What didn't happen and #400

Photo by Bob Muller

* What didn't happen
Sometimes what doesn't happen is just as important as what does. Yesterday was a big day for the unopposed candidates for Dare County Commissioner, it was the last day an independent candidate could file a nominating petition to be included on the Nov. ballot. Nothing happened, no one filed. There was speculation this spring that Ray Midgett, the founder of Beachhuggers and architect of the repeal of the beach nourishment sales tax, might decide to run as an unaffiliated candidate. Midgett lost a primary election battle 2 years ago for the Democratic nomination for an at large seat on the Dare County Board. Many observers felt he would have had a better chance running as an independent or even a Republican.
Midgett, a long time registered Democrat, changed his registration to independent just prior to the Feb. 08 opening of filing for the Nov. election. Had Midgett joined the Republican Party he could not have filed to run since he changed parties less than 90 days prior to the opening of the filing period. As an unaffiliated candidate Midgett might have drawn substantial Republican support for the fiscally conservative policies he frequently advocates in letters to the editor and appearances before the Dare BOC. He might also have drawn Democrats who oppose beach nourishment
While I don't expect I would have supported Ray, his candidacy would have provided an opportunity to debate some of the serious issues that face Dare County. Not just the impact of erosion on the oceanfront, but how county funds are best spent and how much tax burden is too much. It is unfortunate that no one has chosen to enter the election and debate these issues. I can spin the lack of opposition as a generally satisfied electorate but the truth is probably closer to an uninspired one.

• # 400

This is the 400th post on View from the Ridge. It kicked off not quite 3 years ago with some images of a water spout over Jockeys Ridge. One of those images remains my blogger profile photo. A lot has happened since that first day. I have learned alot, met many great people and had some bad times as well. For a while I wasn't sure I would continue, but your support and kind words brought me back to the blog.

My tracking software indicates that there are between 40 and 50 people who read this blog regularly maybe few more. Thank you for taking time to stop by and peruse my ramblings. It makes the effort worthwhile.

By the way Happy Gay Pride Day.
Ciao

The Ten Best Free Things to do on the Outer Banks

• NCSA Cabaret Performance

Today is the opening performance of the North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA) Summer Performance Festival at Festival Park. This is a great series and it is free. Tonight the NCSA presents the American Music Ensemble in a "Ragtime Revue". The entire series is highly recommended. The entire schedule is available at the Festival Park web site. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, a cooler and hear some great music. It runs through Friday with a different performance each week for the next 6 weeks.
There are many other free things to do on the Outer Banks so here is my list of the 10 best free things to do around here. In this case free is defined as not costing anything except the price of getting to the site. No fee, nothing to buy, just show up and enjoy:

• See Some Art

There are a lot of great galleries around the area. You can walk in and visit for free. I recommend the Seaside Art Gallery on the beach road in Nags Head or Glen Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery in Driftwood street. This area is known as Gallery Row and you can park and visit 7 or 8 galleries on foot. (between the highways just north of Kelly's).
In Duck check out the Greenleaf Gallery run by Didi Tupper and her artist husband Rick. Great place to see local and regional artists.
Downtown Manteo has a number of great galleries including the Dare County Arts Council gallery and the Gallery at Festival park which hosts rotating shows.
Finally don't miss the art collection at Nags Head Town Hall. It hosts probably the best collection of local art and artists in Dare County, maybe anywhere. Just walk in and walk around. All the art is on public display and there is a directory to help you find or identify particular pieces. It is an absolute treasure.

• Jockeys Ridge State Park

Climb the giant dune this blog is named after, trek a nature trail or learn about the area in the museum, this site can fill and hour or a couple of days. Bring the kids and let them run up and down the hill a few times. You will appreciate it at nap time.
Tip: Do not go mid day in the summer time. Go early or late. The sand can be over 120 degrees at noon in July. About an hour before sunset is a great time. The park rangers give a program about a half hour before the park closes that explains how the hill was formed and its role in the local ecology. You can even go to the beach on the west side of the park. There is a great sound access point with a nice beach. Bring water shoes or sandals because shifting sands can reveal broken glass and other debris. A great place to go when the ocean is too rough.

