End of the Line for Straight Line Automotive
Cape Charles’ only service station closed on Tuesday. The property is now available for lease. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
April 19, 2013
There was absolutely no warning — and as recently as Monday it was business as usual at Cape Charles’ only gas station and full-time auto repair shop.
But when owner Mark Richardson put out the CLOSED sign by the gas pumps that evening, he called it quits. After several years operating as Straight Line Automotive, the business is closed for good.
Cape Charles regulars were stunned, since from all appearances the business was doing well. There was always activity in the repair bays, and gas sales were steady.
The business had the distinction of being one of the few gas stations south of New Jersey to provide friendly pump attendants at no extra charge. And even with the full service, Straight Line gasoline usually was priced a couple of cents below stations on the highway.
Straight Line also sold hard-to-obtain ethanol-free gasoline, preferred for outboard motors and small engines.
It was apparent to any regular customer that Richardson sweated the details, and his closing was no exception. Call the station number (757-331-1303) and you’ll hear a detailed message of concern from Mark for his customers.
“I’m afraid we’re ceasing operations,” he begins, and then provides names and phone numbers for a tire shop and other auto repair shops.
Richardson told the Wave that he wanted folks to know that nobody had forced him to close. “I was not actually shut down,” he emphasized. “I’m just not a business person — it was nobody else’s fault.” [Read more…]
Cross the Atlantic with Arts Enter to London Suite
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
April 18, 2013
The Palace Theater will cross the Atlantic tonight to bring America’s premier comic playwright, Neil Simon, to the stage with a suite of hilarious comedies set in a –well, a London Suite.
London Suite is comprised of three one-act plays, all taking place in the same room.
In Settling Accounts, the suite is occupied by an inebriated Welsh writer who is holding his longtime business manager, caught absconding with the writer’s money, at gunpoint.
In Going Home, an American widow and her daughter, in England to buy shoes, take over the suite. At the daughter’s insistence, mother spends her last evening in London with a rich Scotsman.
In The Man on the Floor, the hotel guests are a married couple from New York who have lost their tickets to Wimbledon and are about to lose their suite to Kevin Costner, who absolutely must have it NOW.
For regular theater patrons, this show will cover all the angles — from comedy, drama, even absurdity. [Read more…]
THURSDAY 4/18: Regular Monthly Town Council Meeting
The regular monthly meeting of Cape Charles Town Council is 6 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at St. Charles Parrish Hall. There is also a meeting at 5 p.m. of the Citizens Needs Advisory Committee at Town Hall. Both meetings are open to the public. [Read more…]
MONDAY 4/22: Wild Weed Walk for Edible Plants
Wild Weed Walk with Wildcrafter Jean E. Flynn 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 20, and 10:30 a.m.-noon Monday, April 22 (Earth Day). [Read more…]
SATURDAY 4/27: Kiptopeke State Park Recycling Day
Come out and have some fun 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 27, at Kiptopeke State Park during Kiptopeke Recycling Day. [Read more…]
FRIDAY 4/19: ‘The Internet of Things’ Seminar at ESCC
The Science and Philosophy Seminar of the Eastern Shore of Virginia will present “Information Shadows: The Internet of Things” 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, in the Eastern Shore Community College lecture hall, 29300 Lankford Hwy, Melfa.
[Read more…]
LETTER: Park Restroom Needs Better Design and Location
April 15, 2013
DEAR EDITOR,
I am writing to express concern regarding a proposed public restroom for Cape Charles Central Park from a risk management perspective, a functional perspective, and an aesthetic perspective.
While I do not disagree that public restroom facilities would be an enhancement to Central Park, I hope that decision-makers will select a more appropriate site and more architecturally appealing style for the project.
Aspects of concern include the following associated risks and functional challenges:
1. Flooding of facility: A number of areas within Central Park and the surrounding streets are flood-prone due to lack of drainage. The proposed location is adjacent to one of the areas most prone to large pools of standing water, and the foundation trenches already dug are largely filled with standing water and a substantial, virtually constant, area of standing water threatens encroachment into the footprint.
Dangers associated include:
— Public health risk from unclean facilities contaminated with bacteria-laden, stagnant water;
— Public health risk arising from proximity to a breeding ground for mosquitoes;
— Danger of slips, trips, and falls from known hazards, i.e. moisture on walking surfaces and higher potential of algal growth on walking surfaces constantly exposed to standing water as well as slips on icy patches in cold weather.
2. Potential for assaults and other illegal transactions in an unattended facility;
3. Public nuisance and public health risk if facilities are not maintained on a daily basis and locked overnight. The question of adequate funding to support cleaning, maintenance, and supplies should be addressed before the construction is approved.
4. Location relative to need: As a neighbor to Central Park, I have had the opportunity to observe traffic in and around the park. It appears that the area in most need of restroom facilities on a year-round basis is the children’s play area near the old Cape Charles school building. Parents and children are frequent visitors to this area. Tennis courts are also located in this area, although tennis court usage seems much lower than the former basketball courts. As proposed, the restroom facilities would be quite a distance removed from the area of need. [Read more…]
SUNDAY 4/28: New Roots Youth Garden Blessing of the Worms
The FLEET has been BLESSED and now it is time for the WORMS! The 3rd Annual Blessing of the Worms is 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at the New Roots Youth Garden (Randolph & Fig). [Read more…]
