My Memories of Block Island

"My Memories of Block Island"
1988-1998
Presented by
Kenny Hicks
"Keyboard-Vocalist"

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"Playing at Champlin's Marina was the most "magical" feeling I've EVER experienced in all my years of performing! I can't tell you how much I loved those years...................."

"By the way.....the song that you're listening to as you visit my site (if your computer has sound and can play midi files) is none other than "What a Wonderful World"....which became my theme song during the summer of 1988 at Champlin's Marina. To this day, I still get teary-eyed when I hear it and it immediately brings me right back to Champlin's all over again!"
"I hope you are reminded of me singing it to all of you and you enjoy listening to it!!"

Great Salt Pond and CHAMPLIN'S MARINA!!!!!

"They shoot off the fireworks from the public beach in the foreground on July 4th"

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And all the "Champlin's Regulars" watch them from on top of "Trader Vic's" (at the end of the dock at Champlin's) where I performed at 9:00PM."

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Trader Vic's (all the way to the right with the striped canopy on top). Before a new "No Outside Entertainment after 8PM" ordinance was enacted a few years ago, I used to set up and play outside under the flagpole at night! Now, THAT was fun!!

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"I sang poolside with this GORGEOUS view afternoons from 1PM-5PM!!"

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Southeast Light, Mohegan Bluffs

"My wife, Lorraine and I renewed our wedding vows here on our 10th anniversary in 1993, along with LAWRE and CAROL from "Sugar Blues", on their 15th anniversary! We share the same wedding date....August 13th!!...They are VERY SPECIAL TO US!! About 50 "Champlin's Regulars" came along and made it a PERFECT DAY!!!"

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Southeast Light, Mohegan Bluffs

"They moved the lighthouse back in 1993 because of the erosion that was threatening to swallow it up. You can see here how close to the edge of the bluffs it was!! It was fascinating to watch the preparation and success of the life-saving operation!!"

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Block Island School

"I remember the day that Lawre, Mike, Mike Jr., Jim, Larry, Little Joe and his friend from the Fire Department back home and I played a "rigorous" game of basketball at the school outdoor court. It was that day that I KNEW I was destined to SING and NOT PLAY BASKETBALL!!!"

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The "famous" ferry arriving at Old Harbor

"How many times did I take that?"...Let's see...twice a week X 10 weeks each summer X 8 years=160 times....WHEW!!!"
SEASICK MUCH??????

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New England Airlines "Islander"

"And, after all those years...I FINALLY got smart....and flew over and back every week in THIS!!
12 minutes....you're up....you're down....
END OF STORY!!!!
MUCH BETTER!!!"

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Let's Go Downtown!!!

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The Ice Cream Place

"No trip downtown is complete without a trip to the "Ice Cream Place" for "French Silk" Ice Cream!!!"

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Aldo's Bakery

"And right across the street from the Ice Cream Place is Aldo's Bakery where EVERY week I'd buy 5 loaves of Portugese Sweet Bread to take home with me."

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Old Harbor, with Ballard's in the foreground...

"My good friend, Andy Scott sang and played the guitar at Ballard's, afternoons in the gazebo outside. Andy had always been a source of strength, inspiration and compassion for me throughout the years on Block Island, starting in 1988 when Lorraine and I first heard him play at "Smuggler's" on our wedding anniversary. He is the perfect example of what a professional and successful entertainer should be, as well as being probably the NICEST guy I've ever encountered in the years I've been in the business.

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The National Hotel

"There is NOTHING BETTER than to sit on the front porch of the National Hotel, listen to the entertainer and watch the ferry arrive and all the people come and go!!"

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Sunrise at the ferry docks

"And, if you time it right, you may get to see this BEAUTIFUL sunrise.....this was taken from the porch of the National!!"

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Star Department Store

"And, you MUST stop into Star's Department Store while you're downtown. If they don't have it....you don't need it!!!"

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Oar Restaurant at the "Block Island Boat Basin"

"I remember the day that Lawre and Carol (from "Sugar Blues"), Lorraine and I took a dinghy from Champlin's Marina to the Oar Restaurant for a FEW drinks.......JUST A FEW!!"

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"Then we went past Smuggler's, the "Hog Pen" and all the way to the area shown above near the Fire House. What a FUN time we had!!"

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"Lorraine and I spent some nice, quiet, romantic times on the bluffs at "Grove Point", overlooking the mainland as well as the North Light near Settler's Rock. We hadn't seen each other in 2 weeks!! Kelsey and Katie, our beautiful twins, were born the following March.....
9 months later!!!" Hmmmmm.........Ya THINK???

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The Porch at the Surf Hotel

"It's easy to sit on the porch of the "Surf Hotel" and lose track of what time (or day!) it is....."

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Stormy Time at Champlin's Marina

"This was a very familiar sight every Labor Day weekend it seemed!!! We ALWAYS got caught in the "BIG ONE!!" And....unfortunately...the summer always had to end!!!"

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Remember "Hurricane Bob?"

Click on the link below for a pictoral memory of the 150MPH storm that hit Block Island in August of 1991

Hurricane Bob Memories

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"Hey...all you regulars at Champlin's...Remember the song I wrote for you all? Well, here's the words!!!"

"To All My Friends At Champlin's"

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"Here's the letter I sent to the Grillo's (the owners of Champlin's Marina) right after I "finished my career" there on Labor Day Weekend 1998....."

My Final Goodbye

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"Here's some other sites all about Block Island for you to visit":

Block Island Homepage

Block Island

Block Island Weather

A Visitor's Guide to Block Island

Champlin's Marina, Hotel and Resort....the place I LOVE!!!

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"If any of you remember me either at the pool during the day, or at "Trader Vic's" at night, or if you just want to say that you enjoyed visiting my site, then PLEASE sign my guestbook below!! I want to hear from all the people that "Made the Magic" for me every year!

I miss you ALL so much!!"

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Sign My Guestbook

View My Guestbook

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"Thanks for stopping by. If you have never visited "The Block", then I sincerely hope my site has helped to illustrate just how beautiful the island really is. And, if you are a "Champlin's Regular" ......

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!"

Kenny Hicks

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