FOOD: Eastville Inn Rises Again
By SARAH GOLIBART
Cape Charles Wave
June 22, 2013
As an Eastville native, I have seen the Eastville Inn change hands several times. And long-time Eastville resident Ralph Dodd says he’s seen the Inn run by “six or more” people during the time he’s been around. Different tastes and visions have passed through the Eastville Inn as quickly as flipping through the pages of a book.
And now the Eastville Inn has another new owner: Brent Schmidt, who until recently was owner-chef of Brent’s Fine Foods in downtown Hampton.
Schmidt is returning the Eastville Inn’s menu to offer upscale dining, after the last proprietor’s unsuccessful attempt to attract a larger clientele with diner-style food.
Ralph Dodd, whose real estate office is a short walk from the Eastville Inn, pronounces the food at the reopened restaurant as “very good.”
“It looks sharp inside,” Dodd adds.
Dodd sees the inn as a valuable asset to the Town of Eastville, especially considering its historical background. The Inn dates to 1724.
Despite some changes over the years, the building still holds its antique charm and has attracted both locals and passersby with its promise of a great bite to eat. [Read more…]
East Coast Pirate Crew Teaches History with a Sword
Mistress Fitchett (Sherry Williams), Capt. William Russell (Russell Williams), Mary Read (Betty Wilie), Capt. William Leonhardt, and Grace O’Malley (Page Walker) (Wave photo by Sarah Golibart)
By SARAH GOLIBART
Cape Charles Wave
June 17, 2013
During the Tall Ships festival this past weekend, the town of Cape Charles was hopping with visitors from out of town. Wandering around the harbor, among the usual sounds of Cape Charles seagulls and wonderful nautical music, the sharp sounds of clanking swords and loud cries of “Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!” could be heard.
While walking along the harbor, the East Coast Pirate Crew drew many into their tents with their elaborate costumes, authentic pirate stories, and happy dispositions.
The East Coast Pirate Crew is a historical re-enactment group that finds joy in “portraying history accurately,” as Captain William Russel stated. After attending the first Tall Ships Festival last year, they were eager to return to the small town atmosphere and activity on Mason Avenue.
“The people are also so friendly,” added the Captain’s wife, Mistress Fitchett, otherwise known as Sherry Williams. [Read more…]
New Roots Youth Garden Plans Farm Stand This Year
Collecting seeds for next year’s garden is one of the learning experiences at New Roots. (Photo: Tammy Holloway)
By TAMMY HOLLOWAY
Special to the Wave
June 17, 2013
The youth of Cape Charles have already planted the seeds for their vegetable garden and are gearing up to begin to reap their harvest.
The New Roots Youth Group are taking applications for the 2nd annual Summer Garden Club on the corner of Fig and Randolph beside Rayfield’s Pharmacy.
The club begins Thursday, June 20. Youths 6-12 can sign up for the free program, organized by volunteers from the youth recreation department of the Town of Cape Charles, Cape Charles Rotary, Eastern Shore Master Gardeners, and Northampton 4-H program.
The NRYG Summer Garden Club meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays and offers hands-on vegetable gardening, composting, and learning from garden gurus.
Children can attend the entire program or select from the weeks focused on an area of interest they may have (insects, butterflies, birds, etc.).
This year the NRYG participants will be running their very own farm stand on Thursday at the garden site. [Read more…]
Tall Ships Festival Through a Newcomer’s Eyes
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
June 16, 2013
One of our area’s most recent arrivals, Sher Horosko, ventured among Saturday’s throngs of Tall Ships visitors. Everything was new to her, and this is what she saw.
Tall Ships Festival Weekend Event Schedule
CAPE CHARLES BY THE BAY: Tourism Website Debuts
New Town website proclaims Cape Charles a “Harbor for the Arts.”
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
June 9, 2013
The long-awaited website promoting Cape Charles as a tourist destination went live Thursday at http://www.capecharlesbythebay.com.
The $15,000 website was funded by the Cape Charles “Our Town” project through grants and contributions.
The website banner proclaims “Cape Charles by the Bay – Harbor for the Arts.” A visitor to the website sees a succession of five billboard presentations, each for three seconds.
First is “Love Your Harbor (Relax in Cape Charles),” with a photo of a sunset over the Bay. (Curiously, the Town Harbor is not shown.)
Second is “Love Your Sweet Dreams (Stay in Cape Charles),” with a close-up of rocking chairs on the porch at the Town’s oldest B&B, Sea Gate, owned by Vice-Mayor Chris Bannon.
Third up is “Love the Charm (Shop in Cape Charles),” featuring a smiling Meredith Restein, proprietor of Moonrise Jewelry on Strawberry Street.
The fourth rotation is “Love Your Drive (Golf in Cape Charles),” with an overlook of Bay Creek’s Jack Nicklaus course facing the lighthouse.
Last comes “Love the Adrenaline (Play in Cape Charles),” depicting wetsuit-equipped kite boarders on the Bay. [Read more…]
Local American Legion Post Gets National Exposure
Members of American Legion Post 56 in Cheriton (from left) Bill Stramm, Jim Chapman, Bill Burton, Bob Roche, Ed DeAngelis, Don Mclvee, Steve Downs, Jack Woolley, Marvin Milton, Joe Vaccaro.
By JOE VACCARO
Special to the Cape Charles Wave
June 2, 2013
The oldest American Legion Post on the Eastern Shore was chartered on February 13, 1922, and originally located in Cape Charles. Older veterans recall it as a lively location where WW I veterans and their families frequently met to dance, attend diners and march in parades.
Over the years it became one of the most desirable meeting spots for WW II and Korean Veterans on the lower Shore until a fire completely destroyed the Post some five decades ago.
In 2007, Post 56 found a new home in Cheriton, and another chapter for this 91-year-old organization began.
Since 2007, the Post has boasted bragging rights as having the highest state membership, Commander of the Year, Legionnaire of the Year, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, an ongoing Boys and Girls State program, a Law Enforcement Junior Cadet Program and an Oratorical Contest.
All of this is in addition to a thriving and highly successful Sons of the American Legion and an American Legion Auxiliary program.
This award-winning American Legion Post is featured in the June issue of the national American Legion magazine. The article notes how Post 56’s membership fell to 22 members and the charter was in peril of being revoked. [Read more…]
Now & Then: Bay Haven Inn Remake Reflects Town Pride
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
May 27, 2013
The pictures are worth a thousand words.
On the right is how Bay Haven Inn looks today, after Jim and Tammy Holloway got hold of it.
Below is what it looked like when they bought it.
The transformation at 403 Tazewell Avenue is one of the most dramatic examples of what is being
played out all over the Cape Charles Historic District.
Houses are getting coats of paint, new roofs, new plumbing, electrical work, shored-up foundations, and years of overgrowth are being trimmed from yards.
And something else is blooming like spring crocuses: For Sale signs.
The real estate market is the most active this year since the bubble burst, with numerous owners deciding it’s time to list their house. Houses like Bay Haven Inn are surely promoting confidence in the Historic District.
Bay Haven Inn and the Northampton Chamber of Commerce hosted an “It’s Five O’clock Now” ribbon cutting last Thursday to officially kick off the tourist season in Cape Charles.
Chamber board chairman Linda Buskey, who also is sales manager at Bay Creek Reality, along with Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Director Dave Schulte, joined the Holloways for the ribbon cutting. [Read more…]
