Our condolences to his family, friends, and associates.

Too often, we take for granted the many things that enrich our lives. Here are a few of the people, places and things we appreciate, to help get you started on this Thanksgiving Day 2011.

We’re thankful for…

…The people and organizations working to save Pleasure House Point, Virginia Beach’s last undeveloped stretch of land on the Lynnhaven River

In addition it was their lead Hit in their Hits and Misses column for December 10th 2011:

HIT A public/private win

A call last year to preserve the last remaining swath of undeveloped property on the Lynnhaven River, called Pleasure House Point, has become a mission for Virginia Beach, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Lynnhaven River Now, among others.
This week, the Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion Virginia Power, gave the project $500,000, the first substantial gift from the private sector toward the acquisition.
Dominion, which has been rightly criticized for reaping excessive profits from its electricity rates, at least has put this money to a worthy cause.

“WILDLIFE” – Wildlife in wetlands, from frogs to fish to flamingoes, showcase the inhabitants of your favorite wetlands.

“LANDSCAPE” – Beautiful sunsets, an undulating salt marsh, a vista of stately mangroves, take it all in.

“PLANTS” – A close up of a flower or intricately woven lily-pad stalks, some of the most unique plants blur the lines between terrestrial and aquatic.

“TOURISTS” –Whether slipping silently by in a canoe, bird watching, fishing or photographing, show us how YOU enjoy your wetlands.

Follow the celebration in Facebook.

View the current competition slideshow at Flickr.

$1 million grant will add 82 acres to Virginia Beach’s park and open space system
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, partnering with the City of Virginia Beach and the Trust for Public Land, will use this grant and non-federal match of $540,000 to acquire and preserve one of Hampton Roads’ largest undeveloped waterfront properties.
The 82-acre property overlooks Lynnhaven Bay at Pleasure House Point and consists of estuarine emergent wetlands, tidal mudflats, near shore habitat and maritime forest.

And:

The focus of this site will be preservation of wetlands and maritime forest, passive recreation, nature observation, and non-motorized water access. The grant will not only help wildlife, including finfish, blue crab and shorebirds, but it will link more than 2,900 acres of permanently protected lands along Pleasure House Creek. The Virginia Conservation Lands Needs Assessment Vulnerability Model ranked this site as a hot spot for its ecological significance and threat for conversion to high-density residential development.

Emphasis ours!

Photo: Tim Solanic

The Trust for Public Land is more than halfway toward its goal of acquiring and preserving a 122-acre property in Virginia Beach after getting a $500,000 gift from the Dominion Foundation.

“Dominion Virginia Power has joined us in recognizing that conserving Pleasure House Point is a community priority, in addition to an ecological priority, and we are grateful,” said Lynda Frost, TPL senior project manager. “A dedicated group of community leaders have been working hard to raise private funds and the large amount of Dominion’s gift is a tremendous vote of confidence in their efforts as well as the value and benefits of the project. Dominion is leading by example to encourage other corporate donors to step forward.”

Pleasure House Point. Critical habitat for wildlife, you, & future generations.

Emphasis ours.

Thank you Dominion Foundation!

Update: In Biz Buzz at Pilotonline.com.

The Barrier Islands Center has received a $1 million Batten Endowment Challenge grant, earmarked for the Eastern Shore history museum’s endowment fund for education.

The gift came from a fund established by Jane Batten and her late husband, Frank Batten, former chairman of Landmark Communications, predecessor of Landmark Media Enterprises, which publishes The Virginian-Pilot.

Barrier Islands Center.

According to spokes persons:

1. The City of VB is not surveying

2. Wells Fargo is not surveying

3. Trust for Public Land is not surveying

There is no surveying being done on PHP.

The surveyor, MSA, seems to be surveying on the paper street which runs from the end of Marlin Bay over toward Dinwiddie Rd at Lockhaven Park and the pump station out fall pond.

Thanks to Tom for sharing some photos from his recent trip!