Watching the Shriners Parade, Watching the Watchers
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
August 4, 2013
Photographer Sher Horosko can’t resist a parade — especially one with Shriners and fire engines. “I was where I shouldn’t have been — in the street — and was nearly run over. Great shot though –eye to eye with a Shriner!” Here are Sher’s shots of yesterday’s Clam Slam parade in Cape Charles, featuring the Shriners. (And CLICK HERE for the short video “Boys Will Be Boys.”)
Watch out for the photographer!
And just WHO is the most-intent parade-watcher?
Today! Clam Slam + Harbor for the Arts + Civil War Raid
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
August 3, 2013
Today (Saturday) offers the most to do, see, and hear in Cape Charles since the 4th of July. The Clam Slam starts this morning with the Shriners Parade, and the Harbor for the Arts Festival begins this evening with music and modern dance.
And to make a three-ring circus, Cape Charles Museum is spotlighting Confederate raider John Beall’s 1863 attack on the Cape Charles Lighthouse — exactly 150 years ago to the day. Click Here for details of the encampment and 2 p.m. lecture.
Also see details in our earlier stories on the Clam Slam (Click Here) and Harbor for the Arts Festival (Click Here).
To get started, here’s a handy schedule of today’s Clam Slam events:
National Geographic Traveler Highlights Cape Charles
This is what the writer came to see — marshland at Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge — but she also wrote about the Town of Cape Charles. (Photo by Xavier de Jauréguiberry, Flickr)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 29, 2013
More first-class exposure for Cape Charles and environs: National Geographic Traveler executive editor Norie Quintos visited recently and posted her experiences in “Beyond the Guidebook – Where the Locals Go.”
That’s a few steps down from National Geographic magazine, of course – but Traveler is still a well respected member of the Geographic family of magazines.
Quintos learned of Cape Charles from “a college pal I hadn’t seen outside of Facebook in more than 20 years,” and accepted his invitation to come visit.
The friend was none other than Ned Brinkley, the renowned ornithologist who, when he’s not birding, manages Hotel Cape Charles. So Quintos had no problem finding accommodations, staying at the “16-room boutique hotel with minimalist aesthetic just a few blocks from the beach.
“Mid-century art hangs on the monochromatic walls and mornings begin with complementary small-batch roasted coffee, Greek yogurt, and organic granola made six miles down the road in Eastville,” she enthused.
Quintos describes Virginia’s Eastern Shore as feeling “like an island unto itself, separated to the north by the Maryland border and to the south by the Chesapeake Bay and a steep bridge-and-tunnel toll ($12 at last check).”
While acknowledging that Chincoteague is the more famous town, Quintos adds that “Cape Charles draws visitors to the region in its own right. . . . The last passenger train may have stopped running in 1958, but the town’s swellegant bones — wide streets, handsome building facades, and deep-porched Victorian homes — remain. There is a minor renaissance of restoration as energetic individuals buy up homes and open modern mom-and-pop stores selling handmade ice cream and gourmet cheese.”
That would be Brown Dog Ice Cream and Gull Hummock Gourmet Market, of course. [Read more…]
Thousands Expected for Harbor Clam Slam August 3-4
By KRISTIN LEWIS
Town Harbor Staff
July 28, 2013
Cape Charles Town Harbor will be filled with thousands of locals and tourists August 3-4 eager to witness the Annual Clam Slam event.
Excited for the weekend’s festivities, Harbormaster Smitty Dize explains the history behind the event: “Clam Slam officially started in 2012 because of the success of the Buy Boat Reunion in 2011. We came up with Clam Slam to showcase our area, which is the largest producer of clams in the country.”
The weekend will be filled with events such as the Shriners Parade, Games and Activities, Artists and Vendors, Corn Hole Tournament, Crab Pot Cork Race, Smith Island Skiff Race, Live Music, and the 3rd Annual Boat Docking Contest.
The Shriners Parade will kick off this year’s Clam Slam. Shriners from Chesapeake will lead the parade beginning at 10 a.m. on Mason Avenue, lasting about a half an hour. The parade will include small race cars, classic cars, tractor trailers, sports cars, golf carts, fire trucks, and boats.
Games and activities begin Saturday afternoon and evening and include face painting, a bounce house, Corn Hole Tournament, Crab Pot Cork Race, and lots more. Registration for the Corn Hole Tournament begins at 11 a.m. and is $10 per team. The competitive Corn Hole Tournament begins at 3 p.m.
“The Crab Pot Cork Race originated in Cape Charles at the Buy Boat Reunion in 2011,” explains Dize. “Kids get to decorate the corks, enter them in the race, keep their buoys when the race is over, and hopefully win prizes.” Race registration begins at 11 a.m. and is $7 per person. The race begins at 7 p.m.
The Smith Island Skiff Racers will be lining up for their race at 2 p.m. Originally used as crabbing boats on Smith Island, these boats now fly through the water like racecars on a track.
These small boats will cause a big ruckus throughout the harbor!
Live music begins Saturday afternoon. Loaded Goat will be playing at 4 p.m. After the 7 p.m. Crab Pot Cork Race and the first Boat Docking practice runs, Fat Tuesday and the New Custards will play around 7:30 p.m. Following the Boat Docking Contest Sunday afternoon, Planet Full of Blues will play around 4 p.m. [Read more…]
PHOTO SHOOT: WW II Veterans Camping Out at Watson’s
Taken July 4, 2013, this photo is a little late getting to press, but that doesn’t matter — the gentlemen pictured are timeless. Setting up camp outside Watson’s Hardware are three World War II veterans: Tony Sacco, 87 (Navy), Kemper Goffigon, 93 (Navy), and Lawrence Nottingham, 87 (Army). Photo courtesy Chip Watson.
Cheriton Volunteer Fire Co. Fundraiser Serves 150 Dinners
(Wave photos by Sher Horosko)
KITCHEN HEROINES — It takes a village to maintain a volunteer fire company, and these ladies were doing their part in the kitchen last night (July 24) at the annual Cheriton Volunteer Fire Company chicken dinner fundraiser, where some 150 meals were served. At least one kitchen volunteer has been helping out for over 50 years. The shirt in the foreground reads “60 Years of Service 1948-2008,” which means the Cheriton VFC has now turned 65. [Read more…]
SHER: July 4th Art as a New Way of Seeing
By SHER HOROSKO
Cape Charles Wave
July 10, 2013
Photography is a new venture for me. I’m about nine months into it.I never wanted to use a camera because I thought it would separate me from whatever I was experiencing.Upon buying one, I established a firm rule: If the camera ever gets in the way of feeling the wonder in front of me or saving someone or something, ditch the camera. Staying faithful to this rule allows me to shoot freely.
I’ve discovered a camera allows me to experience something over again. Most importantly, I see things I missed in the actual moment. I am less interested in re-presenting the action than in conveying the feeling it stirs in me. Here are a few shots from the 4th of July that I re-lived.
Art is a way of seeing the ordinary in a new way.
I got a late start to the fireworks. Traveling down the driveway, we headed for the lights in the sky. “Some folks chase storms,” I said. “We chase fireworks.”
We ended up in the parking lot at Aqua. I took this shot of the flag in the dark when the fireworks ended. (I had no idea another round was about to begin on the other side of town).
It reflects how I feel about our country now — a lot of darkness surrounding a great light. We are more divided than I ever remember being, but the light still shines on us. It is easy to light a fuse and blow up a bridge — and much harder to build one across the chasms that divide us.
We need to build more bridges.
We all have things happen in life. They can keep us in or down or feeling sorry for ourselves.
I loved watching these guys — how they moved around, smack dab in the middle of the music, how they were drinking the whole thing down. They could have had a sign on the back of their chairs: “Live your Life!” But they didn’t need to.
Inspirational folks don’t carry signs and they don’t even mean to be inspiring. That’s the beauty of it. [Read more…]
Thanks for the Best July 4th Parade and Festival Ever!
Unicyclist came again this year from Massachusetts to perform in Cape Charles parade. (Wave photo)
By JEN LEWIS
Cape Charles Recreation Coordinator
July 9, 2013
As the Community Events/Recreation Coordinator I would like to thank so many people who helped to make this year’s 4th of July Street Parade and Festival a fun day for all.
Trina Veber once again faced the hot temperatures to emcee the day’s events.
Paul Skolnick and Elsie Bowen judged the parade.
Matt Evans ran the tournaments.
Spencer Travis and friend as well as Sharon Silvey took on the very difficult task of judging the beautiful baby contest. [Read more…]
