Today the news is a big yawn, so I’ll lead with something inspiring instead: RiverFest is coming!

Lafayette RiverFest this Saturday, April 30

A year ago, a friend and I kayaked on the Lafayette River, launching at Colonial Place and paddling under the Willow Wood Bridge and up along between Belvedere and Lakewood. There’s an island of grasses in the middle of the river up there, and as we approached I was surprised to see dozens of fish leaping out of the water, splashing and playing. We passed by inlets where elegant egrets stalked crabs and fish, and watched herons soar by overhead. I was amazed to find life in such variety and abundance in the river, so close to downtown Norfolk and surrounded by dense residential neighborhoods.

The Lafayette River, the waterway that winds through the heart of Norfolk, is a dynamic river ecosystem, but like any urban habitat, it is threatened. It’s murkier than it should be, and subject to algae blooms that can reach all the way up the tributaries. Oyster populations are low, bacteria is high, and it’s questionable whether you should swim or fish in many parts of the river today. Taking a lesson from the highly successful river coalition in Virginia Beach that restored oyster harvesting in the Lynnhaven River, the Elizabeth River Project and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation have started a campaign to restore and protect the Lafayette River. They have set the goal of making the river safe for swimming and oystering again by as early as 2014.

Help the river clean up its act.

To kick off this campaign they are holding RiverFest, an all-day party this Saturday, April 30 on the Colonial Place waterfront. I’m amazed at the number of people I’ve talked to who haven’t heard of this event yet, and it’s a big deal. Go, and you’ll find music, art, and sustainable food all day. Visit the Learning Barge, a floating eco-education platform, and learn about plans for building sanctuary oyster reefs in the river to help filter the water and restore clarity.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be offering some special river events to help teach about the current state of the river and the plans for conservation.

• CBF canoe paddling trips, from 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm. Paddle at RiverFest PDF
• Cruise on Lafayette at 2pm, take a free educational cruise on the Bea Hayman Clark, CBF’s “floating classroom”. Boat Trip at RiverFest PDF

- canoe trips and cruise are free but space is limited. Contact rsvp@cbf.org or call 757-622-1964 to register.

Come, and let’s celebrate being stewards, not just consumers, of our local river.

Busking ordinance vote today

But wait, there’s more inspiring news that’s not in the paper: Norfolk City Council will meet at 7pm today to vote on whether the new busking ordinance becomes law. This is the fruit of a year’s worth of organizing and lobbying by Jesi Owens, AltDaily, and SPIN (Street Performing in Norfolk). To show your support:

• Contact your city council person (if you’re a Norfolk resident) with an email of support.
• Show up tonight at City Hall with your instruments to serenade the council.

Art|Everywhere (with bikes!)

Every great art opening should start with a bike ride, especially when the opening features a reveal of new, artistic bike racks. On the same day as RiverFest, after you’ve finished partying with the oysters, head over to Blair Middle School on your bike, so you can join the bike parade to downtown for the Art|Everywhere opening!

Wear a costume! Blow a trumpet (busking will be officially recognized by then). Decorate your bike! The wildest looking riders get to go first. Ride starts at 5:30 pm at the tall steps in front of Blair Middle School in Ghent, 730 Spotswood Ave, Norfolk 23517. Please have your bike and helmet. We will ride to West Ghent and take the Elizabeth River Trail to Downtown. Once on Granby Street, we can park bikes at the Bike Norfolk bike valet station (no lock required). Riders may proceed from the valet to enjoy Art Everywhere on foot! Valet closes at 10pm.

Now, the news, such as it is.

Norfolk budget proposal revealed.

It’s Marcus Jones’s first budget for Norfolk and it includes a lot of cuts, as it must. But it doesn’t raise property taxes, and the layoffs are minimal. If you want details, read the story.

WWII sub bell found, returned

The Pilot gets to congratulate itself for playing a part in returning the bell of the U.S.S. Triton, a WWII submarine sunk by the Japanese, to its rightful owner. In a story two years ago, the Pilot covered the efforts of Harold Weston, a retired Master Chief in Virginia Beach, to find the lost bell and return it to the Navy. Last month a woman in California came across the story and realized she’d seen the bell in someone’s house. And now it’s coming home. Yay, Pilot!

Cuccinelli put off, for now

The Supreme Court declined to fast track the lawsuit brought by Cuccinelli against the health care reform law. It will have to make its way through the courts of appeals, and won’t hit the top court till just in time to make it a pivotal issue in the next presidential election.