RSVP to:
03.18.12 – The ATREX mission has been postponed to no earlier than the night of March 20 due to expected poor weather along mid-Atlantic coast. Next update is Monday, March 19.
As many have probably already heard, the military will be holding installation exercises this week (March 19-23). These exercises are part of the Solid Curtain and Citadel Shield series held annually to train and test our command and control systems and how the military will deal with security events ranging from small to large. Installations along Shore Drive will be impacted, as well as other military installation in Virginia Beach. This week will NOT be business as usual, so if you are traveling Shore Drive, or traveling onto military bases, you may be delayed, caught in traffic backup, or even not allowed on board depending on what is being drilled at the time. If there is a traffic backup, it might take some time to clear. Have some patience and please show some consideration for what is going on. Thank you for your consideration.
Five Rocket ATREX Postponed to March 19
03.17.12 – The ATREX mission has been rescheduled to no earlier than the night of Monday, March 19, due to the high probability of unacceptable weather on March 18. A launch decision will be made Sunday evening.
From an email from Kim:
Hello Volunteers!
I’m still looking for volunteers for the Survive First Landing event that will be held on Saturday, March 24th from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at the picnic shelter. We need a few more volunteers in order to have a safe and fun event to teach guests about outdoor survival!
We still need a few more survival station volunteers. Survival stations include:
* Spear Making
* Ranger Beads
* Fire Starting
* Rope Making
* Knot tying
* Worst case senario trivia gamePlease let me know if you are interested and your availability. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you,
Kim Y. Miller
Volunteer / Events Coordinator
First Landing State Park
Phone: 757-412-2308
Cell: 757-536-0088
Fax: 757-412-2315
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/03/virginia-beach-deal-preserves-slice-nature
After 10 years of work, the preservation of the site has now become reality. Without the collaboration of the community, CBF, Lynnhaven River Now, Trust for Public Land, City of Virginia Beach and the City Council, this purchase could have never happened.
Ordinances and Resolution re PLEASURE HOUSE POINT:
a. AUTHORIZE the City Manager to EXECUTE an Agreement of Purchase and Sale with The Trust for Public Land re acquisition
b. ESTABLISH a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE various grants and TRANSFER funds from “Open Space Site Acquisition – Phase I”
c. Issuance and sale of General Obligation Bonds, not to exceed $6-Million, to the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund
NASA is scheduled to launch five suborbital sounding rockets in just over five minutes March 14 as part of a study of the upper level jet stream. The launch window currently is 11 p.m. to 6:30 EDT, March 14 – April 3. The Anomalous Transport Rocket Experiment (ATREX) will gather information needed to better understand the process responsible for the high-altitude jet stream located 60 to 65 miles above the surface of the Earth. As part the mission, the five rockets will release a chemical tracer that will form milky, white clouds that allow scientists and the public to “see” the winds in space. These clouds may be visible for up to 20 minutes by residents from South Carolina to southern New Hampshire and Vermont. More information on the ATREX mission is available on the Internet at: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/missions/atrex.html
Webcast of the mission will begin 2 hours before the opening of the launch window
From Tidewater Bicycle Association:
The transformation of this stretch of highway into a more bike friendly one can be summed up in one word- Wow! Given all of the interest from the cycling community and Shore Drive/Bayfront area residents over the past decade this is a day that has been a long time coming. It can truly be said that Virginia Beach’s planners and engineers hit the ball out of the park with this project.
Photo from Tidewater Bicycle Association
Tonight, City Council voted unanimously to preserve Pleasure House Point forever.
Wow!
Thank you.
From an email responding to their FOIA request:
With respect to your recent request for a copy of the City Council resolution regarding the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp at Crab Creek, Deputy City Manager Dave Hansen provided the following:
*************************
Respectfully request we covey the following to the FOIA requestor.
1. There was no City Council Resolution removing the LBR from consideration as a transfer site.
2. The LBR Transfer Station was not “moved” to the Thaila site. The Thalia transfer site is a separate and distinct logistics node supporting a completely separate area of the Lynnhaven River system.
3. The Lynnhaven River system was divided into five project control areas each designated by what we refer as the bubble chart. This allowed City water resource engineers an ability to assess each area for potential logistics node locations to provide multiple outcomes – one of which is to serve as a transfer site.
4. The Beaches & Waterways Advisory Cmte took a look at this concept and has agreed that the Northern Western Branch and Lynnhaven Inlet Control Area is best served by establishing this logistics node at the Crab Creek Disposal Material Holding Area adjacent to the LBR.
5. The City has submitted for a temporary permit to construct the bulkhead and the concrete work pads to serve as a transfer site for the Material lay down and construction equipment and preparation area necessary for the construction of the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project.
6. The City staff briefed the Bayside Advisory Committee on 16 Feb and briefs the Ocean Park Civic League today, 8 March.
7. The staff intends to operate a collaborative site where by public access to the Boat Launch will be maintained while allowing the extensive construction traffic of mixed vehicles and equipment to prosecute the complex task of building the replacement bridge.
8. At some point halfway through the construction the City will hold a public information meeting to receive input about how the coexistence has gone with regards to maintaining access to the boat launch.
9. Staff will assess the public input and the facts established regarding operating the logistics node while maintaining public access to the site before making a recommendation to City Council to permanently establish the transfer site logistics node – likely to occur midyear 2014.
Dave Hansen
Deputy City Manager
City of Virginia Beach
757-385-4242
You’ve heard we’re getting a new bridge.
Check out the Official Presentation from the City. [ 24pg PDF]
Partial screen shot of Official Page at VBGov.com.
Link to Official Page at VBGov.com thanks to the Internet Archive Wayback Machine:
Western Branch Lynnhaven River Maintenance Dredging (CIP 8-005) October 12, 2008
Note: Links to Official Documents like PDFs, Photos etc in right column of above page do not work.
Partial screen shot of Official Page at VBGov.com.
A public information workshop was held on June 5, 2007. A second Public Meeting was held on Wednesday, March 19, 2008. 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. Concept plans have been developed for a multi-use facility that will incorporate the dredged material transfer facility, public access to the Lynnhaven River, a canoe/kayak launch and a crew facility.”
Link to Official Page at VBGov.com thanks to the Internet Archive Wayback Machine:
Western Branch Lynnhaven River Maintenance Dredging (CIP 8-005) March 27, 2009
Note difference in Official Page from October 2008 vs March 2009 in Official Files that were included vs not include in later page.
Note: What happened to this Official Page? It can no longer be found in the current http://www.VBGov.com. Can someone provide the hot link in the new VBGov.com website?
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – For over a year, Broad Bay Island residents have worked to stop barges full of mud from coming up a creek and crossing in front of their waterfront property.
Tuesday night, they won that battle.
Virginia Beach City Council agreed with the residents and backed down.
“Stop the sludge means we don’t want other people’s sludge on our waterways,” said Broad Bay Island resident Lynn Hume last March.
The city wanted to use hopper barges to dump sludge, dredged from inlets across Virginia Beach, onto a piece of privately owned land. That property, which is zoned as residential, is a 100 yards across the creek from Hume’s home.
Fifteen months after the fight began, it ended with city council pulling the site on Long Creek from consideration.
“With what we’ve gone through, nothing surprises me. When it comes to the City, we have been deceived so many times and misled by city staff so many times, that is why it got out of hand and that’s what upset us,’ said resident Ed Cunningham.
It took Tom Fraim and the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission to finally convince Virginia Beach that the Long Creek site isn’t the right location. The Zoning Administration also told the city that, but the city pushed ahead anyway.
“It gets on our plate because it is controversial, and yes, the people of Long Creek were very well organized” Fraim said.
“Stand up and be heard, and the system can work if you get people involved,” exclaimed Broad Bay Island Resident Mike Megge. “We worked that system. It took a lot of hard work, a lot of organization and a lot of dedicated people.”
Getting a little media attention doesn’t hurt.
“A lot of time, you don’t know what happens with a story, but it give people closure to a story when you exposed it. You followed it through to the end, and I think that helped the whole process,” Megge added.
The alternative site for neighborhood dredging is up the creek at a city-owned property, between the Lynnhaven Marine Boatel and the Marina Shores Shoppes.
The land is owned by Gale Levine Higgs who did not want to do an interview, but told 10 On Your Side on the phone, “So much has to happen for this to happen…I gave the strip of land to the City for drainage purposes only…not for a sludge transfer station.”
Higgs made it clear legal action could follow if the city plans on using the site for anything other than drainage.
Admin at Save the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility Facebook Page needs pictures of anything to do with this subject including announcements, pictures, etc. The web address is below for that page. Please like that page to receive updates. Looks like several alternate sites have been found already in just 3 days!!! PAGE LINK BELOW!!
—
Andrew R. Broyles
3604 East Stratford Rd.
Va. Beach, Va. 23455
cell 757 621 2082
office 757 460 5678
https://www.facebook.com/SaveTheLynnhavenBoatRampAndBeachFacility
People who have been concerned our beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility will essentially close due to overwhelming safety issues if it also becomes a permanent dredge spoils station for the entire Lynnhaven Watershed have been using THIS LINK to write to City Council, The Beaches and Waterways Commission, Bayfront Advisory Committee and Shore Drive Community Coalition.
A response from Mayor Sessoms:
Subject: OPPOSITION TO USING CRAB CREEK FOR PERMANENT DREDGE SPOILS TRANSFER LOCATION
Thank you for your email expressing your opposition to using the Crab Creek site for a permanent dredge spoils transfer location.
Staff briefed the Bayfront Advisory Committee on February 16, 2012, regarding the need to create a transfer facility and material/construction lay down area at the Crab Creek/Lynnhaven Boat Launch dredged material holding area in support of the upcoming Lesner Bridge Replacement Project. This facility would operate for approximately 30 months, during which time the City would collaborate to keep the Lynnhaven Boat Launch facility available for our citizens and visitors to use. Once the co-existence had been in operation for a period of time, staff would seek public input on their performance managing the multiple uses of these public facilities. At that time, a recommendation would be made to City Council for consideration, and we would look at the advantages and disadvantages of converting the temporary use of the transfer station into a permanent facility. We would not expect to have this matter brought to us until approximately the spring of 2014.
Because of limited public accesses to the Lynnhaven to assist in accomplishing various projects, staff feels it is imperative that multiple beneficial uses be made of available properties. Your concerns are understood, and no decisions regarding a permanent spoils transfer site would be made until residents were given the opportunity to provide input.
The time you took to make us aware of your views and your interest in preserving the quality of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp is greatly appreciated. Please be assured they will be given serious consideration.
William D. Sessoms, Jr.
Mayor
City of Virginia Beach
Office of the Mayor
2401 Courthouse Drive, Building 1, Room 234
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
757-385-4581 (MAIN)
757-385-5699 (FAX)
wsessoms@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." City of Virginia Beach April 2009
It was determined by the City of Virginia Beach the beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility will not become a permanent dredge spoils transfer station for the entire Lynnhaven Watershed in April 2009. Link at SDCC.info.
RESOLUTION PASSES – FEB. 28TH
The Resolution to REMOVE the Maple Street site as a potential dredge spoils transfer site for the neighborhood dredge program was unanimously approved by City Council tonight.
The Resolution at SDCC.info.
From LongCreekWetlands.com.
View article and video at WAVY.com.
You read that right folks, Pleasure House branded oysters!
Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com:
“Can you imagine what’s in there?” he asked.
Ludford doesn’t have to imagine. Like a growing number of commercial oyster farmers in Virginia, he knows exactly what’s inside his brand of bivalve – in Ludford’s case, a plump mouthful of meat that starts with a bracing blast of brine and finishes with a rich oyster flavor and a speckle of sweet.
Yes we can imagine what’s in there Chris!
Imagine how incredible it is that VB Fireman Captain, and waterman from a family who’s done it for generations, has the entrepreneurial spirit to brand and work his lease for Pleasure House oysters right about the time the City of Virginia Beach is poised to protect Pleasure House Point forever.
Photo Credit: Tim Solanic
Virginia Beach City Landfill to Be Closed on Mondays
The Virginia Beach Landfill will be closed on Mondays beginning Monday, March 19, 2012. It will continue to operate on Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
“Going from six days per week to five days per week still provides residents of Virginia Beach substantial access to landfill disposal,” said John C. Barnes, Waste Management Administrator. “It allows us to consolidate staff and reduce our costs of the landfill while continuing to exceed regulatory requirements.”
The City Landfill is a municipal solid waste facility that is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The landfill allows disposal of residential waste, including a household hazardous waste and metals recycling facility, along with yard waste and recycling drop off.
For additional information, please contact Steve Uperti, Landfill Superintendent, at (757) 385-1981, or Linda Minner with Waste Management, at (757) 385-8595.
View Ocean Park drainage improvement public meeting presentation 2-23-12 [32 page PDF.]
Thanks to City Staff & reps from Parsons Brinckerhoff for working on this challenge and for having the presentation on Feb 23rd.
If any area family is missing a white Trek 10 speed (?) boy’s/men’s bike, please give me an email or a call (481-1668). The bike has been in my neighbor’s yard for about two weeks.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 