September 2008 Letters to the Editor |
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New Letters to the Editor....09.29.2008 8:10 am
Negotiated rulemaking meetings are moved from Hatteras It is obvious that the recent peaceful demonstration at the Sept. 8 meeting at the Avon Fire Station prompted the Park Service to move the Negotiated Rule Making Committee from Hatteras to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. The relocation of the meeting will lead to less public input in the meetings due to the travel time. If there are actual threats to committee members, they should be dealt with on an individual basis. From the very beginning of these meetings, it has appeared to be the policy to keep their decisions and discussions secret. This being a governmental committee that has been authorized by Congress, I feel it is definitely a violation of our rights to deny a total disclosure of all activities of the committee. Everything discussed as well as all comments made at the public comment period should be available to any and all who desire to view them. Dewey Parr Buxton It was hard enough to just be able to make it to Hatteras or Avon for these meetings. Now to have to try to get to Kill Devil Hills because a few people who started this can’t take some of the heat on a personal level….What did they think would happen when they started to mess with people’s livelihoods which could lead them to losing a job and could lead to their not being able to pay the mortgage on their business or home or put their kids through school – or even just take a family trip. Ernest Doshier Ocracoke Methinks something stinks in Denmark, and I can smell it all the way to Mechanicsville. Was that too negative? Will I be reported? Does the First Amendment not count to the NPS? Does any of this make any sense to anyone? Hawk Hawkins Mechanicsville, Va. Well, it has finally come to the point that the NPS has to provide safe-haven for the lunatic fringe. Has anyone asked why the members of the SELC, Audubon, and Defenders of Wildlife, and, yes, the NPS, need the security of the pavilion in Kill Devil Hills to conduct their "negotiations?" Could the reason be the complete hypocrisy of the process that has been carrying out into Act 3? First we get the breaking of the "rules” before the RegNeg group even gets started? Could it be that the offenders of the rules are allowed to sit after breaking the rules? Could it then be that the beaches are closed by a federal judge with an agenda? Could it be that protected areas were enlarged by penalties when the perps were unknown? Gee, maybe it wasn't the ORV group, maybe it was the Defenders? Who knows? Certainly not the NPS. Could it be that that the NPS refused to stand up and stage a defense, accepted the guilt and then joined the prosecutors by stating that the "present agreement suits us better?" Could it be that the people are angry because they are not allowed transparency by videotaping of the meetings that are keeping them off their beaches? Could it be that the people are tired of the wimpy reasons that they are being denied transparency? What do the shy nine have to hide in the process which they control? The truth is that the more they are exposed, the smaller they look to those who are being denied their rights, their own members, the general public, and those they are misrepresenting. So, now we meet in a protected haven, have fewer meetings, and disallow the basis for discussion of the access group while accepting the opposing view as being "a good starting point." Fair? Unbiased? Transparent? Why not just put the agenda of the NPS on the table, shut out the lights, and go home. Lawrence Cullen Buxton "Members and alternates understand that a decision to take legal, political, or media action may seriously compromise negotiations." Ground rules like this just promote the climate of smoke and mirrors that the "environmentalists," or people-haters, want to keep going. The people have the right to comment, the people have a right to demonstrate, the people have a right to take legal action, the people have the right to seek legislative redress for their grievances, the people have a right to make their complaints known in the media. That is all enumerated in the Constitution as part of the Bill of Rights. This ridiculous committee can not take those rights away, nor deny them as ground rules for being a member. What would MLK do or say to that? Who do they think they are? Bert Smith Richmond, Va. Do you still think that the NPS has our best interest at heart or am I just out in left field? Wayne Church Pfafftown, N.C. "If a member does not abide by various provisions of the ground rules, then NPS, after consultation with the facilitators, will record this ‘breach’ of these ground rules in writing, post it on the project Web site, include it in the administrative record, and distribute it to all committee members and alternates for their use as they see fit, including use in any formal submittals to a court." Well, at least something in this process is made public and recorded. Two thumbs up for that. What a joke. Rob Alderman Buxton How come only the ones with some disgraceful and erroneous information are against videotaping? How come Murray always sides with them? This is supposed to be a democratic meeting -- meaning the majority rules. What a farce of a meeting. Tom Zirkle Winchester, Va. ‘Nights in Rodanthe’ We just saw this movie at the matinee today, Sept. 26. My husband and I have both lived at the Outer Banks and go there frequently. We were just there last week and seeing the movie, just made us want to go back sooner. There is something about the Outer Banks that has always hypnotized us. It was a great movie! Susan Murray Raleigh, N.C. I was there when they were filming the movie. I was staying in Ocracoke and happened by the house. My birthday is Friday and for my party, it is going to be at the movies. Hubby can't wait to see movie also. I'm so excited. I started reading Sparks after knowing about ‘Nights.’ I am hooked on him now. I have read ‘Nights’ twice so far. Turning 48 is good this year. Terrie Hart Walkertown, N.C. Thank you for the update and the video links. Look forward to seeing and hearing the friends in the movie. The Courier-Journal gave it two stars. Gloria Van Nostrand Louisville, Ky. Day at the Docks What a great way to end our week at Hatteras Island! We stayed an extra day to attend Day at the Docks, and we're glad we did. Thanks to Island Free Press, we knew about it before we arrived. Pam Walker Winchester, Va. Thanks to all for chili cook-off success On behalf of Chicamacomico Banks Fire and Rescue, I would like to thank the residents and guests of Hatteras Island for making the 12th annual CBFD chili cook-off a huge success. On Saturday, Sept. 20, members and supporters of Chicamacomico Banks Fire & Rescue came together on a day of less-than-perfect weather to celebrate the sense of community that makes life on northern Hatteras Island so very special. Upwards of 200 guests attended the event to raise money for the all volunteer-water rescue squad operating out of station 50 in Rodanthe. Although attendance was slightly down, we still managed to raise about $3,000 to be used for equipping and continued training of the men and women of the team. Awards this year were as follows: First place: Roanoke Rapids Fire Dept. Lt. Kevin Hawkins and wife, Michelle, for their delicious, and my personal favorite, "Fire Duck Chili." Second place: Alex Blackburn, Shelley Williams and Tim Webber, also of Roanoke Rapids for their interesting and tasty sausage and chicken "Triple R Chili." Third place: Nancy Schermerhorn of Florida, and a Salvo property owner, for her "Venison Chili." Showmanship Award: Trisha Bobb and Rob Covey of Rodanthe for their inventive and unique decorations. And people's choice, which is awarded to the cook who raises the most money for the department with his or her chili, went to Jeff Wells of Rodanthe, for the third year in a row for raising $182 with his "Seafood Chili." The Chili Cook-off will be held the third Saturday of September every year. Next year's date is Sept. 19. Anyone interested can contact Larry Grubbs at (252) 996-0019 or By e-mail at: cbfd508@charter.net. This year, while the team did run a few