Great Backyard Bird Count
 
I was glad to see Island Free Press coverage of the Great Backyard Bird Count this year. In looking at the North Carolina tallies, I could see that more bird lists were submitted from the Outer Banks this year, thanks to you. I've done GBBC for several years. It's fun, it will encourage you to learn to identify more birds in your backyard, and it requires a minimum of only 15 minutes to observe. Even if you didn't submit a bird list this year, you can go to the Web site, go to North Carolina in the state tallies, and see the specific species were identified this year in Hatteras, Frisco, Buxton, etc. There is a reason that North Carolina is second only to New York in the number of lists submitted each year. Put it on your calendar for next February!

Elizabeth Browning Fox
Chapel Hill

Environmental groups ask for beach driving restrictions
 
I am very depressed about this situation and the way that this is going down – or rather, the way we allowed it to happen.
 
Most locals seem to have no idea about this and act if it's something new, but it has been going on for years. How is that possible? While there are a lot of people who have been involved and have fought hard locally, there is not even 1 percent of the business owners or residents who have been very outspoken at the public comment periods or inquiries.
 
The money that it has taken to do most of the fighting up to this point has mainly come from the visitor donations and their seeming desire to keep our beaches open -- more than most locals. God forbid we wanted to serve a mixed drink.  Then there would be people lining the streets, billboards, and a screaming public outcry.
 
Well, those who haven't taken time out of their busy schedules to get involved and learn the issues are about to have plenty of time on their hands, and I am sure they will be crying -- just not in public.
 
Many thanks to those businesses, locals, tourists, and Dare County officials who have fought, donated, and tried to spread the word.

Rob Alderman
http://www.fishmilitia.com
Buxton




My wife and I own and operate the Old Gray House Gift Shop, Inc., located in Buxton on Cape Hatteras Island.  We would like to take this opportunity to give our assessment of how we feel a ruling to stop beach driving in the Cape Hatteras National Park will affect the local economy, as well as the general welfare of the public.

t is our honest opinion that to discontinue beach driving will devastate not only our business but many others as well.  The majority of those who patronize our business come to the Island for the joy of being able to drive on the beach.  They are conservative, family-oriented people who come to the island annually to fish, collect shells, or just spend a relaxing day at Cape Point and the South Beach.
 
The nature of our business is such that we have a very close relationship with those who come to our shop.  They have indicated to us that should there be a ban on beach driving, they would have no reason to continue coming to Hatteras Island.    We can attest to how the sudden, short-term closure of Cape Point in 2005 affected some of our regulars and caused a slump in our business that year.  Their contention was “Why should I pay thousands of dollars to come here if I no longer have the freedom to drive the beach and fish?”  Some were so upset that they vowed never to return to the island, and thus far they never have.  We not only lost revenue, but friends as well. We feel the national publicity from a ban on beach driving will cause many people to avoid coming to the Outer Banks this coming season. 

What many forget is that the structure of what generates our island economy is entirely different from other beach areas.  Vacationers who come to Hatteras Island do not come here for the usual razzmatazz you find in the majority of the tourist areas.  They come here for the beach and nothing else.  Our image is that of an open beach with small fishing villages entwined in a national park.  Visitors come here to be in tune with the forces of nature and the history and culture of the Island.  If you remove the freedom to drive and roam the beach, you remove the unique lure of Hatteras.
 
We question why the businesses and people of Hatteras Island should be punished by banning beach driving because of the inaction of the National Park Service to have put a proper beach driving plan in place years ago.  It would appear to us that now, when they are attempting to rectify the situation, there would not be any limiting of beach driving, but applauding them for finally doing what they should have done years ago. To ban beach driving at this time is counter-productive.  The Park Service is working with the public and its rules negotiation committee to come up with a plan that will protect the animal and plant and animal life, and the public’s recreational interests as well. 

We are sure, if given the opportunity without interference from outside interests, the Park Service and the public will come up with a plan to satisfy all concerned.

Mary and Dewey Parr
Buxton 



 
My family and I have been spending our vacation for the last 12 years on Hatteras Island, enjoying the surf fishing away from what most people call "the beach." So go ahead and stop the one thing that means the most to my family and friends, as well as the people who have lived there all their life. You might as well set saw horses across Highway 12 at Nags Head and let the birds have the island. I understand the habitat for the birds, but how about the habitat for the people who love to go the beach and not see a Wal-Mart or a 10-mile traffic jam? Why can't we just leave some things as they are?
 
So close the beach and I'll never come again.
 
Thanks from a person who loves your island and the people who live there.
 
Dusty Lowe
Mount. Airy, N.C.



As a former law enforcement ranger at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, I hope the current superintendent will allow access to all locals in their autos.

Tim Kruzer
Cleveland, Ohio



I would like to voice my strong concerns about the recent move to possibly close some beaches to ORVs on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke. I have been coming to the island for the past 36 years. We have bought and sold property there and currently own a home on the sound. I think this decision would be a devastating blow to the economy of the area and would be a huge blow to the tourist population who visit there every year.

I agree that we should respect and take care of the birds, wildlife, flora, and dunes on Hatteras Island. That is the reason we drive seven hours from our home in West Virginia to be there. It is a beautiful area and we love being there. It is part of our family's life to come to Hatteras. Driving on the beaches is part of being there, too. We have always taken our ORV on the beach, and we have been very careful to respect the areas that are roped off for wildlife protection.

If folks could not drive on the beaches, you would have cars parked for miles and miles along Highway 12, walking over the beautiful dunes, disturbing the wildlife and the flora of the dunes. It would be the longest parking lot in the state of North Carolina. I can't imagine a more horrible thing to do. Surf fishing is what we do when we come to Hatteras, and most of the areas we surf fish are not accessible if you can't drive on the beach. This area has never been like other beaches - Ocean City, etc. - and that's why folks keep coming back to it! Surf fishing is a big economic industry to the local towns. If you take away the beach driving, you take away the income of many of the local merchants.

This entire situation was being handled in a very diplomatic process and because one or two groups who oppose ORVs on the beach decide to bypass the diplomatic route, the economy of a wonderful area of North Carolina could seriously be hurt. Talk about hurting the birds!  This would be a hundred times more devastating.  This could destory the economic base of the entire island

 I hope you receive many e-mails concerning this situation. This will have a far reaching effect.  Folks come from all over the world to vacation on Hatteras Island, and most come because of access to the beaches and good fishing. Thanks for giving me a chance to voice my concerns.

