CAPE CHARLES MIRROR

Reflections on Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore

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Festive Fridays Ready for Another Season

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Mark Your Calendars for Historic Cape Charles’ Annual Festive Fridays Celebration.

Cape Charles, VA – It’s that time of year again! Cape Charles is decking out downtown in its finest seasonal decor to host a winter wonderland of holiday fun for the whole family. Each Friday between Thanksgiving and Christmas from 5-8pm will be filled with holiday cheer spilling over into the whole weekend.

  • Take a horse-drawn carriage ride around town and enjoy spectacular holiday lights and decor throughout Cape Charles – including the LOVE sign.
  • Escape from the cold and enjoy a FREE movie at the Historic Palace Theatre.
  • Pop over to the Santa House with your little ones to meet Santa himself.
  • Finish your holiday shopping with seasonal discounts at a variety of shops.

What else? While you’re strolling through downtown Cape Charles, enjoy live local music and a variety of on-street entertainment like jugglers, face painting, caricature artists, and more.

The holiday cheer is happening all weekend in Cape Charles so make it a weekend. Book a night or two in one of our many B&Bs, rentals, or the historic Northampton Inn to continue exploring Cape Charles, shop for unique gifts, and enjoy a movie matinee on Sunday (December 8 and December 15 only).

With something for everyone, Cape Charles is THE destination for holiday fun this season. Visit downtown Cape Charles on November 29, December 6, December 13, and December 20 to experience these memorable seasonal festivities and so much more.

For more information about Festive Fridays in Cape Charles and a full listing of events, visit: https://www.facebook.com/festivefridayscapecharles/

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.

Scott Wivell’s All You Can Eat Crab Steam Sept 7th

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Come out to the Cape Charles Harbor next Saturday for an all you can eat crab steam provided by local commercial waterman Scott Wivell.

All proceeds will be going directly towards the completion of the Watermen’s Memorial!

Saturday, September 7, 2019, from 1 PM – 6 PM

Cape Charles Town Harbor Marina-11 Marina Road, Cape Charles, Virginia 23310

Scott Wivell waterman demonstration

$20 all you can eat crabs and then some! Live music and Commercial Fishing displays. Come on out and finish off summer the right way!

Eat crabs, Drink beer, and have a good time with Scott for a good cause!

Reverse Angle Parking Claims another Fender

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While the stupidity of Reverse Angle Parking (RAP) is probably the most Cape Charles thing ever, eventually, it will go away. In the meantime, it’s still here, causing frustration, anger and accidents.

Everyone hates it.

Is backing into stalls difficult? For many, yes. The original dubious mantra by town officials looking to save face was that it is “far easier than parallel parking.” Really? Why can’t we just pull straight into the spot with our eyes facing forward instead of having to maneuver into a tight space surrounded by expensive vehicles?

Case in point:

Photo courtesy of Lemon Tree.

New Trees planted near Magothy Bay

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Friend and sometime contributor David Boyd sent this notice via email:


DCR recently acquired a 55 acre field off Latimer Siding as an addition to the Magothy Bay Preserve, as you are likely aware. Today I was part of a group of about 20 people who did a large scale planting in that field to provide increased habitat for migrating songbirds, among other things. This morning a truck loaded with 1100 wax myrtle shrubs in 3 gallon containers arrived at the site. We unloaded them onto DCR trailers and the group spent the entire day planting them. While there are still some that remain to be planted, we managed to plant approximately 700 wax myrtles, just today!!! That’s 10 rows of plants spaced on 40 foot centers for a distance of 0.6 miles. Essentially, rows of wax myrtles for nearly as far as the eye can see. As these shrubs grow and mature, and other plants are added by the bird droppings of neotropicals and other birds using these wax myrtles, this is going to be a fantastic addition to the habitat down near the southern tip of the peninsula. There are also going to be some willow, white, pin and scarlet oaks planted there as well. 

The planting area is in a 55 acre field that is bounded to the west by Route 13, to the south by Latimer Siding Road and to the east by Seaside Road. The full-length rows are about 6 tenths of a mile long and there is a wax myrtle planted every 40 feet, with an occasional oak thrown in for good measure.

About 700 of the wax myrtles were planted this past Tuesday and there are another 400 still to plant for a total of 1100 wax myrtles. Not nearly as many oaks, maybe a hundred or two will be planted, but they will be substantially bigger.


Along with members of DCR, the Eastern Shore Master Naturalists provided much of the labor for the planting.

Line of wax myrtles (DCR Photo)

Shanty proposes to purchase current land it is now leasing

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The Hungry Crab, LLC, the corporation behind the Shanty restaurant has submitted an unsolicited offer to purchase lot 10 (the Shanty pad) at 33 Marina Drive, the current location of the establishment for $262,000.

