This letter was sent to the Cape Charles Mirror…we tore the right corner getting it out of the envelope.
Cape Charles Learning Tree taken down
The New Roots Youth Garden always called this tree the “Learning Tree”. It was the place where staff and students gathered to classes and training events for the garden club. Members always felt that with its age and experience, it could provide them with sage advice as well as much needed summer shade.
During the summer of 2016, garden staff noticed that the tree was beginning to show signs of disease. New Roots had it evaluated, however it continued to deteriorate ultimately becoming unsafe. They made they hard decision to have it taken down.
Marshalls Tree Service did the work, and saved 12 feet of the trunk and a few extra pieces that New Roots plans to utilize in the garden. “Our hopes are to use some of the big tree stump pieces for seats and tables. And the longer pieces to be made into benches or tables with the trunk itself being carved into the tree symbol in the NRYG logo,” said Tammy Holloway, President of New Roots Youth Garden. “Our goal is to have the stump of the great ole’ gal to still remain our “Learning Tree” area.”
New Roots is currently seeking folks with unique woodworking skills to help design and build the benches and tables.
At the last town council meeting, Tammy Holloway addressed council and thanked the town for their attention to this safety concern, as well as shared intentions for the removed pieces of the tree. Former Chief of Police and current town council member “Sambo” Brown said, “this great ole’ gal used to be natures GPS as it guided fishermen on the water of where the harbor was.”
While saddened at the loss of the tree, Holloway told the Mirror, “We look forward to many more years of “Learning” and “Growing” at the New Roots Youth Garden.”
At New Roots, there is always something to do, and they need help in many ways; hands on at the weekly garden club, site work, fundraising help and by making a donation.”
Contact NRYG at helpnewrootsyouthgarden@gmail.com 757-414-7188 . Follow them on FB for up to date happenings in the garden.
GOSSIP: Town Harbor in need of cleaning and repair
For the most part, the town enjoyed a great Fourth of July. The town harbor, however seemed less busy than in previous seasons. This email sent in by a slip holder echoes concerns many, including some members of town council, have for the town harbor:
We have a unique harbor, wonderful views, and a great seafood restaurant. Residents and visitors alike walk the docks to see the boats, enjoy the restaurant, and admire our bay.
But our town harbor is in need of maintenance. Dock boards are pulling up, slip guards are peeling away, and trash collects along the ramps.
Dockmaster and staff need to weed and maintain the flower boxes, remove trash from the ramps, keep docks and slips in good repair, and possibly remove floating trash from around the docks and launch lot.
This is a safety hazard for everyone, an eyesore, and a detraction if all is not in good repair and free from debris.
New Roots Youth Garden Hires New Garden Coordinator
Things have been flourishing in the New Roots Youth Garden, and it’s no surprise to learn that the luscious garden is having its best year yet, in both amount of produce and children attendance. With an amazing Spring Session under their belt, they are swinging into summer…and the kids love it. When you ask Tammy Holloway, President of the Board of NRYG and owner of the Bay Haven Inn of Cape Charles, what their secret to success is, she points to three unique parts of NRYG: the dedicated volunteers, funding support from a generous community and their new Garden Coordinator Hannah Denny. Add a good dose of fun and eager to learn children and you have an amazing recipe for successes.
“New Roots is truly blessed with an amazing volunteer support network,” Tammy Holloway said. “I can’t say enough times how wonderful it is to be blessed with such a dedicated community of people that genuinely love to help out in the Garden.” She also talks about the many ways to help out the Garden, which really gives people a lot of different opportunities to lend a hand when they can. There is no shortage of folks willing to come by the garden during the week and help keep it beautiful, and of people who want to get involved in other ways like site work or making a donation to the garden. Donations of all sizes directly impact the teachable moments we are able to provide to Cape Charles and Northampton youth. [Read more…]
Cape Charles Drinking Water Confidence Report
The EPA requires the town to monitor for certain contaminants. Testing is required less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not vary significantly from year to year, or the system is not considered vulnerable to this type of contamination.The table below lists all of the drinking water contaminants that were detected during the calendar year of this report (2016). According to the report, only those substances listed below were found in town water.
Outstanding Teachers Recognized
Northampton County Public School (NCPS) teachers enjoyed an evening of celebration with their peers and public school supporters from across the community last month.
