TUESDAY 11/13: Don’t Use the Water During Town Flush

The Town of Cape Charles Utility Department will conduct a system flush of the water system beginning 9 p.m.Tuesday, November 13, and continuing until 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Residents are cautioned not to use water during that time, as sediment could be drawn into the residence water lines. [Read more…]

TUESDAY 12/11: Nature Conservancy Holiday Open House at Brownsville Near Nassawadox

The Nature Conservancy’s Virginia Coast Reserve invites the public to a Holiday Open House at the Historic Brownsville House 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, December 11. [Read more…]

Broadwater Students Seek Soap & Stuff for Sanford & Saxis Cleanup

A large contingent of Broadwater Academy high school students will be going to the Sanford/Saxis area on Monday to help people there with cleanup after the devastation they suffered during Hurricane Sandy. [Read more…]

TOWN COUNCIL
Fireworks, Old School, Hurricane Damage and More

Cape Charles Volunteer Fireman Steve Wilson thanked Town for $18,600 contribution to the Fire Company. (Wave photo)

By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

November 9, 2012

Cape Charles Town Council had fireworks on the agenda last night, but there were some unscheduled fireworks as well.

For next year’s July 4 fireworks, Code Official Jeb Brady requested two bids, but only one firm was interested — Bay Fireworks from Farmingdale, NY, who put on the show last year. This year’s price is $16,500 — a 10 percent increase over last year’s $15,000.

Prior to last year the Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company shot off the fireworks, but a recent State law requires a “certified pyro technician.”

Council approved the $16,500 cost, drawing on $10,000 from the Town budget, $5,000 from the Harbor budget, and appealing to the Cape Charles Business Association and Northampton County to make up the rest.

More fireworks were provided by former councilman Bruce Evans, who used public comment time to scold councilman Frank Wendell “for not going along with the rest of Town Council and asking too many questions.” Addressing Wendell, he said, “You must support issues whether you want to or not.” When Wendell demurred, Evans told him, “Shut-up.”

Mayor Dora Sullivan told Wendell, “I have to take it. You have to take it.”

In earlier public comments, Deborah Bender warmed up the meeting by chastising Town Council for ignoring residents’ efforts to save the town’s old school and park property from a developer. Bender is the spokesperson for Old School Cape Charles, which advocates using the school for a community center. [Read more…]

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THURSDAY 11/8: Cape Charles Town Council Meets

Cape Charles Town Council will meet 6 p.m. Thursday, November 8, at St. Charles Parish Hall. [Read more…]

Planning Commission Sets Public Hearing for Yacht Center

By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

November 8, 2012

Cape Charles Planning Commission on November 6 reviewed a conditional use permit application from South Port Investors.

South Port is moving forward with its proposed $5 million Cape Charles Yacht Center at the town harbor, and hopes to have the project underway by spring.

Preliminary work has begun at the site of the former wastewater treatment plant, now leased by the Town to South Port.

Phase one of the project is to install a travel lift for boats up to 75 tons. South Port seeks permission to perform marine engine repairs and to construct a 6-foot-high black chain link fence around the property. [Read more…]

LINDEMAN:
Picking up Pecans, Selling Them to Watson’s

By BRUCE LINDEMAN
Cape Charles Wave

November 8, 2012

It was brisk Sunday morning as we walked over to the next block to pick some of the giant pine cones from the ground that fall this time of year. They will be useful for dressing the Christmas table with fresh greens such as magnolia, holly, and such and to give away for others’ holiday decorating.

The bag, now full, was big and clumsy so we left it on the front porch before heading out in search of our prime mission: picking pecans.

If you’re a Cape Charles resident, I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. However, what’s intriguing is that so many residents don’t seem to care about the pecans — or so it seems from the sheer amount of them we found still on the ground this year.

Cape Charles is known for its beautiful crepe myrtles and, more recently, its abundance of rosemary which seems to grow so well in our rich Eastern Shore soil. I could go on about rosemary, but we’re talking pecans here.

Our first visit to town was at the end of winter, oddly. While most people’s first visit is during summer — a time of blooming perennials, parades, harbor parties, and the like — we came when there were no leaves on the trees, under overcast skies. Yet we still fell in love with the place. And we hadn’t even seen the crepe myrtles in bloom yet!

Like most visitors, one of the places I had to go first was Watson’s Hardware. Ever since we were kids helping my dad restore a 1920s bungalow on the south shore of Long Island, I’ve had this thing for old hardware stores. [Read more…]