less calls than the past two seasons, a higher percentage of those calls resulted in actual rescues. The water rescue team is manned by the men and women of station 50 on a strictly volunteer basis. Many of them pull double-duty as volunteer firefighters as well as water rescue. We respond to calls from Oregon Inlet to half way between Avon and Salvo, where the load is picked up by Hatteras Island Rescue, station 35 out of Buxton. A special thanks to all of the Fire, EMS, Park Service, and police personnel with whom we work throughout the year. It is an honor to count you among our friends and colleagues. Larry Grubbs Rodanthe Island Dining: The Avon Café I am very impressed. Need a waitress? Congratulations. Kathy Drumrine Ashburn, Va. Great article! I wish you the best with the new restaurant. I’d love to taste your Maryland crabcakes. I always thought mine were the best, and I’d love to compare. Maureen Bruneau Bel Air, Md. Island Medicine: Preventing and treating sunburn Excellent article. Well written and certainly a pertinent topic for us all. Ginger Powell Greenville, N.C. Scotty the sea turtle returns to the ocean A wonderful story on Scotty's rescue and release (on the Nature and Environment Page). I used to vacation on one of Georgia's barrier islands and there were volunteer "turtlers" who came during the times the turtles came to lay eggs and when the eggs hatched. It was a thrill of a lifetime to see the baby turtles heading for the ocean when they left the nest. Cheers to NEST and all those who participated in this mission. Elsie J. George Williamsburg, Va. Keeping in touch By good fortune, I came across your paper online while I was looking at the beach closures for the Outer Banks. I love it. We have been visiting your fine area for the past several years and think it is the most wonderful place. We come in the off season and love the seclusion we can find on the beaches. Unfortunately, we were unable to visit this year, but through your paper I can get a little taste of what I know I am missing and hope to get back next year. Patty Hendrick Bastian, Va. New Letters to the Editor....09.22.2008 12:15 pm Beach Access Issues Democratic members of the United States Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee have shown their indifference toward the economic well being of the residents of Hatteras Island. Just as Christ was betrayed by Judas, Senate Democrats have betrayed the hardworking people of Dare County. Thirty pieces of silver bought Judas treachery; one can only imagine the price that bought the Democrats. The 12 committee members are Jeff Bingaman – New Mexico, Daniel Akaka – Hawaii, Byron Dorgan – North Dakota, Ron Wyden – Oregon, Tim Johnson – South Dakota, Mary Landrieu – Louisiana, Maria Cantwell – Washington, Ken Salazar – Colorado, Robert Menendez – New Jersey, Blanche Lincoln – Arkansas, Bernard Sanders – Vermont, and Jon Tester – Montana. As you struggle to provide for your family, remember that these 12 senators are as responsible for your financial hardship as Defenders of Wildlife, the Audubon Society, and the Southern Environmental Law Center. Never forget those who placed the interest of piping plovers, American oystercatchers and sea turtles ahead of your family. Kevin Conner Hatteras Socialism/Marxism is seldom the answer to problems that can be easily solved through a little dose of common sense. The fact that the “enviro wackos” working together with the Park Service can destroy an economy based on "the nesting habits of birds," putting the interests of birds way above those of people is insane! Birds have wings for a reason. They should use them and fly away somewhere else. They can leave the beaches the same way they got there. It all depends on whose interests are supreme. Those who put their interests above those of a free-market capitalist economy of some of the nicest people in the country are not playing with a full deck. Rick Berry Islamorada, Fla. One chick and an entire beach (South Point on Ocracoke) was closed? I'm an animal lover, but to close down an entire beach for one egg or one chick, come on! I live in Wilmington, N.C., where Topsail Island has a huge sea turtle organization. Here when a nest is discovered, a single cage is put around it. No beaches are closed down, no eggs are destroyed. From Topsail north and down to Fort Fisher in the south, I constantly see cages and ropes around single nests. People and eggs and sea turtles cohabit. I do not understand why entire areas need to be closed down for a single nest or a single bird at all. Pat Breeden Wilmington, N.C. Public Access and videotaping RegNeg meetings I believe that videotaping should be allowed simply because it is a public matter and "closed door" decisions make certain parties to the RegNeg committee seem, how should it be said, trying to hide things that affect not only North Carolina and Hatteras Island but many people who visit. Thanks for all you do, Irene. Jill Marshall Ashland, Va. Jason Rylander agreed with Derb Carter and added that committee members “are not public figures and are not used to speaking on television." My only thoughts on this statement would be that these people should not have gotten involved with a public process that affects so many aspects of the public access, I believe what we are seeing is some of RegNeg reps that want their own personal agendas satisfied, without any disruption of their own lives, but that is not possible in such a process. Several of the RegNeg reps do not even represent a 100 people. However, they are making decisions and votes that affects thousands upon thousands of people, but they are not public officials or used to public process? If this is the case, then those reps need to step down and get out of the way of those that came here to negotiate the fate of public access under any circumstances, including the watchful eye of the public or the scrutiny of the public. Rob Alderman Buxton These should meetings that are open and accessible to the public! A balance between beach access and prerserving all wildlife can be met, but only with open and realistic dialogue from all parties. The NPS should really be the leader of finding that balance, instead of backing the environmentalists who forget that humans live here, too! Carolyn Courtney Dover, Del. How very strange that the very people/groups who managed through misinformation to severely curtail ORV access, are now trying to curtail public access to the RegNeg proceedings. The public had no say in the consent decree, and heaven forbid we should have a say now. Detrimental to Justice? This is a travesty of justice, especially when thousands of people are affected by the outcome. Shame on the six members of the committee who voted against videotaping. Thank you IFP for keeping everyone updated. Mary Breeden Virginia Beach, Va. I may not be the best at math, but a vote of 24 who said yes and 6 who said no – or even 23 to 7 -- seems to be a not even close margin to not approve the videotaping. But then, again, shady characters do there best work behind closed doors! Paul Rudar Midland, Pa. Sometimes I think that the members of the environmental groups just sit down and send each other an e-mail. They should find something to do outside. I bring more trash off our beaches than I ever carry on. But they don’t ever know that some of us watch what we are doing. Allen Hunter Clinton, N.C. Talk like a Pirate day A sea dog says it this way: I feel like a real idiot fer nay passin' this one along myself. I been goin' t' this site fer a coupl o' voyages now an' jus' didna relate 't t' Ocracoke. Ya lily livered scurvy cur! Bert Smith Richmond, Va. New Letters to the Editor....09.15.2008 7:45 am Legislation to set aside consent decree It's time for another Executive Order! Republican legislators and governors should immediately urge President Bush to overrule the consent decree and enforce the name of Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. In addition, they need to encourage him to sign the proposed order to moderate the Endangered Species Act. This act has been stretched beyond its original purpose. Barbara Ackley Buxton Another example of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. I've spent a tremendous amount of time in your area and can say without