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Welcome to the official Town of Cape Charles Newsletter. This publication is available by submitting your email address to gazette@capecharles.org or by contacting the Town Office at 757-331-3259 x10.

The purpose of this electronic newsletter is to pass factual, informative and timely information to the citizens of Cape Charles and to any other individuals who have a business, property, travel or historical interest in our Town.

The information contained in this newsletter is considered to be the "official word" on the Town’s activities as noted by our Town Manager. The Cape Charles Gazette will be a news source that will report weekly events, upcoming Town activities, articles of interest to our citizens, Town projects, safety & security issues, and emergency announcements.

We hope that you will enjoy receiving the Cape Charles Gazette.

For additional information please go to the Town’s website at http://www.capecharles.org/or contact us at gazette@capecharles.org.

HARBOR

Smitty Dize, Harbor Master, reported that he submitted the Harbor’s Boating Infrastructure Grant this week to Richmond, VA. Smitty thanked the following organizations for their support in this effort: The Harbor Redevelopment Project, The Palace Theater, The Northampton Memorial Library, The Cape Charles Museum, The Northampton County Chamber of Commerce and the Eastern Shore Tourism Commission.

Smitty also thanked the Tall Timbers Marina in Southern Maryland and the Smith Island Marina for their support and assistance with the above listed grant.

Smitty noted that the Harbor was filled to capacity this past weekend due to the sailboat regatta and there were no significant incidents to report.

The NEW MARINA HOURS beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2008 are: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM seven (7) days a week. Please contact Smitty at 757-331-2357 for additional details.

PLANNING

Tom Bonadeo, Town Planner, reported that he met with John Jacobs, VDOT, to review submittal procedures for large projects and to discuss the possible construction of a golf cart path along Route 642 (Old Cape Charles Road). We thank John and Tim Holloway, VDOT Residency Administrator, for their assistance and professionalism with this golf cart path project.

Tom reported that the Planning Commission conducted a site visit to a location on Route 642 that the property owners want to develop. The purpose of this site visit was to see firsthand the area that they are requesting to be "re-zoned" and the specific area that is being proffered to the Town by the land owners.

Tom said that he spent a good portion of the week reviewing and gathering information for a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that was made to the Town Clerk’s Office. This FOIA was in regards to a current construction development in the Town.

The staff held a Historic District Review Committee Meeting and the committee approved a rear porch addition to a home located on Randolph Avenue. The staff also worked on several new house plans and answered questions regarding setbacks, historic review and alleyway easements.

Tom attended a closed work session on Water and Waste Water Treatment and was involved with the review of several plans for the Broadband Project on the Eastern Shore.

TOWN CLERK

Linda Carola, Assistant Town Clerk, reported that the Mayor and Town Council will conduct a third set of interviews on the remaining three (3) candidates for the Town Clerk’s position on Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Linda said she is currently involved with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that involves a local developer and the information is due to the requestor by the end of this week. Linda said she is also filling two (2) other FOIA requests from a businessman regarding Code and alleyways. Linda is also working a fourth FOIA request from a developer on water/waste water issues.

Linda and Tammy Teague, Utility Clerk, are in the process of streamlining the information flow of pamphlets, newsletters and notices that are located within the Town Hall. The goal is to make this material more accessible to the public and easier to obtain. The public is invited to come in and observe the "new" setup in the Town Hall.

RECREATION

Tad Taborn, Recreation Coordinator, reported that he installed the protective padding on the Park’s basket ball court’s poles and noted an increase in children & youth attending Park events.

Tad said that the final Summer Slam Basket Ball Tournament 2008 this past Saturday, August 23, 2008 was another great success and he and the Cape Charles Committee on Children &Youth (CCCCY) are now in the process of planning a fall 2008 sports schedule and a "Back to School Dance". A very special thanks again to Tad, Perry Kiriakos, Roberta Newman, Clayton Newman and Chuck Little for making this a great summer for our young & talented athletes. The Town looks forward to successful fall season of activities with the CCCCY.

PUBLIC WORKS

Dave Fauber, Director of Public Works, reported that the Town has been experiencing some electrical problems with East Well III and Bundick Well and the PWD will be working on it over the next few days. Water restrictions are in place until the issue is resolved.

Dave said the new "Jetter" arrived this past week and the PWD quickly place it into service and began cleaning water lines around the Plum Street Pump Station. The PWD also will begin cleaning laterals along Mason Avenue beginning the week of Monday, September 8, 2008. The PWD/Town is making great efforts to comply with the DEQ Rules & Regulations that have been established for coastal Towns located so close to bodies of water like the Chesapeake Bay.

The PWD returned Task Order #5 to Stearns & Wheeler; this Task Order will formally begin the engineering process for the Waste Water Treatment Plant and also concerns the selection of the contractors to conduct the work.

Work continues on the Town Hall and the PWD has started to paint the inside of the building (long overdue). Dave further reported that the communications room for the Cape Charles Fire Company has been completed. This will now allow the Town to expand work areas into the bottom floor of the Town Hall building. This is a more efficient use of Town work space.

Peter Leontief was promoted to Lead Crew Maintenance Chief for the PWD and the Town looks forward to his leadership & experience in helping to move the Town "forward".