Betty Russell
Martinsburg, W.Va.


 
We and our extended family have been visitors to your island since the late ‘50s. We enjoyed the access to your beaches for fishing, swimming and relaxing. I think that we will not make any plans for 2008 until you resolve your problems.

R.H. Oster
Trafford, Pa.


I’ve been spending tourist dollars two or three times a year on the Banks for 20 years. I (we) even turned relatives on to the beauty. Never once have we done anything that might even be construed as detrimental to the environment. I don't know what we can do to help, but I'll offer anything I can. The beach driving has always been the draw for us. My kids grew up on it, and if they were asked where they wanted to go on vacation, they would tell you OBX. What a shame some people have nothing better to do than ruin someone else's vacation. I really think some of these folks don't have a life and can't stand to see someone else having a good time. Please put up the best fight you can. If there's anything we here in the Buckeye can do, feel free.
 
Jeff Sliger
Akron,Ohio



After reading the transcripts from the first court appearance this morning, I have been in a real funk all day. I keep having pictures flash through my mind of the early ‘80s and my little girls running around the Point or the inlet in diapers and nothing else. I see them asleep on "their bed" in the back of the truck after a full day of playing on the beach. I see my son, who is now 19, with his fishing pole at the tip of the inlet, when he was 2 years old -- and both of my boys running around the Point all day when they were 6 and 2 with their plastic Blackbeard swords playing "NoBeard the Pirate." I have pictures of my now 22-year-old lying on her back at Point where the shallow water would wash over her from two directions. She thought it was the greatest thing she had ever seen or felt in her life! She was 3.

The family memories we have made on those beaches over the last 20-plus years will never be equaled and never be replaced. And it breaks my heart that now that my children are getting to the age that they may have kids in the near future, I won't be able to take my grandchildren to those special places and do those special things and raise them as little beach bums like my kids were. They would play all day and then I'd take them down to the edge of water, usually in the hook where it was calmer, and wash the sand off of them one at a time. Then I would carry them back to the vehicle, give them a clean diaper and a snack, and lay them down on their foam mattress to sleep while we fished well into the night. I have pictures of each of them at one time or another asleep on a beach towel under the shade of the tailgate of the truck. I just realized, that I hear opponents saying they are so afraid of the ORVs and the safety issues for their children on the beach. Goodness, mine were never NOT around the vehicles at the inlet or the Point and I never worried about them.

I remember that as my girls got older and were really into fast-pitch softball and my sons were playing baseball, we would take gloves and bats and balls on vacation. One time we had a huge softball game out at the Point that got people from five or six other groups involved. As a result, we met some people from West Virginia whose daughters also played travel softball, and we later ran into them at a tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. How's that for making friends? There was this one family from somewhere in New Jersey (I can still remember their names -- the Taglianetis, probably not spelled right.) that vacationed with their children the same weeks we did every year. Our daughters wrote to each other during the year and couldn't wait to get back to Hatteras every summer to see each other again. We would always end up parked beside them at the Point that week.

And, oh, the bluefish blitz! One year in the late fall, we took the girls who were probably 6 and 4 or so down to camp at Hatteras Sands Campground. We hit it just right and got into a blue blitz at the inlet. The girls were playing in the back of this old Nissan pick-up that we bought solely for the purpose of Hatteras trips. The fish were running up the beach, and my husband caught and walked with them for several miles back toward Ramp 55. I would hop in the truck and drive on up the beach with the girls when he got almost out of sight. That may have been the best fishing day ever.

And for those of you who have an OBPA calendar, check out November. That's my son down at Hatteras Inlet. He hooked a huge ray that afternoon. It took him miles (it seemed like miles, at least) up the beach from near the bird closure at the tip almost back to the ramp. He fought that thing for almost two hours. My husband kept telling him he should just break it off because he thought it was a ray, but Jake kept saying, "It's got head bob. It's a cobia Dad, I know it!" So we followed him -- the 14-year-old boy and his fish. He would get so far up the beach, with his Dad and uncle beside him, that the moms would have to go back and get the vehicles and move them on up. He eventually drew a crowd of onlookers from other vehicles. Everyone was cheering for the kid and his big fish. He never gave up, and he never gave up the fishing rod even when his arms were almost dead from the exertion. He finally got it to the beach and everyone cheered for him. He was so proud. Guess what? It wasn't even a cobia, but it didn't matter. He had fought the beast and defeated it. He got a little closer to being a man that day.

My children grew up to love and respect Hatteras Island -- everything about it, as a matter of fact. They are familiar with its history and its culture. They know about the National Seashore Recreation Area, they know about the history and importance of charter fishing, and they know about and respect the commercial fishermen. They learned from the time they were old enough to walk and talk that you never throw your trash down on the beach and you always fill in the holes that you dig. They learned to drive on the beach as soon as they had their North Carolina permits. They know all about airing down and staying in the ruts and not driving in the red sand. And they know about the island in the off-season when it's mostly only the fishermen who keep the island's economy going. In fact, if not for the off-season trips we made, my oldest daughter, who lives in Hatteras village now, would not have met the young man she loves and with whom she plans her future, because he's a local charter fisherman that she first met on a striper trip we booked.

To think that I will never sit on the tip of the Point and watch the sunset again or follow one of my kids or grandkids down the beach while they fight the epic battle is the most heartbreaking thing I've had to deal with in a long time. I had sort of hoped to take my grandkids some day down to the edge of the water and wash them off at the end of a long day on the beach, and put them to sleep in the back of the Suburban, while I watched the sunset with my children (their parents) and reminisced. I am very afraid that this is not going to be the case, and it feels like a death, the loss is so acute.

If it doesn't happen, if the inlet and the Point are not closed to ORVs, I will be happy to acknowledge that I assumed the worst and others can accuse me of over-reacting. But I feel it has come to an end. And it was one of the most important things in my and my family's life. I will miss it more than any of you can begin to imagine, unless you've been there right beside me, and I firmly believe that my grandchildren will be the poorer for not having seen it and lived it.

Renee Tomberlin
Burnsville, N.C.



