Local SPCA Needs Community Support
A Cape Charles family poses with their SPCA bundle of Joy: Brendan, Reegan, Penny the beagle, Erilyn, and mom Kathryn.
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
February 16, 2015
The Shore SPCA was founded in 1970, and began its mission here by providing the shelter used for Animal Control Operations. During the past decade, SPCAs around the state were re-evaluating their operations and returning to their roots by providing food, shelter, and medical care to homeless pets and attempting to find them homes. In 2005, the Shore SPCA Board decided to take on that mission and became a no-kill limited intake shelter. Currently, Shore SPCA shelters, treats, rehabilitates, and finds homes for household companion animals in hopes of reducing some of the burden on the Regional Animal Shelter in Accomack.
Although sheltering and adoption are a key function, the need for affordable spay/neuter services as a humane way to manage the overall population is also a big concern. According to Maureen Lawrence, president of the Shore SPCA, since 2008, “we have raised close to $95,000” which went toward a low cost spay/neuter program aimed at lower-income residents. Much of this came in the form of grants ($2,500) from Accomack and Northampton counties. These funds allowed them to qualify for a matching grant. Since then, they have been able to spay or neuter 375 dogs, 990 cats, as well as 502 feral cats. The cost for the surgeries was a low $25 for dogs, and $15 for cats.
As successful as this may sound, as many non-profit organizations will testify, funds from government and foundations have become very hard to come by. Things are beginning to look up, but due to the downturn of the last few years, funds for the spay/neuter program have become so low that the program has had to be temporarily suspended. Ms. Lawrence asserts, “Foundations are increasingly reluctant” to fund spay/neuter programs “without buy-in from the community” and unless they can show a means to sustain the program.
Ms. Lawrence remains optimistic, “We’ve asked Northampton for $3,500, and Accomack for $9,000.” The hope is to amass $12,500, hoping to get a matching grant.
It takes close to $25,000 per year to operate a program that services 500 animals. There has been some criticism that the SPCA has not been doing enough relative to gathering funds, as well as leveraging more from the volunteer community. Ms. Lawrence understands the criticism, and admits the last few years have been tough (not just for the SPCA), but adds that they are constantly re-evaluating the process. “The good news is we have a wonderful grant writer” that will be working hard to get the program back to where it was. [Read more…]
FROZEN FOAM: A Walk on Cape Charles Beach
A wave is a fleeting thing — rushing onto the sandy beach only to disappear, sometimes leaving behind a foam mustache which also quickly vanishes. But not always! Sub-freezing temperatures this past week preserved the foam in place, and Kathleen Sabo captured it with her cell phone camera during her regular beach patrol to pick up trash. (Published February 9, 2015)
Animal Abuse, Theft Highlight Longtime Problems
Tethering laws are rarely enforced.
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
February 9, 2015
The news of animal abuse and theft that has been documented over the last few months, accompanied by graphic video and photographic evidence, has been an eye-opening experience for some. But for those that have been working this issue for many years now, it was nothing more than confirmation of the status quo.
On January 23, many of the Shore’s animal rights top guns came together at the Bank Coffee House in Onancock for a meeting of the Accomack Animal Cooperative. President Charles Knitter led the meeting, and the fundamental message was that there are many folks that really care, whether it is the staff at the Accomack-Northampton shelter, County animal control agents, or non-profit groups and private citizens. But the situation on the ground is so overwhelming that, given current funding and available workers, it is almost impossible to influence meaningful change.
From a facilities management standpoint, the regional Accomack-Northampton animal shelter, despite being a first class operation, is still considered undersized and not fully able to meet the demands of the population — not unusual for any county facility. What is lacking is an adequate means of dealing with the overflow. According to Knitter, “we need to bolster our network of fosters, some way to help with overcrowding at the shelter.”
