• Local Produce
  • Buy Local
  • Local Seafood
  • Local Food
  • Local Music
  • Local Art
  • Local Churches

CAPE CHARLES MIRROR

Reflections on Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore

  • Local Services
  • Local Rentals
  • Local Employment
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
  • Pets
  • Contact Us
  • Rant and Rave
  • Asses&Villains

Governor Northam Visits Cape Charles With Giant Scissors

July 29, 2018 by 3 Comments

This is a special report to the Cape Charles Mirror by Susan Bauer.

Governor Ralph Northam arrived in Cape Charles Friday morning, traveling in a Virginia State Police helicopter, which landed on the field in Central Park. He was ushered into the Bay Haven Inn, where he was greeted by several town officials. Outside, a procession of dozens of golf carts awaited to escort Northam around town for a ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the addition of 14 new businesses in town. The event officially began at the south end of the beach, where Northam was enthusiastically greeted by a crowd of people who happily posed for a group photo in front of the LOVE sign.

Governor lands in Central Park (Photo Susan Bauer)

He then hopped on the lead golf cart and made a brief stop at each of the new businesses for handshaking and ribbon cutting with oversized novelty scissors. The businesses featured were:

● Cape Charles Cabs, Carts, Carriages
● Northampton Hotel
● Buskey Cider On The Bay
● Mason Avenue Furniture Exchange
● Table and Tonic
● Cape Charles Distillery
● Cape Charles Candy Company
● Voiajer
● Zest
● Tim’s Place
● Peach Street Convenience
● Peach Beach Shave Ice Shack
● Hope’s Harbor Hair
● Cape Charles Brewing Company

Governor Northam was met at each business by owners and staff. Brief pleasantries were exchanged, and photos were taken before he and his entourage were rushed to the next stop on the procession. Northam’s approach to the crowd seemed genuine and affable. He took the time to greet as many of his supporters as possible, including the youngest ones, his work as a pediatrician surely giving him a measure of ease and comfort as he engaged with many of the children he encountered along the route.

Northam cuts ribbon (Photo Susan Bauer)

The final stop for the ribbon cutting ceremony was the Cape Charles Brewing Company.

Numerous local and state officials were on hand when recently elected Cape Charles Mayor Smitty Dize spoke briefly to the crowd before introducing the governor. Onlookers cheered and applauded as Mayor Dize pronounced the event “the largest ribbon-cutting golf cart parade.” It is unclear how many other ribbon cutting golf cart parades were in contention. Dize noted that the addition of the Cape Charles Brewing Company extends business development “farther on Stone Road than it ever has in recent history.” Dize characterized the new businesses as being part of “the vision of Cape Charles,” alluding to the revitalization of the historic district, following the economic downturn of the past decade.

Photo by Susan Bauer

Northam then greeted the crowd by shouting “Hello Cape Charles!” After declaring the Eastern Shore “God’s country,” he joked “I haven’t cut that many things since I’ve been in the operating room.” Northam touted the fact that $80 million in tourist dollars were spent in Northampton County in 2016. The entire event was characterized by an atmosphere of lightheartedness and optimism. There was not much politicking, except for a few subdued protestors who greeted Northam’s arrival with signs stating “Stop the Pipeline.”

Outside Busky Cider (Photo Susan Bauer)

Northam did note “it’s not the easiest time to be a public servant, but the most important time.”

He concluded by reminding folks that his roots are in the Eastern Shore and he will “always make sure the Eastern Shore is on the map of Virginia.”

 

Filed Under: Bottom, News

Comments

  1. John says

    July 29, 2018 at 2:09 pm

    Enjoyed this positive focus on our town. Governor Northam is a genuinely nice guy, and it’s a bonus he’s from the shore.

    Reply
    • Lucy Gaskins says

      July 29, 2018 at 6:09 pm

      Too bad he failed to carry his home county in the election. Northern Va is his true base.

      Reply
    • David Gay says

      July 30, 2018 at 5:09 pm

      What bonus does he provide Cape Charles? Has VDOT fixed the roads and drainage in town? Does VDOT plow the streets when it snows? Has he pushed legislation to bring business into Cape Charles? No he jumps at the chance to take credit for something that was already in place long before he made his imperial visit. So far the Town Council has allocated $150,000 of our tax money to Main Street. Not one of the businesses openings that Northam celebrated are due to the Main Street Program. What is Cape Charles getting for their $150K? We still have a parking problem, reverse angle is a nightmare, no bathroom facilities at the north end of the beach. What are you waiting for?

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Join the Conversation!

Send letters, opinion, goings on or photos to capecharlesmirror@gmail.com

Mirrors

Recent Comments

  • Come Here To Stay on Has Real Estate Investment Ruined the Shore?
  • Chuck Heffen on Giant Megalodon tooth discovered in Chesapeake Bay by 9-year-old
  • Joseph Smitten on Captain of Ever Forward gives up pilot license
  • Paul Plante on Timeline of Obama/Biden Corruption in Ukraine
  • Blue Hoss on Has Real Estate Investment Ruined the Shore?
  • Stuart Bell on Has Real Estate Investment Ruined the Shore?
  • Boy on Has Real Estate Investment Ruined the Shore?
  • Paul Plante on Op-Ed: Madness and Insanity in a Time of Joe Biden
  • Stuart Bell on Has Real Estate Investment Ruined the Shore?
  • Paul Plante on Timeline of Obama/Biden Corruption in Ukraine
  • A Come Here to stay on Has Real Estate Investment Ruined the Shore?
  • Paul Plante on Biden depletes Strategic Petroleum Reserve
  • BRAND on Has Real Estate Investment Ruined the Shore?
  • Paul Plante on Timeline of Obama/Biden Corruption in Ukraine
  • Stuart Bell on Has Real Estate Investment Ruined the Shore?
  • BRAND on Has Real Estate Investment Ruined the Shore?
  • Paul Plante on Timeline of Obama/Biden Corruption in Ukraine
  • Paul Plante on Timeline of Obama/Biden Corruption in Ukraine
  • Paul Plante on Op-Ed: Biden’s GREEN Body Count 
  • Don Green on Untangling the Mystery of the Little Farm: Part 1

Trending Now

  • Has Real Estate Investment Ruined the Shore?
  • Untangling the Mystery of the Little Farm: Part 1
  • Special Meeting: Banning Short-Term Rentals
  • Follow the Money: Influence of the National Association of Realtors
  • Northampton County Public Schools Names New Superintendent
  • Trash: Leftists Celebrate Ryan Newman Crash Because He Supported Trump
  • Op-Ed: Compare George Orwell's 1984 to Society Today
  • RFI: Who wants to Lease or Buy the Eastville Inn?
  • Timeline of Obama/Biden Corruption in Ukraine
  • Giant Megalodon tooth discovered in Chesapeake Bay by 9-year-old

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...