I want to express my appreciation to each and everyone that attended the March Civic League Pot Luck Dinner. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to actively participate in YOUR community. Of particular importance for the April, meeting is a proposal to change or modify the current bylaws relating to the Recreation Center (Pool). The request was made by the Recreation Center body to alter the election and time frames of the governing body. We will be voting on this change during the April Civic League Meeting. Please plan to attend!

Our March meeting was our annual "potluck" dinner and “a good time was had by all.”  Since there was no business meeting, we took the opportunity to socialize and had a great time catching up on family news.

I have a personal goal this year of having 60 people present at a civic league meeting.  We are not there yet, so lets get out and bring a neighbor to the April meeting.  I look forward to seeing you there!

Our speaker for the April meeting will be Mr. Barry Frankenfield of the City Parks and Recreation Department.  He will discuss the “Lynnhaven River 2007 “ Project that was the subject of feature articles in recent Beacon News.  This is a major developing project dedicated to cleaning up and restoring the Lynnhaven River.  It involves the coordinated participation of the City, State, and Federal environmental agencies.  Numerous business and individual contributors and volunteers are also involved.

Our community includes lakes, riverfront, creeks and coves, which gives our residents a particular interest in saving the Lynnhaven.  More information on this project is included in an article on page 5 of this newsletter.

To sign up for median strip duty, call Jim at 499-5115 or e-mail at jdprice@Cox.net. 
 

I need peer pressure!! 

     Anyone belong to the Kempsville chapter of AARP ($5 a year) and wants to car pool to the monthly morning meeting?

     Anyone belong to the Bayside Rec. Center and wants to car pool to the morning senior fitness walk?  Maybe if we have someone else depending on us we'll get motivated to "just do it".  (M W F)

Call L. Watkins 497-2130

Last month, the Newsletter included a copy of the pool membership application. There are lots of activities planned for the summer at the pool.  In addition to Thursday dinner nights, weekend cookouts, youth nights, and family socials, there are swim lessons, a Christmas in July party and expanded Noodle and Float Nights.  There is still time (until April 30) to take advantage of the discounted (by 10%) pool membership. For those who have never been members of the pool, it provides great, safe, fun and cheap (less than the cost of a family weekend out-of -town) family activity.  If you need an application or have questions about pool membership, contact Donna and Jim (499-5115) or Vicki and Joe (318-9498) or e-mail us at pmpoolinfo@yahoo.com. 

The pool is home to the Pembroke Meadows Marlins Swim Team, one of 24 teams in the Virginia Beach Swim League.  Over the life of the swim team, thousands of kids have enjoyed the thrill of competition and spirit of camaraderie as members of the team.  Kids between 5 and 18 years of age, regardless of skill or speed, compete in swimming events at five regular season meets.  Regular exercise, sportsmanship and skill improvement are benefits of the swim team.  For swim team information, contact Donna and Jim or Vicki and Joe or use the above e-mail address.

Click Here for Applications to the pool   or  Click Here for swim team applications.

Hope to see you at your place in the sun, in the cool of the pool.

It’s time to mark your calendar for the neighborhood’s annual Spring Fling: April 24. 
This is a time when neighbors come together to spruce up our assets at the end of Pembroke Blvd: the park, the dam path and the pool grounds.  Come renew old friendships.  Come make new ones.  Meet your neighbors.  Join in a group effort to beautify the area that so many of us use for walking, running, biking, wildlife observation, fishing, and just plain relaxing.  Bring yard tools, chain saws, and a work ethic and make your mark.  Lunch will be served in the park for all those who helped.  Clean up begins at 9 a.m. followed by a well-earned cookout lunch in the newly spiffed up park.

Like the Halloween Walk, the Spring Fling is an event that has a social and celebratory flavor.  It is spring cleaning for the neighborhood.  A little environmental activism mixed with artistic grounds keeping.  Come one and all.  The entire family is invited.

Hope to see you beneath the tall pines of the neighborhood park.

Our homes were built with aluminum wiring.  That means we need to be cautious about checking our receptacles periodically to assure that the screws have remained tight.  This should be done at least twice a year.  Simply run your hand over the receptacle and if it seems warm or hot-- have it replaced immediately.  If you are not comfortable with this call a qualified electrician.  Consider having GFI's (ground fault interrupters) installed in both baths and kitchen.

When installing new fixtures be sure to keep mindful of the aluminum wiring and use the proper CO/AL wire nuts. THEY ARE PURPLE and can be purchased at Home Depot. Hint-they are not with the regular wire nuts-- but in the aisle with pipes (don't ask me why).

Take at look at "Shop & Swap", a new section of the Pembroke Meadows Civic League web site. 

