REVIEW: Cape Charles in the Good Old Days
Pat Parsons lived in Cape Charles from 1940-1960 and reveals warts and all before the town was considered “quaint.” (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
June 8, 2015
Roberta Romeo hears a lot of idle chatter among her customers at the Cape Charles Coffee House, but thanks to a chance comment last year, the town has a new, entertaining, reminiscence of the good old days — specifically, the decades just before Cape Charles entered a long downward spiral.
Portrait of a Town: Cape Charles, 1940-1960 is the title of a book by Patricia Joyce Parsons recalling the years she lived here. And while she rightly gets the credit for writing the book, Roberta Romeo gets the credit for encouraging her to do it.
As the Wave reported last September, during breakfast one morning at the Coffee House, Parsons mentioned to Romeo that she was writing vignettes of growing up in Cape Charles in order to share her memories with her grandchildren. At Romeo’s urging, Parsons read one of her stories to her. Recognizing a talented writer, Romeo immediately urged her to publish a book, and promised to sell the book at the Coffee House.
Now the book has been published, and appropriately enough, Parsons will launch it at the Coffee House 5 p.m. Friday, June 12. It’s a chance to meet the author and get an autographed first edition. And there will surely be further printings, as the book promises to be a staple in gift shops on the Shore for years to come.
That’s because Parsons is no public relations hack — she portrays the town for what it was, warts and all. And that makes her book interesting, even fascinating, for those with a love for the Eastern Shore.
Anyone who grew up reading Laura Ingall Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie series will especially enjoy Parsons’ book, because while the locale is far removed from the prairie, the fresh, honest, easy-reading evokes Wilder’s style. Parsons tells it as she remembers it, and she has a gift for honing in on the interesting and skipping the mundane. [Read more…]
PSA Work Session or Playtime?
Bannon, Natali Try to Gag Wendell, Andrew Follmer
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
June 8, 2015
The traveling medicine show, also known as the Northampton Public Service Authority, made a stop in Cape Charles for a work session with Town Council June 4. The PSA’s leading snake oil salesman, Bob Panek, was on hand with more information about the magic elixir that will miraculously heal all the ills that inflict the Town and County.
The medicine show’s humble beginnings date to 2010, when it was reinstated by the Northampton County Board of Supervisors as a way to help stave off wastewater issues then facing Shore Riverside Hospital in Nassawaddox. Riverside later decided to move on, and with the PSA’ s gaze now focused on the south, no one really knows where it will go, or what it will do.
Shortly after Mayor George Proto gaveled the meeting to order, he announced that Andrew Follmer, president of the Cape Charles Business Association, was there to make comments and ask questions. Councilmen Chris Bannon and Joan Natali immediately raised objections. “I don’t think he should be allowed to speak,” said Bannon — “The public is not allowed to speak here; he shouldn’t be either.”
“Yes,” agreed Natali — “The public is not given an opportunity, so he shouldn’t.”
“Just wait,” said Proto. “Andrew was invited to this session to give his perspective and have a chance to ask questions. He’s invited to speak just as Bob [Panek] was invited.”
With that quashed, Bannon went on to his next target, Councilman Frank Wendell: “Wendell should not be allowed to speak — He owns commercial property on Route 13.” [Read more…]
LETTER: What Is Happening in Northampton County?
June 8, 2015
DEAR EDITOR,
About a decade ago, family members relocated from our rural area in upstate New York to Northampton County, which they call “the lower Eastern Shore.” Retirement age, they were seeking a more serene way of life, and subsequently invested nearly $750,000 in property there, convinced that the rural and scenic county would meet and exceed their every need. My husband and I, also creeping up on the age where we might want to enjoy living in a milder climate, first visited their new home in 2006. A weekend stay then cocked our heads a bit, and we put a checkmark in the box next to “potential” prospects on our small but growing list.
Our next stay, the following summer, lasted nearly a week. During that time we dug a little deeper into what the county and incorporated towns offered, with a keen eye on whether or not the “lower Shore” would remain a contender. Within several years, our visits expanded to include more lengthy stays, burning up our vacation time between Northampton County and the Outer Banks, another possible retirement site.
The area where we live has seen its share of environmental incursions, from waste incinerators, coal burning plants, hard rock mines, oil pipelines, and construction and demolition landfills proposed for residential areas. Therefore, when looking for property that would be protected from these body blows, we looked very carefully at zoning ordinances and comprehensive plans in prospective retirement candidates, as those blueprints reflect the vision that the majority of residents hold for the future of their local and regional setting. [Read more…]
ALTERNATIVE TABLE
A Visit to the Upshurs’ Copper Cricket Farm
Late June basket from Copper Cricket Farm. (Photos: Karen Gay)
By KAREN GAY
Cape Charles Wave
June 8, 2015
Small sustainable farms are on the rise in America and even on the Eastern Shore. Every time I go visit a new farm on the Shore the farmers point me to yet another farm I haven’t heard about. As part of my Weston A. Price Chapter Leader responsibilities I have compiled a list of great places to get fresh, local and often organic food. As this list is growing, my goal is to visit each farm or market on the list so that I can explain to readers the hallmarks of each one. I will be happy to email the resource list to you ([email protected]) or you can pick one up at the Tall Ships Festival where I will have a Weston A. Price booth.