I think the environmental groups opposing ORV use on the beach should have to provide strong proof of damage to the environment in order to stop ORV use.  That’s one of the major draws to any fishing area, including right here in Delaware.  Being able to drive your four-wheel-drive onto the beach, pulling out your beach chairs, fishing rods and tackle boxes and rod holder, setting up and fishing is a major outing if you have to carry all that out on foot.  It would take way too many trips.

The first time we came to Hatteras, I did not have a four-wheel-drive vehicle.  I parked in a lot and loaded myself up and walked out to the Point to fish.  It was gruesome. I had to keep stopping to rest every now and then.

This could ruin your spot as a vacation destination for many people.  I met a few people from Virginia Beach on several occasions who also came down for vacation simply just to drive onto the beach and fish.  If they want to regulate racing on the beach or something of that nature, I might be inclined to lean their way, but this whole thing seems stupid.  I can’t believe there’s no fishermen’s association down there fighting this.  It’s just another case of government telling us what’s best for us, like we’re idiots.

Yes, we are idiots for putting them where they are.  Put them back in the private sector and see how long they last.

Neil Donovan
Wilmington, Del.

 
I knew this is what they were going to do – wait and buy time by acting like they wanted to be part of a process. Then just as spring approaches, they close the beaches and mess over everybody. These are some people with no decency no morals and no brains.

Denny Gray
Dayton, Ohio

 
My family owns a home in Avon. One of the reasons for picking this area was the ability to drive onto the beach. Our sons fish year round here on the Point and look forward to bringing their four-wheel-drive vehicles for this. As we age, the convenience of not having to walk long distances to the beach is a must. Another large concern is the plummeting of property values when this information hits the general public. Our investment will become a nightmare.

Rhonda Wesley
Richmond, Va.

 
I expected nothing less from these environmental groups’ actions. Suing is the only way these groups know how to get things their strict way, absolutely no compromise.

Rob Alderman
Buxton



As a born-and-bred resident and fan of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I am extremely upset by this. My biggest personal issue is the failure of these groups to understand this land was created as a recreational park, meaning for the enjoyment of humans! This is not a National Park.
 
I would like to go on record here and remind the Defenders of Wildlife and the National Audubon Society that there is no such thing as the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. You will find no government title, deed, grant, or other reference to this fictitious piece of property. The true name of the location in question is the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area, specifically designated by the United States Congress to be utilized for the purpose of human recreation in all its forms.
 
This needs to be fought hard and fast before its too late to repair the damage these groups are about to do to our traditions, our heritage, our rights to enjoy our park, and the severe economic impact this decision would have on the areas that surround this little piece of sand.
 
As a member of the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association, but not on behalf of that group, I would like to direct your attention to a forum it has created to discuss this issue and its impacts. The address of the forum is: http://ncbba.powweb.com/buggyboard//viewforum.php?f=7
 
I hope you will publish this and help make people more aware of the consequences this will have on our Outer Banks.
 
Tommy Jordan
Greenville, N.C.



The state will lose a lot of tax dollars if the beaches are closed. Everybody suffers from that. Keep the beaches open and free!

I wonder how many people in these environmental groups wear gold, silver, and gems. If any do, they should not proclaim to be an environmentalist. Do they think of the land and habitats destroyed in this process, not to include the lives lost? I agree some protection may be needed, but an out right ban is not necessary.

Sharon Peele Kennedy
Buxton



The state will lose a lot of tax dollars if the beaches are closed. Everybody suffers from that. Keep the beaches open and free!

Joe Bough
Bridgeville, Del.
 
 

I and my family have been coming to the Outer Banks for more than 25 years. Although we do not live on the Banks year round, we have recently obtained a trailer in Buxton. I feel that I have been a Banker for these 25 years and have gone from the vacationer to the walk-on fisherman to the owner of a four-wheel-drive for fishing. I am slightly handicapped with a bum leg and getting on the beach is made easier with the truck. In the time I have been there for these past 25 years, I have seen nothing but respect for the environment and its species of all kinds from the fishing community.
 
To have outsiders and people that do no respect the area is going to happen. That is why we have the park rangers to control these lawbreakers. The fishing community in itself also tries to police the wrong doers and reports to the rangers when violations occur. To close the Banks to the ORV is outrageous. In the long run, the money of the big business and the developers will take away all that belongs to the people of the United States and will have no regard for turtles or birds, should they be in the way of new condos, stores, or parking lots. Look at the oceanside in Virginia Beach and you see what the Banks will be in the coming years if this is allowed to go on.

I have no problem with rules and regulations. I feel we all have to live by them, but I will not stand by and let the "big money business guys" control a resource to which I am entitled and have paid my dues to enjoy.  I respect it, I love it, and I will fight to defend these rights.

Robert Crelin
Neptune, N.J.



I fail to see how closing the beaches "temporarily" is going to help anyone other than the organizations that would rather the residents of Hatteras Island be removed and the whole island be given to birds and turtles. It doesn't seem that the seasonal nesting of these particular animals is even being taken into consideration. Organizations such as The Defenders of Wildlife and the National Audubon Society would like nothing more than to close our beaches right before tourist season and send a blow to the gut of the residents who so much rely on it. If that happens, they will then focus their finances and efforts toward the beaches, staying that way until the issue is resolved. Dealing with the National Park Service is not ever going to be fast process and making the residents pay for it is not the way to help the birds and turtles. If they want to help nature on Hatteras, maybe these organizations could pay off the insurance money on the first three condemned houses on Mirlo Beach and demolish them before all those poor little birds and turtles have to deal with the rubble.

I'm no head of any multi-million dollar society, but it seems like the money and efforts wasted in courts could be focused more effectively. Closing the beaches is not going to make anything go faster. What are the goals here? Birds and turtles? A piece of paper with regulations that will not be enforced? I watch the current rules and regulations get ignored time and time again. Nobody from the National Audubon Society is ever around to write tickets to the kids stomping on the dunes or the dogs that run down the beaches. They don’t even live here.

Tracy Morris
Frisco

 


Rather than waiting for the NegReg process to work out a consensus ORV plan, this is just another example of a bunch of wacko environmentalists gone berserk in pursuing their own agenda to the detriment of all the taxpaying public users of the Cape Hatteras National RECREATIONAL Seashore!

