Category Archives: News

Attend SDCC Meeting Monday March 25th – bring your donations for Eastern Shore Fire/Rescue Aid to Ocean Park Volunteer Fire & Rescue too!

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Come out to our meeting Monday, tomorrow, from 730p-830p. We meet in the Ocean Park Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad building so please – also bring your donations for Eastern Shore Fire/Rescue Squad Aid.

Click here for a printable version of the agenda  SDCC MAR 2013 Agenda

About the donations the Rescue Squad are collecting.

Here’s the Agenda:

Shore Drive Community Coalition

Monday 25 FEB 2013

SDCC General Meeting

SDCC General Meeting – Monday, 25 March – 7:30-8:30 pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)

Call to order

Meeting topic: (1) Security Measures for residents

(2) Identity theft and other Scams in the area

Officers’ Reports:

President’s Report David Williams

Vice President’s report Rick Mercadante

Secretary’s Report Todd Solomon –FEB Minutes

Treasurer’s Report

Update on issues:

Old Business

New Business

Adjourn

Next SDCC- Monday April 29, 2013

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center

Speaker- TBA

Please check http://www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events

Any and all are always welcome and can speak. Only Members can vote.

Ocean Park Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad accepting donations to help Eastern Shore re: arson fires

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Read article and watch video report at WTKR.com.

John Burkard, event organizer, says so many donations are coming in that they’ve had to move them to a spare garage bay.

The top items still needed are:
Dish soap
Bottled water and Gatorade
Protein bars
Coffee and creamers/sugars
Paper products

PLEASE HELP! Your donation will make a difference.

“Those guys over there certainly have their hands full, and they definitely need all the help they can get,” says fellow volunteer EMT Brian Lowe.

To help out the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad has organized a supply drive to collect some of the most needed items to keep the firefighters going.

“We are trying to receive donations to donate to Parksley Volunteer Fire company because they have a support truck that basically goes to each of these fires and keeps the firefighters fueled and running and hydrated and ready to go,” says Burkard.

Visit Ocean Park Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad to donate, volunteer, etc.

We also accept donations in the form of checks, cash, services and goods. All donations are tax exempt.

Visit Ocean Park Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad Facebook page.

Folks, this is what Taking Action and Getting Results looks like!

OPVFR Logo

Photos of seals at CBBT by Jet Ski Brian & how to contact the Stranding Response Team

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Photo Credit: Jet Ski Brian http://jetskibrian.com/

In case you’ve missed the great pics Jet Ski Brian has been getting here’s his website.

One of the seals seems to have a gill net wrapped around it’s neck:

I went through the pictures I took on Saturday and sure enough it looks like one the poor guys has what looks like part of a gill net tightly around his neck. I emailed and called the Virginia Beach Aquarium and am waiting to here back from them.
I saw several sets of gill net around the Islands of the tunnel.

Stranding Response Program at Virginia Aquarium.

Report a Stranding
ATTENTION ALL BOATERS AND BEACH WALKERS:
When water temperatures drop quickly, cold-blooded reptiles like sea turtles often find themselves in trouble up and down the East Coast. Some of these animals may appear deceased but are actually in a coma, due to the surrounding cold waters. These animals are in need of IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION! If you come across a sea turtle swimming, floating or stranded on the beach, please stay with it and call the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team immediately at (757) 385-7575.
Report a Stranding

To report a stranded sea turtle or marine mammal (dolphin, whale, seal or manatee) to the Aquarium’s Stranding Response Program, call (757) 385-7575 (24 hours/7 days).

And, the Virginia Aquarium has a new website up to catalog the deadly balloons that can kill marine life.

“An air raid siren will sound at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek on Tuesday morning as part of a statewide tornado drill.”

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At 945am Tuesday for 30 seconds.

At Pilotonline.com.

Cape Story Residents Concerned About Tidal Flooding – WVEC News Report

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Cape Story residents are concerned that the City’s interim plug is in the wrong spot and will not protect all 40 homes in the tidal flooding zone. 

http://www.wvec.com/news/Cape-Henry-ditch-floods-Wednesday-despite-Citys-effort-to-fix-it-195709471.html

 

Storm Water Plug

“According to Bonita Harris with Dominion Virginia Power, high winds caused a large tree to fall atop a transmission line near the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Bayside Drive just before 4 p.m.”

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Visit Dom.com for updates.

If you have power around Shore Drive area, you’re very lucky.

“Save the Old Cavalier”? Join the discussion at the Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement (HRCCE)

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Visit the Project page including a way to submit questions for a Live Chat scheduled for March 13 noon – 1pm:

…The sale is a court-ordered transaction involving private property. As such, the City of Virginia Beach has little control over the sale of the hotel other than the ability to enforce existing zoning laws. The City’s Historic Preservation Commission, however, would like to protect the old Cavalier Hotel on the basis of it historic and architectural merit. A special committee convened by Mayor Will Sessoms and chaired by Mac Rawls, former chair of the Historic Preservation Commission and former Director of the City’s Museums and History Resources Department, has been appointed to study possible uses for the old hotel and make recommendations to City Council regarding the hotel and the City’s role in protecting it.

Online Petition to Preserve Live Oak in Ocean Park

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Update: March 2, Saturday morning, lot is cleared.  Thank you to all that signed the brief petition campaign.

One Tree.  Why bother saving one tree?  Well, in order to get to your destination, you have to take one step at a time.

Please take a minute and sign the online petition to show the property owner that One Tree really does matter.  Click here for the petition

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-live-oak-at-bar-harbor/

Here are several additional reasons why saving one tree is a good thing.

  • The Live Oak is the City of Virginia Beach’s official tree.
  • The majority of Live Oaks in Virginia Beach are located in the Bayfront area.
  • The property owner is an understanding developer.  He has already agreed to save the logs from other live oaks that needed to be removed from this “by right” project.
  • Having one “Tree Conscience” project may lead to other responsible developments.

For more about saving Live Oak Trees, visit www.friendsofliveoaks.org

Thanks to CBF for generously accepting to stage live oak lumber at their PHP parcel.

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There was a lot in Ocean Park recently cleared of all but one of its live oak trees. It was impossible to save these trees.

Thinking boldly, CBF, thanks to Christy’s work, generously agreed to stage this lumber at PHP for use in a future inspirational art project.

We imagine many interested parties working together creating a magnificent sculpture in the near future with inspiration from birds, Native Americans ….

We can also imagine other interested parties helping create smaller pieces, benches, Native American inspired art…

20130301-115831.jpg

Please join us in using the live oak’s precious lumber to create something worthy of their beauty & strength.

NOTE:CBF did not cut these trees down. CBF generously allowed them to be staged at their PHP parcel.

Amazing news about live oak lumber being preserved!

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From an email from Todd:

Bar Harbor Tree Removal – Proffers
T
Todd Solomon
to Kal, Faith, Clay, +7
35 minutes agoDetails
To All:

This development went through the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process almost a year ago. I know it wasn’t a topic at any SDCC meetings last year, but can’t answer for BAC. However it appears it was reviewed by Planning with the Shore Drive Design Guidelines in mind. Landscaping in accordance with the guidelines, saving the logs for Friends of Live Oaks and a monetary donation were all added as proffers for approval. Unfortunately this doesn’t save the trees, but it is a major improvement over the developments being built 10 years ago the totally ignored these issues.

Vince does identify an ongoing communication void that could still benefit from some improvement. CUPs are identified as required in the Beacon, but unfortunately the citizens don’t catch them all. And even if we do, the details in the paper are too vague to identify specific tree removal issues. Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think all the CUPs go before the BAC for review. If they do, then maybe a more detailed agenda would be helpful to the community. I also thought the Planning Commission always asks if the developer has met with the neighboring civic leagues as part of their approval. If a review at BAC is being substituted for meeting with the civic league, then maybe BAC will now have to validate that requirement.

Maybe we can perform a critique on this CUP and look for ways to improve communication. Anything we come up with can be discussed with the appropriate groups that can help implement the suggestions.

Sincerely,

Todd Solomon

Shore Drive Community Coalition-Secretary

(757) 667-8533 cell

“Shore Drive, We Love This Place”, check out http://www.sdcc.info

Subject: Bar Harbor

Hi Ron and Steve,

We are receiving numerous calls regarding the clearing of the site at the intersection of DuPont Circle and Shore Drive. I just want to make sure that the developer, Steve, has proffered the agreed upon money to the live oak fund (that Clay administers). Also the oaks being taken down should be donated to the Friends of Live Oaks. Here is the condition on the use permit –

# 9. The applicant, as agreed upon, shall work with the Environment and Sustainability Office to determine an appropriate donation to the Live Oak Fund to help offset loss of the live oaks on the site, and to have the logs of the trees set aside for Friends of Live Oaks (http://www.friendsofliveoaks.org).

Faith Christie, CZA, CBO

Planner, City of Virginia Beach

2405 Courthouse Drive, Room 115

Virginia Beach, VA 23456

757-385-6379

2013 Watersheds Forum – SIGN UP NOW

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Brought to you by VIMS, LRNow, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

If you love the magnificent bounty of our local waters – GO.

View Lynnhaven River NOW’s E-News here.

2013 Watersheds Forum
March 21, 9:00-2:30, Virginia Beach Convention Center

Oyster Roast 3 The first Virginia Beach Watersheds Forum will be held on March 21, 2013 at the Vriginia Beach Convention Center. Registration will begin at 8:15 AM and presentations begin at 9 AM. The Forum is 9 AM-1 PM and includes a box lunch.
The Forum is being held jointly by Lynnhaven River NOW and the Back Bay Restoration Foundation and is sponsored by the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program.

