Learn more about Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Stranding Response Program:
Our marine animal Stranding Response Program is part of the Aquarium’s Research & Conservation Division. The program is led by a group of trained staff and volunteers, our Stranding Team, who responds to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles along the Virginia coastline and beyond.
Learn more about Bayfront Advisory Committee(BAC).
As our neighbor was about to leave for his short Christmas holiday with his family, a visitor came to stay for a bit. About 50 pounds of wet black hair planted himself on our neighbor’s front porch. My neighbor called me to ask if I knew the owner of the friendly mature black lab. Not knowing the owner, I called Marty Schuman, president of Cape Henry Shores Civic Association to ask for help. He gave me the name and telephone of the Neighborhood Watch coordinator, Ms. Regina Wallace. She quickly put the word out over the internet and text alert system. Within 45 minutes, we had some nice people picking up a very happy dog who would have otherwise gone to animal control. Amazing! One HAPPY family and one very lucky dog who had apparently chased a duck and ventured across Long Creek from Bay Island. With the timely return of their dog, and his reunion with their sweet young daughter, Christmas was once again made special. I am sorry, but I didn’t get her name. I wonder if it is “Virginia”?
As we finish the year of 2012, we wish a warm (no global warming reference intended) season’s greetings to all our families and volunteers who have so freely given of their time, efforts, and treasures to maintain and improve the beauty and community of the Shore Drive area. Many, many people have so generously given to others in our area through food, furniture and clothing drives. You have welcomed our troops home, or said “good bye”, and offered a hand to neighbors while watching over our communities to keep them safe for all. Virginia Beach is truly a generous and caring community. Many of you have given without even expecting a “thank you”. You are beautiful, friendly and caring. You are the heart and very soul of this community that makes you so special. Enjoy your Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or winter solstice. May you personally feel the sense of community with all your neighbors, friends, and family about you.
We wish to give a special “thank you” to our Mayor, City Council members, and city staff for bringing Pleasure House Point to a reality and preserving this incredible public treasure for our future generations. Lynnhaven River Now and Chesapeake Bay Foundation deserve our very special thanks and continued future support.
On behalf of Grace, Todd, Carol, and Tim, may all of you have a MOST SPECIAL HOLIDAY!
CHEERS!!!!!
REUNITED
East bound Shore Drive toward N Great Neck Rd currently closed.
Update: appeared cleared about 1155am.
Anyone else with info?
Thanks to Public Works Project Manager Jason B. Wilson for sharing the proposed changes for the intersection of Page Avenue and Shore Drive.
View the CHT Presentation Final (12 page PDF).
This is part of 2.117.000: Shore Drive Corridor Improvements – Phase III.
Learn more about Shore Drive infrastructure work at SDCC.info/HOT.
Alternative 1 for proposed realignment of intersection.
View from Page Avenue looking east down Shore Drive.
An excerpt of a comment from previous post at SDCC.info about this proposal:
I don’t understand the reason for ANY if these three proposals. Even when Duck In was hosting their famous Friday night parties, everyone (even drunk drivers) managed to exit onto Shore Dr without problems.
Bolt cutters were used on the airplane steel cable type locking device. Bike was a Christmas present from 2011. It was stolen between 1-5p.
Why share this? Bolt cutters were used.
From Cape Story neighborhood watch.
Download the 59 page PDF here.
Public Works repaired the beach steps in Ocean Park:
High winds and water in the Chesapeake Bay from Hurricane Sandy took their toll along the bay front. One casualty was the existing wooden step beach at East Stratford Road that was washed away. Public Works dispatched a crew to the area last week where they made the needed repairs and reconstruction. The beach access has re-opened and is available to the public in the Ocean Park community.
Visit www.TPL.org and donate to receive your hard copy. The digital copy is not yet available – except – in the 59 page PDF above, or download this 12 page PDF to read the story. It’s a great article. Full disclosure: yours truly is in it chatting about the SavePHP idea along with your neighbors Karen, Tom, Cindy, Mike, Whit, & Chris.