reservation, the birds and turtles won. Good luck with future endeavors. Ron Cross Ravenswood, W.Va. The Congress has less than a 10 percent approval rating, about 20 percent below President Bush. Still they are only interested in serving the special interest groups. The Department of the Interior has been taking favors from big oil. I think they and Congress should be investigated for catering to these special interest groups. Tom Zirkle Winchester, Va. The decision to halt Senate Bill 3113 and not move it forward seems like typical government strategy. To appear "fair" to all people, committees are formed, hearings held, all the while preconceived decisions with regard to money, power, and personal ego-stroking have already been made. Nature has its own way of dealing with too many or too few creatures. Next year, the birds and turtles could have an "off" breeding season, as I have read in your paper, then what will the reasons be? Jill Marshall Ashland, Va. This is just another prime example of the do-nothing Congress led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. They could care less about the needs of the folks on the Outer Banks, let along the common good of America as a whole. Hopefully, there will be enough representatives in Washington that, contrary to the thoughts of Mr. Carter, will revive the process so that the voices of the little guys will be heard. J. Williams Midland, Tex. Hatteras Island native The vote on the legislation to undo the "agreement" on off-road vehicle access in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area should not have been a “party line” issue. Our elected officials are supposed to represent the people who put them in office. I'm guessing these are the same people who live, own businesses or rental property, work and vacation on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Those who killed this in a Senate committee should be ashamed of themselves. Carol Busbey Buxton Party line votes are disturbing, and suggest that those who vote are not assessing the issue(s) at hand, but are fighting their turf wars. However, I guess we're stuck with it. Keep this in mind in November. Fred Westervelt Ocracoke I hope everyone is paying attention to which party voted to not let the bill out of committee for a vote. This is so frustrating and disgusting. They do not care how this impacts us all. Time to change party affiliation. Gloria Van Nostrand Louisville, Ky. Demonstration at negotiated rulemaking committee meeting The Middle Core Banks between Old Drum Inlet and "New" Drum Inlet has also been assaulted by the "plover lovers." The entire ends of the island are covered with “No Trespassing --Bird Nesting Area” signs. We do quite a bit of beach walking, and I can tell you that the majority of the bird nests are located in the sand dunes and not inside these closed areas. As always, we respect the bird nesting areas, as everyone does with any common decency and good sense. The only purpose I can see for placing these signs up is to eliminate the fishermen from accessing the desirable areas near the inlets. Mark Legwin Atlantic, N.C. Thank you, everyone! Your proximity makes you the warriors in the battle that is all of ours -- free and open access. Tommy Lindsay Wakefield, Va. So great to have seen this demonstration! Wish I could have stood there with you all! My heartfelt wishes are with you all, and I truly hope the outcome will get the beautiful beaches back to normal and back to the people. A devoted, yet displaced, lover of the Outer Banks, Victoria Nash Smithburg, Md. I wish there was a way to have these meetings at night or on the weekend. A lot of us could not go because we couldn't get time out of work - - and we would have loved to have been a part of this. Thank you to everyone that could! Debbie Roy Buxton Nice work. Wish I would have known about it. I would have been there. Thanks for fighting the fight. Keep it up. William Turner Chesapeake, Va. My praise and thanks to those who participated in the "peaceful protest" against those who are willing to take the beaches away from the people it belongs. I was with you in spirit! Pat Gleason Knoxville, Tenn. I have been coming to and enjoying the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area for 35 years. I have always enjoyed the OBX and the good people down there. I have never understood the neglect of the National Park Service. They have completely violated the act of Congress that created the park. Congress promised the people who gave the land to them that they would manage the park for the benefit of the people of Cape Hatteras. Congress gave that responsibility to the NPS and they have not done their duties. Although I could not be there, I support the great citizens of the Outer Banks. I have written my congressman to find out why this is being allowed to happen. This may seem trivial to some, but I intend to pursue this avenue to the end. Thanks Island Free Press for keeping us informed in a timely manner. Thomas Zirkle Winchester, Va. Hey, nice demonstration! Too bad it can't make national news. You all need a way to make the national news and the national scene. Good jab about killing of loose cats and dogs. I just got a "survey" from the National Parks Conservation Association with a nice little seal that looks like it belongs with the National Park Service, but really isn't. They ask a bunch of questions about "saving" your national parks and ask for a donation. This immediately goes to the rabid organizations trying to close the parks access and the beaches. They use smoke and mirrors to dupe good citizens who don't really understand the issues. Bert Smith Richmond, Va. Thank you for the great article and slide show! Where would we be without you? Kim Mosher Buxton The heavy-handed and insensitive attitude of the Audubon Society and their cohorts is very disappointing. The science tells us that many factors contribute to bird populations, including storms and better habitats like spoil islands replacing old coastline areas. My hope is that someone in this process will come to their senses and realize that humans and wildlife have coexisted forever. And, guess what, the local population of working class men and women are just as endangered as any wildlife. It is also unconscionable to slaughter other creatures that are indigenous to the coast to protect a few special interest species. Diane Lea Buxton More on RegNeg, the public’s right to know, and beach access This is a joint statement from Recreational Fishing Alliance and The United Mobile Sportfishermen, dated Sept. 12, 2008 Attention fishermen and others interested in ORV beach access at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area: During the latest meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee charged with writing the long term ORV access plan for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area on Sept. 9, committee member and Dare County (N.C.) Commissioner, Mr. Warren Judge, requested the ability to televise all future public committee meetings on the Dare County public television station and to post the video of the meetings on the Dare County Web site. This offer was made to answer the many requests heard by the public to observe this nationally important government rulemaking process. Mike Murray, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area, acting in his role as the Designated Federal Officer for the committee, informed the members that he could only allow this if he had the full consent of the whole committee. After considering the comments of some committee members that were concerned a public broadcast would create a carnival atmosphere and could change behaviors of committee members and then weighing these concerns against the significant public comment heard at the meetings and by constituents from across the country that the process is difficult to follow from afar, needs to be more open and in the public eye, Patrick Paquette who serves both the Recreational Fishing Alliance Shore Access Program and the United Mobile Sport Fishermen and represents the national recreational fisherman's interest on the committee, made a statement to the committee supporting this request. When the question was posed to the committee only five of the 30 stakeholder representatives opposed the broadcast. Mr. Paquette stated this was very inconsistent behavior by the committee because at an earlier meeting, a crew from French television, filming a documentary on global warming, was allowed to film part of a meeting. Unfortunately, the five objections were enough to allow Mr. Murray to deny the future broadcast request. Of the five members who opposed the broadcast, four should not surprise anyone that has been paying attention to this process. Jason Rylander (Defenders of Wildlife), Walker Golder (NC Audubon), and Derb Carter (Southern Environmental Law Center) are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that brought about the draconian measures in the current consent decree that have closed the most important fishing beaches in the seashore for most of the summer and continues to prevent full access to popular areas like Cape Point and the Southern spit of Ocrakoke Island, which was named "America’s Number One Beach" in 2007. The fourth member to object to the broadcast was Neal Moore of the Cape Hatteras Bird Club. Mr. Moore is the same member who made offensive comments on the record to past president of the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association and RFA member, Mr. John Newbold during public comment at a previous committee meeting. Mr. Moore did not even stay in the meeting room to listen to the noon public comment period at the Sept. 9 meeting, choosing to rather sit in a chair in the outer hallway, apparently once again being observed napping. What surprised many on the committee and the audience was the fifth committee member who raised a hand in objection to the broadcast; Mr. David Allen who represents the State of North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. "This is an insult to the hundreds of thousands of out-of-state recreational fishers that travel to and utilize this precious national resource and sustain the local economy during the fishing season," said Billy Lomniki, president of the United Mobile Sportfishermen. After learning of this surprise action by a state of North Carolina representative, RFA Executive Director Jim Donofrio made the following statement: "The State of North Carolina has a statute that allows public broadcast of all public meetings and for a representative of the State of North Carolina to deny the public the ability to watch the full committee meetings and make their own judgments of this public process is an outrage. I guess we know what side the NC Wildlife Resources Commission is on." The Recreational Fishing Alliance is calling on all fishermen that are interested in ORV access on the world famous beaches of North Carolina's Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area to make phone calls and send e-mails to Mike Murray, Designated Federal Officer of the committee, demanding the broadcast of the meetings be allowed beginning with the next meeting in October. We further request you contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and protest their representative taking sides when a state official should at least give the appearance of being neutral, and request that David Allen follow the spirit of the state law allowing such a broadcast. Together we can turn this slap in the face into a mandate by the public that this process is supposed to be serving. Contact Information: Mike Murray, DFO CAHA FACA mike_murray@nps.gov Gordon Myers, executive director of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission gordon.myers@ncwildlife.org Patrick Paquette RegNeg Committee Member Recreational Fishing Alliance There used to be a thing called the "Star Chamber." This is a definition from Wickpedia: "In modern usage, legal or administrative bodies with strict, arbitrary rulings and secretive proceedings are sometimes called, metaphorically or poetically, star chambers. This is a pejorative term and intended to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the proceedings." Warren Judge, Chairman of the Dare County Board Of Commissioners, asked the Federal Advisory Committee, known as RegNeg, for permission to videotape the proceedings for broadcast on the county's cable TV channel. Southern Environmental Law Center, Defenders of Wildlife, National Audubon Society, The National Park Service, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission all voted against the request. This reminds me of something I learned from my Mother, "If you are not willing to say it in "public," don't say it in "private." The argument that these members put forth was that it might slow the progress of the committee. You have to have some progress in order to slow it. And while we are on the subject of things the “public” does not know, we need to look at the NPS, and their formal “rulemaking process,” which is running concurrently with the RegNeg process. I have a seat at the “table,” and I have no idea what they are thinking. A lot of time was spent on discussing the “leak” to the press that let Ocracoke Island know that there was a proposal on the table that would severely impact their economy. If someone had not let the “cat out of the bag,” the next time that the residents of Ocracoke would have had to address the committee would have been Oct. 21-22, some 42 days in the future. I don’t know about you, but I hate to play catch up. John Alley Hatteras On June 8, for the first time, I attended the meeting of the National Park’s negotiated rulemaking committee (RegNeg) at the Avon Fire Station. It was a very informative meeting. It was also humorous. It was much better than any comedy I have watched on TV for many a year. The meeting centered on the subcommittee’s report to the main committee concerning regulations that would apply to off-road vehicles. There were two topics I found very interesting. One was the ticketing of people who did not have the designated amount of air pressure in their tires, and the other one was taking a nap on the beach. The majority of time for this report was spent in discussing giving tickets to people for napping in their vehicles or just napping on the beach at anytime. It seems this is a real problem and necessitates hours of additional discussion. As I listened to each member of the committee give his or her views, I could imagine all kinds of tickets being passed out to the public if they caught anyone with their eyes closed. I, for one, would probably be ticketed often for I enjoy going to the beach, sitting in my beach buggy, watching the waves, and feeling the ocean breezes. Time after time, I find myself napping. To some it now seems that anytime you close your eyes on the beach it constitutes an infraction of the no sleeping on the beach law. I would welcome the opportunity, at age 77, for some park ranger to take me before a judge because I fell asleep on the beach. I am sure the judge would get a kick out it, as well as the news media. Wonder if I would be allowed to nap in jail? Below is a copy of a portion of the report that was provided to those present at the committee meeting that deals with what was designated as the outstanding topic for discussion. Read it and make your own determination as to what kind of action should be taken against those who dare to nap on the beaches of atteras and Ocracoke islands. From the subcommittee report: As the topic of napping and short-term sleeping on the beach remains under discussion by the subcommittee, it is not included in the document above. Due to enforcement challenges, this topic is closely linked to the topic of camping on the beach. Related issues and concerns raised include: • Equity: those on the beach without vehicles are permitted to nap, so those with vehicles should also be allowed to do so. • Brief Interludes: desire for those who drive to the beach for a long day of fishing to be allowed to nap while awaiting the tide or other conditions. • Enforcement: Want regulations that are enforceable. Assuming that camping anywhere on the beach is not allowed for a variety of reasons, because it is difficult for rangers to make a distinction at night between those who are truly camping and those napping, allowing napping at all makes the no camping regulation difficult to enforce. I have not attended all of these meetings, but I wonder if there have been any discussions about the