October 2009 Letters to the Editor |
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New Letters to the Editor....10.21.2009 4:05 pm
Guest Column: Is there a National Oceans Council in our future?
To Dennis Gray: I thank you for bringing this issue to light. It is only through constant awareness can we prevent this sort of lunacy from running us down. The thought of the U.N. or any other organization superseding the Constitution is abhorrent. Thanks again for your hard work and for caring! Lee Leonard Crozet, Va. As was said by one of our "distinguished" congresswomen when Judge Clarence Thomas was going through confirmation to the Supreme Court, "It is the seriousness of the charge, not the nature of the evidence, that matters most." Facts are not needed to tell horror stories. Put one part of a fact into the mix, and there would be credible science to argue with. Want to see the other shoe? Do the search on the World Wide Web about the Copenhagen Climate Conference and Treaty 2009 Jim Harris Southern Shores Great article. I wasn't aware that this was going on. I'm an avid surf fisherman when I visit Hatteras and have always vacationed on the island. To think that someday I would not be able to surf fish is a horrible thought. I practice catch and release and respect the wildlife as well as the beaches and Mother Nature. I don't think it's the local fishermen and small fishing villages that surround our nation's coasts that are the concern. It's the "factory fishing trawlers" far out in the ocean that are the problem. The oceans are overfished, that's for sure, because of these huge processing ships that scoop up everything in their path and kill and discard what is not wanted. It's a vicious cycle. This is where the government has to step in, put more regulations on "factory fishing," and leave the small fishing communities alone. Hatteras lives off the fishing industry, both commercial and recreational. It's not fair to put regulations on the local fisherman who are just trying to earn an honest living The government has to look at the bigger problem and it's miles away from Hatteras. Even though I live in Ohio, I stand with you, the fishermen of Hatteras, because you have always made me feel welcome when I visit and fish the banks. Respect! Kurt Maschmeier Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Kids catch fish and raise money for cancer patients This is such a wonderful event for the kids and the cause. I remember in 1960 on our first visit, we camped and at the lighthouse campground. My dad had only freshwater fishing gear and was a great lake and river fisherman. However, nothing could have prepared us for the surf fishing fun with a 5-foot rod. Dad caught tons of flounder that year, and we learned to clean and eat them at camp. I have never forgotten that experience. Priceless! Hope these kids will bring their kids for years to come. Thanks to all who made it happen! No boom boxes, no rap, no rock --just squid, cut mullet, and a rod. Steve Fowee Cincinnati, Ohio Another kite in the lines and another power outage Any and all such incidents may, in fact, be accidents. That said, if you drive into a telephone pole, are you not responsible for repair of the damage? Of course you are, its just you don't notice it because the insurance pays for it. Thus, it is not wrong or punitive to charge for the cost of repairs. I would much rather see kiteboarders charged than see them banned. We have enough government infringement on our personal lives. We don’t need more. Virginia Luizer Frisco Park Service hosts celebration of historic lighthouse move A historic event, indeed. My family and I were there as visitors on July 9, 1999 to witness this momentous occasion. Thanks to a gentleman named Cotter Porter who was a heavy equipment operator during this process. I have possessed a T-shirt since that historic day that is signed by the crew who moved this lighthouse. Amazing feat that will allow future generations to reflect upon. Ron Cross Ravenswood, W.Va. Asian tiger shrimp in Pamlico Sound? My husband caught one here in Buras, La. It is about 9 inches long. I have it in an aquarium right now. If you can give me any information on this shrimp, please call me at 504-912-0898 or 504-912-0732. Victoria Evans Buras, La. Guest column on offshore drilling No drill-no spill! Still true today. The beaches of the entire right coast and countless sealife would be jeopardized so oil companies could pocket the bucks. Jim Brown Baltimore, Md. No where have I seen comments or questions by/for the "experts" concerning the transference of the generated power to the main power grid. How many properties will be condemned to dig lines to transfer this power? How much will that cost the taxpayer? I suspect this concern is just one of many that have deliberately not been mentioned. T.A. Allocca Duck, N.C. Thanks to The Island Free Press Thank you for The Island Free Press. My family and I had not visited Hatteras Island in four years, so it was almost like coming home. We found out about the Island Free Press from Kate Pullen during a photo session with Kate and Dan for our daughter's senior pictures. It was a great family trip. So great that we decided to come back down over Thanksgiving. Thanks again and keep up the good work. Robert Bucks Bainbridge, Pa. Thanks to all from Carey LeSieur Foundation The Carey LeSieur Foundation Bucket Party and Brigands’ Bay Block Party happened