House Near Cape Charles LEEDS Way in Energy Efficiency
Holly Dale Drive home rests on the footprint of an earlier house, resulting in minimum disruption to landscape.
Special to the
Cape Charles Wave
December 12, 2012
A new home just south of the Town of Cape Charles has been certified as the most energy-efficient dwelling on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
The 3,500-square-foot residence on Holly Dale Drive is on a 15-acre lot on Old Plantation Creek. The house has received a Platinum LEED rating (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) — the highest rating possible.
The most important strategy to lower energy consumption in the residence was to design the house to work with the climate.
Orientation, massing, shading, natural ventilation, insulation and highly efficient windows are all crucial elements to the design. Every effort was made to maximize the efficiency of these factors before using energy to make the house comfortable.
Designer Janet Harrison of Annapolis was also the green consultant for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Merrill Center — also a LEED Platinum recipient.
The contractor was Luke Kellam of Belle Haven. “The location provided an opportunity to design and build a home that enhances the natural surroundings and captures the expansive views,” said Kellam. “We made every effort to preserve the tranquil setting with a minimal footprint on the property.” [Read more…]
Don’t Look at These Pictures Unless You Want a Kitten
Grey Bright Eyes
I Love You!
Grey Striper
Sandy the hurricane has departed, but nothing can vanquish Sandy the animal rescue lady. She will not rest until every stray kitten in Cape Charles has adoption papers.
Sandy can counter your every excuse.
No litter box? Included.
No kitty bed? Included.
No cat food? — yep, that’s included too.
Be one of the first three callers, and you can choose your kitten’s name. [Read more…]
Battle of the Yard Signs: Democrats on Top in Historic District
Almost 300 yard signs are posted in the Historic District, including national and local political races,
For Sale signs, and support for local initiatives. (Wave photo)
By CAPE CHARLES WAVE STAFF
October 22, 2012
Yard signs tell a story — whether or not it’s an accurate one.
In observance of the political silly season, Wave staff drove 15 miles up and down each street in the Cape Charles Historic District yesterday, recording every single yard sign they saw — almost 300 in all.
That includes political signs, For Sale signs, and various community advocacy signs. Permanent signs such as for vacation rentals were not counted.
The biggest surprise was that the Blue candidates (Obama, Kaine, Herschbiel) trounced the Red ones.
That doesn’t mean Cape Charles has more Democrats than Republicans — it just means more Democrats put up yard signs.
At the local Town Council level, Steve Bennett racked up 43 signs to Dan Burke’s 31. Town Council candidates do not register by political party, so no correlation can be established between the local and national races.
One interesting phenomenon: all five Cape Charles bed & breakfasts are displaying Steve Bennett signs. Bennett thus wins the “George Washington slept here” award.
Community Center/Old School Cape Charles, with many variations, recorded 31 signs.
Worthy of mention: “Prayer: America’s Only Hope” was seen 8 times. [Read more…]
20th Annual Harvest Festival Again a FEAST-A-FULL
Victor Abrahamian from Cape Charles wore Native American dress to Wednesday’s Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Harvest Festival at Sunset Beach. He was promoting the theater production “Piece of Eden” scheduled for November at the Palace Theater. (Wave photos)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 4, 2012
“You have to go at least once to the Harvest Festival.”
And so we did, and had a great time.
The weather behaved, and I did too —
by keeping my promise to my 60-year-old stomach not to try to get my money’s worth by eating $40 worth of food.
Because the Harbor Festival is not just all about the food.
(That’s a lie — it IS all about the food.)
But there’s a county fair spirit about it all, along with a see-and-be-seen atmosphere.
The weather was fine (hot and humid beats rain),
the food was par excellence,
and spirits were high.
And Sunset Beach is the PERFECT place for a few thousand Shore folks to gather.
So what’s not to like?
See you back next year! [Read more…]
Moonrise Jewelry to Toast Success at Grand Opening
Moonrise Jewelry founder Meredith Restein is holding a grand opening for her Strawberry Street shop Friday, September 28, from 5-9 p.m. in celebration of the national recognition she is receiving for her coastal designs.
By DONNA BOZZA
Special to the Cape Charles Wave
September 25, 2012
Two months ago, 7th generation Shore native Meredith Restein took a chance and expanded her wholesale jewelry business by opening a retail showroom and working studio in Cape Charles on Strawberry Street.
Since then, Restein says, her Moonrise Jewelry business has been phenomenal.
