November Newsletter

• Upcoming Events
• Tuesday, Nov 3: Election Day
• Saturday, Nov 14: Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park
• Thursday, Nov 19: Meeting: Environmental Justice
• Saturday, Nov 21: Adopt-A-Road Cleanup
• News
• October Recap

Upcoming Event

Tuesday, November 3: Election Day

Early voting ends Saturday, October 31.  

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, polling locations open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Those in line to vote at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.      

Key votes will be for the U.S. House and Senate.  Locally, the majority of the City Council and School Board are up for election.   Also on the ballot are three Virginia Constitution Amendments regarding core rights for Virginians. You can find the sample ballot at https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1055/Sample-Ballot

If you are not yet registered to vote, you can still vote with a provisional ballot with Same Day Voter Registration.  Get more info on how and where to vote from the Voter Registrar's Office at https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1175/Chesapeake-Precincts.  

Please go Vote!

Saturday, November 14: Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park

• 
  8:30 am to 10 am
• Location: Indian River Park entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2003 Rokeby Ave.) 
• 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.
• Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/qZwaRt23DFarhGmW6 (suggested but not required).

Thursday, November 19: Meeting - Environmental Justice

• 7 pm to 8:30 pm
• Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive
• Speaker: Our guest speaker will be Kim Sudderth.  Ms. Sudderth is Policy Director for Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, CEO for Grass Roots Organizers (gRo), and the current chair of the Norfolk Planning Commission.  She will be talking to us about Environmental Justice. 
• All are welcome.  We'll also have the latest community news and updates!  There will be light refreshments.

Saturday, November 21, 2026: Adopt-A-Road Cleanup along Indian River Road 

• 9 am to Noon
• Location: Meet at Lilac Avenue and Indian River Road.  Park along Lilac Avenue by the Norfolk Highlands Primary School.  It is a No Parking zone along Oleander Avenue (parallel to Indian River Road).
• Join us for our quarterly cleanup along Indian River Road and at Blue Heron Landing Park.
• 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.  Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat, and bring work gloves and other items that may be useful.  We will have water and snacks, but we also always encourage folks to bring their own water in reusable bottles to minimize the use of plastic bottles.  Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.
• Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/BAcVxwPFummyRgFMA  (suggested but not required).

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News

Chesapeake Healthy Landscapes Program

We are encouraging folks to sign up for the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council and the City of Chesapeake's new Chesapeake Healthy Landscape Program.  This program recognizes and encourages residents to take steps to create healthy landscapes on their properties.  Participants who sign up can receive an information kit and a landscape flag as recognition for their efforts.  

To be recognized, they are looking for commitments to Protect Your Trees, put the Right Plant in the Right Place, Consider Wildlife, Reduce Lawn Maintenance, Reduce Runoff, Avoid or Remove Invasive Plants, and Limit Chemical Usage.  Learn more and sign up at Chesapeake Healthy Landscape Program | Chesapeake, VA

October Recap

Thank you to the 8 volunteers who came out for our Adopt-a-Park effort at Indian River Park to weed and mulch the native plant garden!

Have an idea for an article for our newsletter?  Send your submission, max 250 words, to us at info@friendsofindianriver.org along with a photo and we'll consider it for our next edition.

October Newsletter

• Upcoming Events
• Tuesday, Oct 6: Chesapeake Town Meeting @ Indian River High School
• Saturday, Oct 10: Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park
• Saturday, Oct 24: Adopt-A-Park @ Indian River Park
• News
• November Elections
• Ospreys in Trouble
• September Recap

Upcoming Event

Tuesday, October 6: Chesapeake Town Meeting

• 
  6:30 pm - 8 pm
• Location: Indian River High School, 1969 Braves Trail
• City Council will hold a Town Meeting on Tuesday, October 6, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Indian River High School (1969 Braves Trail). Residents are encouraged to attend at their leisure to discuss topics of interest with City Council members and City staff. For more information, visit https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/TownMeetings

Saturday, October 10: Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park

• 
  8:30 am to 10 am
• Location: Indian River Park entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2003 Rokeby Ave.) 
• 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.
• Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/N8WUZRQTNDGfZ82LA (suggested but not required)

Saturday, October 24, 2026: Adopt-A-Park at Indian River Park - Native Plant Garden

