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Delmarva Drives
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Onancock's GardenArt on King St. |
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Written by Fran Severn
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Wednesday, 09 June 2010 20:46 |
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Onancock VA is one of those places you hope to find but don’t believe really exists. The fishing village on the Bay is genuinely charming with its personality coming from old buildings respectfully and lovingly maintained, locally owned businesses that serve the community and people who enjoy their town and their neighbors.
It’s a great mix of folks who trace their local lineage back for generations and ex-pats from the Western Shore looking for a better quality of life.
One of them is Joani Donohoe, owner of GardenArt on King St. A former DC resident, she discovered Onancock on a weekend getaway. Not long afterward, she crossed the Bay Bridge heading east.
Despite worries from friends that she was perhaps losing a grip on reality, she purchased the brick building that had once been the town’s century -old, steam-generated power plant. Boarded up and falling down, it had been abandoned for over 50 years. Joani spent the next three months pulling down the vines and digging up trees that enveloped the bricks, and hauling away rusted boilers, oil drums, derelict cars, and a collapsing garage. Then she added heat, plumbing, and electricity.
The result is a great space where the century old beams are used for arbors and the former junkyard is an outdoor garden oasis. The exposed brick creates a great rustic, homey ambiance. It’s filled with an eclectic inventory of garden & home décor, ‘lightweight’ garden tools (small trowels vs. weed whackers), and accent pieces by local artisans (including my book “Art Drives on Delmarva.”) It’s all ‘happy’ stuff – things that make you smile and feel good just looking at it all. The courtyard is filled with homeowner-friendly plants and garden needs, presided over by Lulu, the resident Portuguese Water Spaniel.
This Friday is Onancock’s monthly “Second Friday,” when galleries and shops stay open late and restaurants offer specials. GardenART on King Street is a regular stop for the strollers. Joani always has wine and nibbles (which Lulu will try to beg from you.) You can browse her place virtually at www.gardenartonking.com.
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Movies Under the Stars in Delmarva |
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Written by Fran Severn
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Saturday, 05 June 2010 12:54 |
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Maybe one of the saddest sights on Rt. 50 is the decaying, overgrown, forlorn sign, just west of Ocean City that was once the entrance to a drive-in movie. When the wind is just right, you can still get a whiff of popcorn and late at night you might see the ghost of a car pulled over to the side of the road while a gang of teenagers climbs into the trunk to sneak past the ticket booth. Somehow, downloading videos onto their iPod just isn't the same.
But the tradition is reviving with free movies under the stars throughout Delmarva. Using big inflatable screens, communities are showing family friendly films in parks. Bring out the popcorn and Cracker Jacks, pack up a blanket and lawn chairs and the bug spray.
Here’s a list of the places I could find which have a schedule of free, family friendly movies under the stars. If you know of others on Delmarva, please send them along!
Chincoteague: Thursday nights in July & August in Robert Reed Waterfront Park. Schedule at www.chincoteagueculturalalliance.org
Ocean City: Every Monday & Friday at 27th Street on the beach. Games & activities at 7:30. Movies start around 8:30. www.ococean.com
Rehoboth Beach: On Thursday nights middle of July & August. www.localsonlyblog.com
Dewey Beach: Mondays at 8:30 on Dagsworth Street www.localsonlyblog.com
Cambridge: Mondays from June-early August www.moonflicks.com/schedule.shtml
Salisbury: Friday July 2 in Manokin Park www.moonflicks.com/schedule.shtml
Easton: Saturdays from July 10-August 28 in the field beside the County Building on Harrison St. www.midshorelife.com
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What's Hot and Happening This Week |
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Written by Fran Severn
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Saturday, 05 June 2010 11:49 |
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Food, lots of food, midweek, followed with lots of music and arts on the weekend.
SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION: I’ll be signing copies of my book, Art Drives on Delmarva, at A Novel Idea in Berlin on Saturday from 10-2. Details on the listing for June 12.
