What Businesses Does the Shore Need?
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Circulation 13,000 July 31, 2009 Free Fire Sweeps Crash Kills Bayview Office Shore Native By Linda Cicoira A 24-year-old Shore native was About 50 firefighters from eight killed Saturday morning in a Vir- companies battled a blaze in a ginia Beach crash. Bayview Circle office Wednesday According to police, 24-year-old that resulted from a lighting strike. Mathew Mason was speeding west Cheriton Chief Eddie Stockton down Shore Drive when he lost con- said the fire was reported at about trol of his 2001 Honda CBR motor- 3:50 p.m. The three-story house is cycle and went through a grassy about two miles from town and was median. converted for business by owner Al- Mason hit a “Welcome to Virginia ice Coles about three years ago. Beach” sign and then struck an east- It took between 35 and 45 min- bound Ford Taurus, police said. He utes to control the blaze, the chief was rushed to a local hospital where said. Firefighters managed to con- he died a short time later. tain the flames to the top floor. According to police, Mason was Stockton said it would cost about wearing a helmet at the time of the $100,000 to repair the building. deadly wreck. Alcohol is not be- Initially, companies from Cheri- lieved to have been a factor. ton, Cape Charles, Eastville and The crash remains under investi- Nassawadox were called to the gation by the Department’s Fatal scene. Stockton said more tankers Accident Crash Team, with Officer were needed, so volunteers from Ex- They’ve Been Horsing Around for Years Photo by Ted Walters as the lead investigator. more, Painter, Wachapreague and Linda Cicoira Born in Nassawadox, Mason was Melfa also were alerted. Though this week marked the 84th annual Pony Swim and Auction the son of Jack and Cindy Davis No one was in the office when the on Chincoteague, the events were just as much of an attraction Mason of Onley and the grandson of incident occurred and no firefight- about 25 years ago. Pictured at an auction in the early ’80s are Jean and Billy Davis of Onley and ers were injured. “It was a very safe (from left) Robert Dill, Robbie Fisher (now a lieutenant with Chin- Anne and Jack Mason of Accomac. scene,” Stockton said. coteague Police) and Kenny Wayne Rhodes, now of North Carolina. (Complete obituary is on Page 10) What Businesses Does the Shore Need? By Linda Cicoira and more, a theme park, an arcade, a bowling Downing said she wants the center to be alley, a casino, a taxi service and a mall. family-oriented while keeping the young people ccomack and Northampton county resi- “I would LOVE to see a multiplex movie the- from saying there’s “nothing to do.” dents want more recreational opportuni- ater come to the Eastern Shore of Virginia,” Georgette Tabor of Nassawadox said, “We Aties to come to the area, according to wrote Felicia Stratton-Ray of Wachapreague. need some sort of entertainment for everyone those who recently participated in an Eastern “One of my favorite pastimes is going to the and in either county, it really doesn’t matter. Shore Post e-mail survey. movies. I appreciate the theaters that we have “This would provide jobs for our young people They also want daycare for their pets and here. But ‘variety is the spice of life.’ … I am during the summer months they are out of their ailing or elderly family members, a 24- sure I’m not the only movie buff that would kill school with nothing to do but go to other areas hour urgent-care facility and businesses that to catch a matinee with at least six movies to in Maryland to spend their money,” she said. will bring jobs to the area. choose from … without … nightmare drives to Norma Spencer of Cheriton wrote, “I would be Most said they are still waiting anxiously for and from Salisbury (Md.).” interested in any business that would provide Walmart to come to Onley. Others listed dozens “We need places for our young to go and have jobs … in Northampton County. We are in des- of chain retail businesses including several up- a good time,” wrote Dottie Burger of Frank- perate need of an economic base. Our Board of scale grocery stores. Residents said they favor a town. She also suggested a bowling alley. Supervisors thinks you can make it on tourism, zoo, a firing range, a bagel shop and a public Karen Downing of Parksley wants such a aquaculture and agriculture. All of these only golf course. center to also have a video arcade, a basketball provide seasonal jobs and the pay is not always Matt Hart of Wachapreague wants it all. His court, Ping-Pong tables and concession stands, the greatest – not enough to raise a family, buy list includes a skydive center at the Accomack big screen TVs and a “spacious room” for youth- a house and live like decent human beings.” Airport, a concert hall that could offer plays related activities, retreats and meetings. (Continued on Page 2) 2 • EASTERN SHORE POST • JULY 31, 2009 ~ Needed Businesses ~ area suggested a small boat-building here on the Shore.” business modeled after Chesapeake Rhonda P. Marsh, who works in (Continued From Front Page) Light Craft in Annapolis, Md., and Jamesville, said, “I’m afraid I am “More than anything we need can get and less control from the the wooden boat school in Maine. one of those citizens that would employers, not necessarily retail- supervisors.” “Manufacture kits and build like to preserve our beautiful East- ers,” wrote Jim West of Cheriton. Frank Moore of Onley said the them here,” he said. “Give classes ern Shore. Sustainable growth is “The government of Northampton Shore needs an urgent-care facili- on building kits. … Would spawn okay, but I’m a fan of the local art, County has never been business ty. It “would reduce inappropriate more kayak tourism. Employ local businesses we have and would not friendly and has never truly and expensive use of emergency labor,” Picardi said. like the bigger chains to take away sought out to entice businesses to room facilities by patients with no Judith Grier of Onancock wants from our quaint culture. I’d rather locate here.” insurance or no primary care more choices when it comes to gro- travel one hour to shop! A nice “We need several small to medi- physician,” he wrote. cery shopping. “Competition is restaurant in the Exmore area um size businesses not one big “A large university would be sorely needed to keep prices com- would be nice,” Marsh added. one,” West continued. “If it were fun,” said Mary Graham of Park- petitive and the selection of mer- “We should be looking long and not for the bridge-tunnel and sley. “More wineries, some good chandise appealing and timely,” hard at what existing services Bayshore Concrete, lower restaurants (and) a medical col- she said. should be cut, not what should be Northampton County workers, ex- lege … You always have to be care- Added Laurie Swain of Onan- added,” wrote Sam Serio of Hall- cept school teachers and aquacul- ful what you wish for. Conse- cock, “If the store had a salad/soup wood. “Government, even local ture workers, would have no op- quences are not always obvious.” bar with entrée and dessert op- government is bloated, slow, ineffi- tions,” he wrote. “How about a Sprint Car/Stock tions I could pick up on my way cient and corrupt in that it steals “The industrial park (that) Car type race track (multi-use on) home from work, I would be in gro- resources from individuals as well Northampton county threw our Friday or Saturday night races?” cery store heaven.” as small businesses.” money away on was a joke and so wrote Paul Muhly of Parksley. “I’ll be happy just to see Walmart Tony Sacco of Capeville said typical of our stupid county ‘leader- “Just southeast of Melfa on the finally open,” wrote Patrick Belote Northampton has “three assets. ship,’ ” West said. “They finally sold seaside at Racetrack Road & Keller of Onancock. “What I buy locally I’ll We have a deep-water port, a high- it for pennies to burden the citi- Fairground Road is an unused still buy locally. I just won’t wait to way (and a) railroad. I’d like gam- zens with even more debt. What racetrack. Just think of the home- go to Pocomoke or Salisbury for ing to come to Northampton. Off good does it do the general popula- built car cottage industry this what I use Walmart for. Also for the Track Betting (OTB) and a Missis- tion … to push tourism as our pri- might promote. Think mini Indy or good of the Shore’s employment op- sippi-style river boat would bring mary objective? … We need all the a Watkins Glen venue,” he wrote. portunities, I’d like to see even people from Maryland, Norfolk, employers and development we Tony Picardi of the Belle Haven more hi-tech/aerospace opportuni- Virginia Beach, summer and win- ties evolving at Wallops,” he said. ter tourists.” Barbara M. Thackray said, “The Sacco also would like to see a greatest need that I see for Chin- “manufacturing mall selling design- coteague Island residents … is bet- er labels … jobs, jobs, jobs, revenue, ter public transportation. We have revenue, revenue. And the best part, the STAR Transit bus, but it still people come spend, and leave.” takes two hours to get to Nassawa- In 2004, Forest Drummond of dox hospital and pick-up sites are Eastern Shore Auto Body asked few.