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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.

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.

CODE ENFORCEMENT

Doug Smith, Code Enforcement Officer, reported that they performed nine (9) fire inspections last week and they have four (4) re-inspections to perform. Doug & Jeb Brady, Assistant Code Enforcement Officer, are concerned regarding some businesses in the Town who still have refused compliance with the State of Virginia Fire Codes. These violations include improper locking devices on their doors, no Exit Signs, old or no fire extinguishers in their buildings or work areas.

Doug attended a meeting of the Eastern Shore Building Officials and the purpose of this meeting was to create a "consistency" of enforcement codes throughout the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Doug passed the "on line" FEMA 700 Introduction to National Incident Management Systems course this past week. This course was taken in preparation for another 300 Level FEMA course that Doug will participate in this weekend in Accomack. These classes all tie into the Town of Cape Charles Emergency Operations Planning concepts for the Town.

Code Enforcement was forced to cut one (1) lawn at a home in the Historic District that failed to comply with written warnings to meet the minimum requirements established by the Town Code regarding lawns in the Town.

Code Enforcement issued a permit for repairs for a house on the 600 Block of Nectarine Street and ordered the owner to have the tenant vacate the premises. The property does not have water, sewage or electricity and a "notice" was posted on the house over one (1) month ago that it was "uninhabitable".  Doug said the owner has violated the Town Code by allowing a tenant to live in the aforementioned conditions, renting the unit without a Rental Certificate of Occupancy and removing the "uninhabitable" sign posted by Code Enforcement. The owner was placed on notice that legal acts are now imminent.

Code Enforcement performed fourteen (14) Erosion & Sedimentation Inspections this past week and continues with their Town inspections.

LIBRARY

Ann Rutledge, Town Librarian, reported that the Toddler Preschool Storytime was held last week and a total of five (5) children and their caregivers attended the event. The theme was "Popcorn & Pumpkins".

Twenty-five (25) people attended Safe Kids Saturday this past Saturday, October 18, 2008. Chief David Eder reported that he fingerprinted sixteen (16) children and registered two (2) bicycles at this event. Thank you to Allan Hall & Faye Sandsbury from the Onley Community Center-Safe Kids Coordinator for the children’s bicycle helmets, literature for children and fire detectors. The Town would also like to thank the Friends of the Library who assisted Ann with this important event.

Seven (7) children from the Cheriton Migrant Headstart Program visited the Library last week. Ann sadly noted that this was their last visit to the Library since they will be returning to their homes with picking season over.

County Supervisor Dave Burden, Councilman Chris Bannon and Town Manager Joe Vaccaro met with the Library Board & Friends of the Library last week to discuss changing the name of the Northampton Memorial Library to the Cape Charles Memorial Library. The purpose of the name change is to avoid the confusion with the Northampton Free Library. The Library Board also discussed some issues that Northampton County has with the Library and these "issues" will be brought forward to the Cape Charles Town Council for review. One report suggested that the Town move the Library to a location on Route 13. The Library is technically "owned" by the citizens of the Town but supplies the Eastern Shore Public Library (ESPL) System with statistics for funding, contributes overdue fine monies to the ESPL and supports readership & programs to the lower end of the Eastern Shore. The Library in turn receives approximately $15K from Northampton County with the additional monies coming from the Cape Charles taxpayers.

FACT: Customer visits to the Library have increased from 6,817 visitors in 2001 to 14,428 visitors in 2007.

Teen Read Week 2008 ended on Saturday, October 18, 2008 with the showing of the movie Blood and Chocolate based on the book of the same title by author Annette Curtis Klause. Ann reported that five (5) persons attended this presentation.

TOWN CLERK

Libby Hume, Town Clerk, reported that she is working on re-scheduling the Accessory Dwellings Work Session and should have a date for this work session within the next week. Libby also reported that a public hearing has been scheduled for the Keck Property Rezoning on Thursday, November 13, 2008 prior to the Town Council Meeting. More detailed information regarding a time and specific location is forthcoming.

Libby and Linda Carola, Assistant Town Clerk, are continuing to work on the "minutes" from several Town meetings to include the Joint Work Session with the Planning Commission, several Planning Commission meetings and past public hearings. If anyone is deeply interested in a specific meeting the Town will be more than happy to make a recording available to you until the written documentation is constructed.  Citizens are welcomed and encouraged to obtain minutes and recordings from Town Council meetings and public hearings. This Town staff works for you.

