Reflections on Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore
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KIPTOPEKE, Va. (WAVY) — A tractor-trailer flipped on its side Friday night as high winds hit the Chesapeake-Bay Bridge Tunnel and surrounding areas.
The crash happened around 7:30 p.m. when winds were in the low 30s in miles per hour, but the gusts later increased to up to 77 mph, according to Tom Anderson, the Deputy Executive Director of the Bridge Authority.
The tractor-trailer was headed southbound on the bridge just after the high rise portion near the Eastern Shore at the time, and restrictions were put in place after the tractor-trailer had gone on the bridge. R
Anderson says the driver was OK and no other vehicles were involved. The driver refused medical treatment. The bridge only suffered cosmetic damage to its guard rails.
Level 3 wind restrictions were put in place and the bridge-tunnel eventually closed both directions due to the wind conditions. The truck crash shut down all southbound lanes for a while, and the bridge-tunnel eventually opened at normal operations around 11:20 p.m.
The Cape Charles Town Council rejected an offer to sell .40 acres of harbor property to Shanty owner Jon Dempster. Dempster brought an unsolicited offer of $262,000 for the parcel. Council vote was 3-3, but the sale of real property requires a super-majority of 5-1.
The slash line for the vote was Buchholz, Green
While Mayor Dize could not vote, he did offer an embarrassing and cringe-worthy defense of the sale even as the majority of the “citizens” voiced opposition.
Town Manager Larry DiRe recommended that the town not sell the property:
Staff recommends Town Council not approve the sale of town-owned real property (0.40-acre portion of tax map parcel # 83A3-A-10 as shown in lease agreement “exhibit A”) at this time. Lot 10, in whole and in part, is a critical parcel in the overall harbor district and in relation to the future development of the adjacent forty- acre railroad yard property.
Until a meaningful, and relevant for the current conditions, railroad yard\harbor area sector planning process is completed and implemented through any necessary zoning ordinance amendments, the 0.40-acre pad should remain under town ownership.
In recent months the Town and various stakeholders, including the Canonie Atlantic board, and Northampton County, have discussed the future land uses and development of the railroad yard. More recently private investment in maritime activities and vessel provisioning services have been made in the harbor area.
The Planning Commission, at their regular monthly meeting on March 5, 2019 committed to begin the process of reviewing railroad yard and harbor area planning and zoning and requested this be done as a joint exercise with the Town Council and the Harbor Area Review Board.
Upon completion of that process, the town will have current, integrated information upon which to make land use, land acquisition, and land disposition decisions.
In February, Recreation Director Jen Lewis worked with Northampton High School and Cape Charles Christian Academy to have students assist in planting beach grass.
Plans and a worklist for the Blessing of the Fleet
Vendor forms are being collected for the 4th of July vendor forms. A master schedule of town events is also in progress.
Lewis submitted a contract for Town participation in Save the Bay Day. The town will be working with the Cape Charles Yacht Club to organize Captains for Bay Creek, Oyster Farm, Cape Charles Harbor
Information has been sent to the printers to have the crater sign reprinted and put in place before the Tourist season. The plan is for a kiosk storage area to be available before the Tourist Season.
Team Expands with New Onley-Based Caseworker; Office Opens Monday
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) this week added an Eastern Shore caseworker to her team and will open a new office in Onley on Monday, March 25.
Starting next week, Congresswoman Luria will have offices in Washington, Virginia Beach, and Onley. The caseworker at the Onley office will be Caroline Bott, a native Virginian.
Bott will provide constituent services and represent Congresswoman Luria at events on the Eastern Shore. Bott has more than two decades of experience working for government and nonprofit organizations in the education, environment, health care, and economic development sectors. A graduate of Randolph-Macon College, Bott holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Virginia Tech. A photograph of Bott is attached to this email.
“The Eastern Shore is a wonderful part of our district, and I’m thrilled to announce our new office in Onley,” Congresswoman Luria said. “I’m also happy to welcome Caroline to our team. She will serve the Eastern Shore with honor and looks forward to meeting constituents, listening to their concerns and priorities, and helping them in every possible way.”
Congresswoman Luria tomorrow will be touring Eastern Shore Community College, meeting with Eastern Shore Area Agency on Aging/Community Action Agency leadership, and hearing from local, state, and business leaders in Northampton County.
During the past week in Hampton Roads, Congresswoman Luria has hosted her first town hall, served meals to seniors, published her first newsletter, participated in a health care roundtable, met with the Chesapeake Bay Advisory Council, and joined a bipartisan congressional delegation to tour aircraft carriers and meet with local shipbuilders.
Addresses and phone numbers for Congresswoman Luria’s offices are below.
Eastern Shore Office (opening Monday, March 25)
25020 Shore Parkway, Suite 1B
Onley VA 23418
757-364-7631
Virginia Beach Office
One Columbus Center, Suite 900
283 Constitution Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
757-364-7650
Washington Office
534 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4215
Congresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she is the Vice Chair of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, where she serves asChair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.
Cape Charles Code Enforcement has issued 26 permits this year so far. Total construction for February totaled $405,139, bringing total construction this year to $4,692,720.
5 Permit fees were collected this month for $17,191.93 bringing the yearly total to $118,251.82.
Connection & Facility Fees this month: $12,350 Connection & Facility Fees this year: $61,750.
The Fire Dept. levy this month is $351.96, bringing total levies this year to $4,263.58.
Public Works has been busy planning and preparing for the upcoming season. Works continued library second-floor renovations and held a pre-bid meeting for library exterior repairs.
Cleaning work continued on the East Well site
A new playground fence is planned; an Invitation for Bids went out last month. The town also received bids for tennis court resurfacing.
Crews planted beach grass between the boardwalk and beach.
Crews have also been working on alley clean-up.
It was a busy February for the Cape Charles Memorial Library.
There were four Youth Programs, for Toddler Storytime events, and four Preschool Storytimes.
The Lego Club also held 4 programs. Garden Knitters and Life of Frances B. Latimer held one program each.
Staff visited Kiptopeke Library, and was involved with KES Poetry with 5th graders.
100th Anniversary Programs offered African Tales with Debra Alsko and a Book Discussion of the Magnificent Ambersons-film.
41 books were ordered this month.
February book displays featured books by black authors for Black History Month.
Staff presented a Mini Poetry Program at Kiptopeke Elementary School on February 27.
Staff met with Eastern Shore Public Library Youth librarian to discuss the Summer Reading Program.
Upcoming Events
• Friends Meeting, Monday, March 4, 5:00.
• Eastern Shore Public Library Trustee Meeting, March 12, 3:00.
• Library Board Meeting, March 13 at 5:00.
• Lego Club, Thursdays. 5:00-6:00 pm
• Knitting Club, Friday, 10:30.
• 100th Anniversary Celebration Friday with Etta Kay Pruitt, March 8, 7:00. • 100th Anniversary Tea, March 24, 3:00.
• Yoga for Littles, March 27, 10:30
Here is the February 2018 statistics regarding law enforcement activities for the Cape Charles Police Department. There were only 47 calls for service overall, with no felony or misdemeanor arrests.
The CCPD issued 2 traffic summons, 2 tickets and 8 warnings.
There were 32 building checks.
The CCPD also responded to 3 calls with the Northampton Sheriff’s Office.
Foot patrol hours logged, 23 in town, 20 in Bay Creek.
The Eastern Shore Comicon is a family-friendly convention in Cheriton, Virginia for geeks of all ages. Our interests include sci-fi, comics, gaming, fantasy, zombies, and superheroes. The convention is also a fundraiser for the Cheriton Volunteer Fire Company. Contact us at contact (at) easternshorecomicon (dot) com and follow us on Facebook.
Cheriton Volunteer Fire Company
21334 South Bayside Rd.
Cheriton, VA 23316
If you’d like to attend and need a place to stay, see this Google map with some local motels.
Tickets are $5 per adult or child 13 or older. Admission is free for kids 12 and under. Buy tickets at the door on the day of the event or online now.
Tables are $30 each, and 30 SIX tables are available. Maximum of three tables per vendor/artist, please! The more variety at the con, the better.
March 4th UPDATE! Due to the enthusiastic response to this event, we’ve rented more space at the fire hall.
Dealer Room
The banquet hall will be the dealer room with the majority of vendors and artists. Five of 21 tables are still available.
Event Room
Events and demonstrations will be held in the engine bay. Nine tables will be set up. One event room table is available.
Purchase of one 6 ft. table includes two chairs and two passes. Vendors must be set up by 9 AM See the FAQ for more details.
Please direct questions and comments to us at contact (at) easternshorecomicon (dot) com.
Maximum of three tables per vendor/artist, please!