Wards Corner Civic League

Norfolk City Hall will open to the public by appointment only on November 12.  To protect the health and safety of city employees and the public, walk-ins will not be permitted.  Appointments must be made in advance to allow city employees time to clean and sanitize areas between visits.  

Virtual and phone meetings will remain the preferred method to meet the needs of residents. In-person appointments will be reserved for requests that cannot be handled over the phone, email or virtually. 

To make an appointment, visitors should contact a specific department in advance.  Contact information for city departments is located on the website, www.norfolk.gov.

DMV Select located in City Hall is not open.  Visit the DMV website to schedule an appointment at a full-service DMV location. 

Only the person or persons who need to attend the appointment should come to City Hall.  The following COVID-19 procedures are in place for all visitors:

• The public must enter through the doors on the Union Street side of the building and check in with security
• Face coverings are required, and physical distancing must be maintained
• The guard will administer a short COVID-19 health questionnaire
• Visitors will wait in a clean and sanitized waiting area until appointment
• The public must exit through the doors on the Civic Plaza side of the building

The City continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 environment and work in partnership with the Norfolk Health Department regarding city operations.   Visit www.norfolk.gov for COVID-19 related information and updates.

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Congratulations to the residents of 420 Maycox, the winners of this year’s neighborhood Halloween decorating contest! They took home our best-in-show prize by impressing our judges in a tight battle with the residents across the street at 423 Maycox, who garnered runner-up accolades. Both residences will receive gift cards to Guads @ Granby.

Thank you to everyone who decorated this year (especially this year). We loved seeing all of the creative and spooky displays and look forward to more next Halloween!

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This project will replace the existing spans of wire traffic signals with new mast arms and pedestrian accommodations. The scope of work includes:

• Updating obsolete infrastructure
• Installing crosswalks, sidewalks, and curb ramps
• Upgrading pedestrian accommodations
• Modifying pavement markings
• Improving traffic operations

Lane closures and sidewalk closures will be required; at least one lane
in each direction will be open at all times.

Construction Start: November 2020
Anticipated Construction Completion: August 2021

More details are provided in this flyer:

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Storm water drainage improvements are happening just to the south of our neighborhood, next to Granby Elementary. See the linked flyer for full details.

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Looking for a fun and safe outdoor Halloween experience?  Grab the family, put on your favorite costume and have a scary good time at the Drive Thru Trunk or Treat at Lake Taylor High School on October 24th at 5:30 p.m. Zombies are welcome! 

Enjoy fun displays, first responder’s demo, live radio broadcast and more! Registration per vehicle is required. Everyone must remain in the vehicle and adhere to COVID-19 safety precautions. Walk-ups will not be permitted. Visit NorfolkTrunkorTreat.eventbrite.com to register today. #NorfolkVA

Additional ways you can participate in trunk or treat this year:

• Candy donations for the Trunk or Treat are being accepted at the 2^nd Precinct, 2500 N. Military Highway. Please make sure that you state it is for trunk or treat.
• If your civic league or organization would like to decorate a car for the event, use the link below to register. You will not be handing out candy or be in contact with participants. They will pass decorated cars safely in their vehicles.
  https://www.norfolk.gov/FormCenter/Recreation-Parks-Open-Space-20/Drive-Thru-Trunk-or-Treat-Exhibitor-Appl-547

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This year, Halloween will look different due to the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.  Events that involve large gatherings of individuals (e.g. large Halloween parties, haunted houses, etc) can increase the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and are not recommended. The more closely people interact with others and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.  The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to the virus.  This means choosing not to participate in standard Halloween activities during the pandemic.  Below are some safe, alternative ways to participate in Halloween.

Only prepare goodie bags if you are COVID-19 negative. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags. Hand sanitizer should be used when soap and water is not available.

Trick-or-treating involves increased risk for transmitting COVID-19, due to the potential for close proximity to many people and the difficulty for children trick-or-treaters to follow mask use and social distancing recommendations. If you do choose to trick-or-treat, it is important to protect yourself using the following recommendations:

• If you have COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past ten days, or have been in contact with someone with COVID in the past 14 days, follow VDH guidance to stay home and away from others. If you are self-isolating or self-quarantining, do not participate in trick-or-treating this year, and look for other virtual options to celebrate.
• Maintain at least six six feet of distance between yourself and others who do not live in your household at all times.
• Wash your hands before going trick-or-treating or handing out candy. Hand sanitizer should be used while trick-or-treating or handing out candy when soap and water are not available.
• Wear a cloth mask. Halloween masks may not fit snugly against the face and may not cover the nose and mouth. Halloween masks with gaps and holes do not protect against inhaling respiratory droplets from other people. Cloth masks should be worn under costume masks to keep a close fit over your nose and mouth. Ensure that any cloth mask worn under a costume mask does not inhibit the ability to breathe easily.
• If you hand out candy, consider setting up an area outside, like a folding table or chairs, to setout candy. Space out the placement of treats so that multiple people do not have to reach into the same bowl or find contactless ways to deliver treats, like a candy chute that is more than six feet long. For trunk-or-treating, create distance between cars by parking in every other space.

For additional recommendations, visit the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) website or Virginia Department of Health Guidance for Halloween Events.

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This is a notification about an upcoming temporary traffic pattern change taking place as part of the Granby Street Bridge Rehabilitation project. Starting the week of October 12 until spring 2021, the right northbound lane on the bridge will be closed to facilitate bridge repairs. The following conditions can be expected until spring 2021:

• Concrete barriers will separate northbound bridge traffic from the work zone in the right lane.
• Two lanes of traffic will remain open in each direction on Granby Street.
• The speed limit will be temporarily reduced to 25 MPH on northbound Granby Street, between 40th Street and Willow Wood Drive.
• The sidewalk on the east side of the bridge will be closed temporarily. The sidewalk on the west side of the bridge will remain open.
• The bike lane on the southbound side of the bridge will remain open.
• The fishing pier will be closed temporarily.

Starting on Tuesday, October 13 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., northbound Granby Street will be reduced temporarily to a single lane of traffic for up to three days. During these timeframes, the right northbound lane will be closed north of 41st Street, and the two right northbound lanes on the bridge will be closed. These lane closures will allow the contractor to set the concrete barriers for the extended closure of the right lane on the bridge. Business and residential entrances will be maintained during the lane closures.

Full closure of the northbound side of the bridge is anticipated in spring of 2021. The full closure of the southbound side of the bridge is not anticipated until 2022. Future updates will be announced on message boards along Granby Street, Norfolk City News Flashes, Nextdoor.com, and project update emails. For more information, visit www.norfolk.gov/granbybridge. Anyone wishing to join the project update email list can send a request to olga.beltsar@norfolk.gov.

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Fall is almost here, and that means flu season isn’t far behind. Bon Secours is taking out the hassle to help keep the community healthy with our FREE drive-thru flu shot clinics. Anyone can drive up, get their shot and go on about their day without ever leaving the car. See attached flyer with all the details on the four clinics which will be held on October 3^rd from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. while supplies last.

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