together on Sept. 26. I want to thank all the people who helped make this possible. Allow me to start by sending my personal thanks to the Brigands’ Bay Homeowners Association for co-sponsoring the combination “Block Party and Bucket Party” fundraiser for the Carey LeSieur Foundation. Our neighbors in Brigands’ Bay are no strangers to block parties, which have been held for the past seven years. The Directors of BBHA chose to co-sponsor the fundraiser, and this became a wonderful collaboration. Thank you to BBHA directors and the BBHA members. Your assistance has allowed the fund to increase even more. For those of you who thought the day was gloomy, you missed out on a really fun loving afternoon. Food was served around 4:30 p.m. People came in droves and they stayed to hear the entertainment in the evening. Our weather held out for 2 1/2 hours. By 7 o’clock, a light sprinkle started. But in those 2 1/2 hours, the Bucket Party raised $2,600 for the Carey LeSieur Foundation. I want to thank my family and friends for all the help they provided. Some family members drove greater than 11 hours each way just to spend Saturday helping put on the party. They included my cousin Gail DeMeola, who suggested we make baskets and do a raffle on them. This was a great idea and a huge success. Sandra Crabtree and Susan Wyche sold the foundation T-Shirts and worked the silent action while my cousin Gail and neighbor Dee Jensen went around selling ribbons of tickets for the raffles. We believe that raffling baskets is the way to go. While all this was going on, the Summertime Blues Band arrived. They did a song for their sound check and announced they would be back after cleaning up. What a teaser. The band came back and what a performance. I can not thank them enough. The people who came to enjoy the food and company stayed to listen to the wonderful entertainment. Steve Magliano (akaMags or Rocky), thank you for offering your band to play at the party and to the rest of the band members -- Lane Dupont, Jason Conley, Jack Quidley, and Grandy Hooper -- you guys are the best! There are many volunteers behind the scene who need to be mentioned. All of them are friends and never ask for anything in return. The Frisco Volunteer Fire Department lets us borrow their tables. Our Lady of the Seas Catholic Church also lets us borrow tables, tents, and chafing dishes. Special thanks to Jimmy Pitetti who let us borrow his slow cooker this year since Dr. Bentley Crabtree’s cooker developing a case of high cholesterol. Don’t worry – its undergoing treatment and may be back next year. Thanks also to Sandra and Bentley Crabtree who helped me this year with travel to Virginia Beach for supplies and for their support and to my neighbors, who always rise to the occasion and who came early Saturday morning to help set up. There are so many in this neighborhood who come year after year to help us with the set up of the parties, that it was said by Dr Crabtree that “We have a well-oiled machine when we throw the block party.” The tents, tables, chafing dishes, extension cords, crock pots, and everything else that goes out into the yards for the gathering was completed before the food was ready to serve. Special recognition goes to Dee Goldman, who is a lifesaver in my book. Dee made sure that the crowd wasn’t pestered by the nasty biting mosquitoes for our big day. Last, but by far not least, is Bill Shoemaker. This year Bill had asked if he could help out and do the cooking for me. I jumped on his offer. Bill started at 7 a.m., cooking for the entire gathering. My cousin Chuck DeMeola assisted Bill. I think they enjoyed each other’s company. As the butts and briskets were coming off the cooker, they headed up to the kitchen where my son, Stefan, daughter-in-law, Mila, and my nephew, John Pionzio, cleaned away the excess fat and proceeded to shred the meat. No one went home with an empty stomach. We went through 21 racks of ribs, eight pork butts, five beef briskets, about 12 pounds of fresh Polish kielbasa (which was donated by a neighbor Fred Brumble, who picks it up at a special deli up in the state of Delaware) We also served 14 pounds of barbecued chicken breast, 10 pounds of chicken legs, and over 250 homemade Italian meatballs with my homemade sauce. There was nothing left over. A special thanks to the following people who donated items for the silent auction and raffle: Jennifer Paddock -- The Salty Gourmet Dr Mead Slagle, DDS Dawn Wescoat -- Wood’s Oceanic Arts Jennifer Johnson -- Blue Pelican Susie Righter Buddy and Anne Swain Emily Terrell Scott Geib Tom Brooks Stephanie Kiker GeeGee Rosell -- Buxton Village Books John and Jill Lettieri -- Island Cycles Spa Koru Donna Thomas Anne Bowers -- Indian Town Gallery & Gifts Betty Greider Debbie and Dean Parsons from Ohio Brud and Anita Bills Chuck and Gail DeMeola from New Jersey Dave and Judy Lazenby Special recognition goes to all the cooks who brought side dishes for everyone to share. The assorted salads, cole slaw, beans, deviled eggs, and more were awesome. The deserts were out of this world. My niece, Nadine Pionzio, who is famous for her tiramisu, made three of them, and then there is Sherry Willis -- you make the best cheesecakes ever. Thanks to all who donated to the “Bucket.” Considering the way the economy is today, we did great for this wonderful foundation. We were all blessed to have Carey on our island. She would be proud of the support that is