Quarterly Wards Corner Clean-Up scheduled for Saturday, June 14th

May 12, 2008

Let’s get together, have some fun and Clean Our Corner!

Join in our next quarterly Wards Corner Clean Up event, 8:00-11:00 am, Saturday, June 14th!  We will meet at North Shore Sports & Physical Therapy, 7419 Granby St., next to ATC Fitness, from 8-8:30 a.m. for coffee, donuts and sign-up. This is a great opportunity to have fun and meet neighbors & business members of the Wards Corner community as we come together to Clean Our Corner!  Trash bags, safety vests, gloves and refreshments will be provided. RSVP to Laura Thom: 489-5820. *Rain date- Saturday, June 21.

 


Department of Public Works update for Wards Corner

May 12, 2008

1. Traffic Signal

Upgrading signal at Little Creek Road and Granby and Little Creek and

update (Little Creek

Farm Fresh entrance and associated ADA work. DVP completed

& Granby)(Little

electrical connection to Little Creek & Farm Fresh on 5/7/08. Contractor

Creek and Farm

planning to switch to new signals by 5/9/08. Contractor awaiting

Fresh Entrance)

electrical service to switch from the old signal to the new, at Little Creek

 

& Granby intersection. New signals projected to be fully operational

 

within a few weeks. jrs 5/7/08

 

2. Thole Street

New landscape medians along the 300 & 600 Blocks of Thole St. Bid

Traffic Calming

opening is scheduled for May 20th.

Construction to begin this summer.

Improvements

arb 5/6/08

 

3. Curb Ramps

Wards Corner ADA Improvements -Phase III(B) work is incorporated in

 

the traffic signal upgrade construction plans. Remaining sidewalk and

 

curb ramp work will be complete once old signal equipment is removed

 

(Le. all construction complete by the end of this month). arb 5/6/08

 

CDBG funding allocated for curb ramps at roadway intersections

 

throughout Titustown. Plans being finalized and public advertisement

 

scheduled for June with construction to becln late summer. arb 5/6/08

4. Little Creek Rd.

Replacement of the two knocked down overhead sign structures that

& Lankford St.

had the pedestrian crossing signs and flashing yellow lights. The new

 

installation will have pedestrian push buttons that will actuate the lights

 

only when pedestrians are present (not 24/7). This type of operation

 

provides more information to the motorist and increases the level of

 

safety at the crossing. Contractor work completed. Dominion Virginia

 

Power electrical service connection scheduled to be completed by

 

5/20/08. rs 5/7/08

 

5. Granby St. Mid-

Work completed and operational. jrs 5/08

block crossing north

 

 

of Little Creek Rd.

 

 

6. Police  2nd

The proposed site is in the Central Business Park. 35% design

precinct

drawings have been received. 1/2/08 cpj

7. Monticello

Replacing curb to help drainage issues. Work includes the area

Village

bounded by East and West Glen Roads and Little Creek Road. Work

 

completed.

 

8. Pedestrian

Signs are in- Working on policy for partnership with business for

Crosswalk signs on

maintenance and safety issues (moving signs that are knocked over or

Louisiana Ave.

pushed into traffic, storm issues etc.) Finalizing policy based on input

 

from City Atty Office. City Atty office have made final recommendations.

 

Final to be forwarded to Dir PW. irs

 

9. Newport Ave –

Moving forward with the first phase of the project. Work includes

Traffic speed study

installation of marked parking lane between Little Creek Rd & Kingsley

 

Lane and marked bulb … out at Granby Elem School student crossing

 

location. jrs 5/08

 

10. Request to redo

Install four, full imprint crosswalks. Funding proposed in FY09 CIP

Crosswalks at Little

budget. Design to be started once budget approved.

Creek Road &

 

 

Granby Street similar

 

 

to crosswalks in

 

 

Titustown

 

 

11. Request to look

Due to the limited traffic signal infrastructure that is currently in place

at pedestrian

and layout of the intersection, a new signal design and geometric

crossing options on

improvements would be necessary. Estimated cost $168,000. Design

East Little Creek

& construction to begin with FY09 budget cycle.

near Fort Worth in

 

 

front of church near

 

 

interstate off-ramp

 

 

12. Repair work in

PW is working with property owners to get concrete driveway aprons

Denby Park

and sidewalk replaced. As part of project focus, driveway and sidewalk

 

repairs have been assessed by staff. Property owners have been

 

notified of repairs needed.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Reminder P.A.C.E. meeting, Friday, May 9th 11:00 a.m.