The waterfront lot is 17.03 acres. The portion for sale is only .40 acres.

The Shanty is currently operating under a lease of the land from the town.

A public hearing on the sale is scheduled for Thursday March 14 at 6:30 in the Civic Center. 

The town received some additional documentation that needs to be vetted by a professional appraiser relative to an additional proposal. Rather than hold separate hearings and votes on two halves, the town will be moving forward on one comprehensive proposal. 

Elf the Musical Opens at the Palace December 8th

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This season, GEAR and the Palace Theatre will present the modern holiday classic, Elf the Musical. Jr.

Showtimes are December 8th @7:30, December 9th @3:00, and December 15th @7:30.

The Palace Theatre is located at 305 Mason Ave, Cape Charles, VA 23310.

Based on the film of the same name, Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list and that his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

“This is really a fun, enjoyable work of musical theater,” co-director Amy Watkins told the Mirror. “For all of our actors, especially those in the dance and theater programs, we try and prepare them to be a triple threat—dance, act and sing. In Elf, they have really been pushed to polish all three aspects of the performing arts.”

The GEAR dance program is an integral part of the program. Ms. Watkins choreographed all the original dance numbers.

“I have really been proud of everyone in this show,” said co-Director Wayne Creed. “The actors, singers and dancers have really put in the work—it has been a joy to be around such a remarkable group of performers who are dedicated and willing to give up a big portion of their lives to make this show great. Amy Watkins has also done a great job once again bringing the show to life visually and spatially, and Katherine Reid, our costume mistress has been wonderful making our transitions from the North Pole to New York believable and aesthetically beautiful.”

Elf JR. features songs by Tony Award-nominees, Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, with a book by Tony Award-winners, Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin.

“I have to admit, being a fan of the Will Ferrell film, I was a little skeptical about a musical version,” Creed said. “but the numbers are wonderful—you can’t stop singing them.”

Northampton Falls in Playoffs 45-25.

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The Northampton Football Yellow Jackets season ended Friday on a soggy field at Essex High School. The Jackets fell in the first round of the state playoffs 45-25.

It started off well though. Using the standard offense–CJ Smith up the middle–Northampton took an early 14-0 lead. Both drives were long and ate up big chunks of the clock. Northampton added a third TD, when all was said in done, had used almost 19 minutes of the clock.

The bad news is that Essex scored 3 touchdowns while running just 4 plays, and took a 24-18 lead into the locker room. Essex never looked back.

Photo by Chris Glennon Photography

Injuries also hampered Northampton. Starting QB Tripp Westcoat has been hobbled by a sore hamstring, so it was necessary to get at least half of the snaps to talented freshman Liam Flynn. Flynn was tackled hard in the first quarter and broke his right collarbone. While Flynn was sent by ambulance to the hospital, Westcoat had to try and fight through his injury for the entire game

Long plays and superior line play by Essex dominated the rest of the game. Northampton just could not stop them.

Also, some of Northampton’s issues resurfaced and came back to haunt them. The sieve-like defensive secondary play was once again a problem. In games against West Point, Northumberland and Arcadia, long runs through the secondary seemed way too easy. As far as defending against the pass, at times it seemed like the Jacket secondary could not even cover an ornamental shrubbery, much less an athletic receiver.

Ground and pound offensive schemes are great sometimes, but when you are down by 2 or 3 touchdowns, the one-dimensionality becomes a problem. Good teams like Essex eventually make adjustments and stuff even good running attacks. This is exactly what happened Friday.

Where Essex was able to make adjustments, Northampton seemed to be stuck in a rut. Essex had 4 or 5 good playmakers, and they used them all. Northampton also has 5 or 6 difference makers, but they only chose to use Carlton or Corey Smith. Our fast wideouts seemed to have slants, curls and go routes open all year, but Northampton never attempted to take the top off the defense, opting instead to pound the ball up the middle or run a sweep–an occasional counter or misdirection happened when they got a wild hair.

While this team did not advance, it was still a great season for the Jackets, and for the 18 seniors that played their hearts out.

Photo by Chris Glennon Photography

Congratulations boys, you deserve it.

Wetlands and Coastal Dune Board to hold Meeting on Beach Management Plan

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Two years ago, the Wetlands and Coastal Dune Board (Board) spent several months preparing a set of recommendations to manage sand and the dunes at the beach. Those recommendations
were presented to Town Council in September 2016. Recently the Board has been working on a proposed beach and sand management practices plan for the Town’s public beach.

