LETTER:
Hotel Owner Gammino: My Investment Was Based on Personal Passion for Cape Charles

December 5, 2012

DEAR EDITOR:

I would like to offer a more detailed explanation to your readers as it regards the Hotel Cape Charles recent request to appeal the decision of the Town of Cape Charles Historic Review Board (HRB).

We will seek the approval of Town Council of the modified design submission, denied on November 20, 2012, by the HRB. I respect the varied opinions offered in response to this process, and hope that additional information will clarify our reasoning and address some of the concerns we are aware of.

It is regretful, and I accept sole responsibility for the fact that the Hotel has become the focus of the community in this unfortunate manner.

While I do not agree with the conclusion of the HRB that the current design is not appropriate within the District, I respect their authority in reaching this decision. I also appreciate their efforts in considering the modified design submission.

However, given our very strong belief that the Hotel represents a beautiful example of modern architecture complementary of its surroundings, we are proceeding to the next level of review and hope for a different interpretation.

There are a number of comments which criticize the decision to seek Town Council approval, and reference the application process and a lack of related approval. I understand and accept this valid criticism.

We did not complete the project as originally submitted. The reason for this relates to a very compressed construction schedule with challenging travel-related logistics. [Read more…]

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Hotel Owner Petitions Town for Relief on Glass Balconies

By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

December 4, 2012

After receiving a second rejection by the Historic District Review Board, Hotel Cape Charles owner David Gammino is using the Internet to mount a popular appeal.

The hotel has closed for the winter, but according to Gammino, the Town of Cape Charles will not allow it to reopen in March unless the glass balconies are replaced with wrought-iron railings to lend an “historic” air to the otherwise modern facade.

At the Review Board’s meeting in September, Gammino pleaded that wrought iron would ruin the look of the building as well as add tremendous expense. The glass panels had cost $60,000. “We don’t have the money to make that kind of change. We are $800,000 over budget already,” he said then.

At the November Review Board meeting, a proposal by Gammino’s architect for wooden casings around the glass wall edges was considered and rejected.  Board Chairman Russ Dunton said the Board’s decision was final, and any appeal would have to be considered by Town Council.

But Gammino’s appeal is to the court of public opinion. In a published comment last night in the Wave, he wrote: “As the developer and contractor, I continue to express my apologies and accept responsibility for this situation. As a business owner I am trying to resolve the issue. We are still hoping that we can seek approval of our design through Town Council.  Our petition is as follows: [Read more…]

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Grand Illumination Features Music, Pony Rides & Golf Carts

LETTER: Grand Illumination Marks Year of Enlightenment

December 1, 2012

DEAR EDITOR:

Tonight the Town of Cape Charles will have its Grand Illumination in Old School Park. The lights will come on, speeches will be given, and we can all hug and have a hot chocolate.

The use of the word “illuminate” dates to 15^th century Middle English — in the archaic, meaning to brighten with light, or to be intellectually or spiritually enlightened. The basic meaning still stands today.

It is fitting then, that the Grand Illumination should be taking place in School Park, as the Grand Old Dame herself, the Old School, broodingly looks on as the self-congratulatory event takes place.

But let’s leave that for now, because this is a season to give thanks. Thanks to the Echelon deal, it has been a year of enlightenment.

Despite the deal being concocted in the dank, musty recesses of Executive Sessions, meant to keep citizens in the dark until it was too late to do anything, in the end, through diligence and the power of the Freedom of Information Act, the inner workings of our town have been dutifully adorned with light.

We learned, thanks to independent engineering reports, that everything we have been told about the Old School has not been entirely true. According to the reports, the Grand Old Dame is in wonderful shape, solid as a rock, with little asbestos even to be found.

The cost to turn it into 17 apartments might take a chunk of change, but basic renovations and repairs (lest we forget the power of Eastern Shore volunteerism, tax credits, grants, etc.) to open it back up as a multi-purpose event venue, could be done for pennies on the dollar.

When the cost ($349,000) of the harbor bath house came to light, one had to wonder why the school was left to languish, without even a few tubes of caulk being budgeted to correct water leakage at either end. That question is still shrouded in darkness—we may need more lights. [Read more…]

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Historic Review: Second Rejection for Hotel Cape Charles

By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

November 30, 2012

Cape Charles Historic District Review Board on November 20 rejected for the second time the balcony treatment at the newly renovated Hotel Cape Charles.

The hotel is operating on a temporary occupancy certificate, and the Town will not grant a permanent certificate until the hotel meets the historic standards.

Board chairman Russ Dunton said the Board’s decision is final, and that the developer can either change the balconies to conform to the original approved plan or appeal the Board’s decision to Town Council.  “Town Council is bound by the Historic District Guidelines just as we are,” he added.

Dunton emphasized that the Board did not want to be unreasonable. He also acknowledged that the developer had spent a lot of money on the building, and that many people like its modern look. “But it’s our job to make sure that historic properties in town maintain their character,” he said.

The Board did make some concessions to the building’s modern alterations: They allowed the glass on the third floor in place of a railing, and they accepted the modern light fixtures. They also agreed to overlook the developer’s failure to install decorative wrought iron on the ground floor as originally promised.

But the Board could not accept the glass balconies on the second floor. [Read more…]

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LETTER
Eastern Shore Library System Strengthens Cape Charles

November 30, 2012

DEAR EDITOR:

What a wonderful article Sarah Barban has written about the new libraries!

