Swimming Advisory Issued for Two Locations on the Chesapeake Bay

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Swimming Advisory Issued for Two Locations on the Chesapeake Bay  

The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for two locations on the Chesapeake Bay: between Ocean View Avenue (5000 block) and Mortons Road, and between Rockbridge Road and Starfish Road. Recent testing conducted by the Health Department showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the State Water Quality Standards. The advisory does not affect the Virginia Beach oceanfront or resort area.

For more information click here to read the City’s notice  http://www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=1630

Areas in RED are under a swimming Advisory

 

Swiming Advisory Locations

PHP clean up Saturday

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From Ocean Park Civic League:

As a Civic League, we have undertaken the task of providing cleanup services at this wonderful resource right in our back yard. We hope to do this 3-4 times a year. Our next opportunity is this Saturday. Remember, many hands make for light work. Please come help.Details are below.

Join us for another Clean Up at Pleasure House Point(PHP)
Saturday, September 21
9-12 AM
Check-in will be at the first Marlin Bay entrance coming from Shore Drive
Bags and plastic gloves will be provided

Please contact Susie Walston, susieandmac@gmail.com, if you have questions.

“OF ALL THE places to get to know the Lynnhaven River, Pleasure House Point, the city’s beautiful new natural area off Shore Drive, has been the greatest meeting ground.”

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Read Mary Reid’s article & view photos at Pilotonline.com.

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“Staff will continue to brainstorm ideas with the stakeholders and the contractor (once determined) in order to try to find a resolution to this issue.” Phase 3 construction of Lesner Bridge.

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The following information has been received from the city about bicycle and pedestrian access on the Lesner during construction: “Public Works staff has been coordinating with Mr. Wayne Wilcox, who is the City’s liaison to the BTAC. Although several options have been explored to provide temporary pedestrian and bicycle access across the bridge, during Phase 3 of construction, staff has not found a safe, buildable and economically-feasible solution. Phase 3 is the critical phase because the entire width of the bridge is needed to handle the four lanes of traffic, and there is no additional space for a sidewalk or a bike lane. Staff will continue to brainstorm ideas with the stakeholders and the contractor (once determined) in order to try to find a resolution to this issue.”

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Latest news about construction at SDCC.info.

Man exposes himself to 2 girls on bike path.

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From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:

The following received from a resident on Beech St.

On Tuesday, at approximately 2:30pm, two teenage girls disembarked from the school bus.

They stopped to talk before parting ways at the bike path.

A white male in his mid-40’s walked past them on the bike path with his private parts exposed.

When my daughter started walking down the bike path toward home, he turned around and followed her.

She ran back to her friend and they ran to the friend’s home where an adult was waiting.

Police were called and a report was filed.

The man was wearing black athletic shorts, a gray t-shirt, white walking shoes and knee socks. He had no facial hair.

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. Also, please call or email the NW Coordinator so crime reports and suspicious activities can be shared with all of our residents.

More details posted 9.11.13 @ 646p:

The man is described as overweight, height about 5′ 7″ and had a receding hairline so the victims couldn’t distinguish his hair color. If anyone has any information about this man, please call the police at 385-5000.

VB Parks & Rec wins award for PHP

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Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation is pleased to have received three awards on Monday, September 9, 2013 at the 2013 Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS) Conference in James City County, Virginia.

The Best New Environmental Sustainability Award was presented in recognition of the preservation of Pleasure House Point Natural Area.

This natural area was acquired and preserved in July 2012 by the City of Virginia Beach through a forward-thinking partnership with the Trust for Public Land (TPSL, in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). This 118-acre legacy acquisition contains a mile of shoreline on the Lynnhaven River and Pleasure House Creek.

With the assistance of TPF, CBF and the grassroots efforts of the community, the City of Virginia Beach succeeded in preserving one of the last undeveloped parcels of land on the Lynnhaven River.

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” 911 Call Center Working Virginia Beach 9-1-1 lines are functioning on a backup system. This system does not provide your location or telephone number information, so if you dial 9-1-1 please remain on the line and speak with the 9-1-1 call taker.​ “

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View VBgov.com.

Friends of Live Oaks (FOLO) will be giving away about 150 live oak trees on Saturday October 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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FOLO

Friends of Live Oaks (FOLO) will be giving away about 150 live oak trees on Saturday October 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Linkhorn Annex (the former Linkhorn Elementary School) at 1413 Linkhorn Road. Live Oaks are the official tree of the City of Virginia Beach, and FOLO members want to assure their survival for future generations to enjoy.

