April Newsletter

Spring is here and the leaves are bursting forth.   Eagles are soaring over the river and the egrets are setting up their nests.   April is the month for our big BioBlitz at Indian River Park where we'll try to see how many species of flora and fauna we can find in the park.  We hope you can come out and join us for this fun and educational event.

Sincerely,
Rogard Ross
Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator

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BioBlitz at Indian River Park
Date: April 16th
Come out for a day of free nature and wildlife programs at Indian River Park.  Join expert guides on a variety of hikes to explore the park and document as much of the plant and animal life present.
- 8:00 am Birding Hike with Tony Wood, Cape Henry Audubon
- 9:30 am Amphibians & Reptiles Hike with Dean Bohon, Northwest River Park
- 11:00 am Insects & Butterflies Hike with Dr. Deborah Waller, ODU
- 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Various activities including Meet Your Park Rangers, Snake Exhibit, and more, No RSVP required
- 1:00 pm Tree Hike with Mike Aherron, VA Department of Forestry
- 2:30 pm Wildflower and Plants Hike with Mike Andruczyk, Virginia Cooperative Extension
- 4:00 pm Wildlife Habitats Hike, Jessica Ruthenberg, Virginia DGIF

Co-sponsored by the Friends of Indian River and the Chesapeake Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.   The hikes are filling up, so let us know which hike(s) you would like to join - RSVP to info@friendsofindianriver.org or online at http://goo.gl/forms/Ao70I1NyGe

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The French Potager: Decorative Vegetable Gardening
Date: April 21st, 7 pm
At our next regular meeting, Norfolk Master Gardener Lorraine Schreiber will talk to us about how the  French kitchen garden intermingles vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs.   Come and find inspiration in its intimate and sensual style, complicity with nature, and charm.   There will be light refreshments and door prizes after the presentation.  The meeting starts at 7 PM in the Social Hall at the Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive.

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Other News

• The Norfolk Highland Civic League will be holding Chesapeake School Board and City Council Candidate Forum on Thursday April 7th at the Laurel Avenue Church of Christ, read more ....
• The City will hold its 30th Annual Arbor Day Ceremony and Celebration at City Hall on April 8th, read more ...
• The General Assembly changed the laws governing development proffers that will likely impact future discussions on zoning changes, read more ...
• And we offer a big Thank You to the volunteers who braved the blustery weather on March 19th to help with our quaterly Indian River Road Cleanup. We did about a mile along the road and and under the bridge and collected 14 bags of trash including bottles, food wrappers, wind blown plastic bags, and lots and lots of cigarette butts. We're open to suggestions on how to best get the word out that cigarette butts are litter and folks shouldn't just toss them out their car window.