Arena Town Hall Meeting to Be Held Tuesday Dec. 18th
The newly formed Citizen Advisory Committee for the proposed arena project will hold a public Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Convention Center to gather input from citizens. The Convention Center is at 1000 19th St. The meeting will be in Suite 1.
Click here to read more about the meeting. http://www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=1154
City of Virginia Beach Launches Virtual Town Hall
New Software Program Promotes Citizen Engagement
Today, the City of Virginia Beach launched a new Web-based citizen engagement tool called Virtual Town Hall that will help the city gather residents’ opinions about city projects and initiatives, with the goal of incorporating this feedback in the decision-making process.
Click here to read more about the tool and to sign up. http://www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=1166
Hoo ray!
Photo credit: CBF
“We are extremely gratified that the Virginia Beach City Council and the community support our new venture at Pleasure House Point,” said CBF Hampton Roads Director Christy Everett. “The CBF Brock Environmental Center will be a model of sustainable design, demonstrating how it is possible to build responsibly and make a substantial environmental difference without sacrificing comfort or aesthetics.”
The CBF Brock Environmental Center will feature cutting-edge green construction practices to meet the “Living Building Challenge,” a set of stringent, specific environmental standards established by the International Living Future Institute. These standards require the facility to have “net zero” impact on the environment, not only during construction but during its daily operation. It will be the first of its kind in Virginia.
More including video at WAVY.com.
Learn more about the possibility of trees coming down for duplexes within site of CBF’s facility here and here.
Click here for a printable version of the agenda SDCC Agenda DEC 2012
Shore Drive Community Coalition
Monday 17 DEC 2012
SDCC General Meeting, Election & Party
PLEASE NOTE DATE and TIME
SDCC General Meeting – Monday, 17 DEC 6:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)
Call to order
Meeting topic: VOTING and ELECTION of SDCC Officers for 2013
2013 Slate of officers approved at Nov. Meeting:
President – David Williams (Cape Henry Shores)
Vice President – Rick Mercadante (Ocean Park)
Secretary – Todd Solomon (Cape Story)
Treasurer – Ryan King (Chesapeake Beach)
Member’s and Guest’s SOCIAL CELEBRATION of 2012
Officers’ Reports:
President’s Report David Williams
Vice President’s report Grace Moran
Secretary’s Report Todd Solomon –NOV Minutes
Treasurer’s Report Carol Collins
Update on issues:
Old Business
New Business Celebrate /Pollard’s Chicken, meatballs, veggie tray, cheese tray, and dessert tray
Adjourn
Next SDCC- Monday JAN 28, 2012
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- TBA
Please check http://www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events
This could be similar to what to expect for the Lesner Bridge replacement work.
Check out FIGGBridge.com.
More links and info at SDCC.info’s HOT page about the Lesner Bridge replacement.
Yeah. Me neither.
At Cape Henry Towers. Plans from a couple months ago. More info to follow I’m sure.
The following is an email from the Deputy City Manager, Dave Hansen, to the Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) explaining the LED Traffic signs on Shore Drive and the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project. You can also see the 2009 Power Point presentation given by City Staff to City Council regarding this project. Click here to view the 3Mb file. ITS Brief 021810
Members of the BAC,
In November of 2009, DPW Jason Cosby briefed the City Council on the $22M Intelligent Transportation System project in which all but $1.5M was being funded by the Federal Highway Administration. In this comprehensive briefing he covered the major phases of construction and their specific outcomes. I have attached that brief and note that on chart #24 we identified the location of 6 sites where the Dynamic Message Boards were to be installed. Two of those locations were clearly shown on Shore Drive. Following that briefing Mr. Cosby briefed the BAC on 18 February 2010. I have attached that briefing and ask that you relook charts 21-26. Additionally I have attached the minutes of that BAC so that you can see who was in attendance when we advised you what the plan was, why it was and what it was to be like. As Mr. Arnhold made comment regarding City staff in his email below, I note that he was in attendance at the BAC brief on 2-18-10 and that no questions were posed to the staff following the DPW brief. The lag time between the briefings and the start of construction was the product of contracting, funding, technology, public briefings and increasing the requirement from six to eight locations. Hopefully the board recalls this information briefing in February 2010 and we can proceed to respond to the myriad of questions which are being asked. To assist you I provide the following description of the ITS project and specific information on the DMS.
