Mayor’s Wards Corner Task Force Meeting rescheduled

February 10, 2010

We received the following emails from Carlton Ransom, Senior Neighborhood Development Specialist,and Stanley Stein, Assistant City Manager, about the cancellation and rescheduling:

To All,
Good morning.  The Greater Wards Corner Task Force meeting scheduled for February 11th has been cancelled.
 
The Greater Wards Corner Task Force meeting has been rescheduled for February 18th   8:30 am at the Norfolk Fitness and Wellness Center.    

We apologize for any inconvenience.  As a courtesy, please notify other task force members of this change.  I thank you in advance. 

Carlton Ray Ransom
Senior Neighborhood Development Specialist
Neighborhood Preservation – Bureau of Community Outreach

Email from Stanley Stein

Let me add a few word of apology for seeking a reschedule and thank you for allowing it.  This is a meeting time which is normally set for me and does not change.  It was not a meeting time where the council members are required to attend.  Unfortunately I have to attend to another commitment and did not have flexibility to change it. 

I will work to not let this happen again if at all possible.  I appreciate your flexibility. 

Stanley
Norfolk, VA

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3rd Police Patrol Division Meeting, Friday February 12th

February 8, 2010

Norfolk Police Department 3rd Patrol Division Sector Meeting
February 12, 2010 From 11:00AM to 12:00 PM
Norfolk Fitness and Wellness Center

The Red Sector will be having their first sector meeting this Friday.
Our speaker will be from the office of the Virginia Attorney General in Richmond.
Our speakers will address issues and concerns of the consumers and communities in Virginia.
We will have a light lunch and refreshments
We hope to see you at the meeting
For questions about the meeting please email Officer Jackson
or call at 831-3484

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Ward 1 Council race gets another candidate

February 5, 2010

Barbara Saunders will announce her candidacy at the Ocean View Golf Course on Saturday  for the Ward One Council seat being vacated by the retiring Councilman Don Williams. The field of candidates for the Ward One seat is populated by former police officer, Chuck Brewer, who will announce at the Banque on Saturday, Paul Trice, Ocean View artist, and Andy Protogyrou, Norfolk attorney.

Andy Protogyrou will announce his candidacy on Monday, February 15th, 6:00 p.m. at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Norfolk, 7220 Granby Street.

Update 2/06/2010: Barbara Saunders called and said the info about her announcement was incorrect. When we get more info on her announcement, we will post the date, time and place.

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ICE busts fake ID ring running out of Wards Corner area

January 26, 2010

According to the Virginian-Pilot, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have investigated a fake ID ring at least partially being run out of  a house in the Wards Corner area.  Three suspects are being charged in relation to running the “document mill”.

They are alleged to have produced hundreds of bogus identifications, Social Security and green cards enabling illegal immigrants to live and work here.

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Denby Park murderer pleads guilty

January 22, 2010

Alton Joe “AJ” Lacy, pictured to the right, was first reported on by WardsCornerNow back on September 13, 2009 and September 18, 2009 when he was wanted for the murder of Troy A. Booker.

Booker, who was 22 years old, was murdered in the 300 block of Fort Worth Avenue in Denby Park.

The Virginian-Pilot now reports:

A dispute and threats among street cocaine dealers led to a September 2009 fatal shooting and a guilty plea to second-degree murder and a firearm charge Thursday in Circuit Court.

Alton Joe “AJ” Lacy Jr,, 30, admitted to shooting twice at Troy Booker, 22, on Fort Worth Avenue in Denby Park. Booker died at the scene; a bag containing crack cocaine was found on him, according to facts stipulated to in court.

Lacy told police he had been selling cocaine in the area and that, after threats and attacks on previous days, he believed it was “him or me,” according to the stipulation.

Sentencing was scheduled for March 26, according to online court records.

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Hadjikakos out, Andy Protogyrou in for Ward 1

January 20, 2010

John Hadjikakos has sent an email to supporters notifying them that he is no longer seeking the Ward 1 council seat and instead will step aside and support Andy Protogyrou (who has yet to formally announce).

Here is John’s letter:

Dear Friends:

I have been humbled by all of the wonderful support received regarding my interest in running for the Ward 1 city council seat in Norfolk.  The reason behind my seeking office is to be an strong advocate for Ward 1 so that the area receives its fair share of attention from the City.  As a corporate citizen of the area since 1988, a taxpayer that will be paying close to $100,000 in real estate taxes in the Willoughby/Ocean View area, as well as a new voter to the area I have concerns with the substandard housing found in our ward, the untapped commercial potential of the Wards Corner area, and the fact that the Wards Corner Comprehensive Plan has not yet been effectuated.

My old friend Andy Protogyrou has recently decided to run for this seat.  I am convinced that Andy will do an outstanding job representing the best interests of Ward 1 and will communicate its needs effectively.  He is an eloquent speaker, was raised in the area, and is now raising his family here.  As an attorney and substitute judge in Norfolk he has first hand knowledge of the terrible impact that crime has on our neighborhoods.  I think that Andy is an outstanding candidate and will make a superb Councilman for our Ward.  As such, I have no interest in taking way needed votes that can seal his victory.

I will actively assist Andy in any way that I can and will start my support for him with a $1,000 contribution to his campaign.  I hope that all of you will provide your assistance to his effort.

To my friends that have already provided me with campaign contributions, your checks will be returned within the next few days.

Thank you so very much for all of your assistance and friendship

Sincerely

John Hadjikakos

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Norfolk develops a new address driven database

January 14, 2010

Check out this new feature on the City of Norfolk’s website – Address driven database, full of information about Norfolk properties that we have been requesting for years – type in any address in Norfolk and get tax assessment info, school info, municipal services, planning, public safety, city services, lot dimensions off map, code enforcement cases, (current and historical) etc.. 

  Click the below link:

 http://www.norfolk.gov/Assessor/

and then click Norfolk Address Information Resource under the “Norfolk Air Tab”  on left.

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Norma Dorey not running for Ward 1 seat

January 11, 2010

We’ve just received word from Ms. Dorey that she has given the idea of running for office a tremendous amount of thought and has decided not to run for the Ward 1 seat on City Council.

This leaves three other rumored candidates: Ocean View Developer John Hadjikakos, retired Norfolk Police Officer Chuck Brewer and Ocean View artist, “Red Rooster” Paul Trice.

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Four Candidates announce for Don Williams’ City Council Seat

January 10, 2010

According to an article in Sunday’s Compass written by city reporter Harry Minium , four candidates have announced for the retiring Don Williams’ Council seat in Ward One.

Harry Minium has said,

it’s not to early to call Norma Dorey the establishment candidate

For months, many of the city’s political leaders, including Mayor Paul Fraim and Councilman Barclay C. Winn, have been quietly searching for someone they could endorse to succeed Don Williams.    Among those they approached: Planning Commission member and Norfolk businessman Richard Diamonstein and attorneys Chuck McPhillips and Peter G. Decker III.

    All reluctantly declined.

 Enter Dorey, a Willoughby resident who also maintains an apartment downtown. After being approached by Fraim and Winn, she said last week she’s “99 percent sure” she’ll run.

Norma Dorey has said that she has received

nothing but encouragement from the powers that be downtown

 Asked about Wards Corner, Dorey said she doesn’t know the issues there well, but plans to get informed very quickly.

The three other candidates that have announced are Developer John Hadjikakos, retired Norfolk Police Officer Chuck Brewer and Ocean View artist, “Red Rooster” , Paul Trice.

John Hadjikakos, area real estate developer who said   his priority would be redeveloping substandard housing in Wards Corner and Willoughby.

Hadjikakos will make the deterioration of housing and the commercial corridor in Wards Corner a centerpiece of his campaign. “I’m shocked about the violent crime in Wards Corner,” Hadjikakos said. “We have to get a handle on the crime before we can improve the business district.”

 Former Norfolk policeman Chuck Brewer has not yet announced, but his Facebook page says he’s running. He has been critical of the spending of Police Chief Bruce P. Marquis. 

   A resident of blue-collar Ocean View, he may have some appeal with the ward’s middle-income majority. So might Paul Trice, the Ocean View artist known simply as the Red Rooster, who lives in Willoughby Terrace and says he will run his campaign from his home.    Former Norfolk policeman Chuck Brewer has not yet announced, but his Facebook page says he’s running. He has been critical of the spending of Police Chief Bruce P. Marquis.  

 

 

 

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Owner of AJ Gators to present plans for new Wards Corner restaurant

January 9, 2010

J. Sharer, the owner of AJ Gators, will be presenting his plans for a new AJ Gators at the closed Warehouse Music Store on the southeast corner of Granby Street and E. Little Creek Road. He will be making his presentation at the monthly meeting of the Suburban Acres Civic League being held January 11th, Monday night, 6:30 p.m. at Suburban Park Elementary School, 310 Thole Street.

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Town Hall Meeting

December 30, 2009
Town Hall Meeting
Please Join
Senator Ralph Northam

and

Delegate Paula Miller

for a Town Hall Meeting

Monday, January 4, 2010

7:00 – 8:30 pm

Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch Library

111 W. Ocean View Ave, Norfolk

The Virginia General Assembly convenes on January 13, 2010.

Residents of the 6th Senate and 87th House districts are invited to join their representatives for a discussion on the issues they’ll be voting on in Richmond this session.

Let them know what’s important to you!

