Serendidipity must go.

Sad Future originally uploaded by esc831976

The Island Free Press is reporting that Serendipity, the iconic house from the movie Nights in Rodanthe, must be moved or demolished.  This may begin to answer the question I posed in  this blog post about what position the County will take on homes that now sit in the ocean.  Read the article for a sense of the personal loss and bureaucratic problems associated with condemning the home.

Sturza says the county will “light a fuse,” to get the process going, but that several agencies are involved in the final solution.

“We just think it’s time,” Sturza said.

Serendipity’s septic tank and drainfield have been destroyed or damaged in several recent storms, including this week’s. Under current Coastal Area Management Act laws, an owner gets one exemption to replace it.

Sturza thinks Serendipity’s owners have had that chance.

He says a bigger issue is whether the house is still on private property or whether the beach has eroded so much that it is now in the intertidal zone -- state public trust waters.

The story continues.
Ciao

Storm sprouts new blog finds

One of the unexpected consequences of extraordinary events like the November nor'easter is new news sources.  Following the storm and finding images led me to two blogs originating on Hatteras Island.  One is by respected photographer Michael Halminski, the other by surf shop owner Drew.
Check them both out.  Great photos and insight into Hatteras Island.
The Pursuit of Paradise
and
Michael Halminski Photography

Both highly recommended.

What Next for South Nags Head

The aftermath of the November nor'easter raises some interesting questions for the Town of Nags Head and Dare County.   The South Nags Head area has been hit hard while it appears that some parts of northern Nags Head actually gained sand from the storm.  I posted a slide show of photos form the storm in my Picasa gallery.  The photo to the left shows the area that demonstrates the challenges the town faces.  
This is the Seagull Dr. area.  Homes here have been sitting below the high tide line, protected by a large wall of sandbags, since hurricane Isabel.   The owner of the homes has added bags, replaced septic systems and generally done everything he could to keep the rental homes habitable.  The homes were protected by sandbags before Isabel and some people, including me, believe that these bags increased erosion directly to the south of the area. 
As the photo shows the bags have finally failed, the homes sit clearly in the ocean and sand and street behind the homes has been taken by the ocean.  IT IS TIME FOR THESE HOMES TO COME DOWN.  and this is the question facing local governments.  I have no doubt that the owner will apply for permits to haul sand to the site to fill in behind the homes and to install new sandbags.  He needs the sand so he can install new septic systems for the homes.   It may be that he will decide the ocean has finally won but this area has a history of coming back again and again and the owner has a history of appealing to the town for one more permit.  To his credit he has invested his money, not the public's, in protecting his homes but the town and the Dare County health department has enabled his actions by providing permits.
The Town has condemned the houses for a variety of reasons, no water, no septic and structural problems.  Water will be restored to the area to serve the homes in the next row to the east.  Likewise the town will have to help solve access problems for these homes as well.   This could involve restoring the gravel road that served this area for the past few years.  Hopefully the Town will look for access from the west, behind the homes rather than try to restore the road.  Physcially the homes can be restored, stairs replaced etc.  What is most problematic is the septic systems.  The Dare County Health dept has a history of providing septic permits that allow tanks and drain fields to be installed very close to the high tide line, right on the beach.  I suspect that county doesn't want to block reconstruction through inverse condemnation (the taking of property through permiting rather than purchase).  If the owner can't get septic permits then the properties are useless.    Don't count on the health dept to block reconstruction.
It will fall to the Town to take steps to insure the removal of these homes.  The town has the legal authority to force removal but it has proven problematic over the years.  Board members are loath to tell owners their homes have to go.  They hear passionate pleas about the financial loss and generally give owners one more chance.  Sometimes the owners just disappear, forcing the town to go to court to get the property torn down.  or the owners try to block the town by challenging its condemnation orders and fighting the battle in court hoping the town will tire and allow the home to used one more season.
The first round in this fight will come this Wed.  Undoubtedly the board will be asked to restore the road and the water lines.  The board will hear from property owners who want to rebuild. and reinstall sandbags walls to cut off the beach.  Hopefully the board will not follow their past path but will just say no.    Time will tell.
One Nags Head resident, commenting on my photos, put the issue in a very good perspective:

Sad to see South Nags Head as a construction waste dump which was totally avoidable if these "known" in the ocean houses were demolished by local business on a "calm day" rather than relying on our biggest ocean front demolisher, the Atlantic Ocean.
"Hopefully these places are going to be demolished and brought down.  Its sad to see South Nags Head as literally a dump for construction waste from all these "in the ocean" houses.  There should be a strong proactive movement to bring them all down in an orderly manner as compared to allowing the Atlantic to create this huge mess.

  Ciao

Results

It takes a lot to make me happy these days. But I am gleeful about the results in the 2 major contested municipal races.  Bob Oakes defeated Renee Cahoon by a meager margin 54% to 46% with rounding.  More gratifying however was Hal Denny's stunning defeat of incumbent Mayor Don Smith.   The margin was a whopping 70% to 30%   It was so one sided that it got a write in candidate elected over Brian Madonald, a fairly popular incumbent who was tied too closely to Smith.
Here are the final totals - unofficial until certified next week but unlikely to change.

More later but it is a good night for good government on the Outer Bank.
Bob

Nags Head and SS elections - endorsements and more

Let's get this straight up front.  I am Treasurer of the Committee to Elect Bob Oakes.  I have been working on his campaign since he decided to run.  I am definitely not a disinterested bystander but then I am not sure that I would be in any Nags Head election.
I support Bob because he is the best candidate to get Nags Head focus on deciding what is wants to be in 20 years then moving us towards that future.  Towns are a lot like rivers.  They have a lot of activity but don't change course very often.  Only consistent effort over long periods of time dictates where they end up.   Nags Head needs to refocus on specific elements of vision and then start to implement them, not just in zoning code but it political and social dialog action.  Nags Head didn't get The Village at Nags Head, the Outer Banks Hospital or the Nags Head Elementary school by passing rules.  It got them because boards under three different mayors made phone calls, held meetings and solve problems to get these community assets located in the Town.  The current board has lost that drive and focus.  I believe that Bob Oakes is better equipped than his opponent to achieve that. 
I am not alone feeling this way.  Take a look at what Russ Lay has to say about his choice in the Nags Head Mayor's race.  I know Bob appreciates the support of the Outer Banks preeminent blogger.
If you want to learn more about Bob Oake's stands then visit oakesformayor,net, our campaign website.

The local blogosphere has really heated up over the race in Southern Shores.   Former Mayor and my good friend Hal Denny is running againgst incumbent Mayor Don Smith.   This blog has not been kind to Don Smith over the years but I won' relive those battles.  I will suggest that you visit 3 blogs with great insight into the races.
Eye on Dare has a good piece that sets the stage for the race.
Dave Sander's Southern Shores Times has several pieces about the relationship between Mayor Smith and the SS Volunteer Fire Dept.  My guess is he doesn't support Smith.  You read it and see what you think.
What was initially a cake walk for incumbent Brian MacDonald has become a bit more heated as long time SS volunteer George Kowalski has mounted a write in campaign.  Kowalski has a blog that details his reasons.  It makes for interesting reading.

I strongly urge Southern Shores voters to support Hall Denny.  He was and will be an excellent Mayor.

