Mayor
Town Council
Town Manager
Asst. Town Manager
Treasurer
Town Clerk
Code Enforcement
Town Planner
Public Works/Utilities
Harbor
Library
Police
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.
References to external websites are for information purposes only. The Town makes no representation as to the accuracy of information on such sites, and reference to such sites is not intended as an endorsement by the Town of any materials or opinions expressed on such sites.
HARBOR
Smitty Dize, Harbormaster, reported that with the fuel prices dropping and the Rockfish Season open the staff had a busy week with gas sales. Smitty wants to remind everyone that the Town Harbor’s fuel prices are updated on the Town web site at www.capecharles.org/harbor.htm or you can contact Smitty at 757-331-2357.
The Harbor staff continues to perform maintenance around the Harbor and will be painting the stripes in the parking lots over the next week. Please avoid parking where Smitty places traffic cones so they can accomplish this task.
Smitty noted that Monday, October 27, 2008 will mark the last day that anyone can save female "Sooks" crabs and unfortunately there are not enough Males or "Jimmies" in this portion of the Bay for the Watermen to make a living wage on. Smitty sadly noted that the date listed above will most likely be the last day for crabbing until Tuesday, March 17, 2009. He further noted that the Harbor is seeing Speckled Trout, Grey Trout, Spot, Flounder and "Toads" (aka Blow Fish) coming across the docks.
Smitty & Assistant Harbor Master Kent Pruitt painted the trash barrels around the Harbor and replaced the green trash bins that were originally there. Smitty said he did this in cooperation with the PWD in order to reduce the costs of having it picked up once a week vice the PWD dumping it.
Smitty would like to remind everyone that the Second Annual Blessing of the Fleet in the Town of Cape Charles is scheduled for Friday, April 3, 2009. Smitty has made plans to start the planning cycle for this event early on and anyone interested in participating should contact Smitty at 757-331-2357. Last year’s event was well attended and the Town looks forward to next year’s activities.
LIBRARY & TOWN CLERK
Ann Rutledge, Town Librarian, reported that the Toddler Preschool Storytime was held last week and three (3) children& their caregivers attended the event. The theme was "Family".
Ann said that sixteen (16) children from the Cheriton Migrant Headstart visited our Library last week and had a wonderful storytime.
Libby Hume, Town Clerk, reported that she continues to work on minutes from past meetings and anyone who is interested in obtaining information on anything pertaining to the Town can contact her at 757-331-3259 X 10 or via e-mail at townclerk@capecharles.org.
There will be an Eastern Shore Broadband Meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce in Melfa, VA from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Assistant Town Clerk, Linda Carola, was busy completing a Freedom of Information Act request regarding public information on a business located in the Town. Linda also received two (2) applications from individuals seeking employment; unfortunately the Town does not have any positions that we are seeking to fill at this time.
RECREATION & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Tad Taborn, Recreation Coordinator, reported that there will be an afternoon presence at the Park on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (based on youth attendance).
Tad is working on reviewing his budget and preparing a detailed list of events for the children & youth of Cape Charles. The Town is looking forward to hosting another dance before the holiday season and utilizing the Park Gazebo in the spring for children & youth events.
A very kind citizen has come forward and volunteered to build mobile soccer goals for the Park. The Town will pay for the materials and plans on "marking" the playing field for all of the Town’s soccer players. Details are forthcoming.
Dave Fauber, Director of Public Works, reported that they were busty last week installing the "new" sand fence at the Beach and surveying the dunes. The purpose of the sand fence, aka snow fence, is to capture the blowing sand so we can continue to grow the Beach and keep the dunes from getting so high that the sand blows off of them and into the street. The Town has also stopped cleaning the Beach in order for the seaweed and other debris to build up to further contain the sand and allow "nature" to preserve this precious Town resource.
The Public Works Department (PWD) pruned the Crape Myrtle trees on Monroe Avenue and repaired/swapped out the banners for the Town’s holiday banner display on Mason Avenue.
