Letter from the President – September 2021

Howdy Neighbors!

Well, we are nearing the end of summer, yet the fall brings with it a lot to look forward to. We have the Pig Pickin’, Oktoberfest and the start of the holiday season. The leaves will change color and start to fall, and the fall harvests will be coming in. The long, warm days of summer were a joy, no doubt. I will miss them until next year. But I, for one, am ready for autumn.

At our last meeting, we heard from representatives of Dominion Power, who talked about the offshore wind project they are working on. There are a lot of details that are worth checking out. When it’s all done, we’ll have a significant boost of available power to the electrical grid that will allow Dominion to transition away from burning fossil fuel to generate electricity. It was very interesting hearing about all that is necessary to get the project going and the obstacles that the company faces in implementing the wind farm. Though it will be a number of years before any of that becomes a reality.

As I mentioned earlier, we are having Oktoberfest for the first time since the pandemic. Please make sure that your membership is paid up and that you RSVP to the event so we can be sure to have enough food and beverages for everyone.

Next month is our Political Forum meeting. We are actively engaged with the various candidates running for office in this year’s election, and we are looking forward to hosting them at our September meeting.

I want to thank everyone who attends the meetings, volunteers and helps out in the community. It is the collective will and strength of all of us that make this the best community to live and work in. As always, be kind to each other and greet each other with a smile and a wave.

Warmly,
Andrew Roper

SBCL President

Letter from the President – July/August 2021

Howdy Neighbors!

Summer is in full swing, and the weather could not be any nicer. We are so fortunate to have such a mild start to the summer that stands in such sharp contrast to what is happening in other parts of the country. Just one of the many blessings we have as residents of Sandbridge.

We had our first in-person membership meeting since the start of the pandemic. It was well attended, and we had Cameron Swain from False Cape State Park as our guest speaker. Cameron spoke about the uniqueness of the park, the many activities that take place and the improvements that have been made. We also heard an update about the use of golf carts. In a nutshell, only street legal carts are permitted in Sandbridge and are subject to the same rules of the road as any other motor vehicle.

We are resuming most Civic League activities, and one of those was our annual Fourth of July Boat Parade. It was so good to see the enthusiasm from everyone who participated and the delight in the spectators who got to see the patriotic vessels cruising Mill Pond and the canals.

Enjoy this time as we get back to a new normal. Community and fellowship are important, and this is something that we have been missing for too long now. As always, remember to greet each other with a smile and a wave.

Yours Truly,
Andrew Roper

SBCL President

Letter from the President – June 2021

Howdy Neighbors!

Spring is in full swing, and it looks like we may be able to have a “normal” summer this year as more and more people get vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s going to be so nice to leave this virus and its effects behind us. Though, will things really be back to normal?

At our last Civic League meeting, we heard from Captain Barry Kirschner, head of the VB Lifeguards, on last year’s responses and this year’s plans for coverage. While COVID created a problem for the group last year, this year the situation is better managed, and they have plenty of personnel to provide the
essential life-saving services we need on our beaches. They’ll also be mentoring the young ones who have an interest in becoming a lifeguard.

In a return to normalcy, we will be having the Memorial Day Parade, though no cookout, the July 4th Boat Parade, Pig Pickin’ and Oktoberfest. Last month’s Community Yard Sale and Community Cleanup were huge successes. Special thanks to the organizers of both of those events for their hard work and
commitment.

For the first time, we will be hosting a SBCL Food Drive to benefit Samaritan House on June 12 and 13. Thank you to Terry Stevens and Amy Barton for getting this worthy cause off the ground!

At the meeting, we also addressed the initiatives we are working on for the community and provided updates on the various projects occurring in and around Sandbridge. The reports are in this newsletter.

I’m looking forward to this upcoming summer season and meeting in person as a Civic League. In the meantime, continue staying safe, and remember to greet each other with a smile and a wave.

Yours Truly,
Andrew Roper

SBCL President