So long Sarah

Not quite sure what to make of Sarah Palin's rambling resignation. Certainly it was instictive and not a pro - planned job. If you want some good quick analysis check out Politico
My take -Quitters never win. Winners never quit. If she wanted to run in 2012 she would have been better served to complete her turn. A bad political move - poorly executed.
Ciao

Nags Head July 4th Fireworks

Nags Head July 4th Fireworks originally uploaded by BOBXNC

It's that time again. Here is a list of the time and place of fireworks demonstrations around the area:
July 4th Fireworks Summary:
1) Corolla = Currituck Heritage Park at dusk
2) Kill Devil Hills = Avalon Pier (Mile Post 6) at dusk
3) Nags Head = Nags Head Fishing Pier (Mile Post 11.5) at 9:25 pm
4) Roanoke Island = Festival Park at 9:20 pm
5) Avon = Avon Fishing Pier at 9:15 pm
6) Hatteras Village = Ramp 55 at 8:30 pm.
7) Ocracoke Village = Dusk

Perhaps more interesting is how quiet Nags Head has been this summer. In years past illegal fireworks were set off every night, often late into the night. The rental industry and local governments have been working to discourage the practice and have apparently been effective.

I am sure that on Sat. night there will be plenty of unauthorized displays on the beach, but this has become the exception rather than the rule.

Nice piece on the Ocracoke Island Blog explaining the genesis and the importance of the fireworks ban on that precious island. Nags Head's new fireworks rules are posted on the town web site. They mirror earlier bans by Dare County and Duck.
Have a great 4th and please be safe.
Ciao

Burying the Lead

THE COROLLA WILD HORSE FUND REQUESTS THAT YOU DO NOT PATRONIZE ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY BARRIER ISLAND ECO TOURS.

Photo by Steve V.

There I put the message where it should be, unlike the Corolla Wild Horse fund (CWHF) who left this message til the very end of a striking piece about a new threat to the ponies that roam the Currituck beach strand.

On June 27th, there were three domestic horses being ridden north on the 4X4 beach with two other horses being “ponyed.” (led by riders on horseback). I observed at least one rider drinking. A sanctuary patrol officer stopped to ask them to not continue and explained that even if vaccinated, their domestic horses can carry diseases to the wild horses for which they have no immunity. She also warned them that the wild stallions would see them as a threat and may charge them. They did not care. In fact, they were defiant. I also stopped them but they had no interest in hearing what I had to say and told me that they were “delivering” the horses to the owner of Barrier Island “Eco” Tours ...As they were riding up the beach, a stallion appeared on top of the dunes. He did what comes naturally to him. He charged the intruders to his territory in an attempt to drive them off and protect his harem. One of the horses reared, throwing its adult male rider to the ground. Sheriff’s deputies had to chase the wild stallion back several times. Unfazed, the riders continued, stopping occasionally to talk to curious beachgoers and on one occasion, allowing a bikini clad woman to step from the bed of her truck into the saddle and go for a pony ride of sorts. All the while, the female rider that was giving the “pony ride” had a bottle of alcohol in her hand.

The article goes on to describe the problems associated with the introduction of "domestic" horses into the area occupied by the wild horse herd. It is sad but not unpredictable that someone would find another way to threaten this relic of our storied past. Development in the Corolla area finally drove the horses out of that habitat, one they had occupied for centuries, and into confinement in an undeveloped sanctuary on the northern Currituck banks. Interactions between humans and the ponies simply couldn't be worked out. The horses were hit (and often killed) by speeding cars, they feasted on newly watered and fertilized landscape plants and occasionally bit a tourist that was offering a goody or trying the pet the still wild though apparently tame animals.
The courts can prosecute people who violate the rules set up to protect the horses but we can help too. First send $20 to the CWHF,(see note below) more if you can, then make sure your tell your friends, coworkers and random contacts not to support the companies that do this kind of thing - Boycott them. Maybe they will get the message.

You had to read all the way through the CWHF post to get to the boycott message, now I have done the same thing. Don't you bury the lead put it at the top of your message list then explain why later.
Ciao
Note: The memberships are charged through there online store. They add a shipping charge to the membership. Probably a glitch in the software, I didn't see anyway to avoid it. a $15 membership - the lowest level - will actually cost you $20. You could just buy a teeshirt or hat for about the same money if you want something tangible.

Bag(gage) on Facebook

Some time ago I wrote a facetious April Fools piece about quitting blogging for the comfortable confines of MySpace where:

it seems that no one cares about my former life as a the criminal mastermind of the conspiracy known as the Town of Nags Head. No one cares about ORV driving or ocean outfalls or (hush yo mouth) beach nourishment!!. Why no one even cares about anything except inviting me to virtual play!!.

