Suburban Acres Civic League Mar 1, 2010 Volume 7, Issue 3 TheThe SuburbanSuburban www.suburban23505.com L A Message from the President hope everyone has gotten their fill of months that has certainly got many of us on S C Winter. I know I have. It was edge. I encourage each neighbor to get involved I fun...sure...the snow and all…but tell me with the Neighborhood Watch (contact info posted you're with me on this...Bring on WARM on page 7) and enhance your personal aware- Please join us on SUNSHINE! This has ness, keeping an eye out for your- self and your neighbors. Monday, March 8 at been the longest Winter I can remember. That The March 8th SACL As always, your membership in Suburban Park groundhog....why I Suburban Park meeting guest speaker the Civic League and active par- oughta.... ticipation are strongly urged. Elementary School. As the season is Khalilah LeGrand, Reach out to one of the Board thaws...there are a few Members to see how you can get Doors open at 6 pm. events on the horizon, Norfolk Census Coordi- involved. I hope you're enjoying soonest being the Great the Newsletter. Kevin Janney is Meeting at 6:30 pm. American Cleanup, which nator. 2010 Census: doing an excellent job keeping it is detailed in this It’s in our hands-make an informative, entertaining, and Inside this Issue newsletter. Elections for attractive publication. Well...don't some of our local Norfolk count! Join us let me hold you up...go check it Wards Corner area representatives is not far out! at 6:30. mentioned in State of away, so we're planning May the luck of the Irish be with the City address to get the candidates to you all during the soon coming our April Civic League Page 3 celebration of the Green (whether you're Irish or meeting so that you can learn more about Neighborhood winter not)! May you find that pot of gold at the end of their position. Keep an ear to the ground for the rainbow. wonderland pictures that. We've unfortunately seen some crime in Page 3 our neighborhood in the past couple of Regards, Volunteers needed for Timothy M. Fox Great American Cleanup Page 5 St. Patrick’s Day Community Events Include Block Party, Parade th AND... The 16th annual Greening of Ghent is Friday evening March 12 from 6 to 10 p.m. on Colley Ave- nue in Ghent...now with a new name, “Shamrockin’ in Ghent”. The free event features an opening Civic League Officers by the Tidewater Pipe and Drum Corps and music all evening by the Deloreans. 2010 marks the and Contacts 16th annual St. Patrick’s Day-themed event, formerly hosted by the Ghent Business Association. 2 February The late Fellini’s founder and owner Mike Cavish is credited with coming up with the idea for the St. Meeting Minutes Patrick’s Day-themed neighborhood party. Norfolk-based Hope House Foundation is now coordi- nating the event, and all proceeds benefit the foundation, a local non-profit organization providing Civic League and independent living services to adults with developmental disabilities in Hampton Roads. 3-6 Community News Continued on Page 6 Neighborhood Watch A one-of-a-kind, minia- Report ture Flora the Mermaid 7 Letters From Our has been donated by Neighbors Jack Sanderlin of Suburban Acres Green 8 EARNN News Join your neighbors & Norfolk Chris- GREEN tian High School’s Bio-Eco Club Sat- Announcements urday to par- 9 March 27 at 9 am Word Search Coastal Arts and will STARTS ticipate in beautifying the wetlands be awarded as a DOOR near Archer’s Green. Meet at the Neighborhood PRIZE at the March 8th HERE corner of Suburban Parkway & E. 10 Calendar SACL meeting! Kenmore 2 The Suburban A L SuburbanSuburban AcresAcres CivicCivic LeagueLeague S C MeetingMeeting MinutesMinutes for January 11, 2010 Meeting Commenced at 6:32 PM Attendance: 41 Suburban Acres Civic League WELCOME provided by Vice-President JoDee Cook, who officiated over the meeting. Officers PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TREASURER’S REPORT - Lester Cavagnaro Tim Fox, President Beginning Balance 1054.24 338-0439 Revenue 822.00 [email protected] Expenses 332.86 JoDee Cook, Vice President Ending Balance 1517.27 587-7918 PRESENTATION - John Deuel, Environmental Coordinator for Keep Norfolk Beautiful Eric Heard, Secretary John discussed Environmental Stewardship and the value of participating in the EARNN ( Environ- 963-6996 mental Awards for Recycling in Norfolk's Neighborhoods). John gave us numerous examples of [email protected] "sustainable living” and discussed the cost savings of using products such as programmable thermostats, energy efficient light bulbs, rain barrels, energy efficient appliances, ceiling fans, sky Lester Cavagnaro, Treasurer 963-6996 lights, and power strips. Other tricks are lowering temperature on our water heater, covering our [email protected] pipes with insulation, using green fertilizer, keeping