• Nags Head Woods

Turn west at McDonalds in Kill Devil Hills, drive about a mile and enter another world. Nags Head Woods Preserve is operated by The Nature Conservancy and owned variously by TNC and the Towns of Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills. The maritime forest is a vestige of the barrier island ecosystem that has been preserved intact. Large live oak, sweet gum and pine trees border fresh water ponds. Lots of birds and wildlife including our local deer herd. There is a great set of trails to walk. Wonderful in the hot summertime or a windy wintertime day.
If walking in the summer time think tick protection - long sleeves and pants, light colors and check yourself after walking. Even with that caveat this is still a great site (sight) to see.

• Walk and view the Historic Nags Head Cottages

Park at St. Andrews Church on the beach road in Nags Head and walk north and south to see the original beach cottages. Many of these date from the late 19th century or very early 20th century. Make sure you see the Buchanon Cottage across from Mulligans. It is the largest and it hosted FDR when he visited the Lost Colongy during WW II.
Another great way to see these homes is to park at Dowitcher St. and walk over to the beach through the Small St. access. Head north up the beach and get a sense of what life was like a long time ago. the beach is uncrowded and the views are spectacular. Do it at dawn and bring your camera.
There are several good books on the cottages but you don't need one to appreciate their beauty. Nice brief Nags Head history at the OBX Guide or try this Google search page for more information about the area.

• See a Lighthouse

OK This one is easy. No matter where you are there is a light house within driving distance in fact there are lots of them. Corrolla, Bodie Island and Hatteras all have interpretive displays and great visuals. Both Hatteras and Bodie Island have nature trails. The walk or bike ride around the Ocracoke Lighthouse is fascinating. Stop by the Ocracoke Preservation Assoc. Museum for a great hour or 2 learning about life on Ocracoke in the auld toimes

• Ocracoke-Hatteras Ferry

To get to the Ocracoke Lighthouse you need to do another great free activity, ride the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry. The 45 minute ride is as scenic as it is refreshing. You will feel your cares drift away as you get closer to Ocracoke. The boat ride is worth drive down by itself. Go across, see the lighthouse and the ponies, have picnic lunch and ride the ferry back. All for the cost of your gas. This is my favorite day trip.

• Outer Banks History Center - Roanoke Island Festival Park

We opened this post talking about the free summer performances at Festival Park but there is a lot more free stuff there. Check the schedule for kids programs, movies and exhibits in the gallery. You can pay to go see the Elizabeth II but you don't need to to enjoy this great state run attraction. We saw a traveling Chinese acrobatic troupe in May and the NC Symphony the next week. There is always something going on.

• Chicamicomico Life Saving Station

The restored lifesaving station in Rodanthe (formerly called Chicamicomico) is a great place to stop on Hatteras Island. The museum displays photos and artifacts from the days when the Lifesaving Service resuced hundreds of sailors and passengers from the dangerous winds and currents around Cape Hatteras. One example

On August 16, 1918, the British tanker Mirlo was sunk by the German submarine U-117. The rescue of 42 of 51 British sailors is considered one of the greatest rescues of WWI and the early Coast Guard. This amazing, heroic rescue is told in other papers.

Drive down from Nags Head and stop on your way to the Hatteras Light or have lunch at the Pea Island Wildlife Center interpretive area, along the way.
NOTE: The Chicamicomico Life Saving Station now has an admission fee so it is not free. The FWS Wildlife Center is free so I still have 10 things. See the comments section for details.

• Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education

At the other end of the Outer Banks the NC Wildlife Commission has established a marvelous education center in Corrolla. Like Jockeys Ridge, it is free with some small fees for special programs. Lots to see and do while you learn about the natural history of the area and the heritage of the people who settled the area and harvested its bounty.

• Go to the Beach

The last one is also the easiest one. The best free thing to do on the Outer Banks is just to go to the beach. Sit, read, walk, swim or fish there are at least 10 ways to enjoy the beach and in NC (unlike many places) it won't cost a dime to go to park. The Visitors Bureau has a pretty good list of beach access sites complete with the status of lifeguards and handicapped access. Pick one and have a great time.

There is my list of the top ten free things to do on the Outer Banks. It could easily fill a weeks vacation or even 2 weeks depending on how much time you spend on the beach. Let me know the free things you enjoy. I reckon the only one I didn't mention is reading this blog.
Ciao

Myrtle's Million to Boot Bikers

Photo byjimbrickett

Myrte Beach SC passed a million dollar property tax increase last week. The money will be used to find alternatives to the motorcycle rallies that dominate the town's tourism in May and Oct. No I am not making this up!.
I first heard the news on WUNC's The State of Things. They interviewed the tourism reporter for the Myrtle Beach Sun News. It seems residents and some businesses are fed up with bikers, both the noise and the nuisances they create. The city has hosted 2 major bike rallies in May, the first Harley convention, the second a more broad based rally of mostly African-American bikers. About 200 residents showed up at a city council meeting to demand the city stop the decades old events, citing fights and of course the constant drone of the tailpipes (gotta love the sound of a finely tuned tail pipe in the morning) The city raised property taxes by about 4 cents (thats about 5%) to develop and fund alternative tourist activities in the shoulder months. Not everyone is happy about the move. Bike shops and other's who enjoyed the business boost brought by the bikers are moving to protest the plan but, from the paper at least, it looks like council is set on the new funds. Today's article cites some of the ideas for replacement and the debate over the ban. If you want to read a lot more of the debate check out the forum on this topic at the MBSN
It seems hard to imagine that a tourist town government would want to raise taxes and drive away tourists at the same time. Yet that's what seems to be going on.
There is a bit of a back story. In SC property taxe increases are capped at the rate of inflation. They can be raised beyond that index only for specific purposes. The council had been discussing a tax increase to fund a regional transit plan. It didn't happen, instead they raised taxes to run out vehicles that get around 50 mpg. Go figure. (see Note below for more on property taxes in MB)
The local bike week has its critics as well. Some say its too loud and cloggs the roads, but no one is suggesting increasing taxes 5% to get rid of it. (At least not yet).

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When I think about Myrtle Beach I can't help but remember the broohaha about their advertising slogan: "Myrtle Beach - The Ideal Alternative to a Virginia Beach Vacation"
I thought we might use the same strategy to advertise some local destinations:

• South Nags Head - The atlernative to a Va. Beach vacation, no strip, no high rise hotels, no beach
• Kill Devil Hills - Just like Nags Head but with a beach
• Corrolla - Once you get here, you'll never want to leave (because the traffic is soooo bad)
• South Nags Head A Duck vacation without the traffic jam.
• Roanoke Island - Where America was born, and you weren't

Ciao
Note: SC has an interesting property tax structure. Primary residences are taxed at a lower rate than commercial property and second homes. In Myrtle the difference is about 30%. The distribution of state revenues is different as well. Property taxes provide most of the support for the local schools, unlike NC where teacher salaries are paid by the state. The average property in MB is valued around $197,000 The total tax bill is around $1,878. In Nags Head the tax bill on this property would be uner $1,200 (town and county). MB also assesses fees for the use of everything from beach parking to renting a ball field or convention center. Homeowners pay $15.75 a month for trash pickup. Different strokes for different folks. MB budget ordinance with fee list here.

Brief Notes

As if I needed another reason to vote Democratic in the fall, now McBush has decided he wants to solve the energy crisis by drilling off Avon. The NYT reports that Pres. Bush has joined Sen. McCain in this poorly conceived policy. Its not just that offshore drilling will have on shore impacts from industrial infrastructure and possible pollution. My real concern is that it slows our solution of the real problem, dependence on fossil fuels. Burning hydrocarbons is like spending your savings account. It can't be sustained. We need to find the energy equivalent of the property tax - a tax that just keeps on giving, year in year out and can't run out.

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As the election moves into the next phase it is interesting to see Obama campaign in NC and Va. The Democrats seem to believe they can win in the upper south or at least make McCain spend resources in areas that have been solid red.

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Great piece in the Atlantic Monthly June edition had a great article about the Obama money machine. It explains how it operates and how it grew from the Kerry campaign, through the 2006 elections into a combination of new technology and old school enthusiasm. This is a big part of the analysis that Hilary Clinton ran the last campaign of the 20th century while Obama ran the first campaign of the 21st. Of course that begs the question of what century the Republican candidate is living in.

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There is a really interesting decision coming up for each campaign. Each candidate must decide whether they will accept federal campaign funds. If they say yes then the are guaranteed a set amount of money but are limited to that amount. If they say no they can spend whatever they can raise or borrow. Both Obama and McCain have been advocates of federal support. Obama has been very supportive of federal campaign money in the past. McCain has his name on the most recent campaign finance reform bill.
The catch is that the federal funds are much less than Obama knows he can raise. If Obama turns down the federal money then McCain must follow suit just to try to keep up. Expect the McCain camp to try to pressure Obama into public money as the deadline approaches.
The Washington Post reports how McCain almost got caught in a trap by using the federal funds as "almost" collateral to his failing campaign last fall.

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Different subject - There has been a lot of talk about the role of speculators in the commodities markets lately, especially their role in high oil prices. The NYT seems to think speculators play an important role in markets by providing liquidity (cash to make the market move). Meanwhile Der Spiegal (in English of course) reports:

After investing in high-tech stocks and real estate loans for years, legions of speculators have now discovered commodities like oil and gas, wheat and rice. Their billions are pushing prices up to astronomical levels -- with serious consequences for ordinary people's quality of life and the global economy.

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The Foreign Policy projects a coming flood of foreign, especially European, investment in American industries. Not just buying US stocks but building factories in the US to build products for the export market. The proposed take over of Anheuser-Busch by a foreign brewer is just the tip of the iceberg. The cheap dollar makes this strategy very attractive.

I am not worried about rich Arabs; it’s the French who worry me.” This was the response from a businessman in Clovis, California, reacting to my comment that the U.S. government was concerned about the influence of foreign-owned sovereign wealth funds.

“Why are you worried about the French?” I asked.

“They just bought the largest company here,” he replied. “Life will now change for all of us—that company has been an important part of this community for years.” He was referring to Pelco, a Clovis-based manufacturer of video security systems that was recently acquired by Schneider Electric, a French company.

There is nothing special about Pelco’s sale; foreign companies buy American ones all the time and vice versa. This transaction was far smaller than the United Arab Emirates’ $7.5 billion investment in Citigroup or China’s $3 billion investment in the Blackstone Group, a major financial company. Except that this transaction is part of a trend that, though still largely unnoticed, will soon rear its head: The United States is poised to receive a massive—perhaps unprecedented—inflow of large- and medium-size European investors. Everything from corporate behemoths to family-owned companies are about to come to America on a corporate buying spree. Call it the Euroinvasion. Not only will many U.S. companies now have European owners, but the American marketplace will witness an infusion of new foreign competitors that will manufacture their products in the United States. They will use their new American base both to export to the world—including back to their own European market—and to serve the U.S. market from inside its borders. Such a trans-Atlantic shift will have an enormous impact on Europe’s levels of employment and exports. Inevitably, the move will also ignite a political firestorm on both sides of the Atlantic. European politicians will denounce the companies for “exporting jobs” to America, while U.S. politicians, already rattled by the threat of foreign competition, will be infuriated by what they will brand as “the foreign takeover of America.” CNN anchor Lou Dobbs will be foaming at the mouth.

You have to wonder if this will carry over into Outer Banks real estate, REALLY!
Ciao

NYT - A Remarkable Photo From Tornado Country

Read the story of this A Remarkable Photo From Tornado Country New York Times Blog

Ciao

Derb Carter's new suit

I got a call from a source in Judge Boil's office yesterday. I can now confirm that the Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a suit in federal court seeking enforcement of the Endangered Species Act. The suit names the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Dept. among others aksing the court to immediately end all efforts to put out the fire in the Pososin Lakes Wild Life Refuge. I contacted Derb Carter, lead counsel for the suit, and asked him to explain the basis for the legal action

"The Endangered Species Act is supposed to protect endangered species, fire is a natural process that restores habitat and renews the environment, it helps species flourish. By trying to put out the fire in the Pocosin Lakes Reserve the FWS is endangering species. We think they should stop and just let the fire burn baby burn" Carter explained. " We believe the ESA supports us in this action since it does not name fire as a specific threat to species, As a further benefit this fire, if allowed to burn, may force people to leave the natural environment. The ESA is very specific that people endanger species not fire."

The suit specifically asks the court to restrain "all efforts to extinguish the conflagration now burning in Hyde and Tyrell County". The suit sites the FWS and the SSVFD as the prime agents trying to stop the fire. A spokesmen for the FWS responded "Makes sense to us" and explained that FWS had immediately stopped all activities in eastern North Carolina on learning of the suit (except the ongoing effort to block the replacement of the Bonner Bridge).
When contacted for comment SS Mayor Don Smith explained that since the Fire Chief's new salary was more than the Mayor's new salary we should ask the Fire Chief, noting he was too busy sulking about his betrayal by SS Town Council on the budget issue.
We contacted Defenders of Wildlife for additional comment but they explained they were too busy helping refugees from the fire find homes. A spokesman explained that "200 Black Bear and red wolves have been relocated to FEMA trailers in Swan Quarter and Pungo." DoW plans a countersuit in an attempt to require FWS to build a dome to cover the entire refuge to protect against future lightening strikes. "This tragedy could have been averted by FWS but they refuse to take reasonable steps to protect mother nature from herself."
Judge Boil has schedule a "listening" for next Monday at which time he will tell everyone what he thinks they should do!

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In a related story, the National Park Service NPS is investigating the death of a ghost crab last night on Coquina Beach, just south of the Nags Head Nuclear Waste Storage area (why else would they need all those sandbags) Visitors reported the crab was found at dawn in the middle of a tire track just east of the dune line. NPS has restricted all access to the area, which was already more isolated than the alien landing site in Roswell NM. The only vehicles permitted to drive on this beach at the time of the crab's death were NPS vehicles.

Superintendent Mike Murray has called for "a roundup of all the usual suspects" and explained that his actions were "mandated by Derb Carter who is much smarter than Don Smith and the enitre NPS put together".
The North Carolina Coastal Federation issued a statement saying "The death of this innocent creature is the result of the unbridled access to our pristine beaches and could have been avoided if everyone would just leave and move to Durham. We are trying to save you but you aren't cooperating. "

The crab's family had not returned numerous phone calls at press time.
Ciao

Oak Island - Well at least they have some public access!

Interesting article in the Wilmington Star News reporting on the
ruckus caused by Oak Island's decision to reserve some prime beach access parking spots for local residents only.

Norman Beach of St. James is irate over Oak Island’s new parking regulations that reserve some spaces near the beach for locals only.

“If this isn’t discrimination at its worst, I don’t know what it is,” he said of the restricted parking spaces at the beach access beside the St. James Beach Club.

The town recently implemented a trial period for the parking regulations at Southeast 72nd, Southeast 49th, Southeast 46th, Southeast 43rd and Southeast 40th streets.

Spaces there are reserved for cars that bear Oak Island parking decals originally issued to control access to the island after a hurricane evacuation."

Interesting strategy. The story continues to report that the town has already caught 13 violaters.

Since the town implemented the residents-only parking places Saturday, Oak Island police have cited 13 drivers, Police Chief Van Eddinger said. Ten of those violators had wheel locks called “boots” put on their cars. Three received tickets, because the department has only five boots, he added.

No clear reason for the move. Some say safety, some say misuse of the public access for private groups. Crowded accesse cause a lot of complaints. This is one way to show taxpayers (or at least residents) they are getting what they are paying for. We will watch to see what happens next.
Ciao

Dissin' Denny (Hal that is)

Correcting factual errors in the local papers has long been a staple of this blog. I get angry when I see things reported incorrectly especially about local government issues. You can imagine my state when I opened yesterday's Coastland Times (CT) to find that a Hal "Benny" had addressed the Southern Shores Town Council (AKA: TTTwLMGttB or "The Town That won't Let Me Go to the Beach" for short) on the matter of their budget. Mr. "Benny" seemed particularly well informed for an apparent newcomer to SS politics. He cited interesting statistics about road maintenance and traditional town values. He, wisely in my view, urged the council to postpone their self-serving swindle (see Note below) until after the next municipal election. This wise and well informed individual clearly spoke from the heart and possibly from some experience, but how could that be since no one named Benny had ever served on council. Surely the CT reporter would recognize the previous Mayor and properly report his (or her) name....NOT.
I was not at the meeting but its strikes me that there is an individual who has all the attributes of I have ascribed to the speaker, former Southern Shores Mayor Hal DENNY . In the CT's defense Tony Sylvester, the usual reporter for SS, was not in the house and clearly the cub reporter had no idea who anyone was or why it mattered to get names right. You might think that an editor would recognize the mistake and ask the reporter for a correction but that didn't happen either. The meeting took place a week before the story ran, there was enough time to get it right,but they didn't.
Hal Denny is a friend of mine. He was Mayor when I was Mayor. We meet with some other XMayors for lunch from time to time. He deserves to be properly recognized in the only paper that covers these meetings. When people go to meetings and take time to be involved they deserve to have their names reported correctly. When people buy the paper and read the articles they deserve to know who spoke so they can judge the experience and motives of the speaker. The CT blew it on this one.
Enough of this. It is starting to sound a bit self serving (acknowledge ex-mayors). I hope the CT notes the error and corrects it in the future. Hal deserves to get credit for his wisdom. The council (and the community) would be wise to listen.
Ciao

Note: "self-serving swindle" The council is considering voting to pay itself starting in July. I think elected boards should be compensated. I was when I served. I also think changes in compensation should become effective after the next election cycle to give the voters a chance to express their views on the pay. We always did that in Nags Head while I was on the board. The action by the Nags Head board in Jan of '07 voting themselves an immediate raise was wrong. Any action by the Southern Shores Council to vote immediate compensation would not serve the interests of the town and its citizens.

NYT - Water-Starved California Slows Development

Photo by stargazer

An article in the NYT on Sat. reminded me of how progressive Dare County governments have been. The piece focused on the impact of water shortages in California. California passed a law that limits growth based on the avaiability of drinking water:

The 2001 state water law, which took effect in 2002, requires developers to prove that new projects have a plan for providing at least 20 years’ worth of water before local water authorities can sign off on them. With the recent problems, more and more local governments are unable to simply approve projects.

“Water is one of our most difficult issues when we are evaluating large-scale projects,” said Lorelei Oviatt, the division chief for the Kern County Planning Department. In cases where developers are unable to present a long-term water plan, “then certainly I can’t recommend they approve” those developments, Ms. Oviatt said.

As the denied building permits indicate, the lack of sufficient water sources could become a serious threat to economic development in California, where the population in 2020 is projected to reach roughly 45 million people, economists say, from its current 38 million. In the end, as water becomes increasingly scarce, its price will have to rise, bringing with it a host of economic consequences, the economists said.

“Water has been seriously under-priced in California,” said Edward E. Leamer, a professor at the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles. “When you ration it or increase its price, it will have an impact on economic growth.”

Some readers might remember how Nags Head and Dare County limited building when it was clear there wasn't adequate capacity to supply them with water. In both cases new plants were built, the RO plant in KDH and the RO plants on Hatteras Island. When adequate capacity was installed the restrictions were lifted. The restrictions were in place on HI for a long time, when the water finally came on line, the island grew like my neighbors lawn after a June rain storm.
California doesn't have any easy solutions to its water woes. They have already allocated virutally all the available water and now they are having to reduce consumptions in some areas because of environmental impacts.

Even more significant, a judge in federal district court last year issued a curtailment in pumping from the California Delta — where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers meet and provide water to roughly 25 million Californians — to protect a species of endangered smelt that were becoming trapped in the pumps. Those reductions, from December to June, cut back the state’s water reserves this winter by about one third, according to a consortium of state water boards.

The smelt problem was a powerful indicator of the environmental fallout from the delta’s water system, which was constructed over 50 years ago for a far smaller population.

“We have bad hydrology, compromised infrastructure and our management tools are broken,” said Timothy Quinn, the executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies. “All that paints a fairly grim picture for Californians trying to manage water in the 21st century.”

