CAPE CHARLES MIRROR

Reflections on Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore

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Cheriton Candidates Forum April 29th

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Thanks to Dannielle Romeo an informal candidates forum has been set up on Sunday, April 29th at the American Legion Hall from Noon to 3 pm.

This is an unmoderated, friendly meet-n-greet event.

All candidates are encouraged to join to meet and discuss their ideas with our community.

Two very basic rules are in place: candidates will limit any handouts to a single document no larger than 8.5″ x 11″ and will not set up any campaign signage.

Sunday, April 29 at 12 PM – 3 PM

Location: American Legion Northampton Post 56
21210 N Bayside Rd, Cheriton, Virginia 23316

Light refreshments will be served. All are Welcome!

Don’t Stop Believin’ May 11th thru 13th at the Palace Theatre

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On May 11 thru 13, Arts Enter and the Palace Theatre will present the musical Don’t Stop Believen’. 

The Ethel Lampert Community Center has seen better days and may soon see its final days unless the teens, volunteers, and staff find a way to save it. Some sleazy town council members want to bulldoze the place to redevelop and commercialize the neighborhood and bring them gobs of sales tax revenue, but that’s not stopping the teens who frequent the community center. From basketball players to computer nerds to artists, these down-on-their-luck kids have no place else to go, and losing the center would mean losing their home away from home. When they hear of a new television reality contest for glee clubs, they decide to form their own and try out. If they win the top prize, they’ll earn enough money to keep the center open.

Cast of Don’t Stop Believin’ rehearses “It’s All About The Money” (Photo Phillip Spohn)

Featuring local favorites McKay Shockley, Allison Shockley (star of The Clam Digger’s Daughter), Forensics champ Connor Handwerk, Mel Stein and Christy Iverson, this talented cast brings the drama, fun, and comedy to life on the Palace Stage.

Set design and construction is by the brilliant Peter Helk, who recently did the work for Arsenic and Old Lace.

The show is bursting with large rock and pop chorus numbers and a powerful, anthemic finale, this energetic, contemporary musical will bring out the gleek in everyone!

 

UPDATE: Still questions about tragic drowning in Harbor

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On March 13, 2018, at approximately 12:30 am Mr. Eric Perdue was walking back to his boat, which was docked in the Cape Charles Harbor when he fell overboard. Due to the air temperature, water temperature, and alcohol, this proved to be fatal for Mr. Perdue. Cape Charles Police recovered Mr. Perdue from the rip rap besides the boat ramps. No other information can be given, due to related active investigation. — Cape Charles Police.

Those are the facts, but how Mr. Perdue tragically wound up in the cold waters of the harbor that March night is still murky.

UPDATE: Other sources have come forward with more information. According to sources, Mr. Perdue had lunch at the Shanty, but he was later seen drinking at other establishments that evening, and not just at the Shanty as was originally reported here. The weather on the 13th was also blustery, with winds gusting near 30 knots out of the east.

Accounts forwarded to the Mirror confirm that Mr. Perdue was indeed intoxicated. He spent the evening drinking at the Shanty, and every so often would walk outside to check on his boat. At one point, we are told he paid his bill and left, only to return a few minutes later to again pay his bill. Sometime near closing, he left and went to the docks and stepped off into the water.

Toxicology and blood alcohol results have not been released, pending the investigation.

Soccer: Northampton wears down Arcadia

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The Northampton High School Soccer team is finally getting its groove. After tying its first two matches, the Blue Jackets have gone undefeated and unscored on in the last four games. They currently sit at 4-0-2.

Thursday, Northampton shut down a fast and talented Arcadia club 2 nill. Early on, the game was marked by sloppy midfield play and tight defense. Northampton was able to attack the Arcadia defense on several occasions, but excellent goaltending kept the game tied 0-0 at halftime.

Yellow Jackets more to 4-0-2 (Chris Glennon Photo)

Northampton was able to keep the pressure on the Firebird defense. Arcadia took advantage of defensive meltdowns by Northampton and got some strong strikes on goal, but goalie Chuckie Maldonado was able to come up with big saves. It should be noted that Maldonado has not given up a play related goal all season. The only two scores came from penalty kicks.

Midway through the second half, the Jacket’s attack was starting to take its toll, as Arcadia was forced into a strictly defensive posture. With under 10 minutes left, Cameron Glennon took advantage of a defensive breakdown in the right penalty area and blasted a perfect, low strike into the goal giving Northampton 1 – 0 lead.

Northampton continued to pressure offensively, with fast, physical play. Using his body, Joey Creed was able to muscle past the left side defender, but before he could fire on goal, he was fouled and was awarded a penalty kick. Creed set a strike into the left corner to give Northampton a 2-0 lead.

The game ended 2-0.

Northampton, now with a record of 4-0-2,  looks forward to Monday’s game against rival Nandua, at Nandua.

 

 

Cape Charles Boasts Robust and Highly Qualified Slate of Candidates

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Candidates for Cape Charles Mayor and Town Council gathered at the Palace Theatre for the 2018 candidates forum. This season’s election boasts a series of fresh faces, as well as a slate of highly qualified candidates. The forum was hosted by the Northampton Rotary Club.

The candidates bring solid, yet varied work and life experiences to the table.

The forum began with the Mayoral candidates Smitty Dize and Terry Carney. Each candidate articulated their qualifications, with Dize noting that Cape Charles is a water town, and he has spent his entire life working on or around the water, from commercial crabbing to a stint with the Merchant Marines. Carney countered that his previous career as an FBI agent provided him with the ability to analyze situations, but more importantly to listen to what people are actually saying. While Carney was able to articulate his vision a little better than Dize, Smitty was able to make the case that he has more history here and has a proven track record from his work as harbor master, and now as a manager of the Oyster Farm.

There is a lot to choose from for town council — Chris Bannon and Joan Natali represent current members of the council, David Gay, Tammy Holloway, Nioaka Marshall, Paul and Andrew Follmer are attempting to be first time members. While Natali and Bannon spent some time defending the current status of the town in areas such as the reverse-angle parking and water quality (taste and smell), the new kids on the block attempted to offer counterpoints such as attempting to find answers and alternatives to the current crisis of bad water and wierd parking angles.

After close to 5 hours of debate, the audience was left with the feeling that no matter who wins, there will be good folks occupying the seats.

Critique and Analysis

Citizen being forced to listen to Cape Charles candidate forum

Can you say Kumbaya? That, in a nutshell, was the approach by all the candidates. There was no snarkiness, no confrontations, no insults or accusations. At one time, it looked as if Mayoral candidates Dize and Carney would actually start making out, right there on the stage. All this collegiality made for a really boring and an altogether waste of a Sunday afternoon. They basically all agreed with each other on just about everything. The only thing we really learned about the candidates is that they are more about slick presentation than being forthright about how they really feel about the state of things, except for saying, “I love this town! I have a passion for this town!” I swear, I think they all said this at one time or another.

Except for Dize and Bannon, everyone else seemed so rehearsed and professional. It seemed inauthentic as if you could have just put a manakin with a prerecorded message in a chair, and there would hardly be a difference. While the candidates may have felt this lent an air of authority and knowledge, it instead came off as, ‘Oh, here’s a bunch of come-heres trying to tell us how they are going to make everything so much better’. How’s that been working out for you?

Annoyingly, many of the candidates kept bringing up their former jobs as if that somehow gave them credibility and prepared them for a role in local government. We’re glad you all had great careers, really we are, but let it go. None of that really matters, and the fallacy that it does is what is destroying this place.