Linda mailed out three (3) "freeze" letters to candidates who applied for the open Public Works Department position. The Town has elected not to fill the open position at this time due to the current economic conditions.

Linda assisted Heather Arcos, Assistant Town manager, with the creation of several new notebooks on VML Workman’s Compensation, Broadband Issues for the Town and various Grants that the Town has applied for over the past year. She also assisted Doug Smith, Code Enforcement Officer, with the reconstruction of Article VI - Flood Plain Ordinance that was approved by the Town Council. Linda also made these "clean" copies available to everyone who has a Zoning Ordinance book. Linda assisted the Historic District review Board by scanning and making copies of items that were going to be presented at their next meeting.

The Clerk’s Office also helped several citizens complete Use of Facility Applications including one (1) for the use of the Town Beach for a small wedding ceremony. Good Luck to all!

RECREATION & PUBLIC WORKS

Tad Taborn, Recreation Coordinator, reported that the he is working on a Happy Holidays Dance for children & youth (Ages 13 to 18) that has been scheduled for Saturday, November 22, 2008. The dance will take place at the Cape Charles Volunteer Fire Company from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Mayor Dora Sullivan is compiling a list of citizens who want to donate baked goods or a $5.00 donation for this dance. Mayor Sullivan is happy to report that she has personally collected $105.00 at the time of this writing. If anyone is interested in donating "baked goods" or money please see Mayor Sullivan or come into the Town Hall and notify the Town Clerk or Recreation Coordinator of your intentions. Volunteers for the dance can sign up with Tad at 757-331-3259 x18.

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 the 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 331-1018.

POLICE

Chief David Eder reported that the Cape Charles Police Department (CCPD) made three (3) arrests over this past weekend. One arrest involved a female patron from a local establishment on Mason Avenue in which she was charged with Drunk in Public (Dip) and escorted to the Northampton County Regional Jail (NCRJ) for overnight incarceration. Another arrest involved a male who was arrested on charges of Driving under the Influence (DUI) and an Arrest Warrant issued from Richmond, VA. This arrest took place on Mason Avenue & Peach Street and he was taken to the NCRJ for over night incarceration.

Chief Eder announced that the CCPD’s Enhanced Traffic Program is still active and urges everyone to obey the speed limit in Town; especially when entering and departing via Route 184 & Route 642 (Old Cape Charles road).

The Town of Cape Charles will permit Trick-or-Treating on
Friday, October 31, 2008 until 8:00 PM

Masks will not be permitted for youth over 12 years of age.

Town curfew will be strictly enforced for anyone under the age of 18 years old.

ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER & TOWN MANAGER

The Town Manager, Joe Vaccaro, thanks the Eastern Shore Rural Health System’s Safe Kids coordinator Faye Sandsbury-Godbey again  for their assistance with Safe Kids Saturday this past week at the Town Library. Faye will be at the Town Hall on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 5:30 PM to make a presentation on trends and programs her group has observed on the Eastern Shore of VA. The Town believes that this will be an event that all parents may want to attend. Keeping our children safe is the number one priority in Cape Charles.

"Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe? Expediency asks the question , 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question , 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Public Service Announcement

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY CHAMBER of COMMERCE

• Oct 30th is our Chamber Meet and Greet 5:00 PM til 7:00 PM. This will be hosted by Shore Bank and held at their new Cape Charles branch, across from Food Lion. This is a great way to meet some of our Chamber members and for them to meet YOU. RSVP 331-3800
• November 10th is our Volunteer Tea! We will meet and start our tour at the Cape Charles Hotel at 2:00 PM and then proceed to Sea Gate B&B, The Kellogg House and on to Cape Charles B&B where our hostess, Carol Evans, will provide a much needed TEA! If you are so inclined, hats and gloves are permitted!
• Christmas Decoration Committee: Judi Foster has agreed to chair the Decoration Committee. She needs help! Please call her at (757)340-3434 or (757)434-6671 if this sounds fun to you!! Christmas will be here before we know it.

Executive Director, Linda Spence, extends an invitation to contact her with any suggestions or questions. The current phone number is 331-2304.

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.