Gaffer’s cooks Juss Criss, left, and James Stewart are the “dueling chefs” in the Dec. 15 cook-off in the Ocracoke Station. Photo by Laurie Death
By Connie Leinbach
The “Dueling Chefs” cook-off scheduled for tonight (Dec. 22) at 7 p.m. in the Ocracoke Station diner-deli has been canceled because the two chefs who were supposed to compete have not yet returned to the island from an Ocracoke School basketball tournament in South Carolina.
This fundraising event will continue Thursday, Dec. 29, starting at 7 p.m. with two guest cooks vying in an “Iron Chef”-type manner to create the best dish from the surprise protein.
“Last week was a lot of fun and all the dishes were amazingly delicious,” said Laurie Death, who with her husband Sean run the gas station and this fundraiser for WOVV and the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department.
“We had good crowd,” Sean said about the 16 spectators.
James Stewart and Juss Criss, who both are cooks at Gaffer’s, were the celebrity chefs.
Sean described how the event works. The entire store–inventory, coolers, walk-in refrigerators and freezers–is the “pantry.” The chefs browse through the store to see what’s available to create an appetizer at 7 p.m. for the spectators.
“The appetizer in not judged,” Sean said. “This is for the chefs to learn to get used to how the equipment heats and cooks.”
But as part of the admission fee, patrons get to munch away.
Just-created appetizers are part of the $10 spectator fee. Photo by Laurie Death
At 8 p.m., the main cooking begins until 9:30, after which the folks attending cast their votes for the best dish.
Sean said the two men created appetizers of chicken and waffles and chicken cheese wraps. The main ingredient was boneless breast of chicken.
Stewart created seasoned chicken breasts with sliced hard salami covered in mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses on a bed of bow tie pasta with homemade tomato sauce and a side of garlic toast.
Criss created a sweet and sour spicy chicken with white rice with a shredded salad side.
Voters had a tough time deciding which dish was the best, Sean said.
“Some didn’t want to vote, (the dishes) were that good,” Sean said. But all had to vote and Criss won by “one or two votes,” Sean said.
“It was amazing,” he said. “Both of those dishes belong on a menu somewhere.”
The event raised $160 for the two charities.
After next Thursday’s duel, Sean said he plans to continue the event through the winter.
The gas station’s food prep area was recently renovated for full a full breakfast and lunch service, and Sean, noting the mirror image set up of the new kitchen, thought it would be perfect for a cook-off.
The gas station also has a liquor license, so patrons can enjoy alcoholic beverages during the event and any time.
Chef James Stewart’s chicken breast creations. Photo by Laurie Death
This is an example of a cordoned-off turtle nest on Ocracoke beach. Photo: C. Leinbach
The story below was published yesterday (Dec. 21) in theIsland Free Press
By Irene Nolan
The National Park Service said today that it will publish some changes to the final rule on off-road vehicles in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in the Federal Register tomorrow (Dec. 21).
The changes are the final step in requirements that Congress mandated in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. The legislation required that the seashore modify wildlife protection buffers, accelerate the construction of vehicle access points and roads, report back to Congress within one year of the date of the NDAA, and undertake a public process to consider changes to the final rule on ORV management.
Wildlife protection buffers were modified in June 2015, all vehicle access points were constructed, and a report to Congress was finalized before the end of December 2015.
The Park Service has been working on the final part of the requirements –the change in the rule.
Ramp 63. Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Specifically, the legislation required the seashore to consider three specific changes:
Morning opening of beaches that are closed to ORV use at night, which in now 7 a.m.
Dates for seasonal ORV routes
Size and location of Vehicle Free Areas (VFAs).
In addition, seashore officials added these changes to the ones that are required:
Dates that ORV permits are valid — different lengths of time currently exist, which is either a weekly or annual permit.
Revising an ORV route designation to allow pedestrian use of a soundside area on Ocracoke Island without requirement for an ORV permit,
Extending the existing bypass route at Cape Point.
