CAPE CHARLES MIRROR

Reflections on Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore

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Trending: Resist the Town, Dance in the Streets

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The response to the Town of Cape Charles’ lastest edict restricting street parties has met with fiery responses. Strawberry Street had been the scene of awesome, fun, and safe street parties for some time now. However, the town feels differently and has banned this type of event. Sources tell the Mirror the effort stems from the extreme concentration of visitors in the town, as well as very high rates of IOGC (Idiots On Golf Carts).

Led by former Town Council member Frank Wendell, a growing grassroots movement is afoot, “Resist the town of Cape Charles Va. Dance in the Street Downtown every Friday night”.

These angry citizens are encouraging folks to channel their inner Kevin Bacon and defy the Town’s Footloose mandate.

Wendell told the Mirror, “Nobody ever confused the Cape Charles governing body with rocket scientists, but some things you just can’t fix”.

Mirror: Mr. Wendell, due to this event, are you reconsidering a run for Mayor?”

Wendell: No comment.

Council Candidate Dannielle Romeo talks Cheriton

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To My Esteemed Fellow Residents of the Town Of Cheriton

As disappointed as I was seeing the intentionally misleading campaign signage distributed by four candidates acting as a group, I was simply appalled at the blatantly dishonest advertisement they chose to run in the Eastern Shore Post on April 27th, 2018. Doubling down on their fear-mongering, divisive tactic of “The taxes are coming! The taxes are coming!” to retain their positions on this representative body is distasteful at best and deceitful at worst.

What they aren’t telling you:

* Cheriton’s existing town ordinances allow for a personal property tax and real estate tax which have not to date been levied. No candidate for council has forwarded any plan that would result in the activation of that existing code. It is misleading to an offensive degree that these four candidates continue to campaign on the implication that their opposition intends to levy real estate and personal property taxes.

* The proposed budget for fiscal year 18-19 shows a profit, not a deficit, even with the loss of income AND expenses related to citation revenue from the Northampton County Sheriff’s Department.

* The newly formed Cheriton Police Department and its related start-up expenses were approved unanimously by the seated council, in multiple sessions. A local police department of our own opens doors to our town in many ways, including the ability to expand our borders.

These types of political posturing tactics may be routine in places like Richmond, but they do not well reflect the values and ethics of our dear Cheriton.

It is impractical and unsustainable to place the burden for the majority of the town budget on the shoulders of a single employee. “Policing for Profit,” an avenue being directly ordered by several members of the current council including the candidates who ran the Post advertisement, is an ugly practice; it undermines public trust in law enforcement, it damages open communications between citizens and their police, it discourages tourism and removes necessary safety resources from the streets of our town in the name of convenience. The current council is either unwilling or unable to envision any different plans of action for revenue generation and are reluctant to go out and get personally involved in developing any. We must be honest with ourselves; if our town is not providing specific services and amenities, funded by multiple revenue streams, why are we a town separate from the county government at all? To that end, we must plan and budget accordingly. This means getting creative with solutions for a fast-changing world while keeping our small town charm intact. It CAN be done!

I and several of my fellow new candidates have some exciting ideas for revenue generation that we believe will work for everyone’s best interests. I’ll be happy to discuss them at length and listen to your concerns about the current issues and future direction of our town at the Meet The Candidates event ( Candidates Forum ) on Sunday, April 28th, 2018 at the American Legion Hall from noon to 3 pm.

Your council was never intended to be a group of persons working towards their own goals and purposes. Your council’s objective is to be a body of individuals, elected by YOU, who represent YOU! Somewhere along the line, I believe some members may have lost sight of this perspective. Your voice and your interests must come first, with an eye always towards the service of the greatest good and best benefits to all citizens.

I’ve traveled extensively and lived in many locations but never chose one to settle until purchasing our home in Cheriton. The diversity in our community, the sense of belonging, the friendly faces I see every day; this is where my family chose to put down roots and we’re in it for the long haul. I’m a wife, mother, and volunteer for several community organizations including our local fire department. Seeing the potential for a more vibrant commercial zone I relocated my small business here too. I’ve invested in Cheriton, heart, and soul. And seeing for myself how much of the town government was conducted behind closed doors in secret executive sessions and unannounced meetings without opportunity for public participation, I chose to become more involved.