It is always such a pleasure to see people who enthusiastically support us and realize how essential a good library is for the community surrounding it.

I especially appreciated the way you emphasized that the Cape Charles Memorial Library is part of the Eastern Shore Public Library System. The new library in Onley should help the new location of the Cape Charles library become an even stronger magnet for its community. [Read more…]

STATE DENIES TAX CREDITS FOR OLD SCHOOL
Conversion of Auditorium to Apartments Violates Guidelines

By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

November 29, 2012

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources has rejected an application by the Town of Cape Charles for tax credits in association with conversion of the old school at Central Park into a 17-unit apartment building.

The Town has signed a contract to convey the school and adjoining parkland to developer Echelon Resources, Inc. The contract specifies that Echelon will pay the Town $10 for the school and parkland, and the Town will pay Echelon $41,000 toward repairs to the school.

However, Echelon has made clear from the beginning that it will not close on the deal unless state and federal authorities approve the request for tax credits.

Echelon hoped to receive 25 percent credit from Virginia plus 20 percent credit from Washington, for a total of 45 percent of the total cost to convert the building to apartments.

The application for tax credits was signed by Town Manager Heather Arcos because the Town remains the owner of the property. The application was prepared by Echelon consultant Paige Pollard.

The November 21 letter to Arcos (shown above) rejects the application for three reasons: [Read more…]

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LETTER: Put Aside Bitterness at the Grand Illumination

November 28, 2012

DEAR EDITOR:

It has been a troubling year for Cape Charles filled with strong emotions, hurt feelings, bitterness, and angry words.

It is heartbreaking to hear of broken friendships, community members no longer supporting the town or town businesses because of political differences, and citizens looking to find fault and place blame.

The old school building is a valuable part of our community, but it is just a building. It has no heart, no soul, and no feelings. However, people do and these people are our friends and neighbors.

These people are the ones who used to celebrate our joys, show concern when we became ill, and comfort us in times of loss. People, relationships, and community are so much more important than a building or a political position.

It is now the beginning of the season when we give thanks for our gracious plenty and cherish our family and friends. It is time to put our community before opinion, before politics, and before material objects.

I fear, if we keep on the path we are currently traveling, we will destroy all that we hold most dear.

I encourage you all to come to Central Park on Saturday evening at 6:15 p.m. for the Grand Illumination. [Read more…]

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Eastern Shore Getting Two Expanded Libraries in 2013

By SARAH BARBAN
Cape Charles Wave

November 27, 2012

On Virginia’s Eastern Shore, 2013 is the Year of the Library. Not one, but two of the Shore’s five branch libraries are moving to greatly expanded locations.

Cape Charles Memorial Library will relocate to the former Bank of America building on Mason Avenue. But even more significant to the Library system is the expansion and relocation of the main branch.

Carol Vincent of the Eastern Shore Public Library detailed plans at the November 20 Northampton County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Despite being a small community, the Eastern Shore has a thriving library system that has changed and grown along with the needs of the community, Vincent said.

The Accomack branch will be moving to a five-acre site donated by Shore Bank located behind the Burger King on Route 13 in Onley.

“We are looking forward to being near the population center,” said Vincent — a population center that will expand much more with the relocation of Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital just west of the new library.

The 30,000 square-foot space will hold a children’s room, a teen room, a computer lab, an Eastern Shore history room, and a meeting space for up to 150 people. The meeting space will also be open after library hours for use by community groups. [Read more…]

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LINDEMAN: What I Learn from My Kids

By BRUCE LINDEMAN
Cape Charles Wave

Thanksgiving Day, 2012

As parents, we typically focus on what we can teach our kids.  We only have them for a few, brief years before, poof!  They’re gone.

But one thing has pleasantly surprised me during our twins’ nine years on this planet: they teach me things every day.

It may not be something new, but something I somehow forgot or misplaced.

I believe you don’t actually forget most things altogether. You subconsciously place them in memory somewhere back where you keep things like memories of your wedding from 20-plus years ago.  It’s there.

You just have to rummage through a bunch of other stuff before you find it.  “Ah!  There you are forgotten memory! So glad to think of you again. How’ve you been?!”

You psychologists out there please don’t take me to task on the above. This is my take on how it happens.  As they say, it’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

My kids teach me new songs that they’ve learned in school — new takes on the smart-aleck ditties of my youth and some completely new. I learn new pop songs from them –- music I would never even think of to listen to.

“What is that?  You call that music?! Back in my day . . . .” [Read more…]

Parents Press School Board on Elementary Standards

By SARAH BARBAN
Cape Charles Wave

November 21, 2012

Northampton School Board chambers were unusually full for the November 13 meeting. Augmenting the ranks of board members and administrators were concerned parents and community members who came to air their grievances.

The audience waited through routine reports from principals, board members, and department heads. Then came the time for public comments — and parents assumed control of the floor.

The first issue was test scores at Kiptopeke Elementary. The school was conditionally accredited last year, and recently received conditional accreditation for this year as well. According to Northampton School Superintendent Walter Clemons, one percent of Kiptopeke students are dragging down test scores.

Cathy Burn is the mother of four boys, three of whom attend Kiptopeke. For her, test score data means more than just numbers on a page — it’s about real kids.

“I have great concerns — we’re not having discussions about real data,” she told the School Board meeting. “Fifty percent of our third-grade boys failed the reading test last year. Third-grade reading is a direct predictor of graduation. We are losing more than a handful of kids — it’s buckets of kids.” [Read more…]

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