Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League
COMMUNITY NEWS

November 2008

             Guest Speaker, Mr. Kevin Dubois, Environmental Engineer with the City of Norfolk, At This Month's Meeting

NEXT BOARD MEETING will be Monday, November 17, 2008, at 7:00 pm.

DEADLINE for the December issue is Tuesday, November 18, 2008.

THIS MONTH'S MEETING AGENDA:   Monthly police report - Mr. Kevin Dubois, Environmental Engineer with the City of Norfolk, will speak.

Greetings Neighbors! A heartfelt thank you to the organizers of the CPRV Art Walk, Kristen Bourcier and Tara Sheldon, and all the amazing artists! It was a fabulous day all around in CPRV!!

I was fortunate to take a wetlands class offered by the City of Norfolk. I learned more than I ever thought I needed to know about wetlands, wetland plants, and wetland marine and wildlife. Kevin DuBois taught both the lecture and the field class. I am including a slide he had from the lecture showing the Elizabeth River Habitat Loss of East Haven Creek and Knitting Mill Creek. You can see that in 1944, the areas of spillover at the end of Knitting Mill Creek and on either side of Haven Creek were Tidal Marshes. Those areas got filled in over time, but at one time were what we think of as traditional mushy wetlands.

The City of Norfolk is working with residents along Haven Creek to come up with a walking path design that will replace the deteriorating existing walking path and enhance public land along Haven Creek with a living shoreline. When all the kinks are ironed out, and this project is complete, the benefit to the wetlands, the marine and wildlife, as well as the neighborhood will be magnificent! A group of residents met with Mr. DuBois about the challenges that the south end of Knitting Mill Creek poses. Not only is grass slow to grow with the tidal flooding, but the old style of shore stabilization (which involved concrete trucks dropping off their excess concrete on the shoreline) is no longer aesthetically pleasing or functioning as shoring up the shoreline. Both sides of the creek pose challenges. The benefits of protecting our wetlands, stabilizing the shoreline, and providing neighbors safe access to their waterfront shared community, while balancing the needs of the neighboring homeowners will prove to be the greatest challenge that will last generations to come. I encourage everyone to attend November's CPRV Civic League soak in the wealth of knowledge.

Remember to keep up to date with CPRV community news by subscribing to the neighborhood listserve and keeping up with the neighborhood webpage. Both can be accessed at www.cprv.org. As always, feel free to call me if I can be of service. The Future Looks Great in CPRV!

The Hauntin' The Hood 2008 Winner had two 8 foot plus jack o'lantern creatures with outstretched arms welcoming us to enter, accompanied by rail sitting carved pumpkins, tombstones and hanging ghost (all of which had their required maintenance several times during the windy month of October). On Halloween night, they were joined by a voice activated "dancing ghoul" and fogger with candy being dispensed by a fully attired satyr. When the official sign, certificate and naturally non-fat candy prize were ceremoniously delivered to the winner at midnight on Halloween, the party at 612 (Connecticut) still was in full swing. That is the real spirit of Halloween! Thanks to all who joined in the spirit this year and remember everything is on sale now for next year, so get ready.

For several years, the Haven Creek and Knitting Mill Creek projects have been underway. From bulkhead construction to shoreline maintenance much has been accomplished. But there's still much to be done. Our shoreline continues to evolve. What does all this mean for our area's wetlands? What's the real benefit of wetlands in our community? Wonder no more. November's guest speaker will be Mr. Kevin Dubois, Environmental Engineer with the City of Norfolk. As a VA Certified Wetland Delineator, Mr. Dubois' primary responsibility to the Wetlands Board has him performing technical evaluations on all wetlands permit applications for compliance with State law. He's also involved in the design and installation of wetland creation and restoration projects throughout the city. To educate citizens, he teaches a free dune and wetland workshop throughout the year. Sheila Janes was fortunate to attend one of these workshops recently. She gained valuable insight into the importance of our wetlands and recommended that Mr. DuBois present us with a condensed version. He graciously agreed and, at our Civic League meeting on November 10, Mr. Dubois will give us an overview of the functions and values of wetlands. He will also offer a review of wetland restoration projects in the city. Make sure to mark your calendar and attend!

Did you know CPRV has a listserv? Did you know our listserv has helped alert neighbors when suspicious people are lurking around our homes, riding our bikes, or pulling (loaded with loot) trash and recycling bins out of our neighborhood?! Join the listserv and help us help each other! It is easy. Just go to our website, www.cprv.org and click on "subscribe".

We would like to welcome our new Pace Officers to CPRV. Officer Randy Paschal (823-4477 randal.paschal@norfolk.gov) and Officer Carrie Maglalang (823-4477 carrie.maglalang@norfolk.gov) will now be our Pace Officers. Officer Jackson is a tough act to follow and we thank him for being such aninstrumental force in our community.

Watch the listserv for the next Crime Prevention meeting with our new Pace Officers.

Kristie & Tara Sheldon Davis, 703-304-9428, madisonave1@hotmail.com

• Once a month, open to everyone! Day and time may vary depending on who is hosting.
• Join the Veg Club listserve by going to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cprv_veggies/
• Or send an email to: CPRV_Veggies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
• If you would like to join us or have any questions, contact Tara or Kristie at 703-304-9428.

Crime Prevention- Kristie Davis:

• Announced there would be a meeting October 25 on ideas about crime prevention.

