CAPE CHARLES MIRROR

Reflections on Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore

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DEFIANCE: Cape Charles Shops offer Friday Night Extended Shopping

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Local businesses were very disappointed in the town and Main Street for canceling Festive Fridays. They have banded together to do their own version called Holiday Happenings in Cape Charles.

Holiday Happenings in Cape Charles: Friday night extended shopping, promotions, sales, giveaways, and festive activities

Cape Charles, Virginia – Mason Avenue Businesses will have extended hours until 8 pm every Friday from November 27th until December 18th.  Each night will feature different sales, promotions, giveaways, music, carriage rides, and other fun and festive activities for the entire family. As we navigate Covid during the holidays shop with us in a safe and festive small town. Don’t miss out on this holiday promotion and shop local this season!

November 27th is fast approaching and we are adding additional promotions daily. Check out our Facebook Event for more updates. https://www.facebook.com/events/1132383183845071/

Our current promotions are:

* “Pick your own discount” up to 25% for BW Jewelers. Plus specials all around the store.
* Voiajer will have black Friday 3 hour blitz sale with buy one get one half price. As well as additional sale items.
* Bayside Kids will have locals discount of 20% off storewide every Friday and also running a gift card special and select larger markdowns and come back coupons good for the month of January
* Ambrosia will offer our special holiday fettuccine and paired glass of wine for $25
* With every purchase at Love Letters you will receive a Scout Shopper & 20% off all women’s and children’s clothing.
* 76 West will have pop up shops
* Carriage rides down Mason Ave with a donation
* Cape Charles Candy will have 25% all Christmas items plus a 10% off your next purchase coupon  

* Eastern Shore Custom Carts will have $25 cart rentals

Letter: Citizen Calls Out Town for its hypocrisy regarding Holiday Decree

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The following letter was submitted by citizen Mary Finney to the Cape Charles Town Council and Town Manager.

Dear Cape Charles Elected Officials, 

I would like to respond the ‘notice’ that was sent out recently to residents of Cape Charles from town manager Hozey regarding the decision to cancel Festive Fridays and all other holiday events. As a citizen of Northampton County, I would like you to be aware that I, and many, many other locals (and non-locals) are extremely upset by this latest proclamation.  While you blame this on the increased “cases” of the Covid virus, you cite the public “laxness” and complacency as the cause.

This is not only insulting, but false. The nature of all viruses is that we cannot control them. Furthermore, basing public policy on ambiguous stats such as  ‘case numbers” shows a disinclination to look more closely at the reality of the statewide or national effects of the virus- such as mortality rates, hospitalization rates, and survival rates. Per the CDC, the death rate in Virginia so far in November is the lowest it’s been since mid-March.  

Statewide, hospitalizations are almost 2% lower than they were this time last year.  Currently, the CDC lists survival rate at above 98% for this virus. As I suspect you know, ‘case numbers’ are easily manipulated, and are used to push a pro-shut down agenda. Covid cases may be ‘up’, but that is due to increased testing and the fact that many folks have been exposed to this virus and have an immunity to it, as should be allowed to happen!!  Also, cases DO NOT equal illness.

So, basing your choice to quash the much anticipated and profitable town holiday celebrations on this kind of information is negligent, heavy-handed, and smacks of totalitarianism.

Let me remind you that NOBODY is forgetting that the town was filled with tourists all summer. Despite repeating our governor’s fear mongering words about ‘surging cases’, an honest evaluation of the actual situation shows this to be irrelevant .That being said,  I am well aware that Cape Charles is home to a large number of liberals ( progressives, socialist democrats ) who attach great importance to Ralph Northam’s edicts. I submit that he has proved to have higher regard for his political future in his party of choice and his ability to wield executive power than for the good of the average working citizens of Virginia. It is a fact that the mandatory shutdowns and restrictions have been devastating to our local and national economies.  

A decision such canceling Holiday events across the board shows that your assembly also savors power, using it to control as many aspects of the private citizens and businesses as possible. And like our governor, using the excuse “it’s for your safety” to mollify the hoi polloi.

Canceling the extremely popular Holiday events will be a death blow to many local merchants and restaurant owners. Even taking the possibility of ‘spreading the virus’ into account, there are ways in which these events could be safely held. Has your group even discussed this?? Most of these traditional events take place OUTSIDE.

Common sense (not so common here, I’m afraid) tells us that this is not conducive to spreading sickness.

I think you need to ask yourselves; WHOSE side are you on???  Hundreds of voting citizens are wondering about this exact question.

Town Message: Covid Cancels the Holidays

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The following release is from Town Manager Hozey, laying out Covid restrictions for the upcoming holidays:

PUBLIC MESSAGE #19 RE: COVID-19

Notice to all residents and business owners:

Just as we thought we might be turning the corner on this pandemic, cooler weather has brought us all indoors and frustration with following the rules seems to have caused many to become more lax. This has resulted in the virus surging back with a vengeance. Numbers of new cases are skyrocketing in Virginia and across the country. This prompted Governor Northam to tighten restrictions last Friday.

No Christmas for You!

The Governor’s amended Executive Order does not seem to target “normal” activities, like going to church, school, work, etc.; rather it’s targeting “social” interactions and focuses on restricting social gatherings as we head into the holiday season. Public and private gathering of this type (indoor or outdoor) are now limited to no more than 25 people.

This unfortunately means more disappointment in 2020. The Town of Cape Charles really looks forward to this time of year and typically promotes many enjoyable events. But by definition, these events are social in nature and would certainly exceed the gathering limitations imposed by the Governor. Therefore, the Town Council has reluctantly decided to cancel all these events for the remainder of 2020. These include:

The Grand Illumination
Lighted Golf Cart Parade
Shriners Parade
Festive Fridays
Dropping of the Crab Pot

Nobody is happy about this, but at the end of the day public safety must take precedence. As we wait for new vaccines to be developed and distributed, we must all remain vigilant. If you don’t have to go out, don’t. If you do, please wear a mask. Social distancing and continued cleaning and sanitizing of common areas remains very important.

