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"Beach Breezes, New Developments, and Sports Highlights: Your Virginia Beach Local Pulse"
Published 8 months, 2 weeks ago
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Good morning, this is Virginia Beach Local Pulse for Friday, August eighth. We wake up today to partly cloudy skies and some pretty gusty winds blowing in from the northeast. Temperatures are set to wander between the upper seventies and around eighty degrees. The wind is definitely making itself known, especially at the Oceanfront, where gusts could top thirty miles an hour. So if you’re planning an early stroll on the boardwalk or want to get out on the water, pack an extra layer and be prepared for choppy surf. With rain looking unlikely, tonight should clear off a bit with those breezes calming down, and the weekend ahead is looking sunny, warm, but with continued rough seas for swimmers and fishers, at least through Saturday.
In the news from City Hall, Virginia Beach leaders continue working closely with sister cities on regional transportation improvements. Mayor Bobby Dyer said this week that cooperation across Hampton Roads is much better than years past, pointing to the nearly six billion dollars in highway projects in the works, especially around the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel expansion. That sense of teamwork may pay off in new ways, as local businessman Coleman Ferguson is working to crowdsource funding for a major new NBA-ready arena right here in the city. It would give Virginia Beach its first major concert and sports venue, and could be a game changer for local jobs and nightlife.
For those looking to move or make a big change, the real estate market in our coastal neighborhoods remains competitive. Homes near the Oceanfront and Town Center average around five hundred thousand dollars, with active listings moving fast as families settle in before the school year. If you’re job hunting, local recruiters say hospitality and healthcare are adding around two hundred new positions this month, especially as hotels prepare for late summer visitor crowds.
The city is also bustling with new business openings. A handful of boutique shops just opened along Atlantic Avenue, and, just north of Laskin Road, a new healthy café opened its doors, promising local flavors and locally-sourced produce. Meanwhile, a longstanding surf shop near 19th Street is closing after thirty years, making way for a new mixed-use development project set to bring more retail and housing options to the Oceanfront corridor.
When it comes to local events, there’s no shortage of reasons to get outside. The tenth annual Virginia Beach Tattoo Festival begins today at the Convention Center, drawing artists and fans from across the country for a colorful weekend of live art and music. Don’t forget those free Oceanfront Concert Series shows every weekend at the stage on 24th Street. However, organizers of Saturday’s They Will Surf Again adaptive surf clinic have decided to cancel due to unsafe currents and strong winds. Organizers say the safety of participants must come first, but they’re hoping to reschedule in the coming weeks.
In school news, congratulations go out to Princess Anne High’s robotics team for earning top marks at the state summer expo, and to our local surf and soccer youth teams who both qualified for regional championships this week. It’s shaping up to be a strong start for fall sports.
Turning to public safety, local police responded last night to a burglary on General Booth Boulevard that resulted in a quick arrest. No one was hurt, and officials remind us to keep doors and windows locked, particularly with the uptick in summer break-ins. The department also reported an increase in traffic stops along Shore Drive as officers aim to keep speeds down while families visit the beach.
Before we wrap up, here’s a community moment. Chuck, a cheerful beagle from Rebecca’s family in Virginia Beach, was featured today as our pet of the day. Chuck might not have the famous Snoopy spots, but he’s won over his whole neighborhood with his laid-back strolls along Redmill
In the news from City Hall, Virginia Beach leaders continue working closely with sister cities on regional transportation improvements. Mayor Bobby Dyer said this week that cooperation across Hampton Roads is much better than years past, pointing to the nearly six billion dollars in highway projects in the works, especially around the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel expansion. That sense of teamwork may pay off in new ways, as local businessman Coleman Ferguson is working to crowdsource funding for a major new NBA-ready arena right here in the city. It would give Virginia Beach its first major concert and sports venue, and could be a game changer for local jobs and nightlife.
For those looking to move or make a big change, the real estate market in our coastal neighborhoods remains competitive. Homes near the Oceanfront and Town Center average around five hundred thousand dollars, with active listings moving fast as families settle in before the school year. If you’re job hunting, local recruiters say hospitality and healthcare are adding around two hundred new positions this month, especially as hotels prepare for late summer visitor crowds.
The city is also bustling with new business openings. A handful of boutique shops just opened along Atlantic Avenue, and, just north of Laskin Road, a new healthy café opened its doors, promising local flavors and locally-sourced produce. Meanwhile, a longstanding surf shop near 19th Street is closing after thirty years, making way for a new mixed-use development project set to bring more retail and housing options to the Oceanfront corridor.
When it comes to local events, there’s no shortage of reasons to get outside. The tenth annual Virginia Beach Tattoo Festival begins today at the Convention Center, drawing artists and fans from across the country for a colorful weekend of live art and music. Don’t forget those free Oceanfront Concert Series shows every weekend at the stage on 24th Street. However, organizers of Saturday’s They Will Surf Again adaptive surf clinic have decided to cancel due to unsafe currents and strong winds. Organizers say the safety of participants must come first, but they’re hoping to reschedule in the coming weeks.
In school news, congratulations go out to Princess Anne High’s robotics team for earning top marks at the state summer expo, and to our local surf and soccer youth teams who both qualified for regional championships this week. It’s shaping up to be a strong start for fall sports.
Turning to public safety, local police responded last night to a burglary on General Booth Boulevard that resulted in a quick arrest. No one was hurt, and officials remind us to keep doors and windows locked, particularly with the uptick in summer break-ins. The department also reported an increase in traffic stops along Shore Drive as officers aim to keep speeds down while families visit the beach.
Before we wrap up, here’s a community moment. Chuck, a cheerful beagle from Rebecca’s family in Virginia Beach, was featured today as our pet of the day. Chuck might not have the famous Snoopy spots, but he’s won over his whole neighborhood with his laid-back strolls along Redmill