Surprisingly, I have found that some of the farmers I’ve visited have started their farms in mid-life. This is the case with the farmers of Copper Cricket Farm, Carol and Arthur “Cricket” Upshur. Cricket was raised on the Shore and graduated from Broadwater Academy. He met Carol in college and they raised their three children while moving frequently. Cricket spent much of his career working at Groupe Danone, a large French food company. It was probably their time in France that crystalized their views on good food and natural food products. [Read more…]
LETTER
3-Minute Public Hearing for $8 Million Town Budget
June 8, 2015
DEAR EDITOR,
On June 4 there was a Public Hearing in Cape Charles Town Hall to “Receive Public Comment on the FY 2015-2016 Proposed Budget and Utility Rates.” I was the only party having comments and questions. I was made aware, that my remarks were limited to three minutes.
After my greeting remarks, some pleasantries, and some thank you’s for having this meeting, I was left with about 2 minutes and 30 seconds for my comments and questions. This was by far not enough time to express the many questions and concerns I had and still have about many inconsistencies and questionable entries made in the proposed budget. However, after three minutes, BIG BEN was ringing at the councilwoman’s desk, reminding me in no uncertain terms to end my remarks. This leaves me with only one option, to ask these questions openly, through local publications.
It is unfortunate that we still – 11 months after closing the books for FY 2013-2014 – do not have audited financial statements. This forced me to compare the proposed 2015-2016 budget with the budget for the previous fiscal year. Please keep also in mind that a good portion of our residents are on fixed income and cannot afford expense increases that exceed inflation. [Read more…]
SOCCER
Northampton Still in Finals Following Squeaker Loss
Number 13 Jesus Maldonado-Lopez drives past W&L’s Alec Westall and Jacob Daiger for a Jacket goal. (Photo: Chris Glennon)
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
June 8, 2015
With Northampton and Westmoreland County’s Washington and Lee both set to travel to Radford for the state 1A Soccer Championship, the seeding for the event was still not settled until these two teams met for a critical game Saturday night (June 6) on the Eastern Shore. It was a classic match up, with a W&L squad bringing a sturdy, conservative midfield attack, hoping to slow down the high flying, fluid style of the Northampton Yellow Jackets.
There was little feeling out, as from the outset, both teams attempted to set the pace early. Northampton made several early pushes to break the W&L defense, but were generally slowed by a much disciplined group of mid-fielders led by Senior Jacob Daiger. At 17:28, a misplay and lapse by the Northampton defense allowed for a quick rush and goal by W&L forward Tirso Artunez.
With a one-nill lead, W&L went into a classic defense posture reminiscent of old school Arsenal or the great Milan teams of the 1970s. With sometimes five men back, they were hoping to control midfield and thwart the Northampton rush. This was good in theory, until Northampton’s passing and speed began to get its rhythm. With articulate away from the ball movement, and constant pressure from mid Malik McCaskil, the Jackets kept up constant pressure. This paid off with a brilliant goal at 7:00 by Jesus Malando-Lopez. With the score tied at 1, and momentum clearly swinging their way, the Jackets continued to pressure and pound the W&L defense, clearly on its heels and not sure what to do about Northampton’s speed and attack. Despite strong pressure, and several dangerous attempts by Northampton, the first half ended 1-1. [Read more…]
WAYNE CREED: 96% Vegan, 2% Vegetarian, 2% Cheater
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave Columnist
June 8, 2015
May was International Respect for Chickens Month, a short time when, I hoped, maybe a few would stop and see chickens (actually all animals) as someone, not something. Unfortunately, it seemed that everywhere I looked, there was some kind of poultry sale going on, from Food Lion to KFC to Popeyes, and Burger King even went big with its “chicken fries” campaign. It also seemed some of the foodie sites and magazines were abnormally meat heavy. My good buddy Karen Gay of the Wave’s “Alternative Table” even ran a story May 4 (Respect Chicken Day) promoting eating animals as a way to lose weight and be “healthy.”
Of course, people are free to make their own choices and eat what they want. This is America, and with Memorial Day and picnics and grilling season and all that, I guess this was to be expected.
That said, what kind of rubs many vegans the wrong way is that the subtext of this “meat-eater”-centric narrative implies that those who choose a plant power based lifestyle are somehow this odd group of stringy haired, Birkenstock wearing weaklings (adorned in unfashionable socks that hide neglected toenails), lost waifs, emaciated, and vulnerable wisps, wasting away and ready to be blown away by the wind. Truth: not only can you succeed athletically on a plant-based diet, it is the way to clean out, balance, and increase performance in every part of your of life.
Ultraman Race top finisher Rich Roll (Ultraman is a 10 K open ocean swim, a 261.4 mile cross-country bike ride, and a 52.4 mile ultra-marathon), Triathletes Brendan Brazier, Hillary Biscay, and Scott Jurek (Ultramarathoner) have proven that vegans can compete at the top levels of endurance sport. MMA/UFC fighters like Mac Danzig and Jake Shields are also athletes that use a plant based diet. This tennis season, take a few moments to watch the Wimbledon, French, or US Opens, and see how well the beautiful Serena Williams performs (arguably the most dominant athlete in her sport). After injuries, illness, fatigue, and trouble with muscle recovery, both Williams sisters switched to a plant based diet. (Venus went plant based after being diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome.) Serena, after going vegan, won her fifth US Open title. [Read more…]
4th Annual Tall Ships Festival June 13-14
PICTON CASTLE
When tall ships again call on Cape Charles this weekend (June 13-14), visitors will have the opportunity to board these historic vessels at the dock and talk to the crew about a sailor’s life in the modern world. There will also be plenty of music and entertainment on the festival grounds surrounding Cape Charles Harbor, including black powder demonstrations, pirate school classes, and live bands. A festival marketplace will showcase food vendors, vendor booths, and exhibitors. [Read more…]