As always, funding is major issue. A problem that Knitter pointed out is that, even as fines are levied for any number of abuse cases, those fines generally go right into the general fund. Knitter recommends instead that such revenue should go back into the animal welfare operations, freeing up resources for expanded capacity and allowing the county to hire additional part-time staff to relieve some of the burden felt by the current staff limitations. [Read more…]
Dramatic Comeback for Shore’s American Legion Post
American Legion Post 56 Meeting Hall was repurposed from a Cheriton grocery store. (Photo: Wendy Martin)
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
February 2, 2015
Viewing Gordon Campbell’s aerial photographs of the barrier islands, you become aware of the chaotic and fractal geomorphic patterns that define them. As you descend closer, and ultimately land, some of this chaos gives way to patterns of complexity. The randomness of nature is somewhat mediated by the actions of the people that inhabit the peninsula that those islands protect.
When I think of those actions, nothing stands out more than the work being done by American Legion Post 56 in Cheriton. Post 56 was originally chartered back in 1922 to serve Eastern Shore veterans. With WWII and the Korean War, more veterans joined the ranks until the late 1950s, when a fire destroyed the Cape Charles meeting hall. Left homeless, the Post struggled to maintain membership.
An odd bit of luck occurred when, in an attempt to find a new home and rebuild membership, the Post bought an old car dealership building in Cape Charles. The new building did little to alleviate the membership issues, but after selling it, the Post was able to maximize profits, add to existing assets, and put over $300,000 in the bank.
With active membership stalled at 76, Walter Dellanbach, Jim Chapman, and Joe Vaccaro assumed the task of finding Post 56 a new home. In what appeared to be another serendipitous event, the search party located an old grocery store in Cheriton. It was apparent to all that this was the perfect location. Although the store was still filled with the original contents, by donating to the local food bank, the SPCA, and directly to local residents, Vaccaro and team had it emptied out in eight days. The building also served as a training exercise for what has become Post 56’s most important work: community outreach, support and charity. [Read more…]
‘Addams Family’ House Finally Getting a Makeover
Tumbling-down wrought-iron fence adds spooky effect to c. 1890 Randolph Avenue “ghost house,” one of the oldest structures in town. (Wave photo)
By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave
January 26, 2015
Walking past the Post Office towards the beach, as I pass the old gothic-Victorian house in a state of despairing disrepair next door, I am often reminded of the decaying mansion in Truman Capote’s novel Other Voices, Other Rooms. Stopping on the sidewalk just in front of the twisted iron fencing, looking up at the gabled top-floor windows, I half expect to see the figure of Capote’s “queer lady” gazing down at me.
The gothic imagery may soon have to find another room, as this historically beautiful home at 237 Randolph Avenue has found a new family that has already begun restoring it to its former glory. Meadow Green Builders has applied to the town’s Historic District Review Board for permission to construct a second-floor rear addition.
When adding on to an existing restoration project, several aspects need to be taken into consideration, such as the condition of the home, the structural integrity, how much of the original design has been left intact and how much of it has been altered over the years. Walking the tightrope of code requirements is also an issue — do the code requirements have an adverse effect on historic character?
As part of the restoration and addition, owners Jennifer Jackson and Bobby Baird, who currently reside on Strawberry Street, are going to leverage the historic tax credit program through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and have hired consultant Paige Pollard to handle the application process. Ms. Pollard previously worked for the Department of Historic Resources, and is also handling tax credit applications for the developer of the old Cape Charles High School.
The house at 237 Randolph is a gabled, ell-framed dwelling dating from circa 1890, making it one of the oldest homes in Cape Charles. In some cases, we have seen restorations go rogue (see the Wave’s story on Hotel Cape Charles), generally ignoring the historical significance of a structure (as well as the Historic Review Board) relative to time, language, and culture. That does not appear to be the case with Ms. Jackson and Mr. Baird. The intent here is to get as close to the original design as possible while making the space modern and livable. [Read more…]
MAKE ME LAUGH: A Page of Corny Jokes
January 26, 2015
EDITOR’S WARNING: The following has nothing to do with the Eastern Shore. It is merely a reprint from a Florida weekly newspaper of the corniest jokes we have heard in 50 years. The first challenge: read them without cracking a smile. The second challenge: quit reading them before you reach the end.
COMPILED BY JACK KING
St. Cloud In The News
WARM-UPS
Q. What do you call a fish without an eye?
A: Fsh
Q: What was the name of the girl who kept a frog on her head?
