SUNDAY 9/29: Pipe Organ Concert Series Resumes at Historic Hungars Church
Hungars Episcopal Church on Virginia’s Eastern Shore brings rich musical traditions back to the community with a 969-pipe organ that fills the historic church. The church, located at 10107 Bayside Road in Machipongo, a few miles north of Eastville, invites the public to four organ concerts that completeits 2013 schedule. Admission is free. [Read more…]
ESO Fall Art Classes Beginning for Young and Old
Fall is upon us and Mother Nature’s got her paint brush ready. But why should she have all the fun? Youth and adults have their pick of painting and art classes at ESO Arts Center in Belle Haven. [Read more…]
Tour Showcases Beach Club, Future Yacht Center
In this view of Cape Charles Town Harbor, the new Yacht Center will utilize the rectangular cutout at middle back of photo.
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
September 21, 2013
New Northampton County development was showcased to County and town officials yesterday in an all-day tour that began at the new Bay Creek Beach Club.
Although there is not yet a great deal to see, the tour also took local officials to the site of the Cape Charles Yacht Center next to the Coast Guard Station.
The tour was organized by Eyre Baldwin, a partner in ESLAND (Eastern Shore Land Company), as well as being chief developer of the yacht center.
According to an ESLAND press release, the yacht center will be a mega-yacht destination along the East Coast. It will be accessed via the Town Harbor, which features an 18-foot deep channel for easy access. The full-service shipyard will be able to accommodate boats of “all sizes,” including mega-yachts.
Baldwin said the Yacht Center will attract visitors to the Town and will help to continue the revitalization of the area’s economy. “This development will bring new business opportunities such as restaurants, hotels and marine industries,” he said.
Officials visited the Beach Club and Fitness Center at Bay Creek, opening later this year as a members-only facility. The 19,000-square-foot complex includes a fitness center, a 2,800-square-foot members’ lounge with fireplace and large-screen TV, and two outdoor pools with a splash zone and aquatic play area for kids.
The members-only Bay Creek Beach Club and Fitness Center is planned to open in December.
COMMENTARY: Support PSA for a Cleaner Eastern Shore
By WAYNE CREED
September 21, 2013
Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek received a universally chilly reception September 16 at the Cheriton Fire Hall when he explained plans to use the Town’s wastewater plant as the southern node of a semi-regional wastewater system. But when so many people around here agree with each other, it should raise a giant red flag that something is wrong.
I agree that at the current time, Cape Charles should not engage with the Public Service Authority to run pipe out to the newly created Economic Tax Zone along Route 13 — but for different reasons than have been voiced by others.
A major red herring is that supplying wastewater treatment to Route 13 and Cheriton would somehow cause economic stress to Cape Charles businesses. There is a notion that a Rite-Aid or CVS may open to compete with Rayfield’s, yet in this economic climate, chain stores tend to stick to locations that minimize risk. Even with peak summer traffic, there doesn’t appear that there are the demographics to support a chain like that, and companies like CVS only survive if they can subsume and assimilate. That is, it would only be viable if they could assume Rayfield’s base — a difficult task that may seem too risky after a thorough cost-benefit analysis. [Read more…]
SATURDAY 10/5: Deadline to Enter Fall Festival ‘Best/Biggest’ Competition
Bring your best and biggest to Cape Charles Fall Festival for the “Best/Biggest Competition.” Enter your homemade jam, jelly, pickle and/or sweet potato pie, or your homegrown pumpkin and/or sweet potato. [Read more…]
EDITORIAL: Don’t Subsidize the County
A CAPE CHARLES WAVE EDITORIAL
September 19, 2013
Two weeks ago today, Cape Charles Town Council was supposed to discuss a proposed rate structure for commercial sewer customers on Route 13 and around Cheriton. Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek earlier said that determining a sewer rate would be “about a day’s work.” But no rate has yet been proposed, and Council’s work session was cancelled. It’s now clear that the sewer charge won’t be based on engineering calculations — it will be a political decision.
Cape Charles residents and businesses pay a minimum monthly sewer charge of $61. But County Administrator Katie Nunez doesn’t want commercial customers outside the Town to pay any more than an “affordable” rate of $45. Town officials bought into Mr. Panek’s reasoning that any additional sewer income would be “gravy,” since most of the costs of running the treatment plant are fixed, and not dependent on how much sewage is treated. So they initially were amenable to the $45 charge.
But try telling anyone who sells hamburgers in Cape Charles that they have to pay full rate to support the fixed costs of the sewer plant, while McDonald’s and Hardee’s will get a lower rate. It’s a politically indefensible argument, so it’s not surprising that Town officials now are scared to propose any rate. As a result, the public hearing set for Monday, September 23, at the County board room in Eastville will be almost farcical, since nobody knows what the rate will be.
It doesn’t take a month or even a day to calculate a rate structure for County sewer customers, because the calculation has already been done. If Town customers pay $61 a month, then County customers should pay $61 a month. Any less, and the Town is rewarding and encouraging businesses outside Town limits. Any more – well, forget that argument, because no County customer would tolerate a rate above $61 – even though Town Council member Joan Natali has publicly suggested that the Town could “make a profit” on providing sewer service to the County. [Read more…]
SATURDAY 9/21: Town-Wide Yard Sale
Cape Charles Community-Wide Trash to Treasures Yard Sale begins 8 a.m. Saturday, September 21 and lasts until 2 p.m. To be listed on the yard sale map ($5 charge), sign up at Sullivan’s Office Supply (109 Mason Avenue). [Read more…]
SATURDAY 9/28: All-American Picnic at Trinity UMC
Hot dogs, chili, potato salad, chips, drink, and dessert served 5-7 p.m. Saturday, September 28, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 410 Tazewell Avenue. [Read more…]