Classified Ads listed in the Newsletter, such as items For Sale, Garage & Yard Sale notices, Bazaar schedules and any ad for non-commercial  products or events will be posted on the web site for 30 days.  Inclusion is subject to space limitations and suitability. 

HE WHO PLANTS A GARDEN,  PLANTS HAPPINESS OR HORTICULTURAL IGNORAMUS

If you would like to join us or try us for a meeting call Bridget South (497-0645) or Peggy Caverly (490-0925) for the location of the meeting.  The club meets the 2nd Thursday of each month from Sept. through May in homes of various members.  We bring a salad or a sandwich and following our meeting we have lunch together with the beverage and dessert provided by our hostess.

We are a fun loving, user friendly group, but we take seriously the objectives of our club which are to promote greater interest in gardening, to aid in the protection of native trees, shrubs, plants, birds and wild flowers; to promote better interest in the study and culture of flowers and their arrangements; to encourage civic planning and civic beauty.

Our club is a member of the Council of Garden Clubs of Va. Beach and we support projects sponsored by the Council such as the Empty Bowls Dinner that is a fund raiser for the food bank of Va. Beach; designing and creating all the holiday decorations on the city municipal buildings in December and saving the native historic liveoak trees around the city.

Some of the other projects our Pembroke Meadows Garden Club has completed, or are on-going projects are:

1. The design and planting of a garden area with bench in front of Pembroke Meadows Elementary.

2. Continuing to cooperate with the city in the design, planting, and maintenance of the gazebo, entrance wall, and flagpole area. 

3. Supporting the Historic Ferry Plantation House gardens.

4. Providing support and work for the Afternoon Tea fund raisers.

Have I whetted your interest for fun, friendships, floral beauty and fancy foot (and hands) work in our city and community?  If your answer is yes, you will probably agree with the Chinese Proverb “He who plants a garden, plants happiness.”

The Scope and diversity of our neighborhood waterways and the proximity and abundance of potential pollutant sources (commercial, residential and public drainage) led to our neighborhood being tentatively selected as the site of the Lynnhaven River 2007 Model Project.  This Model Project will presumably entail multiple water testing and evaluation of pollutant types and sources, examination of storm water runoff sources, outfalls, and retention ponds. Reconfiguration of retention ponds and drainage may result.  The pilot or model project will also include efforts to educate and facilitate public awareness of the need and methods to clean up the Lynnhaven watershed.

The model project will probably start this summer.  Jim Willenbrink is a member of the Lynnhaven River 2007 Committee and will be our community point of contact.   Call him at 497-0700 for more information.

The Virginia Beach Police Department is seeking students for the next Police Youth Academy.  The Youth Academy provides an excellent opportunity for high school students to become familiar with the day-to-day operations of the Virginia Beach Police Department.  The goal is for all graduates of the academy to gain a better understanding of the policies, procedures, and laws that guide the men and women who are protecting their community.

The next session will start on April 19, 2004 and run through June 9, 2004. Most sessions will meet at the Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Training Academy located at 411 Integrity Way, off Birdneck Road. Classes are from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday.

Applications are available at any Police Precinct, High School, or by contacting MPO Harry McBrien at 437-7656 ext 308. There is no cost to attend the academy.

Applications for this session must be received by April 15, 2004. 

Academy classes will include:

• Uniform Patrol Officer’s duties and responsibilities
• Field trips to the Communications Division and the Correctional Center
• Crime Scene Preservation
• Investigations of Homicide, Robbery, Auto Theft, Special Victims, and Domestic Violence
• DUI, and Accident Investigations
• Special Operations, Mounted Patrol, and K-9 Deployment
• Special Investigations, Narcotics and Vice 
• Scenario-based role-playing

Another session is scheduled for October 2004

One sunny, but very cold, crisp day in March,  Thursday March 11th, to be exact, the Ladies (and one gentleman) of the GARDEN CLUB  were out "playing" in the median dirt.  I can call it "playing" because they were weeding, mixing, mulching, tending and heaven only knows what else so that you and I will be greeted each day with visual delight as we come and go.  I can call it playing too, because while I appreciate all they do I still have no idea how they got the "magical touch" that so many of the rest of us lack.  Each an every one of these individuals VOLUNTEERS their time, energy, experiences and expertise all for the benefit of you and me.  Next time you see them, give them a big thanks.  You may even want to join them in their efforts. 

This is just another example of your neighbors and mine giving of themselves for the sake of the community.   That is why our Civic League dues are only $10.00 per year.    If you can't contribute your time at least contribute by paying your dues. 
For those that have paid---- a sincere thanks.