USS Kittiwake Arrives In Grand Cayman Under The Command of Captain Reggie Stubbs

When I read this I just had to give a big grin. For those of us that know Reggie very well know this is something he would do and do well. I've never seen anything that Reggie couldn't do and didn't do with his whole soul! Way to go, Reggie!!!

NORFOLK -- The Norfolk-based tug America recently towed a former U.S. Navy submarine rescue ship to Grand Cayman in British West Indies for sinking as an artificial reef there.

The America, under the command of Chincoteague native Captain Reginald Stubbs III arrived in George Town, Grand Cayman, on Christmas Day.
On board the ship were also Chincoteague residents Michael Isdale, deck chief, and Salvage Captain Timothy Mullane, managing director of American Marine Group of Companies.

The America, a 105-feet, 3600-horsepower ocean tug, left Norfolk with USS Kittiwake during snow on Dec. 16, towing the ship down the East Coast and around the western tip of Cuba to arrive in Grand Cayman with a Christmas gift that will pay off for years to come.

The rest of the Mullane family and other crew members were anxiously waiting on shore for the arrival, and a traditional Christmas Dinner was hosted by the family of Nancy Easterbrook, the Kittiwake Cayman project manager.
USS Kittiwake had been cleaned and prepared for sinking as an artificial reef to provide beneficial marine habitat and a dive tourism attraction in the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman. The Kittiwake is a 251-foot ship built in Savannah, Ga. in 1944 and served on active duty for more than 50 years in the Navy before being decommissioned and mothballed in the James River Reserve Fleet. The ship should be sunk near Seven Mile beach in Grand Cayman shortly New Year's Day.

American Marine Group is engaged in the marine services industry, to include marine salvage, towing, wreck removal, marine heavy lift services, and artificial reef development, and has deployed more than 50 vessels on artificial reefs from New Jersey to Grand Cayman, as well as deploying concrete modules on artificial reef sites in the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay.

The company is also preparing the USS Arthur W. Radford, a 563-foot destroyer, for sinking on the Del-Jersey-Land artificial reef site, 26 miles from Indian River Inlet, 28 miles from Ocean City Inlet, and 30 miles from Cape May, N.J., this spring.
American Marine Group has operations based in Philadelphia and Norfolk, with employees based in North Carolina, Virginia, the Delmarva Peninsula, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
www.easternshorenews.com

Chincoteague Causeway Now Snow Drift Free

CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, Va.- The Chincoteague Causeway has re-opened after it was closed due to high winds and snow drifts from Sunday's winter storm.

Holiday travelers were held up for hours as they tried to drive on the only road that leads to the island.

Chincoteague residents were stuck on the island at the same time.

One family traveled from Delaware and they say they were trapped at the Royal Farms convenience store for nearly four hours. Virginia State Police directed them into the parking lot until the causeway re-opened.

One man on the island said even the snow plow trucks were having a rough time handling the snow drifts and wind.

After the causeway re-opened to traffic on Tuesday morning, motorists were able to reach their holiday vacation destinations and people on the island were able to once again drive to the mainland.

www.wboc.com

One of the most treacherous areas of the Chincoteague Causeway is the area known to locals as the 'Pumphouse Turn'. The high winds and drifting made it difficult for anyone to travel, including those that work on and off Chincoteague.

'Old-Fashioned Christmas' Parade On Chincoteague Tonight

Chincoteague Island Old Fashioned Christmas Parade
Saturday December 4, 2010 Beginning at 7:00 PM

Nighttime parade featuring fire trucks, floats, horses, antique autos, and marching groups. Parade will begin on Main Street /Maddox Blvd. intersection and end at the Chincoteague fire house where Santa will be on hand.

Refreshments will be served and trophies and monetary prizes will be awarded.

Prizes will be given to winners in commercial, noncommercial, junior marching groups, equestrian units, marching bands, decorated boats and miscellaneous.

The very best in the nights event will receive the Judges' Award.

Chincoteague Restaurant Destroyed By Fire

CHINCOTEAGUE — An Asian-themed restaurant on Chincoteague burned Monday evening.

