Adopt-a-Muster – SATURDAY NIGHTS AT 5:30 PM, 2ND POLICE PRECINCT, 820 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD 385-2700. Citizens have an opportunity to show their appreciation for those who serve. Civic leagues can provide refreshments to officers. Muster begins at 5:30 P.M. Details available from Empsy Munden. Approximately 50-60 OFFICERS on a typical Saturday evening shift, 100 OFFICERS +/-on a holiday such as Memorial Day, July 4th or Labor Day.

Next Meeting: May 25, 2009: Program TBA. Please check http://www.sdcc.info for updates.

More than three decades after the Clean Water Act, two iconic waterways—the great coastal estuaries Puget Sound and the Chesapeake Bay—are in perilous condition. With polluted runoff still flowing in from industry, agriculture, and massive suburban development, scientists fear contamination to the food chain and drinking water for millions of people. A growing list of endangered species is also threatened in both estuaries.

More at PBS’s Frontline.

From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:

A lost puppy has wandered into our yard (see attached photo).  There are no tags, so we do not know where his home is.  Please call at 373-2652.

…or .

We sent it Sunday Apr 19th ‘09 3:29pm EST.

Official Page at VBGov.com:

…Based upon feedback received at the Public Meeting, alternate sites for a dredged material transfer station were evaluated.  The proposed transfer facility has been moved from the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Facility to a site located near the crossing of Thalia Creek and Virginia Beach Blvd.

Thank you.

Update from Cape Story neighborhood watch [6:08pm 4.19.09]:
Police identify him as 54-year-old Daniel Wayne Hersh of the 2300 block of Windway Lane in Virginia Beach.
From WAVY.com.

Tragic.

From Pilotonline.com:
A bicyclist was killed this morning when he was hit by an S.U.V. while riding on Shore Drive.

From WAVY.com:
WAVY.com has learned that the Ford Explorer, driven by a female, was traveling eastbound on Shore Drive when the right side of her vehicle struck the bicyclist.

From WTKR.com:
At 5:45 am Sunday morning a Ford Explorer traveling east bound on Shore Dr. near the intersection of Starfish Lane struck a bicyclist traveling in the right side of the lane.

From WVEC.com:
The driver of the Ford truck veered to the right and struck the bicyclist. He was transferred to a local hospital where he later died.

At the time of this writing, Police at 385.5000 refused to release additional information on the phone.

Mark your calendars now for the April 27, 2009 meeting, when Lillie Gilbert of Wild River Outfitters takes us on a virtual tour of the Lynnhaven River.

Discover its secret places and the best spots to put in your kayak or canoe.

Ocean Park Volunteer Fire & Rescue Station

(intersection of Shore Drive & East Stratford Rd.)

April 27, 2009

7:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the Shore Drive Community Coalition

Secrets of the Lynnhaven Printable Flier to post. [1pg pdf]

Give a hoot about where your tax dollars are spent?

Virginia Beach City Council will hold two public hearings on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2009-10.
More at VBGov.com.

From Pilotonline.com article:
The highest natural ground in the city is a 30-foot bluff on the south shore of Broad Bay, across the water from First Landing State Park.

It was here, where the Pleistocene-era landform known as the Pungo Ridge crests in today’s Great Neck, that much of the region’s native population lived – and died – before the arrival of Europeans.

From Cape Henry Shores neighborhood watch:
The black dog has found his owner!  Thanks to everyone for passing the word!

From Cape Henry Shores:

A black dog with an orange bandana was found on East Admiral.  The dog has been recently groomed.  If anyone has any info, please call Chuck or Liz at 754-4245.

From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:
Two cars belonging to a resident in the 2200 block of Walke St were broken into Sat night sometime between 10:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m Sun,  There was about $500 in property stolen (2 ipods, cash, etc).  One iPod is green on front with a surfing “skin” sticker on the back.  The cars are normally kept locked but were not this time.  The police have been notified.