shown at these fundraisers in her memory. Anita Bills Frisco New Letters to the Editor....10.12.2009 7:45 am ‘Miss Governor’ Beverly Perdue visits Ocracoke School My parents were married in the same church (as Gov. Perdue’s son) in April of 1944. The teacher at the Ocracoke School (Helen Thomas) stood up for my mother. My father was stationed on Ocracoke for Beachjumper training. My parents lived on Ocracoke until my father's unit was commissioned in the fall of 1944. This little spot on the map means a lot to myself and my family. If anyone is interested, The United States Navy Beachjumper's Association is having their annual reunion and for this year, the dedication of their National Marker on Ocracoke in October. Here is a link to the Association's website: www.beachjumpers.com Bill Cochran Cambridge, Ohio The Bird Man: Frisco’s Lou Browning Your article about Lou Browning and his dedication to helping the wildlife of Hatteras Island is wonderful and well stated. So many times someone will see an injured animal or bird and think, "What a shame. But then, there are always more birds and animals, so if this one doesn't make it, that’s okay." Thankfully, Lou Browning is not one of those folks. Lou sees the true energy and essence of every wild creature he encounters; and he relates to those creatures with a degree of respect and caring that few people are capable of experiencing. From the horrific marsh mosquitoes to the elegant osprey, Lou appreciates all wildlife and understands our place in and impact on their lives. I have known Linda and Lou Browning since July, 1987, and meeting them certainly changed my life. I may have been one of their first rehabs! I admire them both for all the wonderful things they do and especially applaud Lou for having the inner desires and drive to dedicate himself to such a demanding, time and money consuming yet tremendously rewarding "hobby." John E. Wells Howard, Ohio State officials meet with residents to discuss wind energy proposals I live in the mountains of central Pennsylvania where we have many of these wind turbines. They are located primarily on the western slopes of our mountains where most of our weather approaches. Most here feel that they are majestic and are signs of the future and progress. Those who live near the turbines complain of the whooshing sound they produce, which becomes annoying and for some interferes with their daily lives. The “dark side” is present here also and voices loud concerns on behalf of the birds that “might” fly into the turbines’ blades. Presently the local communities are approving ordinances for homeowners to install smaller versions of the turbines on their property like the one in Kill Devil Hills near the library and the one a Coquina Beach. Some individual homeowners here report a 50 percent reduction of their electric bills with a 10-year return on investment. Personally the location of the proposed wind farm for the Pamlico sounds like a great experiment that overcomes the whooshing and likely the “dark side” issues. America needs to think about going forward not remaining in neutral. Mike Metzgar Roaring Spring, Pa. We want to thank the hundreds of people from Buxton and other areas of the Outer Banks who attended the coastal wind forum at Cape Hatteras Secondary School. We appreciate that you took time on a Friday morning to listen, learn and most importantly, voice your opinions about and expectations for coastal wind energy in North Carolina. We also wanted to express our appreciation to Gov. Beverly Perdue, Sen. Marc Basnight, Rep. Tim Spear, and other leaders for hosting the forum. We’re looking forward to working with them on this demonstration project, along with local leaders, residents, and with the Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative as we work to make this project a reality and bring clean, renewable electricity to the people of our state. Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll continue to share updates on our progress. We are committed to keeping you informed, and we hope that you will continue to share your questions, concerns, and ideas as we move forward. Carolyn Elfland Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Services UNC-Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, N.C. Jim Turner President and COO, U.S. Franchised Electric & Gas Duke Energy Charlotte, N.C. The Easterns came to Buxton for a pretty good week of surfing Thank you Daniel! Great photos.You make me wish I was there. (Okay, that's easy.) The right coast rocks. Jim Brown Baltimore, Md. Beach Access Issues and Park Issues I enjoyed the near nightly PBS broadcast of National Park documentary, “America’s Best Idea.” I've probably seen 20-plus hours of the series by now. I don't recall any reference to a change to the intended use and/or purpose of a national park. The documentary leads me to think that the park's creators would roll over in their graves if a special interest group dictated park access changes such as the ones being enforced at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Charles Peele Frisco (This is a copy of a letter to North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue.) It was great to meet you in person at Buxton and shake the hand of the governor for whom I voted. I know you enjoyed the rest of the day at your son’s wedding. That was a happy time. These islands of the Outer Banks are all about happy times for people. The