JUNE 7-13
Downtown Rehoboth Restaurant Week. So many menus, so little time. 25 or so restaurants in Rehoboth and immediate area offering prix-fixe menus for $20-30. List of all the participants and links to their sites and menus: www.downtownrehoboth.com
JUNE 9
Concert in the Park, Milton. Big Band concert starts at 7pm. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Free
JUNE 12
VILLAGE FAIR, BERLIN
The Victorian town hosts an old time community festival with family friendly entertainment, crafts, vendors, carriage rides. Also the Berlin Idol Competition. 10-4. http://www.berlinchamber.org/
SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION ALERT
As part of the Fair, I’ll be signing copies of my book, Art Drives on Delmarva, at A Novel Idea Bookstore: 18 Williams Street, from 10-2 pm. (Sneak a preview at www.delmarvadrives.com.)
TERRAPIN SANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL, CRISFIELD
On the grounds of the American Legion Hall. Enjoy good local bands (including The Landsharks – a Buffett tribute group), food, family entertainment overlooking the Chesapeake. $25. Benefits the Wounded Warrior Fund. www.crisfieldnews.blogspot
BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL, CENTREVILLE
With Deanna Bogart and Bad Dog & the Road Kills, this is a blues and roots celebration. Music from 3-10. Gates open at 2. $16 at the gate. At the 4-H Park. www.baymusicfestival.com
ART FAIR AT THE NARROWS, GRASONVILLE
Local artists, painting, ceramics, photographers, seaglass, fabric, sculpture. At Fisherman’s Inn on Kent Island. 10-5. Free
PATCHWORK VIRGINIA MUSIC FESTIVAL, MACHIPONGO
An afternoon enjoying Virginia’s rich musical heritage. Performances of Appalachian, Piedmont Blues, A Capella Gospel, and mean Bluegrass. At the Barrier Islands Center, Machipongo. 12-6. $15. Children under 12, free.
CAMPBELL FIELD AIRPORT HANGAR PARTY, WEIRWOOD
Just up the road from Machipongo. Live music, hot food, fun evening at the airport. 6-10. Sponsored by Northampton Chamber of Commerce. 757-678-0010
JUNE 11-12
NATIVE PLANT SALE, OPEN HOUSE, CHOPTANK RIVER WADE-IN, ST. MICHAELS
At Environmental Concern, Inc. 201 Boundary Lane, St. Michaels. Friday from 9-4, purchase plants suitable for butterfly, rain, shade, salt tolerant, and songbird habitat gardens. Experts on hand to answer questions. Sunday open house from 9-2 includes lectures on garden topics and a wade-in at San Domingo Creek Park to judge the water quality of this Chesapeake Tributary. http://www.wetland.org/nursery_news_plantsale.htm
JUNE 12-13
“BROADENING THE ARTS IN DOVER,” DOVER AFB
Weekend of watching and participating in the arts in all its possible forms: emerging and professional visual, performing, literary, music, dance, writing, storytelling. Kidzone hands-on area with reusable materials and exploring the natural environment. Free admission. http://www.doverafbservices.com/broadeningartdafb.htm
“GARDENS BY THE SEA” TOUR, KENT COUNTY
Self-guided tour of 15 waterside gardens on Kent Island and the surrounding area. Each location has activities – plein-air artists, musicians, demonstrations. $25 at the gate, which is apparently the Kent Island Arts Center, 405 Main St., Stevensville. www.kifa.us 10-4
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Last Updated on Saturday, 05 June 2010 12:01 |
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Volunteer Firemen: A Community's Unsung Heroes |
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Written by Fran Severn
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Monday, 31 May 2010 02:49 |
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My friend Jen awoke Sunday morning to a nightmare. She looked out her bedroom window to see her barn ablaze. The horses were in the fields, thank God.
Within a few minutes fire crews from Westside, Mardela, and Hebron were vainly trying to stop the flames. Tanker trucks kept running down Tyaskin Road to the river in order to refill. The heat was so intense that it melted the vinyl siding on a shed 50 feet away. But the firefighters were inside the inferno until the roof began to collapse. Despite their efforts, within an hour the barn was a roofless ruin of twisted aluminum siding and charred wooden beams.
One of the firemen dressed so quickly, he forgot to put on socks. He was limping from the blisters until Jen gave him a pair of garishly striped knee highs, the first socks she grabbed. Another showed up later that day searching for his cell phone that had fallen from his pocket somewhere in the rubble. If we ever find it, it’ll probably be a melted mass of plastic and microchips.
Not only did those three fire companies rush to respond at 6 a.m. on a Sunday morning – and on holiday weekend at that, but Sharptown, Delmar, and Salisbury fire units mobilized to cover for the departments working at the barn.
