Those of us who live in close proximity of Pembroke Meadows Elementary School have endured early morning wake-up calls, crowded streets, PA announcements and occasional window rattling from the ground shaking.  And like many others, I ask – is there an end in sight?  The answer is yes – and no!  Progress on the school revitalization is ongoing, but much has been accomplished to date. During a brief phone interview with Principal Nancy Chandler, she explained outside of obvious external changes, that significant enhancements have been added to the school which will affect our children directly.  A summary of the most notable follow:

1. A new state of the art Media Center and an expanded Library – 100 % complete
2. A new Computer Lab – 100 % complete
3. The old Cafeteria is to become the new Performing Arts Center
4. Several child Specialists will have new office spaces
5. Kindergartner classrooms have been expanded and now include kindergartner bathrooms – 100 % complete
6. A totally new Cafeteria and Kitchen are being established 
7. Most pre-existing facilities modernized, such as bathrooms, walls, floors, etc  – 100 % complete

The project, according to the prime contractor Paul Siciliano of Virtexco, is 8 months ahead of schedule for the revitalization portion of the existing school.  All children’s classrooms will be completed by the start of school and only the music and art classrooms will remain in the temporary trailers.  The new Performing Arts Center, child specialist areas and new administrative areas will be completed in May ’06. 

As I will be retiring from my short term as interim President at the forthcoming September Civic League meeting, I am pleased to be turning over the job to a very well-qualified gentleman, Don Sanders.   Don previously served our community as Civic League President 5 years ago, and as a Vice President and Treasurer in the late ‘90s.

Don’s nomination as President has been forwarded by our 2005 Nominating Committee, approved by the Board and announced in our last newsletter and Civic League meeting.   His election is a formality required by our by laws (which also allow for nominations from the floor).  Please show your support by attending the Civic League Meeting and voting.  If you cannot attend the meeting, you may submit a signed proxy vote to the Nominating Committee via any board member or call Peggy Caverly at 490-0925. Upon my retirement as President, I am pleased to note that all of our important Civic League Officer and committee chairperson assignments have been filled.  I extend my sincere thanks to those who have volunteered.  We are, however, needing and seeking new volunteers—particularly among the younger generation and new residents—who can help out on some of the various committees.  If you are willing to help (even occasionally) please contact any of the board members listed in this newsletter.  The continuing welfare of our community depends considerably on the willingness of resident to volunteer their help.

The Civic League Board and residents of our community thank you, Jim Willenbrink , for your willingness to step up to the plate as Interim President of the Civic League for the past year.  You have always been devoted to the needs of our community and we do appreciate your steadfastness.  You filled the space for Don Sanders until he was free to take the position this September.

Al Launder of Temple Court has closed his copy/printing business.  Al printed our Pembroke Meadows/Shores newsletter at least 14 years.  He printed our community directory, also.  Al always worked so closely with us to create the “look” we wanted—very professional.  He always gave us a good price and a great quality job.

Back when the subdivision was new, the first newsletters and directories were hand typed, Xeroxed, and hand collated and stapled.  What a job!  Then with the advent of computers, editors were able to create a neater product, and Al’s fine printing made the product what it is today—something we in the Civic League are proud to distribute to more than 600 residences in our neighborhood.  We wish him good luck in his future endeavors and good health and happiness to him and his family. 

Spectrum Printing, owned and operated by Dick Olenych, is now the printer for our newsletter.  We are looking forward to working with them to continue to produce our special neighborhood newsletter.  Keep them in mind for your printing needs.

Every year a new pool board takes on the daunting task of running the Pembroke Meadows Recreation Center pool -- it is a task that lasts nine months, not three months as most people think, and it takes lots of "heart."   Pool board members spend many VOLUNTEER hours brainstorming ways to increase membership, to keep the pool sanitary and attractive, and to do all this within a very tight budget.  They do a lot of manual labor, some of it quite "yukky" like cleaning, scouring, etc. They have to become experts on diverse subjects like electrical wiring, pump maintenance, food service regulations, pool chemicals and federal and state taxes.  Most times they get more complaints than they do compliments -- the complaints often coming from people who do very little else but complain.

The neighborhood has changed a lot since the pool opened.  Back then, very few of our homes had private pools.  Kids had no video games and played outside a lot more. Many more moms were home to take the kiddies to the pool each day.  Families are different now, with moms, dads, and kiddos being pulled in many directions regarding how they spend their free time.  Each year it becomes harder and harder to secure  pool memberships, and thus the funds to operate. Yet somehow the pool boards have kept it going. I do not know what will happen in the years to come, regarding the pool, but I am so happy that it was there for my own children.   So at the end of this pool season, George and I want to thank all the members of the current and past pool boards for a job well done. 

You’ve kept the pool open for over 30 years -- thousands of adults and children splashed and swam happily under the summer sun -- job well done! ---Congratulations.

PEMBROKE MEADOWS GARDEN CLUB meets the second Thursday of the month.  Call Clera Hall at 473-8258 or Bridget South, 497-0645 for program information.

Fall is on the way and the children will be back in school.  Halloween is just around the corner.  Mark your calendars for SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29.  For those new to the area—all ages are invited to don your costumes and  join the parade and march through the neighborhood following the band to the park.  A party at the park follows the parade.  It is a fun time for all.  If you don’t want to march, please join us along the route to cheer the little ghosts and goblins.  The October newsletter will have the parade route and additional information.  The time will be 3 p.m.  As always, we need donations of cookies, apple juice or apple cider, as well as VOLUNTEERS  to help out at the park and along the route.  If you would like to volunteer or make a donation please contact Belinda Nash at 490-2504 or Gerry Richter at 497-5243.   If you choose to make a cash donation, give them a call. 

The Ladies’ Lunch Group from Pembroke Meadows/Shores/Townhomes has been meeting at noon monthly since May at C & M Cafeteria and those attending have enjoyed the event and it is continuing.  The next luncheon will be on Thursday, September 22, and the October Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, October 26.  At this time we are alternating between Wednesday and Thursday.  We hope you will consider attending in the near future.  As a courtesy to C & M for allowing us to use the private room, we need a count of how many plan to attend.  Hope to see you soon. 

A big “Thank You” to all our Block Captains who help maintain the residents lists and “Thank You” to all the residents for cooperating with them.  The Pembroke Shores Block Captains are:  Margie Brotman, Jan Browning, Eileen Byman, Pat Cook, Christ & Katie Fertig, Bobbie Furedy, Clera Hall, Fran Keeling, Danielle Kreassig, Teri Mikulka, Daphne Sanders, Carole Scott, John Sheadel, Rosemarie Staggs and Ted Young.

Two individuals were recently successfully prosecuted by the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney for vandalism in the Pembroke area early this year.  Approximately thirty cars in the area had windows shot out or were otherwise vandalized.  The arrests and convictions resulted from alert neighbors in another neighborhood that witnessed the vandals shooting from their car, followed them and called police.

This is another success story for how neighbors can help neighbors keep our community safe and reduce crimes.  If YOU witness vandalism or suspicious activity, call 911 immediately.

If you have any questions about the two court cases described above, the sentences or the settlements, contact Scott Vachris, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney at 747-427-4401.

With the increasing number of aging and physically challenged residents in our community, there has been a concern about residents’ ability to maintain their properties.  The Building and Grounds Committee with the Teen Committee will provide assistance to senior citizens and physically challenged residents who are financially unable to hire the work done.  This one-time assistance will concentrate on outside yard maintenance by volunteers.  If you are interested or know an individual or group that would be, please contact

School teachers will be familiar with the game “trash or treasure,” where students are presented with a trunk of objects from which they select what is trash versus what could be a treasure.  During our recent trash patrol down the neighborhood median, my family picked up some interesting objects – trash, or treasure?  While historians one hundred years from now may find a giant cup from the “Late Night at Taco Bell,” an archival link into our contemporary lifestyle, today it is just plain old trash. 

Perhaps our trash removal stroll provided us too much time to contemplate about something as simple as garbage!  My husband and I caught ourselves pondering the mysteries of trash… imagine how much trash we produce as one family, multiply that by millions of Americans… and then, where does it all go? Humm… the bottom line is that much of our trash ends up in our neighborhood streets! 

This experience prompted me to recall my time in Havana, where my Cuban amigos would simply finish a soda and drop the can on the street, sidewalk, yard, wherever they might be.  I witnessed this over and over with utter disbelief.  Though when I probed my Cuban friends about their drop and go trash policy, they laughed, one of those gut-wrenching laughs at that!  They informed me that by dumping their refuse, these youngsters provided jobs for elderly Cubans (you know the original revolutionary ones).  And sure enough, it was common to see the older Cubans sweeping trash and palm debris from the streets, most likely in exchange for their government stipend. 

However, there are several notable differences between the streets of Havana and those in Pembroke Meadows!  For starters, we are a capitalist society where we don’t need to spill trash to create arbitrary jobs!  Second, we have pride in where we live.  And finally, we just don’t have it in us to carelessly dispose of garbage in our streets… Or do we? 

After collecting about 30 gallons of trash from the entryway,  I must admit, someone has it in them.  In fact, while cleaning the garbage from the median last year, I actually had a family take advantage of the red light and clean the fast food wrappers from their vehicle.  Hence, the door opened, the trash was deposited right at my feet, thanks for being so considerate! 

So, the point of the story, if there is one at all… well there are several.  First, taking a careless stroll down our streets can provide exercise for your body and your philosophical mind!  Though don’t get too lost in your thoughts as you wonder down the Pembroke Boulevard Speedway.  Granted, this straight stretch of road is alluring for speeders; though do remember we share this thoroughfare with homes, garden club volunteers, children on bikes, teens on skateboards, and babies in strollers.  And lastly, think before you dump.  Of course those who have read this article in its entirety don’t need to be reminded of such practical advice.  Our neighborhood is a treasure not to be trashed! 

Take at look at "Shop & Swap", a special 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. 

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