DIVIDING CREEK ASSOCIATION

Dividing Creek Association

P.O. Box 1234

Kilmarnock, VA 22482

www.dividing-creek-association.com

NEWSLETTER

May 2011

Business Meeting:  The Board of Directors conducted a business meeting on March 26, 2011.  The Agenda included following items: dates for Spring Picnic and Fall Oyster Roast, menus for these events, road clean-up, who does what for all the above, membership notifications, membership drive, etc., newspaper notices, finances and Water Quality Monitoring financing.

DCA Officers:  DCA officers are President Jesse Dize; Vice President Nan Flynn; Treasurer Will Garvey; Secretary Bette Gruben; Members at Large Don Bowser, Ben Burton, Helen Kelley, Jane Oldham, Judy Gutowski, and Thomas Tomlin (Northumberland County Liaison).

DCA Committees:  The DCA committee members are: Hospitality Val Robinson; Membership Ernie Flynn; Road Clean up Rea Hinch; Nominating Skip Kramb, Helen Kelley, and Rea Hinch; Picnic Coordination Jesse Dize; Water Quality Monitoring Skip Kramb, Helen Kelley, and Rea Hinch; Publicity Sheila Dize; Oyster Roast Jesse Dize; and Web Site Skip Kramb.

DCA Water Quality Monitoring Organization:  Team #1 - George McMagon (Team Leader), Ran Marshall, Bill Whitlney (Data Entry Technician), Armistead Welford; Team #2 - Rea Hinch (Team Leader), Will Garvey; Team #3 - Skip Kramb (Team Leader, Quality Assurance officer, and Data Entry Technician), John Kelley, Barry Anderson, and Paul Rockefeller; Team #4 - Nan Flynn (Team leader); Grants and Administration Advisor – Helen Kelley.

Annual Dues:  Annual dues are $30 per family and $15 for singles if paid before June 1.  After June 1, dues increase to $35 per family and $17.50 for singles.  Dues may be paid on site at DCA events.

Area Road Cleanup:  Each spring and fall, DCA members are encouraged to come out and help keep our adopted neighborhood roads (Kent Point, Prentice Creek and Ditchley Roads) looking clean and their beautiful best.  This twice-yearly community service has become an association tradition and is a great way to get out with our neighbors and do a good turn for the entire Dividing Creek Community.  Road cleanup will be help on the same days as the Spring Picnic (June 18) and Fall Oyster Roast (October 22).  Both trash pick-ups will kick-off at 9:00 AM from the intersection of Prentice Creek Road and Prentice Point Road were VDOT orange trash bags, bug spray, coffee, and donuts will be available.  Please plan on being there, we need all the help we can get for this community project.

THE BLUFF POINT PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (BPPUD):  The DCA was initially established to protest the development of Hughlett Point and everyone joining the DCA had that point of view.  Such is not the case with the BPPUD.  The results of an informal survey taken at last year’s picnic had a mixed reaction - some were opposed, some were for, and some wanted more information before forming an opinion.  The DCA Board itself has mixed feelings about the BPPUD.  For the DCA Board to take a position on the BPPUD would be akin to supporting a political candidate.  In addition, the situation with the BPPUD is fluid and on going and as such, it would be impossible for members to be kept abreast of events with a yearly newsletter.  However, the DCA Board intends to keep the members informed about the BPPUD through the DCA website.  For those who are concerned or curious about the latest happenings concerning the BPPUD, go to www.dividing-creek-association.com and click on Getting Involved.  You will also find links to other websites that may have additional information on the BPPUD.

Water Quality:  For several years a group of twelve DCA Members have been conducting Citizen Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring (CVWQM) activities on Dividing, Prentice, and Jarvis Creeks with the goal of helping in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.  Last year, the group added Barnes and Henry’s Creeks to the list.  These volunteers operate under the auspices of and are certified by the Common-wealth of Virginia, Department of Environmental Quality.  The DCA Monitoring Group collects physical and biological water samples using the most advanced equipment available on our limited budget.  To promote volunteer monitoring activities, VA-DEQ provides the CVWQM group an annual grant to offset material cost.  In 2010 VA-DEQ provided the DCA Monitors a $1500 grant, which was used to transition from analog sampling equipment to more accurate and up to date Digital Monitoring Equipment.  This new equipment enabled the group to monitor additional locations with greater accuracy than was previously attainable.  While the new 2010 Equipment improved the monitoring quality, it brought to bare the need for even more accurate and sophisticated equipment.  This year VA-DEQ recognized the DCA Group’s past performance and dedication by awarding the DCA a $4000 grant to purchase two of the latest Dissolved Oxygen/pH Monitoring Instruments available on the nonprofessional market.

The quality of work by the DCA Volunteers established the standard that is now used by VA-DEQ to monitor CVWQM personnel across the state.  Everyone in the Dividing Creek Association can be proud of the group representing DCA across the entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  Anyone interested in what Water Quality Monitoring is about or would consider joining this all-volunteer group, please come to the demonstration at the picnic and observe what we are doing.

2011 Spring Picnic and Area Road Clean-Up:  The Spring Picnic is scheduled for Saturday,

June 18 (incase of rain, Sunday June 19).  It will again take place at the home of Virginia Kelley, 415 Kent Cove Road.  The picnic will start at 4:00 PM and is open to all dues paying members and guests; however, there is a $20.00 charge per guest.  Please bring a folding chair or blanket to sit on.  Based on last name, members are requested to bring the following in a quantity sufficient to amply serve several people in addition to your own family/guests: A - F side dishes, G – M desserts, and N – Z appetizers.  

This year, there will be something new.  DCA will provide barbecued pork and ¼ chickens cooked on site by the Dividing Creek Gang.  We need volunteers to join the “Gang” and help with the cooking and chopping.  Cooking will start at 09:00 AM and the chopping around 02:00 PM.  Buns, coleslaw, beverages, and ice will also be provided

In the information for members area, there will be demonstration the whys, how-to’s, and results of the DCA sponsored Water Quality Monitoring program, Tommy Tomlin will give an update on the BPPUD, and Helen and Jon Kelley will as have information on Virginia rules concerning education requirements and water craft operations, and.  For more information contact Helen Kelley at 436-0190.   This information is also available on the DCA website.

And don’t forget the Area Road Cleanup at nine o’clock.

2011 Oyster Roast and Area Road Clean-Up:  The Oyster Roast is scheduled for Saturday, October 22 (incase of rain, Sunday October 23).  It will take place at the home of Virginia Kelley, 415 Kent Cove Road.  The oyster roast will start at 4:00 pm and is open to all dues paying members. Guests are welcome; however there is a $20.00 charge per guest.  Based on last name, members are requested to bring the following in a quantity sufficient to amply serve several people in addition to your own family/guests: A – F appetizers, G - M side dishes s, and N - Z desert.

DCA will provide the oysters, clams, hot dogs, Brunswick stew, and cold beverages.  Please remember to bring your oyster knives and a folding chair or blanket to sit on.

And don’t forget the Area Road Cleanup at nine o’clock.