Meeting Minutes - September 30, 2026
Social – Cash Bar (6:30pm)
Call to Order (7:01pm)
Welcome by President, Blake Roberson.
President welcomed city council member and Vice Mayor, Rosemary Wilson.
Mrs. Wilson thanked members for attending.
Mrs. Wilson commented on the success of the Winston Salem Project, the role the Civic League played in establishing the project as a city priority, and her appreciation for the neighborhood’s patience during this project.
Member Comment: the bike path seems narrower than expected.
President and Vice President clarified that the initial plans did not change from plans to implementation.
President also clarified that the city only had a certain amount of space to work with.
Member Comment: the wooden part of the bike path is due for replacement.
President asked if the member would send that to the civic league and we will follow up with the city.
Mrs. Wilson also updated the Civic League that there will be 99 new parking spaces along Atlantic Avenue next year.
Mrs. Wilson asked if the members had applied for a VB parking pass currently offered by the city to local residents.
Member Comment: the process for signing up for this pass is complicated and difficult.
Vice President: will follow up with an email explaining the process in detail.
President also updated Civic League on a recent city council decision to change the Virginia Beach Fire Department’s schedule to a 4-shift schedule to reduce the total weekly and monthly hours firefighters are required to spend in active work.
Old Business:
Approve meeting minutes from March 2026.
Minutes approved.
Recap since our last meeting:
Welcome home committee
We welcomed CDR Kevin Swift this Spring. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped to set up flags.
Please let the civic league board know when you have a military member returning home from an extended leave so we can line the streets with flags for their return.
Shadowlawn Yard Sale
20 homes registered.
Kids Market was a huge success and will be repeated next year.
Tour de Shadowlawn – will return hopefully in 2027
4th of July Shirts - great succcess! We sold over 100 adult and youth shirts.
Spring Fling - President thanked Big Sam's for hosting and donating food, in addition to Shadowlawn Eats, Gringo's, Rudees, and Pizza Chapel for donating food as well.
Adopt A Muster - President thanked Il Giardino's, Chix, Chicho's, Taste, and the Sawyer family for their donations.
Booze Cruise - another great success. Lower attendance was noted this year for this event so we may take a year off and bring it back in 2028.
Shadowlawn Surf Club – thank you to our flagship sponsor for Shadowlawn Surf Club, Daniel Parrish and the Parrish Real Estate team.
Surf Club was a huge hit, every week approximately 100 kids in attendance.
VB Surf Sessions offered free surfboard rentals and instructors.
Parrish Real Estate team was able to sponsor free t-shirts for all the kids.
National Night Out
Shadowlawn Scholarship – Scholarship Committee did an excellent job establishing the scholarship process. We will get it out this year and probably push it out in December.
New Business:
Membership Update, 315 current members. President established a goal to reach 25% of the neighborhood = 400 members.
Budget Update: $25k in bank account, increase of $5k due to memberships and merch sales. Booze Cruise was decreased in cost by approximately 50%.
Winston Salem Project
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Civic League’s plan was to host a large event on this date hosted at Big Sam’s but we were informed that Sam’s could likely not staff a large event on this date.
New Shadowlawn Sign Second sign will be on the corner of Indian and Norfolk Ave. or just west of that in a clear space of trees before Rudee Ave.
Second sign will be on the corner of Indian and Norfolk Ave. or just west of that in a clear space of trees before Rudee Ave.
Shadowlawn Christmas Party
Shadowlawn Eats will host the party!
Scheduled for Thursday, December 17th
Adults only.
Appetizers will be provided by the civic league.
Committee Heads
Political Action Committee Head – we need individuals who are aware and involved in city council and local government activities so that we can inform our members about events and issues that impact Shadowlawn.
Beautification Committee Head – landscaping and planting flowers around our new Shadowlawn neighborhood signs.
Volunteer Committee Head – send out emails prior to meetings and events to get the necessary volunteers for each event.
Social Committee Head – we need a group of volunteers to help with these events.
Ice Cream Social
Movie Nights
Shadowfest
Christmas Party
Spring Fling
Other events
Local Restaurant Updates
Kelly’s has a 7-year lease on the current Water Table building.
Pizza Pub is taking over Pizza Chapel.
Rockafeller’s is TBD.
Election Day is November 3rd.
Meeting Location for future civic league meetings – TBD.
Member Questions:
Member asked about the timeline on the Rudee Loop Project.
Mrs. Wilson answered that the rest of the design will be done shortly, and on October 20th they will have a presentation to accrue additional funds for the park at the city council meeting.
Bruce Smith’s property, the council agreed to pay $3M for his property which will provide additional space for the park.
Member asked if the new space was for the parking garage.
Mrs. Wilson answered that there is no parking garage in the current plans.
Mrs. Wilson clarified that the design has to be finished and then the city will put out bids for the development.
Member asked about getting copies of the City Proclamation.
Vice President will follow up with the city to inquire about getting copies.
Member asked about Shadowfest.
President updated civic league members with details on the event, which will also be sent out soon via email to the email list.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
· 10/3/2026: Winston Salem Ribbon Cutting
· 10/24/2026: Shadowfest
· 12/1/2026: Shadowlawn Shinedown
· 12/2/2026: Next meeting
· 12/17/2026: Christmas Party
Adjourn/Social (8:00pm)
We’d like to give a HUGE THANK YOU to The Water Table for hosting us this evening.
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