weightier matters that are facing these islands -- subjects as the extreme hardships that are being placed on families who no longer have work because of the loss of revenues as a result of beach closures, the killing off of all the cats, coons, dogs, and anything else that is considered to be a predator of bird eggs or chicks, the intimidation of the public by gun-toting park rangers, the destruction of the natural beauty of the islands by unsightly signs and road blockage, the chasing away of tourist by over checking and ticketing them, and the changing of the traditional way of life on the slands. Dewey Parr Buxton Well, the wheel goes round and round. As predicted by a large number of folks, the aftermath of the "lack of consent decree" is that the spin masters of the environmental groups feel no need to negotiate in good faith after their fiat victory in the courts. Their obstruction of any reasonable position is supported by the decree and takes away the motivation for the negotiation's success. Naturally, the open beach faction is impelled to vigorously defend every inch of status quo that they can. Even the alleged good faith facilitator, the National Park Service, has been compromised by the positions taken by the Department of the Interior in its obvious collusion with the DOW, SELC, et al, ad nauseum. One is left to wonder what real function is left to pursue at a negotiated settlement. One is left to wonder how long the good people of Hatteras and Ocracoke can contain their anger at this concerted effort to "change the rules" and deprive so many God-fearing, hard-working folks the only way to survive they have known. One also wonders how the instigators of this situation manage to sleep well at night as their victims lose sleep over how to feed their families. Lawrence Cullen Buxton Finally, someone has been able to concisely define the situation on the Outer Banks in terms that even a judge should be able to understand. Thank you, Dr. Berry, for your guest columns. Harold Lester Richmond The beach dilemma and access battle, is undoubtedly crushing native Outer Bankers economically. It is denying people access to one of the most wonderful fishing and natural experiences on this planet. I have visited and fished often and have never seen native or visitor misbehave or disrespect the privilege of being on the beach. Peter VanHorn West Terre Haute, Ind. Very much appreciate the information that you got out to us about negotiated rulemaking. Of course, they'd rather manage the news. That's why they don't want in videotaped. It's hooey to say they don't have television experience. What most folks know is that when the camera starts rolling, one gets used to it and tends to forget it's even there. Gloria Van Nostrand Louisville, Ky. Marcy Brenner, breast cancer survivor My wife and I, as well as her adult children, went to the funeral of a friend who lost her life to the evil cancer. My brother-in- law, neighbor, and friend at our church lost their lives, but my sister-in-law and old friend in Hatteras beat the odds and that is the reason I watched Marcy Brenner’s video. I applaud her faith and strength. Thank God there are folks like Marcy to shine the light. Stew Kellum Kernersville, N.C. ‘Nights in Rodanthe’ coming to a theater near you I am very excited to see this movie when it hits theaters on Sept. 26. I have talked with a few NCDOT ferry employees who informed me that they provided voice-overs and served as extras for the film. I know that they'll be excited to see the great results of their efforts when they view the film in its final form. Personally, I travel to the Outer Banks quite a bit as a NCDOT employee, and I can't wait to see all the beauty of the Outer Banks brought to life in film. I absolutely love Richard Gere and Diane Lane together in films, so I am very excited to see them in this one. I'm certain that “Nights in Rodanthe” will be just one of many movies that North Carolina can be quite proud of, and I'm so glad that those who worked on the film will get an opportunity to view this movie before its nationwide debut. Congratulations to the Outer Banks area on a job well done! Donna Murphy Raleigh, N.C. Island Cooking Be still my heart! These recipes sound wonderful. I am copying them now to send to my sister. Hope to be on the island in May. (Also visiting in another week.) M.L. Wheeless Highland Spring, Va. A first anniversary for The Island Free Press It's hard to believe a year has passed since you first began this adventure. As a summer visitor and property owner, I look forward to each new edition and news from Hatteras. I really enjoyed the slide show. Continued success with The Island Free Press! Nancy Marsh Plantation, Fla. Congratulations on the super success of this, the most informative and well-written source on every aspect of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Without you and your partners, a lot of people would be left in the dark about all the issues (and other stuff) you all have covered because of biased, shortsighted local news (if any), especially here in the Richmond, Va., area. Thanks again! Stand tall and stay strong! Jill Marshall Ashland, Va. Congratulations on your first full year! Thank you for keeping us connected through the long winter. The Island Free Press is a blessing we gratefully receive every day! Charlotte Zovistoski Florida, N.Y. New Letters to the Editor....09.08.2008 9:15 am Featured Letter: The birding truth
I started bird watching when I was about 13. That would be, to my amazement, 44 short years ago. My mom and dad had a birdfeeder set up outside our kitchen window. There we would sit together and try to identify the many feathered visitors. We lived in the country, so we got a nice mixture of birds. Chickadees, tufted titmouse, red bellied woodpeckers, purple finches, and many others delighted us with their daily visits. It was during this time I received my first bird identification book as a birthday present – “The Field Guide to North American Birds,” by the National Audubon Society. It was a maze of birds when I first opened it. Trying to find a particular bird in it seemed to be impossible. However, little by little, I started to learn particular characteristics about the different types of birds. These traits would quickly bring me into the right area of the book. The next big step in my birding experience happened when I was 15. I started bow hunting. I loved the cool quietness of the woods, the smell of the leaves, and all the woodland wildlife that lived there. Best of all was the wonderful new world of birding I found. As a bow hunter, I would stand motionless in a tree for hours and I became a part of the woods. The wonderful part of this was that I started seeing all kinds of woodland birds. Many times, I would hear a bird far off, and then have it feed through the woods right up to my tree. If I stayed perfectly still, they would often land so close that I could have reached out and touched them. My first redheaded woodpecker sighting was a real treat. A Copper’s hawk silently gliding through the trees like a fighter plane was an amazing thing to watch. Ever so slowly, I even started to be able to identify birds by their songs and calls. The next awakening in my birding came about 20 years ago. I started spending a lot of time at the ocean. What a wonder to discover another whole world of birds. Ocean birding started off similar to the birding I did when bow hunting. While trying my best to learn how to catch a fish, I was able at the same time to spend hours watching, enjoying, and trying to identify the different types of birds. I loved it. The feeling at the ocean was exhilarating. Little by little, I stared learning the difference between a ring-billed gull and a herring gull. I learned to spot a gannet as it dived for super. The little sanderlings reminded me of the chickadees – small quickly moving birds that when you remained still, would almost eat out of your hand. The rare sighting an oystercatcher was a truly a treat. Terns would sail over your head as they looked for food. Willets plucked sand fleas ever so skillfully from the water’s edge. Brown pelicans soared gently over the cresting waves in a way that was mystically effortless. I found the pelicans exciting no matter how many times I