Order your 9th Annual Oyster Roast Tickets Today

Lynnhaven River NOW E-News

March 21, 2011

Vote for Lillie Gilbert
Cox Conserves Hero

Cox Conserves Heroes is an awards program created by Cox Enterprises and The Trust for Public Land that honors heroes among us who work to create, preserve, improve or enhance the shared outdoor places in our communities. Lillie Gilbert is one of the five finalists for Hampton Roads.

Lillie Gilbert is a founding member of Lynnhaven River NOW and has served on our Executive Program Committee for nine years. She is the Co-Chair of our Stewardship and Access Committee and serves on the City's Open Space Committee. And this is only the beginning of the work that she has done for citizens of Virginia Beach.

The award winner will be chosen by your votes. To view the finalists' videos and place your vote, please go to www.coxconservesheroes.com/hampton-roads-va/finalists.aspx . If Lillie wins, she has designated Lynnhaven River NOW to receive her $5000 contribution.

Photo by Kevin DuBois

Oyster Gardeners
Spring is Coming

Spring weather is on the way and our water temperatures will be increasing. As the temperatures increase, our oysters will start to "wake up". It is time to clean your bags after the long winter rest to make sure your oysters can adequately feed on algae in the water and are free of crabs.

Please take care when you handle your oysters. We advise wearing gloves and washing your hands carefully when you are finished.

If you are interested in becoming an oyster gardener, watch for information soon about our summer new gardener and float building workshops.

Scoop the Poop Stickers
Get One for Your Big Black Trash Can

Our new, large Scoop the Poop sticker designed for the front of your city garbage can is the latest weapon in the war again dog waste that pollutes the city's waterways.

LRNow and the Virginia Beach SPCA have designed and printed 10,000 stickers urging dog owners to clean up after their pet. We hope on garbage day across the city there will be reminders on the big black cans that dog waste belongs in the trash, not in yards, parks, streets and beaches.

It has been estimated that up to a third of the fecal coliform pollution in the river is due to dog waste. Rain washes bacteria from the poop into storm drains which then flow into rivers, lakes, the bay and the ocean.

You can pick up your sticker from our office on Pleasure House Road or come to any LRNow event.

Thank you for being a repsonsible pet owner and helping us spread the word.

Scoop the Poop Sticker

9th Annual LRNow Oyster Roast

Saturday, April 16th, Noon-3pm

Join the fun

Celebrate our Progress Restoring the Lynnhaven River

Lynnhaven Aqua-cultured Oysters, Barbecue and all the fixins',

Oyster Stew, Chesapeake Ray, Beer and Wine

More Perfect Jones bluegrass band and Oyster Shucking Contest

Premiere of The Lynnhaven, Restoring a Legend

Our beautiful new book of essays, photographs and paintings celebrating the Lynnhaven River.

Tickets are $50 each and are available in our office, call 757-962-5398, or on our website, www.LRNow.org

Win your own Oyster Roast with Lynnhaven Oyster Company oysters and catering by Coastal Catering -- Raffle tickets are $10

Order a copy of The Lynnhaven, Restoring a Legend, at the

Oyster Roast price of $40.

See you there---You don't want to miss it!

Photo by Bill Fleming

Public Policy Committee
Meeting, Thursday, March 24, 4 - 6 pm

First Landing Fire Station on Shore Drive at Great Neck Road

Join the Public Policy Committee this Thursday for a review of the 2011 Virginia General Assembly legislative session. What were our goals? Where did we succeed? What are the challenges that we take into next year?

We will also begin planning our fall candidates forum. With redistricting, all of our state representatives will be up for re-election fall, 2011.