I had no idea how prescient that piece would become. I joined Facebook, as I do so many things, to explore the emerging new uses of technology. I had already used the photo social network Flickr. Facebook was an extension of that experience. I have a lot of contacts and stay in touch with people I seldom get to see through this new medium. I have enjoyed my time on Facebook and it competes with my blogging for my attention. It is one reason why there have been so few posts lately.
My blog posts are routed to my Facebook account automatically and show up as notes that my Facebook friends can read and comment on. I have had a few stray comments on my notes but the plastic bag bill piece generated an interesting dialog between several community leaders who participate on Facebook. In fact it received more comment on the social networking site than on the original blog. Here are the comments.

Maxine Rossman at 3:25am June 19
For what it's worth, Laura Leslie would appear to be right on all counts. The morning of the legislative breakfast here in Dare the question "If this is coming out of the NC general assembly, why does it not apply to the entire state?" was asked. The good Senator's reply was that he knew there would not have been enough support for it to be applied to the entire state! And yes, local grumbling and mumbling abounds - but changes little.

Ben Sproul at 8:59pm June 19
Mandatory Recycling for ABC permittees in NC (effective January 2008) fundamentally altered the state's waste stream, keeping hundreds of thousands of tons of glass (and plastic, and aluminum) out of our landfills every year. This odd plastic bag bill seems to be part of a larger plan to green-up the reputation of NC nationally. My guess is that... Read More, by next year, Basnight will be able to point to this "experiment", call it a success, and use that perceived success to leverage this and other green initiatives toward wider acceptance and a fast-track the green movement statewide. The fact that the environment will not be noticeably better-off does not surprise me. These macro issues demand incremental steps. And ones that do not noticeably effect the state budget negatively. Like the Recycling requirement, these new regulations are un-funded mandates, with no allocations for enforcement or implementation.
Ben Sproul
Ben Sproul at 9:07pm June 19
These big box retailers will pick up the tab for the more expensive bags by passing the new expense on to our tourists (and us) at the cash register in the same way that restaurants paid out of pocket for recycling while local governments reaped the benefits of lower tipping fees (to the tune of $65/ton) when the collective waste stream dropped. That new expense is now built into your beer/lunch. Restaurants - and now a few retailers - feel these actions the most, because our visitors do not bring more money. Consumers spent the same dollars, only now there are fewer of them left when you get to the business owner's bottom line.

I, for one, am glad to do my part.
Glad for the smoking ban in restaurants, too (Jan 2010) !! Now if we could just enforce the fact that tossing your cigarette butts on the beach (or my parking lot) is a crime... called littering!

:-)

Maxine Rossman at 4:27am June 20
Strongly agree with the sentiment of both of your posts. You are aware, I assume, that because so few restaurants and bars were open this past winter that the County did not even recycle the glass that was collected?! The ultimate slap for businesses after all of the additional expense associated with the mandated action in the current economic climate!

Ben Sproul at 8:48pm June 20
The county ends up collecting glass only in unincorporated areas of the county. They bought a glass crusher with help from the Visitors Bureau Grant. Fact is, the value of used glass dropped through the floor when the mandate glutted the market, so it has very little value. Due to our remote location, trucking it out of here makes selling it ... Read Moreimpossible. We hope to use the crushed product here in the county. Meanwhile, here in KDH, restaurants like mine mostly pay Outer Banks hauling to pick up our recycling... and they haul it to VA to sort it. They tell me they would lose money if all my recycling was glass (most of it is) only our aluminum makes it economically feasible. Again, I am happy to to it for the greater good. No govt action is perfect. At least ours is trying...

Bob Muller at 3:50am June 21
Ben,
While I am sympathetic to the cause of environmental improvement/protection I don't accept your premise that any effort by government, no matter how ineffective or ill conceived is a good one. The bag ban has little real enviromentl impact. It may create a market for recycled paper bags that would be good but no one has demonstrated that the... Read More science supports that. There is much the state could do to improve the envrionment - hog farms, the state auto fleet - storm water etc. But those actions take real political will. Imposing a local bag ban takes none, all it does is increase cynicism about motives and means.
If government wants to do something about the environment or even litter, then do something meaningful even it is hard. The time for enviromental symbols is long gone. The time for effective action may soon be as well.

Ben Sproul at 10:22pm June 21
Point of clarification. My premise is not that "any effort" is a "good one". Far from it. The point I was trying to make was that moving the political will of a large enough group of legislators to actually pursue real reform requires incremental measures. I whole heartedly agree that the bag ban will have negligible effects on our local environment. What it may serve to accomplish, however, is to begin to erode the resistance to all things environmental at the state level. That erosion is what will pave the way for more ambitious efforts. Education of the public, is the real challenge, for our legislators can do little for us unless we are insisting on it loudly and publicly.