saw them go by. But then something happened. It was like nothing I had experienced in my many years of enjoying nature and birding. I started hearing that my fellow birders were saying that I have been recklessly driving over bird nests, that I have been mindlessly running over birds, and that my driving on the beach has caused a decline in birds at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The more I heard, the more I became offended and troubled by what was being said. I have been a birder for more than 40 years. And, yes, I do drive on the beach to go birding and to fish. But to say that I have driven over nests, have callously driven over birds, and disregarded their safety in the process, is a statement I am horrified by. To even imply that I have stood idly by as others destroyed nests, drove over birds, or carelessly killed helpless chicks, and that I never told a soul about it, just plain burns me. I can honestly say that in my 20 years as a seashore birder/fisherman, I have never run over a nest or a bird. Nor have I seen a nest or bird injured by someone else driving on the beach. I have, in fact, always been pleased that the nesting areas have been roped off. They have been roped off for at least the 20 years that I have been birding at the ocean. I go to the ocean because I truly find serenity and beauty there. I can only hope that you, the reader, will realize that I respect the birds. I love the fishing and nature on the seashore and driving the beach is my way to get to this beauty. I have not driven aimlessly, destroying wildlife, nor have I seen others doing this. The wildlife is what brings us to Hatteras in the first place. Mike Benedetti Mechanicsville, Va. Beach Access Issues I am very disheartened to hear about the closing of your beautiful beaches. I used to go down once a year to get the chance to drive and fish down there and loved it. I have not been able to do that for the last few years and have been yearning to return. I was all set to bring a new friend to show her all the wonder and freedom I found there. These are things we too are losing at home where we live. (I also no longer go north to Cape Cod, even though my family has a house there, because of their closings and restrictions.) But I now have changed my plans and will not be visiting your Outer Banks and what was once a wonderful place to enjoy and truly loved. You have no idea how I feel, but I am very sad about this and the fact I will not be able to share what I once found with someone I've told so much about it. I'll do what I can to spread the word and pray to God you find some help and level heads prevail. Dan Horning Lewes, Del. As a former Virginia State game warden for 20 years, I don't understand how walkers and dogs have anything to do with ORV restrictions. In Virginia we were required to have proof before enforcing any law. I was under the impression that this also applied to the federal government. Cameron Gray Burkesville, Va. I recommend that NPS utilize automated cameras at the nesting sites. It seems that the cost and management of the cameras would be insignificant compared to the benefit that would be gained. They are portable, so they can be moved and set up at sites as needed. They can be adjusted to record pictures only if someone or something violates the area surrounding the nests. The cameras can be visited daily by the Park Service to retain pictures, since they are out there every day anyway. I see hunters using these more often to find good game trails> Perhaps they can be used for the opposite purpose here -- for protecting animals while opening more access to pedestrians and ORVs. The challenge will be to affix the cameras to something that is relatively secure from vandalism (affix GPS tracking unit for further security), ocean, or weather, but so that they can be moved by truck to storage or to another nesting spot. This might be a good way to deter potential violators, while capturing good data on what really has affected the nest. Much of what is reported seems to be reactive guess work, rather than proactive fact collection. John Fitzgerald Hatfield, Pa. How do we let a few special interest groups ruin the enjoyment of finding secluded beaches we can enjoy with our families? After enjoying staying in Buxton for 29 years with nearly 20 family members, we decided it’s not worth the hassle of jockeying for position on crowded beaches. Thanks for the memories, and this year I’m going bird hunting. Aaron Rohr Boonsboro, Md. “Nights in Rodanthe’ coming to theaters soon I am thrilled about this. We come to Rodanthe every year and love it almost as much as I love Richard Gere. I can't wait to see this film in Pittsburgh. What a blessing for Rodanthe and Hatteras Island. What is more beautiful than that area? Sondra Wolff Bethel Park, Pa. A first anniversary for The Island Free Press First, congratulations on your first anniversary! Second, thank you for publishing the administrative history of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (on Beach Access Issues Page). I am printing the first 100 pages right now. It will be good reading material while Hanna makes her way up the coast! Thank you again. Hope to run into you on the beach during a rally to celebrate the passing of a certain law in Congress. Jan Ellis Eldersburg, Md. Thank you, Irene and staff, for your consistency in keeping us informed. We may not always be able to be in Hatteras physically, but our hearts are with you consistently! Jeanie Wright Chesapeake, Va. Here's to a thousand more. Thanks. Kenneth Murrow Greensboro, N.C. Congratulations on your first anniversary! We appreciate all that you and your staff have done to keep us informed on all the issues and on the superb product you put out. The articles, slide shows, and comments are thoughtful and well done. Look forward to many celebrating many more anniversaries with the IFP. Gloria Van Nostrand Louisville, Ky. CONGRATULATIONS! Tony and Ann Ianuario Jefferson, Ga. Congratulations! And thank you! The Island Free Press has been the right thing at the right time. Whenever we talk to folks who love the beaches, we tell them to go to you for the latest news. Again, thank you and all the best in the future. Jim and Paula Brown Baltimore, Md. Congratulations to you and your team for an outstanding year of coverage on the issues of interest and importance to those of us who cannot live there year round. Our family has followed over 40 years of news coverage on Hatteras, and nothing we have ever seen competes with the quality and thoroughness of the Free Press. Hats off to you, and we hope to be reading the Free Press for years to come. Keith and Jeri Bechly Dallas, Tex. A fantastic lead picture of “Please Help Us.” The slide show was awesome. It brought back a lot of memories, especially of those who have passed. Thanks for including some of my pictures. I hated to see the slide show end. Lynne Murray Frisco New Letters to the Editor....09.01.2008 10:15 am Guest column: Science and the consent decree Thank you for this article. It is well researched, well written, and quite compelling. Dr. Berry’s articles are a breath of fresh air! Steve Coleman Severna Park, Md. All of the articles that I have read from Dr. Berry are dead on. I wish he would have gone to speak at the Senate subcommittee hearing instead of Daniel Wenk, deputy director of The National Park Service, who just threw everybody under the bus -- the people who live there, the people who work there. Jessie Glovier Pittsburgh, Pa. Thank you, Dr. Berry, for explaining plainly the situation we are confronting. Please keep up the good work. It's very important that people know and understand that most information presented as "best available science" is presented as such because true science does not support what these people want the general public to believe. Joe Reynard Asheville, N.C. This is an excellent article written by a knowledgeable and open-minded individual who endeavors to see the right decisions made using sound, scientific research instead of the knee-jerk, biased rulemaking currently being enforced under the consent decree. Thank you, Dr. Berry. David and Barbara Howell Wilson, N.C. Great column. Thanks to The Island Free Press and Dr. Berry again. This helps answer a bunch of questions