“It’s a total loss. We just thank God no one was hurt,” said Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company public relations officer Denise Bowden.

The Great Wall II restaurant, located at 6341 Maddox Blvd., was fully involved when firefighters arrived on the scene minutes after a 911 call came in around 7:30 p.m., with flames were showing out of the roof and front windows of the one-story brick-facade wooden structure, Bowden said.

No one was at the restaurant at the time the fire broke out because it is closed on Mondays. No one was injured in the blaze.

Chincoteague Assistant Chief Harry Stanley Thornton was the first to arrive on the scene within two to three minutes of the fire being reported and was the officer in charge.

A nail salon next door to the restaurant also was left with damage to its exterior as a result of the fire, but Bowden credited the quick action of firefighters with preventing the blaze’s spreading to other nearby businesses.

“All the men and women did a fantastic job,” she said.

Firefighters extinguished the flames in less than an hour but remained on the scene for two to three hours, Bowden said.

An investigator from the Virginia State Police also was at the scene of the fire, the cause of which is not known as yet.

Units and personnel from Chincoteague, Greenbackville, Atlantic, New Church, Wallops and Saxis responded to the fire.

Kruno Filipic of Chincoteague owned the building, which was rented to the restaurant business.

www.delmarvanow.com

Chincoteague Elementary School Pumpkin Tour

CHINCOTEAGUE -- The Chincoteague Elementary School Parent Teacher Association's Pumpkin Tour will be held at the Island Nature Trail on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 6:30-8 p.m.

Carve a pumpkin and donate $5 to the PTA to have a pumpkin displayed on the tour. Prizes will be awarded.

Businesses, organizations and families are invited to participate. Bring flashlights. Admission is $1 with refreshments available for purchase.

Contact Joanne Moore 443-569-9003 for more information.

Dedication Of The New Chincoteague Draw Bridge Will Be Held Staturday

CHINCOTEAGUE -- Those who attend the Saturday dedication of the new Chincoteague drawbridge will witness the formal completion of the project and have a chance to own a piece of history.

The Virginia Department of Transportation, which is organizing the 11 a.m. dedication at Robert Reed Park near the island library, will distribute commemorative keepsake plaques recognizing the event.

The plaques, which are 5 by 7 inches, will contain a piece of the old bridge. There will be 1,000 available and will be distributed while supplies last.

"We're hoping that every family will have an opportunity to have a piece of the old bridge," said Nora Chivers, VDOT spokesperson. "It's a piece of history."

Expected at the dedication will be state and local officials, including members of the state transportation board.

From noon-2 p.m., the public will be able to walk on the old swing drawbridge that is being replaced and have photos taken on it. The photos will be available on a website following the event.

The new bridge opened to traffic at 7:41 p.m. on April 1 after decades of planning and a $70 million construction project that lasted more than three years.

It replaces two bridges built in 1939 and 1940, which along with the causeway connected Chincoteague with the mainland.

The first bridge connecting the island to the mainland was finished in 1922.

The old drawbridge will remain open until the Marsh Island Connector is complete. Then it will be removed, Chivers said.

The bridge dedication is being held in conjunction with the island's annual Chili and Chowder Cook-off, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Reed park.

The park provides a view of the past and present for those at the bridge dedication.

www.delmarvanow.com

Hal Clark Funerl Information Concerning Traffic

The funeral tomorrow for Atlantic Fire Department fireman "Hal" Clark is expected to be enormous. Please allow a little extra travel time.For the funeral on Friday.....

The company is expecting a large number of firefighters and motorcyclists to gather to pay their respects to Hal Clark. With this large number, we anticipate the procession to the cemetery to be quite lengthy. Roads may be blocked and traffic may be stopped temporarily at various locations on Chincoteague and in the towns of Atlantic and Temperanceville.

Below is an estimated time of arrival at various locations: (please note that times are all approximate)

* Approximately 3:15 p.m. – Depart Union Baptist Church, Chincoteague.

* Approximately 3:45 p.m. – First vehicles arrival at the intersection of Chincoteague Road and Atlantic Road

* Approximately 4:00 p.m.- First vehicles arrive at John W. Taylor Cemetery in Temperanceville

Please note that these times are estimates for the first vehicles arriving to locations. The exact length of the procession is unknown. Expect anything from 10-60 minutes of delay.

***Also note that motorcycles are to meet in the parking lot across from the church.

6 A.M. Pony Day Swim

CHINCOTEAGUE -- Crowds are gathering on the banks of Assateague Channel this morning in anticipation of the 85th annual Pony Swim.

Accomack County Public Schools buses are taking people to Chincoteague's Veterans' Memorial Park to watch the event, made famous by Marguerite Henry's 1947 novel, "Misty of Chincoteague."

Longtime residents and people with an intricate knowledge of the event serve as guides on the buses, providing onlookers -- estimated to be in the tens of thousands -- with information about the event.

"The best thing to do is move forward and to the right," said guide Kat Edwards to a bus with onlookers. "Get as close as you can."

She told those on the bus that the first pony ashore will be named King or Queen Neptune and will be raffled off at the Fireman's Carnival.

But members of a family seated in the middle of the bus, with a young daughter in tow, shook their heads when Edwards announced the raffle.

Edwards, whose day job is director of housing services for the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, laughed.

"Don't let your kids hear that? Is that what you're trying to say?" she asked, as the young girl suddenly became interested in winning a pony.

They got off the bus and blended into the crowd at Memorial Park, some people seated in lawn chairs, others farther down the coast, standing in marsh grass, looking toward the channel.

www.delmarvanow.com

Eastern Shore - 4th of July Fireworks Shows

With the 4th of July right around the corner, several towns and groups will be putting on fireworks displays. Recreational Coordinator of Cape Charles Jennifer Lewis says their fireworks will be similar to last year.

The event will be an all-day event on Sunday, July 4 with vendors. Cape Charles will also have a 4th of July parade.

The show will be best viewed from the beachfront in Cape Charles. The Town of Cape Charles spent about $4,500 on their fireworks display.

The Moose in Exmore will have their 4th of July activities on Saturday July 3rd. Angie Ewell of the Moose says there will be childrens games starting at 3:00 PM, food will be sold. The Moose pool will be open to the public as well, normally the pool is only available to members of the Moose. At 6:00 PM, live music will be played and the fireworks will begin shortly after 9:00 PM.
The town of Chincoteague will be having a fireworks display again. Brian Rush, who is coordinating the event says the fireworks will be on Saturday, July 3rd and are scheduled to start at 10:00 PM and will be shot next to the carnival ground as usual. The rain date will be Monday, July 5th at the same time.

Rush says the Town is hoping to alleviate the traffic gridlock they normally experience on the July 4th firework night by providing free shuttle service to all who want to attend the carnival. The Pony Express will be free of charge on the 3rd and people coming to the island are asked to park at the Chincoteague High School where buses will take them to the carnival grounds.

Chincoteague's fireworks show this year will be run entirely by computer.


Many people boating on the bayside will be able to view the town of Crisfield's fireworks. Val Howard says Crisfield will be having a "Freedom Fest" on Sunday, July 4th shortly before their fireworks are set to go off from 6:00 PM 9:00 PM. There will be vendors, games and food available for those who attend. Howard also says there will be a large jumbo screen on site where they will be showing pictures of veterans and servicemen. To have a picture shown, simply bring it to the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce.

Howard the firework show will begin shortly after dusk and will be shot from the Summer's Cove Marina. The town of Crisfield's fireworks display has a price tag of $5,500.
Shucker's Roadhouse in Onancock will also be putting on a fireworks display this year on the 4th of July. Shawn McCulloch says the outside portion of the restaurant will be open all afternoon and the fireworks are set to begin just after dark. Shuckers is also planning on having live music on the 4th of July.

Young Island Vacationer Donates Poem To Chamber

CHINCOTEAGUE -- Allison Doss of Dacula, Ga. is a budding young poet.

Allison, 9, a student at Freeman's Mill Elementary School, had an assignment to write a poem with the subject, "Beauty Is."

Allison wrote the following, arranging it in the shape of a Christmas tree:

Beauty Is

Salty air

A quiet marsh

On a secret island

Crashing waves

An Egret's nest

Muller's Ice Cream Parlor

On a hot summer night

A bike ride through mini Africa

A long hike up the striped lighthouse

My friends don't know this place

My teachers don't know this place

This secret island called Chincoteague

But I know

My Pop knows

The ponies know

That is what Beauty is....

Allison's poem won first prize at Freeman's Mill Elementary School and went on to win first place in a countywide competition in Gwinnet County, Ga.

Allison presented the poem to her "Pop," Walter Bulmer, as a Christmas gift last year.

Allison presented a framed copy of the poem to the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce last week, while she was on vacation with her parents and grandparents.

www.easternshorenews.com

New Chincoteague Bridge Grand Opening

The Grand Opening Ceremony of the new Chincoteague Bridge on September 25 could become an annual event drawing people from all ends of the country. Currently, talks surrounding the event are focusing on creating an annual Chincoteague Marathon to honor the bridge.

Joe Lowry, a consultant of VDOT, said there are currently 3 different plans being discussed, but the one being seriously considered is the marathon. The marathon would be a half marathon, or roughly 13.1 miles, and would be sanctioned by the National Track Association. Lowry predicted the marathon could become a large off-season event which would held businesses on the Eastern Shore after the summer tourism season ends.

Along with the marathon there would be a health and fitness expo where residents and runners could learn how more about staying healthy. Vendors would take part in the event.

Lowry predicted an event such as this would draw up to 1,000 runners. The entry fee would be between $25 and $35 per runner. To set up the marathon and hire medical personel would cost approximately $10,300.

www.shoredailynews.com

Prayers For Travis Birch Of Chincoteague, Virginia

UPDATE: Travis Birch died today May 21, 2010 at 12:35. Please continue to keep his family, friends and community in your prayers.

After hearing bits and pieces of a tragic vehicle accident that occurred last Saturday night it was brought to my attention through my facebook page that this indeed was a horrible accident.

Prayers are in great need for 19 year old Travis Birch and his family of Chincoteague, Virginia.

As of tonight Travis is in critical condition and suffering from severe brain damage. He does not respond to any commands.

Below is a list of drop off locations if you care to make a donation for Travis and his family.

Donation drop-offs

Chincoteague Locations:
Chincoteague Inn
H&H Pharmacy,
Bill's Seafood Rest.
Mr. Baldy's Rest.
Shore Stop
Steve's Mini Mart

Mainland locations:
Ocean Deli: Wallops
Royal Farms: Wallops

Bank locations:
PNC Bank
Charma Birch
FBO Travis Birch
Attn: Sandra Greenley
6402 Maddox Blvd.
Chincoteague, VA 23336

BAKE SALE TO BENEFIT TRAVIS BIRCH

Saturday May 22, 2010

8:00 AM until 2:00 PM

Location: Ocean Deli

ALL MONEY GOES TO THE BIRCH FAMILY

Mailing address for the Birch family is: David and Charma Birch

6500 Fletcher Lane, Chincoteague, Virginia 23336

If you are unable to send a donation please send prayers. Chincoteague is a very close community especially in times like these and your prayers for Travis and his family are deeply and greatly appreciated. A miracle is needed.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Chincoteague Library

There will be a ribbon cutting for the Chincoteague Island Library's expansion on April 17th from 2-4pm. There will be a celebration in the Robert Reed Downtown Park with refreshements available in the park picnic shelter.

The public will be invited to take a tour of the expansion after the celebration and ribbon cutting.

The Chincoteague Elementary School Chorus will perform, Jack Tarr the Mayor of Chincoteague will be speaking and their will be other honored quests yet to be announced.

www.shoredailynews.com

Daily Entrance Fee To Increase For Wildlife Refuge

CHINCOTEAGUE --The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the daily entrance fee to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge will increase from $5 to $8. The price of the weekly, refuge annual, interagency annual and senior passes will not change. All passes are accepted at both ends of Assateague Island.

According to Refuge Manager Lou Hinds, the refuge projected that the fee increases of 2008 would generate the additional revenues needed to help offset the costs of maintaining the beach parking lots and visitor safety services on Assateague Island as well as other visitor services projects.

"Since the addition of the $5 daily pass, our proceeds have remained the same. The price is too low and we have to change it," Hinds said.

Eighty percent of the fees collected come back to the refuge to fund visitor use and backlog maintenance projects. Hinds noted that this past year, the refuge used some recreation fee dollars for the historic Assateague Lighthouse Restoration Project. Work included restoring the gallery deck, repairing the roof and replacing the glass panels in the Lantern room. Additionally, fee revenues were used for the annual maintenance of roads, trails, beach parking lots, visitor safety services (lifeguards), fee collection and law enforcement support. This year, recreation fee dollars will be used for similar projects.

As required in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004, the refuge will accept public comments on the proposed fee increase until April 30. Comments may be made by e-mail to FW5RW_ CNWR@fws.gov, or write to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 62, Chincoteague, Va., 23336.

www.easternshorenews.com

Student to Student Ambassador Is Chincoteague Teen

Grace Warner of Chincoteague has been selected as a student ambassador for the People-to-People organization. Grace is an eighth grade student at the Chincoteague Combined School. She is the daughter of Glenn and Holly Warner and the granddaughter of Glenn and Carolle Aldinger of Chincoteague.

People-to-People was started by President Eisenhower in the 1950s. Its goal is to promote goodwill among the youth of different countries and cultures. The belief is, if the youth can find common grounds of cooperation, then when they are adults, they may bring peace to the world.

Grace will be going to France, Italy and Greece for 3 weeks in the summer of 2010. She will be meeting with local politicians and other government officials. She will also be staying in homes of local people with youth her age. She is one of 38 other young people going from the Virginia and North Carolina area. She is the only one from Accomack and Northampton Counties.

Grace needs to raise $6500 for the experience. To meet this expense, she has written letters to businesses and organizations asking for their support. She is also selling homemade baked goods and candy, as well as doing odd jobs. There will be an "All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner" at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Jenkins Bridge on February 27th to help raise money.

This is a wonderful opportunity for both Grace and the Eastern Shore. As an active participant in school, sports, and her church, she has a great opportunity to introduce the Eastern Shore to the people she meets in Europe.

If you would like any additional information or to support her goals, you can contact her at 757-336-1280 or 757-990-2075. Her address is Grace Warner, 7139 Margarets Lane, Chincoteague, VA 23336.

www.shoredailynews.com

Chincoteague storm Nov. 2009

Assateague

Assateague Beach

Here are some photos during the storm on Chincoteague taken by Tammy Rickman. She is the associate publisher and writer for http://www.wildponytales.info/

Chincoteague Causeway CLOSED

VDOT reports the Chincoteague Causeway is again closed to all traffic this morning. High tide occured around 6 AM but the causeway will be closed until the water recedes and any major debris is removed. Hopefully it will reopen sometime Friday morning but as of now if you're planning to go to Chincoteague, you won't be able to reach the island.

Volunteers Needed

Annual Beach Clean-Up

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Manager Lou Hinds invites the public to join refuge staff and volunteers on Saturday, Sept. 19, for the Annual Beach Clean-up. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. in the Hebert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Parking lot. The annual beach clean-up is part of the International Coastal Cleanup sponsored by The Ocean Conservancy and Virginia Clean Waterways. Anyone can participate; it doesn’t take special skills or knowledge, just the desire to further the cause of clean oceans and waterways. Participants will remove trash from the beach, record what they find and identify the sources that caused the debris. The Ocean Conservancy will use this information to educate the public and to help change the behaviors that cause pollution. Participants should bring water and sunscreen and wear comfortable footwear. Trash bags, gloves, and data sheets will be provided. Participants will receive a free T-shirt and the entrance fee to the refuge will be waived. www.shoredailynews.com