William I. Berryhill, Jr.
Chief United States Marshal, Ret.
Eastern District of North Carolina



It's no longer a free country. Instead of man having dominion over the earth and creatures, it looks like a few birds have taken over the beach. What is the judge going to do about the predatory creatures that eat those bird eggs? He should try to ban them from the beach also.

Steve Blaisdell/ Broker Associate
Beach Realty and Construction


 
As a property owner who spends summers and spring on Hatteras, it doesn't surprise me to see the issue of beach driving become a big issue. Between the bridge and the beach driving and all the stall tactics that are being done, it will be amazing that anyone who depends on vacationers will make any money to stay on the island. The last person to move off the island better take the bridge with him.  All these special interest groups better be careful or there will not be any island to worry about because there won't be anyone there. But that just may make them happy.

Why is it that no one can make a final decision on anything that affects the big issues facing Hatteras Island?

Roger Marsh
Plantation, Fla.



Thanks for covering this, and I say "HURRAY!" Twelve percent is a very modest amount of beach to set aside for these breeding shorebirds in 2008. I hope the judge acts promptly to protect the birds.

Annie Runyon
Garner, N.C.


We have been visitors to Ocracoke Island since early in the 1960s.  We have long enjoyed being able to take our fishing gear out to the beach instead of carrying it over the dunes.  We feel that we are very aware of the wildlife on the island, but we think since tourism is the largest profit for the island, ORV use should be reviewed. I am now handicapped and can no longer walk over the dunes. let alone walk in the sand.  But I still enjoy fishing.  So how will I be allowed to continue enjoying what we like? 
 
Saving the wildlife is very important, but I think the island also needs the tourism traffic to continue to be able to pay taxes as we do.
 
Sonja Maynor
Asheboro, N.C.

 
To start off, I’m a fisherman. I've never run over a bird, turtle, or a mouse on the beach! I always take more trash off the beach than I take on the beach. So if they are going to stop me from driving on the beach, they need to stop all the netters. They are capturing turtles in there nets. Oh, yes, what about the seagulls eating the eggs? What about the foxes killing the bird, and the cats eating those poor little endangered mice? Let’s point your fingers where they deserve to be, not on the fishermen.

Darrell Worley
Hopewell, Va.

 

Keep Beach driving legal!

Matt Tempesco
Virginia Beach

Lady Canes in the playoffs

Our crowd here at Hatteras was a great sixth man, and it would be a real plus to bring some of that energy to Greenville to support our girls. Congratulations to Coach Fountain, but mostly to a group of determined young ladies of whom we are very proud.

Danny Couch
Buxton


Way to go, girls.  Keep it up and good luck.

Wilhelmina Grubbs
Rodanthe

 
I appreciate the fine, posted pictures of the game with the Lady Lakers. I'm Paxton Gwin's proud uncle, her Dad Steve's big brother. Steve sent me several blurred pictures taken with a cheap camera. I razzed him about it, and he sent me your link. Great shots. Thanks. Go Canes!

William L. Gwin
King George, Va.


Congratulations to the Lady Hurricanes and best of luck as you advance through the play-offs!

Renee Tomberlin
Burnsville, N.C.




Ocracoke Update
 
Yeah to my mom for being such a hard worker and making sure the mail gets there! She's great!

Lauren Fulcher
Ocracoke



Environmental groups ask for beach driving restrictions
 
Elitist environmental groups will never come to the table in good faith. The issue is in the courts now and will still be in the courts even after all negotiated rulemaking is over. These social engineers  survive only by the courts.

Bob Lick
Cheyenne, Wyo.


All this talk about restricting "only" 12 percent more land from ORV use is crazy. I just can't imagine not being able to drive out to the Outer Banks and fish at Cape Point. It's like saying we are only going to cut off your hand -- after all it's only 1 percent of your body!

Peter McGrain
Rocky Mount, N.C.


As long as the seashore is a unit of the National Park Service, it is subject to the same management standards as a National Park, no matter what you call it. See this link http://www.nps.gov/legacy/nomenclature.html.

If you don't want Cape Hatteras National Seashore managed as a part of this agency, then lobby to have it removed -- and all that comes with it, because it will become private land and you won't be able to access the Point because it will become someone's private yard. That’s the way it was when the Phelps family owned it before they donated it to the NPS.

Tyler Smith
Cincinnati, Ohio

 
If this injunction happens, I will be canceling my two-week vacation in Frisco. There is no reason to go to Hatteras Island if I can't drive on the beach with my family or drive on to fish as I want. Too bad it has come to this.
 
Tom Carr
Wilmington, Del.

Valentine’s Day greetings

My husband, Kevin Feese, who wrote the story, "A Hatteras Love Story," is the most loving and caring husband. I wish I would have thought to write something about him. That's the way Kev is -- very thoughtful and sweet. No, you can't have him! He's mine, forever!

Debra Feese
Annandale, Va.

 
Very nicely done. Lots of love here, and it's good to show it to everyone. Thanks.

Ed Rebstock
Salvo


 
The seal swim
 
My niece in Buxton told me of your Web site. What a great event to raise money for a cause.  I did enjoy looking at Russ Kiddy. He appears to be having at great time

Pancheta Scammell
Melbourne Beach, Fla.


I commend Kathy Kiddy on a great idea for our area. Best of luck with participation!

Lorraine Burrus
Hatteras



Hatteras Island Real Estate
 
In response to Tom Hranicka's recent articles on Hatteras real estate, I'd like to offer the following thoughts from one prospective buyer sitting on the sidelines.

Hatteras Island has always been very special to me. My maternal grandmother was a Scarborough from Ocracoke and her husband, a Foster from Hatteras. It feels like "home" to me.

I've been following the real estate market on Hatteras Island closely for the last eight months, with the intention of purchasing a cottage. My husband and I owned a cottage in Avon for several years, but reluctantly sold it to finance college educations for our twin sons. We thought at the time that we would most likely never again be able to afford to purchase another home on the island. However, we are now in a position to do so, but have some reservations.

I agree that it appears to be a good time to buy, but there are some considerations. Many of the homes we are looking at were purchased only a few years ago and are listed at three times the purchase price paid by the current owners. I have not seen the 44 percent reduction in median selling prices cited in the article and, in my mind, it's tough to justify paying the inflated prices. Unless there is a very significant down payment, the rental income will not come close to covering expenses, which is a consideration for us. We're not wealthy people, we just want a little piece of Hatteras on which to retire.