The owner is offering a $500 reward for anyone who identifies the person(s) responsible.  Please call Ken, 248-8526, if you have any information.

Please remember to call 911 if you see a crime in action and call 385-5000, option 1, to report crimes after they have occurred or to report any suspicious activity.

Not for pending provisional permit for Indigo Dunes, but after a 20 year fight, for a permit for King William Reservoir.

Significant case to follow for those involved with Indigo Dunes?

In his ruling yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr. said the Army Corps “acted arbitrarily and capriciously” when it found that the reservoir was the least damaging practicable alternative. The judge also found arbitrary and capricious the Corps’ conclusion that the permit will not cause or contribute to significant degradation of the waters of the United States and that the permit complies with the public interest.
More at CBF.org.

Latest info[note date on post!] on pending permit with Army Corp of Engineers for Indigo Dunes.

From Editorial in today’s Pilot:
  The editorial board of The Pilot recently wrote that Cape Henry Beach properties in Virginia Beach belong, by deed, to private owners. Yet, amazingly, that same opinion stated that such ownership is a mere technicality regarding private property rights.

  It appears the normally civicminded folks on the board have relied on incomplete information. This is alarming on an issue as important as citizens’ private property rights and a government that uses eminent domain against those rights.

  Our deeds to these Cape Henry beaches, in fact, are unique in the commonwealth, date back to pre-Colonial times and have a documented, historic chain of ownership.

  Our particular property and two other contiguous properties are on a section of the beach that continues to accrete; this part of the beach has   gained 150 feet of beachfront since 1956.

  The owners of these three properties have never requested the city or Army Corps of Engineers to place sand on our beach. We have never requested the city to pick up trash or to provide police patrols for our private beach. We have, in fact, spe   cifically requested several times that the city not trespass on our private property for these publicly funded maintenance efforts. We have not disputed the public’s right to walk along the waterline of the beach, and we have enjoyed harmony and good will among our visitors and guests.

  Our neighboring beach properties to the east need beach erosion protection. Placing the spoils of future Lynnhaven Inlet dredging on those beaches would be cost-effective for the city.

  These facts led our three communities that do not need sand replenishment to offer, at no cost, a renewable construction easement to the city. It would ensure that the Army Corps would have the necessary permissions from private properties to place pipe and equipment on our beaches to deposit sand on   these eastward beaches. This construction easement would facilitate dredging the channel and would provide sand replenishment to those beaches that suffer serious erosion.

  The city, rather than accept our offers to volunteer a renewable construction easement, additionally demanded a “recreational easement” for public use. The city’s attempt to take privately owned property is an infringement on our constitutional rights as private property owners.

  Yes, as you surmise in your editorial, all of us would like to avoid a costly court battle. As homeowners and taxpayers, we couldn’t agree more.

  We would’ve liked to see the city avoid the cost of a private law firm under city contract that has billed $285,475 just from 2003-05 on this specific issue. Additional charges from 2006-09 are $1,066,720.  The City Attorney’s Office states that this represents “a substantial amount of the work done from 2006-2008 related to Cape Henry Beach as well as portions that relate to other beaches as well.”

  Your opinion that taxpayers would be paying for “property owners to benefit from wider beaches in their backyards” is exactly why those of us who are property owners are not requesting such a “benefit.”

  Our specific beach property, for which we have title, is our backyard, is private property, and we are not asking taxpayers to pay for the benefit of a wider beach or for city services.

S.E. Sands, Lisa Koperna, Stan Clark, Edwin Tirona and Jim Bolcar

  Directors Lynnhaven Dunes Condominium Association Virginia Beach

Cape Story neighborhood watch sez:
A pair of glasses were found on the bay side of Oak Street Tues. night, Mar 31.  They are in a brown snakeskin like holder and seem to be bifocal.  Please call Kim LaCroix, 757-481-0002 to claim.