The draft proposed beach/dune plan outline is completed. On Monday October 1, 2018, the Wetlands Board will meet, and Chairman Ann Walker will present the draft outline. The public is invited and encouraged to make comments on the new plan.

Upon further review and discussion, the recommendations will be sent to the Town Council.

The beach/dune plan review of the past and currently employed beach sand management practices which will allow the Board to make appropriate recommendations to Town Council and provide an opportunity for residents’ input into the scale of the sand wind erosion problem and potential practices to mitigate future wind erosion events.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday October 1, 2018.

The location is Cape Charles Civic Center
500 Tazewell Ave
Cape Charles VA 23310

 

Cape Charles Beach and Dune Management Plan DRAFT OUTLINE (23 September 2018)
1. Purpose and Need (to be completed)
a. Align recommendations with the annual cycle of town planning, budget, and public works
operations
2. Cape Charles Public Beach (description)
3. Regulations Governing the Beach and Dune System
a. Description (Federal, State, Local)
b. Regulatory implications for this management plan, e.g.,
i. FEMA
ii. Coastal Resilience
4. Issues (to be addressed in the plan. Some examples below, others? See Norfolk CBCMA Guidance
Document 2012)
a. Problems, e.g., sand movement off the beach, waste, trash, flooding/storm surge relationships
b. Access methods, e.g., sand trails, mats, walkways, ramps (different for different parts of beach?)
c. Recreational activities/uses
i. Activities/uses, e.g., tents, dogs
d. Structures, e.g., volleyball courts
e. View – visual access, viewshed
f. Safety
g. Maintenance
i. Winter, e.g., winter preparation
ii. Summer, e.g., sand nourishment on beach each spring, beach cleaning
iii. Monitoring for management
5. Good Management Practices for Beach and Dunes (recommendations, by grouping in section 4, to
address identified issues; describe options, pros and cons, including cost)
a. Vegetation
i. Types: Preferred, e.g. American Beach Grass; invasive/nuisance, e.g., Japanese sedge
ii. Location: Beach side of dunes; Boardwalk side of dunes
b. Dunes
c. Beach
6. Implementation Options and Resources
a. Funding
i. Sand Nourishment Options, e.g., ACOE project, winter sand capture and spring
relocation
ii. Other
b. Equipment, e.g., fencing, vegetation, other
c. Personnel
i. Town staff
ii. Contractors (e.g., for sprigging)

Appendices
a. Definitions and Acronyms
b. Regulations
c. References

Auditions for Elf the Musical Sept. 23rd

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Elf The Musical, based on the cherished 2003 New Line Cinema hit, features songs by Tony Award nominees, Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway, The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners ,Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).

Arts Enter Cape Charles will be performing Elf the Musical this Christmas. Auditions are scheduled for Sunday, September 23rd at 1:00 at the Palace Theater. Please bring a brief monologue that you can recite or read, and a short song you can sing acapella. We are looking for a full range of characters, both young and old, from experienced to first-time actors. Don’t be shy, if you sing in church, you will certainly be able to sing for this show.

For more information, contact Wayne Creed at waynepcreed@yahoo.com, or contact The Mirror at capecharlesmirror@gmail.com.

Roles

Santa Claus
Santa Claus has a lot on his plate during the Christmas season, and it is starting to show. He is annoyed with the Elves, tired of lying to Buddy and sad that people seem to be losing their Christmas spirit. He is still the same jolly old St. Nick underneath it all, but the job is getting to him. This is a great role for a character performer who can play an older (and somewhat cranky) man while trying hard to keep his holiday spirit.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: Bb3
Buddy
Buddy is the perfect elf! He’s good-natured, he means well, and he’s happy& all the time. There’s only one problem. He’s not an elf – he’s an adult human. This role is perfect for a young man who is an excellent actor and good singer who has the energetic earnestness and comedic timing that Buddy needs. It’s helpful to cast an actor who is taller than the other Elves. This will help differentiate Buddy and adds to the humor of the show.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Elves
The Elves are Santa’ s special helpers who love their job making toys to meet their Christmas Eve deadline. These roles are great for younger performers, or for those who can embody a youthful spirit, enjoy singing and work well together as a group.
Gender: Both
Charlie
Charlie is in charge of monitoring the other Elves, making sure every present is wrapped and every bow is tied. Cast a young performer with a good speaking voice, someone who is comfortable taking command of the stage and has authority over the rest of the Elves, but always remains friendly.
Gender: Male
Shawanda
Shawanda is a dependable and caring elf. She will do whatever she can to help out others, including Buddy, even though she accidentally reveals that he is a human. Cast a good actress with a clear speaking voice for this very important moment in the story.
Gender: Female
Sam
Sam is one of Walter’ s Office Staff who is in a bind at the top of the show. A young performer with a good speaking voice and strong character choices will do the trick.
Gender: Male
Walter Hobbs
Walter Hobbs, Buddy’s real father, is so focused on keeping his job that he is not making time for his family. He can be stern and unemotional at times, but ultimately he learns to recommit to his family. Cast a great actor with a strong, authoritative presence, but be sure they can also show his softer side
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Deb
Deb, Walter’ s secretary, has the big responsibility of keeping her boss and the whole office happy. She does this by sharing her positive attitude with everyone. This is a plum role for a young woman with a pleasant demeanor, yet efficient work ethic, who is a solid actor with a good speaking voice
Gender: Female
Emily Hobbs
Emily Hobbs is Walter’s devoted wife who would prefer her husband to spend a little more time at home. She is a problem solver and an excellent mother who is doing everything she can to provide a positive family dynamic. Cast an excellent actress and singer who effortlessly conveys a sense of maturity and warmth.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Michael Hobbs
Michael Hobbs is the smarter-than-average 12-year-old son of Walter and Emily. He quickly befriends his new adult brother, Buddy, and does everything he can to make sure Buddy becomes a permanent part of the family. Look for a solid young actor and singer with an unchanged voice.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Security Guards

