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Message from the President

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Fellow Residents,

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Welcome to those who have joined our community in the last four months. Our Vice-president, as well as every member of Board of Directors, have done an outstanding job working closely together to get us to this point.

 

Let me take this opportunity to thank those who have joined the neighborhood association and the pool. We applaud you for working on keeping our neighborhood strong and vibrant. There is still time to join. Your membership and input will only help us grow stronger as a community. We want you to know that we hear you and we are listening. We need your support to continue to survive and thrive. We continue to do our best for our community and welcome constructive criticism with the intent of making this the greatest neighborhood in Hampton.

 

Please review our specific topics of interest throughout this addition of the newsletter.

 

Feel free to reach out to us at any time.

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            ~ Ken Romney (president.willow.oaks.org@gmail.com)

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Upcoming Events & Important Dates

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Saturday, August 23 at 6 PM

Back to School Luau & Ugly Hawaiian Shirt Contest

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September 1, Labor Day

Pool closes at 4 PM to welcome our four-legged residents! Come join us for the

Annual Dog Swim from 4 - 5 PM

 

Tuesday, October 14 at 6 PM

Neighborhood Watch Meeting (Willow Oaks Branch Library)

 

Thursday, October 23 at 6:30 PM

Annual Membership Meeting (Fox Hill Baptist Church)

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Placemaking Grant & Neighborhood Survey

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The City of Hampton has revamped the grant program. The Placemaking Program provides grant funding to Registered Neighborhood Organizations (RNO) for community-driven projects to enhance public spaces, foster neighborhood identity, and support long-term quality of life improvements. RNOs may request between $75K-$150K from the Neighborhood Development Fund per project. Our goal is to take advantage of this opportunity by applying for the neighborhood Entry-Way signs and upgrading our “Friendship Island” park.
 

For those who have already completed our survey, thank you. We initiated the survey to address the community’s frame of mind with regard to at least three potential projects: Upgrade our Entry Way signs, enhance Friendship Island, and improve/maintain our current islands. The funding is available through the Placemaking Grant Program; however, we as a neighborhood must justify and demonstrate a need starting with completing the survey. We have 426 homes in our neighborhood (at the most 5 homes are vacant); however, we have only received 32 completed surveys. That equates to approximately 13% of responses. The responses thus far have been overwhelmingly positive with regard to the three main projects. However, the number of responses is way too low to convince the Neighborhood Committee to consider our project(s). We will once again share a digital and hard copy of the survey. If you have not done so, please take the time to complete and submit the survey.

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Take the Survey

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Based on the completed surveys received thus far, we have already started addressing your concerns and issues such as speeding vehicles and vehicles running stop signs. The city has initiated a “Traffic Study Case Number” (TRSC-2556150) of our neighborhood. We are working with Parks and Recreation to determine if Public Works should maintain “Friendship Island” or if it should be considered a mini-park, and how does Willow Oaks fit in once a decision is made. Solar panel lighting, a cost-savings method, at various locations such as entry ways and friendship Island is also under consideration. We are addressing the rotting trees and branches on our islands with Public Works to come up with a systematic means clearance to avoid damaging personal cars and property. As you may already know, we have revitalized our Neighborhood-Watch program. Mr. Jared Roy has graciously volunteered to run that program for the neighborhood. He will address our growing relationship/partnership with the Hampton Police Force and upcoming initiatives. Please reach out to him, he is actively seeking Neighborhood-Watch block leads to strategically cover the entire neighborhood.

 

Annual Membership Meeting & Officer Elections

 

Mark your calendars! Our annual membership meeting will be held on Thursday, October 23rd at 6:30 PM at the Fox Hill Baptist Church. During this meeting, we provide membership with a “State of the Organization” briefing by board position. We present a snapshot of what was accomplished, where we are, and where we are going.

 

 Nominations for the Board of Directors

 

Four positions on the Board of Directors are eligible for re-election/election during the odd year. The following positions are eligible: President, Membership Chairperson, Director of Community Social Events Chairperson, Architectural Control Committee Chairperson. Candidates should provide their names to the Membership Chairperson, Ms. Becky Peyton, no later than July 31st, each year, in order to be published. However, self-nomination and nominations from the floor at the annual meeting are permitted. Any Class A member (Class A consists of owners residing in the now platted subdivision of Willow Oaks) may be nominated.

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The Board of Directors shall elect annually among themselves the most qualified officer for the position based on their talent.

Eligible members must be in good standing and be a Class A member to be nominated as a candidate.  

All officers shall assume their duties as of January 1st of each year.

Successive terms are permitted.

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Duties of the Officers eligible for election:

 

President:

• Preside at all meetings and shall have general supervision of the WORA.

• Appoint all members of standing and special committees.

• Shall be bonded at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

• Shall be an ex officio member of all committees.

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Membership Chairperson:

• Maintenance of membership records of the WORA.

• Processing all membership fees.

• Notification of annual membership fees.