Take a look at these sites if you live in Nags Head or Southern Shores and then, whatever town you live in, get out and vote on Tues.
Ciao

Nonprofit training classes on the Outer Banks

Registration is now open for fall classes in the Duke Nonprofit Management Program. To register go to the Duke program site. For more information call Bob Muller @ 252-207-5287 or visit obxlearn.org Classes on the Outer Banks Include:

Event Management Alice Lutz Class ID# 12528
Learn the essentials of event management whether you are: "fund raising," "friend raising," or "fun raising." This class will outline a basic approach to event management including: committee and volunteer development, planning and implementation, securing appropriate resources, underwriting and in-kind donations, methods for evaluation, and follow-up strategies. Through examples of events (both small and large), participants will see how critical event planning is to setting the stage for success and contingencies for failure. Alice Lutz, CFRE is a seasoned nonprofit manager with 20 years experience and operates her own nonprofit management firm, Oxygen.
1 hour networking lunch
Thursday October 22, 2009 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Nature Conservancy Office at Nags Head Woods Education Pavilion, Kill Devil Hills
Enrollment Fee: $ 98 6 hours Materials Fee: $7

Grassroots Fundraising Ruth Peebles Class ID# 12530
Perfect for the newcomer to fundraising, this course will take you through the most effective and successful methods of raising money. You will discover the nuts and bolts ideas and activities to help you fundraise. Learn about current trends in giving, annual giving programs, direct mail, prospecting new donors, and managing your donor base. You will be guided from "the ask" to the acknowledgment and will find that fundraising is a simple process anyone can learn. Ruth Peebles, MPA has more than 18 years of hands-on-experience in nonprofit management, fundraising and development. She is the Founder and President of The INS Group (Innovative Nonprofit Solutions) providing consulting services for nonprofits, educational institutions, and faith-based institutions nationally.
1 hour networking lunch
Thursday November 10, 2009 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Nature Conservancy Office at Nags Head Woods Education Pavilion, Kill Devil Hills
Enrollment Fee: $ 98 6 hours Materials Fee: $7

Grant Proposals: Planning for Positive Results Amy Montgomery Class ID# 12529
Does "grant writing" sound like a daunting task? Are you or could you be a grant writer? A grant writer is a passionate person on a mission to solve a problem or an unmet need. Successful grant writers know that writing is the easy part, especially if you have someone who will edit your work. Passion for your work is your number one tool to get funded. You know your target audience, what they need and how to help. With some solid research, careful and realistic planning, strong and strategic relationships, and a good editor, you can be a successful grant writer. Participants will finish this personalized course with a checklist and road map, definite Do’s and Don’ts, and completely convinced that they have what it takes to be a successful grant writer. Amy Montgomery earned her Master’s in Health Education from East Carolina University. Beginning her career in public health, Montgomery had to learn the ins and outs of getting grants to be able to fund important community health programs. With over 10 years of grant writing experience in the areas of public health, education, and human services, Montgomery has earned millions of dollars in grant funds for projects such as mobile dental services for children and affordable housing for teachers. Montgomery is currently the Executive Director of the Dare Education Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit.
1 hour networking lunch Amy Montgomery
Thursday, November 19, 2009 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Nature Conservancy Office at Nags Head Woods Education Pavilion, Kill Devil Hills
Enrollment Fee: $ 98 6 hours Materials Fee: $5

ORV The battle continues. How Lying liars lie.

I have not been writing much about the debate over beach driving rules lately. The matter is now in the hands of the National Park Service and we will see a draft of the new rules soon. Unfortunately others have not been so lucky. There are those on both sides of the debate who seem to live to keep the debate going. The environmental groups that engage in this activity do so because it promotes their primary goal - raising money to continue their operations. For the opponents the motives are less clear, some fight because they can't accept the defeats they have suufered and some simply like the limelight.
An editorial in the Outer Banks Sentinel highlighted the hijinks on both sides. It is recommended reading. It debunks the enviromentalists claims that the beach closures have been good for tourism and chastises their foes for just generally acting ugly. Just how ugly this whole thing has gotten is memorialized in an excellent post by Russ on the Outer Banks Journal. He details an exchange with the fringe supporters of beach access that should be used as a lesson in how NOT to win supporters to your side.

Neither post paints a pretty picture so I won't post one either. However if you want to see some photos from Ocracoke that will remind you of why people get so passionate about the area take a look at this slideshow.

Ciao