Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League
COMMUNITY NEWS
Holiday Party
NEXT BOARD MEETING will be Monday, January 18, 2010, at 7:00 pm.
DEADLINE for the January issue is Friday, December 17, 2009.
THIS MONTH'S MEETING AGENDA: Holiday Party - Silent auction of the Supermower.
Season’s Greetings Neighbors! I can’t wait to see everyone at this year’s holiday social held at the ForKids building. Please make sure to bring an unwrapped toy (see list below for suggestions) for the children of Norfolk who were recently homeless and whose families are building back up their lives. This agency is unique in their approach to ending homelessness. They set up goals for the families and as each goal is met, the families earn points to use for shopping in the ForKids holiday shop. The toys in the shop are made possible in part by your donations. Keep in mind those older kids too, who sometimes get looked over when it comes to toy drives. There is a list of ideas on the www.homesforkids.org website. We will be auctioning off the shredder at the upcoming holiday social as well so make sure to get your bids ready for this amazing piece of yard equipment.
This past month we saw some of the highest flooding ever in Norfolk and CPRV was not exempt from that. It is our hopes to have the City of Norfolk and HRSD address our civic league so we can discuss some of the failures in the sewage system that neighbors had to deal with. There has been a discussion on the CPRV listserv regarding some of the troubles experienced, and Jeanne Ullian has been updating our webpage with pictures of the storm damage in our neighborhood at www.cprv.org. Please be on the lookout for this important discussion that needs to take place so we can minimize the effects if this were ever to happen again. With every leaf falling in one day due to this storm, please make sure to clear the street on street sweeping days! That is the second Tuesday and Wednesday of the month for Colonial Place and the third Wednesday of the month for Riverview.
Don’t forget the upcoming January vote about the small dog park construction! I look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming holiday party.
All CPRV residents are invited to the 2009 CPRV Civic League Holiday Party being held Monday, Dec. 14, at 7:00 p.m. at the ForKids Headquarters at 42nd Street and Colley Avenue.
This year ForKids will serve more families than ever. Through the Holiday Shop, they will provide gifts for approximately 750 children! To help them out, the Civic League asks that you bring one unwrapped, new toy.* Often, the greatest need is among the teens since most folks donate toys for the younger children. If you’re wondering what teens would be into, read on. Hope you can find it in your heart to be generous!
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm. There were two first time visitors.
There was a moment of silence for the victims and family involved in the Ft. Hood tragedy.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 pm.
The vote for or against the small dog park will be at our January meeting of the civic league. Only current, dues-paying members will be able to have their votes counted. I encourage everyone who is interested in this vote to have their 2010 membership current by the January meeting, See the back of any of the past newsletters for information on joining the civic league, or updating your current membership.
During the recent nor’easter, many residents experienced effluent (containing human waste) backing up in their homes. I feel it is appropriate to take this longstanding problem to a higher level. Many voices get action. Please e-mail me your sewage problem at a_p_webb@yahoo.com.
This spring, the City of Norfolk will commence a renovation of the Colonial Place Greenway Playground to include the latest in playground equipment and safety features. We are looking forward to having a brand new playground that will provide for a range of different activities and age-appropriate skill sets in a clean and inviting space.
I would like to thank Chad Morris, Division Head for Open Space Planning and Development from the City’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Open Space, for his work on this project as well as the many neighborhood adults and children who helped guide this renovation plan with their helpful comments and questions. Following the playground renovation, trees will be planted to allow for shade and we will continue to work with the City of Norfolk on correcting the drainage issue that is prevalent at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue.
The biggest crime in our neighborhood right now is the theft of license plates. If you go to the auto parts store, you can purchase a special license plate screw and tool that is not the typical flathead screw. Replace the current screws holding in your license plate with the random design screws, throw the tool in your glove box, and watch how your license plates are now not so easy to screw off.
Last year, a thief preyed upon our UPS packages that were dropped off on our porch while we were at work. This year, when making those important holiday purchases off of the internet, please have the packages delivered to your workplace, or held at the warehouse, or track them and arrange for someone to be there when they are delivered.
My last crime tip that I will share with you is to make sure that all those fancy electronic boxes from your holiday gift giving are broken down and stashed down into your recycling bin. There is no need to advertise your new plasma screen television or new computer out at the curb.
The Lafayette Wetlands Partnership, in collaboration with the Friends of Norfolk’s Environment, Inc., has been awarded a $2,000 grant by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to determine the levels of E. coli and enterococci bacteria in Knitting Mill Creek. The project is part of the Department’s 2010 Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Grant Program. Dr. Fred Dobbs, Old Dominion University Professor of Biological Oceanography, is leading the data collection and analysis effort.
Members of the Partnership and other volunteers will conduct weekly sampling and analysis of water in the 46th Street and Colley Avenue wetland, as well as monthly sampling and analysis along the length of Knitting Mill Creek. The project will last for one year, beginning in January, 2010. Results of the project will be reported to the Department of Environmental Quality and will become a part of the overall data collection plan supporting “Lafayette River: Swimmable, Fishable 2014,” an initiative begun by the Elizabeth River Project and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation aimed at returning the Lafayette to a cleaner, healthier condition.
If you are interested in taking part in the Knitting Mill Creek water sampling and analysis project, contact John Stewart at 623-8127 or jdstewart1@cox.net.
REACH is seeking new books for all ages 0-18 for its shelter Read-Aloud programs this holiday, along with financial contributions and school supplies. Folks can donate through PayPal at reachreads.org.
REACH will be gift wrapping for tips at the Barnes and Noble in MacArthur Mall Dec. 23, 5-9 p.m. and Dec. 24, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. They are also conducting a book drive at Barnes and Noble Town Center where you can purchase a book and donate on site for their shelter program.
Please visit REACH at www.reachreads.org to find out more.
COMMUNITY NEWS is produced by:
The Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League
P.O. Box 6130
Norfolk, VA 23508
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