for me. I noticed several weeks ago after the Senate hearing that a specific document was listed as a basis for the night time closures. This was "Management and Protection Protocols for Nesting Sea Turtles on Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina." I was curious as it was tagged as created by the U.S. Geological Survey. I dug around for a few days on their expansive online library to try and find it and came up empty. Then I sent a few emails to them. My first contact with USGS said she was also unable to find anything. She recommended I contact the main USGS library in Reston, Va. I did this, and they were also unable to find this document. You know how they finally found it? They asked the National Park Service for it - and they had a copy. This seemed pretty ridiculous to me that they could not even find it, since they created it. This is starting to make more sense. Chris Nowak Wake Forest, N.C. Thank you, Dr. Berry for a very well written and informative article. We need to do away with negotiated rulemaking now! Toby Turner Chesapeake, Va. Right on. Protocols are simply a literature review that provides the National Park Service with summarized data and preliminary suggestions to be considered in conjunction with other appropriate data. "These protocols do not attempt to balance the need for protection of these species with other activities that occur at CAHA, nor was NPS management policy considered in detail. A draft of the protocols was sent to species experts for scientific review; the final draft of protocols was reviewed by NPS personnel to ensure that description of recent management at CAHA was accurately represented and that the approach was consistent with our work agreement." The reason is quite clear. The recommendations did not attempt to balance the need for protection with recreation and did not consider NPS policies. "These protocols do not attempt to balance the need for protection of these species with other activities that occur at CAHA, nor was NPS management policy considered in detail." Furthermore, the authors note the "published scientific data on which management is based is often incomplete and less specific to the particular location of species under management than is desirable." Hence, USGS emphasis on monitoring and using the site specific data collected from the process. Finally, the protocols note the type of review conducted. It was not and is never referred to as a peer review, but rather a review for purposes of determining accuracy of the summaries of the literature and consistency with the work order from NPS. You will not find the words "peer review" anywhere in the protocols. "A draft of the protocols was sent to species experts for scientific review; the final draft of protocols was reviewed by NPS personnel to ensure that description of recent management at CAHA was accurately represented and that the approach was consistent with our work agreement." Ginny Luizer Buxton Thanks again, Dr. Berry. You have once again provided us with the truth with regard to the consent decree, the way in which it came to be, and how we should move forward. Our representatives on the negotiated rulemaking committee should follow his advice to the letter. I have made public comment at the past four RegNeg meetings and have called for peer review of the science used every time. And I doubt we'll ever see it until another tactic is chosen. I implore Dr. Berry to take up our cause and lead us forward in a way that may actually do some good for all who cherish access to our recreation area. Maybe what we need is a citizens’ group to be formed outside of RegNeg to pursue our goal of free and open beaches while maintaining protections of our resources, including the birds and turtles. How can we pursue the call for a full peer review of the science? What can be done to get a Congressional judicial review of the proceedings held in Judge Boyle's court that hatched the consent decree? Who do we call to have the many infractions of federal rules of process investigated? Where do we file the lawsuit to rid us of the consent decree, based on the numerous facts that Dr. Berry points out in his article? We need someone to raise the flag and lead us into the battlefield of federal rulemaking, based on sound science. We need Dr. Berry. With his background in science, working within the federal system for decades and maybe above all, and his experience as a Special Forces commander in Vietnam, I see him as the best person to counteract this hijacking of our beloved Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area. Mike Stokes Kill Devil Hills As always, Dr. Berry presents a very sound thinking and action process. Following his suggestions may take longer than we want to return the beach to the public, but may prevent anything like decrees (consent or not) from recurring in any category of freedoms. Not being very "savvy" about politics, processes, or lines to follow, someone needs to show me how to effectively do my part. Thanks. Jill Marshall Ashland, Va. Great job! This is a much more scholarly treatment of what I have been saying all along. The science that was used as a basis for the consent decree and what the rabid animal rights people have been using is corrupt, invalid, and untested by peer review. That alone should be enough to make the ruling invalid. Ask again - what would Martin Luther King or Gandhi do? Bert Smith Richmond, Va. Excellent article. Problem is that science is no longer being taught in the proper manner and the principles that once governed "good" science are thrown out for the "greater good" even though it's factually flawed. It's what happens when environmentalism has taken the place of religion in their lives. It is now a "belief" system rather than a rational effort to understand the interactions of man and nature. Wilmer Lankford Fairplay, Md. More beach access issues I am a non-resident owner of a small business in Hatteras village and an alternate on the negotiated rulemaking committee that was convened in order to regulate the access of ORVs to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, in a way that would comply with the presidential executive orders 11644 and 11989, which regulate the priorities for all national parks. I would like to address some of the concerns listed at the meetings during the public feedback periods and share what I concluded from the workings of the Committee. 1. I heard the public expressing concern that a limitation of ORV access would affect the economy of the villages in a significant way. This appears to me to be an unfounded fear. I had closely followed the islands’ economy for three years before investing in a rental property in 1997. Since then, I continued to carefully monitor it. The economy has continued to grow very strongly, even before Hurricane Isabel – when the ORV access to beaches was limited and driving along the park was not a consideration. 2. I have routinely asked the renters of my cottage for feedback on the quality of the property as well as on the attractions – or lack thereof – that made them visit the villages and the park. I was never told that limited ORV access to the beaches was a reason of displeasure. On the contrary, I was informed by many of my customers – non-drivers as well as drivers – that they may not rent again in the future, if they become exposed to driving or parking on the beaches of the villages – the so-called pedestrian beaches. I encourage the local businesses that live on tourism to ask their customers, individually and in confidence, and to rely on such information and on the history of the islands’ economy, rather than on unsubstantiated concerns. 3. I was also intrigued by the repeated complaint that the community suffers from being unable, day after day, to access the beaches because of limitations due to wildlife protection. During the past 14 years, I never witnessed or experienced anything of the sort. This past August, the beaches have been more crowded than at any other time I can recall. I found an interruption that obliged me to detour on Highway 12 around a turtle nest (It was my decision to continue my walk north to the Frisco pier,), but with these detours I could access all the beach I wanted during the entire two weeks that I spent at Hatteras village. 