Upcoming events and meetings:
- Saturday, Oct 24, 9:30 am (tomorrow) - Volunteer Work Day @ Indian River Park - Help Needed
- Monday, Oct 26, 6:30 pm - Presentation on River Star Homes, Living Shoreline, and cost-sharing grant opportunities for home owners @ Library
- Tuesday, Oct 27, 6:30 pm - Community Meeting regarding proposed Eastwyck Apartments at southeast side of Indian River Park @ Oaklette UMC
- Saturday, Nov 7, 9:30 am - Indian River Park Nature Trail guided walk
- Thursday, Nov 12, 7:00 pm - Planning Commission meets regarding Eastwyck Apartments @ City Hall
- Saturday, Nov 14, Boat Trip out of Pleasure House Point
- Thursday, Nov 19; 7:00 pm - Monthly Meeting featuring the Bay Star Homes Program @ Oaklette UMC
- Saturday, Nov 21, 9:30 am - Adopt-A-Road cleanup along Indian River Road
And in more detail:
Saturday, Oct 24, 9:30 am (tomorrow) - Volunteer Work Day @ Indian River Park
This Saturday, October 24 is a big Adopt-A-Park Volunteer Work Day at Indian River Park from 9:30 am to Noon. We need more volunteers to help spread mulch around the picnic areas and garden area. We'll also be doing some weeding and invasive plant removal. Meet at the park entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2001 Rokeby Ave.) The more volunteers that come out, the more that we can accomplish! Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat and bring work gloves. If you can, bring shovels, rakes and other gardening tools. 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.
Monday, Oct 26, 6:30 pm - Presentation on River Star Homes & Living Shoreline
Learn how to make your home a "River Star" home and become eligible for grant money to improve your shoreline and help make the Indian River cleaner and healthier for fishing, boating, and wildlife! The Virginia Cooperative Extension office will be providing assistance with cleaning up the Indian River in partnership with the Elizabeth River Project and the Friends of Indian River. They will be holding a FREE educational program at the Indian River Library on Monday, October 26, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. To receive additional information or to sign up for this program, call the Chesapeake Extension Office at 757-382-6348.
Tuesday, Oct 27, 6:30 pm - Community Meeting regarding proposed Eastwyck Apartments
There will be a community meeting to discuss the proposed apartment complex at the southeast side of Indian River Park. The developer will be there to answer questions and take feedback from the community. The meeting will start at 6:30 pm at the Oaklette United Methodist Church on Indian River Road (520 Oaklette Drive, Chesapeake, Va. 23325).
Saturday, Nov 7, 9:30 am - Indian River Park Nature Trail guided walk
From 9:30 am to 11 am, 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. Meet at the park entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2001 Rokeby Ave.).
Thursday, Nov 12, 7:00 pm - Planning Commission meets regarding Eastwyck Apartments
Saturday, Nov 14, Boat Trip out of Pleasure House Point
There are also a few spots left on our Boat Trip with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation out of the CBF Brock Environmental Center at Pleasure House Point, Virginia Beach, on Saturday, November 14, 2015. We invite you to join us for a tour of Lynnhaven River to learn about the ecology of an estuarine river system similar to our Indian River, view migratory birds, help trawl for and examine sea life, enjoy fellowship with other members of the Friends of Indian River. The trip will leave the dock at 10 am, returning 2 pm. Guests should depart Indian River area no later than 9 am to arrive at Pleasure House Point on time and walk (15 minutes) to dock. As a thank you to our members, this boat trip will be FREE to members in Good Standing (Dues Paid). However due to concern of “no-shows”, there is a $10 Registration Fee per person to reserve your spot; the Registration Fee will be refunded when you go on the trip or if someone on waiting list fills your spot. “No-shows” will forfeit Registration Fee. Offer limited to immediate household only for Family Memberships. Not a member? Individual memberships start at $15. Space is limited to 30 guests and the minimum age is 10 years old, so contact us now to reserve your spot.
Thursday, Nov 19; 7:00 pm - Monthly Meeting featuring the Bay Star Homes Program
Join us for our regular meeting and a presentation by Public Works Spokesperson Liz Vaughn. Learn about how to sign up for the new Bay Star Home Program and help improve the health of the Chesapeake's environment.
There will be light refreshments and door prizes after the presentation. Meeting starts at 7 PM in the Social Hall at the Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive. Please also consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food items for the Oaklette United Methodist Church food pantry to the meeting this evening.
Saturday, Nov 21, 9:30 am - Adopt-A-Road cleanup along Indian River Road
From 9:30 AM to Noon, we'll be doing our quarterly Adopt-A-Road Cleanup along Indian River Road. We meet at side parking lot of Indian River Post Office, 3810 Indian River Road, Chesapeake and we'll be cleaning up 1 mile of Indian River Road from the city limits at Wingfield Avenue all the way to MacDonald Road. This will help to spruce up the area, collect trash that will otherwise get washed into the river and impact wildlife, and give us the opportunity to interact with residents and businesses along Indian River Road. The city will provide garbage bags and orange safety vests. We'll have water and a few 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.
The previous Planning Commission meeting ended in a tied vote on the proposed Eastwyck Crossing Apartments located adjacent to Indian River Park at the south end of Miller Avenue. The site was approved for a condo development in 2008, but now the developer wants to build a 240 unit apartment complex. Concerns raised include the crowding of local schools (Indian River Middle School is over 120% of capacity), reduced proffer payments to the city (from $3811 per unit to $2000 per unit), negative impact to the city and school budget, the loss of the woodland at the site, and impact to the park. The proposal will have another public hearing at the next Planning Commission on Wednesday, December 9th, 7 pm at City Hall; those wishing to speak must register before 7 pm. Thereafter the proposal goes to the City Council in January for a final vote. For more discussion, see this post on Facebook.
If you have some items to donate for the silent auction, those are welcome; just bring them in and we'll add them to the auction table. Please also consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food items for the Oaklette United Methodist Church food pantry to the meeting this evening. Even if you have not been to a meeting in a while or if this would be your very first meeting, we encourage you to come out and partake in the merriment!
