Town Ordered to Repay $18,000 for Library Computers
Computers in the new Cape Charles Memorial Library are the most-used feature. (Wave photo)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
May 28, 2013
The Town of Cape Charles has been ordered to pay back $18,000 for computers purchased through grant funds.
The computers are now located in the Town’s new library in the former Bank of America building. Previously they were housed in the Cape Charles Christian School.
Town Manager Heather Arcos informed Town Council May 16 that “a citizen complaint” that the computers were not available to the public was made to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) last fall when the computers were in the Christian School.
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) investigated, and instructed the Town to make the computers available to the public by December 19, 2012.
According to Arcos, the computers were moved from the Christian School to the new library building on December 11. The library had not yet opened, but “a computer class schedule was posted with pre-registration requirements until the relocation of the library.”
However, no one registered, and no classes were held. The DHCD made an unannounced visit and found the building locked.
As a result, Arcos said, DHCD ordered the Town to repay $18,000 of grant money. [Read more…]
Madonia Family in Bankruptcy; Tomato Farms, Land for Sale
Brokerage sign for Madonia property for sale in Oyster. (Wave photo)
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
May 25, 2013
Batista Madonia and his family, owners of extensive local properties, have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Assets of the family-owned East Coast Brokers and Packers are being offered for sale by sealed bid.
The Madonia family owns property in Virginia and Florida including farms, packing houses, labor camps, a luxury hotel, and a former Bible college.
According to the Packer, an industry newsletter, court records show the Madonias owe more than $15 million in liens and judgments to state and federal governments and crop production services. There also is a $5.6 million lien from Chicago wholesaler Anthony Marano Co.
“After two years of freezes on its Florida farms, a hurricane on its Virginia farms in 2011, and years of challenges resulting from years of cheap imports, a Chapter 11 filing was needed to provide the Madonia family an opportunity to sell assets in an organized fashion,” said Ken Nofziger of Murray Wise Associates, the real estate firm conducting the sales.
“This process will provide enough liquidity to satisfy creditors and allow the Madonia family to reorganize and carry on its operations,” Nofziger said.
Properties for sale in Northampton and Accomack counties include 13 farms totaling 3,000 acres, four packing houses, seven labor camps, and several homes.
Northampton County tax rolls list 26 properties owned by the Madonia family, including three homes in Bay Creek. [Read more…]
Why Did Cape Charles Build a New Sewer Plant?
New Town sewage treatment plant cost about $19 million, with $14 million paid by government grants. (Wave photo)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
May 24, 2013
Pop quiz: Cape Charles built a new $19 million sewage treatment plant because:
A. The old plant was too small;
B. The old plant was polluting the Bay;
C. Government sewer grants were too good an offer to refuse;
D. Both A and B;
E. Both B and C;
F. None of the above.
(Answer appears at end of story)
In an effort to bring clarity to an otherwise murky subject, the Wave met recently with Town Manager Heather Arcos and Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek. The latter was the driving force behind the new sewer plant.
Panek informed Town Council last week that the new wastewater treatment plant is substantially complete, with the exception of plans to reuse a portion of the effluent currently flowing into the Bay.
The plant has been treating wastewater since April 2012, and has reduced nitrogen and phosphorous discharge into the Bay by 93 percent compared to the old plant, according to Panek.
Arcos and Panek claim that when all expenses have been paid, the project will have cost about $300,000 less than the budgeted $19.2 million.
But whether the Town came in under budget or over budget depends on the starting point.
The $19.2 million includes cost overruns and change orders amounting to $558,000. So even with the $300,000 savings, the final cost is $258,000 higher than originally budgeted.
But there can be no argument that the Town got a good deal on the project: The Water Quality Improvement Fund provided $8 million, and the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund (funded by the Federal stimulus program) contributed another $6 million, free and clear.
The Town borrowed the remaining budgeted $5.2 million from the same Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund, but at not quite as good terms: this money has to be repaid, albeit at 0 percent interest. [Read more…]
USS Missouri Gun Barrel Ribbon Cutting Saturday
USS Missouri gun barrel arrives at new home at Wildlife Refuge. (USFWS photo)
By SUSAN RICE
Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
May 23, 2013
The Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge is celebrating military history and honoring veterans this Memorial Day weekend.
