Beach night driving routes reopen to ORV use today

September 15, 2015

Nighttime beach driving will be permitted on Ocracoke beaches except for areas where there still are sea turtle nests. Beach-driving permits are required and can be purchased at the NPS Visitors Center.

National Park Service News Release Sept. 14, 2015

At midnight tonight, Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) routes in Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) will reopen to night driving where no turtle nests remain, or to the first posted closure in those routes.

Sea turtle protection areas with daytime corridors in front (seaward) of nests will be closed at night and no driving is allowed in front of these nests at night.

The Seashore’s ORV special regulation states that from Sept. 15 to Nov. 15, night driving is allowed on ORV routes, or portions thereof, with no turtle nests remaining. A beach-driving permit is required for any off-road vehicle use in the National Seashore, including the ramp entry roads. Permits on Ocracoke may be purchased at the NPS Visitors Center at the southernmost end of the village.

In addition, as of early this month, residents and visitors will find the newly constructed Ramp 32 (on Hatteras Island) and nearby pedestrian footpath are open to the general public for additional beach access.

During this summer wildlife breeding season, 289 sea turtle nests have been protected on Seashore beaches. As of today, a total of approximately of 185 nests remain in the ground. Visitors should note they will encounter sea turtle nest protection areas in effect parkwide.

Closure conditions may change in the field on short notice and these posted protection areas are closed to all ORV, pedestrian and pet entry. On-site signage of a closed area will be clearly marked in the field with “symbolic fencing” consisting of wooden or carsonite posts, closure signs, string and black-filter fencing.

Additionally, on Nov. 1, the seasonally closed village beaches (t-villages of Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo, Avon, Frisco, Hatteras, and Ocracoke Campground) will reopen to ORV use, except for sections of the beach with sea turtle nest protection areas. Pets are strictly prohibited in posted resource protection areas and must be physically restrained at all times on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length.

For further information, please call (252) 473-2111, or check the Google Earth map at:

http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/off-road-vehicle-use.htm

Ferry Division officials discuss more details on proposed passenger ferries

September 15, 2015

0

Islanders meet with NC Ferry Division officials in the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. Photo by C. Leinbach

By Connie Leinbach

NC Ferry Division officials Monday at the monthly meeting on Ocracoke talked more about the potential for passenger ferry service to the island from Hatteras.

Jed Dixon, deputy ferry division director, who stressed that nothing has been decided, said that the feasibility study being done by Volkert, Inc., is expected to be done in November.

In the meantime, the division is continuing to explore this idea for relieving the traffic awaiting travel to Ocracoke.

To start out, the division is looking into having two 80-passenger boats rather than a single 150-passenger boat.

“It’s a little easier to manage 80 people at a time,” Dixon said. “It’s more realistic, and, funding-wise, better.”

“Two would be more convenient for us,” added Harold Thomas, a deputy director based out of Morehead City, who also attended.

What’s more, with the new Strategic Transportation Initiative under which all transportation needs are weighted and compete against other projects for funding, smaller (and less expensive) passenger ferries would compete better for the $30 million in transportation money in District 1, which includes Ocracoke.

The big piece of the project is the cost of new ferries, Thomas said—$16 million for a new Sound-class ferry vs. $2.5 to $5 million for a passenger ferry.

At the outset, passenger ferries would run only in the high season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Thomas said.

A $7 million grant recently approved for this project from Eastern Federal Lands would include the building of one boat, Dixon said, as well as island infrastructure.

Dixon showed drawings of suggested changes at the Ocracoke harbor area, and noted that the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is interested in joining with the ferry division to construct a larger building on the site of the current Ocracoke Island Visitor Center.

Jed Dixon, deputy ferry division director, right, points out proposed infrastructure changes to Ann Warner, owner of Howard's Pub. — Jed Dixon, deputy ferry division director, right, points out proposed infrastructure changes to Ann Warner, owner of Howard’s Pub.

This federal grant also would include purchase of an open-air tram to shuttle visitors around the village. One tram they looked at has two 18-seat sections.

