Shorekeeper Thanks Public for Keeping Up Pressure
By JAY FORD
Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper
October 28, 2014
Last night (October 27) the Northampton Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to keep the vital water quality protections of the Bay Protection Act in place county wide. This is a huge step in protecting our delicate intertidal zone and the men and women who can make a living because of our clean waters.
Many of you wrote letters to the county, spoke at countless public comment periods, or joined the over 500 citizens in signing our petition to keep the Bay Protection Act and I want to thank each and every one of you.
Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper will continue to work on additional threats to our water quality included in the zoning overhaul but we also believe in taking time to give credit when credit is due. Please take a moment to contact your supervisor and thank them for keeping the Bay Protection Act in place county-wide. [Read more…]
Cape Charles Wave Announces Winter Hours
October 20, 2014
The Cape Charles Wave is following the example of Brown Dog Ice Cream by establishing winter hours. The Wave will still publish, but on a reduced schedule.
Readers are invited to continue sending event notices for ON THE TELEPHONE POLE, as well as comments to ANONYMOUS and news to GOSSIP. The CLASSIFIEDS section remains open as well.
LETTERS will be published whenever received, as will COMMENTARIES.
So what’s changing? Essentially, what you read in the Wave will now be largely whenever and whatever the public submits, while the regular reporters hibernate. [Read more…]
EXTRA: Town Planner Rob Testerman Resigns
Town Planner Testerman
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 21, 2014
Two working days after Cape Charles Town Council shot down the “urban chicken” concept, the brainchild behind the proposal, Town Planner Rob Testerman, submitted his resignation.
Mayor George Proto told the Wave that he learned yesterday (Monday) that Testerman was leaving to accept a “better” job with supervisory authority. Proto stressed that Testerman’s departure is on very amicable terms — the town has been very happy with his work over the past year, the mayor said. [Read more…]
Town Council Chickens Out
The year-long “urban chicken” debate is over. (Photo: Stefanie Hadden)
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
October 20, 2014
Cape Charles Town Council spent $25,000 on a chicken study and laid an egg. Council member Chris Bannon provided that cost estimate October 17 at Council’s monthly meeting. Although Bannon did not break down the cost, it presumably is a measure of how many hours were spent on the chicken question by Town Planner Rob Testerman over the past year, as well as the cost for legal counsel to review a proposed town ordinance to allow backyard hens under a highly regulated set of conditions.
Although Testerman clearly wanted to see Cape Charles get on board with the nationwide urban chicken movement, Town Council was not convinced, even though the majority of Historic District residents participating in Testerman’s survey approved of the concept. [Read more…]
Peacewerks Center for Well-Being Opens on Mason Ave.
Peacewerks staffers Gerald Boyd and Polly Boyd
October 20, 2014
Peacewerks Center for Well-Being, LLC, announces its opening in Cape Charles at 109 Mason Avenue, Suite A (the former Sullivan’s Building). Peacewerks is staffed by Gerald E. Boyd and Polly Boyd and exists for the support of individuals, families and communities in the continuous achievement of emotional and spiritual balance and the reclaiming of life. [Read more…]
WAYNE CREED: New Cape Charles Ignores Gritty Past
By WAYNE CREED
October 20, 2014
Some have described the Stay Tuned Music Fest on Oct 4 at the Shanty as a flop, or even an epic fail. Even if it was, that’s not really a bad thing. Getting in the ring and taking a swing is the most important part — these festival things are hard to predict, and given the limited population and demographic, they sometimes don’t turn out as well as we hope.
I know the promoters, and I’m sure they will collect some Lessons Learned, and make some adjustments for next time (maybe move to coincide with Harbor for the Arts, or go old school with Shore Made Music by Shore Made Musicians — then cook up a pig, some crabs or oysters, with plenty of cold beer).
All this aside, there was still something about Stay Tuned Fest that bothered me; as if something was just a bit off. One evening, after a few martinis, staring at the old brick at Kelly’s, I realized just what was bugging me: it was that holding the event at that location (new harbor) lacked so much authenticity, and was so typical of the New Cape Charles — that is, to completely ignore the old Eastern Shore ways and arrogantly try to impose some foreign aesthetic in its place. [Read more…]
Town Conceals Cost of Job Search for New Manager
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 6, 2014
When Cape Charles Town Council approved a $10,000 employee wage study by Springsted Inc. last February, the Wave publicized the action — and a number of readers reacted negatively to the town’s decision. (CLICK to read letter from David Gay: “Town Paying $10,000 for Free Information.”)
Apparently wishing to avoid further bad publicity, when Town Council decided to hire the same firm again — this time to search for a new town manager — they did it behind closed doors. The official minutes following the July 31, 2014, executive session (CLICK) refer only to a motion “to hire Springsted Inc. per their proposal for executive search services for the Town Manager position as discussed.” The “as discussed” part will forever remain secret, as no minutes are recorded for executive sessions. There will be no explanation, for example, why Town Council chose Springsted or whether any other headhunter was even considered. [Read more…]
Cape Charles Area Finally Gets a Vet
Dr. Higgins with a young patient.
By DR. NATHAN HIGGINS
October 6, 2014
There are two questions that I generally get when I meet someone new. It’s either, “Do you have family here?” or “What brought you to the Eastern Shore?”
The first one is easy; no, we don’t have family here. The second is much more complicated and multi-faceted. From the moment we stepped on the Shore in April 2013, we found the contrast to our usual hustle and bustle to be so refreshing. Northampton County was filled with unobstructed charm along with caring people who took the time to get to know us.
We saw an exciting small town community that was growing steadily while keeping a safe, family atmosphere. But we were astounded to hear that there was no veterinary clinic in the county, and to learn how far people were traveling for pet care. [Read more…]
