LINDEMAN: The Summer of Our Discontent
Day lilies in the Lindemans’ newly weeded garden on Tazewell Avenue.
By BRUCE LINDEMAN
September 26, 2012
“I wonder what this is — hope it’s not something that belongs here,” my neighbor Dave observed. I looked at the plant he had just pulled out of my yard.
“No, it’s definitely a weed.”
I had just arrived back in town to attend to the chores of moving to a new vacation home. Although we were only moving from Monroe to Tazewell, there was still plenty to do.
We’re not full-timers in Cape Charles yet, but we’ll get there eventually. We had kids a little later in life and they’re entrenched in their Richmond school and friends.
So, we come and go, but we come and go often. We relish the moment we reach the bridge-tunnel, as the temperature drops and the briny scent tells us we’ve left the hustle and bustle of city life — if just for a while.
I had been weed-whacking our flowerbeds left unattended by the previous owners, who were residents for some 20 years. Along the way they lovingly restored their home – our new home – to its 1890s glory. But after time the flower beds had languished.
Dave had ridden his bicycle into our yard, beer in hand, and begun pulling weeds. Almost an hour later, he was still weeding.
What Dave was doing would never play out back home in Richmond — at least not where we live.
Don’t get me wrong. Richmonders are a friendly lot. My wife and I love our neighborhood for its handsome architecture and abundance of neighbors out and about, quick to stop and chat. We have great neighbors. But I can’t recall anyone pulling up in my yard and weeding our flowerbeds. [Read more…]
SHORE THING: Rules for Fools
A Cape Charles resident exercises his First Amendment rights. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
September 14, 2012
I’ve lived around the world, including what I thought was the bureaucracy capital of the universe — Washington inside the Beltway. Then I moved to Cape Charles.
This Town has more rules than anywhere I’ve lived before.
Example: Here, less than two months before a presidential election, it is illegal to display a political sign in your yard.
“For Sale” signs are OK. Prayer signs are OK. The jury is still out on Community Center signs. But “political” signs? Oh, no.
And it’s not as though the sign rule is some forgotten silliness buried in a dusty book of Town rules. Here it is, front and center in the September 11 official Town Gazette:
It’s the Political Season again and this means everyone will be advertising for their candidates running for the November 6, 2012 election. Please remember that political signs may be displayed 45 days prior to the election, that’s September 22, 2012 and need to be removed 7 days after the election, that’s November 13, 2012.
So – the Town recognizes that it’s the “Political Season” again.
The Town believes that “everyone will be advertising for their candidates.”
And, presumably, the Town wishes to spare us, the longsuffering residents, from being subjected to political advertising.
While you’re at it, could you please ban all TV political ads until 45 days before the election? [Read more…]
LETTER: Tree Removal Belies ‘You’ll Love Our Nature’
September 12, 2012
DEAR EDITOR,
“You’ll love our nature.”
That’s the mantra for both the Eastern Shore and the Town of Cape Charles.
Recently on my daily walk I observed the transformation of the old sewage plant on Bayshore Road. In the past, the perimeter was planted with a canopy of pine trees, and the understory was dotted with 15- to 20-foot weeping yaupon hollies that were loaded with berries.
The berries fed wildlife and numerous species of migratory birds using the area to rest and re-energize before moving on.
The Shore has always been a magnet for bird watchers young and old — in fact we have a festival coming up in October, which is very important to the economy. Hotels and restaurants benefit from our love for nature.
That love for nature was altered two weeks ago when yaupon hollies were pulled out of the ground and destroyed for no apparent reason. [Read more…]
SHORE THING: Just Another Walk on the Beach
(Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
September 7, 2012
We walk on the beach most every day — after all, that’s why we came here. Rarely, however, do I carry my camera. I don’t even wear shoes — why would I want to be bogged down with a camera?
But the other evening at low tide seemed a great opportunity to snap a picture of the WADS.
What? You know — WADS — Wave Attenuating Devices.
Whoever came up with that acronym had to have served in the military.
On the way to the WADS, we passed a human interest story playing out — a dog riding a boogie board.
Human interest? Or dog interest?
The doggie’s expression says worlds: “I hope you realize I’m not doing this for myself — it’s all just to please you. I will do anything for you, because you feed me.” [Read more…]
LETTER: Bring Back the Harbor Parties — Everyone Benefits
September 3, 2012
DEAR EDITOR,
I must agree with George’s opinion column (although I heard it is more fun to disagree with him): the Harbor is the only logical spot for a Cape Charles sunset party — unless Bay Creek is willing to offer one of its lovely waterfront sites. Whining that George is not nice to our generous Northampton Chamber of Commerce by raising this issue is circumventing the reality: the alternatives suck in many ways.