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An Update on DePaul Medical Center

December 17, 2009

From Bon Secours:

Good News! In preparation for the building of a new, state-of-the-art, full service medical center, and to continue our mission of more than 153 years of caring for our community, Bon Secours is pleased to announce that starting immediately we will begin the process of rejuvenation of the Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center campus.

The first phase of the development of our master plan is beginning with the demolition several old and unoccupied buildings on the campus. Slated for completion in early February, this work will include the demolition of the old nursing school dormitory/ clinic building and unused storage buildings on the property. Patient care will not be impacted by any of these activities.

Approximately one acre in the western-most end of the campus, bounded by Kingsley lane, Newport Avenue and Painter Street will be involved in this phase of development.

As good stewards of our environment, Bon Secours DePaul will work in collaboration with our construction and demolition companies to ensure that all OSHA, DEQ and EPA regulations are strictly followed. In addition, whenever possible, trees will be preserved and materials will be recycled.

We will use this area for parking and staging during the upcoming phases of the campus rejuvenation. This will include the construction of a new medical building, to begin in 2010, and when approved by the state health commissioner, development of a 124-bed full service medical center. Construction of the new hospital may begin as early as 2011.

During these developments, we will continue to make investments in our current hospital to improve the care we provide to our community. The most recent investments have included renovations in the emergency department to improve efficiency, cosmetic improvements on the patient care units, the purchase of specialized medical equipment, and physical plant upgrades including roof and elevator repairs. In addition, the medical center will continue to enhance the program and services offered to our community and will continue to hire new staff as we grow in our ministry.

We are delighted to have the support of our city leadership, including Major Paul Fraim, and Councilman Barclay Winn. We also appreciate the support of our patients, our medical staff, our employees and our neighbors as we embark on this exciting transformation.

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Wards Corner Clean Up – December 12, 2009

December 6, 2009

Laura Thom writes in with the following invitation:

YOU ARE INVITED! Join other members of the Wards Corner community for camaraderie, refreshments and sharing a sense of accomplishment:  It’s time to spruce up our Corner for the Holidays!

Saturday, Dec. 12th:

8:30-9am  Meet at North Shore Sports & Physical Therapy,  (7419 Granby St., next to ATC Fitness) for registration, coffee & breakfast muffins.

9-11am   Clean our Corner.  Safety vests, trash bags & gloves provided.

11-11:30am  Meet back at North Shore Sports & Physical Therapy.  Warm up with hot cider to celebrate a job well done.

RSVP by Wednesday, Dec. 9.  – 489-5820.
Rain Date: Santurday, Dec. 19th.

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Wards Corner Civic League opposes Council’s Recall and Petition restrictions

November 16, 2009

The following email was sent to City Council from Jim English, President of the Wards Corner Civic League:

Dear Mayor Fraim and Members of Norfolk City Council:

Included in tomorrows city council meeting agenda is a public hearing regarding changes to the City Charter. Two areas of this charter change are particularly bothersome to the membership of  the Wards Corner Civic League. The first is the change in the referendum regarding signatures increasing the number of petitioners from 4 to 8 thousand. We believe this unfairly raises the bar on citizen input and therefore we are opposed to the change. The second is the change removing the recall process from the City Charter to which we are also opposed. At its regular monthly city league meeting held November 16th at 645PM at the Norfolk Wellness Center the Wards Corner Civic League membership unanimously voted to oppose these two city charter changes and respectfully request that you as members of Norfolk City Council vote against these proposed changes.

We thank you in advance for taking our opposition into consideration prior to voting on these changes

Sincerely,
Jim English
President
Wards Corner Civic League

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Norfolk stifling citizens abilities to recall and petition

November 16, 2009

The agenda for Tuesday’s City Council meeting includes proposed changes to the city charter which include the removal of the ability to recall City Council members and an increase to the signatures needed for a petition from 4,000 to 8,000.

Vivian Paige has the scoop:

Of particular concern to me is the change in sections 32 and 35, which increases the minimum number of signatures required for petition from 4,000 to 8,000. This unfairly raises the bar on citizen input. One of the largest petition drives ever undertaken by the citizens was that relating to Bay Oaks Park.  That petition garnered 5,376 signatures. More recently, the residents of Highland Park undertook a similar petition, gathering over 5,000 signatures.

The Virginian-Pilot has an article as well:

The ordinance, if approved [by City Council and then] by the General Assembly, would also abolish a provision in the city code that allows voters to recall council members. Instead, the city would follow state recall procedures as most Virginia cities do. Currently, Portsmouth, Hampton and Lynchburg are the only other Virginia localities with recall provisions that allow council members who do not break the law to be recalled.

Both Norfolk’s and the state’s provisions allow residents to challenge a sitting council member by gathering signatures on a petition. However, under the city code, the petition leads to a recall election. If proposed changes are approved, Norfolk citizens could use the petition drive only to ask a Circuit Court judge to remove a council member solely for malfeasance. There would be no recall election.

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