Problems with obnoxious drunks near City Marina continues

Thanks to Emily for her article.
Title by Tim.

All,
> I returned from a two week vacation to find that residents had taken matters
into their own hands.  The noise, traffic congestion, overcrowding, obnoxious
revelry etc. had not gotten better and several of our residents called in
complaints to police and ABC Board.  We had a sign made giving notice that our
parking lot is for residents only. One of our residents was in our garage and
observed two young men come out of Chick’s Bar, walk into our parking area and
knock our sign over.  They continued to walk toward him through our garage, he
confronted them nicely and they were verbally aggressive to him.  He called the
police and filed a complaint.  Police have promised to have a larger presence
and ABC was supposed to have a meeting with Chick’s owners last week to discuss
the issues.  It appears that with the opening of the “Tiki Bar” at Chick’s, the
area has now become a “bar hopping” area and young people from all around are
patronizing the area bars.  So now we not only have the cars blocking Vista
Circle and sometimes entry to our garage, to worry about, but also foot traffic
through our property has become a problem.  In the past, we have had
items(cars, bikes) stolen out of our garage and we don’t want it used as a cut
through.  Our property even though it is clearly posted has become the “short
cut” to Chick’s.  I don’t know what the end result will be, I just pray for
winter.  I invite any of you who have not experienced this to visit the area on
a weekend night between 7:00 PM and 12:00 AM.
>
> We, Lesner Cove Condominium Association, are going to stick to our original
decision to ask at the zoning meeting on August 13, that the City not rezone the
City Marina.  The letter we wrote prior to the July meeting still stands.  We
have asked for support from SDCC and they have agreed to support our position of
leaving the Marina as a Preservation Area.  We certainly don’t need another
“attractive nuisance” in the area drawing more traffic, more noise and more
drinking.  We are overwhelmed.  Any support you can give us will be much
appreciated.
> Emily McBride, President
> Lesner Cove Condo Association

Del. Bouchard on “On the Record” with Joel Rubin Sunday at 11:30am on WVEC

On the Record, Sunday July 27, 11:30am, WVEC TV
The threat of global warming became became more important in Washington
earlier this year when a group of retired admirals and generals issued a
report on its potential impact on national security.  One of the authors,
retired Admiral Joe Prueher, who headed the Pacific Fleet and became U.S.
Ambassador to China from 1999-2001, now lives in Virginia Beach. This Sunday
Prueher and retired captain Joe Bouchard, now a Virginia Beach delegate,
talk about the challenges posed by rising seas, both here and abroad.
Prueher also chats about China today, in advance of the Beijing games which
start next month. 

And in My Minute, my take on Mayor Holley’s remarks about the need for a
“black hotel” in Portsmouth.

That’s this Sunday’s On the Record, 11:30am on WVEC TV.  Have a great weekend. 

Should Indigo Dunes be required to submit financial docs to DEQ

There’s been a bunch of anecdotal evidence that other developer’s permit applications submitted to DEQ have been & still are required to include their financial docs.

You probably remember Indigo Dunes was allowed to “slide” on submitting theirs to DEQ.
Could it be because of press reports of their ~$500M profit destroying/developing PHP?

More about Indigo Dunes & DEQ at SDCC.info.

Community Legislative Town Meeting sponsored by City of VB & VBCCO

The City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations

will be co-hosting a town-hall style discussion to give citizens an opportunity to provide valuable input into the City’s 2008
Legislative Agenda – goals which the City will submit to members of the local General Assembly delegation later in the year.

City Council members and General Assembly members will be invited to answer questions and hear
your comments. This meeting will be an opportunity for neighborhoods, civic leaders, and citizens to
share goals and ideas for state legislation that can have a positive impact on our city.
Remember, because of the Dillon Rule, many local ordinances require General Assembly approval. So
this meeting will impact more areas of local life than you may realize.

When: 7pm, Wednesday, August 6

Where: Virginia Beach Convention Center

For meeting details, and examples of the City’s Legislative Agendas from recent years, please visit
VBCCO.org.
SAVE THE DATE

Creepy man out there impersonating Animal Control

From Cape Story’s neighborhood watch:

The following was received from a resident on Wake Forest St.

There is a creepy man out there impersonating Animal Control. I had an ad in the paper for a missing cat. He is calling the ads and attempting to prey on someone’s emotions of the lost pet to gain access to your house. He called at 9:00 PM stating he was Animal Control and had found the cat and if I give him my address he will bring the cat to the house. I told him that animal control does not work that way and asked who he really was. I said if Animal Control has the cat I will visit the Animal Control building to claim the cat. He kept insisting that he was Animal Control and I need to give him my address so he could bring the cat back.  Of course I did NOT give any information to him. He ended up hanging up on my husband. I then called Animal Control to warn them and they transferred me to the non-emergency police number. They took down his phone number and were going to investigate. I just wanted to remind everyone that if Animal Control does have your pet, you ALWAYS have to go get it.  They do not call you at night or anytime to deliver your lost pet. It is scary to imagine what he would have done if he gained access to my house. There is actually a happy ending to this story.  The cat was found last night on top of a roof!!

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.

Police Department Seeking Applicants for the 26th Session of the Citizens’ Police Academy

Applications are currently being accepted for the 26th session, which will run from September 23 through November 25th, 2008, with classes held every Tuesday night from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  The class will be held at the Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Training Academy, 411 Integrity Way, just off of Birdneck Rd. at 19th Street.  Applications are available at any Virginia Beach Police Precinct, the Crime Prevention Unit Building #15 at the Municipal Center, or you can print a copy [pdf file] from the city’s web site.