Cape Charles is resonating with justifications for moving the Harbor Party to the streets of Cape Charles:
— Food vendors unhappy with the competition from the Shanty;
— The Shanty perceiving the police line as an impediment to restaurant access; and
— Music in one venue interfering with music in the other.
And yet, the reality is that both food vendors and the Shanty would benefit from the synergy created by positioning the event in the proximity of the restaurant.
Research has repeatedly determined that a physical concentration of competing vendors results in higher foot traffic and greater sales for all, compared to alternative positioning. [Read more…]
SHORE THING: Looking for a Place to Party
Last Chamber party of the year will be at the corner of Mason and Bay — better than the gazebo, but still not a harbor party. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
August 30, 2012
Another street party this Saturday night – the final “Celebrate the Sun,” hosted by the Northampton Chamber of Commerce. I hope they get it right this time because, well – frankly, the last party was a bust.
That was the “Gazebo Party,” finally consummated July 28 after two cancellations due to rain. I strolled down to take a few pictures, but not much of a crowd was there. The organizers wanted $5 to cross a police line, so I just took my photos from the other side of the yellow tape. The band played on, but it was a sad little affair at the corner of Randolph and Bay.
Contrast that with the Harbor parties the Chamber put on last year. Folks, the Town Harbor is a destination – Bay Avenue is not. (Beach yes, street no.) At the harbor you see boats docked in the water, you see a dramatic sunset on the bay, you feel part of something special.
Why do you think dockside restaurants are so popular (read: The Shanty). Not because their fish is any fresher than half a mile away in town – it’s all about ambiance.
But for reasons still unclear to me, there can be no more harbor parties. I left voicemails with the town manager and assistant town manager asking why, but got only an email from the assistant clerk: “We can no longer use the harbor because there is not enough room with The Shanty there now.”
Not enough room? Then how did our harbor master, Smitty Dize, pull off the hugely successful Clam Slam festival earlier this month? There must have been a thousand people swarming the harbor, including vendors, musicians, and food stands.
And the Shanty restaurant was packed as well, just as you would expect.
And what about the Tall Ships festival? Plenty of room for that at the harbor — and again, I don’t think the Shanty was complaining. [Read more…]
LETTER: Ignorance about Old School Is Not Bliss
August 30, 2012
DEAR EDITOR,
Everyone has heard the saying, “Ignorance is bliss.” But unfortunately, ignorance is not always bliss. Not when ignorance means not knowing the facts.
Last Thursday at the Town Council meeting, many people came to give public comment regarding what has become a truly heated issue. I will admit that I arrived with my verbal guns ready to blaze. Was I rude to some people as they approached the building? Yes, and for that I am sorry.
Most people who know me know I am pretty laid back — until my feathers get ruffled. Then it’s “look out.” I’m sure many people that don’t know me thought, “Who the heck is that crazy woman?” So I’m writing this letter to tell who I am and why my feathers were standing straight up.
I am a person that believes in honesty, fair play, and governmental transparency. I came to the meeting knowing that honesty, fair play, and governmental transparency were five words that would not be in the room.
I knew that many people attending the meeting were ignorant about how we got where we were.
I knew that those same people were going to stand at the microphone and speak out against a community center and in favor of what our mayor and Town Council wanted, with no background on how that decision was made.
Driving to that meeting, I knew our public officials, the very people that we voted into office, the very people that our hard-earned money pays a salary to, had stacked the deck against the community center. I knew before the meeting took place what the outcome would be. [Read more…]
LETTER
Old School Epilogue — Can’t We All Just Get Along?
August 25, 2012
DEAR EDITOR,
Rodney King famously asked, “Can’t we all just get along?”
Now that our representative government, the Town Council, has voted in accordance with the opinion of the majority of residents who chose to publicly render their opinions on this matter, isn’t it time we moved on?
Despite the animosity, division, anger, and hyperbole we all saw throughout this debate, I have also born witness to the strength of our community. We are not just a sleepy little beach town.
I have heard, and read, opinions from residents are who smart, funny, and engaging, that I didn’t know existed in this town.
I, for one, relish robust political dissent. However, perhaps it is time to lay down our swords on this issue and move forward toward the goal of a greater good and a more cohesive community.
Personally, I see no need for a publicly funded community center, but I am open to being persuaded if the venue is smaller and more affordable than the old high school. I look forward to all of us having that discussion.
SUSAN BAUER
Letters to the Editor are welcome on any subject relevant to Cape Charles, and a diversity of opinions is encouraged. Letters should be original and never submitted elsewhere. Email submissions to [email protected].
