Beach Cleanup Day..

News Release Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge 

ANNUAL BEACH CLEANUP SLATED FOR SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

We invite you to join refuge staff and volunteers on Saturday, September 26 th for the Annual Beach Cleanup at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Registration will begin at 8:00 am at the Hebert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center parking lot. 

The annual beach cleanup is part of the International Coastal Cleanup sponsored by The Ocean Conservancy and Clean Virginia Waterways. Marine debris is a persistent problem that threatens ocean and coastal health. We all depend on the oceans: for food, recreation, transportation, and even for much of the oxygen we breathe. And we all have a responsibility to care for our oceans and the life they hold. Participating in a beach cleanup is a positive, active way to show you value clean oceans and waterways. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in one day. You’ll be surprised at what you learn about yourself, your neighbors, and your environment. 

Save the date! September 26 th, 2015. We hope you’ll join us. Be sure to bring water, sunscreen, and wear comfortable footwear. Trash bags, gloves, and data sheets will be provided. The first 250 participants will receive a free T-shirt. In celebration of National Public Lands Day, the entrance fee for everyone will be waived.

This year’s beach cleanup is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, The Ocean Conservancy, Clean Virginia Waterways, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague Natural History Association, Assateague Island National Seashore, Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, Town of Chincoteague, and Accomack County. 

For more information contact the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge at 757-336- 6122 or email FW5RW_CNWR@fws.gov, or write to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 62, Chincoteague, VA 23336.

Record Numbers In Ocean City For July 4th

If you visited Ocean City over the Fourth of July weekend, you probably felt a bit of a crush. Tourism officials in the resort city estimate the crowds were among the largest for the holiday in nearly 20 years.

The population swelled to some 330,688 on Saturday and Sunday, according to Ocean City estimates. That compares with 318,368 in 2010 - an increase of nearly 5 percent.

The numbers were the highest since 2003, when the town recorded 342,952 for the first weekend in July, and ranks in the Top 5 Fourth of July weekends since 1992.

Officials said estimates for July 4, the holiday itself, put the population at 354,106 - the highest single day estimate on record for that date.

So if your square of sand seemed smaller than usual, it probably was.

Source;  http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/oc-blog/bal-ocean-city-md-july-4-crowds-20110705,0,6908.story

Accomack County Officials Support Beach Parking

ACCOMAC -- Accomack County officials voted unanimously to support Chincoteague in the town's effort to keep parking available at the beach on Assateague Island.

The Board of Supervisors will add its voice to those of Chincoteague town officials who are determined to battle efforts to eliminate or reduce beach parking at Assateague Island National Seashore in favor of a shuttle system.

The vote came after Chincoteague Councilman John Jester made a plea for the county to join the town in supporting the continuation of parking at the beach.

A study by Volpe National Transportation Systems Center commissioned by the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in anticipation of the updating of the refuge's master plan in the coming years gave four options for getting visitors to the beach --two of which involved some type of shuttle service. The transportation alternatives are partly in response to the threat of rising sea levels and storms that have necessitated the rebuilding of the parking lots at the beach after each winter in recent years.

"Wherever Volpe's been, shuttles seem to follow in national parks," Jester said. He called the idea of families taking a shuttle bus to the beach, loaded down with all their gear, "ridiculous."

Jester said 500 surveys returned to a beach access committee of the town showed 80 percent of those surveyed say they come to Chincoteague to go to the beach; 80 percent said they would not feel safe during a storm at the beach; and 75 percent said if a shuttle service is implemented they would think about not coming back to vacation there.

Jester said Accomack County in 2009 collected $401,500 in hotel taxes from Chincoteague and the town's real estate represents $1.1 billion out of a total in the county of $3.6 billion, with 45 percent or more of homes on the island being second or vacation homes. Those property values, and taxes collected by the county, would likely decrease if the beach was no longer accessible by private vehicle, he said.

"The bottom line is the economy of Chincoteague and of Accomack will suffer," he said.

County supervisors appeared to agree wholeheartedly with Jester.

"I hope this board will do anything they can to prevent the shuttle service," Supervisor Jack Gray said. Ron Wolff agreed, as did Donald Hart Jr., who said of the Fish and Wildlife Service, "In their opinion, human beings are a nuisance."

Hart made the motion to support a letter Chincoteague will write objecting to the proposed elimination of beach parking and also to ask state and federal elected officials to go on the record as to what their stance is on the matter.

Supervisor Wanda Thornton of Chincoteague said the same issue came up in 1999 but was thwarted by a concerted effort including local officials making several trips to Washington, D.C., to present their case.

"The deal was then that they were going to bus the people from Wallops ... We were able to change that whole equation then and we can do it now," she said.

www.chincoteaguebeacon.com

Ocean City Lifeguard Stands Vandalized

I'm going to say it! These "spoiled brats" that come to Ocean City on Mommy and Daddy's money sure don't seem to mind using your (the taxpayer) money either. During their evenings of drinking and drugging they sure didn't take into consideration that those stands provide the beach goers of this great summer town the protection they may need to save them from the horror of drowing. Let's hope that one of these poor excuses for a son or daughter doesn't sober up from being under the influence of drugs/alcohol or just being stupid to find someone they loved has drowned...........all because the lifeguard didn't see them. Lifeguard chairs in Ocean City, Md., are under attack.

Since lifeguards went on duty May 29, several of their chairs have been damaged by vandals, sometimes up to six or seven a night, according to The Salisbury Maryland Daily Times.

The chairs have been pushed over, stomped and dragged out to the sea or to the street. Some have even been used as toilets. A few were damaged so severely, the only thing left was a pile of white planks.

Dick Malone, of Ocean City’s Public Works Department, said the stands are being damaged more quickly than they can be repaired. As a result, there’s concern there won’t be enough chairs to cover the resort town’s 9.5 miles of beaches.

Lifeguard stands are heavy-duty structures, standing 10 feet tall and weighing some 250 pounds. When their shifts end, the lifeguards drag them further inland at night so they won’t be washed away by the rising tides.

Authorities said that’s when the chair culprits hit -- at night.

So far, no arrests.

It could cost the city thousands of dollars to repair or replace all the damaged chairs, according to the Times.

www.nbcwashington.com