LINDEMAN: Extreme Sadness, Yet Hope
By BRUCE LINDEMAN
Cape Charles Wave
December 18, 2012
This past weekend was my birthday weekend down on the Shore. Not a milestone birthday by any stretch, yet a birthday just the same.
But it wasn’t a happy one. As much as I tried to stay clear of the updates coming out of Newtown, CT, it was hard not to check in on my iPhone now and again to learn more and try to get to an understanding.
It’s the understanding part that we all seem to struggle with.
We all process these things differently, and depending on where we are coming from emotionally and politically, we each have different things to say about the “why” question.
I’m not going to use this space to politicize this event. There are countless others who will do just that online, in the halls of Congress, and behind podiums at town hall meetings across the country. There is a lot of anger that will build up over this and recent similar events, and people will demand change in the weeks ahead.
I’m not ready to go there yet. My mind and heart are still full of sadness and thoughts of those 20 little children.
We can argue endlessly about the “why.” But not here. Please. Instead, I want to talk about what we’ve become as a nation.
Most of us will look back nostalgically to recall a simpler and kinder time. But our parents and their parents likewise have done the same. The past always seems like a happier time.
Perhaps it was, and perhaps it wasn’t. We have to think about such things as a whole and not just through our own individual eyes and experiences. And “simpler” and “kinder” are failingly difficult things to quantify.
But for the sake of argument, let’s assume we have taken a slide toward a meaner and more unforgiving world. If that’s the case, it begs the question: how do we, as a society, reverse that trend? For surely if we do not, we’re headed towards far more of these news stories. [Read more…]
LETTER: Thanks to All Arts Enter Volunteers
Victor Abrahamian
December 18, 2012
DEAR EDITOR,
On December 8, I was one among four honorary recipients of the 2012 Arts Enter Annual Spotlight Award.
Since my arrival in the Town of Cape Charles, I have come to appreciate and admire the Arts Enter mission in serving our little community. But I, as a volunteer, never expected to receive such a wonderful recognition.
The engraving on the Spotlight Award says: In appreciation for his faithful generosity with his time, energy, talents, and resources. Both on and off the stage, he shines and keeps our lights bright. [Read more…]
MONDAY 12/24: Town Trash Pickup Moved to Christmas Eve
Because Christmas Day falls on a Tuesday, Town of Cape Charles trash pickup will be on Monday, December 24, so that Davis Disposal employees may have Tuesday off. On January 1, however, trash pickup will follow the normal Tuesday schedule.
TOWN COUNCIL:
When Hospital Leaves, Locals Face Bridge-Tunnel
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
December 17, 2012
When Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital moves out of Nassawadox, ambulances serving Cape Charles and points south will not be driving all the way to Accomack County. Instead, they will transport emergency-care patients across the 17-mile bridge-tunnel to Virginia Beach.
That’s according to Cape Charles Mayor Dora Sullivan. She and Town Manager Heather Arcos met November 9 with the Northampton County Board of Supervisors and other local mayors and rural health representatives to discuss ways to bring emergency care closer to the area.
“Our number-one priority is quality health care,” Mayor Sullivan stressed at the December 13 Town Council meeting.
Sullivan subsequently raised another complication with the Wave: bridge/tunnel closures. In cases when the bridge is closed, usually due to high winds, an emergency vehicle would nevertheless be allowed passage. But after delivering a patient to the hospital, the vehicle would no longer have an “emergency,” and would be forced to wait until the bridge reopened to return to the Shore.
Sullivan told Town Council that Cape Charles has received at least four offers of land to build a free-standing emergency department.
Regional elected and rural health care officials continue to meet, and Sullivan hopes that a plan can be announced in January.
“We need good-quality emergency health care for this town to grow,” Sullivan maintained. [Read more…]
THURSDAY 12/20: Coastal Research Center Open House in Oyster
The pubic is invited to attend a Holiday Open House 4-8 p.m. Thursday, December 20, at the Anheuser Busch Coastal Research Center in Oyster. [Read more…]
What’s Anonymous? Where Are the Classifieds?
December 16, 2012
The Cape Charles Wave offers two features which many readers don’t know about.
One — ANONYMOUS — began only last week. It’s enjoyed moderate use but remains a deep secret to many.
The other feature is our CLASSIFIEDS — a local Craigslist, if you will. Up to now we haven’t had time to promote it, so readers can be forgiven for not knowing it’s there.
Both these sections, ANONYMOUS and CLASSIFIEDS, can be accessed by clicking the tabs at the top of any page.
ANONYMOUS is a forum for readers who aren’t comfortable revealing their names, but have something to say. The rules are simple: 1) Keep it short; 2) No pot shots — criticize, yes; attack, no; and 3) Be patient — an editor has to approve each submission.
CLASSIFIED ADS are FREE and run for one month or until deletion is requested. Write concisely, and be sure to include a phone number or email address for responses.
Send ANONYMOUS submissions and CLASSIFIED ADS to [email protected].
And don’t forget to click those tabs when reading the WAVE!
SUNDAY 12/16: ‘Battle of the Chowders’ at AQUA
Sunday, December 16 at 5-8 p.m., the annual Bay Creek “Battle of the Chowders” at Aqua features local Eastern Shore restaurants, live entertainment, and general fun! [Read more…]
FRIDAY 12/21: Annual ‘Angel Breakfast’ Gives Parents 3 Hours to Shop
Friday, December 21, from 9 a.m. to noon, kids from age 3 through 5th grade kids are invited to attend the annual Angel Breakfast at Cape Charles Baptist Church. [Read more…]
