CAPE CHARLES, Va. — Cape Charles residents have raised concerns over several public issues this past week, including the presence of an obscene poster and a nude statue near the town’s main commercial corridor.
According to the town’s “Report-a-Concern” portal, a total of eight citizen complaints were submitted, ranging from public safety hazards to aesthetic issues. Among the more controversial concerns was a report of an obscene poster displayed in a window at the Wendell Building, located adjacent to the popular Cape Charles Coffee House on Mason Avenue. The nature of the image was not described in the complaint, but it has prompted calls for removal or review by town staff.
In the same area, another complaint targeted a nude female statue placed in the alleyway next to the Wendell Building. Some residents expressed discomfort over the statue’s visibility from the public right-of-way, especially given the high volume of foot traffic in the busy downtown block.
Town officials have not yet commented on whether the poster or statue violates any ordinances related to public decency or zoning.
Other complaints this week included concerns about a loud generator on a food truck parked in front of 8 Bay Avenue, maintenance issues at the Central Park playground and gazebo, and the need to comb the beach and place trash cans. A handrail installation at the Central Park gazebo and a broken light at its steps were also noted.
Additionally, residents reported potholes in the alley between Madison and Jefferson Avenues.
The Town of Cape Charles encourages residents to use the online portal to report maintenance issues and community concerns. Town staff regularly review submissions and prioritize action based on safety, community standards, and available resources.
Always someone going after Frank for something. You keep fighting but you’ll never will. Leave him alone. He’s done nothing wrong. He may have some beliefs eveni don’t agree with but those are his beliefs. As for that “nude” statue, it’s a piece of art. Better than all that other crappy art yall try to sell in town. I love the fact one day that statue will be at the back of the alley and another day it’ll be near the gate. But you never see who moves it or if it moves on its own. I think whoever complains about it’s nudity is ashamed of their own body. If your an artist in support of this statue, grab your paints and easel and a beautiful body and let’s paint live nude portraits on front street. MY BODY IS BEAUTIFUL. SO IS THE STATUE.
Might I suggest a town censor committee with draconian power to snuff out any and all violations of the standards that the committee adopts. I anticipate a huge number of applicants for the committee
I’m surprised that we are just now hearing about the inflammatory and offensive content that is in Frank Wendell’s storefront windows at all times. It’s unclear whether Mr. Wendell is mentally unstable, perpetually angry, a rabid anti-Christian, or just craves attention. Perhaps a combination of all? At any rate, it certainly seems that the Town of Cape Charles would have taken steps to get Wendell to at least tone down his unhinged displays. It clearly clashes with the family-friendly, small town Mayberry aesthetic the town is trying to embrace.
Emily Dickenson says @ June 15, 2025 at 1:21 pm: It’s unclear whether Mr. Wendell is mentally unstable, perpetually angry, a rabid anti-Christian, or just craves attention.
ME: And my goodness me, but what a wonderful topic for a Sunday afternoon philosophical round table discussion here in the park that would be – something along the line the old fashioned Chautauquas, which were a popular form of adult education and entertainment in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
And what better place to revive them today as a tourist draw from not only all over the nation, but from England and the Continent, as well, not to forget the Orient, but Cape Charles, with its family-friendly, small town Mayberry aesthetic the town has embraced.
So that we are all on the same place for the betterment of Cape Charles as not only a world-class arts center, but a world-class intellectual haven, as well, the old fashioned Chautauquas involved traveling shows and local assemblies that combined lectures, concerts, and theatrical performances, all modeled after the Chautauqua Institution in western New York.
For those interested in the revival of a lost art, that of people actually looking at each other, as opposed to the palm of their hand, and actually making eye contact and using actual words to communicate, as opposed to gibberish on X or Truth Social, where a lot of hollering goes on, the Chautauqua movement began in 1874 on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in New York, which is why it is a natural for Cape Charles, which already has the necessary nucleus of intellectuals needed to make this a go, starting with Frank Wendell.
Going back to the old fashioned Chautauquas, they quickly expanded to offer a broader range of educational and recreational opportunities, like pickleball in the park at Cape Charles.
And there were traveling Chautauquas as the concept of Chautauqua was replicated across the country through traveling tent shows and independent assemblies, bringing culture and education to communities that might not otherwise have access, which is why this project is so vital to Cape Charles and its future as a place to go and a place to be.
As to Cape Charles being the natural place to begin this revival, because of what is here, already, this Chautauquas featured a mix of lectures, musical performances, dramatic presentations, and even vaudeville acts, and like the venerable Cape Charles Mirror, a Grand Palladium of our liberty, they often addressed social and political issues of the time, alongside more lighthearted entertainment.
Sadly, the popularity of Chautauquas declined with the rise of radio, movies, and automobiles.
However, the Chautauqua concept has experienced a revival in recent times, with communities organizing events and programs inspired by the original movement, and now it is time to add Cape Charles to that list.
Mayberry my ass! Mayberry was taken away from this town a long time ago thanks to people like you! How about tone down your mouth and finger tips! Or look away or leave if you don’t like what you see!
Emily Dickenson says @ June 15, 2025 at 1:21 pm: It’s unclear whether Mr. Wendell is mentally unstable, perpetually angry, a rabid anti-Christian, or just craves attention.
ME: And staking out my territory in this great debate beforehand, so that my position is well known to any and all other entrants in this great debate about Frank Wendell, I am stating for the record that it’s America, so he can be all of those things at once, and more.
It is the land of opportunity, afterall, so why should opportunity be denied to Frank Wendell just because his name is Frank Wendell, and not something else?
It’s his property, why do you care?
Cape Charles has turned into a cash grab. Mayberry my ass.
Ah, a hateful comment left by someone who fancies herself intellectual enough to use Emily Dickinson as a pseudonym but stupid enough to misspell it. Read a book and try to work on that room temperature IQ instead of spending so much time obsessed with Mr. Wendell.
And while we are on in here about the venerable Cape Charles Mirror being a Grand Palladium of our liberty, where social and political issues of the time are addressed, alongside more lighthearted entertainment, shouldn’t we all, each and every one of us, if we are at all decent Americans, let alone decent human beings, the very next time we hear the Cape Charles town council reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and intoning those words at the end, “with liberty and justice for all,” be asking ourselves, “hey, wait a minute, what about liberty and justice for Frank Wendell?”
Yes, people, when will it finally be Frank Wendell’s turn to have the same liberty and justice everybody else in Cape Charles gets to enjoy as a matter of right?
If it’s unclear, as Emily Dickenson says @ June 15, 2025 at 1:21 pm, whether Mr. Wendell is mentally unstable, perpetually angry, a rabid anti-Christian, or just craves attention, then what possible justification can there be to deny Frank Wendell liberty and justice in Cape Charles?
Before the man is condemned based on someone’s emotions and feelings but no evidence that Mr. Wendell actually is mentally unstable, perpetually angry, a rabid anti-Christian, or just craves attention, we should treat the man as if he were innocent like everybody else, and leave him peace.
He sure doesn’t think much of Trump LMAO! It’s a shame that either way one thinks, there are some that just want to spread negativity and vile. I would think Frank fits this description. With the 1st amendment, my guess the Town is powerless. Ignore and hopefully it like bad weather will pass for a better day.
If we’re talking about vile negativity, a better example would be the PRESIDENT mocking prisoners of war. Frank is just calling a spade a spade. If you’re triggered by a storefront but not the myriad disasters happening daily in the Trump regime, you need a reality check.
Frank Advertises Cheap Virtue but is Never Open.