The Northampton County Education Foundation (NCEF), in partnership with the Northampton County Education Association (NCEA), joined forces to recognize, celebrate and thank the ten retirees, along with four current teachers chosen by their colleagues for the annual awarding of Teacher of the Year, and Division Teacher of the Year. This year’s catered banquet was held at Franktown United Methodist Church. School board members and county supervisors joined in to show their commitment to our county public schools, and give thanks to the retirees who taught our children. Each of these superb and dedicated instructors, librarians, teachers’ aides, and a bus driver has worked to educate future generations of citizens.
First on the evenings agenda was to give recognition and gratitude to this year’s retiring staff. “Almost 300 years of combined teaching experience is retiring from our school system this year.” said school superintendent Mr. Eddie Lawrence. “But, judging by the accomplishments of this year’s students, I am confident that our current core of teachers will be successful in carrying on the mission that these retirees have devoted their careers on.” he stressed. The 2017 retirees from NCPS are Mrs. Deborah Barban, Ms. Connie Doughty, Ms. Linda Floyd, Mrs. Sallie James, Mrs. Ruthanne McConnell, Mr. Ronald Scott, Mrs. Jacquelyn Smith, Mr. John Stewart, Mrs. Delores Wilson, and Mrs. Lynn Young. [Read more…]
Did the Town of Cape Charles and Northampton County Intentionally Withhold Information?
On September 9, 2016, the Cape Charles Mirror contacted the Virginia Department of Transportation regarding the connector road project in Cape Charles, sometimes referred to as the “Harbor Access Road”. The Mirror submitted a series of questions, and on November 21, 2016, VDOT sent the following responses (VDOT responses are in italics):
I.Have VDOT attorneys reviewed the Annexation Agreement between the Town of Cape Charles and then developer Brown and Root?
VDOT attorneys neither reviewed the Annexation Agreement nor were they aware of any obligations thereto, prior to or at the time of the project. As a result of this inquiry, our attorney obtained and reviewed the Annexation Agreement.
II.Does Bay Creek South, LLC, as successor in interest to Brown & Root, Inc., Brown & Root I, Inc. and Kellogg, Brown & Root, Inc. as developer and primary owner of Bay Creek, have an obligation to construct VDOT Project No. 0642-065-577 (UPC103391) at its sole expense?
VDOT believes that Bay Creek South, LLC has a legal obligation to construct VDOT Project No. 0642-065-577 (the “Project”) at its sole expense.
The Annexation Order entered by the Circuit Court of Northampton County on November 26, 1991 and recorded among the land records of Northampton County on December 9, 1991 in Deed Book 252 at page 649, obligates Brown & Root I, Inc. to “construct or have constructed a new two-lane access road into its development to accommodate traffic from [Bay Creek, formerly known as Accawmacke Plantation], provided the necessary land and easements are acquired and providing all necessary permits are obtained.”
The Report of the Commission on Local Government on the Town of Cape Charles – County of Northampton Annexation Action dated February, 1991 (the “Report”), which was incorporated into the Annexation Order by reference, contains strong language providing the justification for placing the burden to construct and pay for the Project on the developer of Bay Creek. There is also a referenced Agreement between Brown & Root I, Inc. and the Town of Cape Charles (the “Town”) dated March 13, 1990 (the “Developer’s Agreement”), an Amendment to the Developer’s Agreement dated November 25, 1991 (the “Amendment”) and an Agreement between the Town, Northampton County (the “County”) and Brown & Root I, Inc. dated November 25, 1991 (the “Town-County-Developer Agreement”), all of which are incorporated by reference into the Annexation Order or Amendment.
III.Why didn’t VDOT know about the Annexation Agreement between the Town of Cape Charles and then developer Brown and Root?
There are 3 project parcels at issue, Parcels 004, 006 and 010.
Parcels 004 and 006 were handled by Northampton County. Acquisitions activity on these parcels, including Title research, was not performed by VDOT and the title report reviewed by VDOT did not reference the existence of any proffers.
Although VDOT did handle Parcel 010, in searching for the existence of proffers, VDOT must rely on the responses from localities where any such proffers might be present. We ask for written responses from Planning Departments as part of our diligence. VDOT asked the County to provide any information regarding zoning restrictions, special use permits, unrecorded proffers and open zoning cases concerning parcel 010 and we were told that none of those were applicable to Parcel 010. As a result, any related Annexation Agreements were not known to us.
