CAPE CHARLES MIRROR

Reflections on Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore

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Old Cape Charles High School is back on the Market

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Old Cape Charles School is back on the market. Originally purchased for $10, the current set of apartments is now up for sale. According to the realty company, One South Commercial, “prospective buyers can decide whether to run the property as the only multifamily investment in the Cape Charles Historic District, convert the units to condominiums for sale at a market-making price point, or enjoy the considerable rewards of the short term rental business”.

Currently, the price is proprietary and the dissemination of the information regarding is property is not publically available. 

Does Cape Charles need a Cart Narc?

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It seems like a basic courtesy to others: you get a cart at the supermarket, use it to get your groceries and bring them to your vehicle, and return it for others to use. And yet, many people ignore the cart receptacle entirely and leave their carts next to their cars or abandoned haphazardly all over the parking lot. The Cape Charles Food Lion makes it very easy and convenient to return the cart, providing two corrals within easy walking distance from anywhere in the parking lot. Still, people just leave the cart right in the middle of a parking space.

Where does this disregard come from? More than likely, it is the same type of people that just throw trash out of their car windows, somehow unable to make it to a trash receptacle.

The essence of “shopping cart theory” proposes that an individual’s moral character can be determined by whether they choose to return a shopping cart to its designated spot after use or whether they simply leave it wherever it suits them, “The shopping cart is the ultimate litmus test for whether a person is capable of self-governing, the post states. To return the shopping cart is an easy, convenient task and one which we all recognize as the correct, appropriate thing to do. To return the shopping cart is objectively right. There are no situations other than dire emergencies in which a person is not able to return their cart. Simultaneously, it is not illegal to abandon your shopping cart. Therefore the shopping cart presents itself as the apex example of whether a person will do what is right without being forced to do it.”

The author of The Shopping Cart Theory continues, “No one will punish you for not returning the shopping cart, no one will fine you, or kill you for not returning the shopping cart, you gain nothing by returning the shopping cart. You must return the shopping cart out of the goodness of your own heart. You must return the shopping cart because it is the right thing to do. Because it is correct.” The theoretician then goes on to make some rather radical statements about those who do not pass The Shopping Cart test. “A person who is unable to do this is no better than an animal, an absolute savage who can only be made to do what is right by threatening them with a law and the force that stands behind it,” they state.

Does Food Lion need to hire a Cart Narc?

“Americans are facing an epidemic perpetuated by the laziness of their fellow citizens,” Cart Narcs, a segment on the YouTube channel The Woody Show, states in one video. “We’re talking about the dicks who don’t put their carts back into the corral.” They decided to take matters into their own hands by publically shaming people who leave their carts in the parking lot to ding cars and take up precious parking spots.

Just put the cart back where it belongs.

Mason Ave Parking Proposal: 15mph speed limit, all trucks, and large vehicles banned from parking

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The Town of Cape Charles continues to move ahead in its effort to change reverse-in parking spaces with head-in parking spaces.

The Town submitted a Design Waiver Request to VDOT last August 2021, however, VDOT responded that they consider head-in angled parking more hazardous and requested that the Town address several safety issues.

As part of the new ‘safety’ plan, the Town proposed reducing the speed limit to 15 mph from Peach Street to Harbor Avenue and prohibiting trucks of all kinds (including vans and SUVs) from the angled parking spaces. VDOT, for ‘safety’ reasons, likes the idea of restricting parking on the north side of Mason Avenue to passenger cars only. According to the VDOT, it would improve visibility and would alleviate safety concerns.

Parking for trucks, SUVs, and minivans will be located on the south side of Mason Avenue, the municipal parking lot south of Mason Avenue, side streets north of Mason Avenue (Peach, Strawberry, Pine, and Harbor), and Randolph Avenue.

Town Council will review the proposal at the next Regular Meeting this Thursday, February 17th.

Cape Charles Halloween Updates 2021

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This Halloween in Cape Charles Trick-or-Treating will be permitted on Sunday, October 31 from dusk to 8:00 p.m.

The town asks that trick-or-treaters respect those that do not want to participate…if they don’t have a light on, just go on to a house that does.

The town curfew will be enforced for anyone under 18.

Due to being short-staffed due to turnover, there will be no trunk-or-treat this season.

If you have any suggestions, please contact Julie Pruitt at julie.pruitt@capecharles.org.

1ST Annual Crab Slam Comes to Cape Charles July 30th

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We have all missed the old Clam Slam, and then the Shuck-n-Suck, but all of that is changing this season. The first annual Crab Slam is coming to the Cape Charles harbor. It is being billed as a Celebration of Watermen, and will feature fan favorites such as featuring Live Music, Smith Island Speed Skiff Races, and of course, the boat docking contest.

The annual boat docking contest event is hosted by the Shanty and the Cape Charles Harbor & Marina.

