President's Page

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As I write this column, the sun is shining on a 28 degrees day, and

we have just come through a weekend with a forecast that started at up

to 12 inches of snow and ended with rain washing the mere dusting that

did fall. The forecast includes chances of another snow event this

coming weekend. Although it’s rare, it just shows the difficulty of

forecasting winter precipitation here in Tidewater where our proximity

to the ocean includes numerous variables that affect the outcome. In

March of 1980 we had a three-day long blizzard. Officially it was about

eleven inches of snow, but the five-foot drifts against the side of the

house told a different story. But for now, forget the snow, it is just the

right time to look out the window and plan what you want to grow in

your garden this year.

Our January civic league meeting featured an excellent presentation

on haunted locations around Virginia Beach. Based on the number of

audience questions, it was an enjoyable topic. This month’s civic league

meeting will feature a presentation about the Back Bay Wildlife Refuge.

Mark your calendar and come to the meeting.

Civic league memberships arriving in the mail this month are

encouraging. January’s newsletter included a membership letter/form

and preaddressed envelope to join the civic league or renew your

membership for 2026. If you have not yet mailed yours, please do so

today. We have a robust civic league that works on behalf of this

neighborhood every day. Help us keep going by becoming a member.

It’s inexpensive and simple to do. We need your support.

We have election days coming up this year beginning with a primary

in June to determine candidates competing in the general election in

November. Hopefully eligible voters will research candidates and cast

votes accordingly. After you have done your research and voted, about

8:00 pm on election day, you can kick back in your chair and watch the

information banner start to scroll across the bottom of your TV screen

with election results. Election results don’t just happen. They require

the efforts of more than a thousand election workers staffing the one

hundred polling precincts in Virginia Beach. Yes, you know where this

is going – I’m reaching out again to our residents seeking to recruit

election officials to work in upcoming elections later this year. Elections

occur two or three times each calendar year, so the time commitment

should not be a major burden. Many of our residents have served and

continue to serve as election officials – how about joining them?

Election day is a long but fulfilling day of work at the polls, but it’s also

a duty that can give you a level of patriotic satisfaction. See complete

details on becoming an election official on page 3 in this newsletter.

Although a court has intervened, we may be having a voting

opportunity on a referendum this April. This was developed during the

latest General Assembly session for the purpose of redefining the House

of Representatives districts in Virginia. Is this the right thing to do, or

the right time to do it? Be sure to do your research before you vote.

Congratulation to our fellow resident John Fedorowicz for being

sworn in as Elder for Bayside Presbyterian Church. John is a retired U.S.

Navy Intelligence officer and a teacher at Indian River High School.

Bayside Presbyterian recognized John not only for being a strong

Christian, but also, a leader and role model. Our right to worship our

God, or not, is a right that our forefathers fought and died to enshrine in

our constitution. This is a right that we should never squander away

John Eason, President