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Cozy Christmas in VB: Weather, Shopping, & Community Spirit on Local Pulse
Published 4 months ago
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Good morning, this is Virginia Beach Local Pulse for Thursday, December twenty fifth, and we hope all our listeners are having a calm and cozy Christmas morning.
We start with the weather because it shapes everything we do today. According to the National Weather Service in Wakefield, we have mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers mainly this morning, and afternoon highs climbing into the upper fifties around the Oceanfront and Town Center. That means we can still get out for a walk along the boardwalk or at First Landing State Park later, but we keep the rain jacket handy. Marine forecasts from MarineWeather dot net show choppy conditions and brisk south winds, so if we are thinking about heading out on the bay or Rudee Inlet, we want to use extra caution. Looking toward the next couple of days, we cool back to the low fifties by the weekend with more seasonable, dry weather, which should help post holiday travel.
Around town, last minute holiday shopping fills Town Center, Lynnhaven Mall, and the Premium Outlets, as WAVY TV reports brisk but cautious spending with listeners watching prices closely. Many local retailers along Atlantic Avenue and at Hilltop say today caps a strong but inflation aware season, with some planning clearance events starting tomorrow.
From City Hall, council staff continue to prep for early January budget sessions that will focus on road maintenance along major corridors like Independence Boulevard and Shore Drive, and on stormwater upgrades in neighborhoods near the Lynnhaven River. Those decisions will affect how often we see construction cones on our commute and how well our streets handle heavy winter rain.
On the water quality front, the Virginia Department of Health recently reopened a portion of Broad Bay to shellfish harvesting after earlier sewage issues were resolved, which is welcome news for local watermen and seafood lovers from Great Neck Road to Shore Drive.
In business and culture, the big entertainment headline is the all new Virginia Beach Funny Bone at Town Center, opening January second in a larger space with a new showroom and preshow bar. WTKR’s Coast Live got a first look and notes that national acts are already booked through January, adding another nightlife anchor alongside the Sandler Center.
On the housing front, local realtors report that the median single family home price in Virginia Beach now sits around four hundred thousand dollars, with inventory still tight in neighborhoods like Kempsville and Red Mill, while rental demand remains strong near the Oceanfront and around Virginia Wesleyan. Job postings in Hampton Roads show a steady market, with health care, defense support, and hospitality leading the way and several hotels at the Oceanfront hiring for winter and spring staff.
In schools, several high school bands and choirs take part in holiday performances this week, with special recognition for students from Princess Anne and Cox High who recently brought home regional music honors, giving our community another reason to cheer.
Turning to public safety, Virginia Beach Police overnight report no major city wide incidents, but they do remind us to lock vehicles in driveways from Kempsville Road to General Booth Boulevard, as holiday thefts from unlocked cars remain the most common crime this week. Officers also ask that we drive slowly near churches and shopping centers this morning as people head to services and family gatherings.
For a feel good moment, a group of volunteers with local churches gathered near the Oceanfront yesterday to serve warm meals and hand out coats along Pacific Avenue, making sure our neighbors without housing feel seen and supported on Christmas.
We thank you for tuning in and spending part of your morning with us, and we invite you to subscribe so we can stay connected every day. This has been Virginia Bea
We start with the weather because it shapes everything we do today. According to the National Weather Service in Wakefield, we have mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers mainly this morning, and afternoon highs climbing into the upper fifties around the Oceanfront and Town Center. That means we can still get out for a walk along the boardwalk or at First Landing State Park later, but we keep the rain jacket handy. Marine forecasts from MarineWeather dot net show choppy conditions and brisk south winds, so if we are thinking about heading out on the bay or Rudee Inlet, we want to use extra caution. Looking toward the next couple of days, we cool back to the low fifties by the weekend with more seasonable, dry weather, which should help post holiday travel.
Around town, last minute holiday shopping fills Town Center, Lynnhaven Mall, and the Premium Outlets, as WAVY TV reports brisk but cautious spending with listeners watching prices closely. Many local retailers along Atlantic Avenue and at Hilltop say today caps a strong but inflation aware season, with some planning clearance events starting tomorrow.
From City Hall, council staff continue to prep for early January budget sessions that will focus on road maintenance along major corridors like Independence Boulevard and Shore Drive, and on stormwater upgrades in neighborhoods near the Lynnhaven River. Those decisions will affect how often we see construction cones on our commute and how well our streets handle heavy winter rain.
On the water quality front, the Virginia Department of Health recently reopened a portion of Broad Bay to shellfish harvesting after earlier sewage issues were resolved, which is welcome news for local watermen and seafood lovers from Great Neck Road to Shore Drive.
In business and culture, the big entertainment headline is the all new Virginia Beach Funny Bone at Town Center, opening January second in a larger space with a new showroom and preshow bar. WTKR’s Coast Live got a first look and notes that national acts are already booked through January, adding another nightlife anchor alongside the Sandler Center.
On the housing front, local realtors report that the median single family home price in Virginia Beach now sits around four hundred thousand dollars, with inventory still tight in neighborhoods like Kempsville and Red Mill, while rental demand remains strong near the Oceanfront and around Virginia Wesleyan. Job postings in Hampton Roads show a steady market, with health care, defense support, and hospitality leading the way and several hotels at the Oceanfront hiring for winter and spring staff.
In schools, several high school bands and choirs take part in holiday performances this week, with special recognition for students from Princess Anne and Cox High who recently brought home regional music honors, giving our community another reason to cheer.
Turning to public safety, Virginia Beach Police overnight report no major city wide incidents, but they do remind us to lock vehicles in driveways from Kempsville Road to General Booth Boulevard, as holiday thefts from unlocked cars remain the most common crime this week. Officers also ask that we drive slowly near churches and shopping centers this morning as people head to services and family gatherings.
For a feel good moment, a group of volunteers with local churches gathered near the Oceanfront yesterday to serve warm meals and hand out coats along Pacific Avenue, making sure our neighbors without housing feel seen and supported on Christmas.
We thank you for tuning in and spending part of your morning with us, and we invite you to subscribe so we can stay connected every day. This has been Virginia Bea