Paying drivers and other maintenance would then be the responsibility of Hyde County Transit, he said.

“The trolleys could be used by all for a good portion of the year,” Dixon said. “Nothing has been written in stone,” he said about any of these ideas.

While Armstrong Marine in Swansboro has approached the ferry division and they are doing research on the construction of passenger ferries, Dixon said, all boat-building would go out for bids.

The ferry division also is looking at different parking scenarios in Hatteras, including long-term parking, and on Ocracoke.

Thomas also suggested that passenger ferries might also be used on the longer routes to Cedar Island and Swan Quarter making those trips much shorter.

As for the continued shoaling of Hatteras Inlet, Dixon said the state can only do what they are authorized to do, which is an area from the Ocracoke side to near the middle of the inlet.

The Army Corps of Engineers, who historically has dredged from outside the Hatteras terminal to the “gorge,” are seeking to dredge in an area of the inlet that’s outside their scope.

“The Corps now has to dredge in an area they haven’t dredged before,” Dixon said, and they have to get environmental permits to do so as well as public comment.

“The inlet has changed so much,” he added. “It’s frustrating for people using it because it’s their road.”

Ann Warner, one of the 8 islanders who attended, suggested that a sign be installed at the south dock—which is at the north end of Ocracoke—noting that there is food and lodging 13 miles down the road.

Dixon said islanders need to talk to Division 1 of the Transportation Department for this.

While these meetings are scheduled for the second Monday of the month, the next meeting will be at 1 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Ocracoke Community Center since Oct. 12, the second Monday, is Columbus Day and a holiday.

New location set for ferry meeting today

September 14, 2015

0

Today’s monthly meeting with NCDOT Ferry Division officials here will be held at 1 p.m. in the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, 822 Irvin Garrish Hwy.

The public is invited to attend.

Hyde County and the NC Ferry Division typically hold their regular monthly public meetings the second Monday of the month at 1 p.m. in the Ocracoke Community Center. However, the Hyde County Health Department will use the Ocracoke Community Center from 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. today for WIC services.

Curious about this drawing of Silver Lake? Come to the meeting and ask about it.

Birds of Ocracoke: the Killdeer

September 13, 2015

0

To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here

Charadrius vociferous

Text and photos by Peter Vankevich

The Killdeer builds a sparse nest on the ground. It is famous for a behavior when predators approach its territory, it will act as if it is injured with a broken wing and will lead them away from the nest with eggs or the fledged young.

It is easily identified by two prominent black bands across the top of its white chest. The head and back are tawny and the lower back and upper tail-coverts are rufous. The forehead, undersides and eyeline are white and it has a black bill. The eyering is orange-red. Both sexes look alike. First year birds have adult plumage by December.

Although classified as a shorebird, Killdeers are widely distributed throughout North America from Alaska to Newfoundland and south into Mexico, and can be found many miles from water, preferring open areas where they can forage for invertebrates. Migration occurs in the northern areas of their range and the wintering range is as far south as Central America, Colombia, Venezuela and along west coast of Peru and Chile.

It is named onomatopoeically after its repetitive call.

Killdeer in flight PS crop IMG_3060 — Killdeer in flight. Photo by P. Vankevich

A member of the plover family, it is the largest of six plovers that can be observed on the Outer Banks. See the link to the birds of the Outer Banks below.

Killdeers feed mostly on terrestrial invertebrates, including earthworms, grasshoppers, beetles, and snails. Less so, it will also feed on small vertebrates and seeds.

Both parents help with incubation and will stay with the chicks until they can fly. The young are precocial, i.e. soon after hatching, they leave the nest and are able to feed on their own. Two or more broods per year may be produced, especially with initial nesting failures.

Best time to see: Year round.

Where: Near beach parking lots including the north ferry terminal, the pony pasture, airport, the campground, flats, on the beach and the NPS Visitors’ Center in the village.

