NOV 1: Bounty of the Bay Celebration at Mimosa Farm
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will celebrate the tasty traditions of Chesapeake Bay seafood and local farm produce with “Bounty of the Bay, Farm to Table,” an evening of outdoor dining, music, and conversation on Saturday, November 1, at Mimosa Farm in Cheriton.
Enjoy a five-course meal prepared by classically trained local chef Amy Brandt, meet Eastern Shore farmers and learn about their Bay-friendly farming practices, and tap your toes to live bluegrass performed by the Chair Place Players. In addition to such delicious local fare as oysters, rockfish, and vegetables, the 5 p.m.-8 p.m. event also will offer a critical reminder of the necessity of clean water and a thriving Chesapeake Bay. [Read more…]
New October Classes at ESO Arts Center
Like diving into a fresh pile of fall leaves, color your world with ESO Arts Center’s newest classes. Pre-registration is required.
Beginning Watercolor Workshop with Thelma Peterson: Saturday, Oct. 11 (Rescheduled from original time) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here’s your chance to get your paintbrush wet and explore watercolor with one of the Shore’s most beloved painters! [Read more…]
Halloween Night for Kids at American Legion Post
American Legion Post 56 will host their annual Halloween Night for Children on Friday, October 31, at the Post in Cheriton. Other upcoming events include a 1950s Night featuring acclaimed local singer and artist Jimmy Merchant on Saturday, November 15, sponsored by Larry Veber and Franco Nocera of the Little Italy Restaurant. There are also plans for a Low Country Boil and a project to increase veterans awareness on health issues. [Read more…]
Bay Creekers Say No to Chickens in Historic District
This fancy backyard chicken house in the Historic District stands empty, awaiting a decision from town officials. (Wave photo)
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
September 29, 2014
Last week the Wave reported the results of a “chicken survey” (CLICK) conducted by Town Planner Rob Testerman: 39 respondents opposed backyard chickens, 35 were in favor, and 7 wanted more information. But the Wave noted that 20 of the responses came from Bay Creek property owners, even though the backyard chicken ordinance would apply only to the Historic District. Bay Creek makes its own rules, and chickens are not allowed. The survey results did not break out Bay Creek respondents, so there was no way to know if the Creekers were skewing the results.
At last Thursday’s work session of Town Council and the Planning Commission, Council member Sambo Brown wanted to know what the survey results would be if Bay Creek responses were eliminated. Planner Testerman didn’t have that information at his fingertips, but he supplied it the next day: Of the 55 Historic District responses, 31 favored backyard chickens, 20 were opposed, and 4 said “maybe.”
That’s a significant change: overall, only 47 percent said yes to backyard chickens, but when the Bay Creek vote is removed, the yes percentage rises to 56 percent. Even more telling, the opposition drops from 52 percent all the way down to 36 percent.
This is not the only time that Bay Creek residents have had a hand in making rules that do not apply to them: Creekers hold 40 percent of the seats on the Historic District Review Board, which must approve any construction in the Historic District but which has no purview in Bay Creek.
Creekers enjoy even more power on the Planning Commission, which also has no jurisdiction in Bay Creek. Nevertheless, the chairman and the majority of members of the Planning Commission reside in Bay Creek. [Read more…]
COMMENTARY
Drowning Does Not Merit Bickering and Finger-Pointing
By BENJAMIN LEWIS
September 29, 2014
Upon reading Wayne Creed’s well written article in the Wave September 22 (CLICK), I couldn’t help but feel a certain sense of sadness and disappointment all at once. As the son of a Cape Charles native and grandson of a former Cape Charles town manager, mayor, and business leader, I feel a special connection to Cape Charles. From its perfectly aligned and tree-shaded streets to its small-town America vibe, Cape Charles has a unique panache that cannot be duplicated.
However, not unlike many boom towns across this great country of ours, Cape Charles has not been without its troubles. From its earliest days, this southernmost enclave on the Eastern Shore has seen fortunes come and go with the tides that frequent its shores. Starting with the railroad that placed Cape Charles on the map, to the Bay Creek development that practically saved its future and then almost lost it again, the town knows a thing or two about recovery.
This summer has been a particularly trying season for the area. Starting with the disastrous and deadly tornado that ripped through Cherrystone, it was quickly followed by the tragic drowning death of Uvihin “Ace” Horton at the public town beach. In the days and weeks following Horton’s death, the people of this town have quietly begun the process of introspectively digesting what happened and how it possibly could have been prevented. The death of anyone by drowning, much less a child on vacation, is a horrific tragedy. It further highlights the risk we all take when enjoying the prolific expanses of nature that surround our peninsula.
In Mr. Creed’s article, he rightly questioned why the town has not installed some type of safety measures beyond a sign that is posted on the dunes nearest the Gazebo. Life guards, more safety signs, a daily posting of high and low tides, and floats attached to rope indicating the outer limits of safe swimming are all good starts. However, beyond these suggestions is where I draw the line in agreeing with Mr. Creed’s assessment of the town’s handling of the drowning, their attitude towards safety, and the overall climate of the town’s current state of affairs. [Read more…]
The War Years (Part 4): Women Proved Their Mettle
By ANDY ZAHN
September 29, 2014
PART 4
On the home front many men were gone into the military. There was a need for people to enter the work force and do the jobs that the men left behind. Who else but the women to fill these slots and to work in factories making such things as jeeps, trucks, B-17 bombers, rifles and so many other products?
With many husbands now earning “21 dollars a day, once a month” as GIs, where they used to bring home $35 a week, there was a need for extra income. The women were magnificent! The plants building war items flew on their flag poles a letter “E” for efficiency awarded by the government. Even far more important the women were forced to manage the household budget, pay the bills, taxes, mortgages, or rents and raise their children by themselves long before “single moms” existed. Some men owned businesses and it fell on the wives to take over the business and put in the hours that required so when the war ended the business was still there.
Andy Kless had a little dining car on Springfield Avenue, and when he was in the Navy, Mrs. Kless took over, cooking, washing dishes, etc. Andy was a friend of mine and when he returned home the business was in good shape. Andy got a GI loan, removed the old dining car, and put in a beautiful shiny new diner. He later bought two more new diners in Irvington, but when the town went to ruin the one diner was moved to Beachwood where it now stands. Adele Joa in Pine Beach, NJ, took over Mack’s Tavern on Highway 9 in Bayville while her husband was in service.
Another side of this was that the mothers and wives were not hardened by the horrors of being on a battlefield, and provided a nurturing, warm, loving environment for the children and the returning veterans. Civilized nations did not send their women off to war. During and after the war we had women in service; my wife was in the USAF, but we didn’t put then in harm’s way. In the Korean “Conflict” we were capturing and holding as POWs women from the Chinese Army. We were horrified that women would be sent into combat! Now we are doing the exact same thing. Even worse, we have fathers and mothers both in service and both being deployed with grandparents watching the kids. There is talk of reinstituting the draft and now a possibility of drafting girls. Like they say, “we’ve come a long way baby,” and I for one don’t like it at all. [Read more…]
THURSDAY 11/27: Golf Cart Raffle for Eastern Shore Spay Organization
Eastern Shore Spay Organization (ESSO) is raffling a golf cart to help purchase a “Neuter Scooter” for the Eastern Shore. The drawing will be Thanksgiving Day at 10 a.m. on the steps of the Civic Center. Mayor Proto will pull the winning tickets. [Read more…]
ESO Classes for Week of September 29
ESO ARTS CENTER, 15293 King Street, Belle Haven, 757-442-3226, [email protected]
POTTERY FOR KIDS with Elizabeth Hunt — Mondays, Sept. 29 to Nov. 10, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Children learn to express and execute their personal visions in clay while having fun! Class includes hand sculpting and wheel techniques to create unique design pottery or sculpture for beginning & intermediate young ceramists. Stock materials are supplied. Cost for 6 Weeks $130 plus $10 firing fee.
ESO WRITERS’ WORKSHOP with authors Lenore Hart & David Poyer — Tuesdays, Sept. 30, 2014 to Dec. 2, 7 to 9:30 pm. A community writing workshop for aspiring and published writers of fiction and creative nonfiction, providing reading of work, group discussion and critique, and editing & publishing advice from two authors with almost 40 published books between them. Beginning to Advanced Level, ages 16 and up. Cost for 10 Weeks $220. [Read more…]
