SHORE THING: Town Tries New Angle in Park Toilet Appeal

By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

January 10, 2013

Act 3 of the little morality play taking place in the historic district will be performed this evening (Thursday) during the Town Council meeting.

The scene for Act 1 was the Hotel Cape Charles, where the Historic District Review Board correctly noticed that the hotel renovations don’t look like the plans the Board had approved.

Owner David Gammino ‘fessed up that after submitting the original plans he got a new, better idea, which would look so much finer than much of the surrounding architecture on Mason Avenue that he didn’t ever imagine anyone would complain.

But as regular readers of the Wave know, Hotel Cape Charles was denied a permanent occupancy certificate, and remains in limbo.

But wait: didn’t anyone read the fine print? That would be Section 8.31 of the Town’s zoning ordinance:

Inspection by Administrator After Approval: When a Certificate of Appropriateness has been issued, the Administrator or Town Building Official shall from time to time inspect the alteration or construction approved by such certificate and shall give prompt notice to the applicant of any work not in accordance with such certificate or violating any ordinance of the Town. The Administrator or Town Building Official may revoke the certificate or the building permit if violations are not corrected by the applicant in a timely manner.

The “certificate of appropriateness” is what the Historic District Review Board issued based on the original drawings for the hotel.

According to the zoning ordinance, it is the responsibility of the Administrator to inspect construction “from time to time” and to give “prompt notice” of work not in accordance with the certificate of appropriateness.

And so the curtain fell on Act 1.

In Act 2 (a humorous diversion) the scene shifted to Central Park. [Read more…]

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Old and New Favorites in ESO Winter Classes

By DONNA BOZZA
Special to the Cape Charles Wave

January 10, 2013

ESO Arts Center offers a “Shore” cure for the winter doldrums with nearly 40 classes and workshops for youth and adults taught by experts, many of whom have been with ESO for decades.

New offerings include “Photography Workshop 101: Making the Most of your Camera and Images,” and “Beginning Russian Language and Culture,” which explores this fascinating country famous for its endless landscapes, vodka, caviar and Dr. Zhivago.

And for children the new ESO Youth Chorale begins January 22.

Back by popular demand is “Tai Chi for Health,” low impact movements geared for adults of all ages, that began January 7. It joins six different varieties of fitness classes, providing something for anyone wanting to keep their New Year’s resolution.

All ages can learn effective self-defense techniques while improving overall physical conditioning and mental focus through karate with Robert Buckner, a Third Degree Black Belt who has been teaching his popular class for over 20 years. [Read more…]

Virginia Sea Turtles Need Help

January 9, 2013

Planning Commission Enters Park Bathroom Controversy

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

January 9, 2013

Cape Charles Planning Commission will discuss layout and site plans for the proposed Central Park bathrooms 6 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Town Hall. Public comments will be heard.

Town Planner Tom Bonadeo acknowledged to the Wave that the Planning Commission normally does not review plans for “by-right” structures. A bathroom is a by-right structure in the park.

The town’s Historic District Review Board approved the bathroom design last month, and construction was underway when a resident objected to the design and siting of the building.

Construction was halted pending an appeal to be heard by Town Council Thursday, January 10.

The appeal cites Historic District guidelines requiring new construction to “relate to the design character of the historic buildings in the area.”

The bathroom was designed to be similar in size, shape and materials to the c. 1980s park sewer pump station.

Bonadeo has urged the Planning Commission to recommend that the group known as Citizens for Central Park be permitted to construct the bathrooms as sited and designed. [Read more…]

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Best Nest Interiors Relocating to Virginia Beach

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

January 8, 2013

Another lower Mason Avenue business is leaving town.

Best Nest Interiors, located at 115 Mason Avenue, has announced that it will close its Cape Charles store after Monday, January 14.

The announcement came in an email from Town Council member Joan Natali to subscribers of “Cape Charles Happenings.”

According to the announcement, Best Nest is relocating to the North Beach Shoppes on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach across the street from Kroger, one block from the bridge tunnel.

“We hope to continue to be a part of Cape Charles. Our home is here and we will maintain a warehouse here for our Cape Charles customers,” owners John Selway and Nikki Schroeder wrote. “We will be keeping in touch with all of you as we make our exciting move to the ‘big city.’ We value all of the support we have received on the Eastern Shore for the last six years.”

The owners anticipate opening the Virginia Beach store  January 18.

Best Nest also once operated a store on Highway 13 in Cheriton but closed it several years ago.

Best Nest has furnished a number of prominent homes on the Eastern Shore, including the new Bay Creek house next to the lighthouse which recently sold for $1.2 million completely furnished.

The west end of Mason Avenue has seen several commercial departures recently, with the biggest hit being the closing of Bank of America at 201 Mason. The bank building subsequently was purchased by the Town of Cape Charles for use as a library.

Harbor Grille at 241 Mason Avenue closed in 2011, but Brown Dog Ice Cream opened at the same location this past July. However, Brown Dog is closed for the winter.

Before Brown Dog opened, a frozen yoghurt shop was planned for the 200 block of Mason, but the owners got no further than erecting a sign before work stopped. [Read more…]

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LINDEMAN: Give Leaders Credit for Getting Involved

By BRUCE LINDEMAN
Cape Charles Wave

January 7, 2013

Be the change you want to see in the world.

We’ve all heard it. Sounds cliché-ish, but there is no truer a sentiment in this day and time.

In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt spoke about “the man in the arena”:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

That speech is of a past time yet also of this time.

We residents of Cape Charles continually face an uphill battle trying to preserve, yet grow. We want to sustain our rural Shore lifestyle, but in a progressive way that is sensitive not only to our amazing historical architecture, but to our family and independent, hard-working values that we so cherish on the Shore.

We welcome new home ownership and tourism, but we do so carefully and by casting a cautious eye. We’ll gladly welcome a new mom-and-pop business, but shun the big-box guys that rely on scale to eek out their profits.

It is a constant struggle.

When Bay Creek came to town, that struggle came to the forefront. Cape Charles saw the opportunity but also recognized that the impending change had to be planned and monitored closely lest we became another Nags Head or Hilton Head. [Read more…]

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LETTER: Who Stole My Nuts? Help Crack the Case

January 5, 2013

DEAR EDITOR:

Who stole my nuts?

There were two new blue 5-gallon buckets full of pecans in our carport.

This dastardly deed occurred sometime during the holidays. My wife and I had spent hours over the past few months gathering all those nuts to make holiday gifts of pecan pies for friends and neighbors.

Who or what would be so evil to abscond with my nuts?

Could it be we were visited by giant squirrels who could carry away buckets full of nuts? Not likely. I have yet to see any “super squirrels” in my neighborhood, or even in the town of Cape Charles.

Could it have been one of the errant deer sighted occasionally wandering in town? I don’t think they would know how to pick up two buckets with their antlers, so scratch the deer.

My next thought of a culprit was jolly old St. Nick, since he was in the neighborhood, but everybody knows Santa only eats cookies and milk on his night of travels.

Do reindeer eat pecans (in the shell)? Not that I know of. [Read more…]

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Town Closing off Playground Parking Lot

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

January 4, 2013

Town of Cape Charles maintenance workers yesterday removed a section of fence around the “Cape Kids” playground at the park and installed the archway that has been leaning against the adjoining school building since September.

The wood outline of a locomotive now faces the inside of the park. Reportedly, a new woodcut  locomotive will be attached to the outside of the arch as well.

As can be seen in the photo above, the new entrance lies on the other side of one of the park’s holding ponds.

The former entrance led to the playground parking lot where the heavy equipment can be seen. The Town sold that lot December 21 to a developer for $10, along with the school and the basketball court.

According to the terms of sale, the Town is required to close the former parking lot entrance to the playground within 14 days of the sale, which is today (Friday).

Parking for the playground will now be on-street only. [Read more…]

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County Appoints First Economic Development Director

COMPILED FROM NEWS SOURCES

January 4, 2013

Northampton County has appointed Charles McSwain as its first Director of Economic Development.

The county has lacked any comparable position since 2003, when the director of sustainable development position became vacant.

Effective January 14, McSwain will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing all economic development, including increased business recruitment, job creation and diversification of the county tax base.

He also will oversee a re-organized department that will encompass planning, zoning, building inspections, and code enforcement.

A Northampton County press release describes McSwain as “an experienced economic development professional with significant private and public sector experience in real estate development, team management, and project siting.”

McSwain operated a private consulting firm for the past three years in Florida focused on developing strategy and policy for transportation efficiency and business retention and expansion. [Read more…]

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CORRECTION: Kiptopeke Inn Still for Sale

January 2, 2013

The Kiptopeke Inn is still for sale.

The Wave incorrectly reported December 29 that Robert Occhifinto, who on December 28 bought Bay Creek Marina, AQUA restaurant, and adjoining properties, earlier bought the Kiptopeke Inn. Although Occhifinto has bought other properties, including the Peacock Motel, and did make an offer on the Kiptopeke Inn, his offer on the Inn was not accepted. [Read more…]

LETTER: Why Was Gazette Mum about Closing the Basketball Court?

January 2, 2013

DEAR EDITOR:

The Gazette is the official Town newsletter. My question is, who is responsible for the Gazette, and who approves it?

Last Friday after discovering from local kids that our basketball backboards had been removed, I went to Mayor Dora Sullivan to report this. Her response was: “We don’t own them anymore.”

My reaction was — what? Why would the Town remove the backboards during the Christmas-New Year’s break?

She had no answer.

I asked the mayor if the closing of the basketball court had been posted on the Town website and Gazette. She said no, but that the Cape Charles Wave interviewed [Assistant Town Manager] Bob Panek about the backboards’ removal.

I am frustrated by the lack of knowledge available on the day-to-day business of Cape Charles. The Town felt it was important to post changes to the garbage pickup holiday schedule, but said nothing about removing the basketball goals.

What’s next? Pay raises for a job well done on giving away the school, basketball court, and playground parking lot for $10? [Read more…]