beaches have a rich heritage of public use. Many generations of villagers and visitors have found the beaches necessary for recreational activities, relaxation, and commercial pursuits. The National Park Service has consistently destroyed bird habitat on the island beaches and continues to do so with its policies and actions. Every year the Park Service has established pre-nesting closures that lure birdlife to areas of habitat that are unsuitable for species survival. The seashore officials refuse to restore the good habitat that once existed. At the urging of outside organizations, the NPS manages the wildlife by the removal of human visitors from the beaches that are the major attraction of this park unit. Hundreds of mammals are declared predators and sacrificed each year by NPS trappers. The ocean beaches under NPS control are not hospitable to birdlife. These are recreational beaches subject to human activity. Natural predators abound on the beaches and in adjoining vegetation. Washover and swamping from heavy surf are normal during nesting season. Birdlife along the Carolina coast needs good, safe, habitat to survive. The state of North Carolina can provide this habitat by creating dredge spoil islands within the protected waters of Pamlico Sound. The experience with Cora June Island has been very successful for propagation of many bird species in a predator-free environment. Additional dredge islands have been proposed by two scientists -- Jonathan B. Cohen for piping plovers and Shiloh Schulte for American oystercatchers. It is critical that the state dredge a channel in Pamlico Sound from Ocracoke Inlet to Oregon Inlet. The channel need not be deep water. A depth of about 6 feet would serve. The channel should run completely in state waters, but close to the NPS boundary (usually 150 feet from shore). The dredge spoils from the operation would be used to create a string of barren islands to serve as bird habitat. Control of the bird islands needs to be under The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, since NPS would make no effort to maintain them. It is important that the spoil islands be close to the NPS boundary so that NCWRC can count birdlife on them, along with the ocean beaches, and consider them one population. There are many other advantages that would accrue from this long channel: 1. An additional bottom structure in these shallow waters would increase marine biodiversity and population. 2. Both commercial and recreational fishing would benefit. 3. Boating would be safer and access would be improved to all villages on the two islands. 4. The channel would provide for emergency boat traffic. As an illustration from our recent history: A fleet of private volunteer vessels was used daily to ferry construction and relief workers from Frisco to Hatteras village after Hurricane Isabel breached the island. The new inlet left Hatteras village completely isolated. Both Hatteras and Ocracoke islands are expected to overwash from future storms. Rapid replacement of infrastructure is not always possible when dealing with lands controlled by the NPS. The resource people viewed “Isabel Inlet” as fresh habitat that could not be disturbed. The best that NPS could offer was to promise a quick review of any permits sought by the state or county to construct a bridge or ferry landing. Fortunately for the villagers, Tom Ridge appeared and exercised his new Homeland Security power to order the inlet closed by dredge sand. Tom Ridge then told the obstructionists to get out of the way! We cannot always count on a Tom Ridge to come to our rescue. Even then the NPS caused a halt in the recovery operation by declaring that the dredge pipe could not pass through bird resting (not nesting) habitat. This halt proved to be only temporary, but is typical of the hardships created by the NPS for the island people. 5. The location of the dredge islands within North Carolina state waters would enable NCWRC to maintain quality of bird habitat, devoid of predators, by deposition of fresh sand and shell to control vegetation growth. The dredge island project lies completely within the power of the state of North Carolina. In an additional matter, I ask for your support of the federal legislation of HR718 and S1557 to return some level of sanity into the administration of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. Bob Davis Buxton Commentary: Park’s administrative history Wonderful article. Wish I was as eloquent. To support our side, I know that the people who fish and love the island are more concerned about the preservation of the OBX than any other folks out there. Unfortunately, we are a small group fighting a giant. The Trojan hourse worked for the Greeks. We just need to unite and do whatever we can to support the recreational use of the National Park. One thing I don't understand is why someone has not been encouraged to sumbit a discrimination suit in favor of disabled individuals who can not get to the beach without a vehicle. I'm a working, disabled vet, and my 58-year-old wife is in the process of filing for disability SS. She had to retire from her job 32 years because of her illness. She can't walk more than 20 to 30 feet. Accordingly, she can't walk to the beach, and I can't carry our gear. Even if they put in a wheel chair ramp at every walkover, I'd still need a park employee to help me get her to the beach. Think of the cost! I ask everyone to