Another issue to consider is the very real threat of the effects of global warming on Hatteras. I don't want my retirement home to be under water in 10, 15, or 20 years.
Interest rates are low, but might go lower. Every little reduction helps.

I have enjoyed reading Tom Hranicka's articles over the years and have found him to be most informative. I purchased his book years ago before we bought our cottage, and it was very helpful. I look forward to his continued updates. Despite all of my concerns, I hope to find that perfect beach cottage on Hatteras very soon.

Karen Murray
Pipersville, Pa.



Remembering Dale Burrus
 
We just learned of Dale's passing yesterday, Feb. 16. We met Dale back in the ‘70s during our first trip to Hatteras village. A year or two later, we had rented a place in Nags Head for a week. My husband had talked to Dale, who was having trouble getting someone to trim the feet of his ponies. My husband was a farrier and he took his shoeing equipment and during that vacation he went on down to Hatteras to trim Dale's ponies. In 1990, we bought a condo at Sea Whisper in Hatteras village.  Dale was our first visitor. We would always stop by the store when we were in town, and if Dale was there, he always took time to talk for a few minutes. We sold our place several years ago, so it has been awhile since we had seen Dale.
 
He was always a kind and caring man. To Lorraine and her family, all we can say is that we are so very sorry for your loss. Hatteras is a better place because of Dale Burrus.

Skip and Joy Taylor
Yorktown, Va.



Molly the pig has a new home

Thank you all so much for all the help and concern and good thoughts that went toward finding Molly a new, safe home.  I just delivered her to some wonderful people in southern Maryland, and Molly appeared to settle into the barn (once we got her in it!) and her new family quite well.  She was a trooper -- nearly an eight-hour ride without a bit of complaint. 
Bless you all and thank you again from Molly and myself.

Catherine Jones
Rodanthe

(Editor’s note:  Molly is an 18-month old pot-bellied pig who was rescued by her owners and put on a diet.  She was doing well on Hatteras but needed a home with more space and safety than living on Highway 12 afforded her. Her owners’ plea for a new home has been included in the Island Free Press classified ads for some weeks.  We’re happy the story had a happy ending. 

Concerns about former motel property
 
As a property owner and long-time visitor to Hatteras village, I am deeply troubled by the condition of the property that once was the General Mitchell Motel -- not only  this property but also the old Pelican Roost property that was demolished and piled up in a heap of rubble and left to blow around since last summer. I spend at least two months a year in Hatteras, and it bothers me to see such a beautiful place left in this condition. How do the year round residents feel and why aren't they as upset as I am?

I have written a letter to all the Dare County Board of Commissioners and to state Sen. Marc Basnight. asking for their help in resolving this serious situation. I know how the General Mitchell Motel was constructed, and I was told by the North Carolina EPA that a permit was never issued for demolition. All the hazardous material that was in the debris was ground up and put into a huge pile and left to blow around.  How can this be allowed to happen?

William Goodman

I read The Island Free Press whenever you send it. I was looking at the classified ads and saw that the Hatteras Sushi Company was selling its equipment, so I looked further. I saw the story on Richie Spears and was shocked to read that he has non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

I remember both Richie and Nikki from when our family visited Hatteras two years ago. We had just gotten a huge amount of flounder and needed them cleaned and filleted. My wife volunteered me, and Richie offered to do it for a couple bucks! He was a real lifesaver at that moment. He invited us to the restaurant to pick them up later. We fell in love with the place and spent several more nights there.

We went there our last night on Hatteras, and I remember purchasing a large amount of sushi, while my wife chatted with Nikki. It was one of my favorite nights I've spent on the island.

Is there anything more you can tell me about his condition? We think of
them often and have nothing but good thoughts and feelings when we do.
I was thinking about using him this year to do some crabbing and fishing  with our kids when we come down.

I hope and pray he's recovering. If possible, please let me know how they both are doing.

Todd Maihle
Mount Airy, Md.

(Editor’s note:  Richie Spears is undergoing cancer treatment at Duke University Medical Center in Durham. For cards or letters, their address is P.O. Box 313, Hatteras, NC 27943.)
Please advise Hal Shelton that, first, he wrote a wonderful article and also that "Teddy" Mutro, a great friend of mine in Ocracoke, found it amusing that he was referred to as "the late Theodore Mutro."

The “still present" Randy Jordan
Buxton

(Editor’s Note.  The editor apologizes to Mr. Mutro.  It was her error, the result of a misunderstanding, and not Mr. Shelton’s mistake.)



Seals on the beach
 
God's timing is so good! Thank-you, Island Free Press, for covering the seals on the beach. It is the perfect story to introduce Locomotion's "Seal Swim" on Saturday, March 1.

Kathy Kiddy
Locomotion director
Buxton



Five reasons why winter is great on Hatteras
 
Just thought you'd like to know that the line that is quoted in this article, "If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, sit right next to me," was originally said by Alice Roosevelt, Teddy's daughter.

Timothy Tietze
Chester Spring, Pa.



Old Christmas

 
We loved the Old Christmas article, as we have heard so much about the event. And the pictures by Amberly and Jon are fantastic. We saw a number of familiar faces, including our Robin!

Claude LeSieur
Lewes, Del.





Honoring Mary Helen

I have lived on Hatteras Island all of my life (except for four years spent blissfully at UNC-CH). I have met and known many dedicated and wonderful volunteers. Of all of them, you are the most tireless person I have even known.
 
Advocacy for our island's many issues is a wonderful, rewarding quest, which has burned out many amazing people. You, Mary-Helen, are an inspiration to me. My husband and I are raising our small family and trying to stay involved in the community and school. There are many days when I shake my head and wonder if the effort is worth it.
 
On those days, I think of you, and know the effort is always worth the result. Thank you for the guidance you have given me and for being such an amazing inspiration to us all.

Jennifer Johnson
Hatteras


We are so thankful for Mary Helen. Through the years she has done a wonderful job reporting the news of Hatteras Island. We appreciate her dedication to the reporting of events at Cape Hatteras Secondary School. We have also enjoyed the many photo collages she has made of Hatteras Island’s children, while they were at school. God Bless you, Mary Helen. Keep up the good work!