Dare County was an early adopter of reverse osmosis water filtration. The county has had its share of problems with RO technology but it has performed well overall. The wholesale price of water has been fairly stable over the last 10 years. The rising cost of energy could impact it as RO is a very energy intensive technology. Still, wholesale water prices, which reflect the cost of production for the systemm have been remarkably stable. In 1998 Nags Head averaged about $1.43 per 1,000 gallons and in 2007 the cost was $1.50. Not bad for a ten year span. Retail costs reflect a lot of other factors from salaries to maintenance costs. They have risen a lot more.

Dare County also has about 10% of its peak capacity that has not yet been tapped. The Water Dept. reports the peak day totals for the water system north of Oregon Inlet at 10.4 mgd. The system capacity is listed as 11.5mgd. The average usage is much less, around 50% of capacity. It is that number the county is looking at when it talks about expanding its service area on Roanoke Island.

California sends a good message to our area. It reminds us just how wise we have been planning and using water and how wise we will need to be in and for the future.

Ciao.

Hatteras Access and the Bonner Bridge The next battleground

Micheal Berry is back in Island Free Press writing about the next threat to access in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued notice of new standards for "critical habitat" for wintering piping plovers. I can't begin to summarize the lengthy piece. It is carefully documented and well crafted. I suggest you read it. NOW!
Berry addresses a host of problems with the proposed designation including the relationship between the closures and public access to the beach:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be very clear and open to the actual and probable impact of the critical habitat designation, especially about very likely lawsuits suits that can lead to the banning of ORVs from designated beaches.

In the notice, the FWS uses contradictory language when it states of page 28088:

"If implemented, these closures would reduce the opportunity for recreational activities such as ORV use. The Service believes, however, that additional beach closures due to designation of critical habitat for wintering piping plovers are unlikely."

Given the legal framework put in place regarding critical habit designation, the FWS is at least naïve in believing that litigation will not be forthcoming from environmental activists organizations that exist for the sole purpose of litigating and driving the public away from the national seashore. Currently, even without the critical habitat designation, thousands of citizens arrive at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore only to finds beaches closed for public use. In the face of critical habitat designation, the public anxiety about future beach closures and ORV prohibition will increase greatly.

Beach access is not the only thing threatened by these rules, Access to Hatteras Island may be impacted again. Want something to worry about read this:

One of the most disturbing sections of the critical habitat designation notice is the statement that the FWS makes related to the Bonner Bridge. The FWS "….plans to consult with the Federal Highway Administration on the replacement of the Bonner Bridge. At this time, it is unclear if these projects will affect the proposed revised critical habitat; therefore, this analysis does not include administrative costs associated with these projects."

This particular statement indicates that the FWS has not fully assessed the public safety aspects of the critical habitat designation impact, let along the economic full costs of the designation. It is governmentally irresponsible to place humans at risk in the name of protecting a single bird species, which is otherwise being successfully protected through thoughtful management processes that have been shown to be effective without the special legal designation of critical habitat.

Once again, it must be emphasized: The replacement of the Bonner Bridge is essential to the protection of human life and the economy of Hatteras Island. The critical habitat designation will add to the cost, and delay the construction of the much-needed Bonner Bridge.

The Va. Pilot notes that the environmental review of the Bonner Bridge plans has been delayed. DOT stresses that project is still on schedule but the article contains this little nugget:"...the completion date for the final environmental impact statement is delayed until August while information is await ed from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on threatened and endangered species." Put this together with the proposed rules and you get a scenario that has FWS, which has long opposed the short bridge option, invoking piping plover protection to block it. No short bridge delays all the plans, eventually closes Pea Island to public access and adds hundreds of millions in costs. It also circumvents the entire environmental process used for permitting the bridge.
Some might say Berry and Bob(me) are being alarmist. I might have said that 6 month ago but the outcome of the SELC suit demonstrates that worst case scenarios can come true and without warning. We can see this one coming a mile away. Lets hope we can dodge it.
Thanks to Mike Berry for his work and to Irene Nolan at the IFP for publishing it. Go click some ads and support her, she is doing very good work.
Ciao

Welcome back Owen

Ronnie Roach point us to a new or renewed OBX Blog. Welcome Owne Hassell to the blogosphere at OBX Sports Scene:
Owen covers the local sports scene especially the Daredevils, our local semipro baseball team.
Owen does a webcast play by play for the Daredevils. You can find more information at the league website. Here is what Owen has planned for the webcasts:
"After our first two home games I'm looking to do even more to improve your listening experience. Between innings I spotlight a certain artist or genre in music mixed in with commercials from our sponsors. Another part is our e-mail interaction, where listeners can e-mail me — at owenhassell@yahoo.com — during the game, and I'll read them on the air."Sounds like great fun. Keep an eye on the blog and lets see where life leads for Owen.
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Starnews - Public access, residential peace?