The seashore published an Environmental Assessment in February 2016. That document can be found here. The environmental assessment included a preferred alternative that described proposed changes and impacts of those alternatives, to the seashore’s final rule for ORV management.
However, special regulations are required to change existing regulations for ORV use on National Park Service lands. The final rule largely describes the technical details that are required to implement the Seashore’s preferred alternative.
The Park Service had public scoping meetings before the EA was developed and after it was presented to the public.
Also, proposed changes to the final rule were published in the Federal Register in August.
Yesterday, the NPS published a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on its proposed changes and tomorrow the
The next step is to publish the final changes to the final rule in the Federal Register.
Here are the highlights.
BEACH OPENING TIMES
Most ORV routes would continue to open at 7 a.m., as they now do under the ORV rule. Certain “priority” beach routes could be opened earlier than 7 a.m., though no earlier than 6 a.m.
Priority routes, the Park Service said, were chosen by their proximity to villages and popularity with users. They would include Ramps 2, 4, 25, 27, 43, 44, 48, 49, 70 and 72. NPS resource staff would patrol these priority routes before opening so that park resources would be protected even while earlier access is allowed.
The NPS is proposing to amend the special regulation to state “no earlier than 6 a.m.” instead of stating a specific time in the regulation. Instead beach opening times would be published annually in the Superintendent’s Compendium.
The Superintendent’s Compendium is a summary of regulations that pertain specifically to the administration of the park, such as areas closed for public use and activities that require special permits, that are up to the discretion of the superintendent and do not require going through the federal rule making process.
This process will give the superintendent more flexibility over beach opening times without having to go through the cumbersome and lengthy federal rule making process each time.
SEASONAL ORV ROUTES
Under the proposed rule, seasonal ORV routes in front of the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Frisco, and Hatteras and the Ocracoke Campground would be expanded by two weeks in the spring and fall. Under the new rule, these seasonal routes would be open from Oct. 15 through April 14
Currently, they are open from Nov. 1 through March 31.
VEHICLE-FREE AREAS
The proposed rule would modify the size and location of vehicle-free areas and improve access in some locations.
The proposed Ramps 2.5 on Bodie Island and 59.5 on Ocracoke would not be constructed. Ramp 2 would be restored to ORV use, extending the existing ORV route by a half-mile to the north and providing ORV access to the route from either Ramp 4 or Ramp 2. Ramp 59 would continue to be open to ORV use, extending the existing year-round ORV route about a half-mile.
The seasonal ORV route at Ramp 34 would be extended 1 mile to the north into what is now a vehicle-free area. And the seasonal route at Ramp 23 would be extended 1.5 miles to the south into what is a vehicle-free area.
According to the proposed rule, “The NPS proposes making these changes to these particular VFAs because it would slightly increase ORV access on each of the islands without measurably impacting visitor experience, safety, sensitive wildlife species, or workload complexity of park staff.”
The change at Ramp 23 is especially important to residents of and visitors to the tri-villages (Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo) where ORV access is limited in the summer months.
Many wanted to see changes to the VFA south of Cape Point, in the area of the Hook, which is not in the proposal.
PERMIT DURATIONS
The Park Service is proposing to remove the specific times established for the duration of ORV permits from the special regulation and instead control the duration of the permits through the Superintendent’s Compendium.
This means that any future changes to the duration would require the proper compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), but would not require going through the more complicated rule making process.
In choosing Alternative 2, the Park Service would change year-round permits from being valid for the calendar year to being valid from the day they are issued — a change that has long been asked for by beach drivers.
The current seven-day permit would be changed to a 10-day permit, which, the NPS says, could allow many users to access the beaches over two weekends.
OCRACOKE ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS
The proposed rule would remove the ORV route designation from Devil Shoals Road, also know as Dump Station Road. This is an existing dirt road located across Highway 12 from the Ocracoke Campground.
This road would be designated a park road and no ORV permit would be required for driving on it.
The NPS says it proposed these changes to allow for limited vehicular soundside access on Ocracoke Island without the requirement of an ORV permit, since there is currently no soundside vehicular access areas on Ocracoke as there are on the other seashore islands.
