SATURDAY 10/20: SouthEast Expeditions Sponsors Loaded Goat at ESO Live! in Belle Haven
This Saturday, October 20, at ESO LIVE! — No guff, all gruff — LOADED GOAT brings an eclectic mix of raw acoustic stomp & groove to ESO Arts Center in Belle Haven. [Read more…]
NOVEMBER 15-20: Piece of Eden Musical Drama Returns to Palace Theatre
Piece of Eden, an historic musical drama chronicling the early roots of Virginia’s Eastern Shore will be presented November 15-20 at the Historic Palace Theatre in Cape Charles. [Read more…]
THURSDAYS through 11/15: Dig In at New Roots Youth Garden
“DIG IN” at New Roots Youth Garden fall activities every Thursday from 4-5 p.m. through November 15. [Read more…]
WEDNESDAY 10/31: Halloween Carnival at Cape Charles Baptist Church
Halloween Night from 5-8 p.m., Cape Charles Baptist Church will host a “Light the Night” carnival-style event on the church lawn. [Read more…]
FRIDAY 10/26: Reception, Art Show at Stage Door Gallery
The Eastern Shore Art League Member Show will be held Friday, October 26, at the Stage Door Gallery. [Read more…]
SATURDAY 10/27: Haunted Oyster Roast & Craft Beer Octoberfest
Old School Cape Charles presents the 1st annual Haunted Oyster Roast & Craft Beer Octoberfest 6-10 p.m. Saturday, October 27, at Wendell Distributing, 659 Madison Avenue. [Read more…]
No Mention of Hotel Cape Charles on Historic Board Agenda
Hotel Cape Charles developer David Gammino pled his case at September’s Historic District Review Board meeting. Clockwise from left: Gammino, Town Planner Tom Bonadeo, Board members Jan Neville, Russ Dunton (chair), Bob Sellers. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 16, 2012
“Back to the Drawing Board for Hotel Cape Charles,” read the Wave’s headline for September 19. The story reported hotel developer David Gammino’s efforts to persuade the Cape Charles Historic District Review Board to approve already completed renovations and allow the hotel to receive a permanent occupancy permit.
With over 1,000 reads to date, the story is the most popular in the Wave’s short history.
In a nutshell, Gammino pled guilty to changing the hotel design after the Board approved his earlier plan. He had originally planned to spend $500,000 renovating the old hotel, but later decided the result would be nothing special. Only a unique property would make the hotel a “destination,” Gammino told the Board in September.
And so he ended up spending nearly three times as much to create a building that has received rave reviews in the Washington Post and USA Today. Now, the hotel needs $30,000 monthly revenue to survive.
Board chairman Russ Dunton told Gammino that adding wrought iron railings to the hotel balcony’s glass walls would help the hotel blend in with the rest of Mason Avenue.
Gammino responded that he could not convince his partner to replace $60,000 worth of glass with wrought iron to create an “illusion” that the hotel was historic.
Gammino noted that when he bought the hotel it had vinyl windows and plastic doors — all grandfathered in and requiring no approval from the Board. [Read more…]
TOWN COUNCIL: Meal Tax Receipts Are Shot in Arm
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 15, 2012
Meal tax receipts in Cape Charles increased by 35 percent in the past three-month period compared to a year earlier, generating an extra $22,000 for Town coffers.
Total meal tax revenue for the July-September first fiscal quarter was nearly $86,000. The same period last year drew less than $64,000.
Although Town Treasurer Kim Coates didn’t provide Town Council a reason for the big jump in tax proceeds, Council members should be able to figure it out. Following Council meetings they have been seen congregating at The Shanty, Cape Charles’ newest restaurant.
Treasurer Coats announced at the October 11 meeting that property tax bills would be mailed out soon. Property tax is due the first week of December.
TRAFFIC STUDY
In other Town Council business, Vice Mayor Chris Bannon was the only member voting against a resolution to request VDOT studies for peak season and off season traffic flow through the intersection of Randolph Avenue and Fig Street. “It’s a waste of time and money, and we could end up with a traffic circle,” Bannon said.
Councilman Frank Wendell expressed concern that kids, bikes, electric wheel chairs, and golf carts all had to navigate the intersection without aid of a stop sign.
Mayor Dora Sullivan was worried about the new fence at New Roots Youth Garden, which she said blocks people’s line of sight while crossing Randolph on Fig. [Read more…]
