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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.

CODE ENFORCEMENT

Doug Smith, Code Enforcement Officer, reported that they performed eleven (11) fire inspections this past week and have seven (7) more inspections on their schedule. One business on Mason Avenue was re-inspected and passed all the requirements. The Town thanks the public for their cooperation regarding these fire inspections; the lives and property you save may be your own.

Code Enforcement was forced to cut the grass at four (4) properties who failed to comply with written notices regarding their lawns. Code has sent out an additional seven (7) notices to property owners regarding the "poor" condition of their properties.

Doug stated that the Developmental Plans for Parcels #19 & #20 at the Harbor have been approved for South Port.

The plan review comments were also forwarded to Langley & McDonald for South Port Parcel #90-A-1A and the Town Harbor Redevelopment Phase I. The Town urges all citizens to view the developer Web sites using "key words" South Port at Cape Charles and capeharbor.net for a better understanding of what these good folks are trying to accomplish here in the Town. The Town urges citizens to obtain facts rather than speculate on projects.

Doug said they are currently engaged in enforcement activities with a building located on the 200 Block on Mason Avenue. Doug said they have directed the owners to secure the building against public entry (safety & security reasons) and an engineer is scheduled to conduct an assessment regarding the building’s stability. If you are a building or property owner and are encountering problems with your structure(s) the Town requests that you come forward and present your issues to the Code Enforcement Section so we can assist you BEFORE the Town engages in enforcement activities.

Code Enforcement conducted twelve (12) Erosion & Sedimentation Control Inspections this past week.

Code Enforcement also resolved fifty six (56) of the fifty nine (59) annual inspections required this past month. These "required" inspections included elevators, fire alarm, sprinklers and commercial range hoods. Two (2) of the remaining inspections include a range hood system for a restaurant located on Mason Avenue and a fire alarm system for a building located in the Town.

HARBOR

Smitty Dize, Harbor Master, reported that the Labor Day Weekend was profitable and there were no significant incidents. Smitty said that his staff will now start concentrating on the various maintenance projects around the Harbor.

Smitty respectfully reminds boaters that we are at the height of the hurricane season and Hurricanes Hanna & Ike appear to be approaching the area. Smitty said boaters should ensure they have enough "lines" on their vessels and have fully charged batteries.

The Harbor normally turns their attention to the Crab Dredging season during this time of the year but this season will be somewhat different due to court rulings and the possibility exists that there will not be a dredging season this year. Smitty said he has been contacted by several watermen who expressed interest in some commercial fishing from December through middle February. The Harbor welcomes these watermen.

Tom Bonadeo, Town Planner, reported that he was involved with the evaluation of the engineering services for Broad Band Services for the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Tom said that four (4) interviews are scheduled for Wednesday, September 3, 2008.

Planning reviewed a Joint Permit Application for Baymark Construction regarding the dredging of the Cherrystone Channel and noted that this will NOT require a Virginia Wetlands Permit.

Tom met with the Bayshore Concrete Management Team to review their plans for land reclamation along the Chesapeake Bay. Tom reported that recycled concrete is being stockpiled at the antenna site (South Port) for future use as "fill" material for the area.

Tom prepared information for the Planning Commission’s recessed meeting this past week and participated in the Regional Water & Sewage Meeting presented by Bob Panek at the Town Hall.

He also met with VDOT on a package submittal regarding proposed developmental projects and worked with several property owners on signs and awning compliances.

LIBRARY

Ann Rutledge, Town Librarian, reported that the Toddler Preschool Storytime was held last week and nine (9) children and their caregivers attended the event. The theme for last week’s presentation was "School Days" and Ann noted the smiles on the parent’s faces.

 A workshop series based on the Spiritual Teaching of Eckhart Tolle is being offered at the Library on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the week, starting on September 3, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Eckhart is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition. Through his writing and seminars, his simple yet profound teachings have already helped countless people throughout the world find inner peace and greater fulfillment in their lives. The workshop is being conducted by Ettore Zuccarino.

TOWN CLERK

The Town of Cape Charles is honored to announce that a new Town Clerk was selected by the Mayor and the Town Council on Wednesday, August 27, 2008. She is identified as Ms. Elizabeth Hume from Machipongo. Ms. Hume was selected after an extensive series of interviews and the screening of seventeen (17) applicants for the Town Clerk’s position. Her background and experience includes market analysis, executive assistant to a vice president, account administrator, real estate, special events coordinator and sales. The Town Staff looks forward to working with Ms. Hume and welcomes her to the Cape Charles "Family".

Linda Carola, Assistant Town Clerk, reported that she has completed the four (4) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and forwarded same to the requesting parties.

RECREATION & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Tad Taborn, Recreation Coordinator, reported that the portable basketball goal has been moved from the ramp area near the old Cape Charles High School to the shed area. The reason for this move is a possible repair project in that vicinity.

Flag football round robin will take place on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at the Park. There will be two age groups competing: 7 to 11 and 12 to 16. All interested children & youths should come ready to compete at 10:00 AM weather permitting!

Dave Fauber, Director of Public Works, reported that East Well III is back on line as of Thursday, August 28, 2008. There was a problem with the "bucket" in the electrical panel and it "shorted" out when the operators attempted to start it last week. Water restrictions are no longer necessary at this time.

Dave said the PWD has been busy reading meters, taking an inventory of the Town’s Excess Property and continues their remodeling efforts in the Town Hall.

POLICE

Chief Eder reported that there were no significant incidents over the Labor Day weekend and the Cape Charles Police Department (CCPD) made one (1) Drunk in Public (DIP) arrest. This DIP occurred at the Beach front.

School is OPEN and the Town respectfully reminds everyone to watch for children, stop for school buses and obey the speed limit.

Chief Eder reported that the CCPD responded to forty nine (49) calls for service last month and nine (9) of them were outside of the Town’s boundaries. Four (4) of those calls were for a 10-13 (Officer Needs Assistance) and five (5) were for assisting other fire/rescue and backing up the Northampton County Sheriff's Office & VA State Police. The CCPD also issued thirty six (36) traffic summonses, nine (9) parking tickets, twelve (12) traffic warnings and had four (4) misdemeanor arrests.

ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER & TOWN MANAGER

The Town welcomes Ms. Linda Spence as the new Executive Director of the Northampton Chamber of Commerce. Welcome aboard Linda!

The Town would like to thank the Virginia Aquarium again for their wonderful presentation at the Cape Charles Fire Department and the launching of Snap, Crackle and Pop at out Town Beach. A very special thank you to Ms. Christina Trapani and the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Team for all of their brave efforts to help these little sea creatures return home.

Congratulations to Bay Creek Marina for attaining the status of a Virginia Clean Marina. This is a major accomplishment and it requires a great deal of hard work and attention to details.

The introduction of the Cape Charles Crater U-Haul truck this past Saturday, August 30, 2008 was a great success and the Town would like to thank our friends at U-Haul for this honor. The Cape Charles Crater "Super-Graphic" will be displayed on over 2,400 U-Haul trucks that will travel the entire North American Continent. One of the "highlights" of this event was when the entire audience got the chance to "sign" the Cape Charles Crater truck. A special thanks to Ms. Ashleigh Wagner from U-Haul in Arizona.

The contractual negotiations with Bay Creek and the Town continue regarding the Annexation and water issues. The Town has received several inquiries regarding the process but the Town can not any make comments regarding "on going" negotiations. The Town suggests that the public go to the Cape Charles Web site at Annexation Agreement documents from 1991 for more background information.

The Town is taking precautions regarding the possibility of Hurricane Hanna & Ike coming our way but we respectfully remind everyone that you must be individually ready for weather events and that includes your medications, pets, boats, etc.

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.

"The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader; to pursue them requires not the aid of many counselors. The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest."
Thomas Jefferson

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.