Find out which phase of the vaccination campaign you fall in.

While the vaccine supply is limited, COVID-19 vaccine will be offered in phases. People who are more likely to have severe COVID-19 illness and workers that are essential to the functioning of society will be offered the vaccine in the earlier phases.

The Virginia Department of Health has created a website where you can register to receive information letting you know when you will be able to receive the COVID vaccine.

There is short survey that will establish your category and will enable the VDH to contact you by email and phone when the vaccine becomes available for that category. 

You will receive an email or text with instructions on what you need to do to register to receive your vaccination. 

To find out more and register, here is the link to the website.

This year marks the 31st annual Northampton County Community Unity Day, a celebration of the life and wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and is supported by Northampton Public Schools, Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore, and the Northampton and Accomack Branches of the NAACP.

The purpose is to bring the community together in fellowship to create unity among our neighbors and friends. This year’s event will be held virtually due to the pandemic.

Details of the day’s events are as follows:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Virtual Community Unity Day Celebration – Part II: Broadcasting Live from WESR -The Celebration will bring together all segments of our community, including community leaders, educators, students, parents and grandparents, seniors, area church groups, and community organizations. To remember Dr. King is to affirm the nonviolent pursuit of freedom, justice, and equal opportunity for all.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Together We Can Make a Difference for All.” Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s event (formerly held at Northampton High School for more than 3 decades) will be broadcast live on WESR 103.3 FM.

The panel of diverse speakers will address issues for all ages and ethnicities on and off the Shore. Additional information will be announced on WESR and Shore Daily News.

In addition to a performance by the Broadwater Academy Choir, diverse speakers will address issues for all ages and ethnicities on and off the Shore.

Invited guests and recorded tributes during the Community Unity Celebration will include: 

Pastor Milton P. Bunting, Moderator, Eastern Shore of Virginia/Maryland Baptist Association; 

Jane G. Cabarrus, Coordinator, MLK Celebration and Director, Region 1 NAACP;

 Rev. Karen Downing, Chapter Leader, Virginia Organizing; Rev. Camesha Handy, NAACP; 

Rev. Dr. Charles Kellam, Sr., Pastor, New Mount Zion Baptist Church; 

James T. Lang, COO, Pender & Coward Attorneys & Counsellors at Law; 

Da’Quan Marcell Love, Executive Director, Virginia State Conference NAACP; 

Willie C. Randall, Edward Jones Financial Advisor; 

Rev. Felton T. Sessoms, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Cape Charles; Bishop David Sabatino, Foundation of Faith; 

Arthur Upshur, President, Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore; 

Rev. Frederick Willis, Transitional Minister, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Onancock; 

Mrs. Joan Wilson, RN.

This joint Celebration is supported every year by Northampton Public Schools, Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore, and the Northampton and Accomack Branches of the NAACP

.For additional details for the event, contact Jane Cabarrus at janecabarrus@aol.com or by phone at 757-442-2139, or Donna Bozza at info@cbes.org.

Donations may be sent to MLK Unity Day Celebration, P.O. Box 333, Nassawadox, VA 23413.

Tuesday night, the Northampton Board of Supervisors, voted to remove the Confederate Statue from the County Green.

The monument has been in place for over 100 years.

Oliver Bennett said he would not compromise on the removal. He stated that the presence of the statue glorified the inhumane treatment of African-Americans.

The most unstable comment of the evening came from Supervisor John Coker, who stated that following the January 6th attack of the Capitol building, the Confederate monument needed to be removed immediately.

For History Notes of Northampton’s role in the Civil War see:

Ten-Minute History of the Civil War on the Shore

Charles Landis: Notes on Shore History…the Civil War

More than Glory: African-American Civil War Soldiers of the ESVA

• Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S.
• Nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.
• Nearly 21 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
• The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 units.
• The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.
• Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives.
• According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.8 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.

As you can see, the need for blood and platelets is constant, so on Thursday, January 28 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.you can donate at Hungars Church in Bridgetown.

Hungars is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive in their Parish Hall. You can schedule an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org or call Sue Thatcher at 678-6947 to make an appointment for you. 

Due to COVID 19 restrictions, walk-ins are not permitted.

Please bring a photo ID and a list of medications you are taking. Thank you for your support.

Last week we noticed by reviewing web stats that the Mirror has published its 5000th article. We were never sure we would ever get this far.

We would like to thank all the folks that submitted press releases, stories and opinion pieces over the years. A big chunk of the 5000 came from you all in the community.

Please keep the information coming, and thank you all so much for being involved in providing news and goings on for the lower shore.

Yes, we changed the name from Rant and Rave to Bread and Circus…it just seems more appropriate. This week we look at the military lockdown of the Nation’s Capitol, as well more Covid non-sense….