Friday, March 29, 2019

April Newsletter


Friends of Indian River
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In this month's issue:
- Adopt-A-Park at Indian River Park, Saturday, April 6
- Monthly Meeting - Ross Weaver on Wetlands Watch Resilience Research and Design Collaborative -  Thursday, April 18
- Nature HIke at Indian River Park, Saturday, April 20
- BioBlitz at Indian River Park, Saturday, May 18 - Registration is open
- Aqua Virginia update
- More Events and Updates
     - Norfolk Highlands Civic League, Thursday, April 4
     - Rokeby Garden Club, Thursday, April 25
     - CVUU screening of “Wasted! The Story of Food Waste”, April 26




Adopt-A-Park Cleanup at Indian River Park
Date: Saturday, April 6, 9 am to Noon
Location: Indian River Park, 2001 Rokeby Ave.

We'll be tending to the native plant garden at the park entrance.  Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and bring work gloves. If you can, bring shovels, rakes, pruners, saws and other gardening tools. We can use some wheel barrows to move mulch if you can bring one.  We will have water and lots of snacks. (We also always encourage folks to bring their own water in reusable bottles to minimize use of plastic bottles).   Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.

Monthly Meeting - Ross Weaver discusses the Wetlands Watch Resilience Research and Design Collaborative
Date: Thursday, April 18, 7 pm 
Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive, Chesapeake, VA

Wetlands Watch, Virginia Sea Grant, and the Green Building Council, Hampton Roads Chapter have joined forces to link research and education programs at Virginia universities with local governments. Their goal is to produce innovative solutions to make communities stronger and more resilient in the face of environmental and economic change. Learn about these projects and how we may participate in them in Indian River. http://wetlandswatch.org/design-collaboratory/

There will be light refreshments and door prizes after the meeting.

Nature Hike at Indian River Park
Date: Saturday, April 20, 8:30 am to 10:30 am
Location: Indian River Park, 2001 Rokeby Ave.

In celebration of Earth Day, join us for a hike along the nature trail and through the park.  Learn about the history of the park, the native trees and plants in this century old forest on the Indian River flood plain, and its value to maintaining the health of local butterfly, bird, and wildlife populations.  Note: the forest trail has uneven surfaces and minor elevation changes.
BioBlitz at Indian River Park
Date: Saturday, May 18, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: Indian River Park, 2001 Rokeby Ave.

Registration is open for a day of free nature and wildlife programs for the whole family 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.

  • Information Tables and Park Rangers at trailhead all day.
  • 8:00am Birding Hike with Tony Wood, Cape Henry Audubon
  • 9:30am Amphibians & Reptiles Hike with Dean Bohon and Mark Crofford, PR&T Volunteer Naturalists
  • 11:00am Insects & Butterflies Hike with Dr. Deborah Waller and Jessie Beard, ODU
  • 1:00pm Tree Hike with Byron Carmean, Virginia Big Trees
  • 2:30pm Wildflower & Plants Hike with Jim Hartle, Tidewater Master Naturalists
Co-sponsored by the Friends of Indian River and the Chesapeake Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.  Activities start at the park trailhead entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2001 Rokeby Ave.) which is located just south of Military Highway.

 All ages are welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult. Walking required, trails have uneven surfaces and minor elevation changes. Strollers are not recommended.

 Register for hikes by e-mailing info@friendsofindianriver.org or online at http://www.friendsofindianriver.org/p/bioblitz.html

Want to help out?   We need volunteers to help at the welcome station, help with the hikes, and to keep track of our wildlife sightings.    Contact us at info@friendsofindianriver.org
Other News
Aqua Virginia: The Virginia State Corporation Commission has approved the transfer of the Aqua Virginia water system in Indian River to the City of Chesapeake. The City and Aqua are ironing out the last few details of the transfer and plan to close the sale on or around April 18th!

The City reports they have already begun two projects to make the initial connections between the City’s water system and Aqua’s water system. One project begins at the intersection of Laurel Avenue and Davis Avenue and connects to the Aqua system at the near Sparrow Road and Santeelah Avenue. The second project begins at the intersection of McNeal Avenue and Rokeby Avenue and connects to the Aqua system at McNeal Avenue and Linden Avenue. They urge caution when traveling in these areas under construction.  

Norfolk Highlands Civic League: After a brief hiatus, the NH Civic League is reforming.  They will once again meet on the first Thursday of the month, April 4th, at 7 pm.  The location is still TBD; for more info, see https://www.facebook.com/events/1280397155458162/ 

Rokeby Garden Club: will hold an Herb and mini-Pizza Party at the Rokeby Center on Thursday, April 25th, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm for residents "55 and better".  They'll be discussing growing herbs and preparing foods made with herbs.  Come and enjoy foods made with fresh herbs including dips, salads, mini-Pizzas and Tapas. Optional: Feel free to bring a dish using a fresh herb to share, if you wish; please bring the recipe too.  RSVP Required, Call 757-822-6259

Coastal Virginia Unitarian Universalists: will be screening the documentary, “Wasted! The Story of Food Waste” on April 26 at 7:00 PM.  Karen Forget of Lynnhaven River NOW will lead a discussion of the film following the showing.  They are located at 809 South Military Highway, Virginia Beach, VA 23464 (just north of the Indian River Road, Military Highway intersection).

Oyster Gardening: Do you live along the river?  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is holding orientation sessions on how you can help grow baby oysters off your shore.  Sessions start in June, for more info see https://www.cbf.org/how-we-save-the-bay/programs-initiatives/virginia/oyster-restoration/oyster-gardening/hampton-roads-oyster-gardening-seminars-new-gardeners.html

Thank you to the 13 volunteers who came out for our Adopt-A-Road cleanup along Indian River Road on March 23.  We removed nearly 500 lbs of litter along the road, around and under the Oaklette Bridge.  See pics https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofIndianRiver/posts/2263666420365363

Congratulations to our own Amy Weber for winning the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council's Pioneer Award for all her continuing good work.   https://www.facebook.com/ChesapeakeEnvironmentalImprovementCouncil/photos/a.693578610718812/2176456275764364

Now is a great time to become a member or renew your membership, or just make a donation online at http://www.friendsofindianriver.org/p/membership.html

    Striving to improve the quality of life for all the residents of the Indian River neighborhoods of Chesapeake, Virginia, by promoting and preserving a healthy and clean river, shorelines, parks, and green spaces connected to the surrounding community.

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, please reply back to info@friendsofindianriver.org with Unsubscribe in the subject line.
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    Sunday, March 3, 2019

    March Newsletter

    In this month's issue:
    - Monthly Meeting - Barbara Brumbaugh presents on Chesapeake's Water Quality Improvement Plans -  Thursday, March 21
    - Adopt-A-Road Cleanup Along Indian River Road, Saturday, March 23
    - Adopt-A-Park at Indian River Park, Saturday, April 6
    - Aqua Virginia update
    - Fieldstone Condo's next to Indian River Park update
    - Annual Membership Drive

    Monthly Meeting - Barbara Brumbaugh presents on Chesapeake's Water Quality Improvement Plans
    Date: Thursday, March 21, 7 pm 
    Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive, Chesapeake, VA

    Learn about what the City of Chesapeake is doing to improve the quality of our waterways in this presentation with Chesapeake's Environmental Program Manager Barbara Brumbaugh

    We will also have a short business meeting to approve our 2019-2020 budget.  There will be light refreshments and door prizes after the meeting.

    Adopt-A-Road Cleanup along Indian River Road /Community Cleanup
    Date: Saturday, March 23, 9 am to 11 am
    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 on Indian River Road, 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.

    Adopt-A-Park Cleanup at Indian River Park
    Date: Saturday, April 6, 9 am to Noon
    Location: Indian River Park, 2001 Rokeby Ave.

    We'll be tending to the native plant garden at the park entrance.  Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and bring work gloves. If you can, bring shovels, rakes, pruners, saws and other gardening tools. We can use some wheel barrows to move mulch if you can bring one.  We will have water and lots of snacks. (We also always encourage folks to bring their own water in reusable bottles to minimize use of plastic bottles).   Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.

    Other News

    Mark your calendars for the 2019 BioBlitz at Indian River Park on Saturday, May 18th.  On that day we'll have a series of guided walks to search for birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, butterflies, as well as trees and plants.  This will be a fun family event!

     The Aqua Virginia acquisition by the City of Chesapeake continues to be on track.  On February 15, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) staff recommended approval of the proposed transfer of utility assets from Aqua Virginia, Inc. to the City of Chesapeake. Based on the comments that were received during the comment period, it is likely that the SCC will approve the transfer.  The Closing of the sale between Aqua and the City shall take place within 35 days of that approval.
    The large condo development - Fieldstone Condos - planned adjacent to Indian River Park submitted a revised preliminary site plan to the City last month.  The landscaping plan has not been submitted and we can't gauge whether the site meets the requirement for establish, at tree maturity, a tree canopy totaling a minimum of 15% of the site's area.  https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofIndianRiver/posts/2221859181212754
    During our Great Backyard Bird Count hike we identified 25 species of birds around the lake by Indian River High School.   You can find some of the photos we took at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofIndianRiver/posts/2214148081983864

     And thank you to the volunteers who came out for our Adopt-A-Park cleanup at Plymouth "Community" Park on March 2.   On-going volunteer efforts at the park are making a great difference.  If you haven't visited the site, please do.

     It is also time for our annual membership drive.  Now is a great time to become a member or renew your membership, or just make a donation online at http://www.friendsofindianriver.org/p/membership.html
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