I am confident that my experience with the Main Street program, part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, for revitalizing historic districts will be of great value during my service to you on the council. The principles of design, organization, promotions and economic development are custom tailored for towns just like ours. I look forward to using these skills successfully as I have in the past to make our Cheriton a safer, brighter and more beautiful place to live, work, visit, shop and enjoy.

Donnella (Dannielle) Romeo

Candidate, Town Council

VA House Race Decided by Lottery

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A Virginia elections official reached into a stoneware bowl, pulled out a name and declared Republican incumbent David Yancey the winner of a House of Delegates race that could determine which party controls the chamber. Virginia staged a rare election lottery, livestreamed across the country, to settle a tie between Yancey and Democrat Shelly Simonds. The loser of the drawing is entitled to request a second recount, likely leaving the race in limbo as the General Assembly reconvenes for this year’s session.

Historical Notes: All Saints Day

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This happened on November 1st, All Saints Day.

1512: The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican opens for public visitation for the first time since completion of the great ceiling fresco by Michelangelo.

1520: Ferdinand Magellan enters the narrow strait that now bears his name. While not as navigationally straightforward as the route around Cape Horn, and it avoids the ferocious westerlies and high sea states of the Horn passage. However, the narrowness of the channel and the prevailing westerlies make the strait a particularly difficult passage in a sailing vessel, especially for a square-rigged design that does not go well to windward.

1790: British author and political philosopher Edmund Burke publishes his letter, Reflections on the Revolution in France, in which he examines the French body politic and its leadership through the lens of the same Natural Law that guided the original revolution in the former British colonies. Burke argues that the abstract foundations of the French revolution could not account for the complexity of human nature, and the enterprise was doomed to lead to tyranny. Critical of the rule of intellectuals, and pointing out the dangers, “What is the use of discussing a man’s abstract right to food or to medicine? The question is upon the method of procuring and administering them. In this deliberation I shall always advise to call in the aid of the farmer and the physician, rather than the professor.”

The mushroom cloud created at Eniwetok Atol.

1952: The United States detonates its first hydrogen bomb, Operation IVY MIKE, at Eniwetok Atoll. The blast came in at 10 megatons.

Plante: On the Fourth of July, Now Past and Gone!

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Ah, yes, the Fourth of July, and lucky us this year, ain’t it people?

Gas the cheapest its been in years, and the same with hamburgers!

Isn’t this a wonderful country we live in, then?

But if so, why aren’t we happy?

That’s right, people, according to a MARKETWATCH article by Quentin Fottrell published just before the Fourth of July on June 28, 2017, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which once used to be ours, at least pursuant to the Declaration of Independence, but who knows of that anymore, now seems more attainable overseas.

Think about that people, after fighting a War of Revolution in this country to gain the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness promised us in the Declaration of Independence on the very first Fourth of July in the country, we now need to go to some foreign country like Norway to get it today.

When it comes to happiness in the citizen body, the U.S. ranked No. 19 just behind the Czech Republic, Japan and France.
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THE FEDERALIST PAPERS REVISITED: On The Electoral College

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Special to the Cape Charles Mirror by Paul Plante

After reading the Washington Post article “Why efforts to persuade the electoral college to ditch Trump probably won’t work” by Sean Sullivan and Ed O’Keefe, December 6, 2016, and the Politico article “Rogue electors brief Clinton camp on anti-Trump plan – Kasich emerges as the group’s alternative Electoral College pick” By Kyle Cheney and Gabriel Debenedetti, 12/05/16, where we are informed about the existence of a group calling itself the “Hamilton Electors,” I thought it time, past time, perhaps, to revisit the subject of American presidents as was actually laid out by the founding fathers in the Federalist Papers, which have to be read as a body to properly understand them, and what they have bequeathed to us in our own times here in the USA.
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ACCOMACK COUNTY SCHOOLS REVIEWs THE BAN OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN

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“Fear of serious injury alone cannot justify oppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.” —U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis (1856-1941)

Nice thought, but even in 2016 Atticus Finch and Huck Finn have to deal with complaints. A formal complaint has been filed in the Accomack County Public School system against the use of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The appearance of a “racial slur” in both works is the basis for the complaint. Atticus and Huck will have to wait on the sidelines while a “committee” hashes this out.

huck_finnAs was reported by Hillary Chesson of the Eastern Shore News, “Marie Rothstein-Williams, a white parent of a biracial child who attends Nandua High School, spoke at a Nov. 15 Accomack County School Board meeting against the use of the books “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” in Accomack County classrooms and libraries.“I keep hearing ‘This is a classic, this is a classic.’ I understand this is a literature classic but at some point I feel the children will not or do not truly get the classic part, the literature part — which I’m not disputing this is great literature — but there is so much racial slurs in there and offensive wording that you can’t get past that.” Rothstein-Williams stated that the nation is divided as it is and she teaches her son that he is the “best of both worlds,” and doesn’t want him to feel otherwise. “There’s other literature they can use,” she said. “We’re validating that these words are acceptable and they’re not acceptable by no means.”