write your legislators, once again, to help get this issue resolved. Check the NCBBA and OPBA sites if you need additional information. John Sellers (aka Philly Jack) Harrisburg, Pa. Child slightly injured by ORV near Ramp 38 Thanks goodness the child is okay! My question: Where were the 7-year-old child's parents? Mike Metzgar Roaring Spring, Pa. Guest Column: Facts you need to know about coastal insurance My house has a special shingle installed per the Dade County Code, rated to 110 mph. The vinyl siding is heavier than usual and rated to 180 mph. All windows have crank-own metal storm blinds. All entry doors are solid wood and covered by a heavier than usual storm door with a dead-bolt lock. It will be interesting to see what, if any, break I get on premium. Ted Hamilton Salvo/Hampton, Va. Well, I just got my insurance bill – 14 percent increase, 5 percent deductible for storm damage, $2,500 deductible for other events. Oh, and, joy, they tell me I'm paying 60 percent more for living on the coast. I have checked the beach plan and guess that the last time I checked it, it was more expensive and had a wind exclusion. Even if it proves to be cheaper now, I have less confidence in a government-run program doing right by me in the long run than I do my private insurance, which grandfathered me in on wind, etc. All this and consider the fact that we haven't had any widespread damage from a hurricane or northeaster since 2003. Ginny Luizer Buxton Outer Banks Angling: Are we island fishermen really so lucky to be in the business? Rob ("Gen.Fish"),you hang in there, buddy. Hopefully, Derb and the devils will wander away to protect gnats somewhere else and the economy and fishing will pick up. "Tomorrow's gotta be a better day!"(Annie). " h sweah, Ah'll nevah go hungry again!" (Scarlett O'Hara). Hawk Hawkins Mechanicsville, Va. Great story! I have been a long-time surf fisherman at Hatteras and have always enjoyed it, even when the fish aren't biting. As for those who fish for a living, I see your concern and you make a good point. My dream is to live and work on Hatteras Island someday, so in my eyes, yes, you fisherman are so lucky, and I wish I too could live and work on the island. At the same time I feel for you guys who earn a living by fishing or running a tackle shop because of the bad economy. I came down to the island twice this year to fish, of course, but to also look for work and a place to live. I got my resume and name out there, but no luck so far. I'm going to keep trying, though, because I too want to be one of the "lucky ones." One of my theories about why the fishing this year is slow along the East Coast is that it could just be Mother Nature or it could be the factory fishing that goes on way out in the ocean on these huge processing ships. I do not support factory farming or "factory fishing" because of the inhumane way it is done. Also, these huge trawlers net up everything in their path and whatever is not wanted gets sent through a grinder and shot out the side of the ship back into the ocean. It's a horrible thing. So many species of fish are being killed for no reason, and it could be throwing off the ecological food chain and the way Mother Nature is supposed to work. That's why I like Hatteras so much -- because it has that old-school feel to it, and, for the most part, the people of the island respect fishing and use what is caught. I practice catch and release. This way it gives the fish another opportunity to live and can help with the population. If you work in the fishing industry, I realize you can't throw the fish back, you need to make the money from the fish you catch. There are ways, though, to cut down on the senseless killing of certain species and to help preserve the fishing industry. The oceans are overfished, and, unfortunately, this could have major effects on the fishing industry and the men and women who fish for a living. So to Rob and all the other Hatteras fishermen, I hope things improve for you and the fishing industry gets back on track. I do feel you all are so lucky to live in the banks because to me, and I'm sure to a lot of islanders, Hatteras and the Outer Banks are among the best place's to live. Kurt Maschmeier Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio First annual Bike the Light draws 100 zany riders Best fun fundraiser ever! Can’t wait until next year! Check out our new signs on our Buxton Back Road Pathway! A perfect celebration to christen our first pathway on Hatteras Island. Thank you, Dare County Health Department, Dare County Tourism Board, and, of course, Dare County. Here's to many more pathways connecting the community of Hatteras Island. Vicky G. Barris Buxton You guys are SUPER zany! Keep up the good work. Patty Smith Kitty Hawk Fisheries regulators considering ban on weakfish Don't you just love it? Gray trout show a big comeback this year and now they want to put a moratorium into effect! Remember scallops? They were next to impossible to find from 2004 to 2007, and the season opened every year. In 2007, the scallops were so thick that you couldn’t find clams, and they enact a moratorium. Yell, scream, and let the powers that be know that you won't take it anymore. Ginny Luizer Buxton, N.C. |
2009 Previous Letters to the Editor
September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 Please see the Archives Pages for Previous Years
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