A: Lily
Q: Why does a dog wag its tail?
A: Because no one else will wag it for him.
NOW FOR A LONGER ONE
A team of little animals agreed to play football with a team of big animals. During the first half of the game the big animals were winning, but in the second half a centipede scored so many touchdowns that the little animals won the game. Afterward, a chipmunk asked the centipede, “Where were you during the first half?” The centipede replied, “Putting on my shoes.”
RIDDLES
Q: What word becomes shorter when you add two more letters to it?
A: Short
Q: A man leaves home, turns left three times, and then returns home where he sees two men wearing masks. Who are those masked men?
A: A catcher and an umpire
Q: If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?
A: Pilgrims
Q: What did the snowman say to the customer?
A: Have an ice day!
GRAVEYARD HUMOR
On Halloween a kid takes a shortcut through a graveyard, where he is startled to hear a tapping sound coming out of the darkness. Trembling with fear, he sees an old man with a hammer and chisel, chipping away at a headstone. “Whew, I thought you were a ghost,” says the kid. “Why are you working so late?” The old man just grumbles, “Idiots — they misspelled my name!”
PASSWORD PROBLEM
While visiting the home of his grown daughter, a father calls her at work to ask for the password to the WiFi. “It’s taped under the modem,” she tells him. Fifteen minutes later he calls her again. “I’ve tried over and over but I can’t log in. Am I spelling this right: T-A-P-E-D-U-N-D-E-R-T-H-E-M-O-D-E-M.
AND THE LAST JOKE IS. . .
Two robbers hold up a restaurant. They line up the customers against a wall and proceed to take their wallets, watches, and other valuables. While this is going on, the first robber jams something into the second robber’s hand. Without looking down, the second robber whispers, “What is this?” to which the first robber replies, “It’s that $50 I owe you.”
OK, ONE MORE, BUT THAT’S IT [Read more…]
PHOTO ESSAY: Cold Beach Day Yields Rewards
By GERTRAUD FENDLER
January 11, 2015
Nice cold day — yes!
Staying home? No way! Just had to go to the beach. . . [Read more…]
Progressive Dinner Tour, A Christmas Carol Herald Christmas in Cape Charles
Cape Charles Christian School with restored stained glass windows was most dramatic stop on this year’s Progressive Dinner Tour. (Photo: Chris Glennon)
By WAYNE CREED
December 22, 2014
Living in Cape Charles is always great no matter the season, whether spring, summer, fall or winter. But Christmas time in Cape Charles is always a special time that sets itself apart from the rest of the year. The streets are lined with decorations, Smitty has his crab pot tree at the harbor, and the shops are decorated as cheerfully as any in Ghent or Old Town Alexandria.
This season, I was fortunate to be able to be part of two wonderful Christmas events: acting in short skit at one of the stops along the Progressive Dinner Tour, and acting and directing in the Palace Theatre’s A Christmas Carol.
The Progressive Dinner Tour’s theme this year was “Christmas by the Bay,” where a yacht full of rich folks are stranded in the harbor, and are forced to endure the holidays in this little bayside village. Of course they, like all of us, fell in love with Cape Charles, and wind up buying a home here. My role in this little drama was to play the saucy Mrs. Lambertson, along with Michael Flannigan as the sea captain and Sagre Strutzman as the chef. I don’t mean to sound immodest, but on this evening I was certainly the sexiest woman in Cape Charles (and moving forward, possibly Cape Charles’ new “I”’ girl).
I have been involved in several Progressive dinners in the past, yet it seems like this year was truly one of the best. Carol Evans and the Chamber of Commerce, along with all the volunteers, should be commended for designing such an elegant, yet streamlined evening (we have seen some of these go well into the night). I wish I could review each and every location but I can only give a first person account from where I was working, at the beautiful Sea Gate Bed and Breakfast. Mr. Bannon did a wonderful job decorating for the occasion, filling each space from the Florida Room to the Peach, Blue, or Yellow bedrooms with ample color and holiday cheer. [Read more…]