HATTERAS ISLAND ACCESS IMPROVEMENT
The proposed rule would extend the existing Cape Point bypass route south of Ramp 44 by four-tenths of a mile to the north so it will join with Ramp 44. The NPS also proposes extending the existing bypass approximately 600 feet to the south.
The Park Service proposes extending the bypass to provide additional access to Cape Point when the ORV route along the beach is closed for safety or resource protection.
Although the southern extension was not originally part of the Environmental Assessment, impacts associated with the bypass route extension would be negligible at most and would have no impact on wetlands.
The rule making process does not provide for a public comment period for a final rule.
The final rule will be effective in no fewer than 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. The seashore intends to implement most changes, other than those that require construction, prior to the 2017 summer season.
For full details on the Final Rule, go to the Federal Registerhere.
Ellen Marie (Fulcher) Cloud. Photo courtesy of Friends of Portsmouth Island.
Ocracoke native Ellen Marie (Fulcher) Cloud, 76, of Morehead City, died Saturday, Dec. 3, in Carteret Health Care.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, in the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, 1785 Island Rd., Harkers Island, NC.
Born and raised on Ocracoke, Ellen lived in Morehead City, and previously was a longtime resident of Williston and Atlantic, Carteret County.
Ellen graduated from Ocracoke School in 1958. Her passion in the 50s was dancing and listening to the ole time rock and roll of the Outer Banks.
A self-made historian, her passion later was for genealogy and history of the Outer Banks. She was active with the Ocracoke Preservation Society, Friends of Portsmouth Island and the local history study group in Atlantic and Harkers Island.
Ellen helped countless of Portsmouth descendants research their family ties. Her knowledge from years of genealogy research has helped many people across the globe find their roots.
Other passions were painting and writing, which have been reflected over the years in her books and local art, whether it be driftwood washed up on the beach or on canvas.
Tribute photo to Ellen F. Cloud by Gregory Gilgo.
“I want people to remember me with laughter,” she always said. If you knew Ellen, you have a story.
Rosanne Penley, president of the Friends of Portsmouth Island, said she was a dear friend and noted that Ellen is probably best known for her relentless research of Ocracoke and Portsmouth history.
“She has helped many families over the years discover their genealogical ties to both places and loved being able to make that connection,” Penley said in an email. “She was a long time FPI member and served on the board for several years. She co-leased the McWilliams/Dixon house next to the church and spent as much time as she could there until the Park lease ran out.
“She was instrumental in locating items to furnish the Portsmouth post office and was active in Portsmouth projects such as clearing the Straight Road and locating lost cemeteries and graves at Portsmouth. Her knowledge of Ocracoke and Portsmouth history will be sorely missed.”
Ruth Toth, outgoing president of the Ocracoke Preservation Society and longtime friend, also noted Ellen’s passion and knowledge of the history and genealogy of Ocracoke and Portsmouth Islands.
“She was very involved in establishing and setting up the OPS Museum,” Toth said and recounted the story of how a contractor who was doing restoration work on the lighthouse took out the original windows and planned to replace them with new ones.
“Ellen saved the old windows from being thrown away and then started making calls to complain about the situation,” Toth said. “Because of her interest and efforts, our lighthouse has its original windows. Ellen was later invited to speak to a conference on lighthouses and historic restoration in Washington, D.C.”
Ellen is survived by her daughters, Simona Rae Spickett, wife of husband David, and Deidra Cloud Ramsey, wife of Jody; grandson, Allen Davis; brother, Laurie Fulcher; sisters-in-law, Ada Fulcher and Vicki Fulcher; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmo Murray “Capt. Elmo,” who was captain of the Ocracoke mailboat Aleta, and Lillian (Jackson) Fulcher; and brother, Murray Fulcher.
Here is a bibliography of Ellen Marie Cloud’s publications. Several of her books received the North Carolina Society of Historians William Parker Peace History Book Awards.