Since its founding three years ago, FOLO has given away about 500 live oaks (approximately 7 feet tall). If you would like to have a live oak for your yard, request forms are available at Virginia Beach public libraries and recreation centers and online at vbgov.com/liveoaks.

Although there is no charge for the trees to be given away on October 12, recipients of the trees ( and those who admire live oaks and want to ensure their presence here for future generations) are encouraged to purchase a yearly membership in Friends of Live Oaks, for only $10.

You can view the flyer here.

The tree is one of the most distinctive and recognizable plants in the city and immediately brings to mind our coastal areas and maritime ecosystem. They resist salt spray and storm surges, having survived Hurricane Katrina in areas where everything else was reduced to rubble.

Save a tree and request your live oak tree at this link at VBGov.com.

Prossible New Changes to the once dead SB926

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SB926 at SDCC.info previously.

Newest info follows below

Line 98 proposed changes:

Line 98: 10. Governmental activity in wetlands owned or leased or within an easement held by the Commonwealth or a subdivision thereof or in wetlands subject to a local government approved neighborhood navigation dredging project within a special services district adopted by the local governing body in accordance with 15.2-2400, et seq., of the Code of Virginia (“SSD Neighborhood Dredging Project”). Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the contrary, any such special service district neighborhood dredging project SSD Neighborhood Dredging Project shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission rather than the local wetlands board, if any. In exercising its jurisdiction over neighborhood dredging projects, the Commission shall process permit applications in accordance with the provisions of the this chapter and the applicable wetlands zoning ordinance, if any, and shall provide an opportunity for public comment.

 

Previous 2013 Virginia Beach Legislative Agenda Wording

 

Link to Previous 2013 version of SB926 as Introduced

SENATE BILL NO. 926
Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled January 7, 2013
13100867D
A BILL to amend and reenact § 28.2-1302 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the jurisdiction of local wetlands boards.
–––––––––– Patron––McWaters
––––––––––
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
––––––––––

2013 SB  926 Wetlands; governmental activity.

01/31/13  Senate: Stricken at request of Patron in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (10-Y )

YEAS–Hanger, Watkins, Puckett, Ruff, McEachin, Petersen, Northam, Marsden, Black, Miller–10.

NAYS–0.

ABSTENTIONS–0.

Pleasure House Point Plant Walk & Children’s Night Hike

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Pleasure House Point Plant Walk

Wednesday, September 18, 5:30-7:00 PMBeautyberry
Join us for a nature walk through Pleasure House Point with Vicki Shufer, naturalist, author, and local plant expert.  Hear stories about how these plants were used hundreds of years ago and which ones are good to eat.  Enjoy the beautiful  sunset along the Lynnhaven River as we wrap up the tour at dusk.
Free, but you must register ahead.  Email or call 757-962-5398 to register.

 

Children’s Night Hike

First Landing State Park
Friday, September 20, 7:30-9:30 PM

Photo by Kevin DuBois Bring your children for a exciting night hike in First Landing State Park on the banks of the Lynnhaven River.  Search for night creatures, listen to the sounds of the forest at night and look for glowing owl eyes hiding in the trees. 

For more information or to register, contact LRNow at 757-962-5398 or Trista@LRNow.org. 

“Four lanes of traffic will remain open throughout construction, although there will be a 15-month period during which pedestrians and cyclists will not be able to cross the bridge, Jarman said. The city is looking into options, including busing, to assist pedestrians across Lynnhaven Inlet.”

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…there will be a 15-month period during which pedestrians and cyclists will not be able to cross the bridge…

Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com.

After the Lesner Bridge project, Jarman said, the city may consider keeping the bulkhead at Crab Creek permanently and request a permit modification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

During the first phase of construction, the pedestrian walkway on the westbound span of the existing bridge will be removed. The new westbound span will be built just north of the current bridge, and all traffic will remain open on the old bridge. That could take about 15 months, wrapping up by summer 2015, Jarman said.

Photo Credit: Share Shore Drive Day July 11 2009

Photo Credit: Share Shore Drive Day July 11 2009

Night kayaker or swimmer?

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Have you experienced this yet?

The bioluminscence has been world class off our beach all week long. A species of dinoflaggelate (microscopic plankton) that makes a blue/green flash when disturbed under the right conditions is blooming in the lower Bay. Neon blue kayak bow wave. Ball of blue green light with each paddle stroke. Thousands of tiny light specks when you wave your hand through the water.

I highly recommend people go for a night kayak / swim in the Bay over the next several days in hopes that conditions are right and they get to experience the magic. I find that it’s best on moonless nights, generally 50 feet or more from shore and when the water is calm. Currents or conditions change daily, so it may be around for a week, or gone tonight. It’s really neat with or without a mask on.

