President's Page

---

It was a busy April here in our neighborhood. The fickle spring weather finally cooperated, and we were able to launch the Easter Egg Hunt event one week later than originally scheduled. The turnout was exceptionally large, and those two thousand or so candy-filled plastic eggs were quickly gathered up by the youngsters. I hope everyone who attended enjoyed themselves and took good photos of the children with the Easter Bunny. Those become lifelong memories. It was a fun event that is a big hit every year. 

Also, on that Saturday you hopefully went to the Garden Club’s spring plant sale. It’s an effective way to support our outstanding garden club and obtain warm weather plants for your yard. 

Later in April, we had what can only be described as a disappointing turnout at our civic league meeting. It is a shame more residents did not attend as the speaker and presentation from the Virginia Department of Forestry was quite likely the very finest this year. Everyone learned something at that meeting. There is one more civic league meeting scheduled before the summer break. Come out on Tuesday evening, May 16th to hear an update on the 2023 Virginia General Assembly session from Senator Bill DeSteph and Delegate Tim Anderson. And, come hungry because we will be serving grilled hot-dogs with all the fixings. Don’t miss this one, it’s our last civic league meeting until September.

Your civic league’s board of directors is already planning for next fall. In addition to our monthly civic league meetings, always on the 3rd Tuesday of each month beginning in September, we have set the date for the annual Fall Festival event. Here’s a tip, it’s going to be on the afternoon of Sunday, October 22nd. Put it on your calendar. Also, on a Saturday in September or October, we will sponsor a community yard sale – date to be determined.

We have been advised by a resident of a recent incident involving a contractor blowing yard debris into Lake Smith. It was a significant volume of debris that inhibited boat access to the lake from a nearby property owner. Lake Smith is owned by the City of Norfolk and is part of the reservoir system. Anyone throwing yard waste of any kind into the water is subject to a fine. If you see this happening, contact David Rosenthal, Norfolk’s Reservoir Manager, at 757-441-5678.

Our civic league’s newsletter, the Lake Smith Ripples, is published, commercially printed, and hand-delivered to every home in this neighborhood each month from September to May. The newsletter is our largest annual expense. If you read the newsletter today, and you have not already done so, I encourage you to help support your community by joining the civic league that works for you every day of the year. See the membership application on the "About Us" page. For the small annual dues of $15 you can be a member household, entitled to participate in all civic league sponsored events. Help support your neighborhood and join today. The next edition of the Lake Smith Ripples will be published on or about September 1st. 

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer.

John Eason - Civic League President