Donna and Phil Tokazowski
Hatteras


Congratulations, Mary Helen. You have been a pearl to Hatteras Island and Dare County. I came to Hatteras in 1995 to assist Cape Hatteras Electric Co-op. We had many problems -- poor service to our user owners and poor customer communications. I met you my first day when your were covering a board meeting at CHEC. You became a great friend and one who had great journalism skills in writing about issues on Hatteras Island. I listened to you and others on Hatteras Island and worked on your suggestions on how we could improve our service, communications, and customer service.
You have made a difference, and we all thank you. I wish I could have been present the day you were honored.

Jim Sherfey
Tampa, Fla.


Not only does Mary Helen do great justice for the people of Hatteras Island, she breaks the barrier across the Hatteras Inlet to help out the people of Ocracoke. It has been my pleasure to see her in action on the Scenic Byway Advisory Committee for Dare, Hyde, and Carteret. A great lady and leader for our communities!

Jamie Tunnell
Ocracoke




Ocracoke Updates

We just wish we were there right now. We can handle driving on the beach since we do a lot of it while we are there. We will be glad to be back in a few months and see the end-project.

Tim and Lisa White
Morganton, N.C.

I remember the Pub when it was established by the original owner, Ron Howard. The one-room building was a great place to kick back and enjoy the atmosphere. I spent many a night polishing the copper-topped bar for a free beer, depending on who was bar tending. It was quite crowded with 20 people back then. I can’t imagine what it's expanded to now. I served in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed on the island from 1987-1991. Anyone from that era who remembers me, please give a shout at slthompson@panax.com

I hope to get back to visit some day. I hope the traditions of the island don't change too much, as the locals depended on driving the beach as their way of life. The tourists who come in thinking they have a right to treat the island any way they want for their entertainment have destroyed the way things were and should have stayed. It appears the island has become a trap, which on one hand is good for the local economy but devastating to the environment. Another great sanctuary doomed by the outsiders.

Steve Thompson
Ellsworth, Maine


Thank you, thank you, thank you. This venture has just been terrific, and it's hard to imagine how we did without you every day! I always enjoy seeing your new e-mails.
 
Even though I'm here in Louisville, I can put myself right back at the campground detour. Slide No.5 is my favorite (in the slide show). Hope to print it and put it up at school. The kids will certainly wonder what it's all about.
 
Keep up the great work and keep the postings coming. With a little more encouragement and know-how, I may even enter the podcast era just to hear the old stories.

Gloria Van Nostrand
Louisville, Ky.

Regulating ORVs on the seashore beaches
 
Let us all keep in mind that regulating ORV use on Hatteras Island should be a positive outcome for all involved, and in many instances, the saying that “less is more” rings true. I believe the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge was established for the express reason of maintaining undisturbed habitat for coastal wildlife and flora, while national parks, such as the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, were established to allow tax-paying citizens to enjoy our natural resources with minimal constraints. I am glad Pea Island exists, and I am a big supporter of habitat conservation, but for some it is never enough, as illustrated by the recent piping plover debacle. The federal government originally established this park system with the intent of operating the beaches with minimal constraints, and this policy has allowed Hatteras Island to become the thriving, vibrant and successful community that exists today. This achievement is solely due to the ability of vacationers to enjoy these freedoms.

I would bet that the fishermen and fishermen's families made up the majority of annual visitors to the island at one time. Although over the generations, these returning families may now enjoy only driving on the beach to find the perfect spot for their beach chairs or their children to play, it has been and will always be the access to the beach that brings families and keep families coming to the Outer Banks. Everyone must continue to acknowledge this reality.

I, along with thousands of others, live close to New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland beaches, but I have traveled to the Outer Banks for more than 20 years to enjoy the privilege to beach access my four-wheel drive. My family has literally grown up in the Buxton sand, developed life-long relationships with local families, and, hopefully, they will raise their families there long after I am gone.

Establish severe punishment for those who purposely destroy or disregard park rules. All will fully support this action, but if you take away beach access or severely constrict it, not only will the economy suffer, all families (local as well as "adopted") will suffer from the loss of what makes Hatteras Island special to begin with -- open access to its beaches.

Wayne Little
Chester Spring, Pa.



Thanks for the insight to the past and present on beach driving. The future may bring something all can live with if the parties involved meet their responsibilities to ensure what is best for Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Dennis Pohl

Nicholas Bibbey’s Journey
 
What a wonderful story. I have a 4-year-old grandson who is autistic, and after reading Nicky's story, I am now more convinced than ever that he will have a bright and happy future. Thanks for this story of hope and inspiration.

Barbara O’Connor
Delta, Pa.


The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum has made a successful transition into the State Division of History Museums and is on the fast track for completion. Without Nikky and his classmates and their invaluable contributions, I'm not sure that transition would have been completed. Those kids were a blessing, a gift from God.

Danny Couch
Buxton


Nicky Bibbey will always hold a special place in my heart! I had the privilege of working with Nicky when he was in the eighth grade, and I have vivid memories of when he first mastered the typing program on the computer in our classroom and when he learned to weave on the loom in the library.  I still carry a purse made from his very first piece of fabric. I am thrilled to read how well he is doing. When I have a bad day I can still hear him saying, "It will be good Miss Vicki." Way to go Nicky!

Vicki Homan
Lewes, Del.

  
This is a truly inspiring story. Almost everyone has some contact with autism through family or friends. This story provides another dimension to our understanding of how autism affects us all.

Mary Gray
Buxton

 
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Two of our three young boys have ASD/PDD. We have a wonderful community here in Camden. We rely so much on neighbors, school staff, public safety, and local services to keep our boys safe and on track. Congratulations to Nicky and the Bibbey family. You are an inspiration!

Jennifer Scialdone
Camden, N.C.

 
What a wonderful and well-written article about Nicky! Not only is it a testament to the Hatteras community, the schools, and all who have helped along the way, but it also gives hope to others who are traveling down similar roads with their children.

Denise B. Ziegler
Easton, Md.

