Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League
COMMUNITY NEWS
Guest Speakers at this Month's Meeting:
Mr. Spencer, Chief Operator for Norfolk Public Schools
Frankie Little Hardin, Managing Director at the 40th Street Stage
NEXT BOARD MEETING will be Monday, March 17, 2008, at 7:00 pm.
DEADLINE for the April issue is Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
THIS MONTH'S MEETING AGENDA: Monthly police report - Code enforcement update - Mr. Spencer, Chief Operator for Norfolk Public Schools, will explain the when and why about the closing of Stuart Center - Frankie Little Hardin, Managing Director at the 40th Street Stage, will tell us about all the exciting things happening at the theater - Vote on three options offered by the city concerning notification and execution of periodic street cleaning.
So I have a confession to make. Though we moved into CPRV in 2001, my wife and I had never taken the time over the last couple of years to visit the Virginia Zoo. I know, I know, it's right here in our backyard. So this past month we finally walked through Lafayette Park to visit our little gem of a zoo. We saw the lion cubs (who aren't so little!) and the prairie dogs and I was reminded once again why we are so blessed to live in our little burrow. Do yourself a favor and take a walk over there this Spring.
Moving on to an issue of burrow maintenance and cleanliness, The City of Norfolk would like to have our opinion on what we as community prefer for the notification and execution of periodic street cleaning. We have three options as it stands right now. Here there are:
Please come to the March civic league meeting so we can get your opinion on these options. We will discuss these options and vote as a league to let the City know our preference.
It's not just a burrow, it's a lifestyle…
Steve Earnhart
searnhart@gmail.com
March is an exciting month! Leprechauns are out in the yards, Cadbury creme eggs are in the stores, and my favorite - Spring Break! The rumor is that Stuart Center will be taking a permanent Spring Break as Norfolk Public Schools pulls completely out of the building. Mr. Spencer, Chief Operator for Norfolk Public Schools, will be at this month's meeting to explain the when and why about the closing of Stuart Center, as many are sad to see this school close. We will also hear from Frankie Little Hardin, Managing Director at the 40th Street Stage, to tell us about all the exciting things happening right across the street from our neighborhood at the theater.
With Spring in the air, it is also time to think about new projects. Please feel free to drop me a line or email if you have a wonderful idea that you would like to get our neighborhood involved in. Socials, organized bike rides, plant sharing, community yard sale, etc.... We need people to get these ideas off the ground. Our civic league is only as good as its neighbors' involvement!
Fellini's Gourmet Pizza Cafe on Colley Avenue recently donated $500 to support the restoration of the Knitting Mill Creek wetland. This pace-setting contribution from a local business arrived during the same month that the Virginia Environmental Endowment pledged $4,750 toward the project. These two contributions represent significant steps toward the achievement of the Partnership's goals. They have enabled it to initiate work on the permits necessary for the project and to engage a contractor in more closely defining the scope of work, its timeline and cost. The Partnership hopes to complete the first phase of work by October 2008.
The contribution by Fellini's confirms that a local wetlands project can be fueled by local donations. The Virginia Environmental Endowment's gift establishes the credibility of the plan of work developed by the Partnership. To both Fellini's and the Endowment, the Partnership offers a heartfelt “thank you”. And to our neighbors, we urge you to think of Fellini's when you're planning to dine out.
Knitting Mill Creek Community Garden is kicking off the 6th season of pesticide-free gardening this month! We'll gather at the garden on Sunday March 16th at 2 p.m. for a work day, weather permitting. In case of rain, we'll meet at my house (f.m.i. call Becky at 407-5087) and schedule the work day for after the Easter holiday.
Everyone is welcome to join the garden; and even to just volunteer a few hours on the work day would be great, too. It doesn't look like a big piece of land from Mayflower, but there's actually a lot to weed! Last fall the ODU volunteers did a great job preparing for fall. This spring, I'd like to work on the border facing Fellini's, spreading the flowers out and generally straightening things.