While Ms. Rothstein-Williams’ offers a somewhat fragile argument, it is a legitimate concern, and as such, the Accomack County Public School system must address it, putting them in a fine, if not original mess. While part of the argument focuses on “validating racism”, the core premise of those advocating for such a ban would be that children may be harmed if we don’t protect them from this inappropriate material.

Is this censorship, and are books and other curriculum protected by the U.S. Constitution?

The American Association of School Administrators and the American Library Association define censorship as: “[T]he removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational materials — of images, ideas, and information — on the grounds that these are morally or otherwise objectionable in light of standards applied by the censor.” As the new GE commercial says, almost every idea, at one point, has proven to be objectionable to someone.
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COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR KATIE NUNEZ RESIGNS

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The Northampton County Board of Supervisors announced at Monday’s work session that there would be a shake up and restructuring of County Administration. This will take place in several phases over the next few weeks, however it was announced that the BoS had unanimously accepted the resignation of County Administrator Katie Nunez. According to Chairman Spencer Murray, Nunez’s decision to tender her resignation was mutual. The resignation is effective immediately.

County SealKatie Nunez has served as the County Administrator for 11 years.

The Board also announced that the position of Economic Development Director was being cut. According to Murray, current director Kris Tucker has been released from that position. Murray noted that economic development is truly the responsibility of the BoS–as such, Mr. Tucker is free to pursue other opportunities.

Finance Director John Andrzejewski will serve as interim Administrator.

Another Tree taken down: No evidence a Permit was issued

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Tree removed at 119 Pine Street (Mirror Photo)

Tree removed at 119 Pine Street (Mirror Photo)

The Cape Charles Mirror was notified this week of another tree being taken down, this time near the 100 block of Pine Street. The crew was just leaving when the Mirror arrived; while it was not a VDOT crew, the identity of the contractor (red trucks) could not be obtained before they drove off. The Cape Charles Mirror contacted Town staff to see if a permit had been issued for this tree removal. Staff told the Mirror that the Town had not issued a permit. Staff also told the Mirror if a VDOT crew is in Town, they will know about it (VDOT usually gives notice if a crew is scheduled). The Mirror was told that they would email Dale Pusey to find out whether VDOT had issued a permit for the removal of this tree.

The CC Mirror attempted to contact Town staff and the Mayor several more times to confirm whether a VDOT permit was pulled for that site, but as of this publishing, we have not received information one way or the other. While staff is generally very forthright with the local press, in this instance, they have not provided any information in regards to this tree.

This rogue behavior, citizens by-passing town code has the potential to adversely alter the Cape Charles Streetscape. With members of the Historic District Review Board and the Planning Commission setting a precedent by openly advocating and promoting the notion that citizens should ignore Town ordinances and then use subjective reasons to justify their actions could lead to more violations such as occurred at 510 Monroe. A walk around Cape Charles reveals many old trees that could be taken down using the flimsiest of arguments. It the Town won’t speak for and protect these trees, who will?

The silence coming out of Plum Street is deafening.

Northampton County Democrats support Shuck-N- Suck

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Cape Charles – The Northampton County Democratic Committee will join the 12th annual Oyster Buy Boat Reunion and Shuck-N- Suck 2016, from August 5th through 7th, at the Oyster Farm Marina, in Cape Charles.

These mid-summer days will be sunny and hot, so the Committee invites you stop by its tent for free iced lemonade or water. While you quench your thirst, you are invited to:

 Win a four-night condominium vacation in Las Vegas, Atlantic City or Orlando

 Find a “Flea Market” bargain in an unimaginable collection of high quality goods

 Satisfy your sweet tooth with scrumptious “Bake Sale” treats

 Obtain voter registration and early / absentee voting information

The Northampton County Democratic Committee recognizes that while we may have differing interests, convictions and lifestyles, we must peacefully live together and agreeably express our
individual perspectives. We welcome all visitors to our tent – you will be greeted with a warm, American smile.

shuckNsuck2016