We have been hearing a lot about access. The ORV issue at Cape Hatteras is basically an access issue. I poke Southern Shores frequently about their lack of access. Acess battles rage up and down the coast. How can the public access the beach and how does that impact the neighbors is being debated up and down the coast.
The Wilmington Star News had an insightful editorial about the problems that accompany access entitled Public access, residential peace? The piece talks about the struggle over a public boat ramp and marina in Topsail Beach. It goes on to identify a series of controversial beach access projects on the southern NC Coast. It closes with this paragraph that contains a nugget we all need to remember:

"As other coastal communities wrestle with the omnipresent issue of public access, they should keep in mind, as Topsail's board did in this case, that the beach belongs to everyone - the well-heeled and those who favor flip-flops."

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Scuppernong Gazette - Wow

Just ran across the Scuppernong Gazzette (Yeah, I was browsing on Topix)
This a is a great little magazine published in Columbia NC. Apparently they have 10 issues out and I had yet to run across it. Just took a look at Issue 10 in the Ezine format and it is really lovely. Take a look I think you might be impressed.
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Va. Pilot Online 'marketplace of ideas’ can get surly

I noticed that the Va. Pilot has found out about unmoderated commenting. The Editor reports to the readers that the Online 'marketplace of ideas’ can get surly. It seems that as the Pilot rolled out its "online community initiative" it has found that a.) lots of people want to comment and b.) some of them shouldn't be allowed. They started with system that reviewed a member's first 30 comment but soon found they couldn't handle the volume they made some changes (and learned some lessons):

"That threshold was sharply reduced. Under the updated rules, if a new user’s initial comments are considered acceptable, subsequent postings are not monitored. Schecker declined to cite the precise number of posts that are now monitored. A sampling of responses to pilotonline stories reveals the guidelines are widely ignored and provide a glimpse of how exchanges sometimes devolve into rudeness .

Two recurring themes in online feedback are disdain for most political ideas that stray toward liberalism and a profound loathing for the mainstream media. The online bashing of “liberals,” “leftists” and “socialists” is especially vicious when it is tied to the MSM, whose members are uniformly perceived to be all of the above."

This pattern mirrors other commenting patterns. When unmoderated commenting is allowed a few nuts make it a lot harder for everyone. As I write this I find the same struggle being played out over on the Topix.com forum pages. This is not a place I frequent but I do stop by every now and then to see what new insults I can steal and whose flame thrower is gassed up. My good friend Ronnie Roach (also known as He Who will Never Learn His Lesson or HWwNLHL for short) is waging a battle with "Who Cares" and "Boo Hoo" about civility on line. While I believe his cause (and the Pilot's efforts) are just there is simply nothing anyone can do to eliminate trolls and flames other than complete moderation. That becomes very hard for an organization like the Pilot that needs broad appeal and an appearance (at least) of openness. Censorship, even of idiots and imbeciles, still flies in the face of "free speech". I've gotten over it. Others still struggle with it.
I noted a great deal of sadness a tone of resignation in David Sanders last post on the Southern Shores Times. David has been exploring the future of the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Dept. and its budget struggles with SS Town Council. Excellent writing. His post about the struggles between the volunteer and paid staffs having a pretty consistent and not necessarily happy pattern, was very astute. Take it from someone who was part of the process and problem for many years. David, if you are reading this don't give up. You have a great story to tell and understand that if people are pushing back then you are getting close to the truth. It has happened to a lot of local bloggers. The only way to beat the bad guys is to keep telling the truth, moderate your comments and ignore the idiots. The people who agree with you don't always let you know.
Bottom line, send me a comment, let me know your listening. No flame throwers need apply.
Ciao