May 8, 2008

Norfolk Police Department

Third Patrol Division

Red Sector P.A.C.E. meeting

Just to remind everyone

 

Red Sector P.A.C.E. meeting will be tomorrow May 9 from 11:00AM to 12:00PM at the

Workforce Center located next to Kroger on E. Little Creek Rd.

Investigator Gene Balance from the Norfolk Gang Sq. unit will be at the meeting to give everyone a better understanding of Tagging and Gang Graffiti.

Come meet and have lunch with Captain Steven Gallagher our new Third Patrol Division Commanding Officer.

 

Hope to see you there!


Norfolk Collegiate presents plans for its Fine Arts Center to the Mayor’s Wards Corner Task Force

May 8, 2008

Norfolk Collegiate Fine Arts Center

Will King, Headmaster of Norfolk Collegiate School, presented plans to the Mayor’s Wards Corner Task Force for a new Fine Arts Center to be located on the Campus of Norfolk Collegiate’s Upper School. This 31,000 square foot fine arts center will have a 425 seat theater, an on-site student art gallery, classrooms, workshops and practice studios. The facility will be made available at night to the community for a slight charge for security and janitorial services. This is a great addition to the Greater Wards Corner Partnership area. There is a 20 million dollar capital campaign in progress. For information on how to donate to the campaign, contact Norfolk Collegiate’s Director of Development at 757-480-2348.


“Developing Wards Corner is right at the top of my list”

May 7, 2008

Last night at the Holiday Inn Select, Pilot Online reports, Councilman Barclay Winn said in his victory speech

“Developing Wards Corner is right at the top of my list. And we need to work on making sure real estate assessments are equitable.”

Councilman Winn’s leadership is making a difference in the redevelopment efforts of the Greater Wards Corner Partnership Area. 

Councilwoman Daun Hester also was reelected last night. In recent months, Councilwoman Hester has shown a renewed interest in the redevelopment of our area. Her participation in the Mayor’s Wards Corner Task Force is much appreciated and needed.


Excellent election day post from Vivian Paige’s BLOG

May 6, 2008

Vivian Paige has an excellent BLOG. If you have never seen it, I would suggest you go to http://blog.vivianpaige.com

Vivian J. Paige

Vote today

Posted: 06 May 2008 06:00 AM CDT

VoteLocal elections are being held in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Norfolk today. In Chesapeake and Portsmouth, the elections include the mayor, some city council members and some school board members. In Norfolk, council members from superwards 6 and 7 will be elected.

The Virginian Pilot has put together a voter guide with links to the candidate’s bios and answers to certain questions. Video interviews of the mayoral candidates in Chesapeake and Portsmouth are also available. The polls are open from 6am to 7pm.

With all of the coverage of the national race, these local races have been pretty much under the radar, which is a shame. These are the folks who will be making decisions that effect your every day life. All politics is local. Sorry, but the next president isn’t going to be deciding what your real estate tax rate will be or what your water rate will be. The next president won’t be weighing in on a regional transportation authority. These women and men will. Given the dismal turnout for local elections, your vote really does matter. Don’t let the few make the decision for you. Go out and vote.


VOTE TODAY!!!

May 6, 2008

Americans have given their lives for your right to vote.


Body of suspect wanted in the killing of Glenwood Park mother washes ashore in Ocean View

May 5, 2008

WTKR reports the body of the killer of the Glenwood Park mother, who was holding her 2 month old infant child at the time she was shot, was found washed ashore this morning in Ocean View near the Ocean View Fishing Pier. The body of James R. Brooks was found about 9:45 a.m. by a passerby who called police.


VOTE TUESDAY!!!

May 5, 2008

Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 is Election Day for Norfolk City Council Superwards 6 and 7.

Superward 6 Candidates on-the-ballot are incumbent Barclay Winn and challenger Jack Stiles. Vic Yurkovic, Vice Chair of The Norfolk Tea Party 2, is running as a write in candidate.

Superward 7 Candidates are incumbent Daun Hester and challenger Dwight “Coach” McDowell.

Please get yourself, family and neighbors out to vote in this very important election. Former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill once said, “All politics is local”.  How very true that quote is when we consider how many ways our Council representatives can effect our lives.


Chesapeake Police need your help on Denby Park woman found dead

May 5, 2008

Pilot Online reports Chesapeake

Police have released additional information about a Norfolk woman whose body was found April 27 under a tarp at a construction site and are renewing a public appeal for information.

