The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is holding their semi-annual Military Job Fair on Thursday, October 21 from 9am to 2pm at the Holiday Inn Hampton Hotel & Conference Center in Hampton. The fair is open to active-duty and retired military members, reservists, DOD civilians as well as military dependents. For more information check out the VPCC website www.vpcc.org.
Precipitation deficits and above-average temperatures have resulted in the emergence of drought impacts across much of the Commonwealth. In response to existing conditions and the potential for the situation to intensify quickly, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a statewide drought watch.
A drought watch is intended to increase awareness of climatic conditions that are likely to precede a significant drought event and to facilitate preparation for a drought. Despite recent rain in portions of the Commonwealth, the potential exists for drought impacts to intensify if hot, dry conditions redevelop. DEQ recommends planning for that possibility as Virginia heads into the statistically driest months of the year.
The Virginia Drought Assessment and Response Plan specifies four indicators that are used to evaluate the severity of a drought: precipitation deficits, stream flow, ground water levels and reservoir levels. Stream flows in all areas of the Commonwealth, with the exception of Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley, are at levels that indicate a drought watch or more severe drought status. Ground water levels in western and south central Virginia indicate a drought watch status, and levels in much of the remainder of the state are close to drought watch status.
The primary factors contributing to the declaration of a statewide drought watch are:
• Approximately 86 percent of the Commonwealth is experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions as defined by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
• Most of Virginia has experienced below normal precipitation in the last 60 days, and some areas have received less than 50 percent of the average precipitation. Short-term weather forecasts do not indicate a high probability of widespread, significant precipitation events that will erase these deficits.
• The majority of stream monitoring locations across Virginia are recording stream flows below normal ranges (less than the 25th percentile). The portions of the state with the lowest flows are southeast and central Virginia, where stream flows are consistent with moderate to severe hydrologic drought conditions.
• Agricultural interests statewide are seeing impacts from the dry conditions. Impacts include poor hay harvests, poor grazing conditions resulting in the use of hay reserves, and indications of stress to crops including corn.
• Observations during the last few weeks indicate that wildfire occurrence, rates of spread and fire intensity are much greater than would normally be expected during this time of the year. Twenty Virginia localities had issued burning bans as of July 12.
• There are no widespread reports of drought conditions affecting public water supplies.
• Levels of large reservoirs such as Lake Moomaw, Smith Mountain Lake, Kerr Reservoir and Philpott Reservoir have been slowly declining since June.
Through the drought watch declaration, the Commonwealth is encouraging localities, public water suppliers and self-supplied water users to voluntarily take these steps to help protect current water supplies:
• Minimize nonessential water use.
• Review existing or develop new local water conservation and drought contingency plans and take conservation actions consistent with those plans.
• Include water conservation information on local websites and distribute water conservation information as broadly as possible.
• Continue monitoring the condition of public waterworks and self-supplied water systems in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health.
• Impose water use restrictions when consistent with local water supply conditions.
• Aggressively pursue leak detection and repair programs.
The state and local governments are closely monitoring conditions across the Commonwealth, and revisions to the drought stage will be made as conditions warrant. Updated information on the current drought status and water conservation tips are available on the DEQ website at www.deq.virginia.gov.
source: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
The 48th Annual Ocean View Art Show will be held October 10-11, 2010 at Ocean View Park in Norfolk. Organizers hope to attract a wide range artists from all over the Mid-Atlantic area.
The show will feature all types of art, all created by the participating Artists. There will be painters, sculptors, jewelry makers, photographers, wood carvers, potters, and more. Food vendors will be on hand providing tasty treats and soothing beverages.
Show times are from 10 AM to 5 PM both Saturday and Sunday, with time for the artists to set up on Friday afternoon.
Chesapeake Bay Art Association, Inc. (CBAA) is the sponsor of this annual event. The Ocean View Art Show is put on entirely by the member artists of the area.
For more information on the Ocean View Art Show, visit www.oceanviewartshow.com
Spring is a good time to visit local farmer’s markets. After a long winter, fresh vegetables are finally available, with several favorite types of produce ready.
Virginia Spring produce includes several types of spring vegetables such as asparagus, peas, cabbage, broccoli, kale, turnip greens, collards and other items.
Other vegetable crops such as sweet potatoes, white potatoes, turnips and others have been stored over the winter and are still available in spring. Some of these foods actually improve in flavor over the winter and are a good choice to accompany vegetables of the new season.
Spring time farmer’s markets also have garden plants for the upcoming season. Independent growers usually offer high quality plants including tomatoes, peppers, squash, onions, and other vegetables. Herbs for spring plantings include chives, parsley, cilantro, sage, thyme, oregano and more. Farmer’s market vendors also sell flowers, shrubs and vines to beautify homes and yards.
Vendors offer an excellent selection of foods at many markets. These can include honey, cheeses, eggs, poultry, preserves, buns, bread, pies, candy, cookies and other foods.
Nearly all of these products are produced locally and contain few or no chemicals. Some products fit the definition of organic or natural foods and most come from sustainable sources.
While a little out of the way, a spring time visit to a farmers market can be a great way to find locally grown, healthy fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, seafood, dairy products, baked items and other goods.
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The Chesapeake Bay Art Association is pleased to announce their 47th Annual Spring Art Show, running from April 30 through May 16, 2010.
The “Gallery at East Beach”, 9559 Shore Drive, Norfolk, VA, will be the location for the show. Each year at their Spring Show, the Art Association awards The John B. Tenney Memorial Scholarship to a high school student that has been accepted into a college Art Studies program.
CBAA Charter Member John B. Tenney began the fund raising by donating one of his paintings for an auction in the early 1960s. After his death in 1989, the organization renamed the fund The John B. Tenney Memorial Scholarship, in his honor.
Proceeds from the Association’s Fall Outdoor Show, The Ocean View Art Show, go towards the scholarship fund, along with proceeds from other events throughout the year. 2009 saw $1500 in scholarships awarded.
All of the fine artwork in the Spring Show will be by members of the Chesapeake Bay Art Association. The work will be on display, and for sale, at the gallery beginning May 1. Hours at the Gallery are 10 AM to 3 PM, Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 3 PM on Sunday.
The Gallery at East Beach, located in the heart of East Ocean View, is among the pioneering businesses that have helped to re-establish this long neglected but historic section of the south Hampton Roads community. For more information on the Gallery, check out their website at http://www.galleryateastbeach.com/
In 1961 a group of artists living in Ocean View and Willoughby got together and formed the Chesapeake Bar Art Association. Their first outdoor Art Show was organized shortly after that, and has been going strong every year since then. This year’s Ocean View Art Show (the 48th Annual) will be held October 9 & 10, 2010, at the Ocean View Beach Park.
For more information on the Chesapeake Bay Art Association, check out their website: http://www.chesapeakebayartassociation.com.
Information on the Ocean View Art Show can be found on the website: http://www.oceanviewartshow.com