 
Nicky can always make us smile. We were helping his mom move her living room around to get the Christmas tree in the house.  His Aunt Debbie picked him up from work, and when he came in the house, we all said, “Hi, Nicky.” Nicky said, “Hi, pardon me, excuse me, coming through,” as he made his way to his room. Nicky had watched the “Polar Express” the night before and that quote comes from the movie. We all got a good laugh from that. Analee and Tom, with the help of many wonderful people, have done an amazing job of tapping into what Nicky can accomplish. We are proud and grateful to them all.

Rosa-Alice Mayo
Hatteras



This is a really special article. It really touches the heart. It takes a special place to reach out in love like this. The world needs to know that there are still places where it is done. We need more reaching out and love everywhere. Keep up the good work.

Mattie O. Carpenter
McComb, Miss.


I have had the pleasure of knowing the Bibbey family for 19 years. I taught all three children. They are all special to my heart! I'm so proud of Nicky that it brings tears to my eyes. I was his music teacher for many years, and we had a lot of fun singing and looking at Disney musicals together. He never missed a beat. I still have one of his music projects that he presented in eighth grade -- a PowerPoint presentation. His smiles and happiness are genuine and contagious! Give him five minutes of your time, and you will see.

The Bibbeys are people to remember for me. Love is the key. Congratulations, Nicky.  Keep on singin’.

Ms. Joy
Joy Lawton
Portsmouth, Va.

 
 
Words can't describe the joy I have found in being Nicky's computer teacher. He never ceased to amaze me with his ability to memorize and recall information. For example, he created a database about Disney movies and was able to type the titles in alphabetical order without looking, rarely making a spelling error, keying about 40 words per minute. Also, he could tell you who produced the movie and at least two actors starring in the movie! Mrs. Georgia loves you!

Georgia Hardee
Buxton

 
The article on Nicky Bibbey is incredible! Nicholas is dear to my heart, not only because he's family, but he is an awesome, smart young man. Thank you so much for doing this piece!

Carrie Barley
Hatteras


Nicky is most definitely an amazing young man who could teach us all that there are no boundaries with limitations.  He has proven that over and over again in his 18 years.  Bravo to his family, teachers, friends, and the medical staff who all believed in his abilities to persevere.

Lorraine Burrus
Hatteras

 
This story is very heart touching, and Nicholas is truly blessed to be in a village where he is loved so much.

Judy Bragg
New Lebanon, Ohio

 
Tom (Bibbey) is a very good friend of mine. I worked with him in southwest Asia, and I am proud to know him and proud of the job they have done with Nicky. I know they are proud of him to no end.

Ron Thurman
Victoria, Va.

 
Great article on a very interesting person. It is so encouraging to other parents who may have an autistic child. Ms. Tomberlin has a great insight in what we want to know about the person. Good Job!

Nora Tomberlin
Weaverville, N.C.


I love it. Jordan did a good job.

Rachel Bibbey
Hatteras

 
Way to go, Nicky. We are so proud of you. See you at graduation!
 
Mr. Robin and Miss Jeanie Midgette
Hatteras

 
Thanks for doing the story on Nicky. Jordan did a great job. So many people don't have any ideal what autism is. I appreciate the fact that you helped bring attention to it. Like I said in the story, we have had amazing help along the way. Thanks to all of you.

Analee Bibbey
Hatteras



Temporary closing of Howard’s Pub
 
I have eaten at Howard's many times, but still wonder who Howard was. Was it Buffy all the time?

Jay Latham
Columbia, S.C.

Answer from Ann Warner, Buffy Warner’s widow and owner of Howard’s Pub:

Actually, people ask all the time who Howard is and if Howard is around at the Pub-going back from the first day we purchased the Pub in 1991.  Many people assumed Buffy was Howard and, of course, I would be Mrs. Howard.  Buffy and I bought the Pub from Ron Howard, hence the name Howard's Pub.  Ron had lived on the island for years, owning property and working.  In fact, Ron's son, Ronnie, who still lives on the island for a good part of the year, worked at the Pub for years, as did his other son, Jamie, and daughter Beth.  Buffy and I saw no reason to change the name since Howard's Pub had been around so long that it was somewhat considered an institution - or destination - with many tales to share.  I used to frequent Howard's Pub in the early ‘70s when it was across the street where Mango Loco is currently located.  It was the hot spot of the island then, as we like to think it is now.   There is a great picture of Ron Howard and Buffy hanging in the Pub. We often point to the picture when people ask and say, "That's Howard."



A photo essay on fall on the islands
 
The photos in the Nature/Enviornment section are absolutely spectacular. The color and beauty that can be found on this island are amazing. Not being on the island year round, it's nice to be able to see some of the beauty of the different seasons. Thanks for sharing.

Sharon Crislip
Fredericksburg, Va.



Podcasts of Precious Memories

Gee, Buddy, I sure hope you have LOTS more memories to share with us. I could read a book full just like this one.

Ann B. Ianuario
Jefferson, Ga.

 
Thanks, Buddy, for another great journey down memory lane.

Mary Williams
Buxton
Buddy Swain is one of the best writers I have read. I always enjoy his stories and look forward to being able to hear him read them. Presently, my computer does not allow me to do that. I like your Web site, and I am glad that it is going so well.

Betty Quinn
Atlantic Beach, N.C.

Please keep the articles coming on the Outer Banks. They bring back so many good memories. Thank you so much for all the articles. They are written so you can almost feel you are there.

Mattie O. Carpenter
McComb, Mis


These stories bring back so many memories I have of spending my summers at my grandparents’ house in Buxton during the late ‘40s and ‘50s that it actually brings tears to my eyes. I have experienced everything that these stories have brought to light. Thanks so much.

Sonny Gray
Midlothian, Va.



My husband is Jimmy Austin, and we have really enjoyed Buddy Swain’s stories.  My husband was growing up at the same time. He has pictures of Buddy’s grandfather.

Sandra Austin
Kill Devil Hills


I love these stories! Thanks for sharing and bringing back such wonderful memories of island living.

Lorraine Burrus
Hatteras

 
I'm really enjoying Buddy's stories. I'd almost forgotten Mr. Victor. He always caught me on the Slash Bridge, where I was usually fishing with Donny, Danny, and Kenny Oden. Buddy's right -- no matter how fast you moved, or how high you jumped, he always hit his target. I loved that man but sure hated that tobacco juice!

Mary B. Williams
Buxton

 
If only we could go back in time, back to the good ol' days -- if only for a day.