On Saturday, May 25, at 2 p.m. the Wildlife Refuge will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newest refuge addition –- a 120 ton, 68-foot gun barrel which was on the USS Missouri when the Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945, ending World War II.
The public is invited to come touch this piece of military history and listen to someone who served on the USS Missouri talk about its storied past.
One can also learn about Fort John Custis, the Army base which was located at the Wildlife Refuge and housed two 16” guns for the protection of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
There will be pomp and circumstance with a Navy Color Guard, and a Navy veteran playing the National Anthem on the saxophone. [Read more…]
Town Water Line Flush Begins Tonight at 9 p.m.
May 22, 2013
Town of Cape Charles utility workers will be flushing the water lines beginning 9 p.m. tonight (Wednesday).
The flushing will continue until 2 a.m. Thursday morning.
The Town cautions residents not to use any water during the flushing period, as sediment could be drawn into their water lines. [Read more…]
Town Planner Bonadeo Retiring; Replacement Appointed
Town Planner Tom Bonadeo’s last day is May 28. (Wave photo)
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
May 20, 2013
Cape Charles Town Planner Tom Bonadeo had planned to retire November 1, but recently moved up the date. His last day of work now will be Tuesday, May 28.
Town Manager Heather Arcos has announced that Robert Testerman will become the new Town Planner as of Friday, May 31.
Testerman is the Land Use Planner for Accomack County, where he has worked for six years. He is a 2006 graduate of Virginia Tech.
Arcos said that three candidates were interviewed for the Town Planner position.
One of Bonadeo’s final projects is to set limits on residential occupancy in the Harbor District. He has urged the Cape Charles Planning Commission to recommend that density be calculated according to a formula known as Floor Area Ratio (FAR). [Read more…]
Developer Rejects Request to Allow Hoops on Empty Court
J. David McCormack, new owner of the Town’s only basketball court, has refused to allow the court to be used during the time it sits idle awaiting conversion to a private parking lot. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
May 16, 2013
Real estate developer J. David McCormack, new owner of the former Central Park basketball court and Cape Charles Old School, has rejected a request to allow basketball hoops to be reinstalled on the court.
The request came from two local civic leaders, Lenora Mitchell of Concerned Citizens of Cape Charles, and Wayne Creed of Old School Cape Charles, LLC.
Mitchell and Creed sent developer McCormack a letter after Cape Charles Town Council postponed the deadline for construction at the old school to August 23.
“During the four months since our Town Council gave our school property to Charon Ventures, the young people in our town have been without a place to play basketball. This is a hardship for both children and their parents, since the basketball court was one of the favorite places for our youths to expend their excess energy,” the letter states.
“We request that you allow the town to reinstall the basketball hoops so that both locals and tourists will have a place to play during the interim period before a new court is constructed,” they wrote.
Yesterday, McCormack told Lenora Mitchell no — he would not agree to allow the Town to use the basketball court.
According to Mitchell, McCormack said his reason for denying use was because Old School Cape Charles was suing him.
The Wave left both a voice mail and a text on McCormack’s cell phone last night requesting his side of the story, but did not hear back as of time of publication.
Although McCormack rejected the request from the two civic leaders, the question remains whether he would reject a request from Mayor Dora Sullivan to use the court. [Read more…]
Strawberry Street Getting Yet Another New Business
Owner Suzanne Golibart outside her upscale consignment shop, Periwinkles, opening Thursday, May 16.
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
May 13, 2013
As the month of June approaches, Strawberry Street is “busting out all over.”
It started a year earlier at 16 Strawberry Street, where Drizzles Tasting Shop, a boutique oil shop, injected new life in the “off-Mason” area previously devoid of shops other than a side entrance to Stage Door Gallery.
Then Moonrise Jewelry opened at 22 Strawberry Street with custom designs, quickly followed by expansion into a second storefront.
Now, Suzanne Golibart is opening a “unique consignment boutique” named Periwinkles at 12 Strawberry Street.
Periwinkles will offer “upscale women’s clothing, accessories, and home decor in an eclectic boutique environment,” Golibart says.
The official opening is Thursday, May 16, but Periwinkles is accepting consignment accounts and merchandise now. [Read more…]