Ocracoke Lighthouse (Island History, 1) (1993)
Portsmouth The Way it Was (Island History Volume III) (1996) (currently being republished)
Old Salt (1995)
Ocracoke Dialect: Sayings and Superstitions (1994)
The federal census of Ocracoke Island, 1790-1910 (1995)
Abstracts from miscellaneous newspapers published in Beaufort, NC, 1876-1893 (1995)
The Federal Census of Portsmouth Island 1790-1900 (1995)
Custom Records Port of Ocracoke, NC 1815-1866 (1995)
From Whence We Came: The History of the Original Ocracoke Names (1995)
The Federal Census of Ocracoke Island, NC 1790-1910 (1995)
At the Oyster Roast, everyone stands to gorge on the piles of steamed oysters. This year’s event will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 30. Desserts at the Working Watermen’s Exhibit from 3 to 5. Photo: C. Leinbach
Update: The Fish House found plenty of oysters and is getting ready to steam them all up Friday, Dec. 30.
Pattie Johnson Plyler, who manages retail store of the Ocracoke Seafood Co., is moving heaven and earth to find fat, juicy oysters in time for the 11th Annual Oyster Roast from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, outside the establishment.
Last year, it was the last minute before the group found the oysters they were looking for—not just any oysters, but the kind that have baby crabs in them.
This year they are having the same difficulty but expect to prevail, Plyler said.
These little pea crabs are considered rare delicacies by oyster aficionados.
Pea crabs (Pinnotheres ostreum) or oyster crabs (Zaops ostreus) are small soft-bodied crabs that live inside bivalves such as oysters and mussels. Once they enter an oyster, they live inside the oyster’s gills and feed on the food that filters in.
The prize in an oyster: a pea crab. Photo: C. Leinbach
This all-you-can-eat event attracts locals and visitors alike to dig into more than 40 bushels of oysters, 220 pounds of shrimp and homemade fish stew.
“This is to show everyone how important the seafood industry is to North Carolina,” said Vince O’Neal last year, who owns Pony Island Restaurant and who made the fish stew. “Visitors come to Ocracoke to enjoy the seafood and all of the bounty of the sea and nature.”
The price for the seafood feast, including crackers, water or soda and live music, will be determined according to the price of the oysters.
Last year, the price was $25 per person and $30 for “heavy hitters,” i.e. those who consume several pecks of oysters. Plyler expects the price to be close to that of last year.
Availability of food is first-come, first-served and there are no advance ticket sales for this rain-or-shine event.
While not technically a fundraiser, proceeds will help fund Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association (OWWA) education and outreach activities. OWWA operates “The Fish House,” as it is called, that supports the activities of about 30 commercial fishermen.
For this annual homage to the oyster, the group sets up several rows of plywood tables on top of saw horses.
A pile of freshly steamed oysters. Photo: C. Leinbach
Then they dump piles of steamed oysters on the tables while patrons, who are asked to bring their own oyster shuckers, stand and shuck away.
Dessert and hot cider follows starting at 3 p.m. in the Working Waterman’s Exhibit in Community Square. Islanders and visitors alike are asked to bring a dessert to share.
The fish house closes for the winter after Thanksgiving weekend and opens again in the spring when the waters are warmer and the fish return, usually in March.
Paul Tine has been a good friend of Ocracoke during his four-year tenure in the NC General Assembly.
In a recent interview on the island, he noted that he is proud of many accomplishments as a House member, rattling off a number of accomplishments, such as the Washington County community college bill, securing funding for oyster restoration and an IT broadband plan for eastern North Carolina.
But Ocracokers will particularly remember him when, as co-chair of the House Transportation Appropriations Committee, he kept the Hatteras/Ocracoke ferry route from being tolled and found permanent funding for boat replacements and maintenance.
As an indication of the island’s support, in his election in 2014 he carried Ocracoke with 88 percent of the vote.
First elected in 2012 by defeating Mattie Lawson, Tine, 44, who lives in Kitty Hawk, ran as a Democrat.
Rep. Paul Tine greets islanders. Photo by C. Leinbach
“I wasn’t supposed to win,” he said about the predominantly Republican district. “I ended up winning the 488 votes, the smallest amount that year in all of the General Assembly races.”
