Let me take a minute to introduce myself to those of you that don't know me.  I am Leonard Johnson and live on Maharis with my wife and two children.  The land that our house is on has been in my wife's family since Lakeview Park was created.  Her grandfather, John Ferguson, built the house and we were lucky enough to be able to build on and make it work for our family.  I am happy to be a part of this community and want to make sure that it grows not only for my family, but for your families too.

I am excited to lead the Civic League into 2011 along with the team of great people we have as officers.  I want to thank Mike Mastice for his past leadership and support of me as I undertake this leadership role.  All of the Officers and I are committed to growing the Civic League into a new age.  We are hoping that the new age will increase membership, increase services, and increase our prominence with the City of Virginia Beach as one of its "Best Kept Secrets".

We have changed our meeting dates to meet more often and hope to see you there.  Membership is something that we want to increase and we need you to do that.  What do you want from your Civic League?  What do you want from me as your civic league president?  What can we do to make Lakeview Park the best place to live in the Beach?  I truly want to hear from you.  You can always contact me at (757)515-4930.

I hope to see you at the next meeting on May 15 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Bayside Church of Christ on Shell Road.

Join our new Officers at our May 16th meeting.

Little Guard Dogs

REMEMBER-by paying attention to your surroundings, reporting suspicious activity and making good crime prevention choices where your property is concerned, you can eliminate the opportunity for crime to occur.

MAKE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE CHOICES FOR YOUR HOME'S SECURITY!

Virginia Beach has a Booklet focused on how to increase your home's security:

Home Security-A Guide for Protecting  Your Home and Property

Here's a Quick Checklist to help prevent Burglary

LANDSCAPING

· Do low trees or high shrubs block the view of your home from the street? Remember, items which give you privacy also give potential burglars a place to hide.

· Are all second story windows protected from access by items such as trees and ladders?

LIGHTING

· Are the entrances to your home illuminated?

· Is there glare from the lights which may blind potential witnesses?

· Are the street lights working? If not, report to Public Works at 385-4131 or vbgov.com/e-gov.

HOUSE NUMBERS

· Are address numbers visible from the street, even at night?

DOORS

· Are exterior doors a solid wood core or metal, rather than hollow core?

· Is there a peephole or some other way of viewing the exterior of the door? Consider installing a wide-angle peephole for increased visibility.

· Is the garage door kept locked?

ALARM SYSTEMS

· When evaluating alarms, consult several companies and compare their coverage, equipment, costs, back-up power, etc.

· If you chose to have an alarm, do not depend only on the alarm to protect you. Be sure to use the proper locking devices.

LOCKS

· A good quality deadbolt lock is recommended for all exterior doors.

· Is there glass within 40" of the door lock? Consider various types of locks which may be appropriate for that location. Other options may be relocating the door, replacing the door with a solid door, or covering the glass with a shatter-resistant security film.

· Do you lock the door from the garage into the home? This door should also be treated as an exterior door.

· Are all sliding doors secured with a "Charley bar" or similar device?

· Have the locks been used by previous residents or contractors? If so, consider having the locks changed or re-keyed.

Also, don't forget to write down all your serial numbers - pawn shops must report serial numbers daily to the Police.