• 9 am to Noon
• Location: Indian River Park, 2003 Rokeby Ave. 
• It is time for our fall gardening at Indian River Park.  We'll be tending to the native plant garden at the park entrance, including weeding, mulching and preparing the garden for the winter.  We may also do some trail work, pruning, weeding, and cleanup.
• Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and bring work gloves.  Long pants are recommended.  If you can, bring shovels, rakes, pruners, saws and other gardening tools.  We'll have water and snacks available.  We also always encourage folks to bring their own water in reusable bottles to minimize use of plastic bottles and cans. 
• Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.
• Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/EjFwJVLx81Woqsix7 (suggested but not required)
  

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News

November Election

Early voting is underway at the Voter Registrar's Office at 411 Cedar Road and will expand to several libraries between October 19 and October 31.  The last day to register to vote is October 23, although you can do same day registration and vote a provisional ballot if you need to.  Get more info on how and where to vote from the Voter Registrar's Office at https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1155/In-Person-Early-Voting-Absentee-By-Mail-.  You can find the sample ballot at https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/1055/Sample-Ballot

Key votes will be for the U.S. House and Senate.  Locally, the majority of the City Council and School Board are up for election.   Also on the ballot are three Virginia Constitution Amendments regarding core rights for Virginians. 

Please get out and Vote!

Ospreys in Trouble

Our colleagues at the Cape Henry Audubon Society and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation have shared information on the dire situation for ospreys across the Chesapeake Bay region.   Ospreys in the saltier parts of the bay had the worst breeding year on record, with nesting pairs only successfully raising 0.25 chicks per nest on average.  Baby ospreys were literally starving in the nests because parents could not find enough fish for them to eat.   Ospreys need to raise about 0.8 to 1.3 chicks per year to keep the population stable.   In tidal freshwater regions, ospreys did do better, raising just over 1.0 chicks per nest.  

Among environmental groups, there is great concern that the declining populations of menhaden fish are destabilizing the entire food web in the Bay.  Menhaden are a forage fish that are key parts of the diet of ospreys, eagles, striped bass, otters, and many other species that make the Chesapeake Bay home.  Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)  is currently reviewing options that include reducing the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap (Bay Cap) by up to 50%.  The ASMFC is taking public comment through October 9. We encourage everyone to sign on the Audubon action alert at https://act.audubon.org/a/menhaden-osprey-2026

September Recap

Thank you to the 12 volunteers who came out for our International Coastal Cleanup/Virginia Waterways Cleanup.    The team removed about 250 lbs of litter, a tire, a bumper, rebar, and more.  

The Planning Department has completed its Open Houses on Data Centers but is still taking public input via its Online Survey until October 30.   They will probably brief the City Council at a Work Session in November to get direction on next steps.  Check out the latest updates and action alerts on Data Centers from the Chesapeake Sustainability Network.  

Have an idea for an article for our newsletter?  Send your submission, max 250 words, to us at info@friendsofindianriver.org along with a photo and we'll consider it for our next edition.

September Newsletter

• Upcoming Events
• Thursday, September 17: Monthly Meeting - Chesapeake Planning
• Saturday, Sept 19: International Coastal Cleanup @ Indian River Oaklette Bridge
• Saturday, Oct 10: Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park
• News
• 2026 Legislative Scorecard
• Data Centers in Chesapeake
• Bird Safe Hampton Roads
• Chesapeake Celebrates Trees - and Healthy Landscapes
• Chesapeake Bay VoiCeS

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Upcoming Event

Thursday, September 17: Monthly Meeting - Chesapeake Planning

• 7 pm to 8:30 pm
• Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive
• Speaker: Olivia Knox, Chesapeake Planning Department on City Planning affecting the Indian River area.
• All are welcome.  We'll also have the latest community news and updates!  There will be light refreshments.

Saturday, Sept 19: International Coastal Cleanup @ Indian River Oaklette Bridge

• 
  Time: 9:00 am to Noon
• Location: Meet at Lilac Avenue and Indian River Road.  Park along Lilac Avenue by the Norfolk Highlands Primary School.  It is a No Parking zone along Oleander Avenue (parallel to Indian River Road).
• As part of the International Coastal Cleanup, we will be cleaning up around and underneath the Indian River - Oaklette Bridge, at Blue Heron Landing Park, and along Indian River Road  
• The city will provide garbage bags and orange safety vests.  
• Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat, and bring work gloves and other items that may be useful.  We will have water and snacks, but we also always encourage folks to bring their own water in reusable bottles to minimize the use of plastic bottles.  Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.
• Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/5CZDr8sQAw2YjL7R9  
• If have access to the Indian River and are interested in "paddling up" to this cleanup with your own canoe or kayak, please reach out to us in advance at info@friendsofindianriver.org