In 2014 he won in a rematch with Lawson, this time garnering a more comfortable 54 percent of the approximately 31,000 votes cast.
Then, in January 2015, he surprised many by announcing that he was changing his political status from Democrat to unaffiliated.
“Our region’s economy continues to lag behind the rest of the state and I cannot allow party affiliation to stand in the way of getting work done,” he had said in a press release.
Looking back, he acknowledged he took a lot of heat when he left his elected party, but has no regrets.
“I found I was fighting my own party,” he said. “I didn’t want to set the bridges on fire but I could be more effective as an unaffiliated.”
With his departure from the legislature’s minority party, he was allowed to caucus with the Republicans which permitted him to get more accomplished for the region.
“I am not a Republican and not a Democrat,” he said about his switch. “I love being able to be my own person and do the work that government is supposed to do.”
Throughout his tenure in the General Assembly, unlike many politicians who may vote their party line and have little or no interaction with the opposition, Tine stressed the importance of working together and being able to compromise.
He particularly noted the great working relationship he had with John Torbett (R-Gaston), Chairman of the house transportation committee.
In June, the two successfully negotiated an end to the ferry toll on Hatteras push and got more money for Ferry Division projects. From this negotiation, the Legislature approved an annual $4 million for ferry boat replacement (the source of the toll push) and $6 million this year for maintenance.
But that budget-negotiating session was a killer.
“Politics is not beanbag,” Tine noted, chuckling. “Rather, it’s a full-contact sport.”
In his visits to Ocracoke, Tine always urged islanders to be respectful when communicating with the members of the legislature.
This past January, members of the House Select Committee on Strategic Transportation Planning and Long Term Funding Solutions, also chaired by Torbett, convened in a special meeting on the mainland at The Outpost near Engelhard.
After lunch, they visited the ferry dock in Swan Quarter where more than 20 islanders, who had traveled on the Swan Quarter ferry that morning, had gathered to speak on the importance of the ferries to Ocracoke.
Hearing islanders’ concerns helped the members who were not familiar with the region’s special transportation needs was key.
“The Swan Quarter meeting was very positive because the Ocracoke people that visited were so nice and the members came to understand their concerns,” He said.
A major reason that he decided not to run for re-election was the amount of time he was away from his family, wife Whitney and two sons, ages 10 and 15.
“It is important that I take the time while my children are still young to be a father and husband,” he said.
Tine plans to return to his insurance business and to work on a project that will explain how the NC General Assembly actually works.
Daytime view of Christmas decorations at the home of David O’Neal on Lighthouse Road.
Wednesday, Dec. 21:
Christmas caroling. Meet at Methodist Church at 5 p.m. Chili supper after the caroling, hosted this year at OUMC.
Gaffer’s: Open mic, 9 p.m.
Thursday Dec. 22
“Dueling Chefs Cook Off” in the diner-deli area of the Ocracoke Station. Interested cooks should contact Sean Death, proprietor of the gas station and organizer of the event, at ocracokestationlive@gmail.com.
The competing chefs will be announced at each event along with whatever it is they will have to cook with in an Iron Chef-type event.
Cooking is from 7 to 9:30 p.m.; judging and tasting with a “peoples’ choice” winner will be from 9:35 to 10:30 p.m. Live music during the event.
Tasters will be asked to pay $10, with half the proceeds to be divided between WOVV 90.1 FM and the OVFD. A full cash bar and hors d’oeuvres will be available.
Friday, Dec. 23
Gaffer’s: Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, 7 p.m.; Live music, 9 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 24:
Live Nativity at the Ocracoke United Methodist Church, 5 p.m.
Christmas Eve service at the Methodist Church with the children’s Christmas pageant, 7 p.m.
Ocracoke islanders live closely with wildlife, and birds are probably the island’s most visible fauna.
At the end of each year, volunteers gather to conduct a bird census on Ocracoke and Portsmouth islands in what is known as theChristmas Bird Count. This is the longest running wildlife census in the nation. These counts occur every year throughout North America and now far beyond from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5.
