Upcoming Events
- Due to coronavirus concerns, all events have been POSTPONED.
Community News
Neighbors Against HRRC
HRRC, the Hampton Roads Recovery Center LLC, is a privately held, locally owned waste management company located next to the Virginia Beach Landfill. The Centerville Regional Facility is a Construction and Demolition Debris Landfill. This landfill supports the regional waste management goal of diverting construction debris materials from municipal solid waste landfills; thus extending the life and increasing the value of existing municipal solid waste landfill space.
Becky Macchia, Neighbors Against HRRC , was the guest speaker at the March 10 Charlestowne Civic League meeting. Neighbors Against HRRC is a Nextdoor.com group that was formed to provide a central space to communicate issues, information and a plan of action to address concerns for how HRRC’s operations affect the local community. During the meeting Ms. Macchia addressed the odor coming from the HRCC. She also spoke of the ground water concern for Lake James and the algae bloom that occurs in the Lake during the Spring/ Summer. Based on the nextdoor.com thread, the group, now 473 strong, have been very successful at getting the attention of the HRRC and the Virginia Beach City Council.
For its part, HRCC is in the process of implementing a gas collection system large enough to address the odor. At the November 25, 2019 Lake James Homes Association meeting , HRCC representatives were receptive to sedimentation concerns and have agreed to shut down their pumps during rain events, which will be a big help in minimizing what comes into the lake.
In December in a letter to Ms. Macchia, Sabrina Wooten, the Centerville District City Council Representative, expressed support for Neighbors Against HRCC. Ms. Wooten stated “this (the awful odor) has been a persisting issue for many years prior to her taking office”, and that it’s time that something be done.
To join the movement, you’ll need to join nextdoor.com and go to the Neighbors Against HRRC group page and select JOIN. If you would like to file a complaint, the group recommends emailing them to the HRCC manager, Beau Savage at beau.savage@wasteconnections.com or filing a report with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
The landfill itself is a 100-year landfill, but the HRRC has plans to operate for 10-12 more years.
Coronavirus – Basic Protective Measures
Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. COVID-19 is still affecting mostly people in China with some outbreaks in other countries. Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following:
- Wash your hand frequently. Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kill viruses that may be on your hands.
- Maintain social distancing. When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small droplets which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets including the virus.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth giving the virus an access to enter your body and can make you sick.
- Practice respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Droplets spread virus, and good respiratory hygiene can protect the people around you from viruses.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early, and call in advance. National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
For more information please go to
Traffic Calming Survey
Charlestowne has been enrolled in the city’s Traffic Calming Program since March 2018. Our target area has been Beaufain Blvd. More information can be found in the article below.
At the September 10 Civic League Meeting , speakers from Traffic Engineering provided us with an update. We are currently in phase 2, selective enforcement. This means police patrols have been increased along Beaufain Blvd until December.
We are eligible to move into phase 3, increased fines, but this would require a petition with signatures from 75% of the property owners fronting Beaufain Blvd. If we move on to Phase 4, physical measures, like speed humps would be installed like those currently on Lake James Drive, but we’re a long way from this phase.
For more information, please click the links below.
Traffic Calming Power Point 4th Precinct – Charlestowne
Traffic-Calming-Brochure-9-28-17
Little Free Library at Charlestowne East Park
A Little Free Library has been installed at Charlestowne East Park. A Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. It is supported by neighbors sharing their favorite books with their community. Anyone may contribute or take books. The more the merrier! If you take a book (or two) from a Library, you do not need to return that exact book. However, in order to keep the Little Library full of good choices for the whole neighborhood, the next time you swing by the Library bring a few books to share. Little Library book exchanges function on the honor system; everyone contributes to ensure there are always quality books inside. This way, we all win!
For more information about the Little Free Library Organization and where your can find other Little Free Libraries, please visit www.littlefreelibrary.org/.
Paul Geiger
Paul Geiger passed away on Thursday, March 7. Paul was the recording secretary for the Civic League for well over a decade and a longtime Board Member. His wife, Charlene was president for many years. Together they were the driving force that kept our Civic League going and growing. The community is better thanks to their service. Paul will be greatly missed.
Waste Disposal
Exercise proper waste disposal practices when cleaning out attics, garages and sheds. Regular bagged household trash can be placed in city-provided trash carts. Place containers at the street by 7 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.
Curbside collection of yard waste is provided on your normal collection day. Grass and leaves (no dirt, rocks, mulch or root balls) should be placed at the front curb of the residence in up to 25 clear plastic bags, not more than 25 pounds per bag. Please do not block drainage. Limbs up to four feet long and six inches in diameter will be collected in two piles not to exceed 4 x 4 x 4 feet.
For more information, contact Waste Management at (757) 385-4650 or visit www.vbgov.com/wastmgt.
Block Captains Needed for Charlestowne Neighborhood Watch
Block Captains serve as liaisons between Watch/Police coordinators and their neighbors. A watch area consists of about 15 homes. If you can help with the Neighborhood Watch or have any questions, please contact Laureen simmons at 479-2400 or email at 3simmons@cox.net.
Help!
Volunteers are needed to help deliver the Charlestowne Newsletters. If you can help, please contact Mary Ann Milinazzo at maryannoxo@aol.com .
Membership Dues are $20 per family and are due Annually in January.
Checks should be made out to the Charlestowne Area Civic League and should be mailed to:
Mary Lawrence
5313 Hogge Court
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
or if you’d like to pay online, please visit our Paypal site on our Charlestowne Civic League page.
Thank you!
