Town Won’t Reveal Route 13 Monthly Sewer Rates
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
September 3, 2013
Two public meetings are scheduled this month to provide information about plans for mandatory sewer hookups and a nearly doubling of County land taxes in an area along Route 13 north and south of the Cape Charles traffic light and along a portion of South Bayside Road. But property owners’ burning question won’t be answered at the meeting. That is: How much will my sewer bill be?
Cape Charles residents pay a monthly charge of $60.85 for up to 2,000 gallons of sewage treatment. They also pay a separate charge for water, but at this stage only sewerage is proposed for Route 13 area customers.
The Town’s water consultant and assistant town manager, Bob Panek, has been coy about how much County customers might have to pay. “I have no idea what the rate would be,” Panek told the Cape Charles Business Association July 23.
Panek is also chairman of the Public Service Authority, the County entity that is proposing sewerage on the highway. The Town and the PSA are supposed to negotiate a sewer rate. Since Panek cannot negotiate with himself, he has turned over the calculation of a rate structure to other Town employees.
Panek told the Business Association that doing a rate analysis would be “about a day’s work.” But his estimate was optimistic. Town Council had scheduled a September 5 work session to review a proposed rate structure, but last week the work session was postponed until September 25. It seems that, without Panek’s involvement, the financial analysis will require about a month instead of about a day to accomplish. [Read more…]
Broadwater Grads Reunite after College as ‘Fat Tuesday’
Fat Tuesday and the New Custards at a Harbor Party gig. The band members play up and down the Shore, but say they like Cape Charles the best.
Cape Charles Wave
September 2, 2013
With music as delectable as their name, the local band Fat Tuesday and the New Custards has been playing gigs around Cape Charles all summer. Fat Tuesday has delivered dynamic and danceable music at Kelly’s Gingernut Pub, the Cape Charles Harbor Party, the Clam Slam, and the Harbor for the Arts Festival.
All members of the band graduated from Broadwater Academy in Exmore, and went to their respective colleges, reuniting in 2010 to seriously begin playing music together. According to lead guitarist Cole Newsom, “they [the rest of the band] were on the JJV basketball team when I was on varsity. They asked me to sit in and play for a New Years show and the rest is history.”
Fat Tuesday draws many influences from the classic and funk rock genres with favorites being the Grateful Dead, Phish, and Led Zeppelin. But lead singer and rhythm guitarist Austin Riopel attributes “everyone and everything” within the musical realm to their unique sound. Bassist Philip Simpson laughingly said “someone once described our music as ‘Hippie Heehaw.’” Cole named Led Zeppelin as their favorite band to cover. “Zeppelin’s music really allows us to stretch our musical legs. We can play good music and put a little of ourselves into it too.”
Asked about the evolution of the band’s music, Austin answered, “It’s all self expression. As you change, the music is going to change also.” Restaurant owner Gene Kelly has hired Fat Tuesday to play at Kelly’s Gingernut Pub about five or six times in the past year. Gene expressed his appreciation for the band, saying, “They all definitely have individual musical talent. They are exceptionally good musicians developing a great sound.” Gene is no stranger to good music and has been choosing bands to play at Kelly’s since 2006. “Their original material is really good. They play great covers and have a remarkable energy.” [Read more…]
