Chincoteague Island .Net

Betty Shepard will be signing copies of her new book “Virginia, An Alphabetical Journey Through Virginia History” on Saturday, August 9 from 6:00 – 8:00pm at Sundial Books on Chincoteague Island.  From Arlington National Cemetery to the distinctive Zouaves uniforms worn during the Civil War, the book is a great way to help young readers become familiar with key events and places throughout the Commonwealth. Betty Shepard is a teacher, librarian and author of numerous teacher guides and lives on land that was once part of the Mount Vernon estate. Sundial Books is located at 4073 Main Street, next to the Island Library. For more information, please call (757) 336-5825.

During August work will continue on the Chincoteague Bridge. Crews have completed transmission line relocations, restoring marsh grass and driving all the piles allowed by the time of year restriction. In addition, crews have completed a mock assembly of the movable bridge span components at the offsite fabrication yard and disassembled it after prime coating the components.

In upcoming months, progress will be more visible as you drive by the project. The bridge’s main horizontal support beams have been set in place for 2/3 of the spans, and crews are currently working on wall pours, forming retaining walls and pouring concrete.  The first deck pour is scheduled for early August.

Motorists traveling on Route 175 from the Wire Narrows Bridge to the Main Street Intersection should expect multiple alternating lane closures from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the beginning of October. These closures are necessary for crews to receive equipment and materials for the project.

source: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) press release

Sundial Books will host a variety of book-signing and live music events for your reading and listening pleasure. Meet authors and musicians in a relaxed setting and pick up a signed copy of a book or new CD.

On Sunday, July 27 Owen Hooks & Friends will be playing live from 5:00 - 8:00pm in the Sundial Books courtyard. Guitars, banjos and great vocals will keep your feet tapping. In addition to his musical talent, Owen is also the author of The Wild Pony Auction at Chincoteague and will have copies of the book available for sale.

The Hidden Galleon by John Amrhein, Jr. is “the true story of a lost Spanish ship and the legendary wild ponies of Assateague Island.” On September 5, 1750, a Spanish warship named La Galga drove ashore on Assateague and came to rest close to shore and partially submerged. The only people who died were lost swimming ashore. Her captain later described her location as “within two ship lengths of the Maryland and Virginia boundary.” Meet John Amrhein and talk with him about the research and discoveries that led to his writing The Hidden Galleon. John will be at Sundial Books Wednesday, July 30, 4:00 – 6:00pm, Thursday, July 31, 2:00 – 4:00pm and Friday, August 1, 11:00am – 1:00pm.

Jessie-Ann Friend continues the tradition of books about Chincoteague ponies with The Forgotten Pony – the story of Rainy’s Boy. Jessie-Ann met Marguerite Henry as a young girl and promised to keep the stories of Misty’s descendents alive. The Forgotten Pony is the second in what will be a trilogy of books for young readers.  Meet Jessie-Ann on Sunday, July 27 from 3:00 – 5:00pm, on Tuesday, July 29 from 1:00 – 3:00pm and Thursday and July 31 from 4:00 – 6:00pm.

Wrap up the week with a series of traditional music concerts by Diana Wagner as she launches her new CD, Tradition Bearer.  Diana performed in Chincoteague last fall as part of the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance Acoustic Music Concert series and has just completed the production of her first CD of folk and traditional music. She will give a series of concerts on Saturday, August 2 at 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm in the Sundial Books courtyard. Meet Diana, share stories about music and enjoy a relaxing afternoon.

Sundial Books is located at 4071-4073 Main Street, next to the Island Library. Our inventory includes best-sellers, local and regional books, used books, antiquarian books and signed, first editions as well as gifts and local art. For more information call (757) 336-5825 or www.sundialbooks.net.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Anglers Club will be holding their 1st Annual Club Picnic on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008 from 5 p.m. till ?   Meat and soft drinks will be provided and guests are requested to bring a covered dish and chairs.  New members welcome.  Come and meet your fellow anglers and join in the fun.  Family yearly membership is $15.  The picnic is to be held at 26410 Schultz Landing Rd. in Parksley.  For further information call 757 710 4568.

Amy Ferebee & Regina Scott Sanford will perform blues and bluegrass, sophisticated jazz standards with a dash of Beat Poetry thrown in for good measure in a free concert at 4 p.m. on, Saturday, June 28, 2008 in Robert Reed Park in downtown Chincoteague.

Sanford and Ferebee have appeared with or opened for notable performers including: Air Supply, Kenny Loggins, Tony Rice Unit, Osborne Brothers, Taj Mahal, The Kingston Trio, Helen Reddy, Norman & Nancy Blake, Alison Krause and Union Station, the Charlie Byrd Trio, Seldom Scene, and Robin & Linda Williams.

Both performers are strong and distinctive singers who toss the lead duties back and forth while taking turns harmonizing.  Sanford laces in a tasteful array of percussion with rattles, chimes and hand drums over Ferebee’s accomplished guitar foundation.

During the past five years Ferebee and Sanford have collaborated on performance art programs including a work commissioned by The Women?s Studies Department of Tidewater Community College.

Bring a chair or spread a blanket to enjoy the lively art of Sanford and Ferebee as they carry on the great American tradition of a free concert in Robert Reed Park on Chincoteague Island.

The Amy Ferebee & Regina Scott Sanford concert is part of the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance Music at the Dock Series made possible by grants from the Town of Chincoteague, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.