Joanie Canipe
Kill Devil Hills

 
 
I feel as if I am with you all in your stories -- what precious memories and humor. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Waiting for the next chapter.

Rosa-Alice Mayo
Hatteras



Your podcast series by Buddy Swain is indeed fun, descriptive, and educational about Hatteras long ago. If I close my eyes while listening, I can envision myself with him and his family doing all kinds of fun, kid stuff. Thanks Buddy and Cliff!
 
Tom Adams
Columbus, Ohio


I loved Buddy's story, though I couldn't get the audio going. The Hadeco figures in my parent's stories of visits to the island during the time frame of Buddy's adventure. Here is what my father told me about it:

"The first car drove onto the deck over a barn door-looking ramp. They bounced it until it was right up against the wheelhouse. The bumpers were out over the sides of the boat with the axles tied to the rail. The second car was driven on board and bounced right up next to the first one, with its right side wheels on the deck and driver's side wheels on the rails. And the third car, its forward wheels were completely outside the rails."

One of their crossings was stormy, too. The water was so rough that the back end of the family Chevrolet came untied. The boat rode up the steep front sides of the waves, and as it came down hard on the back sides the loose end of the car hung momentarily in the air. Then blam, blam. From the wheelhouse, the passengers could see a crew member hanging onto the rope trying to re-tie it. He disappeared in each wave but finally got the car secured. Then my mother got sick. She was on the deck with the waves breaking over her while Dad held onto her from just inside the wheelhouse. She was throwing up constantly, begging him to turn her loose and just let her go.

All of Buddy's stories that I have read are wonderful, even when they make me cry.

Ann Ianuario
Jefferson, Ga.


I finally got to listen. Thank you, Buddy!


Ann Ianuario
Jefferson, Ga
 
I am so glad to see another of Buddy Swain's stories. They make you feel like you are there. Please keep them coming!

Analee Bibbey
Hatteras

 
Not only am I enjoying reading “Going to Grandmom's,” but I also enjoying listening to it on my mp3 player. Although I knew what RSS feed was, I was not familiar with just how it worked. As I struggle to learn all about RSS feeds, my reward is listening to a great story. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.  I gotta tell you that this is a lot of fun. Life is good!

Dennis Pohl
Fredericksburg, Va.

 
Thank you so much for Buddy Swain's “Precious Memories” podcast. I wanted to hear it so much that you convinced me to learn how to download a podcast and get an mp3 player. I can't wait to hear the next one.

Liz Browning Fox
Chapel Hill, N.C.

 
I'm already in love with Buddy Swain’s stories and the wonderful way he tells them. I felt like I was on the boat with him going to Grandmom's house. I'm looking forward to more wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing.

Joanie Canipe
Kill Devil Hills

I dearly love Buddy Swain’s stories of his early childhood memories in Hatteras village with his grandparents. He really takes us with him on his adventures. Thanks for sharing with us, Buddy.

Lorraine Burrus
Hatteras

 
WOW! WOW! WOW!  I adore Buddy's stories and no one can tell them better than he.  Thank you for this wonderful new addition to the already amazing Island Free Press. I anxiously await the others in the series. The islands are so beautifully reflected in all you do.

Lynne Foster
Hatteras


 
I think the podcast with Buddy Swain is the best idea yet. Of course, I am one of Buddy’s biggest fans.  He is a very talented man. I am glad he lives in my neighborhood. Hearing the stories makes it so much better. The podcast just makes The Island Free Press that much more entertaining.

Beth Bailey
Hatteras
 
 

Buddy Swain carries you right to the action with his brilliant descriptions and entertaining way of telling of his experiences. We can't wait for the next installment.

John Morgan
Washington, N.C.




Thankful for American heroes

I am thankful that there have been people that were willing to sacrifice for the greater good. I’ve encountered many people since moving here to Hatteras village, all of whom I have come to know and to respect, but there is a unique trio of men who were born a little more than 80 years ago that have caught my imagination and more importantly captured my heartfelt appreciation.

Lester Ballance, Damon Gray Jr., and Daniel Willis embody my definition of an American hero. These Hatterasmen have given their community and their country a reason to be proud. I am eternally grateful for men such as these and their band of brothers. Their selfless acts of sacrifice gave rise to what is referred to today as “The Greatest Generation.”

Imagine, three young men in a war-torn world fighting an enemy that most of us would never have to know because of their self-sacrificing nature. It is profound that these men were ready to die for a generation not yet born. They left behind their moms and dads, sisters and brothers, sweethearts and friends, never knowing if they would ever return, but yet the call of duty, their love of country, and the desire to preserve a way of life was far more important to them than their own lives.

The sacrifice they were willing to give is bewildering, especially at a time in our history when the current generation knows nothing of sacrifice. God forbid the iPod loses its charge or the Internet is down.
 
Let us give thanks to our Heavenly Father who has blessed us with the lives of these great patriots, whom I revere as true American heroes.

Kevin Conner
Hatteras



A life with no left turns

My parents passed away some time ago, and I think of them often. This story reminds me of the many great times we had as a family and all the great times we're having with our kids and grandmonsters. Thanks for reprinting this great story.

Mike Denniston
Wilmington, N.C.



What a great article -- so full of life, love, and simple happiness. Michael Gartner’s writing is as wonderful as his parents were precious. Thank you for this personal glimpse in your family's life.

Clifford Swain
Hatteras




Surfing 2007

Awesome surf photos.

Misty Gillikin
Buxton
 

Thank you! Those are absolutely wonderful surfing pictures. You brightened my cold, dreary morning here in West Virginia.

Darren Mayfield
Weirton, W.Va.

 
Thank you for the excellent surfing articles and photos by Daniel Pullen. I never knew the easy going guy working at Natural Art was so talented. Turns out he's also an artist and also does artwork on In the Eye Surfboards. His excellent writing in The Island Free Press is a breath of fresh air to all who truly love surfing Hatteras. By the way, 2007 was a year of waiting for good surf here in New Jersey, too. Hope our patience pays off in 2008!

Michael Letso
Chadwick Beach, N.J.

 
Thank you so much for publishing such a great newspaper. I look forward to stopping and reading it. The slide show of the surfing pictures was awesome.

Michelle Reitz
Virginia Beach

 
Great story and even better pictures.

Allen Burrus
Hatteras