Saturday, October 10: Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park

• 
  8:30 am to 10 am
• Location: Indian River Park entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2003 Rokeby Ave.) 
• 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.
• Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/N8WUZRQTNDGfZ82LA (suggested but not required)

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News

2026 Legislative Scorecard

The Virginia League of Conservation Voters has published its 2026 Legislative Scorecard on the environmental voting record for Virginia delegates and senators.  Our local Indian River representatives all scored well:

• Delegate Bonita Anthony - 96%
• Delegate Cliff Hayes - 96%
• Senator Louise Lucas - 92%

Find the issues that were tracked and the scores for all the delegates at https://valcv.org/

Data Centers in Chesapeake

There was a great deal of activity to define regulations for future data centers in the City of Chesapeake over the summer.  The Planning Department prepared a draft ordinance and policy document in June.  In July, this draft was significantly amended by the Planning Commission, including setting requirements establishing significant setbacks - up to one-half mile from any existing homes - and noise restrictions.  The Planning Department was concerned these amendments would effectively ban data centers in the City, which the City Attorney argued was not something the City could legally do.  The City Council ended up requesting an 8-month moratorium on any data center applications, to allow for more public input.  But the City still needed to close a By-Right "loophole" in the existing City Ordinance, and the Planning Department brought forth a proposed ordinance in August that would do that - but would also set less strict setback requirements - only 1000' from homes - and permit data centers by Conditional Use in the Fentress area.  After a large turnout of people in opposition - 39 speakers at the August 18 City Council meeting - the City Council approved a "clean" ordinance that closed the By-Right "loophole" and deferred all the other regulations.

The next step is collecting more public input.   The Planning Department is holding three open houses in September to collect public input, including one in our area, each from 5 pm to 7 pm:

• Tuesday, September 1, Great Bridge Primary School, 408 Cedar Road
• Monday, September 14, Indian River Community Center, 2250 Old Greenbrier Road
• Wednesday, September 30, Camelot Community Center, 948 King Arthur Drive

Learn more about the City's proposed policy and the various concerns, including opening up the Fentress overlay to data center development, permitted noise levels, setback distances from residential properties, plans for decommissioning defunct data centers, and efficiency standards from our partners at the Chesapeake Sustainability Network.

Bird Safe Hampton Roads

The Friends of Indian River also partner with the local Cape Henry Audubon Society to promote the Bird Safe/Lights Out Initiative.   The fall migration is underway and Chesapeake lies along the Atlantic Migratory Flyway. During migration, birds rest during the day and fly at night.  During these long-distance flights, birds become disoriented by the bright, artificial lights of cities and are drawn into hazardous urban areas, where building collisions are a leading human cause of bird deaths, killing around 1 billion birds each year.  

As part of this voluntary program, we encourage property managers, businesses, tenants, government agencies, and residents to help prevent nighttime bird collisions with buildings by turning off and/or blocking as many external and internal building lights at workplaces as possible at night to help prevent injury and death of migrating birds, especially from 11 pm to sunrise.    Learn how you can help at Bird Safe Hampton Roads.

Chesapeake Celebrates Trees - and Healthy Landscapes

The City's annual Arbor Day recognition will be on Saturday, September 26, 12 - 4 pm, at the Chesapeake Arboretum.  Chesapeake is celebrating 40 years as a Tree City USA.  The event will include Arbor Day Ceremonies, tree climbing demonstrations, interactive butterfly exhibits, forest bathing, tree trail tours, a food truck, giveaways, and more.

The Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council (CEIC) is also continuing its Chesapeake Healthy Landscape Program.  This program recognizes and encourages residents to take steps to create healthy landscapes on their properties.  Participants who sign up can receive an information kit and a landscape flag as recognition for their efforts.  To be recognized, they are looking for commitments to Protect Your Trees, put the Right Plant in the Right Place, Consider Wildlife, Reduce Lawn Maintenance, Reduce Runoff, Avoid or Remove Invasive Plants, and Limit Chemical Usage.  Learn more and sign up at Chesapeake Healthy Landscape Program.

Chesapeake Bay VoiCeS

Would you like to learn more about the environmental issues impacting the Chesapeake Bay watershed and ongoing restoration efforts?  The next Chesapeake Bay Foundation Chesapeake Stewards (VoiCeS) class, a highly recommended multi-week adult education course, will be held in Portsmouth (near Camelot) from September 15 to October 20.  Learn more and Register 

Have an idea for an article for our newsletter?  Send your submission, max 250 words, to us at info@friendsofindianriver.org along with a photo and we'll consider it for our next edition.