Letter from the President – May 2020

Greetings Neighbors,

I hope that everyone is faring well in light of this current pandemic crisis that has gripped the nation and the world. I know that it has been tough for all of us in one way or another. While those of us with children have had to become “teachers”, others have been feeling the pinch of a slowed-down economy. It’s hard to place a value on human life, but we can at least all hope that our sacrifices will be worth it in the long run. If any of you have lost loved ones to the virus, you have my deepest condolences.

I have been encouraged by news of people volunteering their time to make masks for the community, or bringing food and supplies to those who need help, to neighbors joining together to celebrate birthdays with drive-by parades, and to people volunteering their time to assist at healthcare facilities. We sometimes take for granted our liberties that we enjoy or the people who have to face crisis daily, but this current event has definitely highlighted the value of both.

I know that we are all anxious to “get back to normal” but we know one thing for sure. Normal will not be the same again once the restrictions are lifted. We may have to practice social distancing for some time until it can be assured we are either all immune, there is a vaccine, or a treatment available to combat the viral scourge. In the meantime, we must stay vigilant with handwashing, mask wearing, social distancing, self-quarantining, home schooling and working from home. As with all things, this too shall pass.

On the bright side, spring has sprung! It seems Mother Nature just keeps the seasons rolling along. At least we all have a little extra time now to work on our yards and those home projects that we’ve been otherwise too busy to get around to doing. We’ve also gotten to know our families better ever since we’ve been asked to shelter in place. I wonder how many have been able to enjoy a dinner together for the first time in a while? Situations like this one remind you of the little things in life that really matter: love, family, community and friendships.

As always, stay safe, stay home and if you do go out, please wear a mask and still greet each other with a smile and a wave – though it might be hard to see the smile behind the mask but it will still show through.

Warmly,

Andrew Roper

SBCL President

Letter from the President – April 2020

Greetings Neighbors,

As I am writing this letter for the newsletter, we are currently in the midst of a global pandemic the likes of which nobody has had to deal with in their respective lifetimes. This is unprecedented territory for all of us inside and outside the Sandbridge community. It is important during this critical time that we heed the advice of our local, state and federal government officials and public health experts. This means maintaining social distancing. If you absolutely must go out in public, limit travel outside the home, wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face. Also, avoid person-to-person contact when possible and only seek medical help when necessary.

In accordance with government guidance, we had canceled our March meeting and are now calling off our April meeting. In an abundance of caution, we have also canceled the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Little Island Park and are canceling or postponing the Community Yard Sale and Spring Cleanup. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

I know these are trying times. They are for all of us, regardless of our position in society, but we will get through this together. Some of us will be more affected by this crisis than others and we, as a community, should do all we can to support and lift each other up. In this vein, I will be sending out an email from the Sandbridge Community Chapel UMC about a ministry program to help those in need. I would encourage you to help where and how you can and pray for those you cannot help.

In the meantime, please leverage the resources made available by the City by going to their website at emergency.vbgov.com/coronavirus for information about what the City is doing, programs that are available, and the latest news on the City’s response efforts.

If you do happen to visit the City’s website, I would also encourage you to check out the latest City Council meeting regarding the proposed FY2021 budget. There is an important consideration before the Council regarding the Sandbridge SSD and TIF that you should be aware of. Unfortunately, the construct of this letter does not afford me the space to go into much detail, but it is vitally important that you take the time to inform yourselves.

In closing, I wish you all well and hope that you stay safe. If you or anyone in your family is ill, I pray for a speedy recovery. I will also be praying and hoping for a swift but careful end to this crisis so that we can return to some normalcy.

Respectfully,

Andrew Roper

SBCL President

Letter from the President – March 2020

Howdy Neighbors!

It was reported that the world’s most famous weather forecaster had seen his shadow and that we would have an early spring. I don’t think any of us envisioned it being as early as it has been several times this past month. Let’s hope that temperatures normalize and keep our plants and trees from budding too early. Personally, I’d like us to have a nice colorful spring bloom when spring does arrive.

I’m proud to report that we have received feedback from the City regarding our requests from the January meeting. Parks and Rec will talk with building maintenance and inquire about keeping the public restrooms at the Sandbridge Market parking lot open all year. The City is already slated to pave the Little Island parking lot, so that is good news. Unfortunately, they will be unable to complete the third parking lot at Little Island Park due to the fact that Public Works has built a storage facility on the proposed location for the beach maintenance equipment. I should be meeting with Public Works later this month and I will express our desire to have the second row of trash cans on the beach at each accessway.

At our February meeting, we heard from the president of the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations, Mr. C. Douglas, Jr. He spoke about the VBCCO’s mission and focus and how, under his leadership, they are striving to get more civic organizations involved in the VBCCO so that they can represent the various communities to City Council and to keep us informed about important issues regarding our respective neighborhoods. I wish him success in his endeavors and hope that he achieves his vision.

We also heard from Arden Reed with the Virginia Supportive Housing Foundation. She described the foundation’s mission of providing permanent housing and supportive services for homeless persons. They own and maintain several apartment complexes in the Hampton Roads area with two of them in Virginia Beach. The foundation has had some great success and they’re proud of their work and are willing to showcase it with guided tours. Anyone interested can contact Ms. Reed (www.virginiasupportivehousing.org).

Also in this newsletter, there is a web link you will want to check out that will let you monitor up-to-date developments on the sand replenishment that is finally happening on our beach. Public Works and Corps of Engineers representatives will also be at our March meeting to update us on the progress of sand renourishment. You won’t want to miss this meeting!

Spring is right around the corner and that means a flurry of activity in Sandbridge. In the coming months we’ll have our Spring Cleanup, our Community Yard Sale, Easter Egg Hunt and Memorial Day Parade.

As always, be kind to each other, lend a hand when needed, and greet each other with a smile and a wave.

Respectfully,

Andrew Roper

SBCL President