The 2013 Forum will have two panel presentations from regional experts on adapting to Sea Level Rise and how our natural resorces fit into Virginia Beach’s long range planning. Additionally, break-out sessions for the northern and southern watersheds will feature speakers from VIMS, LRNow, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Registration is $15 and includes light morning refreshments, a box lunch and all presentations. Add-on workshops will be held at the close of the informational presentations from 1:00-2:30. For an additional fee, participants can build their own rain barrel, learn about gardening with native plants and receive their own native plant, or build their own worm composting bin.

Please register here using PayPal. If you prefer to pay with a check, please contact Mary Tilton at mary.tilton@bbrf.org or 757-619-6429.

For more information, visit our website or contact Karen at Karen@LRNow.org or 757-962-5398.
We hope to see you all on March 21st for an interesting day!

SDCC General Meeting Notice and Agenda – Monday Feb. 25th

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Click here for a printable versions of the agenda  SDCC FEB 2013 Agenda (1)

Shore Drive Community Coalition

Monday 25 FEB 2013

 SDCC General Meeting

  

SDCC General Meeting – Monday, 25 FEB – 7:30-8:30 pm 

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.) 

Call to order

Meeting topic:       (1) Neighborhood Security Measures for residents 

                                         (2) VA State Personal Self Defense Laws by David Williams

 Officers’ Reports:

                                          President’s Report              David Williams

                                         Vice President’s report      Rick Mercadante

                                         Secretary’s Report             Todd Solomon –Jan Minutes

                                         Treasurer’s Report             Ryan King

 Update on issues:   

 Old Business

 New Business          

 Adjourn

 

Next SDCC- Monday March 25, 2013  (Please note Easter is 31 March) 

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center 

Speaker- TBA

 

Please check www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events

Fatal accident reported on Shore Drive near First Landing State Park – 2/14/13

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It’s very unfortunate, but after almost 3 years without a fatality on Shore Drive (April 2010), another tragic death has occured.

 

http://wtkr.com/2013/02/14/vehicle-accident-reported-on-shore-drive-near-first-landing/#ooid=FzaDVkOTpJky9UGDdDQ_hVkNmZoxpPm4

fatal

The following was taken from WTKR’s website:

UPDATE: As of 4:00pm., Shore Drive remains closed to East Bound traffic from Kendall Street to Fort story.

Virginia Beach, Va. – Police tell NewsChannel 3 one person has died and one has been injured in a vehicle crash on Shore Drive near First Landing.

It happened at 1:15 p.m., Thursday, February 14, 2013, in the 2500 block of Shore Drive near First Landing. Police say a vehicle was heading eastbound in the 2500 block of Shore Drive near First Landing Park, when it crashed.

One person was reported deceased; and a second person was injured.

Eastbound traffic on Shore Drive is closed from Kendall Street to Fort Story.

NewsChannel 3 is working to find more details. Watch starting First at Four for updates.

Citizens Invited to Help Participate in Review and Adoption of Community Sustainability Plan

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The City of Virginia Beach invites all residents, business owners, community leaders and other stakeholders who have an interest in how the city plans, manages, protects and promotes its current and future sustainability initiatives to participate in the City Council’s review and adoption of “A Community Plan for a Sustainable Future” over the next several weeks. 

 

The City Council will be holding a public comment session on Tuesday, Feb. 12 beginning at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Building 1, 2401 Courthouse Drive, 2nd Floor. 

 

The City Council will also be holding a public hearing and vote on adoption of the plan on Tuesday, Feb. 26 beginning at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Building 1, 2401 Courthouse Drive, 2nd Floor.

 

The draft plan is available for the public to review prior to these meetings at http://www.vbgov.com/government/offices/eso/sustainability-plan/Documents/vb-sustainability-plan-web.pdf.  These public input meetings are the final steps in a yearlong public outreach process to seek ideas and direction from citizens to help guide the City in the development of its first comprehensive Community Sustainability Plan.

 

For additional information, please contact Clay Bernick in the Planning Department/Environment and Sustainability Office at 385-4899 or visit www.VBgov.com/sustainplan.

Bayfront Advisory Committee to Meet Feb. 21

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The Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center, 2800 Shore Drive, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The agenda for the meeting will include the following:

  • Update on public and private projects in the Bayfront area.
  • Update on committee activities in the Bayfront area.

There will be an opportunity for presentations from the public on projects in the Bayfront area. The committee generally concludes its deliberations around 4:30 p.m. The meeting is then opened to the public for comments.

Also, the Bayfront Advisory Design Subcommittee will meet on Feb. 21 from 2 to 3:15 p.m. at the Resort and Conference Center. The subcommittee will continue its deliberations regarding recommendations for commercial design standards along the Shore Drive corridor.

For additional information or to obtain a copy of the draft agenda, contact Faith Christie in the Planning Department at (757) 385-4621 or fchristi@vbgov.com. For more information regarding the Bayfront Advisory Committee, visit www.VBgov.com/Bayfront.