the gutters clear of leaves and trash, fixing plumbing leaks, minimize water used in toilet flushing and much more. He also gave us the dos and don'ts of recycling waste. Board of Directors NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Jeb Clarke 626-0076 Committee Chair Robert Lain spoke about how important it is for the community to work together Steve Collins 416-6158 for safety and safety awareness. A meeting was held on January 26 at the Community Mediation Center. Priorities and responsibilities of block captains were determined. If interested, Rob can be Robert Lain 469-3685 reached at 469.3685 or [email protected]. Most of our crime is auto related, theft or larceny. There was a break-in on Kirby Crescent, on Galveston an alarm went off, and chain saws were Kevin Janney 587-1616 stolen. The Neighborhood Watch decals are still on sale. Newsletter/Communications MEMBERSHIP Kevin Janney [email protected] Approximately 500 newsletters are delivered to households in Suburban Acres. We had 172 587-1616 households with memberships in 2009. There were 130 family memberships and 42 single memberships. So far in 2010, we have 41 paid memberships. Twenty four of these were family Newsletter Advertising and 17 single. Charles Wasserman [email protected] CHANGE TO JANUARY 11 MEETING MINUTES 588-5987 The following was reported in the meeting minutes for January : "The board of directors voted unanimously to purchase a 5 year web domain renewal for $95.00." Actual cost of the renewal is Newsletter Distribution $14.95 per year. Mary Verykoukis 587-1221 ANNOUNCEMENTS Tea Party will be meeting at the Banque on Saturday February 13 at 9:00. Dawn Hester’s PACE Officer mayoral campaign kickoff will be at the Holiday Inn, Military Highway 11:30. Officer Curtis Jackson [email protected] Meeting Adjourned 831-3484 Eric Heard, Secretary Police (Non Emergency) 441-5610 Code Enforcement Flora, the Suburban Acres Yard- 664-6532 of-the-Month mermaid is back Norfolk Cares from her winter rest and Springs 664-6510 into action in MARCH. Where will she show up? If you’d like Neighborhood Watch Coordinator to suggest a coming ashore Rob Lain point, email her at 469-3685 [email protected] Visit our website at Thanks to Jack Sanderlin from Coastal Arts for Flora’s rehab www.suburban23505.com work over the winter! www.suburban23505.com 3 CivicCivic LeagueLeague andand CommunityCommunity NewsNews For more news and events visit our website at www.suburban23505.com Winter wonderland activities in Suburban Acres! Cross country skiing and neighbors shoveling the walks on Suburban Parkway. An unusually snowy January and early February. The 7-8 inches that fell January 30 and 31 (after February’s The Suburban had already gone to press) was the most snowfall Norfolk has seen since two storms in February 1989 brought 15.4 and 9 inches, accord- ing to WVEC meteorologist Evan Stewart. See the photo gallery at www.suburban23505.com for more now pictures including some great snowmen and snowwomen. Photos by Kevin Janney Wards Corner area mentioned in mayor’s State We were disappointed and concerned by last year’s increase of the City address in the homicide rate. With that exception, overall violent crime was down 14%. Mayor Paul D. Fraim gave the State of the City Address on Fri- In a very positive sign, juvenile arrests dropped significantly day, February 19, 2010. It included the following information in selective enforcement areas – 83% in Huntersville; 41% in regarding the Wards Corner area: Denby Park and 14% in the Pleasant Avenue corridor. Over- More than $13 million has been invested in the Greater all juvenile arrests were down 52%. But the problem is still Wards Corner area since approval of the Comprehensive severe, it affects our children and school safety. That is why Plan. Last year, police presence and code enforcement ac- I will ask the city council to establish a task force on youth tivities were stepped up, surveillance cameras installed in and gang violence to be chaired by the vice mayor, Anthony Denby Park, and a neighborhood watch begun with 60 resi- Burfoot. dents participating. As a result, violent crime in Wards Cor- The mayor also highlighted efforts by the City and NRHA to con- ner dropped 35% and property crime 6%. tinue to acquire dilapidated properties in Ocean View for rede- Three residential rehabilitation programs were begun for velopment. Recent examples include a 16 unit apartment on Denby Park, Oakdale Farms and Monticello Village to assist First View, a 15 unit apartment in Willoughby and the old Ra- residents in upgrading their homes. The programs were so mada Inn property on Ocean View Avenue. However, the pur- successful that within six months, the first $1 million was chase of property in the worst area of the Texas Streets portion committed to 21 homeowners.