Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League
COMMUNITY NEWS

October 2009

             Meet the Candidates at this Month's Meeting

NEXT BOARD MEETING will be Monday, October 17, 2009, at 7:00 pm.

DEADLINE for the November issue is Friday, October 16, 2009.

THIS MONTH'S MEETING AGENDA:   Monthly police report - Meet the Candidates- Vote on street sweeping signs.

Greetings Neighbors! Our neighborhood has been buzzing with activity. The Phase 2 Sewer Replacement Project in Colonial Place is in full swing. We were fortunate to have the City come and answer questions about this project as well as inform us of some upcoming changes in street sweeping. The State of Virginia is looking for our City to comply with different regulations regarding pollution removal. One of those regulations in­volves street sweeping. It seems that, right now, too many of our cars are on the road during the street sweeping times making it ineffective in removing debris that will find its way to our storm drains. John White, from Pub­lic Works, presented an idea and would like our feedback in the form of a vote next month. It is his hope that moving street sweeping times back to 9 a.m. and installing permanent no parking signs would clear the streets on street sweeping days and be an effective way to ensure regulations are being met for pollution removal in CPRV. Please come out to our October meeting and cast your vote for approval or disapproval of this proposal.

Mr. White also shared his ideas of making the center of the Colonial Greenway, on the line of Maryland Avenue, a wetlands by excavating this area and landscaping it with wetlands plants. I am interested in forming a focus group to discuss this idea. Please contact me for further details if you would like to become involved in this focus group.

The EARNN (Environmental Awards for Norfolk’s Neighborhoods) program is back in full effect for this fall. This program promotes curbside recycling and environmental stewardship in the City by rewarding those neighborhoods that achieve a certain percentage of participation. The program is expanding to include a way to earn points by preventing litter, promoting sustainable living and energy conservation, improving storm water management and bonuses for receiving additional educational programs. I am looking to residents to share ideas on what CPRV can do to improve its environmental stewardship. I especially would like to see a way to involve the youth of our community. If you, or someone you know, have some creative ideas such as hosting a workshop, promoting energy savings, adopting a spot, or something original, please email me and share. In the past our community has earned $500 for participating in this program.

Every year our Art Walk is such a super success. It is due to not only the hard work of artists who are creat­ing all year long, but also the amazing organization from Kristin Bourcier and Tara Sheldon. I am certainly ex­cited to spend the weekend walking around and picking up some new additions for my home as well as catching up with neighbors along the way.

You will recall the issue of figuring out what to do with the shredder/chipper that the civic league won back in July. The general membership has decided to hold a silent auction at the holiday party in December. James Gregg and Jack Kennedy will be organizing this silent auction and will have more details as the holidays ap­proach.

Please keep the small dog park vote on your radar. After advertising for several months in the newsletters, we will be taking a vote on whether to support this project in January. If you would like further information on this idea of creating an area within the current dog park for little dogs, please see Buffy Masten, our Dog Park Chairwoman. Her contact information, along with a list of Committee Chairs’ contact info is located on the back of this newsletter. I look forward to seeing you all at October’s Civic League meeting for an awesome night of campaigning!

At the October Civic League meeting, CPRV residents will be afforded a not-to-miss opportunity to meet six candidates who are on the ballot for November’s election. Each of the candidates readily responded to my invitation and looks forward to meeting you and answering your questions. Slated to attend are:

House of Delegates, District 89:
Kenneth Cooper Alexander (Democrat - Incumbent): www.kennethalexander.com
Anthony J. “Trip” Triplin (Independent): www.triplinforthepeople.com

Norfolk Commissioner of Revenue:
Sharon M. McDonald (Democrat - Incumbent): www.sharonmcdonald.org
Douglas E. Knack (Independent): www.knackfornorfolk.com

Norfolk Sheriff:
Robert J. McCabe (Democrat - Incumbent): www.sheriffbobmccabe.com
Sean C. Jones (Independent): www.electseanjones.com

To learn more the candidates and their platforms, visit their websites listed above. The meeting will be held October 12th at Knox Presbyterian Church. Start time is 7 p.m.

It’s a Chipper, no it’s a Shredder, no it’s a Leaf Vac, no it’s a SUPERMOWER!!
Able to crunch debris in amazing speed, while roaming around your lawn.
It is from TORO and chips, shreds, sucks, and mows up a storm.
It retails for $527 and will be sold at our Silent Auction at the CPRV Holiday Party in December!
Save your change to put in your bid in December. No! It is not a snow blower.

Meeting called to order at 7:07 p.m. Three first timers were introduced.

• PACE Officer Report:
  Patrols will increase in our neighborhood between hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. Observant neighbors calling in suspicious behavior have led to more arrest for crimes committed.

• Guest speakers:
  Mr. Ben Tokarz, Civil Engineer, Norfolk Department of Utilities, reported that construction project of replacing sanitation and sewage lines would continue until Spring 2010. If street is blocked off on trash pickup day, the construction inspector will assure that trash containers will be emptied. Work will continue weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  Mr. John White, Department of Public Works, Environmental Storm reports that work is being done at corner of New Hampshire Avenue & Colonial Avenue to install drain at corner.
  Work is also being done to improve Greenway from Delaware Avenue to 28th Street.
  Mr. Steve White, Street Sweeping Superintendent, reports that the street sweeping project would be more efficient if there were signs installed to direct vehicles when not to park on curbs. Due to high number of cars that are parked on streets during street sweeping days, less than 50% of curbside is being swept.

• Treasurer Report: The treasurer report for August 2009 was handed out and reviewed.

• Secretary Report: A motion was made and seconded to approve June’s meeting minutes

• Committee Reports were given.
  Dog Park – Vote scheduled for January’s 2010 meeting about location of small dog park.
  Art Walk – Scheduled for Oct 11, 2009, noon – 5 p.m. For more information, contact Tara at 627-1176.

• New Business: A discussion was held about what to do with a shredder that was won by CPRV. Value of $500. Members voted to hold a silent auction at a meeting or sell on Craig’s List.
  Anyone interested in joining a Children’s Playground Focus Group contact Steve Earnhart via searnhart@gmail.com.
  A motion was made and seconded to support the request to the city to officially designate a “No Wake Zone” in Haven Creek and Knitting Mill Creek and that signs be posted.
  Resident reported that cars are blocking crosswalks on Delaware Avenue.
  Resident reported that loud radio noise was coming from parking lot of Seafood place on Colley Avenue.

• Announcements: Halloween Decorating Contest will be held Oct 31.
  Chrysler Museum has free admission.

The City of Norfolk has budgeted funds for a renovation of the Colonial Place Greenway Playground. If you would like to participate in a “focus group” to assist the city planners in creating a safe and pleasant space for our children to play, please plan to attend a brief meeting at the playground (located at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue and adjacent to the Gold Star Dog Park) on Saturday, October 31 at 9:00 a.m. We will meet with City’s playground project point person and discuss the options available to us. If you cannot attend the meeting, but would like to be involved, please email me at searnhart@gmail.com or call me at 375-4126.

CPRV regular size stickers are still only $1.00 each; mini stickers are a mere $.50 each. Even at these low prices the CPRV treasury benefits and you promote the neighborhood. Get your “Stickers-by-Mail” by sending a check made out to CPRV to: Jeanne Ullian, 4400 Mayflower Road, Norfolk 23508. Be sure specify the number/size and your delivery address as I usually hand deliver these on my neighborhood walk.

Note: I will not be at the meeting to sell stickers.

You are Invited to the Riverview Village Business District Open House!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
There will be Free Food, Drinks, Entertainment, Prizes and lots of Sales!!
Show your CPRV Membership Card and you may be eligible for Additional Savings!
For more information, contact your Favorite Riverview Businesses or e-mail RiverviewCoffeeParlor@cox.net.

Calling all artists! Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 11th (from 12 - 5 p.m.) to celebrate the 11th annual CPRV Front Porch Art Walk. Watch for more information on the CPRV website and on the listserv as the date nears. To register, contact Tara Sheldon (tara@tarasheldon.com) or Kristen Bourcier (MosaicArt@cox.net).

Let the competition begin. With a chill in the air, we know it’s time to put the pumpkins out on the porches and the bats up in the trees. That’s right, it’s time for the World Famous Annual Colonial Place/Riverview Hauntin’ The Hood Halloween Decorating Competition. We expect great things from the creative minds in the neighborhood again this year! Prize awarded at midnight on October 31.

Each year, $1.255 billion in personal items and accessories are stolen from vehicles in about 1.85 million thefts; and for every theft, experts estimate, there are several break-ins and attempted break-ins. With these common sense habits and preventative measures, you can greatly reduce the chances your vehicle will become a target.

• Lock Your Doors: While this piece of advice should be a no-brainer, up to a quarter of vehicle thefts are from unlocked cars, according to some law enforcement agencies. Even if you’re running into the store for a Coke, that’s too long to leave your vehicle’s contents open for the taking. Simply locking the doors will deter those who might just be waiting around for an easy target.
• Keep it Tidy: Almost any worthless personal item that’s visible from the outside--even an empty shopping bag--could be seen as a valuable or a carrier of valuables. If you have a wagon or SUV that leaves your cargo area on display, consider getting a cover. Most of these vehicles can be fitted with inexpensive retractable covers to help keep shopping bags or other belongings out of sight.
• Conceal all the evidence: Don’t leave any bait out for thieves; stow your electronics and accessories well out of sight--or better yet, bring it with you. The evidence alone might be enough to pique the interest of thieves, so hide that too, including power plugs, telltale iPod adapters, or nav-system windshield suction-cup mounts, and even put the cigarette lighter back in place
• Stash Before (Not After) You Park: Get in the habit of putting shopping bags in the trunk right when you return to the vehicle, rather than after you park at the next place. According to National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) spokesman Frank Scafidi, thieves sometimes linger in busy parking lots looking for valuables being moved out of sight. Don’t display to them what you have.
• Completely Close Windows and Sunroofs: No, it’s not just because thieves might reach in through the gap and open your locks with a coat hanger. Open windows will disable the pressure sensor in some car alarms, leaving the vehicle more vulnerable to break-in and potentially giving thieves more time before the alarm sounds.
• Get an Alarm: If you don’t have an alarm system, get one. The noise alone may be enough to scare away an inexperienced thief and prevent the break-in. Factory-option alarm systems are generally best, but a carefully installed, properly calibrated aftermarket system can provide just as much safety. Beware, many less-expensive new cars have remote entry but not a true alarm
• Stick With Your Original Audio System: Thefts of car audio components are on the decline, but having an aftermarket system still makes a car more attractive to thieves thinking of breaking in. There’s no black market to speak of for factory stereos, and they’ve become much better sounding in recent years
• Park for Visibility: Park in a busy, well-lit area, and avoid concealment from larger vehicles, fences, or foliage. Except for the most brazen thieves, the greater the chances are that someone might see a crime in progress, the lower the chances are that the potential thief will attempt it.
• Get physical: A significant portion of vehicles are broken into with the intent of stealing the vehicle itself, so combining several visible simple, inexpensive physical theft deterrents like steering wheel locks (The Club), steering column collars, or brake pedal locks may discourage the would-be thief from breaking in and trying.
• Layer your Defenses: That’s the strategy. layers include warning devices such as alarms, wheel etching, or decals; immobilizers; and even tracking systems (LoJack is one). None of them are foolproof, but if they’re used in tandem they can really keep the chances down.

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 Joanna at joannajenkins@cox.net.

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.

Deadline for articles and advertising is the third Friday of the month

Community News Editor:   Blair Barbieri
              Phone: 908-797-8750
              Email: cprvnews@gmail.com

Newsletter Advertising Chair: James Gregg
              Phone: 757-489-8968
              Email: jamesrgregg@aol.com

Community News Distribution:   Mary Hormell, Phone 627-2392

CPRV Web Page: www.cprv.org