Chincoteague's Post Pony Penning Week Activities

Greetings from the Post Pony Penning Chincoteague Island "Happenings Update."
You would think that Chincoteague would be in a "let down" mode, but that's not the case at all. Music, Art Strolls and family fun are still in abundant supply. Take a look at my friend Evelyn Shotwell's comprehensive list of Chincoteague Island's activities this week.



From: Evelyn Shotwell
Date: 8/6/2009 4:20:31 PM
To: Evelyn Shotwell
Subject: OUT & ABOUT


Good Afternoon All,

Hope you all survived Pony Penning without being too exhausted!! Thank goodness the rain (& mosquitoes) held off last week for most of the events. If you all are running out of suggestions to keep your guests and customers comfortable while under siege by the infamous Chincoteague mosquitoes, send them to the chamber office for ideas of indoor things to do.

Have fun out & about…while strolling or just enjoying the beach. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday look like GREAT beach days.



OUT & ABOUT



August 7: First Friday Talk—Herbert H. Bateman Educational Center—Park Ranger Chris Seymour will speak on “Forgotten Heroes”, United States Life-Saving Service at Assateague



August 8: 2nd Saturday Art Stroll—Demonstrations, Exhibitions, music, wine tasting, book signings, 4th Annual Queen for a Day & Soiree. Schedule in chamber office.



August 8 & 12: Farmer’s Market behind Don’s Seafood—8am to noon



August 11: Chincoteague Refuge Offers All-night Viewing of Perseid Meteor Shower—Pull an all-nighter on the beach and watch the meteor shower!!! Be on the beach by 10 pm. You can leave whenever you wish or stay all night. What a treat!



August 11-12 and 13-14: Wetland Education Workshop (WETMAAP)—Nasa Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center—Call Amanda Clark at 757-824-2297 or email Amanda.l.clark@nasa.gov to pre-register.



August 13: Summer Cinema Series—“BABE”—9 pm—Robert Reed Waterfront Park—Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the free movie!!!!



August 14: Charlie Sizemore Band (Bluegrass) will perform at Chincoteague Center at 7 pm. Call 757-336-0614 or 757-336-3030 for ticket information. Visit www.IslandBlueGrass.com.



*ASSATEAGUE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Thursday-Monday --9am to 3pm

*ASSATEAGUE ISLAND BUS TOURS: Thursday-Sunday, 10 am & 4 pm—757-336-3696



*ISLAND HISTORY TROLLEY TOURS: Every Tuesday & Thursday at 2:45 p.m. & 3:45 p.m. Ticket sales and tour departures at the Chincoteague Center, 6155 Community Drive off Deep Hole Rd.



*STORY/CRAFT HOUR AT THE ISLAND LIBRARY: Every Thursday thru August 15 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am for 4-8 year olds.



*NASA VISITOR CENTER ACTIVITIES:

August 8: “Sun-Earth Connections”--1 p.m.

Saturdays & Sundays—“Puppets in Space”--11:00 a.m.

Sundays—“Humans in Space” – 30 minute program looks at living and working in space.

Wednesdays—“Virginia Space Flight Academy Rocket Launch”—2:30 p.m. Cancelled if raining or winds exceed 18 mph. Rain date: Thursdays at 2:30 p.m.



*PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE: Follow the links below for activities including bird and nature walks, kayaking, surf rescue demonstrations, beach campfires and night hikes. Find schedules on http://www.nps.gov/asis/upload/August%202-8.pdf and http://www.nps.gov/asis/upload/August%209-15.pdf



*CHINCOTEAGUE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ACTIVITIES—check at the Herbert H. Bateman Educational Center for a list of summer events.



*“RIDE THE PONY EXPRESS”. Come by the chamber office for a schedule!





Evelyn

Evelyn Shotwell

Office Manager

Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce

Insider Father's Day Greeting

Insider Fathers Day Greeting

Greetings from Chincoteague Island! And a warm and deeply felt Happy Fathers Day to all Dads wherever they may be. It’s cloudy and a bit breezy here on Chincoteague Island, but I hope you are enjoying Fathers Day on the water, at the beach or just hanging out on the deck with a cool one.

Though I lost my Dad a few years ago, his thoughts are constantly with me. He taught me a lot and I cherish the good memories. For me personally, there has been no experience that I have enjoyed more than being a Dad myself. It’s a big responsibility and a source of great joy. So, to all of you Father’s out there, the Chincoteague Insider “ totally gets it!” Have a wonderful Fathers Day!