From the above correspondence, VDOT agrees that Bay Creek South, LLC is obligated to construct the project “at its sole expense”. When pressed on why they were unaware of the existence of the Annexation agreement, they say that they “rely on the responses from localities where any such proffers might be present.”
Why would the county withhold the existence of the annexation agreement from VDOT? In a December 9th 2013 email to former County Administrator Katie Nunez, then county Economic Director Charles McSwain clearly notes the existence of Law No. 27, the annexation agreement between the Town of Cape Charles and Northampton County:
While Mr. McSwain confirms the existence of the agreement, and the requirement that Bay Creek construct the road, it also appears that he did not actually read it; in his email, he mentions the mythic notion of a trigger, in this case exceeding the threshold of units, before the agreement kicks into motion. This same argument was used by Richard Foster (Bay Creek) to stupefy the town when Cape Charles attempted to get the developer to honor the agreement and construct the new wastewater plant. However, nowhere in the report on government does any such language exist. As was noted by the State Attorney General, in this case working for VDOT, Bay Creek South, LLC is required to construct the roadway at its sole expense.
In the email chain below, the project was touted at the state level. Governor McAuliffe’s 2014 visit was used to light a fire under the project. Not sure what conversations may have taken place off-line, but Mary Rae Carter, at the time Interim Director of Commerce and Trade is asking about whether the new road would be used to transport rocket parts:
In an email sent on February 18th, 2014, Supervisor Larry LeMond, also working on behalf of Bay Coast Railroad, notes the expense of the roadway was to be borne by Bay Creek South, LLC:
Note: Not sure whether Mr. Lemond was representing the county or Bay Coast Railroad.
The usual suspects made cameo appearances. This letter from Eyre Baldwin and Southport is a key indicator as to what extent the tail is wagging the dog in Northampton County.
In the below email, Cape Charles Town Manager Heather Arcos notes that one of the prime reasons for the roadway improvement project is that Bay Creek traffic will be an increasing burden:
The State Attorney General agrees that the cost of the 642 Connector road project should not be placed on the shoulders of the tax payer, but should be borne by the developer Bay Creek South, LLC. When pressed about why the AG was not going to enforce the agreement, the response was that VDOT was not party to the agreement, and thus could not enforce it.
That response was curious, misleading, and we believe wrong. The Mirror responded that as a point of reference, although VDOT is not a party to the Annexation Agreement, the Virginia Attorney General, as the enforcement arm of the State legislative acts: (i.e. Law No. 27) is responsible, and that the Commonwealth Attorney in Northampton County is paid to represent the Commonwealth as its local representative; however, in cases of conflict someone has to step aside and the AG’s office in Richmond steps in to handle the work.
After refusing to address the issue, the Mirror entered a Freedom of Information Act request, attempting to find out why the AG was not acting. That request was denied based on “client/attorney privilege”.
VDOT claims that they were unaware of Law No. 27, and that it was Northampton County’s responsibility to tell them. The question is, why did the county withhold that information? They were certainly aware of it. Why did they not acquire a legal opinion? County Attorney Bruce Jones was aware of the agreement—he represented the county in their efforts to contest the agreement in 1991.
The Town of Cape Charles was fully aware of the annexation agreement–they have the documents posted on the town’s web site. Mayor Sullivan and Bob Panek penned several letters to Bay Creek South, attempting to get them honor the agreement relative to the developer’s responsibility to build the new waste water facility. This is a town that spent over $170,000.00 in legal fees for the privilege of selling the old high school for $10, and it routinely spends over $120k on attorney fees annually—why did they not get a legal opinion on the project?
Email correspondence shows that the Governor was also aware of this, attempting to justify the project due to its ability to deliver rocket parts to Wallops (putting expensive rocket parts on a barge and exposing them to salt water does seem like the best procedure). If the Governor was aware of the project, then it isn’t too much of stretch to think Lt. Governor Ralph Northam had to know about it. It is his turf. The Mirror has reached out to Northam twice—we have yet to receive a response.
