Latest News from Larchmont-Edgewater Civic League

Renovation is turning the old Larchmont Shop buiding at Lexan Avenue and Hampton Boulevard into D'Egg Cafe. The new restaurant, a spin-off of D'Egg Diner, should open in January.

Owner Phillip Decker appreciates the ideas for his extra space that residents have sent him via the civic league. Ideas include a mini version of Bazemore's, a dry cleaners and a hair salon. At the moment, Decker plans to leave the additional space vacant while he evaluates whether he will need it to expand the cafe.

Welcome to the second Larchmont-Edgewater Civic League newsletter. We are pleased to have more than 650 residents already subscribed to the e-newsletter. If you know neighbors who are not subscribed, please forward this e-newsletter using the Forward to a Friend button below this message and encourage them to sign up for a free subscription at www.larchmontedgewater.org. Subscribers' emails will not be used for any other purpose. If you do not want to continue receiving the e-newsletter, please use the Unsubscribe link below the newsletter.

The civic league will publish this interactive e-newsletter at least quarterly with occasional crime and other important alerts that need to get out quickly.

We welcome your suggestions for improvements. Please share your ideas for content in upcoming editions.

Hit Us With Your Best Shot & Win

Can you take the perfect photo that shows what makes our neighborhood special? Is it a baby enjoying the Larchmont United Methodist pumpkin patch? An older neighbor gardening in the spring? Or children selling lemonade?

Submit your best photos and you could be a winner in the first Larchmont-Edgewater Civic League Photo Contest. It is open to amateur photographers of all ages. Judges will be professional photographers and graphic designers who know our neighborhood. Winners will earn gift certificates donated by Eat Dessert First, Prince Books and Turpin's Florist, which are businesses owned by Larchmont/Edgewater residents, and D'Egg Cafe, our neighborhood's new restaurant. Winning photos will be featured on the civic league website.

Entries are due December 31. To submit your photo, email a jpg or low-resolution image to larchmontedgewaternews@gmail.com. Be sure to include your name, phone number, street address and the title of your photo. To get you motivated, click here to see pictures of our neighborhood.

Neighborhood Home Sales Level Out

Fourteen Larchmont/Edgewater homes sold between July 27 and October 27. This number includes two pending sales and is 13 fewer than in the previous quarter. There are 42 detached homes for sale in the neighborhood. That is a nine-month inventory, says John Vellines, associate broker with Nancy Chandler Real Estate.

One new opportunity is a $6,500 federal tax credit Congress authorized recently to encourage people who already own a home to buy a new one. Until June 30, 2010 there also is an $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers.

As of October 27 in our neighborhood there were:

42 homes listed for sale
2 home sales pending
12 homes that had sold during the last 90 days for prices ranging from $180,000 to $570,000. For details on the sales price and size of the homes that found new owners click here.

Saint Patrick Classes Are Fun for Adults

Break out of the doldrums this winter and learn new skills during Saint Patrick Catholic School's fifth annual Evenings at Saint Patrick's classes from January 26-March 6. More than 100 different one-night courses for adults will introduce you to new topics taught by experts.

Classes are popular with Larchmont/Edgewater residents since most courses are held at Saint Patrick's on Bolling Avenue. Course topics run the gamut from learning new recipes and exploring digital photography to mastering the perfect martini and learning to play Mahjong. Dr. G. William Whitehurst, an Old Dominion University professor and former U.S. Congressman, will teach a session on political scandals.

Each class costs $30 with some sessions also requiring supply fees. Proceeds help provide scholarships for Saint Patrick students. Last year's event raised $25,000 for the school. Classes fill quickly so register early. Last year the evening program had more than 1,000 class registrations.

Course catalogs will be out by late December and will be available at locations near the neighborhood and online. Details will be posted soon at www.stpcs.org. For questions call 757-440-5500 during school hours.

Tax Abatements Help Homeowners

If you are planning to renovate or expand your home, be sure to explore Norfolk's Tax Abatement Program. Many home owners miss this helpful city program, which requires applying before construction starts.

The tax abatement program encourages major improvement of properties in Norfolk. Approved home owners can wait 14 years before having to pay full taxes on home improvements. Taxes start being phased in 11 years after the project is completed.

To qualify for the program, the residence must be at least 15 years old, and the planned improvements must increase the assessed value of the home by at least 20%. Tax abatements are also available for multi-family units and commercial and industrial property in Norfolk.

To learn more visit www.norfolk.gov/Assessor/ or call the Real Estate Assessor's Office at 757-664-4732 or the Neighborhood Design and Resource Center at 757-664-6770.

Residents Report Various Crimes

From September 1 to November 1 Larchmont/Edgewater residents reported the following crimes to the Norfolk Police Department:
20 auto larcenices, one robbery to an individual, three stolen vehicles, eight other larcenies, three simple assualts and 10 acts of vandalism.

You can check the most current neighborhood crime statistics by following the directions linked here. If you are signed up for this e-newsletter you will also receive alerts about crimes that impact our neighborhood.

To report a crime in progress call 911. But for other crimes call the Norfolk police non-emergency line at 757-441-5610. To reach Officer Curtis Jackson, who patrols our neighborhood, call 757-831-3484.

To stay safe during the holiday season when crime typically escalates be sure to:

Lock up all valuables in your car and on your property
Tighten security practices at home (i.e. don't leave doors and windows unlocked)
Call the police if you see something suspicious
Call immediately after a crime incident and provide details about possible suspects

Important Dates to Remember

Now through Dec. 13 -- Baron and Ellin Gordon Galleries film decor exhibit at Old Dominion University (free)
Dec. 9 -- Old Dominion University cookie decorating contest at 4:15 p.m. followed by the grand illumination of Kaufman Mall at 5:15 p.m. (free)
Dec. 15 -- Street sweeping (third Tuesday of each month; remove cars from streets)

Dec. 17 -- Civic league meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Larchmont United Methodist Church (officer elections).
Dec. 31 -- Deadline to submit neighborhood photos for contest.
Jan. 11 -- Trio Con Brio string concert at Old Dominion University's Chandler Recital Hall at 8 p.m. (admission $15)
Jan. 19 -- Street sweeping
Jan. 26-March 6 -- Evenings at Saint Patrick's classes sponsored by Saint Patrick Catholic School (requires pre-registration and a class fee)
Feb. 16 -- Street sweeping

Please visit the Larchmont-Edgewater Civic League website to find more information about your neighborhood and the civic league. Contact us at www.larchmontedgewaternews@gmail.com or click here for emails for specific civic league volunteers.

Interested in advertising in Neighborhood News? Sponsor blocks with active links to your business are available. Contact Jim Chandler, newsletter editor, for details.

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