• Review and recommendation of changes to the By-Laws to the Board of Directors. 

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Director of Community Social Events Chairperson:

• Develop, supervise, promote social events throughout the year to strengthen the community’s social wellbeing.
   

Architectural Control Committee Chairperson:

• Responsible for making architectural control decisions authorized by Protective Covenants in accordance with the Deed of Trust.

• Members who are part of the architectural Control Committee must be Class A members in good standing and reside in Willow Oaks.

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Revisiting Ownership of the Islands Throughout Our Neighborhood

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We are currently revisiting ownership of our islands (approximately 13 of various sizes) throughout our neighborhood with the City of Hampton. As it stands, based on the number of neighborhood association members, we cannot afford to hire a lawn/gardening service on a part-time basis to maintain our islands. Every penny collected from association membership goes toward neighborhood upkeep excluding the pool. Manicured islands, a great swimming pool, and well-maintained individual yards/lawns are key to maintaining and/or increasing the value of our homes.

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Neighborhood Block/Block Parties

 

We are encouraging neighbors and friends to consider having block parties as a 

means of getting to know your neighbors. The City of Hampton will support a Willow Oaks Neighborhood block party with a circus type large tent, porta potties, barbeque pits, and potentially with some resources. We will however, need a committee chair and a committee to lead this neighborhood wide effort. Currently we do not have an official Social Chair on the board.

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Neighborhood Watch Program

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The WORA Neighborhood Watch Program is back in action, but we still need your participation! Active programs are successful in reducing crime rates and improving the overall well-being of the entire neighborhood. Please join us at our next informational meeting on Tuesday, October 14 at 6 PM, at the Willow Oaks Branch Library.

 

Statistics from May 1 - June 10:

• Only 2 events inside Willow Oaks

  • Motor vehicle theft on Clemwood Pkwy and Chickamauga Pike

• 45 events in surrounding areas

• https://communitycrimemap.com/

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Crime Prevention Strategies

• Home Security Basic

  • Check window/door locks

  • Lights on timers when traveling

  • Do not advertise valuables…

• Vehicle Safety

  • Lock your doors!

  • Do not leave items visible inside

• Reporting an Incident

  • Always call 911. Do NOT use the non-emergency number!

  • If you don’t feel comfortable calling 911 directly, make as much note of the incident as possible and contact your Neighborhood Watch Coordinator.

Emergency Preparedness

• Hurricane season is June 1st to November 30th. Know your evac route and zones!

  • https://www.vaemergency.gov/know-your-zone

  • Willow Oaks is in Zone B

• Emergency Supply Kits

  • Maintain basic supplies you might need (food, water, flashlights, batteries, first aid kit, etc…)

• Evacuation Planning

  • Know multiple routes from your neighborhood in case one route is cut off

• Special Needs Considerations

  • If you or a neighbor may need assistance during an emergency, please let the NW Coordinator know so they can be added to the roster.

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Willow Oaks Morning Garden Club

 

For many years the Morning Garden Club has acknowledged beautiful yards in Willow Oaks by recognizing them with Yard of the Month signage.

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The club committee looks at:

• Lawns - relatively weed free, mowed and edged.

• Trees and Shrubs - neatly trimmed.

• Driveways and Walks - edged, free of weeds and clutter.

• Color - derived from various trees, shrubs and flowers. No artificial flowers.

• Yard - only the front is assessed. Tools, hoses, and other miscellaneous are out of sight.
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Judging takes place on or about the first of each month during the months of May through October with awards given on a month basis. Yards can only be recognized once per season.

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May
Rachel Seiver
224 Shiloh Park

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June
Perry & Kelly Barber
232 Beauregard Heights

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July
Barbara Young
416 Willow Oaks Blvd.

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Did You Know? 

Street Light Out?

Call the 3-1-1 Customer Call Center. If you are calling from the City of Hampton, simply dial 3-1-1 on your touch tone or rotary dial phone. From outside the City of Hampton, please dial (757) 727-8311. The call center is available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week to assist you. Click here for more FAQs about street lights.

 

Street Sweeping

Willow Oaks is on the schedule the first Tuesday of each month, April through October. Please make sure to move vehicles into driveways and away from curbs to allow better access and maximum sweeping.

Street sweeping is part of the stormwater management plan to keep waterways clean and to enhance the appearance of the city. Street sweepers remove up to 19 tons of debris from Hampton's streets every day that would otherwise end up in the Chesapeake Bay. Click here for more about Hampton Street Maintenance.

 

How the Willow Oaks Neighborhood was Established

"Willow Oaks Farm," named after the beautiful willow oaks that covered the property, was part of Hampton Heights Dairy. When Harrison and Lear bought a portion of the farm for residential development, the name "Willow Oaks" was a natural choice. The long, thin leaf of this tree is now seen in many of the yards that make up "Willow Oaks". Established in 1965, the property was developed in 12 sections over a period of years and now comprises over 400 homes. (Source: www.harrison-lear.com)​​

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