“It’s far exceeded my most optimistic expectations — it’s been so outstanding we’re expanding to the next building so we have more room for production,” she said.
Customers have been mostly tourists, folks with second homes here, and boaters — along with local people bringing in visiting family and friends.
But “it was my Shore customers who kept me going in a down economy,” said Restein. “They didn’t let me lose faith.”
Restein has heard many women express surprise to find a sophisticated shop like Moonrise Jewelry in the area.
The same can be said for her Strawberry Street neighbor, “Drizzles,” which markets upscale oils, coffee, and condiments. Drizzles opened only a few months before Moonrise Jewelry, and together, the two shops are transforming Strawberry Street.
Restein started her Shore-based business 10 years ago. But her big break came this spring, when her coastal-inspired jewelry was hand-picked by the “queen of women’s shapewear,” Spanx founder Sara Blakely, for the company’s Leg Up promotion. [Read more…]
Local Artisans Exhibiting Sea Glass at National Festival
Cape Charles Mayor Dora Sullivan puts the finishing touches on her original sea glass creation which she will show at the 2012 North American Sea Glass Festival September 15-16 in Virginia Beach. (Wave photo)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
Sea glass, or beach glass, is big business. If you live in Cape Charles you already know that. Several shops on Mason Avenue sell sea glass, including “Dora’s Beach Glass.”
That’s Town Mayor Dora Sullivan, who doesn’t just sell glass – she also crafts it.
This week Sullivan has been putting the finishing touches on some decorative fish with scales made from green and beige sea glass. She’s taking the artwork to exhibit at the North American Sea Glass Festival in Virginia Beach September 15-16.
The festival is a big deal: 10,000 people are expected to attend.
As a sea glass expert, Sullivan was selected to address the festival. She plans to tell about Cape Charles, and why it’s such a good source of sea glass.
But there’s one thing she won’t be telling: where she gets her sea glass. That’s her secret recipe. [Read more…]
Cape Charles Scenes: Plein Air Artists Compete Outdoors
Susan Check and Jenny Windsor of Virginia Beach set up easels in the shade at the harbor to paint the concrete plant. (Wave photos)
BY KAREN JOLLY DAVIS
Cape Charles Wave
September 5, 2012
Twenty painters scattered around Cape Charles over Labor Day weekend to create quick — and beautiful — works of art. Then they gathered at the Stage Door Gallery for their paintings to be judged and awarded prizes.
“On a day that’s not brutally hot, it’s just pleasant to be outside,” said Susan Check. She and Jenny Windsor, both from Virginia Beach, had set up their easels in the small gazebo on the town harbor. They wanted to paint in the shade, and were fascinated by the view that combined boats and a concrete plant.
“We do quite a few plein air events,” said Windsor. “It makes you make decisions fast. It pushes you.”
This weekend’s painting flurry was the fifth plein air happening organized by Arts Enter. The artists scattered all over town, and produced multiple canvases.
Sunday evening, the artists gathered with their paintings to display their work at the Stage Door Gallery and be judged by Irene Ritter, a stone sculptor, former deputy mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, and former editor of Nashville Magazine. Ritter has been friends with gallery manager Ellen Moore for 40 years, and stayed with her during the event.
Artists, art lovers and potential buyers milled around the gallery as Ritter scrutinized each piece. Then someone rang the big iron bell and the crowd hushed. [Read more…]
For a Successful Party, Just Add Water
Local favorites Heather & Nathan close out Saturday night’s “Applaud the Sun” party next to the Cape Charles pier. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
September 2, 2012
Last night’s final Northampton Chamber of Commerce summer party got it right. After experimenting with locales, the Chamber seems to have found a venue intimately suited to their size events.
That site is the grassy area adjoining Cape Charles pier — with high enough elevation to enjoy a wonderful view of the Bay.
Although Chamber advertising described the location as “at the Boardwalk Gazebo,” fortunately it was at neither the boardwalk nor the Gazebo. Because as was painfully evident at the last street party by the Gazebo, from the street you can’t see the water.
Last night, everyone got a water view. A full moon turned out for the party as well, although it struggled to break through the haze.
But no rain was in sight — only fair, after the Chamber’s last party had to be postponed twice due to weather.
This writer earlier urged the Chamber to return to Cape Charles Harbor. Subsequently, a Chamber member confided that they left the Harbor because of competition with the new Shanty Restaurant, which also features a band.
So now, Cape Charles is “Party Central” — choose your locale.
And don’t forget Sunday’s Picnic in the Park. What a great way to close out a great summer!