Maybe you could email this information out because it’s really worth experiencing if it’s still around.

Captain Octopus (Bob)

Be safe if you check it out!

VB Audubon Bird Walk at PHP – Sat Sept. 14th @ 8am

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The Virginia Beach Audubon Society will have a bird walk on Saturday, September 14th, at 8:00 am at Pleasure House Point.

 It is open to the public. We will walk the Preserve for roughly two hours looking, identifying and photographing birds as well as other wildlife in the area.  

The trip will be led my Master Birder Steve Coari and will include about 15 Audubon members.

“The Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Resort and Conference Center, 2800 Shore Drive, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.”

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Visit VBGov.com to learn more.

Subcommittees will meet from 2 to 3:15 p.m. at the Resort and Conference Center. The subcommittees will continue their deliberations regarding recommendations for commercial design standards and safety issues along the Shore Drive corridor. The subcommittee meetings will be open for the public to observe, but there will not be an opportunity for the public to participate in the subcommittee’s deliberations.

Photo Credit: Steve Coari at Pleasure House Point

Photo Credit: Steve Coari at Pleasure House Point

“The work will be done at Pleasure House Point in Virginia Beach, the same site where neighbors fought hard to keep a development from being built in that area and destroying the natural habitat.”

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Coverage at WTKR.com.

Volunteers will be working at the site just off Shore Drive Thursday, September 5 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also take action and volunteer next Tuesday, September 10 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“Early next year, staff will install devices that prevent flooding back-flow through city drains during high-water events at five locations in the Lynnhaven Colony neighborhood.”

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Read entire article at Pilotonline.com:

The city is tasked with finding a permanent solution as it watches the sea levels rise, coupled with more intensive weather events, City Manager Jim Spore said in a letter to the council.

His staff will present a comprehensive plan early next year.

Crab Creek outfall back flow preventer installed

Crab Creek outfall back flow preventer installed

Hopefully they will be as successful as the one installed in Crab Creek that prevented storm surge flooding coming through the storm drains in October 2012 during Super Storm Sandy.

Previously at SDCC.info:

    Catastrophic storm plug for Crab Creek outfall prevented widespread tidal flooding in Ocean Park.

Pleasure House Point Draft Master Plan to be presented at SDCC Monday Aug 26th meeting

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Ms. Barbara Duke, Project Manager for Parks and Recreation will present the latest update on the Pleasure House Point Master Plan.

Last year 25 stakeholders worked with the City’s Parks and Recreation department to gather citizen input on what Pleasure House Point should and shouldn’t become.  A draft Master Plan was created and the stakeholder group disbanded.  The City has been working on the draft plan with final intentions to make it an official adopted plan for the natural park.   

Come out to hear the latest update on the Master Plan for Pleasure House Point and provide comments.

Monday Aug 26th at 7:30pm Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue

Click here for to see the draft master plan from last year.  Please be aware the file is 16 Mb and may take a little while to download.   http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/design-development-projects/current-projects/Documents/php-stakeholder-presentation-7-30.pdf

SDCC General Meeting Agenda – Monday Aug 26th at 7:30pm

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

 

Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) General Meeting

Monday 26 AUGUST 2013

 SDCC General Meeting – Monday, August 26, 7:30 – 9:00 pm

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

 

Call to order

 Meeting topic:         

City’s Draft Plan for Pleasure House Point presented by Ms. Barbara Duke, Project Manager from Parks and Rec Dept For Important information concerning this city, budget issues, Pleasure House Point, dredge spoils project and Long Creek channel maintenance dredging, and much more

 

Officers’ Reports

                                    President’s Report – David Williams

                                    Vice President’s report-Rick Mercadante

                                    Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon –May Minutes

                                    Treasurer’s Report-  Ann Williams

 

Update on issues:    Discussions

Old Business

New Business          

 Adjourn

 

Next SDCC- SEP 30, 2013

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center 

Speaker- To be announced

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

Virginia Beach Audubon Society has a dedicated PHP page

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And we linked to it at our dedicated PHP page!

Check out the Audubon Society’s PHP page.

Virginia Beach Audubon has been very active on this property since it was announced in 2012. Field Trips by many especially the visitations by Steve and Julie Coari with help from Dianne Hinch, Keith & Karen Roberts, Jim Marcum, Brian Prendergast and a few others have identified over 122 species to date. Below is a full list of the birds at this site and dates that they were sited. Pictures throughout this page are from PHP shot by Steve, Keith, Brian and Julie.

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