Until the next time…

Chincoteague Library - a New Beginning

Chincoteague Library - a New Beginning

The Jester family has been a pillar of the Chincoteague Island for nearly two centuries. Kendall Jester, who along with Robert Watson is said to have introduced the practice of pony penning to Chincoteague, owned 600 acres of land and a 1727 home at Wildcat Marsh, where his ponies roamed. Jester Street runs between Willow Street and Main Street.

At 4077 Main Street is the building which since July 4, 1995 has housed the Chincoteague Library. Before that, between 1908 and 1982, it housed the barber shop of Wallace Jester, and before that, it was a drugstore. The Chincoteague Library, in fact, is the oldest wooden frame structure in the town of Chincoteague!

When the old building was moved to the corner of Main and Mumford Streets in 1995, it was thanks to the efforts of a citizens' group (Chincoteague's citizens have always been blessed with abundant community spirit). They not only raised funds to convert the former barber shop to a library; they volunteered their time to staff it. Chincoteague Library today is managed by only two part-time employees and an amazing group of 26 volunteers!

Even when the library was in the planning stages, however, its Board of Directors realized that their renovated barbershop would not always be adequate to the task of keeping Chincoteague's population supplied with the collection of books and other library services it required. Expansion was always in the cards, and since 2006, efforts have been underway to enlarge the 750-foot library.

Those efforts have included a wide range of fund raising efforts, from things as simple as placing collection boxes in the shops of Chincoteague's merchants, and a donation from the profits from the sale of fresh blueberries at the Chincoteague Blueberry Festival and others, to qualifying for a $50,000 grant from the Argyle fund of Eastern Shore’s Norfolk Foundation. When the land adjacent to the existent library was donated, the expansion project’s success was guaranteed.

One of the most heartfelt fundraising efforts has come from a dozen of Chincoteague Island's talented musicians, who have combined to produce a "Music To Read By" CD. There's something for everyone on this CD, which includes bluegrass, classical, New Age, gospel, blues, and even Celtic offerings.

The performers themselves were as young as 21 and as old as 92, with professions which run the gamut from locksmith and auto mechanic to a retired college president and a NASA worker! Every penny of the Music To Read By CD goes directly into the library expansion fund!

A similar generous spirit from Chincoteague residents, ironically enough, was a major reason expansion became necessary! The book donations to the children's collection alone are so great that there is no longer enough room for them on the shelves. The two-story new facility will also provide room for both more Internet-connected computers, and for community programs.

On the second story of the Library addition, there'll be a section devoted to Chincoteague history. Somewhere in that section, the current members of Chincoteague’s oldest families will certainly find mention of the ancestors who had their hair cut at Wallace Jester's Barber Shop!

Chincoteague Insider Chagrin and more...

Chincoteague Insider Chagrin and more

O.K. let me start this post with a correction. In last weeks weekend preview, I certainly gave the impression that the Chincoteague Bluegrass Alliance Concert was being held last weekend. Well that was a blunder! In fact the June concert which is being held at the beautiful Chincoteague Center is actually this weekend. This months concert features two great Bluegrass Bands, Satyr Hill from Baltimore and Thunder Creek, from Wakefield. For complete information, please call Bill Chrisman at 757-336-3030.

It is important to the Insider that we correct our mistake because we really support the fantastic work that Bill Chrisman and the Chincoteague Bluegrass Alliance does. Bill’s love of Bluegrass Music is infectious and we are grateful that he is bringing this fabulous American Music to the island on a regular basis.

By the way, in addition to some great music at the Bluegrass Alliance Concert, there is also homemade ice cream, delicious barbecue and some real friendly folks with a passion for great music. Make it a point to catch one of these concerts. For more information, please check out www.chincoteaguebluegrassalliance.com.

Good News! The Assateague Island National Seashore announced Free weekends during the Summer. The free weekends will be in effect on both the Maryland and Virginia Side of the Beach. The fees have been waived for June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16. What a fantastic opportunity to enjoy one of the finest beaches in the entire country…for free! This is just one more reason to visit Chincoteague Island this Summer.

This weekend at the island Roxy Theater, “Land of the Lost” and “Angels and Demons.” Both films will run from June 19th to June 25th. For more information please call 757-336-6301. Check out next Monday’s new blog entry that explores a bit of the colorful history of the Island Roxy Theater.

Be sure to catch up on all the new videos and features at www.chincoteagueoutlook.com.

Coming Soon!

Look for the new blog entries from Jane Richstein of Sun Dial Books who will be featuring local authors.

Until the next time…