The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that help citizens prevent or reduce flood losses.

Participating municipalities are ranked in classes one through nine, based on points received for a number of activities and as a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS:

1. Reduce flood damage to insurable property;
2. Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and
3. Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.

Previously, the town of Cape Charles was rated as a CRS Class 9 and residents of the town were eligible to receive a 5% discount on their flood insurance policies. Thanks to the hard work of town staff, especially Code Official Jeb Brady, effective May 1, 2019, the Town will be classified as a CRS Class 8 which increases the flood insurance discount to 10%.

Those of us who adhere to the principles of the Weston A. Price Foundation are seekers. When a friend says, “Try eating this” we say, “What’s in it?”. When our doctor encourages us to take a statin we respond, “Wait a moment, do I have a shortage of statins? What was that study I read about older people with high cholesterol living longer?” When we acknowledge that there is tremendous stress in our lives we research ways to fortify our bodies with nutrient-dense food and dissipate negative feelings. However, almost twenty years ago when my therapist suggested I take an anti-depressant, I agreed. For some time, my husband and I had been struggling with huge family issues involving our adopted, but desperately loved children. Those of you who have struggled with sick children understand the primal gut-wrenching, want to die agony that is involved. Thus began a decade or more of dealing with doctors, therapists, psychiatric institutions and insurance companies. Now with the benefit of time and distance, I can see my evolution from someone who fiercely hung on the words of my children’s’ doctors to a person who believes that we need to heal ourselves with help from others.

How did this happen? In my ten-year journey, I heard sage pronouncements of bipolar, unipolar, treatment-resistant depression, schizophrenia, Aspergers and even bad parenting. I finally came to the conclusion that they were clueless as I was, but the professionals needed a diagnosis, so they could prescribe a drug. We had Haldol, Risperidol, Adderall, Ativan, BuSpar, Effexor, Klonopin, Wellbutrin, Xanax, and the Prozac was for me. I learned about the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) which “offers a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders.” After a time, what struck me was that even with the standard criteria, there was very little objectivity. When a doctor sees an elevated C-reactive Protein test result he knows that inflammation is involved. In my case, different doctors could not agree on a diagnosis and as a result, we had a cocktail of drugs, all of which caused different problems and none of which offered a cure. There was never, ever a discussion of the root cause. [Read more…]

Trunk or Treating will take place on October 27 from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Mason Avenue in Cape Charles.

Cars will start lining up in the first available parking space in front of the Cape Charles Memorial Library. Please contact Jen Lewis if you would like to register your car or golf cart.
Businesses have two opportunities to get involved with Trunk or Treating.

The Best Decorated Storefront will receive a prize. Businesses can also get involved by passing out candy. Children will be given a list of businesses that will be participating. Please contact Jen Lewis at 757-331-4785 or reccoordinator@capecharles.org if you would like to participate.

Don’t forget the traditional trick or treating on October 31 from dusk until 8:00 p.m. Mask are not permitted for youth over 12 years of age. Town curfew will be strictly enforced for anyone under 18 years of age.

The Cape Charles Town Council Special Election is scheduled for November 6, 2018 to fill the vacancy created when former Councilwoman Dora Sullivan resigned her position on the Council. The candidate elected to this position would serve until June 30, 2020.

We have three candidates running to fill the seat on Council: Cela Burge, Joan Natali and Herbert Thom.

In-person absentee voting is currently available at the Northampton County Voter Registrar’s office in Eastville on Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Northampton County Voter Registrar’s office will be open on Saturdays, October 27 and November 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., as a convenience to voters who are unable to vote in person during the week. You may also request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you by calling the Voter Registrar’s office at 757-678-0480.

You may also complete an absentee ballot application on the Department of Elections website. The deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you is Tuesday, October 30, 2018. Your request must be received by your Registrar by 5:00 p.m.

Message from Cape Charles Memorial Library Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Cape Charles Memorial Library.

The Cape Charles Memorial Library Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Cape Charles Memorial Library are working together to plan a Calendar of Activities to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Cape Charles Memorial Library. Anniversary events will start on one of the Festive Fridays in 2018 and continue through June of 2019. A full list of events will be made available later in October.

One of the Centennial goals is to honor persons who have been invaluable assets to the Library during its 100 Year history. We want to think of these persons as “Pillars of the Library.” This we can only do with the help of past and current residents of Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore.

Therefore, if you know of such a ”Pillar,” please respond in writing to a special email account established for this purpose, ccmlis100@capecharles.org. In your response, please give specific information about this person’s activities on behalf of the Library.

Help us become fully aware of how he or she has been a tremendous asset to the library that we love. If after responding on one occasion you think of something else that is important to convey, please feel free to send an additional email. The Anniversary Committee looks forward to hearing from you.

Our goal is to find a way to honor these “Pillars” at some point during the Anniversary year. With your help we will be able to do just that.

70 BC: Birth of Roman poet Virgil (d.19 BC), author of the Ecolgues and the Aenid, among other works, whose legacy includes such pith as, Omnia vincit Amor (Love conquers all), Tempus Fugit* (time flies…), Latet anguis in herba (a snake in the grass), and Durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundis (Bear up, and live for happier days).

1066: The last successful invasion of the British Isles takes place at the Battle of Hastings, where an invading French army under the command of the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy demolishes the army of England’s King Harold II. The victor changes his moniker from William the Bastard to William the Conqueror, and assumes the throne of England as William I. The victory was a credit to the discipline and morale of William’s army, aided by the fatiguing reality that Harold’s army had just recently force-marched from the coastal north, where they repelled a Norse invasion on the 25th of September.

1307: King Philip the Fair of France, with the begrudging support of the Pope, sends out swarms of secret agents to arrest over 400 Knights Templar on charges of treason, blasphemy, and a dozen or so other spurious charges. The last Grand Master of the order, Jacques de Molay was burned at the stake: this was the moment when Philip’s crusade against the Crusaders came to fruition, with torture, forced confessions and brutal executions following in the wake of this night.

1322: Robert the Bruce defeats the Earl of Richmond at the Battle of Old Byland- yet another nail in the coffin of British King Edward II’s subjugation of Scotland. [Read more…]

The  Orchestra of the Eastern Shore’s Fall concerts will be on November 2^nd and 4^th.

From Orchestra of the Eastern Shore Facebook page

Dr. Paul Kim, a professional conductor, violinist, composer, and music professor will lead the orchestra which includes flutes, clarinet, horns, harp, bassoon harpsichord, and trombone.  The concert will feature the Overture to The Secret Marriage.  This is a late 18th-century comic opera by Domenico Cimarosa, which was so wildly received at its premiere in Vienna that Emperor Leopold II ordered dinner for the performers and had the whole opera repeated right afterward.

The program will also include Mozart’s Symphony No. 25, featured in the film Amadeus, and Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in G minor with Susan Ha as soloist. Susan is a professional pianist who serves on the faculty at Norfolk State University and is known locally for her performances with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Virginia Arts Festival.

The November 2^nd  concert will be held at Cokesbury Church in Onancock at 7:30 PM, and repeated on November 4^th  at Hungars Episcopal  Church in Bridgetown at 4 PM. Concerts are free, however, donations are welcome.

Science and Philosophy Seminar of the Eastern Shore of Virginia has scheduled its next seminar, “Your Primary Care Doctor as an Endangered Species.” The free 90-minute seminar will be at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, October 26 in the Lecture Hall of the Eastern Shore Community College, 29300 Lankford Hwy, Melfa, VA 23410.

Art Fournier will look at the looming shortage of primary care doctors, the factors that created it, and what might be done to reverse it.

Fournier retired to the Shore after teaching Family Medicine and Internal Medicine at the University of Miami for 35 years.

ANPC Women’s Pregnancy Support now has new evening hours, open Tuesdays until 6:00 p.m. The new hours will begin on November 6th.

The ANPC provides free and confidential pregnancy tests in a safe, confidential environment where you will not feel judged or told what you should do.
We are here to equip you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about your pregnancy with truthful, medically accurate information. And we can help you in many other areas concerning pregnancy.

If your pregnancy test is positive, our professional, caring Client Coach will go over all of your options and allow you time to process everything. We’re here to listen and be a safe haven for you especially if you are facing any uncertainty.

You don’t need an appointment for pregnancy tests or just to talk. We’re here for you Monday-Thursday from 10:00 – 4:00. After office hours visits are available by appointment too.

All of our services are available regardless of income, race or religion and are free and confidential.

Location: 26064 Onley Road Onley, Virginia
Call (757) 787-1119