Lisa Area L’Minggio was last seen in the Wards Corner area of Norfolk on April 19 between midnight and 12:30 a.m. the next day, according to a weekend release from police.

L’Minggio was in a white car with a man, according to police. They did not have any additional description of the car and could only say that the man was black.

This case is being treated by the Chesapeake Police as a homicide.  If you have any information about this case please call Crime Line at 1-888- LOCK-YOU-UP.


Superward 6 Council election gets interesting

May 3, 2008

Vic YurkovicThere is now a Write-In Campaign for Vic Yurkovic for the Superward 6 Council seat presently being vied for by on-the-ballot candidates Barclay Winn and Jack Stiles.  Vic Yurkovic is a founding member and Vice Chairman of the Norfolk Tea Party 2. The Write-In Campaign for Vic Yurkovic has a website with complete instructions on how to write-in his name. www.vicforchange.org The City Council Election for Superwards 6 and 7 will be held this coming Tuesday, May 6th, 2008.


Third Patrol Division P.A.C.E. meeting to be held Friday, May 9th

May 2, 2008

Third Patrol Division

Red Sector P.A.C.E. meeting

Friday, May 9, 2008

11:00Am to 12:00PM

Norfolk Workforce Development Center

201 East Little Creek Road (next to Kroger)

We will have a speaker and a light lunch

Please come join us as we discuss community concerns and issues.

We’re see you there !

Officer Jackson    curtis.jackson@norfolk.gov

Officer Hubbard  beverly.hubbard@norfolk.gov


Woman shot to death in Glenwood Park neighborhood

May 2, 2008

 Pilot Onlinehas reported that the police are looking for a man that has shot and killed a woman in the 8600 block of Glen Myrtle Avenue in the Glenwood Park neighborhood off of Hampton Boulevard near the Naval Base. It is reported that the man and woman were fighting outside.

WAVY TV has reported that the victim, Monica Zollicoffer, was shot while she was holding her 2 month old infant child. The suspect, James R. Brooks, is 25 years old and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone knowing of Mr. James Brooks whereabouts are asked to call the Norfolk Police at 441-5610 or the Norfolk Crime Line at 1-888- LOCK U UP.


Altoona television station reports Lt. Todd Cox was killed in a drive-by shooting

May 1, 2008

Lt. Todd Cox’s hometown Altoona, PA. television station, WJAC, reported on April 28th that Lt. Cox was killed in a drive-by shooting. Does this television station know something that we haven’t been told?

WJAC quotes Lt. Cox’s mother, Nancy Cox:

 I was really shocked when they showed up at my door to tell me they had some bad news to tell me about my son. It was very very hard

Nancy Cox said Lt. Cox always would remember his family no matter where he was in the world. She received a package from him the day he was murdered.

She said

I have thimbles from all of the places he was. He always sent me a thimble. And I have all of his cards and his letters

Nancy Cox had planned on visiting her son this summer. She hadn’t seen her son in two years.

 


Delegate Paula Miller appeals to the City for senior property tax relief

April 30, 2008

The following email on the subject of senior property tax relief was sent by Delegate Paula Miller to the City Manager, Mayor and Council:

To: ccouncil@norfolk.gov
From: Paula Miller/HDel/HOD
Sent by: Delegate Paula Miller/Laptop/HOD
Date: 04/29/2008 09:49PM
cc: regina.williams@norfolk.gov
Subject: Del. Paula Miller on Senior Tax Relief

Dear Mayor Fraim, City Manager Williams and Members of City Council:

As you prepare the budget for presentation and passage I hope that you will commit to including the additional Senior Citizen Tax Relief that was approved this winter by the General Assembly.

My bill (HB270) was rolled into HB1503 and raises the income eligibility restrictions for tax exemptions for senior citizens and the permanently disabled from $62,000.00 to $67,000.00 for Norfolk residents, effective July 1, 2008.

As you’re well aware, property tax increases are still of major concern to all Norfolk residents and since the Homestead Exemption was killed in the Virginia Senate this is one piece of additional tax relief that we can at least provide to our qualifying seniors and disabled residents in Norfolk.   A number of folks have asked me when they can expect the income limit to be raised as a result of my bill.  I have promised them I would be making the request of city council.  The relief is available but the legislation is permissive.  PLEASE help ensure additional relief for these seniors by raising the income limit on July 1, 2008. 

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me. 

Sincerely,

Delegate Paula Miller

757-587-8757

delpmiller@house.state.va.us