Completed applications for this session must be received by the Crime Prevention Office either by mail or personal delivery by Friday, September 12, 2008.  Please do not drop off completed applications at a police precinct.  Seating is limited to 30 citizens.

Topics that are discussed in the academy include:

ü  Recruitment Selection and Training
ü  A Day in the Life of a Patrol Officer
ü  Firearms Safety & Range Operations
ü  Deadly Force Encounters
ü  Forensics
ü  Basic Criminal Law
ü  Animal Control
ü  Crime Prevention Programs
ü  Special Investigations (narcotics,  vice, gang investigations)
ü  Police Chaplains Program
ü  Criminal Investigations
ü  Consumer Fraud
ü  Special Operations

Also included are field trips to the Police Mounted Patrol Barns and the City Jail.

For further information, call MPO Jeff Eaton at 385-1066, bjeaton@vbgov.com or, MPO Leta Krieger at 385-1324, lkrieger@vbgov.com.

MPO Jimmy Barnes, Public Relations Office, 385-4494, jfbarnes@vbgov.com .

More fun with barges at the Lesner Bridge

You probably saw the barge/crane gone since apparently the repair work is complete.

The company attempted to take their equipment Friday.

You might not know the ~82’ barge was grounded for at least 3 hours blocking the channel when it tried to leave yesterday.

Still no official word about the LBR&BF being taken off the list or moved to the bottom for the proposed Permanent Public & Private Dredge Spoils Transfer Station being located there.

Swimmers swept out from Chicks Bch all the way to Lesner Bridge ok

“All of a sudden they started floating really fast in the current,” remembers Barnum.
WAVY.com coverage.

“They can stop the bleeding in certain areas,” Solomon said

In Virginia Beach, companies controlled by the Sandlers did not pay the second installation of the 2008 taxes on Indigo Dunes off Shore Drive…

Pilotonline.com article.
Imagine a partnership creating this, as an example. Could be a win, win, win. Worth trying?

There are other ideas out there. Let us know what they are.

Welcome Home 2nd Platoon, 241st Seaport Operations Company, 11th Transportation Battalion

So they would’ve been forgiven for being on different wavelengths Tuesday, when Newton’s Army unit returned to Fort Story after 15 months in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
Pilotonline.com article.

Economy has Sandlers putting projects on hold

…he called L.M. Sandler officials last week to ask about the rumors. As of Tuesday morning, he hadn’t heard back, he said.
Pilotonline.com article.

LM Sandler & Sons, company behind Indigo Dunes, WAVY news report

Virginia Beach City Treasurer John Atkinson, “Sure there’s smoke. This is a company that has a track record of paying everything on time, as and when required.”
Developer hasn’t paid some property taxes, WAVY10.com.

Why DEQ requested a deferral for SWCB’s July Hearing on Indigo Dunes

We are simply trying to absorb and give full consideration to all comments to ensure we have adequately addressed all issues within our purview.

New date possibly in September.
Comments submitted from various people & orgs include SDCC, Walt, Cheri & Gary, Wetlands Watch, and you!
Thanks again to all who took the time to comment…obviously, they are being taken very seriously.
Stay tuned.

State Water Control Board Hearing re:Indigo Dunes removed from July Agenda

Hi Tim,

I just now got word that the Indigo Dunes project has been removed
from the Board agenda in July.  It will likely be before the Board at
their subsequent meeting in September.  I’ll keep you posted on that.
Basically, the project has been removed from the July agenda so that we
can have sufficient time to thoroughly evaluate and address all public
comments before going before the Board.

I wanted to let you know as soon as I found out, so you can update
your webpages, which I know the majority of the public goes to for
information on this project.  Thanks!

Sheri Kattan

Team Leader/Project Manager
Virginia Water Protection Permit Program
DEQ – Tidewater Regional Office
5636 Southern Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Phone 757-518-2156/Fax 757-518-2009
sakattan@deq.virginia.gov

Fort Story soldiers returning next week…show your support on Shore Drive

Soldiers from the 2nd Platoon, 241st Seaport Operations Company, 11th Transportation Battalion will be returning to Fort Story from a 15-month deployment between Monday and Wednesday of next week.
Monica K. Miller
Fort Eustis Command Information Officer/Fort Story Public Affairs
757-878-4920 Fort Eustis Office
757-878-4928 Fort Eustis Fax
757-422-7101 Ext. 225 Fort Story Office
757-422-7706 Fort Story Fax

Jaxi, an elderly white cat, has been missing from near Wake Forest St in Cape Story

Has anyone seen Jaxi, the solid white cat that lives on Wake Forest St. near the bike path?  She is an elderly cat and has not been seen since the 4th of July. I am very worried about her. If you have seen her please call Marlene at 496-4105.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle lost in Lynnhaven’s eastern branch - Help!

A rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle was recently released by the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Team and wandered into the Eastern Branch of the Lynnhaven River.  He is 3-4 feet in length and has a radio transmitter on his back.  According to radio transmissions, he has been in the Eastern Branch for about four days.  Stranding team members are very interested in checking on him to make sure that he is okay.  If you spot him, please do not intervene, but please do call the stranding team at 757-437-6159 and wait with him until stranding team members arrive.  The most recent radio transmission showed him to be in the Brown Cove area (Holly Point Road and Five Points Road in the Rose Hall Shores area).  We at LRNow would also like to hear if anyone spots him.  You can call our office at 757-962-5398 or email me at . 

Image from Wikipedia.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle at Wikipedia.
Google Images search for Loggerheard Sea Turtle.