These people never seem satisfied, and just can’t leave this place be.  All afternoon, we kept hearing how the town had to “step up its game” or “take it the next level” or whatever. Here’s the scary part: after acknowledging that there is no commercial property left in Cape Charles for the town to “grow into”, the word “Annexation”, which until now has only been muttered and whispered behind closed doors, was actually said out loud. Grab your wallets people…they are coming for you. [Read more…]

4th Annual Country Fair at Campbell Air Field Saturday, April 28

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Come enjoy a day of family fun at our 4th Annual Country Fair at Campbell Air Field, 9114 Bayford Road in Franktown on April 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All are welcome! FREE admission!

Enjoy games and fun activities for children and adults of all ages! A dunking booth, great live music, lots of tasty food, face painting, a photo booth, pony rides and hay rides will be fun for everyone. We will also have a live auction with some incredible items.

We have vendor spots available to sell your products, and are also looking for sponsors of the event. Call the MCHF office at 442-2215 to speak with Alisa for further details.

New Roots Youth Garden Needs Volunteers

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The Cape Charles New Roots Youth Garden (NRYG) is gearing up for another great garden season! Our mission is to connect our young people with fresh produce – from seed to table – through outdoor experiential learning and fun. Each week youth participate in hands-on gardening, experiential learning, and get fit activities.

If you have a love of gardening, love working with children or if you are looking for a way to become involved in our community, NRYG would love for you to join our team of dedicated volunteers.

They invite you to join us on Wednesday, May 9 to learn more about the many ways with which you can help make this season’s garden the best one yet. The meeting will be held from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at Rayfield’s Pharmacy (entrance door next to Rayfield’s drive-up window).

They also invite you to take a tour of the garden and or attend our annual Blessing of the Worms event on Saturday, April 28. The garden will be open for tours and other activities beginning at 9:00 a.m., with the Blessing of the Worms event starting at 3:00 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet many of our volunteers as well as youth who participate in our program. We encourage you to fill out a volunteer interest form while visiting the garden!

Have questions?

Contact: Lynn Wajda: clwajda5@gmail.com or (302) 245-3090
NRYG Volunteer Coordinator
Check us out on Facebook!

Cape Charles Farmers Market to open May 1st

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The Cape Charles Farmers Market Reopens on May 1st. The Cape Charles Farmers Market will again run every Tuesday afternoon at the Cape Charles Museum and Welcome Center, 814 Randolph Avenue.

The market will be weekly through August 28, and then every two weeks from September 11 through October 30. Many returning vendors and some new vendors will be offering 100% local seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, seafood, eggs, pastured chicken, lamb, and pork for your fresh food shopping needs. The Market also offers selections of prepared foods, including barbecue, breads, sweet and savory baked goods, chef-prepared ready-to-eat salads and take-and-bake seasonal dishes, honey, jams, and more delicious offerings for your table.

The Cape Charles Farmers Market is increasing its number of ready-to-eat and fresh food vendors. Each week we expect 15 to 20 vendors offering a wide variety of local food products. With limited space, craft vendors will be featured at special markets in November and December. The Market gladly accepts SNAP/EBT and Senior Nutrition Vouchers.

Michael Jordan: Reaching Adulthood through Education

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Special to the Mirror. This philosophical piece is written by Michael Jordan of Cape Charles.

I was happy and comfortable in my religious faith before being subjected to the study of philosophy; God was in heaven and I was certain of the disposition of my soul at death. This, dear teacher, is no longer the case. You have, through the simple use of dialectic, shattered the thesis of my previously-held spiritual beliefs.

I am sure the guilt you now feel is overwhelming, but not altogether alien. You, no doubt, have enjoyed this power of iconoclastic destruction for many years, and must have fine-tuned your stealthy system of pillaging unsuspecting individuals of their religious presuppositions to the nth degree.

Were you, as I am now, also the victim of some highly educated scoundrel who, eager to inflict psychological pain on the innocents of the world, absconded with your peace-of-mind? Did he also enjoy, over the course of the semester, seeing the slow elimination of your once concretely held spiritual beliefs? Or are you, a self-made harborer of doubt, forever roaming the countryside, looking for unsuspecting unfortunates upon whom to unleash your Pandora’s Box of debilitating truths?

You, my dear sir, are a rogue. You dared to provide me with the radical views of the most brilliant minds of the world who concerned themselves with the ultimate questions of reality. Now, I can no longer just accept the teachings of those I once held in high regard. Because of you, their premises are no longer valid. I must now, on my own, decide the truths of my own reality… I don’t know how you can bear the responsibility for such influence upon me. But you must not do anything rash. Over time, I may yet recover my psychological balance. Until then, I shall have to console myself with excessive lovemaking and large quantities of wine.

Previous to your exposé of pre-Christian philosophical beliefs, there was, in my mind, only one report of a virgin birth. Now, this miraculous event has been diluted by information that this occurrence was typical throughout Greek and Roman mythological history. Furthermore, the origin of loving thy enemy as well as thy friend, prior to your revelation, was the sole property of Jesus the Christ. I now know that Socrates taught this long before Him. Before my enlightenment by you of the progression of philosophical thought, I would not even have considered that Jesus’ teachings were of Greek origin, but that they were, without doubt, sent directly from God.

I now have a new-found respect for Jesus as a man, a great man, whose philosophy has overshadowed all other philosophical systems, and whose positive effect on the world, to one degree or another, has lasted over two thousand years. I also believe that His beneficial influence on the world will never end, not only because of the close relationship so many believe He has with God, but because of what may be, the independent power of his own philosophy teachings. [Read more…]

CBBT announces winning name for tunnel boring machine

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CAPE CHARLES, VA – The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (“CBBT”) and its partners on the Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project are excited to announce the winning name for the tunnel boring machine: CHESSIE!

The winning entry was submitted by Grace Bentley of Nandua Middle School, located in Onley, VA.

According to the video entry, “Chessie” was a natural choice, founded on the legend of the sea monster who lives deep within the Chesapeake Bay. Sailors who have spotted this creature describe Chessie as a long, snake-like creature, so it is analogous to the 325-foot long TBM that will dig its way through the Bay bottom. The name has remained popular in the Chesapeake Bay region over the years and personifies many things, including boats, trains, trails, and animals.

CBBT choose name for tunnel boring machine: CHESSIE! (Photo courtesy of PilotOnline)

The winning name will be displayed on the side of the TBM during the launching ceremony which is anticipated to take place in 2019.

In late March, a Review Committee selected the Top 10 names from more than 120 entries received from 6th-grade students from Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News and the Eastern Shore. The Review Committee was comprised of representatives from the Project partners: Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Commission; Chesapeake Tunnel Joint Venture; Jacobs; Mott MacDonald; HNTB; and Women’s Transportation Seminar, Hampton Roads Chapter.

Online voting began Monday, April 2 and ran through Friday, April 13 at 4:30 pm EST. The top 10 essays and video as presented by the 6th-grade students were made available on the CBBT’s website and the public was invited to vote for their favorite entry.

Naming a tunnel boring machine (TBM) with a female name dates back to early mining traditions when miners looked to Saint Barbara to protect them as they worked underground. The naming of the machine in advance of it beginning to work is a sign of good luck for the project ahead.

Second place winner was BESSY the Boring Bufflehead, submitted by Caleb McIntyre of Broadwater Academy and third place winner was MS. TAYLOR, submitted by Shania Finley of Kiptopeke Elementary School.

Each of the winning submissions is available for public view at www.cbbt.com/TBMNamingContest/.

“Every student who participated in this naming contest is to be commended, as their entries expressed a lot of thought and creativity,” stated Jeff Holland, Executive Director for the CBBT. “The Commission extends congratulations to the winners and we appreciate the excellent effort invested by all students to take part in this unique opportunity. We look forward to the students, teachers, and their classes continuing to follow the progress of this tunnel project until it is completed.”