As for the Town, we will still do our best to decorate for the holidays and bring as much cheer as we can to all our residents. You can help too, by shopping local and supporting our local businesses as much as possible. And don’t forget all our non-profits who have struggled this year with their normal fund-raising activities. I’m sure donations to your favorite local cause would also be very much appreciated right now.

Despite this highly unusual year, we all still have so much to be thankful for; just look at where we get to live! So stay safe and please have a wonderful Thanksgiving and joyous holiday season.

Town Uses Covid to pad Revenues

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The Town of Cape Charles has been quick to follow Governor Northam’s half-baked Covid-19 restrictions, even as they tend to defy our our state constitution. Case in point, almost all holiday and events in the town have been canceled, or limited to the point uselessness.

This did not stop the Mayor and Town Council from using Covid to pad budget numbers.

Supposedly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the adopted FY 2020/2021 budget was looking tepid and weak, not the total theft of citizens’ pockets that Plum Street was used to.

Looking at the Covid shakedowns (grants, loans, etc.), the town realized that the pain they have inflicted on the ordinary people actually accounted for somewhat of a windfall for them.

With that in mind, a resolution was passed Thursday to amend the current town budget:

Cape Charles Mirror Reaches 2 Million Views

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The Cape Charles Mirror has reached 2 million views, and our comments total nearly 15,000.

We have said this before, but the numbers show that this project belongs to you, the community of the lower Eastern Shore.

The Editor will admit, this endeavor can be a bit of a grind. He has a day job that he loves and takes up 50 to 80 hours a week, so the Mirror is a bit the labor of love (sic).

However, we try each week to produce a product that entertains, makes you think, pisses you off, and sometimes makes you laugh.

More importantly, since Festivus is upon us, it is a forum to air your grievances. Kind of like Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park London, anyone can comment (not all comments make it through though).

The Mirror thanks you for the time and effort you put into this thing, and as citizens, keep up the good work.

Cape Charles Adopts General Operating Reserve

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While there is no requirement, the Town of Cape Charles formally adopted a General Operating Reserve (GOR) fund. Town Council will commit funds to a General Operating Reserve (GOR), which will be adjusted with each budget cycle.

The GOR is meant to meet the cash flow and liquidity needs of the Town, and to aid in adjusting to the revenue flux that occurs throughout the budget cycle.

The town is shooting for twenty percent (20%) of the upcoming fiscal year’s general operating expenses.

The fund may only be decreased or appropriated for another purpose upon approval of a supermajority of the Town Council.

Town Amends Capital Asset Management Program

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The Cape Charles Town Council approved amendments to the Six-Year Capital Asset Management Program. 2021 projects are included in the amended the Fiscal Year 2021 budget. The amounts include $84,000 in the General Fund, and $55,000 in the Utility Fund, for a total of $139,000.

The breakout is as follows:

General Fund
• $45K for Municipal Building Renovation or Replacement – Feasibility Study
• $20K for Multi-Use Trail Phase 2 Closeout (partially grant-funded)
• $5K for Mason Avenue Pull-in Parking
• $14K for Central Park Zip Line Replacement (partially grant-funded)
Utility Fund
• $55K for Water Tower Mixers
The total amount included in the amended budget amounts to $139K.

Jim Baugh: The light and beauty of night construction

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New Nightscape by Jim Baugh: Cape Charles Harbor November Milky Way.

“This was a bear to film. During pre location scout out during the day, I missed the walkway lights. Did not see them until set up the camera. So the race was on to shoot as much as I could before they turned on but wait long enough for it to continue to get dark. So cranked up the F stop to reduce light and started shooting at 1sec exposure, then gradually worked down the F stop. Lights turned on but had finished painting the boat. Then did the rest. This is the same lifeboat I flew our drone under when filming the ESVA Tourism film. If yall get to cape Charles check it out, it is really cool, located at the Harbor. Been wanting to shoot this for a while. Nice evening but cold windy night.Photo Info: Milky Way Tracked 5-minute exposure. F2.8 11mm. Sky tracker mount.100 ISO. Foreground 75 exposures ranging from 1 to 10 seconds. ISO 100, F2.8. All exposures triggered remotely WIFI including all camera exposure adjustments. Stacked in Photoshop.” – Jim Baugh

Shadowpainting with a GVM RGB 7s and a small spotlight. Foreground also shot at 11mm, Tokina 11-16. Lens protected by Lens Muff with two heat packs.

Cape Charles: Stupid is as Stupid Does

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Comment and image submitted by email to the Mirror.

Citizens are outraged by the blind and stupid decree by Mayor Dize, Town Council, and Town Manager Hozey to cancel the holidays in Cape Charles, all based on a political hoax being perpetrated by our Governor. Why are they blindly following Governor “Coonman” Northam’s constitutionally questionable mandates?

New rule. Stop showing Corona death numbers without showing me their age and if they had other conditions. It should be public knowledge WHO is dying from this so we can make educated decisions moving forward. The only way this “pandemic” ends is when we stop believing the lies that Democrat and liberal Republican politicians are telling us about it. It’s all a ploy, and it is all bs. –– Wayne Creed, Cape Charles Mirror

Have the Mayor or TM Mr. Hozey even looked at alternatives?

Not every place in the Old Dominion is being run by spineless individuals.

See below, I’m attaching a copy of a resolution that was recently passed in Appomattox County in response to Northam’s decree: