May Newsletter and Events

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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 - Buy Fresh Buy Local
Date: Thursday, May 17, 7 pm
Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Dr.

Our guest speaker will be from Buy Fresh, Buy Local working to connect farms to people and make it easy to find Hampton Roads'​fresh and delicious locally grown and produced food.​ 
There will be light refreshments and door prizes after the meeting.

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City Council Election Results

The City Council elections results are in - returning for another term will be Rick West Chesapeake Mayor and Council Members Ella Ward, John de Triquet, and Dwight Parker. Newly elected are Council Members-Elect R Stephen Best Sr, Susan Vitale, and Matt Hamel.  Debbie Ritter and Robert Ike will continue with their terms in office.  The new council will be take their seats on July 1st.

We congratulate the winners and also wish to thank outgoing members Roland Davis, Lonnie Craig, and Suzy Kelly for their service.

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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/Notable-Yards-Nomination-form.htm

The Comp Plan Review for the Aqua Virginia acquisition passed unanimously at the Planning Commission in April. This was the first of several steps in completing the takeover of the system.   Hopefully, we'll have more good news soon!

We had a fun time at our Earth Day Celebration at Plymouth Park. We had a service event collecting trash and then we planted shrubs at the park entrance.  See pictures at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofIndianRiver/posts/1792957800769563

Meetings continue with Parks, Recreation and Tourism to draft site plans for a future canoe/kayak launch site along the Indian River.   We had a briefing on the draft plans from Kristina Bezanson at our April monthly meeting.

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. 

Mark your calendar with these upcoming dates

- June 21 Monthly Meeting with guest speaker Robert Hithings discussing local area history

- June 23 Adopt-A-Road Cleanup along Indian River Road and at the Bridge 

- September 15 RiverFest right here in Indian River

- September 22 International Coastal Cleanup - canoe/kayak cleanup of the Indian River

- September 29 Rain date for canoe/kayak cleanup of the Indian River