In conversations with sources around the capital, the Mirror was told off the record that it sounds like the FOIA rejection, as well as the reluctance to enforce Law No.27 is a stand down. In a tight election year, having Lt. Governor Northam in this fine mess would not be politically expedient. However, if the Lieutenant Governor is aware, and chose to allow his constituents to be ripped off in this fashion, that may be just as embarrassing.
The county, including the current Board of Supervisors, the Town of Cape Charles, VDOT and the State Attorney General’s office was or now is aware of the annexation agreement between the town and county, and that the developer Bay Creek South is obligated to pay for the $12 million-dollar connector road leading into Cape Charles Harbor.
Most citizens would agree that new connector road is good for the county and the town, but the ends do not justify the means. A few folks will reap the benefits, but doing so on the backs of the taxpayer.
Our elected and appointed government officials have not only allowed this fraud to be perpetrated on the very people they have sworn to protect, but have apparently been willing participants.
The assumption must be that we county folks are soft and lazy, intellectually tired, and that our eyes are glazing over just reading this, that if they just let it go and don’t do anything, eventually everyone will forget about it, and the whole thing will go away. The problem with that theory is that, even if they build the road, and start using it, Law No. 27, which is a legislative act of the State, never goes away (unless by another legislative act). They will always be obligated to pay.
Eventually, maybe new regimes that have a sense of ethics and integrity will take up posts at the state and local levels and will make things right.
But then again, maybe someday pigs will fly.
Exmore to host 2nd Annual National Night Out “Party in the Park” August 1st
County-wide event, sponsored by the Exmore Police Department, encourages citizen participation and community/police partnerships to fight crime and create safer neighborhoods
Exmore, VA (July 14, 2017) – “Exmore’s 2nd Annual National Night Out is a neighborhood block party, and everyone in Northampton County is invited,” says Sgt. Jason Campbell. “It’s free, family-oriented, action-packed and fun.”
Campbell is a member of the Town of Exmore’s six-man police department, and the organizing force behind Exmore’s National Night Out, set to take place on Tuesday, August 1, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Exmore Town Park on Main Street. Sponsored by the Exmore Police Department, the Exmore event is the only registered National Night Out (NNO) celebration on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and it is open to all residents and visitors on the ESVA.
For 2017, NNO will involve over 16,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canada, and military bases around the world. In all, over 38 million people are expected to participate in “America’s Night Out Against Crime”. [Read more…]
Virginia State Crime Commission seeking comments on Decriminalization of Marijuana
The Virginia State Crime Commission is currently seeking public comments on the topic of decriminalization of simple possession of marijuana.
Written comments and any other information/materials relevant to this study should be emailed to vsccinfo@vscc.virginia.gov or via traditional mail by 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 25, 2017. Written comments can be sent to the Crime Commission’s physical address at 1111 East Broad Street, Ste. B036; Richmond, VA 23219.
Study findings will be presented at the October 5, 2017 Crime Commission meeting, which is planned to begin at 10:00 a.m. in Richmond. This meeting is open to the public. Location is TBD and will be revealed later this fall.
The study had been requested by Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment, who said at a Norfolk city council event in Norfolk last year that it was crazy that people are being locked up for the crime.
Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat candidate for governor, tweeted his support for the study, saying, “One step at a time. We’ll chalk this one up for a win.”
Republican candidate Ed Gillespie, isn’t fully onboard with changing marijuana laws, “While Ed opposes marijuana legalization or decriminalization, he does support exploring reforms to make sure that penalties align appropriately to the offense committed. He looks forward to the results of the Commission’s study,” Gillespie’s Deputy Communications Director Abbi Sigler told WTOP in a statement.
NOAA Report Highlights Economic Impact of Recreational Fishing
The waters of the Mid-Atlantic are home to some of the nation’s most sought after saltwater recreational species, including bluefish and summer flounder. In partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and its member states, NOAA Fisheries is working to ensure sustainable and enduring saltwater fishing opportunities along the East Coast.
Below is NOAA’s information factsheet highlighting the opportunities and economic impacts of recreational fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic region. The waters of the Mid-Atlantic are home to some of the nation’s most sought after saltwater recreational species, including bluefish and summer flounder, which are pursued by millions of anglers each year. [Read more…]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 718
- 719
- 720
- 721
- 722
- …
- 855
- Next Page »