June Newsletter and Events

It's not too late to join us on Saturday!

Clean the Bay Day
Date: Saturday, June 2, 9:00 am to Noon
New Location: Indian River Park, Ipswich Entrance, 1999 Paramont Ave.
(if coming from Greenbrier on Military Hwy, turn right at the light by the Volkswagon dealership and go 1 mile to the park's south entrance).

Volunteers needed!  We are doing our annual Clean the Bay Day cleanup at the south end of Indian River Park this year.  Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and bring work gloves, and if you wish to work in the flood plain of the creeks, rubber boots.  Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.   Please RSVP to info@friendsofindianriver.org.   (Last minute volunteers are still always welcome). 

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Monthly Meeting - 
Date: Thursday, June 21, 7 pm
Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Dr.

Our guest speaker will be Robert Hitchings, local historian and archivist at the Wallace Room at the Central Library of Chesapeake, who will tell us about Rev. Richard B. Garrett (1854-1920) and the John Wilkes Booth Conspiracy ... the Hampton Roads Connection.  There will be light refreshments and door prizes after the meeting.

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Quarterly Cleanup - Indian River Road - 
Date: Saturday, June 23, 9 AM to Noon
Starting Location: Post Office side parking lot at 3810 Indian River Rd

We need your help for our quarterly cleanup.   Join us for a few hours to clean up the mile of Indian River Road from the city limits at Wingfield Avenue all the way to MacDonald Road. We are also asking all business owners along Indian River Road - and everywhere really - to make sure they sweep up in front of their storefronts as part of the effort.   And if you can't make it out for our organized cleanup please take 15 minutes and clean up the street and ditches in front of your home; pass the word to your neighbors!

For our main cleanup we'll be focusing on the area around the bridge and into Oaklette.  The city will provide garbage bags and orange safety vests. We'll have water and snacks available. Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and bring work gloves and other items that may be useful. Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.

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Other News

Chesapeake Notable Yards Contest is now accepting nominations.   They are looking for "Yards That Look Good and Are Good For Nature".   Criteria include Visual Appeal and Garden Design, Healthy Lawn Practices, Native Trees, Shrubs and Flowers, Food Gardens and/or Wildlife Habitat, Rainwater Harvesting and Runoff Control, and a bonus category of being Active in the Community!  Submit nominations by May 31 at http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/government/Boards-Commissions/full-listing/ceic/award-programs-contest/Chesapeake-s-Notable-Yards-Contest/Notable-Yards-Nomination-form.htm

Volunteers are needed for a shoreline improvement project along the Indian River in May.   Help to install oyster castles to build a new oyster reef and coir logs and native marsh grasses to protect the shore from erosion.  Learn more from the Elizabeth River Project and how to sign up at https://www.facebook.com/events/200530300557832/

Do you live along the tidal waterway? Well, you can help the river by becoming an Oyster Gardener. Help raise baby oysters off your shoreline, especially if you have a pier or other easy access to the water. And best of all, we will likely be able to keep many of the oysters raised on newly established reefs along the mouth of the Indian River.  Watch this one minute video to learn more and sign up here for orientation classes in June. 

Our Business Sub-committee has been working on outreach to businesses in downtown Indian River and working with them on  beautification along our "Main Street".   Thanks to generous support from local commercial property owners Larry Barlow and Bettina Colonna Essert, we've placed flower pots at the Irwin's Shopping Center, the Trade Team Business Center, and at Lulu's Hot Dogs.

Huge thank you to Daisy Troop 29 for coming out and planting flowers around the sign at Plymouth Park in early May. This was a big project for them including doing learning about vermicomposting and growing these cone flowers from seed. We had help from the Chesapeake Master Gardeners to provide some planting instruction!

Fall Events - click to enlarge: