LETTER: Stolen Valor
June 16, 2014
DEAR EDITOR,
Since the United States went to war in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, over 2.4 million Americans served in the military. Large numbers of these men and women served multiple tours; however, some of them never saw combat. According to the Veterans Administration there are over 22 million veterans today, and unfortunately, a small number of them have led people to believe that what they have accomplished in military service is not necessarily true.
A member of one veterans organization in the southwest masqueraded for several years as a general officer and was a frequent VIP at parades, luncheons, and special events. He was finally unmasked by an active duty service member who keenly observed that the service awards that adorned his uniform didn’t match his stated military assignments. When confronted with these facts he sheepishly admitted that he served less than two years in the military. He had the jargon and mannerisms down but lacked the details that any bona fide service member would know without hesitation.
In 2007, a man named Xavier Alvarez stood at a public meeting and announced that he was a “retired Marine with 25 years of service” and “was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1987 . . . for rescuing the American Ambassador during the Iranian hostage crisis” and was “wounded several times by the same guy.” He made these bold and untrue allegations before he actually became an elected official in his home State of California.
After he was exposed as a liar, he faced scorn and public humiliation as one would expect but the courts viewed his “lie” as protected speech and the controversy continues today. The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 makes it a crime to lie about being awarded any U.S. military medal that was authorized by Congress. However, in 2010 the 9th Circuit Court found the Act to be unconstitutional under the First Amendment in the United States vs. Alvarez. [Read more…]
SATURDAY 6/21: Great Bay Run From Aqua Through Town
The Second Annual Great Bay Run in Cape Charles 5k race and 1mile fun run/walk will be held on Saturday, June 21. Get your summer into full swing by taking part in this festive event! [Read more…]
THURSDAY 6/19: New Roots Opens Summer Garden Club
Summer Open Garden Club Thursdays in the Garden, June 19- August 7 (except July 3) 5-6:30 p.m. All children welcome! (Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult.) [Read more…]
SATURDAY 6/21: Learn About Pollinators at ESVA Wildlife Refuge
The Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge invites you to come and celebrate with us the spectacular ways of pollinator bees and other insects. Saturday June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be free crafts and activities for children and information stands about pollinators and what you can do to help them in your own backyard. [Read more…]
Register for ESO Summer Camp (June 30 Deadline)
The calendar hasn’t proclaimed the first official day of summer but once it does, it won’t be long until the “Mama, I’m bored” blues start playing at your house. Be prepared! Sign up your children by June 30 for the summer blahs cure, Eastern Shore’s Own Summer Camp 2014 open from July 21 – August 1, Monday-Friday. Campers have the choice of one week or two. [Read more…]
June Is Adopt-A-Cat Month at Eastern Shore SPCA
June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month, and the SPCA Eastern Shore in Onley is celebrating our feline friends by offering a reduced adoption fee for adult cats. [Read more…]
Planning Commission Sends Half-Finished
Zoning Recommendations to Board of Supervisors
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
June 9, 2014
Tuesday, June 10, is the big meeting of Northampton County Board of Supervisors on next steps to rezone the county. The Supervisors will consider zoning recommendations submitted by the Planning Commission, which state in a cover letter that there was not “adequate time” to properly review the draft zoning proposal. Planning Commissioner Mike Ward said the best the Planning Commission can do is submit its recommendations and offer to finish the job if the Supervisors give them more time.
County Administrator Katie Nunez has advised the Supervisors that Virginia law stipulates a 100-day time limit for Planning Commission consideration of a zoning application. But opponents of the rezoning, led by Exmore activist Ken Dufty, maintain that the 100-day limit was never meant to apply to zoning changes proposed by the county itself. Instead, it is meant to be a protection to resident applicants to assure timely consideration of their requests.
“This section of code, as well as the time limitation, was obviously written by the Virginia Legislature to give a private developer or resident seeking a zoning amendment the certainty that their request would not be hanging out in regulatory nowhere land for an extended length of time,” Dufty said. “It was seemingly never intended to give a governing body the right to impose a strict time limit on their own Planning Commission.” Dufty has requested a ruling from County Attorney Bruce Jones on the use of the code by the Supervisors.
All members of the Planning Commission agree that they only made it halfway through the review of the massive proposed changes. Commissioner Ward noted that just deliberating the proposed elimination of the Chesapeake Bay Protection Act on the seaside could take two years. [Read more…]
Tall Ships Festival Saturday; Day Sails Start Thursday
Strolling entertainers Carol & Malcolm serenade at last year’s Tall Ships Cape Charles Festival
By JOAN PRESCOTT
June 9, 2014
Avast me hearties!! Get your pirate gear on and head on down to Cape Charles Town Harbor June 14 and 15 for the third annual Tall Ships At Cape Charles Festival. This year’s festival will be the best yet, so come early (gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.). With so many fun things for the whole family folks will want to spend a day or the entire weekend.
Mix and mingle with real pirates and the costumed crews of three historic tall ships, Privateer Lynx, Schooner Serenity, and Kalmar Nyckel. Tour the decks. Take a day, sunset or pirate cruise on the Chesapeake Bay.
Hear the cannon roar when the ships return fire from a troupe of shore-based pirates, The Moody Crewe, representing the Golden Age of Piracy (1680-1730), who will hold free land-based kids’ pirate schools on Saturday and Sunday and a pirate costume parade and contest Saturday at noon.
Take a pirate sail aboard one of the tall ships. The Schooner Serenity is offering Captain Mayhem Pirate Adventure Sails three times daily on Saturday and Sunday. Kalmar Nyckel will host Pirate sails with Pirate tales, scavenger hunts, and the raising of the Jolly Roger. All three tall ships have afternoon or evening sunset cruises both days. In advance of the festival, the Kalmar Nyckel and Lynx are both offering three-hour day sails and private company or group charters Thursday and Friday, June 12 and 13. The Kalmar Nyckel will also host educational tours for school groups on Thursday from 9:30 – noon. Reservations are recommended; visit www.tallshipscapecharles.com for times and to book your cruise. [Read more…]
