CAPE CHARLES MIRROR

Reflections on Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore

Town breaks dolphin sculpture during ill advised move

by 27 Comments

Cape Charles Mirror Report – by Wayne Creed

Filed Under: Unable to leave well enough alone.

As was reported last winter, the Town plans to convert part of the beach boardwalk into some form of ‘Art Walk’. The installation of the Neptune statue, as well as the ‘LOVE’ sculpture is part of this design. As part of the overall project to consolidate works as a means to create the illusion of an ‘Art Walk’, the Mermaid and Dolphin sculptures were also moved from their previous locations.  However, during the move, our dolphin did sustain serious damage —the tail was broken. The damage was due to the Town crew’s failure to properly strap and hold the dolphin prior to attempting to move it. Public Works is evaluating the damage and determining the proper method of repairing the dolphin’s tail.

The Mirror contacted the Town, yet as of this printing, the fate of the dolphin is unknown.

 

Cape Charles Dolphin

Cape Charles Dolphin during happier times

Commentary: The stupidity of this tragedy goes without saying, yet perfectly symbolizes the state of the ‘New Cape Charles’, and speaks to the more serious issue of the integrity and quality of the people we have running this town. The ‘Art Walk’ idea is patently ridiculous, yet it is another perfect example of the ‘Fire Hydrant Effect’. The new people that have clutched power in Cape Charles are like male dogs which cannot walk past a fire hydrant without stopping to urinate on it, just to let the rest of the world know that they’ve ‘been there’. These people feel like they have to urinate on every last inch of Cape Charles in order to leave their mark–to change it to resemble the places they were originally run off from. The outcomes, of course, speak for themselves: Bob Panek’s Wastewater Plant that stinks up the whole town, $10 sale of the old school,destruction of Mason Avenue via reverse angle parking, soon coming to Bay Avenue, higher taxes and fees to pay for gentrification (unnecessary development which destroys rural character), driving away Smitty Dize, and I could go on and on. Like the man once said, “When a shepherd goes to kill a wolf, and takes his dog to see the sport, he should take care to avoid mistakes. The dog has certain relationships to the wolf the shepherd may have forgotten.”

Mr. Mayor, fix that dolphin.

Comments

  1. Don’t you just love it when people move to this area because it is quaint and then do everything they can to make THIS AREA resemble where ever it was that they left? Our feeling is, if they have to move here and change things, GO BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM ! Cape Charles was here when they got here and it will be here when they leave.

    The dolphin has been sitting there for many years and now some dumb ass just has to “improve things” and move it.

    The people running this town need to go back where they came from and leave this town alone.

    We need some people to step up and run for town council and we most certainly need a mayor that has some idea of what he or she is doing. This town is GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET and no one seems to care. How many millions are we now in debt? 13 or 14 million at least and no end in sight.

    Another question is why does a town with less than 900 full time residents have an assistant town manager? This town has become a cash cow for the unemployed. Need a job? Come to Cape Charles. The majority of the employees are overpaid and underworked.

    Reply

      • Let me tell you something Chris, considering you haven’t been in CAPE CHARLES for long , you obviously know nothing about the politics and local government. I , on the other hand have been living on the Eastern Shore for almost 40 years and living in the Cape Charles area over 20 with 8 IN TOWN. My husband was RAISED in CAPE CHARLES. That being said, I think we know far more about this town than you do !

        You are just another person, and the list is long, that blows into town and thinks everything is rosy. I have sad news for you Chris. This town’s government is nothing short of ridiculous. For a town of less than 1000 fulltime residents we are so far in debt we will never see the light of day. We are tired of ever rising taxes, and utility bills.

        Do you drink the lovely town water Chris? I bet not. My dog would THROW UP after drinking it, yet we get to pay one of the highest water bills in the state for water we can’t even drink. Do you think this is good?

        I could go on and on but what is the point really? You blow into town and want to slam the locals ? Go back to the Jersey shore honey. We already have enough people that have moved here and want to tell us how to live.

        Oh and by the way Chris….I moved here from the Jersey shore and I have an idea you moved here to get away from the high taxes, congested towns and crazy traffic. Don’t go thinking I am some “country bumpkin” that just fell off the turnip truck.

        My husband and I live on one of the biggest properties in this town. He retired at 56 years old. I am also retired and really have nothing better to do than try to keep up with the dirty and corrupt politics here in CAPE CHARLES.

        Have a nice day 😉

        Reply

        • Chris…..so you are getting your nose into Cape Charles politics and you don’t even live in this town ? AND IT IS CAPE CHARLES NOT CAPE CHUCK !

          Reply

        • Mrs. Bender,
          It is interesting that you assumed high taxes and traffic brought us here, but it was in fact my family, the beauty of the Shore and the close knit and caring community that motivated our move here. Cape Charles is full of good, caring and kind people. Whether a come here or been here, we are all here together, but we all have different ideas of what is good for Cape Charles. I can understand your frustration with the current state of affairs in Cape Charles and you are certainly entitled to your opinions and comments. I don’t however see how personal attacks will benefit anyone. My husband is a really great guy and it was not his intention to offend you. I really don’t think he deserved such a harsh response. He did not take it personal as you can see by his light-hearted remarks. I, however, am a bit thin skinned, but I don’t hold grudges. I think we can end this with agreeing that no matter what, Cape Charles is still a great place to call home.(I know we technically do not live in the town of Cape Charles, but to us it is home.)

          Reply

          • Melissa, People that have been born and raised here have a dislike of the town being called Cape Chuck. Be glad you don’t live in this town. It has become a nightmare. If you go back and read the comments you will see that Chris antagonized me. This town is being run by people that are all about tourism, and while tourism is ok and helps the stores, the residents get the shaft. I really appreciate your comment and want you to know that I am not the crazy person that I seem. My husband and I are just concerned by the way the town is being run into huge debt with no end in sight.
            I hope you have a nice day.

        • Chris has yet to decide if he wants to be a bad boy, Maple/Mapplethorpe and all, or a good boy, rejecting negative comments. Let him navigate his identity and our reality – offer him a gentle enculturation (at Kelly’s). Without any of the come-here bull, Mr. Bell; we are all come-here immigrants, whether we arrived crashing into these shores with the earlier settlers, or we gently hopped off the queens (Elizabeths, Marys). His photographs of the shore are gorgeous, he’s one of us; give him a break.

          Reply

  3. Awe – my girls will be sad. It was the main attraction for them when they’d come to the beach. Where was it going to move to? It was a perfect (traditional) location where it was. People have taken photos of their kids in that same spot every year and I hoped to continue to take photos in that same spot every future year too.

    Reply

  5. I hope they fix the dolphin! Many Christmases ago, our Christmas card picture was taken on it. Our youngest son had just been born and it was a wonderful photo of all of our children. We were just talking the other day about making a trip to Cape Charles and re-staging it now that they’re all grown.

    Reply

  6. I really don’t want to go all preachy on this, but you know, there is a good lesson here. It pretty much regards leaving well enough alone. I tend to agree with Wayne Creed on the scenario that some folks just have to leave a mark wherever they go. I know the town council probably means well when they enact these changes, but the road to hades is paved with good intentions. Some folks leave their common sense at the door but fail to check their ego’s as well when it comes to a town’s business. Prudence is the word of the day and with a 12-14 million dollar debt (is this really true Ms. Bender-and if so, that spells some real trouble) you cannot rein in fast enough shenanigans such as this. I would suggest multiple bake sales starting with the offending town council members contributing their time and their baking skills at once! Start with fixing the tail of that dolphin and replacing it back to its original spot. And those that voted to move it in the first place should have to pay out of pocket, not the towns people as taxpayer. My two cents worth.

    Reply

    • ‘No Good Deed Goes Unpunished’…

      Why not simply have the people who broke it ride up to Melfa and commission ‘The Turners’ create an exact duplicate on their dime. Taking responsibility for one’s own actions is lost in the web of political correctness that has almost choked our nation out. The ones that actually broke it are fortunate to have a competent foundry with resident artist on site.

      Reply

      • Nope, do not agree. They were told to move it, I am sure. The ones giving the orders should have full responsibility. Wouldn’t have been moved if someone hadn’t suggested it. Accidents happen, that’s why we have insurance.

        Reply

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