Security Guard #1 and Security Guard #2 are a stern duo from Walter’ s office, making sure everyone who enters has permission. Cast a duo that works well together and fits the bill for a tough pair.

Gender: Both
Saleswoman
The Saleswoman is the first person to greet Buddy as he enters Macy’ s. She’ s the consummate salesperson: smiling, overfriendly, and always trying to sell something. This is a great ensemble role for a young woman with little stage experience.
Gender: Female
Manager
The manager is a terrific featured acting role for a performer with good comedic timing. As the manager of Macy s, he s doing everything he can to make sure all the employees stay in line.
Gender: Male
Jovie
Jovie works as a store elf at Macy’ s, but don’t be mistaken, she doesn’ t quite exude the Christmas spirit. She’s kind of cynical, a bit rough around the edges, and now the target of Buddy’s complete adoration. This is a fantastic role for a young woman with a strong singing voice and acting chops.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: Db5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Santa’s Helper
Santa’s Helper works as a Macy s Employee and announces when each kid gets to visit with Santa. This is a good ensemble role for a performer with a loud voice.
Gender: Both
Fake Santa
Fake Santa is a poor replacement for the real Santa. He s an employee of Macy s who is a bit rough around the edges. Fake Santa should be played by a performer who is unafraid of being a little over-the-top and has good physical control of his body.
Gender: Male
Policemen
Policeman #1 and Policeman #2 are a friendly pair of cops who return Buddy to the Hobbs household. These are perfect featured roles for two ensemble members.
Gender: Both
Sarah
Sarah is a staff member at Walter’s office. This is a nice role for a less experienced actor with a good singing voice.
Gender: Female
Mr. Greenway
Mr. Greenway is one of the crankiest businessmen around. He is the big boss, so look for an older student with a commanding presence to tackle this acting role.
Gender: Male
Chadwick and Matthews
Chadwick and Matthews are staff members at Walter’s office who are doing everything they can think of to save the day and make their boss happy. Cast a pair of good character actors who work well with each other and are able to drive the action of scenes.
Gender: Male
Charlotte Dennon
Charlotte Dennon is a TV reporter with a big personality. She does her best to keep her professional persona in public and doesn t like being shown up. This is a great role for a young woman with professional charisma and someone who can make strong acting choices.
Gender: Female
Finale Soloists

Finale Soloists #1,#2,#3 and #4 are good roles to highlight four of your strong solo singers.

Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: B3
Darlene Lambert and Emma Van Brocklin

Darlene Lambert and Emma Van Brocklin are on the scene in Central Park and are convinced of Santa s magic after Buddy reveals their past Christmas gifts. Look for two young ladies with nice singing voices and some acting experience to take on these small, but featured roles.

Gender: Female
Ensemble
The Ensemble, including New Yorkers, Comforting New Yorker, Macy s Employees, Macy s Employee #1, Members of the Rockefeller Crowd, Office Staff, Business Woman, Flyer Guys, Teenager, Jogger, Carolers, Passerby, Children and Parents are all important roles for creating the distinct worlds of the North Pole and New York City. These roles can all be double cast from your ensemble, and it’ s important to remind your young performers that the stronger and more specifically their character choices, the richer and more vivid the story becomes.
Gender: Both

Synopsis

Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

This modern-day holiday classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner elf. After all, the best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

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