Town Planning Commission OKs New Comp Plan
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
March 9, 2015
The Cape Charles Planning Commission met March 3 at the Civic Center, and on the agenda was a review of the changes to the Comprehensive Plan, as well as discussion of a new Tourist Zone.
Comprehensive Plans need to be revised every five years, and going back to 2013, the Planning Commission, under the guidance and tutelage of Elaine Meil, executive director of the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, gamely tackled the revision process. It is important to note that this was not a complete rewrite of the 2009 version; the process involved reviewing the 2009 plan, and then making any changes or updates that are more relevant to where the town is now versus five years ago.
Despite retaining the spirit of the 2009 version, there were still several changes, and citizens may wish to take the time to review them. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the changes and sent on to Town Council for review in April.
The draft Comp Plan is available on the Town’s website (CLICK). Here are some highlights:
Housing
An analysis of the Town’s 2010 Census data shows that 41% of Town households are cost burdened. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines cost burdened households as families who pay more than 30% of their income for all of their housing expenses including utilities. The largest cost burdened group are households who own a home with a mortgage (76), renters (56), and households who own a home without a mortgage (38). The Town needs to be concerned.
Transportation
Mason Avenue and Bay Avenue street improvements should be evaluated and include addition of bicycle lanes, reverse angle parking and aesthetic improvements to promote safety and increase parking spaces. Improvements to the Town’s sidewalks and multi-use paths are also needed to support alternative means of transportation such as walking, biking, and golf cart usage, which are expected to be used more frequently as the population increases. [Read more…]
WAYNE CREED: Thank You Clelia — You Woke My Soul
Retiring Arts Enter Director Clelia Sheppard
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
March 9, 2015
Some years ago, fairly new to Cape Charles, I walked into a cold Palace Theatre to take part in a poetry slam that was being hosted by Chris Bannon and the Friends of the Cape Charles Library. As usual I was unshaven, probably a bit hung over, and dressed in flannel and a wool beanie — I must have looked like one of the dock worker extras from On the Waterfront.
As I took a seat and waited for the reading to begin, two elegant, beautiful women entered and sat down. I thought to myself that they must have taken a wrong turn somewhere, or just had the time and place confused with some other. This was my first encounter with Sheila Cardano and her daughter, Clelia Sheppard.
I remember that afternoon well, as I read a story I had written about an odd Russian street performer and his beloved pug dog, and Ms. Cardano read one of her stories about a crazy squirrel. Life is serendipitous, contingent, and I always think of two events that actually saved my life: meeting my beautiful wife, and meeting Clelia Sheppard.
Growing up in West Haven, Connecticut, I remember my mother and grandmother taking me to the great New Haven theaters, and a love and fascination (appreciation) of the stage, whether drama, musical, or dance (Mom actually took me to NYC to see the great Edward Villella) stayed with me through high school and into college. After school, though, the passion kind of seeped away, replaced by other things such as work and career. In all, I had not thought of stepping onto the stage in close to 20 years.
How did Clelia Sheppard and her mom save my life? After meeting that first day, they somehow talked me into taking on a few roles in their Eastern Shore epic A Piece of Eden. By bringing me back into the fold of the theater, they woke up something that even I had forgotten how much I loved. In the years since then, I have had the pleasure to work with and learn from Clelia, but also meet some of my most wonderful friends (Dianne, Susan, Michael, Don, Mary Ann, Sherri, Keith, Amy, and the beautiful David Glowacki). I wish I could say my story is unique, but it is not. In fact, once you get to know Ms. Sheppard and her entire family, you will realize that it’s really quite common. [Read more…]
ANDY ZAHN: Remembering a REAL March Storm (1962)
From the book “Great Storms of the Jersey Shore” © Down The Shore Publishing
By ANDY ZAHN
Cape Charles Wave
March 9, 2015
Long Beach Island, NJ, “14 miles of beach 6 miles at sea.” That’s what the sign says. Connected to the mainland by a causeway and a high level bridge. The bridge was built in 1957-1958 and replaced the old drawbridge. The drawbridge, no longer in use, was shipped to Chincoteague where perhaps millions of people used it to see the Pony Penning and enjoy the ocean as well as enjoy the Oyster and Seafod Festivals.
