Gull Hummock Expands: What’s Their Secret?

By TED WARNER
Cape Charles Wave

April 8, 2013

A little more than a year ago, shortly after having received the job offer that would ultimately bring me to Cape Charles, I decided to spend a day driving around the Eastern Shore — to see if could imagine, one day, calling this peninsula my home. I didn’t know what I was looking for. So it was hard to find.

But turning off the highway, just past the Food Lion, I made my way into Cape Charles and drove slowly, sizing everything up.

The first store that I stopped at was Gull Hummock.

“What is a ‘gull hummock’?” one wonders.

A hummock is small mound of earth and, while their formation is its own geological story, whenever you are looking at very lumpy terrain, you can say: “Look at all ‘em hummocks.” Now imagine a colony of seagulls alighting on a hummock. It was a busy day for the seagull and now he just wants a nice place to pause for some friendly chit chat and maybe a wine tasting.

That’s what Gull Hummock is.

It’s a small, warm store, filled to the gills with carefully selected wines, cheeses, breads, soaps, ice creams, chocolates, and other healthy foods (healthy for the soul, at least.)

The good stuff. The gourmet.

“Carefully selected” isn’t an overstatement. Jon and Honey Moore, the owners, travel to wine shows and conventions in order to select the best available products. Their wine tastings are orchestrated for flavor, with three price points, and are a delight. And, when you read the contents of any of the packaged foods, you’ll note the absence of trans fats and all those other chemicals.

Next time you’re there: pick up any product and ask Honey to tell you about it. She’ll tell you a story. [Read more…]

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APRIL CALENDAR for Town of Cape Charles

COMPILED BY CAPE CHARLES RECREATION DEPARTMENT

EVERY TUESDAY — Free Computer Classes for Beginners every Tuesday at 11 a.m. Call the Cape Charles Memorial Library to register at 757-331-1300

EVERY WEDNESDAY — Arts and crafts every Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Cape Charles Memorial Library

EVERY THURSDAY — Story time every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the Cape Charles Memorial Library

EVERY THURSDAY — New Roots Youth Garden Spring Session every Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m.

April 5 — Blessing of The Fleet at Cape Charles Town Harbor.  Ceremony begins 5:30 p.m.

April 15 — 2012 Business license payments due

April 15 — Golf Cart decals expire.  Decals can be obtained at local inspection stations.

April 18, 20, 21 — “London Suites” at the Palace Theatre

April 20 — Rain Barrel workshop in Central Park 2 p.m.

April 25 — Cape Charles Photo Exhibit at Arts Enter 6 p.m

April 27 — Cape Charles Historical Society Low County Shrimp Boil at Cape Charles Museum. 5-9 p.m.  Tickets on sale.

April 28 — Cape Charles Inaugural Band Concert at the Palace Theatre

THURSDAY 4/4: Town Council Budget Work Session

Cape Charles Town Council will hold a work session 3 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at Town Hall. [Read more…]

EDITORIAL: The Cost of Lawsuits

April 1, 2013

Last week somebody posted the following notice on the Cape Charles Post Office telephone pole:

DID YOU KNOW??

ATTENTION

So far our town of Cape Charles has 

spent $76,386.01 of your money for

attorney’s fees to respond to the lawsuit 

from Old School Cape Charles.

You and every other town resident will

pay for this foolish lawsuit!!!

Ask the Wave . . . why they didn’t 

publish this!

So far, no one has asked the WAVE — but if they did we would refer them to our March 4 analysis, where we wrote: Records show that since July 1 of last year, the Town has spent almost $64,000 on the [Old School lawsuits].

There were legal costs prior to July 1, so the anonymous telephone poll poster probably got it right: total attorney fees of $76,386 and, to be precise, one penny.

If the unknown informant had wanted that fact circulated to the most possible people, he or she could have written a letter to the editor at the WAVE. We would have published it. (Of course, that would have required the writer to have the courage to identify himself.)

But there was even another way: send it for publication in the ANONYMOUS section of the WAVE. We would have published that as well.

Regardless, the unknown writer raises a salient, if unintended, point: why does the Town of Cape Charles, with a population of 1,000, spend so much money on lawyers?

The $76,000 is not the total cost for Old School legal fees. As the WAVE has reported, the Town paid its own attorney $15,000 just to review the contract to convey the Old School to a developer for a price of $10.

That should make the Guinness World Records:  legal costs were 1,500 times the sales price.

Worse, Town Council proceeded to ignore the Town attorney’s advice to require a performance bond and a buyback option in the contract. So if the developers fail to carry out their plan to convert the school and parkland into a 17-unit apartment building, there is no penalty, and nothing the Town can do about it.

Except, perhaps, sue. And at what cost?

The $15,000 legal fee also seems money badly spent considering that the Town attorney failed to raise a red flag over language in the contract stating that Purchaser shall not operate the Project as a low-income housing facility under any state or federal program. That got the Town in hot water with fair housing advocates and, as a result, state legislators. After the building was already sold, the Town revised the contract to drop the offending language.

So, adding the $15,000 fee to review the Old School contract to the $76,000 to answer the lawsuit brings the legal cost to the taxpayer to $91,000. [Read more…]

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LINDEMAN: Help Our Accomack Neighbors Fight Arson

By BRUCE LINDEMAN
Cape Charles Wave

March 28, 2013

Since mid-November, 74 arsons in Accomack County have been recorded. Investigators are trying desperately to find the person or persons responsible and have recently announced an award of up to $5,000 for information leading to the capture of the arsonist(s) from the Virginia Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (http://www.vaiaai.com).

Since these fires have been widespread, fighting the blazes has involved many local volunteer fire departments throughout the county –- departments with limited funds to respond to the extraordinary number of calls.

These blazes have stressed many of Accomack’s volunteer fire and rescue personnel to the point where they are running out of supplies and the budget to replace them. To date, these brave men and women have logged 3,700 hours fighting these fires.

How can we help? I asked Billie Jean Miles at the Accomack County Department of Public Safety. Below is the information she sent me.

Volunteer! There are fifteen volunteer fire & rescue stations located in Accomack County. A complete list with contact information can be found at http://www.acdps.net/page/volunteer-fire-and-rescue.

There are various ways one could volunteer and not necessarily be a firefighter and/or EMS provider. Maybe you have some extra time to help clean equipment or fire hoses, assist with one of their upcoming fundraisers, staff the rehab unit, or provide administrative support. Contact your local station to see how you could make a difference.

Give! An account has been established for monetary donations. All donations are tax-deductible. Donations can be dropped off at any Shore Bank location or mailed to Shore Bank (c/o Accomack Firefighter’s Assistance Fund), P.O. Box 920, Onley VA 23418. [Read more…]

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USS Missouri Gun Barrel Leaving Town

By SUSAN RICE
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

March 28, 2013

The USS Missouri gun barrel is leaving town, moving April 1 to the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge in Kiptopeke.

The barrel has sat in the Bay Coast Rail Yard in Cape Charles for the past year. It will depart the rail yard about 9:30 a.m. Monday and will take about two hours to travel the 12-mile route on Highway 13.

Once at the refuge, the barrel will be restored and put on permanent display.

The 16”/50 Caliber Mark VII gun barrel (#393) was on the USS Missouri at the time of the signing of the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945.

The barrel weighs 120 tons and is similar to the barrel which was in the bunker at the former Fort John Custis, now part of the Wildlife Refuge. [Read more…]

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SHORE THING: One Lucky Dog

By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

March 25, 2013

My wife and I are walkers (and joggers of a sort), and a big attraction of the Historic District is its walkability. So, most mornings for the past couple of years we have been “making our rounds.”

First we head to the beach, then out to the end of the pier, thence up Front Street (Mason Avenue, but I’m trying to sound like a local), left on Peach, then through Central Park, continuing on Monroe past Fig, all the way to Bahama Road (reachable from Monroe by foot but not by car).

From there we cross Lake Foster, approaching the gated community of Jellybean Village. And since what happens from that point possibly involves illegal activity, I’ll just conclude by saying that eventually we wind up back in the Historic District.

That’s a generic description of our “rounds,” which might run in the opposite direction the next day, and which also might entail detours, side paths, and shortcuts.

It’s a good way to meet people – and dogs (and cats).

In the people category, we’ve made a good friend who makes his rounds much more faithfully than we. But unlike us, he never varies his route. Visit the Natural Area Preserve behind the WACO building any morning (and I do mean any morning, rain or shine) and you’ll likely see him coming or going.