Here is one of my current crusades...
Stop Oil and Natural Gas Exploration off of North Carolina http://www.surfrider.org/outerbanks/

Sign the petition. This is how we push back on the new MMS 5-Year Oil Lease plan. By talking to the Sec. of the Interior Ken Salazar

Kathy Mccullough-Testa at 4:49am June 22
Ben, you are right...it is so hard for folks to "do" the big things and smaller steps increase acceptance of them. But, you should be in Duck since the Town does pay for the commercial recycling pick-up for our restaurants.

The comments were reposted with the permission of those involved.

---

Additional bag bill notes. The bill passed the Senate and should soon be signed by Govenor Purdue. Nice piece in the Va. Pilot on the bill with quotes from some business owners and managers.

Ciao
PS. Not sure I will be reposting comments all the time. I may try to drive all the traffic to the blog site for comments so I don't have to.

Plastic Bag Bill update

Following up on a recent post the NC Senate should consider the plastic bag bill today. Expect the bill to pass easily and move on to the Governor for her signature. (that pronoun is so strange to write but so good)

One correction. It appears the bill does not cover Roanoke Island as I previously stated.
To be included and Island must be bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and a sound, Hatteras and Ocracoke are, Roanoke Island is not.

Many thanks to a great friend and faithful reader for both the correction and the update.
Ciao.

Just Say No (to Offshore Drilling)

Local opposition to offshore drilling is beginning to get organized. The local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is circulating 2 online petitions. Both state the signers opposition to renewed offshore oil drilling. I am glad to see someone is getting started on this issue.
I have stated my view, on this site, that offshore drilling is worse than useless on many occasions. The amount of oil and gas available is small part of our national addiction and funds spent on drilling would be better spent moving us away from oil all together. Further the environmental risks from drilling in our offshore waters far out weigh any minor gains. It is just bad policy.
I signed the petition and I hope you will.

We should all remember that it was a local group, LegaSea, that led the opposition to Mobil Oil the last time this issue came around. LegaSea's actions led to state findings that blocked Mobil's permits and eventually contributed to the moratorium on offshore drilling that is only now being rolled back. Find an synopsis of the effort here

Action like this can contribute to sound policy but only if enough people express their opinion. Sing the petition NOW - not later then text and email your freinds to do the same.
Ciao

A Short Walk - Film

Nice morning walk today. Saw sort of the good, the bad and the ugly. Here is a peek:

Plastic Bag Ban Moves Forward

Photo by Topsy at Waywood

I was alerted by a Tweet from Laura Leslie noting:I find it interesting that the OBX plastic bag ban is getting a more vigorous debate on my Facebook page than it got on the House floor.
Senate Bill 1018 AN ACT To Reduce Plastic and nonrecycled paper Bag use on north carolina's outer banks passed the House on its 3rd reading today and moved back to the NC Senate for concurrance. Expect it to pass the Senate again and soon.
I found Leslie's comment cogent since the issue has not been debated much on the local scene either. You can decide whether that silence implies consent (support) or acceptance of a fait accompli. The legislation has been on a fast track ever since Sen. Basnight assembled a group of local government leaders at Lone Cedar restaurant and told them what he wanted to do. Since then there was been a lot of local mumbling but no organized support or resistance. I suggest that if a local government pursued similar legislation the local retail community would be engaged in the debate at best and simply howling bloody murder at ?worst?. Given that it was proposed by arguably the most powerful poitician in the state and it being considered on his turf, its passage was assured before it was drafted. Because the impacts are limited to the local area there is little reason for anyone in Raleigh to protest.
Lets look for a minute at what the bill does:
First it applies only to the barrier island strand in Currituck and Dare counties and Ocracoke and Roanoke Island. The mainland sections of Currituck, Dare and Hyde counties are not included.
It applies to chain stores (more than 5 outlets in the state) and retailers with over 5,000 sq. ft in retail space. That inlcudes all the food stores plus Wings and some other large retailers like Ben Franklin (maybe). There are some local chains that may be affected like Kitty Hawk Kites and Nags Head Hammocks.
The bill bans the use of plastic bags and requires that covered stores supply recycled paper bags instead. Plastic bags can be used for:
(1) Fresh fish or fresh fish products.
(2) Fresh meat or fresh meat products.
(3) Fresh poultry or fresh poultry products.
(4) Fresh produce.

and if food safety rules require them. Otherwise its the customers bag or recycled paper.
The goal is noble, reduce litter and protect the environment on the fragile barrier islands. It remains to be seen just how well the system will work. It won't take effect until Sept. 1 of this year. It requires retailers to post notices explaining the new requirement. Maybe the Chamber will get rental managers to include the notice in their rental brochure and web site. Whatever happens it will take a year or two for visitors to get used to the idea even if they use reusable bags at home.
IMO the bill will have little impact. I don't see plastic bags littering the area as much as I see detritus from trash truck's leakage and the backs of pick ups. Time will tell just how effective the new rule will be. If it is half as effective as the political jaugernaut that produced the law we will be well served.
Ciao
PS. If you don't follow Laura Leslie's blog on NC politics your are missing a real treat