Who Still Uses a Privy? Commission Wants to Know
August 4, 2014
The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC) is asking Eastern Shore residents to provide information regarding the location of properties that lack indoor plumbing in Accomack and Northampton Counties. Properties that lack indoor plumbing do not have the capability to dispose of sewage waste inside the residence. These properties typically utilize an outdoor pit privy or outhouse, although some properties fail to have outdoor facilities as well.
While pit privies may be permitted by the Virginia Health Department if constructed and maintained properly, many do not meet the regulated standards and pose a significant public health risk and have extremely adverse impacts on the quality of adjacent water bodies and the environment. [Read more…]
Wounded Warriors Treated to Delights of Eastern Shore
By JOE VACCARO
American Legion Post 56
August 4, 2014
Post 56 recently hosted a Wounded Warrior weekend barrier island excursion with the assistance of an organization called the Freedom Hunters. The event started with a Saturday breakfast with 23 wounded warriors, their family members, and numerous members of Post 56. The Warriors were led to the Miss Jennifer at Cherrystone Campground where they enjoyed a day of fun, fellowship, and fishing under the expert guidance of Capt. Ray Cardone.
The Warriors returned to Post 56 and were treated to a wonderful meal of ham, chicken, vegetables, and desserts prepared by Post 56 Chaplain Wilson Leggett and his wife, Diane. The Warriors then proceeded to the Rittenhouse Motor Lodge where Bob Rittenhouse provided free rooms to several members of this organization.
On Sunday the Warriors met again with Post 56 members for breakfast and were directed to the Oyster Boat Ramp where they boarded boats and toured the barrier islands and beaches. The group was led by Capt. Wilson Leggett and Capt. Chuck Williams, Bobby Cheney, Bernie Davis, Jim White, Hank Jones, Post 56 Adjutant Bob Roche, and Lester Clark.
This was a weekend filled with both poignant and triumphant moments and created a friendship and bond between the Warriors and Post 56 that will never be broken. At the end of the weekend event and as a token of their appreciation, the Freedom Hunters presented Post 56 an encased American flag that was a flown over a base in Afghanistan.
Weekend participants in front of American Legion Post 56.
Register for Master Naturalists Training Course
Registration is open for the Eastern Shore Master Naturalists 2014 basic training course which will be held on Thursdays, Sept. 11 through Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Historic Onancock School. [Read more…]
THURSDAY 8/14: Cape Charles Ferries Gone but Not Forgotten
Gone but Not Forgotten — a history of the Cape Charles ferries, presented by local historian Ron West 7 p.m. Thursday, August 14, at Cape Charles Memorial Library. [Read more…]
SATURDAY 8/9: Shore’s Only Craft Beer Music Festival
Both connoisseurs of craft beers and the curious can choose from over 30 regional microbrews to sample and savor at the Eastern Shore’s only Craft Beer and Music Festival Saturday, August 9 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The lawn of the ESO Arts School is transformed into a beer garden with live tunes brewing, and local seafood and BBQ grilling. Other foods, wine and non-alcohol beverages will also be available. [Read more…]
FRI-SAT 8/8-9: Farming Life Fair at Ker Place Recalls Bygone Era
Join the Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society for a free two-day event at Ker Place in celebration of farming life on the Eastern Shore in the 1930s and ’40s . [Read more…]
Last Thursday Session at New Roots Youth Garden
Cape Charles New Roots Youth Garden Club’s Thursday session is August 7 at 5 p.m. Youngsters of all ages and their parents are welcomed to learn about gardening and play exercising games at Randolph Avenue and Fig Street, next to Rayfield’s Pharmacy. [Read more…]
LETTER
Cherrystone Camper Lauds Emergency Response
July 29, 2014
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letter was sent by the Riale family of Port Penn, Delaware, in appreciation for the service provided by local law enforcement, fire, and other first responders to the tornado at Cherrystone Campground.)
I am writing this letter in regard to the responses that were made in regard to the EF 1 tornado that struck Cherrystone Campground on the morning of July 24, 2014. My parents and my kids and I were camping there that morning when the tragic storm struck the grounds.
Just a little background on my family: my father has been in the fire service since 1964 and is a Past Fire Chief, and I have been in the service since 1994 and currently serve as my department’s Assistant Chief, and I am a Delaware State Police Dispatcher.
Once the storm started to lift that morning we made sure that my mother and kids were okay, and then my father, my son, and I started checking campsite to campsite for injured people. Within minutes we could hear the sirens of the responding units coming. We first were contacted by a Cape Charles police officer to join in the site checks. He informed us that the next streets over they were getting reports of worse things, so we ran over to that area.
While on the way a mother stated that her 11 year old was missing. Just a couple minutes later we found that girl walking down the street and the officer took her back to her parents. We continued onto the street worse hit and noticed campers removing a young boy from a tent site with a tree over it. We met up with a couple firemen from Cape Charles Fire Company that were assessing two more young girls who were lying next to their deceased parents.
The firemen acted quickly in making backboards out of the tops of picnic tables. My father and I assisted in loading and transporting the one young girl out to a waiting ambulance from the Exmore Fire Company. By the time we did that there were so many police units, ambulances, and fire units on the scene that me and my father’s attention went back to our own family.
In all of our experiences in the fire service I have never seen such organization of a disaster and the willingness to work together for the common good. The Cape Charles Officer, Cape Charles Fire, Virginia State Police, or the Northampton Sheriff’s Officers, never once said get away, we got this, etc. They all asked what we had, what we needed, and asked how they could help. We watched the command structure that was there that day organize site by site searches with no problems. For such a rural area compared to where I work and am from, the responses from these agencies were very fast, efficient, and bar none the very best I have ever seen in such a disaster. [Read more…]
