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Saturday Pulse: Trails, Trade, and Community Spirit in Virginia Beach
Published 11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Good morning, this is Virginia Beach Local Pulse for Saturday, May 10, 2025.
We start our day with the weather. After yesterday’s surprise hailstorm that rattled Shipley Court and parts of the city late in the afternoon, skies have cleared and we’re waking up to a warm, breezy Saturday. Expect highs in the upper seventies with a mix of sun and clouds. There’s no heavy rain in today’s forecast, so it’s a great day to head outdoors, whether you’re planning a stroll down the Boardwalk or a bike ride along our expanding trail network.
Speaking of trails, City Hall has been busy this week, marking May as Bike Month and celebrating new additions like the Foxfire Trail and Three Oaks Path. Council recently approved twenty-four million dollars for the next phase of the Virginia Beach Trail, making it even easier and safer for all of us to get around the city by foot or on two wheels. Next Thursday, May fifteenth, is Bike to Work Day, so expect to see more folks pedaling through neighborhoods and along Shore Drive.
In economic news, the State of the Port event at the Oceanfront brought together industry leaders to discuss how international tariffs are making waves in the shipping business. Despite talk of reduced port traffic due to higher tariffs on goods from China and the UK, the Port of Virginia remains the fastest-growing in America. Port officials say Coastal Virginia is on track to have the deepest shipping channel on the East Coast by year’s end. While there’s some anxiety about trade, local jobs at the port look stable for now, and city leaders are confident our region’s flexibility will keep our economy strong.
Turning to the beaches, the big replenishment project that’s been ongoing since winter just wrapped up along the Resort strip from 15th to 45th Street. The sand may look a bit different after quality checks delayed the project last month, but it’s now shoring up protection for the Oceanfront. Crews are shifting focus to Croatan Beach, which remains in greater need, and work there is set to finish before July Fourth. Meanwhile, parts of Croatan Beach will have limited access for safety.
On the city council agenda, there’s a special session scheduled for May thirteenth to finalize the new budget, and city leaders are also considering a November referendum that could reshape how we elect council members and the mayor. The outcome could change our local government for years to come, and community input has played a big role in these discussions.
In public safety, police made an arrest overnight, bringing closure in the tragic Harbinger Road shooting case. Our neighborhoods have pulled together and police credit vigilant residents for their help. Otherwise, crime has been quiet, with no major incidents reported citywide in the past twenty-four hours.
The local real estate market is steady, with home listings holding strong near recent highs and rental demand up as summer gets underway. Job-wise, hiring remains active, especially at the Oceanfront, with new restaurants and cafes opening on Atlantic Avenue and boardwalk streets. Look for sidewalk seating at favorites like Basil Pizza, La Dulce Vida, and Dough Boy’s Café as summer kicks off.
Congratulations to our Virginia Beach Mustangs and Charged Up Bulls youth football teams, honored by the mayor this week for recent victories and their sportsmanship on and off the field.
To wrap up, a feel-good story from Great Neck: After the storm yesterday, neighbors gathered to help clean up branches and check on each other, showing once again the spirit that makes our city special.
This has been Virginia Beach Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
We start our day with the weather. After yesterday’s surprise hailstorm that rattled Shipley Court and parts of the city late in the afternoon, skies have cleared and we’re waking up to a warm, breezy Saturday. Expect highs in the upper seventies with a mix of sun and clouds. There’s no heavy rain in today’s forecast, so it’s a great day to head outdoors, whether you’re planning a stroll down the Boardwalk or a bike ride along our expanding trail network.
Speaking of trails, City Hall has been busy this week, marking May as Bike Month and celebrating new additions like the Foxfire Trail and Three Oaks Path. Council recently approved twenty-four million dollars for the next phase of the Virginia Beach Trail, making it even easier and safer for all of us to get around the city by foot or on two wheels. Next Thursday, May fifteenth, is Bike to Work Day, so expect to see more folks pedaling through neighborhoods and along Shore Drive.
In economic news, the State of the Port event at the Oceanfront brought together industry leaders to discuss how international tariffs are making waves in the shipping business. Despite talk of reduced port traffic due to higher tariffs on goods from China and the UK, the Port of Virginia remains the fastest-growing in America. Port officials say Coastal Virginia is on track to have the deepest shipping channel on the East Coast by year’s end. While there’s some anxiety about trade, local jobs at the port look stable for now, and city leaders are confident our region’s flexibility will keep our economy strong.
Turning to the beaches, the big replenishment project that’s been ongoing since winter just wrapped up along the Resort strip from 15th to 45th Street. The sand may look a bit different after quality checks delayed the project last month, but it’s now shoring up protection for the Oceanfront. Crews are shifting focus to Croatan Beach, which remains in greater need, and work there is set to finish before July Fourth. Meanwhile, parts of Croatan Beach will have limited access for safety.
On the city council agenda, there’s a special session scheduled for May thirteenth to finalize the new budget, and city leaders are also considering a November referendum that could reshape how we elect council members and the mayor. The outcome could change our local government for years to come, and community input has played a big role in these discussions.
In public safety, police made an arrest overnight, bringing closure in the tragic Harbinger Road shooting case. Our neighborhoods have pulled together and police credit vigilant residents for their help. Otherwise, crime has been quiet, with no major incidents reported citywide in the past twenty-four hours.
The local real estate market is steady, with home listings holding strong near recent highs and rental demand up as summer gets underway. Job-wise, hiring remains active, especially at the Oceanfront, with new restaurants and cafes opening on Atlantic Avenue and boardwalk streets. Look for sidewalk seating at favorites like Basil Pizza, La Dulce Vida, and Dough Boy’s Café as summer kicks off.
Congratulations to our Virginia Beach Mustangs and Charged Up Bulls youth football teams, honored by the mayor this week for recent victories and their sportsmanship on and off the field.
To wrap up, a feel-good story from Great Neck: After the storm yesterday, neighbors gathered to help clean up branches and check on each other, showing once again the spirit that makes our city special.
This has been Virginia Beach Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI