NEWs
sports
Opinion
dam breach at Chandler’s Millpond
Colonial Beach drifters softball Page 4
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine: Bipartisan Foreign policy page 8
Page 8
POSTAL CUSTOMER
T he
Colonial Beach • Westmoreland
Volume 39, Number 22
Wednesday, May 27, 2015 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
Honoring America’s Heroes CB Council eyes higher tax rate Linda Farneth
Photo by Linda Farneth
Commander Christopher J. Zayatz, USN, Executive Officer, NSA, South Potomac speaks during the Memorial Day ceremony held at Colonial Beach. The ceremony and wreath-laying were sponosred by American Legion Posts 148 and 89 and their respective Auxiliaries, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10574 and its Auxiliary, and VFW Post 8717.
The Colonial Beach Town Council has voted to advertise a real estate tax rate 13 cents higher than the current rate of 62 cents per $100 of value. The council has not yet adopted a tax rate. Advertising the potential increase gives the governing body the latitude to adopt a rate of up to 75 cents per $100 of value. The council will not vote on a tax rate and its 20015-16 budget until after a public hearing set for 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 6. If the panel decides to adopt the 75cent tax rate, which would take effect July 1, 5 cents would be earmarked toward the cost of building a new permanent elementary school. The council has a number of options on the real estate tax rate. It may adopt a rate lower than the advertised rate but cannot adopt a rate higher than the one advertised. It takes four votes to approve the budget and five votes to pass a tax increase. Council held a special meeting on May 7 to discuss solutions to balancing the proposed 2015-16 budget. During that meeting, the council learned that the proposed budget is
unbalanced, with projected revenues at $6.8 million and projected expenditures at $7.2 million. Projected expenses show a 2 percent increase for the town’s budget over the current fiscal year and a 9.25 percent increase in the school system’s budget request for local contributions. Mayor Mike Ham suggested options including: Hold both the town and school budgets to 2 percent increase over 2014-15 levels, which would reduce school funding from the town by almost $153,000, lowering the shortfall to roughly $250,000. This proposal covers the remaining shortfall with a combination of real estate tax increase and taking money from reserves. Each penny of real estate tax increase generates approximately $50,000 in revenue to the town according to Town Finance Director Joan Grant. If a one cent real estate tax increase was imposed the town would only have to take $200,000 from reserves. Each additional penny would reduce the amount needed to be taken from reserves by another $50,000. See TAX RATE, page 8
Eagle’s Catch Antiques expanding, growing in Montross Richard Leggitt
Photo by Richard Leggitt
Becky and Tony Nelson say a new location has given a boost to their business, Eagle’s Catch Antiques.
Eagle’s Catch Antiques, located for the past several years in shared space with Carol Chandler’s Carrot Cottage, has recently moved to new and expanded quarters in Montross. “In moving, we gained more floor space,” said Tony Nelson, who owns the business with his wife, Becky. Eagle’s Catch, a popular Westmoreland stop for tourists and antique shoppers, is now located at 15381-A Kings Hwy. “There is a lack of useable retail space in town,” Nelson said. “So we are really happy with this location. So far we have been pleased with the traffic we have seen.” Tony Nelson, a former police officer, is a retired Army officer who served in Vietnam as a helicopter door gunner. Becky Nelson is an operating room nurse. The couple, parents to three grown boys, began coming to Westmoreland from Northern Virginia on a parttime basis 15 years ago. They moved permanently five years ago. “When we first opened out store, it
was very difficult to find suitable space. Carol Chandler was a tremendous help to us in getting started. If not for her we would not have been in business,” Tony Nelson said. Nelson said his interest in antiques comes from his dad. “He was always collecting and interested in it. I saw something and thought about buying it, but didn’t,” Tony said. “Then I spent years looking for it. That got me more interested.” Nelson suggests the appeal of antiques is a combination of nostalgia and longing for the craftsmanship of a bygone era. “A lot of people find comfort in the connection to the past they get from antiques,” he said. “But there are others who appreciate the fact that furniture is not made today the way it was. “You can’t beat a nice piece of antique furniture. The way it is constructed, the grain of the wood. Furniture today is just not the same.” Becky Nelson views antiquing as a kind of treasure quest. “I was never a furniture hunter.
For me, it’s the hunt itself,” she said. “It’s like hunting for shark teeth. It’s looking for something unique. I was always more of a hunter of memories.” One of the beauties of antique furniture is its practicality. “Most people treasure the past,” Becky Nelson said. “And, at one time, people were collectors of things that reminded them of earlier times. But today, a lot of people are looking for something that is practical or unusual.” The Nelsons spend considerable time checking out auctions and estate sales, looking for antiques, furniture, artwork, china, and other items they can display at their new store location. So far, business has been good. “Our business allows us to participate in a passion we have in antiques,” Tony Nelson said. “And it also allows us to give back a little to the town we love. If we can make the town more interesting, that can help someone else start a small business. We feel strongly about the success of Montross.”
Beach plans housing rehab Westmoreland hires school superintendent Linda Farneth As an enhancing component to the Downtown Revitalization Grant, Colonial Beach sought and was awarded a $25,000 planning grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to perform a housing needs assessment that focuses on the central district. The purpose of the assessment is to identify substandard housing within the project area, which spans both sides of Colonial Avenue to First Street, and within the downtown area from Colonial Avenue to Boundary Street and from Washington Avenue toward the riverfront. Jerry Davis, executive director of the Northern Neck Planning District Commission, is working on behalf of the town to meet the grant conditions
and to administer the grant. The project requires 12 to 15 housing projects, which would allow the team to apply for up to $700,000 dollars. Adding infrastructural repairs could make the town eligible for an additional $300,000. The group has identified 12 dwellings between two trailer parks that can be viewed from Colonial Avenue. The grant would allow for repairs up to a maximum amount of $25,000. If a house qualifies, it could be torn down and rebuilt. Davis has determined that these units could be demolished and replaced with eight housing units. The project would not displace any residents since at least four of the buildings are vacant and would See HOUSING, page 8
Richard Leggitt The Westmoreland County School Board has announced the hiring of a well-known educator from North Carolina with 30 years ‘experience as the new superintendent for the county’s school system. Dr. Michael Perry will assume his post effective July 1. Perry currently is the superintendent of Michael Perry Hertford County Public Schools in Winton, NC, a position he has held since 2012. With three decades of experience in education, his career has
included serving as an assistant superintendent, executive director of student services, executive director for middle schools, director of school improvement, principal, assistant principal, instructional specialist, and teacher. “I am honored to be selected as the next superintendent of Westmoreland County Public Schools,” Perry said. “My wife and I have been blessed to positively touch lives of children in urban, suburban, and rural areas. I am convinced that Westmoreland can and will get the attention of the state and nation as we actualize the abilities that reside within our students.” Iris Lane, chair of the Westmoreland County School Board, said she believes Perry will
be a great fit for the division and community. “Dr. Perry has a wealth of experience in public education at the local, state and national levels, in addition to possessing strong communications and leadership skills,” Lane said. “Dr. Perry is excited about becoming a part of our school system and community, and the school board is pleased that he accepted our offer to lead our school system to higher achievements.” Perry earned his doctorate of education in educational leadership and Master of Arts in elementary education from East Carolina University, and a Bachelor of Science in theology from Cairn University. Perry is married to the former Beryl Holder.
Now you can follow local breaking news daily on our website at www.journalpress.com
They have three children. Stephanie, Michael, and Leah who are graduates of University North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In North Carolina, Dr. Perry serves as the president of Roanoke River Valley Education Consortium. He also serves on the executive board of the North Carolina School Superintendents Association. Dr. and Mrs. Perry will attrend the June 15, Westmoreland County school board meeting to meet interested community members.