In 1962 we were new to the area and very broke. We rented a house in Manahawkin for $75 a month and were about eaten alive by the Jersey mosquitoes. Manahawkin is on the west side of the causeway, so logically we crossed over the bridge and bought a 60′ x 100′ lot from the town of Ship Bottom for around $2,500. There were several lots for sale in an area created by material dredged from the bay, and we selected the one with the highest elevation.
We joined the Teachers’ Credit Union, hocked the title to the car, wheeled and dealed and finagled (I was a math teacher), and had a tiny three bedroom house erected on our lot for around $9,000, bought a washer, dryer and refrigerator, and for about $13,000 we were homeowners! The mortgage was 20 years at 6% and principal with interest came to $65 a month! My first monthly payment reduced the principal by 10 cents and so we made extra principal payments to speed thing up.
Ship Bottom is about a mile wide from the ocean to the bay and we were a few houses from the bay. On the 5th of March we walked on the beach by the ocean and it was flat calm. I never saw the ocean so calm with not any breakers. Wally Kinan, the weatherman on TV, gave no hint of any unusual weather the next day.
When I awoke on March 6 the wind was from the northeast and howling. Driving rain mixed with snow. The new high school was already overcrowded and the 7th and 8th grades came in on a late shift, so I just watched the storm and waited to go to work. [Read more…]
FRIDAY 3/13: Nanotechnology — Past and Future of a Big Little Idea
The Science and Philosophy Seminar next offering is “Nanotechnology: the Past and Future of a Big Little Idea.” The free 90-minute seminar will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, March 13, in the Lecture Hall of Eastern Shore Community College, 29300 Lankford Hwy., Melfa. [Read more…]
SATURDAY 3/14: Spay/Neuter and Other Pet Services Offered
A benefactor is paying to have the Virginia Beach SPCA Neuter Scooter visit Cape Charles on Saturday, March 14. It will be parked in the old Meatland parking lot at the entrance to town. Call Sharyl @ 757-331-3037 for an appointment. The SPCA will also offer a vaccine clinic from 11 a.m to noon. Vaccines are $18 each. Cat and dog flea preventative ($55-65 for 6 months) and dewormer ($8) will also be available. [Read more…]
TUESDAY 3/17: New Date for County Rezoning Information Meeting
The Public Informational Meeting sponsored by Northampton County with regard to the proposed revised Zoning Ordinance and Map has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 17, at Kiptopeke Elementary School Cafeteria from 7-10 p.m. This will provide an informal opportunity for the public to learn about the proposed revised zoning ordinance, to ask questions of staff, and to view the proposed revised zoning map for the County. [Read more…]
March 22/23: Libraryhost Authors Read, Discuss Works
Friends of the Cape Charles Memorial Library will host two nationally renowned authors this month. On Sunday, March 22, from 2-4 p.m., author Kate Gray will lead a discussion of her debut novel, Carry the Sky, at the Cape Charles Civic Center, 500 Tazewell Avenue. On Monday, March 23, from 7-9 p.m. at the library on Mason Avenue, Kate Gray will read from Carry the Sky and Sheri Reynolds of Cape Charles will read from The Homespun Wisdom of Myrtle T. Cribb and from her newer, yet to be published book.
Northampton Alumni Association Announces Scholarship Applications
Northampton County High School Alumni Association and its affiliated Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, announce the 26th year of awarding scholarships to graduating seniors in Northampton County and other assistance to students residing in the County. Since 1989, the Association, and later its Foundation, have undertaken the mission of encouraging students to seek post-secondary educational opportunities and to participate in enriching activities during their school years in Northampton.