In the dog category, we’ve met any number. I consider myself very much a “dog person,” so I feel some jealousy that, invariably, any dog we encounter ignores me in favor of getting attention from my wife. She greets them, compliments them, and rubs them. Of course they like her! [Read more…]

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LETTER: County Should Not Cut School Board Positions

March 23, 2013

DEAR EDITOR,

We would like to register our disagreement as well as displeasure concerning the consideration by the Northampton County Board of Supervisors with the elimination of the two at-large members of the school board, thereby reducing the number of members from seven to five.

Removing the two at-large positions for this first election will possibly eliminate candidates who happen to live in the same district. Currently, if as many as three citizens worthy of being elected live in the same district, they nevertheless are able to run for election (two at-large and one in the district) with the possibility of being elected.

With the elimination of the two at-large positions only one of those three candidates can be elected. The chance for diversity of all kinds so necessary in our community will be lessened. We need more voices rather than less at this very important time. [Read more…]

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March Winds Leave Their Mark on Harbor

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

March 15, 2013

Recent gale-force winds left their mark on the Bay Coast Railroad at Cape Charles Harbor: The shed covering the historic excursion car looks like it would have been flattened without support from the rail car.

Meanwhile, the float bridge, used to load cars on barges, partially broke lose from its supports and listed hard to port. Welders began repairs earlier this week.

Overseeing it all was an osprey, just returned to its established nesting spot on harbor pilings. The wind seems not to have disturbed the nest. (Wave photos)

(Click “Read more” to leave a comment) [Read more…]

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Mandatory Sewer Charges Pondered for Cheriton

By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

March 13, 2013

Northampton County Board of Supervisors yesterday heard cost options for expanding sewer service into the County from the Cape Charles treatment plant.

County Executive Director Katie Nunez laid out various costs to the Supervisors, all of which entail running a pipeline from the new treatment plant near the Town Harbor to at least as far as Highway 13.

The Supervisors are interested in expanded sewage treatment to spur economic development in Northampton County.

Public Service Authority Chairman Bob Panek, who is also assistant town manager for Cape Charles, is promoting expanded sewerage as a way to reduce treatment costs. If fixed costs are shared by more customers, rates could be lower.

Cape Charles Town Council has tentatively given a go-ahead to explore expanded treatment options, despite concerns that commercial development on Highway 13 could compete with Town businesses.

Just how much a customer outside Cape Charles would pay for wastewater treatment remains unknown.

The PSA envisions extending service first to businesses near the Highway 13-Route 184 (Stone Road) intersection, as well as to Fairview Mobile Home Park. Infrastructure costs are estimated at $2 million.

Phase Two would extend service to Cheriton. Nunez said that Cheriton would need to enact a mandatory participation ordinance unless at least 80 percent of residents voluntarily requested service.

Nunez conceded that getting 80 percent of Cheriton residents to request sewage treatment was unlikely. But under a mandatory participation ordinance they would have no choice. [Read more…]

LETTER: Make Old Library Available to Community Groups

March 12, 2013

DEAR EDITOR,

Cape Charles is about to have a beautiful new library. The old library building and excess computers should be provided to organizations that are focused on community activities, both educational and recreational.

Concerned Citizens of Cape Charles, a non-profit organization, was formed by local residents in 1989. The working class community organized to be better informed, educated, and empowered to become a part of the civic decision-making process, and to accept responsibility for self improvement and in turn community improvements at a time when the Town did not have the human or financial resources to sustain itself.

The organization’s mission is to improve the lives and living conditions of the working class residents through human development and the creation and development of a sustainable community.

Concerned Citizens became the advocate and the voice for the disenfranchised. The organization brought many resources to Cape Charles, including hundreds of student volunteers who worked on community projects including installing shelves in the Library, painting a senior’s house, moving scenery at Arts Enter, and gardening at the Museum.

The group also fought for changes to promote community stability such as zoning laws that allowed in-fill housing development and other laws favorable to improving the quality of life.

Channel 10 was on our side when the Town wanted to use $1.2 million in Community Development Block Grants for infrastructure improvements instead of the most critical need of housing rehabilitation.

Concerned Citizens also brought national media attention to its fight to save the predominantly African-American Northeast neighborhood when a developer’s plan for a resort retirement community would have destroyed the neighborhood and displaced its residents. [Read more…]

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