The signs located on Shore Drive are part of The Virginia Beach Dynamic Message Signs and System Detector Project which consists of the installation of 11 motorists advisory Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) at eight locations, overhead sign support structures, equipment cabinets, and communication equipment. The DMS’s have three line displays. This important project was funded by Federal Funds associated with Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality and is intended to provide real time information to the motoring public to keep traffic flowing. The locations have been strategically selected and approved by City Council in order to maximize the dissemination of essential information to motorists. The DMS’s will be installed at eight locations within the City.
The DMS’s will be installed at the following locations:
1. Princess Anne Rd and Elson Green Ave, southbound
2. General Booth Blvd at the KOA Campground, northbound
3. Shore Dr and First Landing State Park, westbound
4. Shore Dr and Bayville Rd, back to back DMS’s
5. Northampton Blvd and Bayside Rd, eastbound
6. Northampton Blvd and Shell Rd, westbound
7. Independence Blvd and Wakefield Dr, back to back DMS’s
8. Shore Dr near 83rd St, back to back DMS’s
What follows is a brief summary of the why, what, how, and where:
1. Purpose:
-The primary purpose of the signs is to convey traffic condition information to the roadway motorists
– Signs are especially useful during hurricane evacuation
– Signs can be used to display public safety campaign information (i.e. Amber Alerts, Click-it-or Ticket)
2. Lighted:
– signs will not be lighted (no illumination lamps to shine on them); they are LED driven-internally illuminated
– the sign will be dark unless there is a message to display
3. Size: 6 feet high by 12 feet long; mounted 17 feet above the ground. (by comparison our portable signs are 6’ by 10’)
4. Location: The location on Shore Drive was specifically selected because of the following properties: -38,000 motorists pass this site every day
-West bound traffic can be alerted to conditions at Northampton Blvd, Chesapeake bay-Bridge Tunnel, and I-264
-East bound traffic can be alerted to downstream conditions on Shore Drive, Fort Story, Great Neck Road
The signs are a part of our ITS (intelligent Transportation System) project with the goal being able to disseminate real-time traffic information expeditiously to the motoring public. They can also be used to broadcast Amber Alerts in support of Public Safety.
Should you require additional information I am happy to respond to your RFIs. Regards, Dave
Dave Hansen
Deputy City Manager
City of Virginia Beach
(757)385-4242
From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:
My house that is under construction in the 2200 block of Maple Street (near the bike path) was vandalized last night by 3 high school age youths. A neighbor was on an evening walk after 9:00 pm and had seen them walking around. Then he just happened to be walking nearby our house and heard the loud crash of smashing windows and called 911. He actually chased after them calling out help, help to alert the neighbors. They are most definitely local kids as one had his skateboard with him. They were described as follows: 2 of the boys being tall and thin, and the 3rd boy was shorter than the other two. They smashed two lower windows in the living room from inside the house with a board. Four VA Beach police cruisers responded and searched the property and the neighborhood, but did not find these young vandals.
The fact that this looks to be neighborhood kids is especially concerning. I have two teenagers myself, and if I were reading this and had a high school age son, I would be asking myself “Where was my son last night between 8:30 pm and 10:30 pm”.
This is not a personal safety issue, but it is a nasty bit of vandalism for sure. My guess is that if these kids get away with this they will vandalize others. If anybody has any information as to who might have done this, we would greatly appreciate them coming forward.
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.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 