The event kicks off Friday night, 7/30 with live music, food & beverages.

The Shanty will be closing down their parking lot on Saturday, 7/31 and Sunday 8/1 to host retail, food, wine, and beer vendors. There will be an outdoor stage for live music the duration of the event.

Sunday, 8/1, is the only day tickets are required! This is one of the biggest days of the year in Cape Charles, the Boat Docking Contest.

Get your tickets here

Cape Charles Awarded $845,115 grant for Covid-19 Relief

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The Town of Cape Charles has been awarded a Virginia Department of Housing and Development (DHCD) Community Block Grant in order to provide relief from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The town will receive the full amount requested of $845,115.00.


The Town of Cape Charles partnered with Cape Charles Main Street to apply for the CDBG grant and use any funding received to provide assistance for the Cape Charles business community for expenses such as rent/mortgage relief, reopening expense relief to help cover required equipment and supplies, possible technology upgrades to allow for hands-free point-of-sales systems.

Cape Charles moves to relax “some” restrictions

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Town Council voted Thursday to rescind the ordinance banning short-term rentals in town. Owners are now free to begin booking guests.

Council agreed to keep the rest of the restrictions the status quo.

Restaurants are only allowed 50% capacity outdoors, and all other businesses are closed. There has been some confusion, mainly Social Media chatter, about whether barbershops and salons in town will be allowed to open.

The beach, park, and public restrooms remain closed.

“We have to circle back around to the beach,” Mayor Dize said. “When the Governor opens the beaches, then we can look at opening up the town.”

“They are already here. Day trippers, campgrounds are open. We need to be prepared. Focus on how we can protect citizens and visitors. Adhere to our guidelines. It’s naïve to think they are not coming,” Councilwoman Holloway said.

Councilman Benett stated that he was worried that the area is already stretched, “Food Lion is completely bought out…with the campgrounds open, it’s going to make it even worse. The same goes for medical.”

The most at-risk group for coronavirus infection are those in the 65 plus age group–that is a large percentage of the town’s population.

While it is recognized that folks are coming, the goal has been to try and slow traffic down, such as closing the beach and most businesses.

Governor Northam’s Phase 1 eases some of his business restrictions, but the Town Council decided to move cautiously, at least until phase 2 is announced.

Here is the official status:

  • Short-term rentals are authorized to resume operations in Cape Charles.  The Council formally rescinded Ordinance 20200416, that had temporarily closed short-term rental operations.  However, operators are requested to ask tenants to bring supplies with them, so as not to over task an already strained supply of local goods for Town residents.
  • Transient moorage will be accepted at the Town Harbor.  Again, boaters are asked to bring their own supplies, easing the demand on local supplies needed for Town residents.
  • Most public restrooms will remain closed.   
  • The park, playground, and tennis courts will remain closed.
  • The fishing pier will remain closed.
  • Town offices/facilities will remain closed to the public and continue to operate under the IOP Phase 2 protocols currently in place.
  • The beach will remain closed in conformance with Executive Orders 55 and 61. 

With the harbor now open to transient boaters, an effort to open the harbor restroom will more than likely have to happen. In the Mason Avenue district, a porta-potty may be placed behind the library. Public Works staff will be responsible for cleaning. Full PPE protocols will be in place for the worker.

One idea floated as a way to increase social distancing, is to close off reverse-angle parking lanes on the north side of Mason. The town is waiting for VDOT to confirm if this can be done.

Public comments were about 50/50 regarding opening the town. The following comment was sent to the Mirror via email:

As a homeowner in Northampton and a regular customer at a lot of the facilities in the town I take offense to the comment of the town manager who said in his latest virus update “Like it or not the tourist season is started”. I believe that comment is unwarranted since the town’s businesses rely on the tourist season to survive. The town should cater to tourists and not a have “Like it or not “ attitude regarding the tourist season. I for one may spend my money elsewhere.

Defiance: Time to Open Cape Charles

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“This is getting ridiculous! Give the restaurants reduced capacity, so ” social distancing” can be employed, have servers wear masks, and whatever other strictures the media will endorse…but we have to get open SOON! As an industry we do not make money selling food, we need to sell alcohol. Losing May will be crushing, losing June will put the bulk of us here on The Shore out of business! We have 4 months to make an optimum profit, the September 1 the door is closing quickly! We have been here working diligently for almost 14 years and would like to be here for a few more! If you feel uncomfortable going out in public….stay home! If you are comfortable interacting with some new separation and medical restrictions we would welcome you! We need to get back to work….as soon as prudently possible!” Gene Kelly, Owner of Kelly’s Gingernut Pub

The Town has done its due diligence, now it is time to disregard the Governor’s arbitrary and capricious orders and open businesses on a limited basis.