And these men and women are volunteers. They aren’t getting the big bucks; they are getting no bucks. They don’t get a pension or paid vacation or any other reward. They donate time they could spend with their family or enjoying hobbies or many other things for training. They organize fundraisers to collect enough cash to pay for their fire engines and equipment and training. They leave comfortable houses at weird hours to put themselves at risk. Why? They’d probably never talk about things like commitment to their community or responsibility to their neighbors; to them, it’s just the right thing to do.
Stop and think a moment what it’d be like if the volunteer fire departments weren’t there. And when your stomach unknots, be grateful. And do a little more than that. Go to the bingo nights, eat at the oyster and ham roasts, buy the roadside BBQ chicken, visit the carnivals at Hebron, Sharptown, Chincoteague and any others that are out there. Or if none of that works for you, pull out your checkbook and consider what your taxes would be if you had to pay for this service or worse, if the service wasn’t there.
The Westside firefighters know the people at the barn; the others, probably not. But that didn’t matter to them. They were there when they were most needed. Volunteer firefighters are the definition of decency and community.
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What's Hot, What's Happenin' May 31-June 6 |
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Written by Fran Severn
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Saturday, 29 May 2010 21:12 |
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MAY 31
Free cruises on the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester, Cambridge. No reservations; first come, first boards. Cruises are 12-1-2-3.
JUNE 2
Free concert in the park, Milton. 7 p.m. Tydewater (country). Bring a lawn chair or blanket to Milton Memorial park. 7 p.m.
JUNE 4
1st Friday Art Stroll, Chestertown, Snow Hill. Monthly arts event. Galleries and studios open later, specials at businesses and restaurants.
JUNE 4-5
Chincoteague Photo Fest. Think plein aire with a camera. The theme is “A Day’s Life on the Islands.” Photos must be taken on the 4th and 5th. Open to all ages and all skills. Two categories: Under 12 and Over 12. Pre-registration encouraged. www.chincoteagueculturalalliace.com
Wallops Island Open House. Celebrating 65 years of scientific research. Demonstrations, tours, exhibits. Military aircraft participating in the O.C. Air Show will be using the Wallops Field. Free 10-4 www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops
JUNE 4-6
1st Weekend, Easton. The monthly first Friday art stroll expands for the rest of the weekend. It’s the kickoff for the Chamber Music Festival; lots of other art-oriented receptions, exhibitions. http://www.tourtalbot.org/events.asp
JUNE 5
Queen Anne’s County History Sites Open House. Homes and other memorable sites open for tours. Demonstrations. Free map at the visitor center or www.histroicqua.org
Wings & Wheels, Bay Bridge Airport, Kent Island. Classic & Modern aircraft, Classic and antique cars & trucks, motorcycles. Model trains, airplane and helicopter rides, lots of kid activities. 410-604-1141
Delmar Day in the Park. Real old-time, family, community festival. Potato sack races, hula hoop contest, putt putt. Food? Oh, yeah! Oyster fritters, crab cakes, funnel cake, BBQ, kettle corn, and snow cones. Crafters and displays by community organizations. Live music in the park.
www.delmar-chamberofcommerce.com
Summer Bash, Milton. Homemade gourmet food & concert by Grammy winner country artist Billy Dean. $25 admission. Gate opens at 12, concert at 1.Benefits Food Bank of Delaware. www.annualsummerbach.com
JUNE 5-6
Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival, Stevensville. Sample wines from 25 of Maryland’s vintners, plus crafts, artists, live entertainment. $25 at the gate. www.chesapeakebaywinefestival.org
Taste of Lewes, Taste of Coastal Delaware. Yum! In Lewes, 19 local restaurants set up at the Virden Center on Pilottown Rd. from 12-3. $35 at the door. From there, waddle down to the Sea Colony in Bethany Beach where 19 more area chefs display their best from 1-4. $35 at the door. http://www.visitsoutherndelaware.com/events
JUNE 6-12
Downtown Rehoboth Restaurant Week. Even more food! Restaurants in Rehoboth offer special menus for the week. Prix-fixe or 3-course dinners for $25-$30. So far, 25 places are participating. Reservations probably a good idea. So many menus; so little time. www.downtownrehoboth.com
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