Tangier Island Holly Run
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Santa, also known as Ralph Hoover, arrives in his home-built Vans RV-7A to an exited audience at the Tangier Island Airport during the annual Holly Run. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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Bags of holly are piled outside a hanger at Bay Bridge Airport for pilots to carry to Tangier Island during the annual Holly Run. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Holly Run
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Helen Woods, owner of Chesapeake Sport Pilot, briefs pilots at Bay Bridge Airport on Kent Island prior to the flight to Tangier Island for the Holly Run. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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Pilots participating in the the annual Tangier Island Holly Run fuel up with a pancake breakfast at Bay Bridge Airport in Stevensville before departing for Tangier. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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Santa, AKA Ralph Hoover, arrives at Bay Bridge Airport in his home-built Vans RV-7A before the start of the Tangier Island Holly Run. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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Ralph Hoover, as Santa, arrives at Bay Bridge Airport in his home-built Vans RV-7A prior to the start of the Tangier Island Holly Run. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island
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The runway, left, is located on the high ground on Tangier Island, which is under threat from sea level rise. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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David Johnson of Baltimore pilots his 1977 Grumman Tiger AA-5B during the annual Tangier Island Holly Run. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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An “elf” directs traffic as planes arrive to Tangier Island for the annual Holly Run. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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Dan Wroe (left) and Kathy Harkness (right) deliver presents and bags of holly boughs to Tangier Island during the annual Holly Run. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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Santa, AKA Ralph Hoover, hands out candy canes to children after landing on Tangier Island during the annual Holly Run. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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Rowan Crockett, 4, peers in Santa’s bag while selecting a candy cane during the annual Holly Run on Tangier Island. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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Jackson Parks, 1, was not as happy to see Santa as many of the other children on Tangier Island during the annual Holly Run. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island mayor
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Tangier Island Mayor James Eskridge talks about getting help to save the island from the effects of sea level rise. “When we talk about saving the island, we’re not just talking about saving a piece of land,” said Eskridge. “We’re talking about saving a people, a culture, a way of life.” (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island Holly Run
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Swain Memorial United Methodist Church, built in 1899, is at the center of Tangier Island. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
Tangier Island
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The residents of Tangier primarily rely on crabbing to make a living. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
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