We know that the virus is only dangerous to those over age 60, and mainly over 80. Why is the beach closed when there is virtually no risk? Is it constitutional for the Town to dictate what property owners can do with their property without an emergency justification?

The big lie being told to ordinary people is that these measures are meant to save lives. No, these measures are really about trading lives.

We voted these leaders into office, and when this is over, we will have to judge them on what they did. Did they take good counsel? Did they balance the needs of all citizens? Were they arbitrary or equitable in deciding which activities to prevent and which to allow? Did they take advantage of our vulnerability to take just a little more power for themselves? 

The science doesn’t seem to line up with the tyranny that’s going on. Continued indiscriminate shutdowns are an abuse and don’t protect the public health.

“Most of the country is going to come through this with the realization we’re being treated like children … by people who want us to look at them as parents,” Rowe said during an interview with Glenn Beck on the Blaze.

“In an economy like this, when you take 26 million ‘nonessential’ workers out of the equation … the whole thing collapses under its own weight. I would suggest to you right now that there is no such thing as a nonessential worker when it comes to the economy” — Mike Rowe

Never in the history of America have we given up so much of our freedom. For the most part, we have done so willingly because we believed it was for our own good and for the good of the more vulnerable among us.  Basically, we did this out of fear.

“If somebody wants to stay in their house, that’s great. They can stay in their house and they should not be compelled to leave. But to say that they cannot leave their house and they will be arrested if they do — this is fascist. This is not democratic. This is not freedom. Give people back their g—d— freedom.” — Elon Musk

Time to recalibrate. These people are our representatives, not our rulers.

If the Town does not stand up to the Governor and is willing to sacrifice the well-being of the citizens, we should expect resignations. What exactly are they here for?

With an election on May 19, I would point blank each candidate whether or not they would defy Governor and open up. Their response is the only one you will need to hear.

As Thomas Jefferson wrote to Edward Carrington on January 16, 1787, “The people are the only censors of their governors.” It is we the people who ultimately bear responsibility for how our leadership handles this crisis—that is what government by the people, for the people, and of the people means. 

We must now defy the Governor’s Order and go back to work. We must fully understand the limited powers of our government officials. We must know our history well enough to understand why the Framers of the Constitution designed the government that they did.

Shrek the Musical March 13-15

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GEAR is proud to present Shrek the Musical March 13, 14 and 15 at the Palace Theatre in Cape Charles.

Times are 7:30 for Friday and Saturday, and a 3:00 pm matinee on Sunday.

Tickets Adults $18 and Students $8

It’s a “big bright beautiful world” as everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek JR. is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family.

Cape Charles Adopts Leash Law

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Dogs will have to be on leashes starting January 1st, 2020 as the Cape Charles Town Council adopted the final text for the leash law on Thursday. The ordinance is the fruit of several months of discussion, revision, and re-factoring.

Councilwoman Cela Burge correctly noted, “I just want to say that the final outcome is due to the amount of public input we received.”

The ordinance is finely crafted legislation that attempts to balance the needs of all citizens, those in favor of canines on lead, and those not. It is also a testament to Town Manager Larry DiRe’s talent for achieving a balance in perspectives. The new ordinance is below:


Sec. 50-191. – Domestic animals in public places.
(a) Domestic canines.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, or having custody of, any domestic canine to permit such canine to run at large at any time. For purposes of this section, a domestic canine shall be deemed to run at large while roaming, running, or self-hunting off the property of its owner or custodian (Code of Virginia § 3.2-6538).
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, or having custody of, any domestic canine to permit such canine to be off a leash or other physical restraint, or off an electronic collar on any public street, sidewalk, alley, plaza, or other thoroughfare.
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, or having custody of, any domestic canine to permit such canine to be in the following public facilities at any time: town offices, public works and utilities facilities, Civic Center, library, tennis courts, children’s playground.
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, or having custody of, any domestic canine to permit such canine to be on the fishing pier from May 1 through Labor Day inclusive. It shall be unlawful for such domestic canines to be on the fishing pier off a leash or other physical restraint daily between the hours of 8:00 am and 7:00 pm at all other times of the year.
(5) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, or having custody of, any domestic canine to permit such canine to be on the public beach either on or off a leash or other physical restraint, or electronic collar at any time during the period from 9:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. between May 1 and Labor Day inclusive of each year, such period hereinafter referred to [as] the “season”.
(6) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, or having custody of, any domestic canine to be in Central Park off a leash or other physical restraint, or off an electronic collar except and for times and areas under a town facility use form for specific events and\or activities.
(7) Service dogs are recognized as a regulated animal and are exempt from the requirements of this section.

The rules for dogs on the beach remains the same. Between Labor Day and May 1st, dogs are can run off-lead. From May 1 to Labor Day, that is restricted from 9 pm to 9 am.