• Contact info: Cell, 823-4277 or email, randal.paschal@norfolk.gov
• Officer Randy used to work in Colonial Place.
• Precinct boundaries have changed with new Officers assignments.
• One car will probably be assigned here all the time. Response time will be the same or maybe faster.
• Residents may see more police cars patrolling the neighborhood.
• Crime Stats last 30 days: Violent crime down 45%, Property crime 54% down Last month: 12 reported car larcenies, shed broken into, basement window, copper pipes stolen
• Discussion about market for stolen copper. Scrap yards do not required any id for sellers of copper

• Overview of the history of Electoral board in Virginia and expansion of voting rights
• Norfolk Board of elections will adhere to the directives published by the State Board of Elections concerning voter registration of college students. Mr. Hinshaw stated that this compliance is with the understanding that the Board strongly feels that by doing so is out of compliance with Virginia Election Laws.
• Clarification from election board about college students registration and political clothing worn at the poll will be announced this week

• Motion made and seconded to accept September General Meeting minutes
• Secretary has searched previous minutes about “No right turn on Delaware” Cannot find any history. Will continue to search meeting minutes. Request anyone with information about this topic please contact CPRV President or Secretary

• A motion was made by Jack Kennedy and seconded by Ron Johnson that the CPRV Civic league would support the owner of Bent Fork Restaurant to apply for an ABC license.

• Please report any vacant home information to Artemis Stroll who will forward to PACE Officer Randy
• Thank you to Art Walk committee for 10th Annual Front Porch Walk
• 5 renewing members and 1 book sold
• Joanna Jenkins would like to meet with anyone interested in 38th Street Triangle Dog park
• Street sweeping hours are now 9:00 – 2:00
• Thank you to Mr. Ron Johnson for cleaning broken limbs at Dog Park
• See you at the next meeting: Monday, November 10th

A training series for residential and small commercial building contractors and sub-contractors. 10 sessions in all covering various topics to include Greening HVAC Installations, Solar System Installation, Energy Star Audits and more. Classes held 8 am until noon at the Ernie Morgan Center, Lafayette Park. For further information please call the Norfolk Environmental Commission at 441-1347.

Saturday, November 8th: Participating businesses include Bloom, One Eleven Art Studio, Riverview Coffee Parlor, Tabbs, Absolute Style & more. Come early, show your support & shop the neighborhood first!

• There will be free refreshments, food, coffee tastings, drawings, discounts and chair massages!!!!
• In an effort to be environmentally friendly, we ask that people walk or ride their bikes to the various locations!
• We will also be giving away shopping bags made of recycled materials, while supplies last!
• Make sure your CPRV Membership is up to date.CPRV Members will also be eligble to receive special discounts year round!
• For more detail feel free to call the Riverview Coffee Parlor at 622-1365.

Residents of Colonial Place and Riverview are urged to contact the city when they become of aware of properties being offered for rent within our neighborhood. Call Rusty Masten at 664-6527 (City of Norfolk) and request an Occupancy Permit Inspection for the vacant or soon-to-be-vacated rental property.

REACH, Inc. (Reading Enriches All Children) is in great need of new children's books or gift cards for Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Prince Books, Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart etc. for our shelter program where the children receive new books. If folks are interested in donating new books for REACH, please contact Sarah or Rasheedah at 757-627-4722, or via REACH@reachreads.org, or Volunteers@reachreads.org.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Christmas is on its way! With it comes the annual CPRV Holiday Decorating Competition, an event of monumental proportion that is eagerly anticipated by all. Decorating for the holidays is a sure cure for the what ails you and those who gaze upon your labors. Since the election will be over and the press coverage will have to go somewhere, if we work hard, we may take the place of Joe the Plumber on the national news front. So cover your houses with lights, stick Santa in your chimney and hang angels from your trees (or better yet put your imagination to work) to compete for the honor of being selected as an Award Winner, waking to find a sign proclaiming you as such to the world and receiving your extra special Award Winner prize. Last year's winners cannot win this year but still are urged to set a good example.

Well, it hasn't frosted yet, so I've left a few tomato plants in the garden that still have little “greenies” ripening on them. I pulled one with little tomatoes out by mistake, so they are ripening on my windowsill. The peppers seem to come back to life in the fall, so they're still going. This was a good year for the Ichiban eggplants, too - the long, narrow ones – and I just got a few more this week. Last year one of our community gardeners rescued some bedraggled mums that were left at a garden center, and we put them in the ground; in the spring, I kept pinching them back so they would fill out and not bloom yet – and they are sure pretty now. Mums will winter over here – I just cut them back when the branches start to die off – cut pretty much close to the ground, actually – and little green shoots start re-appearing real early in the year. Last year my geraniums made it through, too, cut back like that, although it was a pretty mild winter. Its bulb time - I dug up some daffodils back before all the stems disappeared, and will replant them pretty soon.

The Knitting Mill Creek Community Garden wants your leaves to use as mulch. It would be real kind for willing folks to take those clear bags of leaves down to the garden (behind Fellini's) and toss them in the compost bin. Take a look at the mums while you're there, too!

              The Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League
              P.O. Box 6130
              Norfolk, VA 23508

              WEB PAGE: www.cprv.org

Community News Editor:   Stephanie Hale, Phone 622-6999
Community News Distribution:   Buddy Petzinger, Phone 622-0233 and Mary Hormell, Phone 627-2392
Advertising:   Stephanie Hale, Phone 622-6999

Please deliver typewritten newsletter items to:

              Stephanie Hale
              Phone: 622-6999
              e-mail: cprvnews@gmail.com