This year, the local counts will be held on Dec. 30 on Portsmouth and Dec. 31 on Ocracoke. Islanders and visitors interested in helping with this project are welcome to spend a winter’s day or two tallying the large variety of bird species here.
The first Ocracoke count was in 1981 and Portsmouth, 1988. Last year, 69 species were reported on Ocracoke, a relatively low number from years past. Surprisingly, Portsmouth Island had more species, 74, the first time that this has happened.
Lesser Black-backed gulls
2004 was a good bird year for the region when both of these counts reported their highest species numbers, Ocracoke 102 and Portsmouth, 81.
Finding, identifying and counting the individual birds can be a challenge, and participants who are familiar with the species of the region are needed. But everyone is welcome to help out and beginners are assigned to experienced observers.
To do these counts, small teams are formed and assigned various areas on the island to tally both the species observed and the numbers.
Sometimes, as in the case of Double-crested Cormorants, estimates are made as they may be streaming in the thousands, especially in the early morning.
Christmas bird counters waiting for boat to Portsmouth Island.
How many birds reported from year-to-year depend on the number of participants and especially the weather. High winds, rain, fog and even snow can result in a decrease of birds observed as they will hunker down.
As an example, Eurasian Collared-Doves, which appeared on the island some 12 years ago, are now common year-round residents in the village. They do not, however, like high winds and will avoid their normal, highly visible perches on power lines and high branches during a big blow.
Interesting species on these two counts include Northern Gannets, Red-throated and Common Loons, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Red knots, Peregrine Falcons and the ubiquitous Yellow-rumped aka Myrtle Warbler.
The tallying ends with a pot luck dinner Dec. 31 to share in camaraderie and learn how many species were recorded including any rare birds for the region.
Begun in 1900 in an effort to counteract what then was the Christmas bird hunt, The Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running, nationwide wildlife census.
To see where and when Christmas Bird Counts occur in North Carolina, click here.
To participate in these two counts, contact Peter Vankevich, 202 468-287, or email: petevankevich@gmail.com
Swamp SparrowPeregrine Falcon on Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count Marbled GodwitEastern Towhee with pale eye photographed on OcracokeFemale common eider photographed in Silver Lake harbor on OcracokeYellow-rumped aka Myrtle WarblerEurasian Collard-Dove
Holiday festivities continue this weekend on Ocracoke.
Two events on Saturday, Dec. 17:
Holiday open house at Roxy’s Antiques on Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.
Holiday Open House at Roxy’s Antiques, 585 Irvin Garrish Hwy., in Spencer’s Market. Noon to 5 p.m. Refreshments and treats; special sales for holiday shopping. Ocracoke’s Pat Garber will be singing and playing Christmas tunes on her guitar. There may even be a visit from Santa Elvis.
Buy an early $5 raffle ticket to win “THE PEARL in the OYSTER” framed print to benefit the Ocracoke Working Watermen Association.
And later Saturday night…
Island Christmas Potluck and dance at the Ocracoke Oyster Company; Bring a dish to share; the kitchen will be closed. Eating starts at 5 p.m.; dancing to the live music by the Ocracoke Rockers starts at 6 p.m. Cash bar (no outside drinks).
Editor’s note: For the origins of the term “gerrymandering,” see below.
By David Meeker
RALEIGH – As a small business entrepreneur, I’m bullish on North Carolina. Our state has unlimited promise. But to reach our potential, a variety of major issues must be addressed and resolved.
For me, the top issue is ending gerrymandering now. Our current redistricting process is broken. Just look at what happened in North Carolina’s 2016 elections:
not one congressional race was competitive
and more than 90 percent of our state’s legislative candidates either ran unopposed or won by double-digit margins.
That’s unacceptable for our democracy, because politicians in these gerrymandered districts don’t face any real accountability from the public.
Thankfully, there is a growing movement to end gerrymandering and establish an independent redistricting process that removes lawmakers from drawing their own districts.