Every month some neighbors from CPRV get together to enjoy vegetarian and vegan dishes. You do not have to be vegetarian to come. In fact quite a few folks come just for the great food and company! The potlucks are usually on Sundays at 5 pm, but the day and time may vary depending on who is hosting. You can join the Veg Club listserv by going to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cprv_veggies/ or sending an email to: CPRV_Veggies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
The next potluck will be Saturday, March 15th at 5 p.m. If you would like to join us or have any questions, contact Tara or Kristie at 627-1176.
Welcome to One Eleven Art Gallery & Studios! This new Riverview Village Business features some of CPRV's Best Artists. Join their Celebration on Friday, March 14th from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.! They are pleased to announce their new studio residents: Betsey Rivers-Kennedy, Beverly Furman, and Sheila Robinson! They will be honoring all their studio members at their exciting official debut party. Come experience this new beginning!
The Riverview Village Business Association would also like to introduce our new Officers, Directors & Honorary Members. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any of these individuals.
Neighborhood Clean-Up
In conjunction with Keep Norfolk Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful the weekend of Saturday, March
8th has been designated as clean up time for CP/R. I know that weekends are very busy times for most people
and therefore did not want to hold it down to a specific day and time as in the past. Last year we had a great
group of volunteers working throughout the neighborhood. If you would like to volunteer to adopt
a spot or street in CP/R for this year's litter clean-up event, please call me 623-1197. Thank you.
Electronics Recycling Day
The City of Norfolk is holding Electronics Recycling Day on Saturday, April 19th. 8am-4pm free (for Norfolk
residents only). It will take place at the ODU/WHRO parking lot.
Catalog Choice: Eliminate Waste & Natural Resources
Each year, 19 billion catalogs are mailed to American
consumers. Catalog Choice is a free service that allows you to decide what gets in your mailbox. Use it
to reduce your mailbox clutter, while helping to save natural resouces. Your participation benefits
merchants, lowering their cost of distribution and helping them better target their market. Also, your
participation as a member of the Catalog Community will collectively make a huge positive impact on the
environment, as together we reduce the energy consumed, the carbon emissions and the lost forests
resulting from the current annual production and discarding of billions of catalogs. For further
information go to Catalog Choice at: https://www.catalogchoice.org/welcome
Nothing says “springtime” in Hampton Roads quite like the Azalea. While fall is the best time to plant most Azaleas, few garden centers feature them at that time of year since they are not in bloom and few people buy them if they can not see the color. So March has become the unofficial month for Azalea picking and planting.
There are four basic types of blooming Azaleas: early, mid-season and late varieties refer to the bloom time. All of these types are semi to fully evergreen and the blooms are from late March to early June. The other type is deciduous; meaning they drop their leaves in the winter, and they bloom in June and July in the most spectacular oranges and yellows in full sun and are known as Exbury and Mollis varieties.
I think one of the biggest mistakes people make in planting their Azaleas is digging too deep. For most trees and shrubs, you want to dig a hole twice the size of the plant's root ball. Not so with Azaleas. Dig a hole about half the depth of the pot that the shrub came in, lightly loosen the root ball if you can (it will be dense) and put in place. Build up the remaining exposed root ball with organic mulch, leaf compost and pine needles and water well.
To lengthen the blooming time for most Azaleas except the above mentioned Exbury, avoid planting where they will be exposed to late afternoon or evening sun. They do great under trees in slightly acid soil. They will survive in full sun but the blooms will not last as long and frequent watering will later become an issue. You should fertilize with a simple 10-10-10 or special Azalea/Rhododendron fertilizer in March. Lightly trim just after the blooms drop off but never try to shape into a ball, square or other topiary style. It won't last!
For Azalea ideas and inspiration, visit one of Hampton Roads greatest treasures, the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Their Azalea collection is unsurpassed and the Azalea varieties are breathtaking from March until June. Enjoy the SPRING!!!
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