The PWD is in the process of conducting an inventory of all Town owned equipment and materials. The Town has set a deadline of Tuesday, September 30, 2008 for this inventory to be completed. The Town expects to "sell" all excess property via sealed bids once a list has been compiled and reviewed. The items that the Town expects to offer the public includes school desks, excess tools, engines, scrap metal etc. The list of Excess Property has NOT been compiled to date and we ask that the public contact the Town Manager, Joe Vaccaro, after the date listed above for further information.

POLICE

Chief David Eder reported that the Cape Charles Police Department (CCPD) conducted enforcement operations over the past weekend and arrested two (2) persons for Drunk in Public (DIP) on Bay Avenue, four (4) traffic tickets for moving violations and three (3) warning tickets.

Rule of thumb for drinking on Bay Avenue: first of all, it is illegal to drink on Bay Avenue and second, NEVER wave at a passing police car with a drink in your hand.

Chief Eder said that investigative efforts continue regarding the attempted abduction of a six (6) year old from the Town. The CCPD is in the process of receiving photographs of a possible suspect. Those photographs will be made available to the public if this individual is positively identified by the witnesses in this investigation.

The CCPD reported that the Eastville Fire Department was involved with two (2) separate incidents last week where they had to assist drivers from "wrecked vehicles". In both incidents the injured drivers were suspected of driving under the influence and both drivers reported that they were coming from the Town of Cape Charles after consuming alcohol.

Please don’t drink & drive and if you drink, have a designated non-drinker as your driver.

The CCPD reported that one of the vehicles involved in these accidents "flipped" and the driver sustained only minor injuries.

Chief Eder said that he has been invited to lecture at some local churches and organizations regarding Gang Activities in the local area.

ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER & TOWN MANAGER

REMINDER: The Virginia Aquarium will be in Town today (Tuesday, August 26, 2008) to present a program on living with our sea creature neighbors at 9:30 AM at the Beach Gazebo. They intend to release three (3) Kemps Ridley turtles named Snap, Crackle and Pop from the Town Beach.

Bob Panek, Special Consultant to the Town, made an excellent presentation last week on Water & Waste Water Improvements at a Town Council Work Session. Bob is also the Town’s "lead" on the Annexation issue with our neighbors at Bay Creek. We encourage the public to go to the Cape Charles Web site and read about these very important issues. An informed public always makes for a better local government.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Cape Charles Renewal Program
P.O. Box 461
Cape Charles, VA 23310
CapeCharlesRenewalProgram@att.net

Virginia plays a prominent role in several national commodity markets, ranking third for tomatoes and in Virginia, fresh tomatoes are produced mainly on the Eastern Shore. The First Annual Fall Tomato Festival celebrates the prominent role the tomato plays in our economy here on the Eastern Shore.

We are planning an impressive program for Saturday, September 27, 2008 centered along Mason Avenue in Cape Charles. Activities planned include a parade down Mason Avenue, starting at 10:00 AM, the Mason Avenue ArtWalk, a Classic and Antique Car Show, book signing by local authors, a few food vendors, music along Mason Avenue and more, with fireworks capping off the festivities after dark.

The parade will showcase our Eastern Shore people and its theme is, can you guess, the tomato. We are inviting and encouraging all parade participants, their families and friends to stay, enjoy the day's festivities and view the fireworks after dark.

For the festival weekend (Friday – Sunday, September 26-28), we are asking our Cape Charles restaurants to help us by doing the following:

• Feature at least one tomato-based entrees on Friday & Saturday
• Feature at least one tomato-based vegetable on Friday & Saturday
• For restaurants with a liquor license, offer tomato-based drinks this weekend
• Check out Three Olives Tomato Vodka (should be available at Cape Charles VA ABC store in September) and feature drinks made with it
• Consider selling food and/or soft drinks outside your restaurant if you are on Mason Avenue on Saturday, September 27
• Offer a Brunch or Buffet on Sunday from 10:00 AM. to 3:00 PM

Anything you can do to help make this festival a success for all of us would be truly appreciated. Please let me know what you can do – we will try to include your participation in our advertising.

Thank you,

Joan Natali
757-331-4884
for Cape Charles Renewal Program – First Annual Tomato Festival in Cape Charles

Thank you again for the privilege and opportunity to serve this great Town and all the citizens here.

We are now in the Hurricane Season and adverse weather is likely to occur on the Eastern Shore and everyone needs to be "individually ready".

The Town of Cape Charles has recently installed a Flood/Severe Weather Warning Siren in the Historic District of Town. It is located on Mason Avenue across the street from the service station. In the event that the siren goes off, please tune to one of the following broadcast stations for severe flood or weather information and directions.

In the event of an electrical outage, please pay attention for information and directions from the Police & Fire Department who will broadcast information & directions in a mobile manner from their emergency vehicles.

"Enthusiasm without a plan is chaos."
Dr. Romano

Joe Vaccaro
Town Manager
Town of Cape Charles, VA
757-331-3259 x20

All information contained in this publication is believed to be true and correct at the time of publication.
Not responsible for typographical errors.

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Municipal Corporation of Cape Charles
2 Plum Street
Cape Charles, VA 23310
757-331-3259

Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved.