Sign Language: Parade Truck Perturbs Planning Commission
Majority of Town Planning Commissioners are upset over sign-fested truck. (Wave photo)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 15, 2013
Cape Charles Planning Commission has been reviewing the Town’s sign ordinance for more than two years, but the signs on a truck in the July 4th parade brought the issue to a head.
The majority of commissioners expressed displeasure July 9 over signs displayed on a parade truck for the group known as Old School Cape Charles.
Festooned with American flags and plastered with signs, the truck was a moving billboard for the activist group that is fighting the Town’s decision to give away the Old School, basketball court, and parkland to a real estate developer.
“Repeal the Crooked $10 Deal,” read one sign, referring to the price the developer paid for the school and park property.
“Don’t Raise My Water Bill to Pay for More Condos,” read another.
And at the back of the truck: “Stand Up for Your Rights – Don’t Give Up the Fight.”
No planning commissioner found any illegality with displaying signs in the actual July 4th parade. The problem seemed to be that the parade truck was parked on the street both before and after the parade.
Chairman Dennis McCoy said, “What really stuck out like a sore thumb to me was the truck when I came into town this weekend . . . It was not [advertising] any business, and it stayed parked for two days.”
“I complained as a citizen. I thought it was offensive,” said Commissioner Joan Natali, who also is a member of Town Council. She advocated changing the ordinance to allow Town officials to immediately confiscate signs deemed offensive. [Read more…]
THURSDAY July 18: Eastern Shore Photography Club Invites New Members
The Eastern Shore Photography Club will meet 4-6 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at the Historic Palace Theatre. [Read more…]
JULY 15-26 ESO Arts Camp Adds Extended Care
Want to send your children to camp but can’t swing the 3 p.m. pick up time? Here’s some good news! ESO Arts Center’s Summer Arts Camp will provided extended care from 3 to 5 p.m. for $25 extra per week. [Read more…]
Florence Lucey Funeral Tuesday at St. Charles Church
July 11, 2013
Florence T. Lucey, 94, wife of the late John R. Lucey and the late John Kovak and a resident of Silver Beach and also Point Pleasant, NJ, passed away Tuesday, July 9, at her Silver Beach residence.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, at St. Charles Catholic Church with Father J. Michael Breslin officiating. [Read more…]
Town Flood Insurance Rates Should See ‘Drastic’ Drop
Click on map to view larger image. (An additional click may be required on larger image.) As proposed, only a few tiny areas in the entire Town of Cape Charles are classified “AE,” which requires flood insurance to obtain a mortgage. On the current 2008 flood map (not shown), a majority of the Historic District is classified “AE.”
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 11, 2013
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is proposing “a drastic change regarding flood zones in Cape Charles.”
Town Planner Rob Testerman told the Cape Charles Planning Commission July 9 that a majority of the Historic District, currently rated high-risk by FEMA, is proposed to be reclassified at a much lower risk of flooding.
That is wonderful news to any property owner paying flood insurance premiums.
Under FEMA rules, federally regulated lenders require property owners to buy flood insurance in areas labeled “A or “V” on the FEMA flood zone map.
In high-risk areas, there is at least a 1 in 4 chance of flooding during a 30-year period.
In the current 2008 FEMA map, “a majority of the historic portion of Cape Charles is located in the AE Zone,” Testerman said.
But the preliminary map for 2013 “shows the AE zone ending at the beach,“ he noted.
The most flood-prone area is of course the beach itself, which retains a “VE” classification. [Read more…]
SHER: July 4th Art as a New Way of Seeing
By SHER HOROSKO
Cape Charles Wave
July 10, 2013
Photography is a new venture for me. I’m about nine months into it.I never wanted to use a camera because I thought it would separate me from whatever I was experiencing.Upon buying one, I established a firm rule: If the camera ever gets in the way of feeling the wonder in front of me or saving someone or something, ditch the camera. Staying faithful to this rule allows me to shoot freely.
I’ve discovered a camera allows me to experience something over again. Most importantly, I see things I missed in the actual moment. I am less interested in re-presenting the action than in conveying the feeling it stirs in me. Here are a few shots from the 4th of July that I re-lived.
Art is a way of seeing the ordinary in a new way.
I got a late start to the fireworks. Traveling down the driveway, we headed for the lights in the sky. “Some folks chase storms,” I said. “We chase fireworks.”
We ended up in the parking lot at Aqua. I took this shot of the flag in the dark when the fireworks ended. (I had no idea another round was about to begin on the other side of town).
It reflects how I feel about our country now — a lot of darkness surrounding a great light. We are more divided than I ever remember being, but the light still shines on us. It is easy to light a fuse and blow up a bridge — and much harder to build one across the chasms that divide us.
We need to build more bridges.
We all have things happen in life. They can keep us in or down or feeling sorry for ourselves.
I loved watching these guys — how they moved around, smack dab in the middle of the music, how they were drinking the whole thing down. They could have had a sign on the back of their chairs: “Live your Life!” But they didn’t need to.
Inspirational folks don’t carry signs and they don’t even mean to be inspiring. That’s the beauty of it. [Read more…]
Thanks for the Best July 4th Parade and Festival Ever!
Unicyclist came again this year from Massachusetts to perform in Cape Charles parade. (Wave photo)
By JEN LEWIS
Cape Charles Recreation Coordinator
July 9, 2013
As the Community Events/Recreation Coordinator I would like to thank so many people who helped to make this year’s 4th of July Street Parade and Festival a fun day for all.
Trina Veber once again faced the hot temperatures to emcee the day’s events.
Paul Skolnick and Elsie Bowen judged the parade.
Matt Evans ran the tournaments.
Spencer Travis and friend as well as Sharon Silvey took on the very difficult task of judging the beautiful baby contest. [Read more…]
TUESDAY 7/9: Planning Commission Meeting
Cape Charles Planning Commission will meet 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, at Town Hall. The complete information packet may be read at http://www.capecharles.org/documents/20130709-PCAgendaPkt.pdf.
