Policy on the #NNK

The Coastal Resilience Technical Advisory Committee is meeting Tuesday, June 27, 9:30-11:30 am in person and virtually. The public is invited to attend; registration is required to attend online . Should a member of the public wish to make a comment during the public comment period, sign up in the chat. The agenda (PDF) includes reports from the Department of Conservation and Recreation on the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan Phase II, such as the Resilience Web Explorer; updates on the resilience planning website and other topics; and an update on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Resilience Improvement Plan (RIP) is progressing. More info about the meeting .

The RAM Free Clinic in Westmoreland County takes place September 16 and 17 at Westmoreland High School (16762 Kings Hwy, Montross). The clinic is free. According to RAM , The patient parking lot will open no later than 11:59 p.m. (midnight local time) on Friday night, Sept. 15, and remain open. As patients arrive at the parking lot, they will be provided with additional information regarding clinic opening processes and next steps. Clinic doors typically open at 6 a.m. This clinic is in collaboration with the Rappahannock Community College and the Virginia Area Health Education Center (AHEC) – Rappahannock Region. Patients should be prepared with their own food, water, medicines, and clothing when arriving early. Bathrooms will be provided. Free dental, vision, and medical services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to time constraints, be prepared to choose between DENTAL and VISION services. Medical services are offered to every patient attending the cl...

On Tuesday, June 20, the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors held a work session on the FY 2024 budget (session on YouTube). The supes started the session with schools. But not the budget, but outstanding questions the supervisors had regarding accounting practices, reimbursements, and the like. My take: Important, yes. Budget-related, no. Some have described the first hour as an extraordinary disappointment, a waste of time for a budget work session . An hour in, the supes discussed the budget, focusing on the list of potential cuts , shown below. Tune in to the June 22, 5:00 pm session . Information may be posted on BoardDocs before the meeting.

The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors has two work sessions on the FY 2024 budget coming up: Tuesday, June 20 at 5:30 pm and Thursday, June 22 at 5:00 pm . The public may attend in person or virtually. The physical location of the events is at the new courthouse (220 Judicial Pl, Heathsville). To have at your fingertips while watching the work session: FY24 Draft Budget (Updated May 17, 2023, reflects 14-cent tax increase) (1 MB) .

Opioid settlement payouts to localities made public for first time provides a useful update of the status of opioid settlements for the state, counties, and cities/towns. Beyond linking to the January report summarizing funding by locality, the piece explains the process associated with documenting the settlements so far as well as the challenges jurisdictions face related to opioid use and death. Summary of Opioid Funds to Virginia Localities as of Jan 2023 NNK062023 contains the NNK data from Commonwealth of Virginia Estimated Opioid Settlement Fund Distributions By County and City FY2022 through FY2039 .

NOAA’s 2023 hurricane season prediction On May 25, NOAA issued its prediction for the 2023 hurricane season. Read NOAA predicts a near-normal 2023 Atlantic hurricane season and watch the announcement, below. Specifically, Climate Prediction Center forecasters predict a 40% chance of a near-normal season, a 30% chance of an above-normal season and a 30% chance of a below-normal season. NOAA is forecasting a range of 12 to 17 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 5 to 9 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 1 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA has a 70% confidence in these ranges. At the same time, NOAA announced new tools and/or upgrades for hurricane analysis and forecasting which will benefit Americans. These include: * The National Hurricane Center’s Tropical Weather Outlook graphic, which shows tropical cyclone formation potential, has expanded the forecast range from five to seve...

The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors has scheduled two additional work sessions on the FY 2024 budget: Thursday, June 15 and Thursday, June 22 at 5:00 pm. The public may attend in person or virtually. The physical location of the events is at the new courthouse (220 Judicial Pl, Heathsville). Jean Nelson, CEO of the Northern Neck-Middlesex Free Health Clinic is slated to make a presentation at the June 15 budget work session. ( See the June 15 work session agenda ).

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) has opened a 14 day public comment period starting June 12 and ending June 26 on striped bass, the blue crab fishery, and crab dredging. Comments are accepted online , via email, and in person at the June 27 public hearing. Per the June 27 meeting notice , In accordance with Section 28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on the proposed amendments to these regulations will be held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 380 Fenwick Road, Bldg. 96, Fort Monroe, Virginia. Written public comments on the Fisheries Management Division proposals or on fisheries items not on the agenda must be provided by 12:00 p.m., Monday, June 26, 2023, to Patrick Geer, VMRC Fisheries Management Division, 380 Fenwick Road, Bldg. 96, Fort Monroe, Virginia 23651, or sent by email to fisheries@mrc.virginia.gov with the subject heading “Commission Comments”. The Commission may review Fisheries Managem...

The Board of Supervisors will head back to the table to modify the proposed FY 2024 budget . FY 2024 starts July 1, 2023. According to the county administrator’s office, the intention is for the supes to schedule at least one more budget work session before the end of the month. The meeting date and time would be determined at the Thursday, June 8 regular BOS meeting.

The /r/Virginia post What’s the best nonfiction book about Virginia? got me thinking about the best books about the Northern Neck. Have a suggestion? Leave a comment on FB or Insta. At some point in the future I'll share your suggestions here.

For three days starting tomorrow, Friday, June 2, you can fish without a license in fresh water and salt water. No fishing license of any kind will be required for recreational rod and reel fishing but all fishing regulations including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions, will remain in effect. VMRC, which announced Fish On! in a press release, encourages anglers 15 and younger to participate in the Virginia Junior Angler Awards Program . VMRC also shared the links to saltwater limits and regulations and 2023 Freshwater Fishing and Boating Regulations . Have questions? Contact Zach Widgeon, Zachary.widgeon@mrc.virginia.gov or (757) 709-8737. Child fishing image by Lorri Lang from Pixabay