I have called Chesapeake home for over 40 years and in all of that time, I've never found a better…read moreplace to live, raise a family or to call my home. Taxes are a necessary part of life but the City of Chesapeake has been a good steward of our tax dollars over the years. They provide us with the essential services that we need and they have a great track record of educating our children. The police and fire departments are consistently ranked among the best in the country.

NOTE: This review is for the City Clerk's Office/Passport Application Processing office located at…read moreCity Hall of Chesapeake. I was at City Hall this week for an appointment, and while I was waiting, I was chatting it up with the friendly security guard and we got on the topic of passports, as I needed some for my children. He informed me that I could go up to the first floor at the City Clerk's Office to obtain an appointment. I remembered this from last year when I had to obtain one to go back home to Canada, that it was appointment only based, but I remembered the office being at least 4 months out. I ended up walking in at the Norfolk courthouse because I needed it ASAP (only place in the area who processes passport applications in person, on a walk in basis FYI). I was expressing my dread of potentially finding out how far out the appointments were, but with his encouragement, I went up to the first floor to ask. Plus, it's way more convenient for me to process them at City Hall in Chesapeake than in Norfolk. With parking, tight security and the lack of patience of children, City Hall in Chesapeake was a better option for me. Lo and behold, the nice lady told me that they had one in the coming days!! *Things to note (info current as of June 15/23)* - appointment only, no walk-ins - appointments can be made by calling the City Clerk's office (located on the 1st floor) at 757-382-6151 - appointment slots are available on Mondays from 9:00 am - 11:30 am & Thursdays from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm ONLY - for your appointment, present yourself at the little office in the corner on the left hand side of the security desk on the ground floor. Top flap of the door will be open if they are open to process applications - if you are applying for minors, BOTH parents and/or all guardians must be present. If one parent cannot be present, you must obtain some other letter/form that must be notarized - for the actual application fees, you must have a cheque or money order (US Dept of State) - you can pay the processing fees by either cheque or card (City of Chesapeake) - all card transactions will be charged a 2.2% transaction processing fee - as of this writing, the processing time for the passport is 10-13 weeks for regular processing and 7-9 weeks for expedited (obvi with extra fee). The clerk let me know that the processing center has been especially busy this year with more and more people coming out of the pandemic funk and the eagerness to travel again. - come prepared with your documents filled out in advance (you can either fill it out online and print) or they do have paper applications right by the processing office - unlike the Norfolk office, they do not provide photos here, so be sure to obtain those in advance at your nearest pharmacy. We got them done at Walgreens on Hanbury - just an FYI, in case you didn't know, but this is very stressful for me, but they take the original document of the individual (especially if it's your first passport). They took my ORIGINAL citizenship certificate last year and it didn't come for weeks until after my passport arrived solo. Very nerve wracking too, just waiting....my citizenship certificate eventually showed up in a FedEx envelope, with no note, nothing. Just the certificate all by its lonesome. After losing a small fortune on 3 passport applications (my husband decided to get his done too since his had been expired also), processing fees and the photos, the clerk processed them quickly and efficiently. So now we wait. Not sure where we'll end up, but at least we'll be ready to go, once we receive their passports... HUGE shout out to the security guard for the recommendation and encouragement, and to the clerk for being so kind in trying her hardest to find an appointment that best suited our schedule and circumstance. She ended up being the one to process the applications a few days later. She set me up for success from the get go (she had provided me a small paper with a list of all the reqs and docs I needed at the time of making my appointment). They were both so nice, friendly and so helpful! If you live in Chesapeake and you need a passport, go to City Hall! But think ahead and make that appointment now! Stay safe, Friends, and safe travels!

Tax maps. TAX MAPS!! They have huge books with every property in the city for your to browse!…read more O.K., I know I'm tweeking out on nerdiness here but there are more people like me! I swear!! So I had to find property ownership of a vacant lot for my job - let's just say I am a contract manager. I called the city assessor and the sassy lady on the other end told me 'she couldn't look on the map for me that I needed to come look at the map.' Well, I was taken aback by her tone at the time but as my experience developed, so did my understanding of the sassy lady talk. She told me it was on the 4th floor and that they are open until 5. Parking is dumb at Chesapeake City Hall; the lot is like over to the left of the building and sort of behind it and - anyway it way it was dumb. So I walked into the shiny glass fortress and into the elevator. I mashed the #4 button and was dropped off on the 6th floor somehow (??). (If you go to this building, I highly recommend this mistake - the 6th floor lobby is drop. dead. gorgeous. It looks like James Bond's house if he was in the movie Minority Report.) I was intercepted by this lovely woman with long curly brown hair - she informed me that I was on the 6th floor which houses the mayor and the city manager's office. I explained that I had mashed the button for the 4th floor but somehow ended there - she said "was it the other one? It's broken. These elevators are always gettin' fixed." So I made it to the Real Estate

I arrived at Greenbrier Library just before heading to another location for a Yelp Experience…read moreevent. This was actually my 2nd time here but I forgot to check in for the last visit. Let's see how this visit went. The library is on the smaller side compared to most of the libraries I've been to in Hampton Roads. They have two floors with the top mostly with computer tables. There are a few private rooms available if you have a group or if you prefer alone time away from folks. The decor is neat of course and the vibe is pretty quiet. From the side entrance, you run into some artwork. I'm not sure if they're from local artists, but they're really nice to view. Only though I was here for short times, this library has been a good place to rest. The next time I'm in the area, it'll be a go-to for me :)

Super easy to sign up for a library account online. However, you don't get full access (physical…read moreitem borrowing privileges) until you visit a location to complete registration. The circulation desk staff was helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. Account holders may check out up to 30 items at a time, with no late fees (lost and damaged fees do apply). Reserving titles online to pick up at a location is easy, and you can transfer books to a site of your choice for your convenience. You also get free access to Libby and Hoopla with your account, which are digital media library apps!

Came to the magistrate to get an An Emergency Custody Order (ECO) for my 17 year old son. In…read moreVirginia it's a legal mechanism allowing law enforcement to take a person into custody for up to 8 hours for a mandatory mental health evaluation if they pose a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness. He was finally able to get the help he needed thanks to them and he was not only diagnosed with Bipolar 1 but he also has high functioning autism, ADHD, and ODD. If it wasn't for the magistrate he would have never agreed to get checked out and things would still be bad. He is now on the path to recovery. Thank You So Much for your help! Without you, who knows what the outcome would have Been.

Went in for a marriage license. When we walk in the front door i greet the officer and ask, " is…read morethis where we apply for a marriage license?" He doesnt answer the question but abruptly asks me do I have a cell phone. Talk about poor people skills! But after dealing with the sentry staff everyone else was happy to assist. But first impressions go a long way.

The Museum was closed when I was here but the park remains open until dusk, which gave me the…read moreopportunity to walk around. There are a number of monuments and memorials here and of course, you can walk over and watch the Great Bridge Bridge open and close if you're fortunate. One highlight is the obelisk commemorating the Battle of Great Bridge. It is a tribute to the Patriot soldiers who fought and died in one of Virginia's earliest Revolutionary War victories. It is a classic granite shaft, inscribed with tributes to the men who helped drive British forces from the colony on December 9, 1775. If you're able, tour the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Museum. Lots of history on the Colonial Era and the brief but decisive clash that marked a turning point: colonial forces routed British troops under Lord Dunmore, effectively ending royal control in Virginia and forcing the British to retreat to Norfolk. [Review 901 of 2025 - 1490 in Virginia - 24457 overall]

We love this park and it's nice and close to home. Sadly I haven't been into the museum yet. But…read morethe nature and the paths to walk are nice. In the front you will find a concrete path with information along the way. The path away from the water has been Newley done with concrete used to be gravel. It will lead you to a oversight and can take you along another path to walk down. The path near the water will take you all the way down to the high bridge. It's a very nice walk and sand at the end with water. Just don't forget some bug spray! And watch for snakes. Also in the front past the building you can find lots of picnic tables to have some hangout time or some lunch. It's in a perfect location lots of places to grab food near and drive to sit and eat.

This is for the Pre-Ballet class directed by Erika Parker…read more I was very excited to find a reasonably priced class for my daughter to learn ballet. Although she is young, she is quite capable of taking direction, as I have taught her some ballet basics. Now I understand the class is filled with 3-5 year old children and some concessions have to be made for learning curves and learning styles;however, my excitement quickly faded upon arriving the first day and being informed that parents must stay outside of the room while class is being conducted. I am assuming this is in order for children to avoid distraction and various meltdowns. Yet, when it is your child's first dance class ever, you really want to see them in action. The instructor does open the doors at the end of class so that you get to see what your child has learned during class. Every class I hoped to see something new, instead all we parents ever witnessed was our children literally running in circles with a ribbon or a scarf. The last class I held my breath thinking maybe, just maybe, she will have something to show us. No. Same thing as the previous five classes. All the kids running in a big circle.I took dance classes for years and lay no claim to being able to successfully teach preschoolers to dance; however, it would have been highly appreciated if the instructor stood in front of the class, had the kids stand in line or on their dots on the floor, and demonstrate something, anything, to encourage us as parents and her students that something was actually done in class. These kids are small so when you ask them what they did in class they can't always express it. The other day I randomly heard my daughter say, "This is the naughty foot and this is the nice foot." I had to ask her if she learned that in class. "Yes," she said, That's it. That is all I know that my kid learned. I am really underwhelmed with this instructor. I thought about placing my child in the gymnastics class offered there and I changed my mind when I realized Erika would be the instructor. No where in her biography on her own website page does her background indicate any gymnastics history or experience that would warrant her the ability to properly and safely direct children. There was a recent story in the news about a young girl having paralyzed herself by doing a back bend in her own home. Proper instruction is paramount. Perhaps this is not the intention of the gymnastics class being offered, but I would be very hesitant to place my child with someone who has no gymnastics background. In the future, I would like to suggest that instructors demonstrate something for the parents to see, even if it is an "I'm a Little Teapot" routine. Especially, if parents are required to go through the effort of: purchasing the required leotards, tights, and slippers, while adhering to the no jewelry, or hair ornaments rules. If we are just going through the motions, let the parents know.

Before heading to a brewery for a Yelp event, I headed here after work for some much needed quality…read moretime. That is reading of course. Turns out this was not my first time here. The last was over 10 years ago when I was with friends for a local convention. Things have definitely not changed here at all. Let's see how the afternoon turned out. Upon walking in, I noticed quilts on display via the African American Sewical Threaders Guild. They're done as part of Black History Month. They were fantastic and well made. I didn't get the chance to see all of them, but activities like this are very important to the community. They deserve a huge applause for this all around. For reading time, I headed upstairs where they had more tables if you wanted to do homework, use your laptop for assignments, or like myself, enjoying a mostly quiet environment in front of a book. Foot traffic was at a minimum the entire time I was present and it was mostly quiet. Could not ask for more. The next time I'm in the area, hopefully I'll stop by again. Truly a calm place to relax. Till next time :)

Very spacious, pretty quiet, and decent selection of books…read more They also hold some interesting events throughout the year. Other services provided have proved rather convenient in my experience. My favorite place to catch up on my reading.

This is the USPS office I frequent, and I go during my lunch hour. As always, the parking lot is a…read moredisaster. The tiled floor looks rough, and the lighting is always so weirdly dim. It's always a gamble to see if you'll be here for a minute or 25 minutes, but the employees are great and work hard to conquer the line. Sometimes the energy seems dead inside because customers are in a rush to get in & out. I try to handle all my transactions online, but I do have to drop off my box. I can call a pick up, but I like to have a printed copy of my tracking information. Flat rate boxes are free. Insurance is worth it if you're shipping something expensive. They have a display of stamps available for purchase. Honestly the USPS website is all you need. USPS works at their own pace, but some customers also arrive ill-prepared for everything they need to change something or mail something out.

I would like to report an ongoing safety concern at the post office on Battlefield Road near the…read moreWalmart. I sell online and often need to drop off packages in the morning before going to work, using the self-service kiosk. On several occasions, I have had to leave without dropping off my packages because there was a homeless individual sleeping or standing in the lobby. This has made me feel unsafe, especially during early morning hours when there are no employees present. I understand that this can be a difficult situation, but something needs to be done to ensure customer safety. At a minimum, having police or security do periodic drive-bys or checks would help. Customers should not have to feel afraid simply dropping off a package, especially when many of us rely on early-morning access due to work schedules.