NORTHAMPTON SCHOOL BOARD
Kiptopeke Elementary Hopes for Provisional Accreditation
Northampton County school principals Ron Yorko at Occohannock Elementary, Alvin Coleman (standing) at Northampton High, and Elizabeth Fennell at Kiptopeke Elementary. (Wave photo)
By SARAH BARBAN
Cape Charles Wave
October 26, 2012
Northampton County Schools have been facing their fair share of troubles — from accreditation, to staffing, to test scores. The county school board even had to call in an outside company, Edison Learning, to try and help sort out the issues.
At the Northampton County School Board meeting October 24, it appeared that rough seas are still ahead.
Due to last year’s unsatisfactory math scores at Kiptopeke Elementary, the school cannot be deemed fully accredited.
The three classifications for accreditation are: fully accredited, accredited with a warning, and seeking additional accreditation.
Kiptopeke falls under the latter.
“We have to make a request to the [state] Board of Education for their consideration to see if they will give Kiptopeke that rating of additional accreditation,” reported Superintendent Walter Clemons.
With the exception of math, Kiptopeke’s scores went up in all other areas, including reading, language arts, science, and social studies.
The State Board of Education met October 25 to decide whether to grant Kiptopeke a status of additional accreditation needed. The school awaits the decision.
Clemens lamented that in these difficult times, Northampton County schools, along with the entire United States, face federal budget cuts under the Budget Control Act of 2011, known as sequestration.
The cuts could affect Federal programs such as Title One, Head Start, English Language Acquisition, IDEA, and Career and Technical Education. [Read more…]
Town Council Candidates Bennett, Burke Face off Tonight
Dan Burke
Steve Bennett
By CAPE CHARLES WAVE STAFF
October 25, 2012
Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Palace Theater, Cape Charles residents will have a chance to hear and question the two candidates running for Town Council.
The candidates are, in alphabetical order, Steve Bennett, a Bay Creek resident with years of political activity in Cape Charles, and newcomer Dan Burke, who moved to the Historic District 16 months ago.
Town Council elections normally are in May. The November 6 special election, concurrent with the Presidential election, is due to the death of Don Clarke, who was elected May 1 to Town Council but passed away in June before taking office.
Thursday’s candidate forum was organized by Town staff with the cooperation of Arts Enter.
The moderator will be Northampton County Supervisor Willie Randall. [Read more…]
Old School Group Protests Tax Credits to Remove Parkland
The Town of Cape Charles official website above states: “the Cape Charles school building still occupies the park.” Old School Cape Charles, LLC, has sent the above printout to Richmond, asking why the National Park Service would enable a portion of Central Park, including the school, basketball court, and parking area, to be converted to an apartment building.
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 19, 2012
Old School Cape Charles, LLC, the group fighting to save the school in Central Park from becoming an apartment building, has launched a new frontal attack: tax credits.
The would-be apartment developers, Echelon Resources, Inc., have always maintained they will not take ownership of the school until the Virginia Department of Historic Resources approves their application for tax credits.
Echelon hopes to receive a 45 percent rebate of its expenses to remodel the school into apartments — 20 percent from the federal government and 25 percent from the state of Virginia.
That rebate would come from tax credits “syndicated” with investors operating other profitable enterprises. Investors in the Echelon project could use the credits to pay taxes on their other businesses.
Both the federal and state tax credit approval process is managed by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in Richmond.
Historic Resources Department Director Kathleen Kilpatrick informed the Old School group October 5 that
“. . . neither the Department nor the National Park Service have authority to deny credits if a legal applicant fully meets the requirements of the program as set forth in law and regulations.”
So Old School has set out to document why Echelon Resources fails to meet the “requirements of the program.” [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…]
Bay Creek Shops Foreclosed, Shutting Down; Aqua Remains
“End of Season Sale” reads the flier in The Shops at Bay Creek. But it’s also the end of the line — the Shops are closing permanently next Saturday. (Wave photo)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 14, 2012
The Shops at Bay Creek, comprising four stores in the building located between Bay Creek Marina and Aqua Restaurant, are closing at the end of this week, victims of a bank foreclosure.
The Shops, Aqua, and the Marina are three separate business entities, and only the Shops are being foreclosed.
The Shops include:
— Bahama Breeze clothing store for men and women;
— Veranda arts and novelties;
— Purple Pelican gifts and wine; and
— Seaside Gallery, featuring paintings and prints by local artist Thelma Peterson.
The Shops will be open through Saturday, October 20. Employees who spoke to the Wave said they had no idea when or if any of the businesses might reopen under new management.
Most merchandise is on sale at 75 percent off. [Read more…]
Service Honors Cape Charles’ Only Fallen Police Officer
At Wednesday’s dedication to 1918 Cape Charles fallen police officer, Virginia Marine Resources Commission and Norfolk Police Department present colors. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 11, 2012
Almost a century ago a Cape Charles police officer was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a double shooting suspect. Yesterday, Sgt. James A. Taylor was honored with a ceremony in Central Park and a memorial stone.
“Sgt. Taylor paid the ultimate price by giving his life in the line of duty 95 years ago,” Cape Charles Police Chief Charles “Sambo” Brown told townspeople and area law enforcement officers assembled in the park. “We have left room on the monument for other names,” Brown said, “but I pray that we will add no more names.”
A group of Sgt. Taylor’s descendants came to Cape Charles to attend the ceremony.
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the Norfolk Police Department provided a color guard, and Pastor Russell Goodrich of First Baptist Church offered a prayer and scripture reading.
Northampton Sheriff’s Deputy Terry Thomas sang “You Raise Me Up.”
Cape Charles Mayor Dora Sullivan read a letter from Gov. Robert McDonnell honoring Taylor’s service and sacrifice. McDonnell also expressed appreciation for Cape Charles Police Officer Jim Pruitt and his colleagues for organizing the dedication service. (Read letter here.)
Vice Mayor Chris Bannon read two poems, “The Final Inspection,” and A Hero Is.”
Members of Montgomery County Police Pipes and Drums played “Amazing Grace.”
Perhaps the most poignant moment was the “Final Radio Call,” with Chief Brown holding his walkie-talkie to the microphone as the Town Police dispatcher repeatedly called for Sgt. James Taylor to respond.
There was no answer. [Read more…]
Dedication Today in Central Park for Policeman Slain in 1918
This letter from Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell will be read by Cape Charles Mayor Dora Sullivan at Wednesday’s Memorial Service in Central Park. Click on letter to view second page.
October 10, 2012
Cape Charles Police Department and fellow law enforcement officers are holding a dedication service 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 10, at Central Park.
The event commemorates the Cape Charles police officer James A. Taylor, who died November 29, 1918 in the line of duty.
Taylor was killed while attempting to arrest a shooting suspect. He left behind a wife and eight children.
The Cape Charles Police Department notes that “Sgt. Taylor gave his life to protect the citizens of Cape Charles, and this would be even more tragic if he is forgotten.”
Cape Charles Mayor Dora Sullivan will read a letter from Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell honoring Sgt. Taylor. A memorial stone will be placed in his memory. [Read more…]
