Lynnhaven River NOW E-News  
February 25, 2016  
Upcoming Events 

February 27
 -- Trashion Show at Lynnhaven Mall, 11 AM-3 PM

March 4 -- Mahi Mah's Benefit Event, 6-9 PM 

March 6 --
MOCA Family Fest 

March 7-9 --
Marine Debris Summit at VIMS 

March 10 -- Public Policy Committee Meeting 

March 11
 -- Legends of the Fly 

March 11 & 12 --McDonald's Garden Center Show

March 17 -- Prayer Breakfast for Faith Communities

March 17 -- Oyster Restoration Committee

March 17 -- Shorelines Committee

March 19 -- River Cleanup

March 19 -- MOCA Teen Takeover Cleanup

March 19 -- POW Workshop, 9 AM- 2 PM
rescheduled from January 

March 29 -- Landscape for Life Course begins


Mah's Gives a Shuck
Oysterfest Benefit
March 4, 6-9 PM 
  
An Oysterfest that benefits LRNow.  Fun for a good cause.
March 4, 6-9 PM
615 Atlantic Avenue
$30 person

Live Entertainment,
OConnor's Beer, H'oeuvres, and Local Oysters

Buy tickets at Mahi Mah's or
mahimahsoysterfest.eventbrite.com

14th Annual Oyster Roast
You don't want to miss this event.  Mark your calendar now.
Saturday, April 16th
for the 14th Annual LRNow  
Oyster Roast.
See you there!

February Native Plant
 
Cornus sericea or Red Twig Dogwood
to order:
MOCA Year of Water
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
 
Crystal Wagner:
Surface Tension
January 30 - April 17, 2016
Artist Crystal Wagner's installations abound as they reach through, over and around their environments.  Wagner's work draws from many different disciplines including drawing, sculpture, and printmaking. The hybrid forms mimic and reference natural, organic shapes and environments. Yet, they are sourced from cheap and readily available materials. In January 2016, Wagner will create an installation with water as a source of inspiration at MOCA
 
MOCA Family Fest -- Saturday March 6

MOCA Teen Takeover -- March 19

For more information:
www.virginiamoca.org
May the countryside and the gliding valley streams content me. Lost to fame, let me love river and woodland. 
~ Virgil
Don't Drill Virginia
Yard Signs Available

 LRNow has taken a position in opposition to drilling for oil and gas off the coast of Virginia.  We have made too much progress restoring our oysters and other marine species, restoring water quality and our wetlands to put it all at risk.  More information about our position is available on  our website.
If you share our position, yard signs like the one pictured are available in our office at the Brock Environmental Center.
 
Volunteers Needed
 Trashion Show Saturday                  
A few more volunteers are needed to help us with all the logistics that make the Trashion Show such a fun, magical experience for everyone!

To see the needs, and sign up to volunteer, go to our Volunteer Spot site and sign up, http://vols.pt/PDV2BP

Thank you -- I predict you will have a great time!
Trashion Shows
February 27, Lynnhaven Mall
High School at 11 AM
Middle School at 3 PM 

Their creativity and skill will amaze you!  See this terrific show of fashions all made with re-purposed materials, things that otherwise would have ended up in the trash or the recycling bin.

Join us in the newly remodeled Center Court of Lynnhaven Mall to support these talented students and have a great time!

For more information: LRNow.org or facebook.com/trashionshow
 
Managing Phragmites
Saturday, February 27, 9:30-Noon
Ernie Morgan Center in Norfolk
Join the Norfolk Environmental Commission and the VA Department of Conservation and Recreation in learning more about this invasive wetland plant.  Attendees will learn about: its biology, history, how it spreads, why it is a problem and how to control it. 

To register or for more information:  Elizabeth.Brichter@norfolk.gov or call 757-441-1347

POW Workshop for Teachers and Anyone Interested in Restoring Wetlands
March 19, 8 AM- 2 PM, Brock Environmental Center  

Join us for this day long workshop which introduces participants to the step-by step process for creating or enhancing wetlands.  POW! guides participants through wetland design and construction with the goal of utilizing the habitat as an outdoor classroom.  Leave with cross curricular activities that allow students to participate in the design, installation, and monitoring of a schoolyard wetland habitat.
Brings wetlands alive in the classroom and provides access to over 25 STEAM activities that transform students into wetlands designers.

POW!  The Planting of Wetlands, March 19, 8 AM - 2 PM
$55 per participant includes the curriculum guide. 
This workshop has been rescheduled from January.  If you registered and paid in January, you are automatically registered for the March 19th date.

To register, contact Dana@LRNow.org, Jody@LRNow.org or call 757-962-5398,

Stephan's living shoreline

Legends of the Fly!
MOCA, March 12th

A day of immersive fly fishing experience including the Able Women Team, Auction, 3 Award Winning Films, presentations on local fishing opportunities, conservation, and casting lessons.

For more information: www.legendsoftheflyvb.com.
Benefits Lynnhaven River NOW!
Landscape for Life!
Starts March 29th

Every home landscape has the potential to help clean our water and our air, reduce flooding, cool our city, and combat climate change.  

Yet conventional gardening practices too often work against nature, damaging our environment's ability to provide these natural benefits that support the health and well-being of you, your family, and your community.  

Landscape for Life will show you how to work with nature, no matter where you live whether you garden on a suburban lot, a 20-acres farm, or the common area of your condominium.  

The course begins on March 29th and will meet every Tuesday evening through April 26th, 6-8 PM, at the Brock Environmental Center.  The cost is $75 per person or $100 per household (2 people) and includes all instructional materials and snacks.   To register, contact Dana@LRNow.org.  
134 More Acres!
Bacteria Levels have Decreased

The Virginia Department of Health, Shellfish Sanitation Division, tests the waters of the Lynnhaven monthly in 35 different locations to determine if the bacteria levels meet the really rigorous standard for shellfish harvest.  The standard for shellfish is almost 10 times higher than the swimmable/fishable standard.

As you may recall, we had our fist significant areas open up in 2007.  Prior to that virtually the whole river had been closed for decades.  After that, we made gains each year for several years to reach 42% of the river meeting this high standard.  For the last few years, we have maintained 42% of the river open which in itself is a huge accomplishment for an urban river.  

The state reviews the monthly data and issues new maps annually.  The open areas are determined by 30 month averages.  Those new maps came out last week and I am happy to announce that we gained 134 new acres that meet the strict shellfish standard!  39 acres in Linkhorn Bay, 13 acres in Broad Bay, and 82 acres in the Inlet and Eastern Branch.  This takes us to to total of 2,244 open acres.

Congratulations to everyone.  It is good to know that the things that we are doing are making a positive difference.
  
Donate or
Become a Member Today
  
 Renew your membership and help us continue all of these great programs.
February
Native Plant of the Month: 
Cornus sericea or
Red Twig Dogwood 
 
Height: 6-9 feet
Spread: 7-10 feet
Full sun to part shade
Showy clusters of whitish flowers
Deciduous shrub; loses leaves in winter and show off its beautiful red stems.
1 gallon size for $9; a few 3 gallon size for $29

To Order: Contact  Dana@LRNow.org 
 or 757-962-5398



So Many Opportunities to Get Involved in 2016. 
What are you waiting for?