4. I also heard about “traditions” and a specific culture of the islands. I heard how grandparents and great-grandparents had treasured their beaches. Probably I will be told that I am out of place in saying this, but I suspect that those past generations who loved gathering around beach fires or angling on the surf were doing so on beaches like the one running from Hatteras village to the Frisco pier; not on the heavily scarred beach that one can see at the Hatteras Inlet! I am a grandparent and I deeply love the villages. I wish I could talk to those grandparents and great grandparents. Probably many would join me in shaking our old heads at the many changes that massive tourism has brought to the islands and that deeply changed their old culture and history. 5. The ORV issue was fueled by demands raised by a component of that constituency after Hurricane Isabel changed the shape of several beaches. I came to realize that the ORV constituency is a mixture of business and recreation, and it is also made up of two groups, with their specific requests -- the group that would like to access the beaches in order to park, fish, or simply have a party; and the group that demands unimpeded driving along the entire park (except Pea Island). I am in support of recreational access to selected areas. My ORV driving customers have consistently indicated that the areas available before Isabel were sufficient. We should request the park authorities to try and keep these areas open all year to ORV access, with due limitations from wildlife protection. I have arrived at the firm conclusion that the park should be permanently closed to recreational ORV driving. My position is consistent with the national status of the park, protected by clear presidential decrees that should be the guiding decision-making rod for the park superintendents. It is also consistent with the findings of the damage caused by ORV driving in 75 Parks around the country, as reflected in the documents of the court case filed in 1999 by Bluewater, NPCA, and WCPR -- a damage that would seriously and permanently affect our business. Finally, it is consistent with our growing understanding of the need to protect our natural resources as a precious heritage to the next generations, and to conserve energy. 6. ORV driving should be permanently allowed, whenever requested by local conditions, to commercial fishermen. It should also be available to owners of registered sporting businesses – as surfers, windsurfers, and the like -- who may need access and limited driving to selected beaches in order to accommodate their customers. Vincenzo Sanguineti Philadelphia, Pa. I have been coming to the Outer Banks (Buxton and Frisco) for 30 years. The first 15 or so was entirely fishing, the last for fishing and walking the beach with my wife and friends. We come twice a year and look forward to it a great deal. On the one hand, the restrictions on driving to the Point are a nuisance. On the other hand, we want to maintain a high degree of wildness and beauty and expanded viewing of wildlife. Frankly, I do trust your efforts to balance out the competing needs and desires, recognizing that none will be completely satisfied. Thus, since the needs of turtles and birds have been in a minor position for a long time, restoring a balance will require some restriction on past practices. A footnote: Last November two of us discovered a large turtle on the beach in the late afternoon, apparently dead. But while we watched and considered calling the wildlife folks, it showed some eye movement. We picked it up and moved it to the edge of the surf and held her there. At first, there was no movement, but she, then it began to try to swim, and it moved her to deeper water. I will always remember and be grateful for that experience. David A. Patterson Knoxville, Tenn. The public’s business should be public (In Aug. 18 editor’s column, “Shooting the Breeze,” on front page) We all need to be kept informed, even if we disagree. How else can you make educated decisions about an issue that threatens the very nature of what makes Cape Hatteras the unique and wonderful place that it is. Rick Clark Galena, Ohio Why do the environmental groups have a problem with the public knowing what is happening, at all levels, in a public process? The environmental groups complain about access groups using the media in the negotiation process. That makes me wonder if all the “editorials” that have appeared in the papers, which all praised the “consent decree” as the savior of all wildlife, were they just random occurrences, or just a well-oiled machine? If we look at the heart of regulatory negotiations, it is “negotiation not litigation.” Defenders of Wildlife and Audubon Society, with Southern Environmental Law Center as counsel, accept seats at the “table,” only they come armed with a federal judge, who has stated in court that he considers vehicle access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area illegal and would be willing to “shut it all down.” It’s all explained in a joke I heard the other day. “Farmer hears a lot of noise in the hen house, so he grabs his shotgun and goes out to see what’s up. He finds a fox coming out of the hen house with a bag full of chickens. The fox holds the bag of chickens up in front of him and tells the farmer, “Hey wait a minute. I have all these chickens. Let’s negotiate.” John Alley Hatteras Ocracoke’s South Point opens again Great news! South Point has always been a favorite fishing hole for us. Let us hope that we can return to open access year around. Rick Clark Galena, Ohio Bodie Island spit reopens Well, isn't that generous? One day before the last weekend of the season, when it will rain most of it, we could, if we are fast enough, enjoy any of the best fishing spots on the islands. Somehow I don't think this makes up for all the heartache this summer, now does it? Bert Smith Richmond, Va. Waterspout off the Buxton Beach While vacationing at my sister's house on Kohler Road in Hatteras village about 10 years ago, I photographed a waterspout out over the sound one afternoon. I understand from some fishermen that it "rained" fish for a couple of minutes in the immediate vicinity. Jarvis Harding Latham Columbia, S.C. Awesome pictures! I was already at work when this popped up. I think these are the best pictures I've seen of a waterspout yet! Thanks for putting them where I could find them. Donna Tokazowski Hatteras Thanks for the great pictures. Events like this show what a unique location Hatteras Island is. Jim and Paula Brown Baltimore, Md. On my way to Avon from Buxton this morning, I saw the funnel cloud as I pulled out of the driveway and watched it as I drove down the road from about the cement plant to the Point. By that time, it had gone. As some one said, "It was wild." I wondered all day if it actually was one. Thanks for the article to confirm it. Bev Burroughs Buxton Far out! Joe Ward Louisville, Ky. Avon movie theater is closing for the season It is a shame that the theater will close. We residents enjoyed being able to go there, especially in the winter. I was looking forward to seeing several upcoming movies, including, “Nights in Rodanthe.” I’m so sorry. Cathy Moir Buxton It was sad to hear that the Avon theater will be closing before the premier of “Nights in Rodanthe.” You'd think the owners would have held out for that one, especially since so many locals were involved with the making of the movie. You'd also think that the production company would have had more fun premiering the film here instead of New York ! Their loss. Catherine T. James Buxton The weird world of Big Wave Dave The movie theater is a wonderful idea and addition to the island. I might suggest that a children's and/or teen evening be included. I am sorry that the Avon theater is closing, but it was very difficult to find a good, wholesome movie for kids to see on any given day. Shaun Gerhard Buxton Frisco Jubilee I was feeling a little smooth and for some reason, I Googled the name Mahlon Blue, a guy I met in Richmond in 1971, while awaiting an airplane to Army basic training. Great name, you know? Just came to mind. Whew! John Doyle Palm Coast, Fla. |
July 2008 Letters To The Editor
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