SATURDAY 7/28: Boardwalk Gazebo Party Tries Again
We are not giving up! The “Applaud the Sun” Boardwalk Gazebo Party has again been rescheduled due to weather. The Northampton County Chamber of Commerce invites everyone, including the Shore’s classic car enthusiasts, to the Cape Charles Gazebo on Bay Avenue this Saturday, July 28, from 6 – 10 p.m. Admission is $5; kids under 12 are free.
Classic cars are asked to arrive by 5 p.m. (Call the Chamber at 757-678-0010 to register.)
Stroll the boardwalk, get a cold drink, enjoy some great food, watch the sun set over the beach, and dance in the street to live music by G.Z. Slick.
SHORE THING
Put Your Money on the Mantelpiece
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave Columnist
July 23, 2012
When I was 10 years old, and wanted something, I wanted it NOW, and I wanted it BADLY.
My mother (who lived through the Great Depression), invariably said: “Put your money on the mantelpiece for two weeks, and then see if you still really want (whatever it was I had to have immediately).
That put me in my own great depression. Two weeks? An eternity for a 10-year-old. Money on the mantelpiece? I didn’t have any money — I wanted my parents to buy it for me!
So, I know of what I speak when I say that Town Council is behaving like a 10-year-old.
The indecent haste with which they voted to buy the Bank of America building is childish at best, and illegal at worst.
— Childish, because when Town Council found out they could buy the building for what seemed like a cheap price ($208,000), they threw caution to the wind, jumped in with both feet, and allowed no public knowledge or comment whatsoever.
Town Council didn’t have any money to put on the mantelpiece, but they sure wanted that impressive building with the stone columns. So they found some money waiting to be spent on hooking up two new wells to the Town water supply, and just took it.
— Illegal, because once again, Town Council is ignoring State code requirements in regard to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan: § 15.2-2232. “No . . . public building . . . shall be authorized . . . until . . . approved by the [planning] commission as being substantially in accord with the adopted comprehensive plan . . . .” Read the full text of the code here: (It’s a mouthful.) http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+15.2-2232 [Read more…]
Echelon Partner Outlines Plans for Old School in Presentation at Palace Theater
Echelon Resources partner David McCormack outlines plans to convert old school into 17 one-bedroom apartments during Saturday morning’s Town information meeting.
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 22, 2012
Echelon Resources partner David McCormack came to town yesterday to tell the public about his company’s plans for the old school at Central Park. Over 100 people attended the Town information meeting at the Palace Theater.
About a year ago during a visit to the Eastern Shore, McCormack said, he “happened to notice that the old school was there.” His specialty is adaptive reuse of old buildings, so he investigated and was shown the school by town staff sometime last summer. In August, he and his partner, Edwin Gaskin, sent a confidential unsolicited proposal to the town to purchase the building.
Town staff negotiated in secret with Echelon until February 9, when Town Council held a public hearing as required before selling public property. Local resistance has mounted since that time, but until July 10, no Echelon representative had provided any information to the public about the company’s plan to convert the old school into a 17-unit apartment building.
McCormack attended the July 10 meeting of the Cape Charles Planning Commission and gave a slide show. Yesterday he repeated his presentation for the general public.
Although McCormack emphasized that he was “happy to answer any questions,” Vice Mayor Chris Bannon was not in agreement. The rules according to Bannon were that no question was to be asked about the contract signed by Mayor Dora Sullivan with Echelon or about required zoning changes. Such questions “should be directed to the Town Manager in writing,” Bannon twice emphasized.
In his presentation, McCormack gave an overview of Echelon projects in recent years. Echelon and its development partners have invested $80 million in historic redevelopment in Virginia, he said, assisted with tax credits from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the National Park Service.
Without tax credits, Echelon’s adaptive reuse projects would not be attractive to a commercial lenders, McCormack said. [Read more…]
Town Turns Out in Support of Old School Cape Charles
Several hundred folks came out on a rainy Saturday night to enjoy local musicians, steamed crabs and clams, and support Old School Cape Charles.
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 22, 2012
Outside was wet and cool, but inside Wendell Distributors on Madison Avenue last night, the crabs were hot and the crowd was happy.
The occasion was a fundraiser to support Old School Cape Charles — the local group that has sued the Town over its pending sale for $10 of the old school, basketball court, and playground parking lot at Central Park.
A private developer intends to convert the school into an apartment building, but Old School Cape Charles is trying to block that with legal action. The group instead wants to turn the old school into a community center.
Several hundred folks paid $20 each for a night of local music, dancing, steamed crabs, clams, and corn, baked beans and more.
Freshwater Frank (Frankie Russell) and the Fish warmed up the crowd, followed by Heather & Nathan, Melinda & the Benders, and The Wrecking Ball.
Normally staid Cape Charles very nearly faced two competing festivals at the same time. Last week’s Applaud the Sun street party was rescheduled, due to weather, for the same time as the Old School Crab Feast. But Chamber of Commerce officials yesterday postponed the street party once again due to rain.
“Everybody’s here,” enthused one attendee — “except I don’t see a single member of Town Council.” But at least one Council member was certainly there: Frank Wendell, who provided his company’s warehouse for the occasion. Too bad about the others, because Council members are known to enjoy a good party.
And last night was a good example of how a community can enjoy a rainy Saturday night — if it has a community center.
Want to relive the party? Watch the 10-minute video below, featuring Heather and Nathan’s knockout rendition of Mustang Sally/Proud Mary.
LETTER: Too Many Tomatoes? Bake a Cake!
July 22, 2012
DEAR EDITOR:
Too many tomatoes? Try making this Fresh Tomato cake!
I used an angle cake pan and cream cheese frosting, but you can use your imagination.
Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix with pudding in the mix
4 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups chopped fresh unpeeled tomatoes
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions:
Chop and drain the tomatoes slightly.
Beat eggs and oil together until smooth.
Combine all ingredients and mix well.
Spray pan with baking spray, bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
Cool and frost.
Delicious!
SANDY MAYER
Letters to the Editor are welcome on any subject relevant to Cape Charles. Submissions must be signed, and may be emailed to [email protected].
SATURDAY MORNING
Public Meeting at Palace Theater on Old School Conversion to Apartments
The Town of Cape Charles will hold a public information meeting regarding the proposed adaptive reuse of the former school building beginning 10 a.m. Saturday, July 21, at the Historic Palace Theatre.
The developer, Echelon Resources, will present information regarding their proposal and give an overview of some of their previous historic rehabilitation projects.
A question and answer period will follow the presentation.
The Town encourages residents to attend this meeting to hear the facts and see the exciting things that are planned to bring the former school building back to its glory.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Crab Feast and Music Festival Benefit
for Old School Cape Charles
Old School Cape Charles, LLC, invites you to a Crab Feast and Music Festival fundraiser on Saturday, July 21, from 5-10 p.m.
Live music will be provided by Freshwater Frank, Heather and Nathan, Melissa and the Benders, and The Wrecking Ball.
A silent auction will also be held.
The festival will take place at Wendell Distributors warehouse, 650 Madison Avenue in Cape Charles.
Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children. After 10 p.m., admission drops to $10.
Seafood is included in admission, and “bottomless beer” will be sold for $5.
Council OKs Buying Bank Building for New Library
Friends of Cape Charles Memorial Library turned out in force to support Town Council’s decision to buy former bank building.
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 20, 2012
In the Council chamber filled with members of Friends of the Library, Town Council yesterday authorized Mayor Dora Sullivan to sign a purchase contract for the former Bank of America building.
The building would be used for several purposes, including storing Town records in the bank vault, but the main use would be for a new library on the ground floor. The 3,000 square feet available would be about double what the library has now.
Although no public comments were permitted, Friends of the Library had already given their informal approval to Town Council, and members showed up to support the decision.
After Bank of America vacated the building in March, it was put up for bid. Town Council was told that the highest of four bids received was $200,000, and the bank offered the Town a chance to match that bid.
There is no money in the budget to buy the building, so the Town plans to take money allocated in a 2010 bond issue to connect two new wells to the Town waterworks.
Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek suggested that the money needed for the wells could be recovered from hookup fees charged to new water customers. He cited two possible sources — fees from Echelon Resources, who plan to build 17 apartment units in the Town’s old school building, and fees from the envisioned Southport Yacht Center.
Councilman Frank Wendell observed that the Town had already voted to reduce hookup fees for Echelon Resources by 75 percent.
There was confusion among council members over just what a “yes” vote meant. Joan Natali thought the vote was only preliminary, and that Council would have another opportunity to make a final decision. But Panek explained that Council was actually voting to authorize the Mayor to sign the contract. There would be no further vote, although the Town would have a 30-day period to inspect the building.
There will also be no public hearing.
When Mayor Sullivan signs the contract, the Town must make a non-refundable payment of $20,000 earnest money.
Councilman Wendell was the only member who voted no. He said although he supported a larger space for the library, Town Council should inspect the building before — not after — signing a contract.