Dave & Bob Panek, Special Consultant – Water Issues, met with Stearns & Wheeler regarding the architectural design for the new Waste Water Treatment Plant.
The PWD spent most of last week inspecting and "jetting" (cleaning out) the sewage laterals on Mason Avenue with great assistance from Josh Summers of the Stearns & Wheeler group. The purpose of this inspecting & cleaning is to keep these sewage pipes clear & open to avoid flooding, breaks in the lines and maintain the DEQ standards for water & sewage.
Dave & Patrick Christman, Lead – Waste Water Treatment Plant, attended a Discharge Monitoring Reporting Workshop in Virginia Beach, VA. This workshop was presented by the DEQ. Trip Reports are available to the public upon request.
Dave reported that the Waste Water Treatment Plant Crew, consisting of Patrick, Shannon Miller & Freddie Meditz, passed another federally mandated test for their laboratory submissions. This is the second year in a row that they passed this "testing" that takes samples of laboratory work that Waste Water Treatment submitted and tests it for accuracy. Congratulations to Patrick, Shannon & Freddie for a job well done.
The Waste Water Treatment Plant hosted Jason Spicer, Steve Thomas and Wayne Staples from the Virginia DEQ last week. The visit went well and the Town is always happy to have these guests from the DEQ visit.
Stearns & Wheeler is in the process of selecting a surveyor for the line from East Well II to the Tower Well II and the Water Plant. Stearns & Wheeler is also in the process of surveying sites for the "new" Waste Water Treatment Plant.
The Town will host a Public Information Session on water issues with Bob Panek (Special Consultant-Water) on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 5:30 PM at the Town Hall. This will cover the new Waste Water Treatment Plant & Annexation issues. The public is highly encouraged to attend this session in order to understand the road ahead for this Town.
ATTENTION
Town of Cape Charles
Water System Flush
Monday, October 20, 2008 and Tuesday, October 21, 2008 beginning at 9:00 PM and continuing until 2:00 AM the Town of Cape Charles Utility Department will be conducting a system flush of the water system in all districts of town.
You are cautioned not to use water at that time. Sediment could be drawn into the residence water lines. When done, the system should rectify itself fairly quickly.
For questions, please call Ron Bailey or Thomas Stratton at 757- 331-1018
POLICE
Chief David Eder reported that the Cape Charles Police Department (CCPD) assisted the Virginia Beach Police Department in the execution of a search warrant in the Town. The CCPD was advised that the Virginia Beach Police Department continues their investigative efforts.
The Stop Sign located in the vicinity of Mason Avenue, Route 184 and Fig Street has been hit and damaged again. This Stop Sign is hit and damaged on the average of approximately once every four (4) weeks. We ask that the public please use caution in this area and report any of the individuals who are responsible for these accidents to the CCPD at 331-3096 or 331-1817. All information received will be kept confidential.
Chief Eder said that the CCPD worked with the Virginia State Police last week on Route 642 (Old Cape Charles Road) and they issued a total of fourteen (14) traffic summonses. The violations ranged from speeding, driving on suspended licenses, expired Inspection Decals, expired Town Decals, failure to have proper vehicle safety equipment (i.e. brake lights not working, tail lights out) and failure to have a proper driver’s license for the truck a man was operating.
ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER & TOWN MANAGER
Please note again that on Thursday, October 16, 2008 the Town will host a Public Information Session on the new Waste Water Treatment Plant & the Annexation issue. Several citizens have made inquiry on these important issues and they need to be addressed since they could have an impact on finances for this Town. The issues regarding a new Waste Water Treatment Plant & the Annexation are not new ones nor are they issues that have evolved over the last year. Bob Panek and the staff have been working hard at trying to resolve them and we urge citizens to attend this meeting for a clearer understanding of the possible impact they could have on the Town.
The Town staff met with an alternate energy company to explore the possibilities of using solar & wind power at Town facilities. This company will make a presentation to the Town sometime within the next few weeks and is considering using the Town as a "demonstration" model for alternate energy usage. Details are forthcoming.
The Town will host a one (1) day Town Council Retreat on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at the Town Hall starting at 8:00 AM. This event is open to the public and the Town encourages citizens to attend. The possible topics to date include the "Bridgewater Model" for the Treasurer’s Office, the Conflict of Interest Act and how it applies to all Town Officials & employees, Alternate Energy Plans for the Town, the Old Cape Charles High School and the Budget during the economic crisis.
Tom Bonadeo, Town Planner, and Dave Fauber, Director of Public Works, constructed another snow fence on the Beach this past week. The purpose of this "snow fence" is to grow the Beach and help "level off" the dunes. This will hopefully assist with keeping the sand on the Beach this year & off the streets and also help protect Bay Avenue from flooding. The Town Hall continues to receive complaints that the Beach dunes are too high and need to be "cut" in order for residents to observe the Bay. FOR THE RECORD: According to Federal Law; the Town can not destroy the existing dunes and the Town is in fact attempting to level off the dunes via the new "snow fence". This is from the June 5, 2008 edition of The Gazette:
The Town Manager, Joe Vaccaro, met with several citizens over the past two (2) weeks regarding the sand dunes at the Beach. Some citizens expressed concerns that the sand dunes were "blocking their water views". The sand dunes at the Beach play a very significant role in this community. They serve as a HABITAT for a variety of organisms, NUTRIENT UPTAKE by promoting a unique plant community which in turn increases the types of animal habitat available, FOOD PRODUCTION for animals that live in the sediment, bacteria and micro algae to mollusks, crustaceans and shorebirds and SHORE PROTECTION by defending interior areas from wave attack and flooding. It is against the law to "de-construct" or alter these dunes. For further information regarding sand dunes we suggest the following Web sites:
http://ccrm.vims.edu/wetlands/tecreps/CoastalResourcesandPermitProcess.pdf
http://ww.vims.edu/physical/research/shoreline/cbdunes
DON’T FORGET SAFE KIDS SATURDAY THIS SATURDAY
10:00 AM AT THE TOWN LIBRARY!
Thank you again for the privilege and honor of serving the Town of Cape Charles and her citizens.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please help support our sister Town of Cheriton:
CHERITON DAY FESTIVITIES
COMMUNITY YARD & CRAFT SALE
October 18, 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Town Parking Lot
FESTIVITIES INCLUDE:
12 YRS & YOUNGER HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST
11:00 AM
Homemade or store bought. Creativity!
GRAND PRIZE: $25, 2nd $15, 3rd $10
FACE PAINTING AFTER CONTEST
LOCAL MUSIC!
"Heather & Nathan" "Peg Volk & Friends"
GREAT EASTERN SHORE FOOD!
funnel cakes, snow cones
hamburgers, hot dogs, turkey legs, Philly Cheese,
COMMUNITY YARD SALE!
Rent space: $10 Bring your own table.
Call 331-3247 by 10-16-08 to reserve space
CRAFT & ART VENDORS
Rent space: $20 Bring your own table.
Call 331-3247 by 10-16-08 to reserve space
Proceeds towards Cheriton Revitalization!
The funds raised by the Cheriton Revitalization Committee will go towards
Cheriton’s revitalization needs by contributing to the 20% payback in kind, of the TEA-21 Grant.
Cheriton has met protocol from VDOT on the TEA-21 Grant Award process by attending
work shops and now contracting a planning & engineering firm. Planning dates will be announced & open to public .
We invite you to enjoy a day of fun in Cheriton. We look forward to our goal of Cheriton’s revitalization & thank you
for your patience in this endeavor!
GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS
Get your tickets for the 13th Annual Cape Charles Holiday Sampler and Progressive Dinner Tour on December 5, 2008
Call Phyllis Tyndall at 331-2676 for ticket information.
Sponsorship Opportunities for This Event Are Available
You can promote the Eastern Shore’s historic charm, delicious food and YOUR BUSINESS!
This event benefits the Chamber and other local organizations.
Over $63,500 has been given back to the community.
Call the Chamber at 331-2304 for more information
"We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times."
George Washington
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.