CIRCULATION 15,000 Free February 21, 2020 Tourism Commission Makes Its Funding Case to Northampton Supervisors The tourism commission seeks was down to one staff member, but it is now fully staffed, including Christy $157,500 from Northampton Betz, assistant executive director, Ai- County to continue promotion of leen Joeckel, executive assistant, and the Eastern Shore’s tourism assets Susannah Morey, marketing director. Sally Williams and H.H. Scott are By Stefanie Jackson the manager and the assistant man- Northampton is preparing its budget ager of the Eastern Shore of Virginia for fiscal year 2021, and that process in- Welcome Center near the exit of the cludes county supervisors hearing from Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. agencies and boards as each makes a Filling all available staff positions case for level or increased funding. was the first of the tourism commis- Robie Marsh, who is also the ex- sion’s top five accomplishments of ecutive director of the Eastern Shore 2019, Marsh told Northampton super- Chamber of Commerce, was chosen as visors Feb. 11. the executive director of the Eastern The Eastern Shore of Virginia Tour- Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Cygnus resupply ship blasted off Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission ism Commission also completed and Saturday at 3:21 p.m. from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. The space de- when it underwent a complete reorga- launched a brand-new website, www. livery of nearly 7,500 pounds of station cargo arrived Tuesday around nization last year, a collaboration of visitESVA.com 4 a.m. Photo credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani. Accomack and Northampton officials. Visitors can explore the website and When Marsh came on board, the discover places to eat, shop, stay, and Wallops Launches Resupply Mission tourism commission’s administration (Continued on Page 4) to Delight of Thousands of Spectators ‘The Bandleader in Heaven’: The Antares rocket carrying a looked skyward from their chosen viewing spots, including at the NA- Cygus spacecraft lifted off Sat- SA Wallops Visitor Center, where the Saying Goodbye to David Steelman urday, Feb. 15, joining the In- parking lot was near capacity around Former band teacher remem- schools for 35 of those years — and af- three hours before liftoff. ter retiring in 1992, he returned sev- ternational Space Station early Queen’s Sound public boat ramp, on bered by students and col- eral times as Tuesday morning with almost the causeway between the mainland leagues for instilling and shar- a substitute 7,500 pounds of cargo and Chincoteague, also was filling up teacher. by then, with around a dozen vehicles ing love of music Steelman al- By Carol Vaughn including several RVs parked there. By Carol Vaughn so led a commu- The Antares’ and Cygnus’ 13th car- No parking is allowed along Chin- Band leader and teacher John David nity band un- go supply mission to the International coteague Road, nor along the southern Steelman’s death on Feb. 11 at age 89 der the auspic- Space Station launched Saturday af- end of Main Street on Chincoteague, prompted an outpouring of tributes from es of the county ternoon from Wallops without a hitch. during launches. former students and band members. Parks and Rec- The Antares rocket lifted off on time, Additionally, Chincoteague Nation- Steelman, of Accomac, taught mu- reation Depart- at 3:21 p.m., carrying the Cygnus space- al Wildlife Refuge closed at 11:30 a.m. sic for 60 years, including in Orange ment, which per- craft, which was set to rendezvous with Saturday. County (Virginia), Portsmouth, Va., formed at events Mr. Steelman the space station Tuesday. Other space aficionados made their and on the Eastern Shore. on the Shore and Local residents and visitors alike (Continued on Page 2) He taught in Accomack County (Continued on Page 6) 2 • EASTERN SHORE POST • FEBRUARY 21, 2020 Rocket Launch a launch,” Catherine Schofield said. ~ ~ She teaches high school science —she (Continued From Page) recently was named teacher of the year way to Mariner’s Point, at the southern and citizen of the year — and also was tip of Chincoteague. a pilot. She wanted to become an astro- Retired NASA Wallops Flight Facil- naut during the Gemini program, but at ity employee Roy Tolbert, of Chincote- the time, women were not accepted. ague, manned a table there, answer- “We are so blessed that it fell” on ing questions and handing out litera- this weekend, Bill Schofield said. ture about the mission and NASA. Still others gathered at Robert N. “They had never done this before, un- Reed Park in downtown Chincoteague, til last Sunday,” Tolbert said of having where the resident mallard ducks the information available at Mariner’s posed for photo opportunities as peo- Point. He volunteered for the post. ple waited for liftoff. He also manned the table during David and Stephanie Dalton, of the first launch attempt on Sunday. Preston, Md., made the trip to Chin- Around 1,000 people were there then, coteague three times this week to including from India, Korea, China, catch the launch. and many states, he said. The third time was the charm, as they Bill and Catherine Schofield, of Sick- watched the rocket lift off from the park. lerville, N.J., were among those viewing “We can see them from our back- the launch from Mariner’s Point. They yard, but you don’t get the same thrill,” come to Chincoteague each year for the she said. popular Death by Chocolate event on The Cygnus spacecraft, named after Roy Tolbert of Chincoteague mans an information table at Mariner’s Valentine’s Day weekend. the first African American astronaut, Point on Chincoteague in advance of the Antares rocket launch on Sat- This year, the event happened to co- Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., was load- urday, Feb. 15, 2020. Photo by Carol Vaughn. incide with the rescheduled launch. ed with almost 7,500 pounds of car- “We were surprised by it; we were go, including science experiments and Among supplies the mission is deliv- • The Mobile SpaceLab, a tissue and just here for Death by Chocolate, and items for use by the three-person crew ering are items to support scientific re- cell culturing facility that launches all of a sudden, it was like, oh, there’s of Expedition 62. search, including: (Continued on Page 4) Refuge Inn Honors Long-Time Employees Chincoteague, VA–Long-time employees of the Refuge Inn recently celebrated 20+ years of working together to welcome guests and friends to their family owned and operated hotel. They were treated to a seafood feast at Ray’s Shanty as a token of appreciation for their years of dedication. Pictured L-R: Audrey Jester, 29 years; Mae Harmon, 24 years; Cathy Repsher, 21 years; Carolyn Bowden, 34 years; Bonnie Saunders, 27 years; Cissie Walker, 24 years; Denise Savage, 38 years; Dawn Lewis, 30 years. Cynthia Leonard Wilder, 20 years; Jane Leonard Wolffe, owner, 35 years. Not pictured: Arthur Leonard, owner, 45 years. DONE FEBRUARY 21, 2020 • EASTERN SHORE POST • 3 FORD NEW 2019 FORD F-150 XLT NEW 2019 FORD FUSION S $ MSRP $38,920 STK# 19084 MSRP $24,130 STK# 19019 BUY FOR 30,670 $ - $2,000 TRADE ASSISTANCE BUY FOR 18,130 $ $ CONDITIONAL 28,670 OR 275/MO. PRICE INLCUDES ALL AVAILABLE DISCOUNTS AND INCENTIVES. FOR THE QUALIFIED BUYER. TAXES, TAGS AND DEALER DOC FEES ARE ADDITIONAL. EXPIRES 3/2/2020. CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM NEW 2019 JEEP NEW 2019 DODGE NEW 2019 RAM 1500 WRANGLER SPORT 4X4 JOURNEY SE CREW CAB BUY FOR MSRP $35,195 STK#J19042 BUY FOR MSRP $27,030 STK# D19044 BUY FOR MSRP $42,630 STK# D19015 $ $ $ 29,988 21,030 $ 30,630 OR 450/MO. OR $299/MO. OR $475/MO. 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TOYOTA 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BUY FOR BUY FOR BUY FOR $19,730 $26,332 $37,183 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 LE SUV AWD STK# 719273 MSRP $28,924 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA LE SEDAN STK# 720014 MSRP $21,679 2019 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE V6 SUV STK# 719201 MSRP $42,603 Price includes all available rebates and incentives. For the qualified buyer. Taxes, tags and $300 dealer doc fees are additional. Expires 3/2/2020. 2006 BUICK LUCERNE 2014 FORD FUSION 2016 CHRYSLER 200 2018 KIA SOUL 2015 GMC TERRAIN STK#420016A STK#C20002A Certified STK#120059A Certified STK#S4931 Certified STK#S5013 $4,997 $11,862 $13,997 $14,998 $15,997 HERTRICH CARS NOT LABELED CERTIFIED DO NOT INCLUDE A 7 YEAR WARRANTY. PAYMENTS BASED ON APPROVED CREDIT WITH 72/MO TERM. @ 5.99% APR. NOT ALL WILL QUALIFY. $2500 DOWN CASH OR TRADE. TAX, TAGS, TITLE, AND DOC FEES NOT INCLUDED.