Reform groups like Common Cause North Carolina, thousands of citizens of all political stripes and hundreds of locally elected officials across the state have joined together in asking the legislature to pass independent redistricting.
But one important group missing from the movement has been the business community. The very sector that could carry great influence with the legislature has done little to push for this vital reform.
I know from personal conversations that many business leaders agree redistricting reform is badly needed in our state. Yet many of them fear being punished politically for speaking out.
It’s time for business to change its attitude because gerrymandering is bad for their bottom line and bad for the people of North Carolina.
Businesses want a moderate and stable environment with laws and policies that represent the best interests of our state. Yet all too often we are seeing reckless laws catering to a political fringe by lawmakers that can’t be held accountable because of their gerrymandered districts.
Our broken redistricting process has also led to countless costly lawsuits, delayed elections and, for the first time ever, a special legislative election in 2017 because the current maps were ruled unconstitutional by a federal court.
It’s time for business to say “enough.”
I recently helped launch a new coalition called NC Business Leaders for Accountability. Our goal is to urge lawmakers to end gerrymandering now by adopting a common-sense reform that gives redistricting authority to an impartial body, instead of partisan politicians.
We’re a group of mostly small business entrepreneurs — the lifeblood of our state’s economy. Our numbers are growing everyday, but we need big business to join the cause.
Earlier this year, larger businesses in our state seemed to have found their voice in opposing House Bill 2, a prime example of the kind of extreme legislation passed by lawmakers from gerrymandered districts that is hurting North Carolina’s reputation and undermining our economy.
We need the businesses that spoke out against HB2 to do the same on ending gerrymandering. Until we have congressional and legislative voting maps that truly reflect our state, we will continue to see insulated politicians who act without fear of facing accountability.
It’s time we demand a new redistricting process that creates districts that are fair and competitive. That would be good for North Carolina, and good for business.
From Wikipedia:
The word gerrymander (originally written Gerry-mander) was used for the first time in the Boston Gazette on 26 March 1812. The word was created in reaction to a redrawing of Massachusetts state senate election districts under Governor Elbridge Gerry. In 1812, Governor Gerry signed a bill that redistricted Massachusetts to benefit his Democratic-Republican Party.
The caricature satirizes the bizarre shape of a district in Essex County, Massachusetts, as a dragon-like “monster.” Federalist newspaper editors and others at the time likened the district shape to a salamander, and the word gerrymander was a blend of that word and Governor Gerry’s last name.
David Meeker
David Meeker is a small business owner in Raleigh and board member with Common Cause North Carolina. Learn more about NC Business Leaders for Accountability at NCAccountability.org.
Ocracoke islanders now have another transportation choice for medical appointments off the island.
Hyde County Transit, a nonprofit transportation provider on the mainland, has begun van service for disabled residents of any age and residents of at least aged 65 who are not eligible for the Medicaid Transportation Program.
Beverly Paul, director, who announced the new service Nov. 8 at a community meeting, said requests for the van need to be called in at least three days in advance, and are based on the availability of the van and vehicle operator.
Beverly Paul, director of Hyde County Transit, meets with islanders.
“Residents should call in appointments as soon as they schedule them,” Paul explained. “Even if you do not qualify for the service, please call and we will see if we can find a trip that we have already scheduled that you could get on.”
The service will go up the beach, to Elizabeth City, Greenville and other destinations to be determined, but will not travel outside of North Carolina.
Islander Elizabeth Dyer has been hired as the vehicle operator.
A public meeting about this new service will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Ocracoke Community Center for residents to give input on their transportation needs and what they would like to see accomplished with the program.
Hyde County Transit also provides passenger service, with another van, for shopping on selected Tuesdays each month–one to Avon and the on the other day farther up the beach as far as the Walmart in Southern Shores.
These trips–for any purpose–are free to anyone 60 years and older. Those younger are required to pay a fee of $3.20 to Avon and $5 to the Nags Head area.
In addition, Hyde County Transit is working on procuring a tram-style transit system that would be ready when the new NC Ferry Division passenger service begins, projected to be in 2018.
