Good morning, this is Virginia Beach Local Pulse for Thursday, August 14, 2025.
We start our morning with breaking news from City Hall, where last night’s council meeting stretched beyond two a.m. The most talked about decision is the unanimous council vote urging local businesses to remove certain promotional materials they feel could impact public safety and decorum. It sparked lively debate among residents and business owners, reflecting how our city handles the balance between free speech and responsibility.
As we step outside, we will want to keep an eye on the sky. Today brings a mix of sun and clouds, with scattered showers and a chance of thunderstorms in the forecast for the afternoon. Highs reach around eighty-six degrees, and while most outdoor plans are safe this morning, we should all have a backup for any late-day events. Looking ahead, Virginia Beach is entering the heart of hurricane season. Emergency Management is asking us to check our preparedness plans and make sure we have supplies on hand. Now is also a good time to sign up for VBAlert—that way we stay informed if a storm approaches our coast.
Turning to business stories, Long Jewelers is celebrating another year as “Best of the Beach,” a title they have held nearly every year for the past three decades. They are marking this with a fresh collection of pre-owned luxury watches, and staff who just returned from the industry’s top national conference say new trends are headed our way this fall. On the jobs front, there are about two hundred retail and hospitality openings posted this week, with seasonal positions still in demand—especially along Atlantic Avenue and the boardwalk.
Real estate activity remains solid with roughly one hundred new listings in the past week, focused largely between Holland Road and Great Neck. Median home prices are steady near four hundred fifty thousand dollars amid strong summer demand. Rentals on Shore Drive and near Town Center are experiencing a bump as military families relocate before fall semester begins.
In the world of music and culture, excitement builds for Saturday’s grand opening of the Wavegarden Atlantic Park surf lagoon. After three years in the making, the four-acre artificial wave park near the old Dome site will offer customizable waves for every skill level and anchor a new entertainment district that includes shops, restaurants, and green space. This promises fresh energy for both locals and tourists, and the first waves roll out to the public this weekend.
If you are looking for local flavors, the Virginia Beach Farmers Market on Dam Neck Road is open now until noon, serving up glazed, cinnamon sugar, and blueberry doughnuts along with farm-fresh produce.
On the school front, the Ocean Lakes Dolphins varsity baseball team picked up a win last night, and Princess Anne’s robotics club has been invited to a national competition—congratulations to our students for representing us with pride.
For upcoming events, tonight the Sandler Center hosts a special showcase featuring local jazz talent at seven. Over at Mount Trashmore, prep is underway for Friday’s outdoor movie night, which is always a family favorite. Community meetings with city council members continue this week, with a session at Bayside Library tomorrow evening for anyone wanting to weigh in on city planning or neighborhood concerns.
In crime news, police are investigating a reported break-in on Independence Boulevard, where two businesses were hit after hours. No injuries have been reported, and suspects are still at large. Patrols have increased along that corridor and public safety officials remind us to secure our homes and businesses as a precaution, especially as foot traffic picks up this season.
To wrap up, let’s share a feel-good note. Volunteers with Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation have finished building wheelchair-accessible garden plots at Red Wing Park, opening the joy of gardening to more families across the city.
Thank you for tuning in and be sure to subscribe for all your Virginia Beach updates. This has been Virginia Beach Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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