Listen:

(audio provided courtesy of OhioLINK Digital Resource Commons)

Birds of the Outer Banks Checklist

Notes

Killdeer at Ocracoke airport. Photo by P. Vankevich

Earlier names included Chattering Plover and the Noisy Plover which are attributed to the highly vocal nature of this species. In John J. Audubon’s Birds of America, he referred to them as the Kildee and provides this anecdote.

While I was residing in Pennsylvania, the son of my tenant the miller was in the habit of catching newly-hatched birds of every sort, to bait his fish-hooks. I had rather peremptorily remonstrated against this barbarous practice, although, I believe, without effect. One morning I met him returning from the shores of the Perkioming creek, with his hat full of young Kildees. He endeavoured to avoid me, but I made directly up to him, peeped into his hat and saw the birds. On this I begged of him to go back and restore the poor things to their parents, which he reluctantly did. Never had I felt more happy than I did when I saw the young Plovers run off and hide under cover of the stones.

Once the target of market hunters and in serious decline, the Killdeer is probably more common today than at any time in its history as a result of habitat changes brought about by humans.

However, the species is vulnerable to predation of eggs and young by mammals and other birds including Fish Crows, pesticides, oil pollution, lawnmowers, and automobiles. Breeding bird surveys have indicated that it may be declining in some western states.

NC Ferry Division releases traffic report for August

September 12, 2015

0

The North Carolina Ferry Division has released its latest statistics regarding ferry service. Statistics below are kept on a fiscal year basis (July to June).

For more information, click here:

MissedTrips Statistics

County Commissioners informed $150 priority pass no longer an issue, federal grant for passenger ferry, island noise ordinance gets scrutiny

September 12, 2015

2

By Connie Leinbach

An item in the proposed state Senate budget bill calling for charging $150 for a priority pass on any North Carolina ferry has been taken out of the budget negotiations, according to Bill Rich, Hyde County manager.

Rich revealed this development Sept. 8 during the monthly Hyde County Board of Commissioners’ meeting.

“I’ve been told by our lobbyists that it’s out of the deal,” Rich said. “(State Rep. John) Torbett (R-Gaston) confirmed it.”

There still is no new state budget and the legislators have until Sept. 16 to craft one.

In other business, the commissioners voted to lease a home owned by Ronnie Vann O’Neal along Back Road to house the county EMS office.

The EMS office is currently in a building behind the Ocracoke Health Center, but they need to vacate by Dec. 31.

The agreement calls for leasing the O’Neal property for three years for $2,000 per month with an option to buy after that, Rich said. During the lease period, the county will look for grants to pay the balance of the $1 million O’Neal is asking for the property.

This property would be large enough to include an expanded Ocracoke Health Center as well as other county offices serving Ocracoke.

“We had a meeting with the Ocracoke Health Center and they’re excited about expanding with us,” Rich said.

At the August commissioners meeting, Rich had said he would like to have a location on Ocracoke that also could accommodate the department of social services, the home health care nurse, the sheriff’s office and the Ocracoke Health Center.

The commissioners agreed to further explore changing the Ocracoke noise ordinance.

During the public comment session, Claudia Horwitz spoke on behalf of Oscar’s House, where she works, which is across from the Ocracoke Bar and Grille. The two establishments this season have been at odds over enforcement of the ordinance, which sets a decibel level at 70 up to 10 p.m. After 10 p.m., music can still be indoors, but sound is not supposed to cross over boundaries to disturb others. The ordinance does not say anything about what the decibel level should be from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Oscar’s House has complained about the bar noise floating across the street.

Horwitz said the establishment wants the decibel level lowered.

“We really want to support across the street, but it’s keeping people up at night and has shifted the vibe,” she said. “We’re not Myrtle Beach and don’t want to be. Music and noise infringes on the peaceful quality of Ocracoke.”

Sean Death, proprietor of the Ocracoke Bar and Grille, also spoke and said he sent a rewritten ordinance to the commissioners for their consideration. He said a petition he circulated got more than 100 signatures of residents living around the bar who are OK with recorded music after 10 p.m.

“Now, the ordinance says nothing on the decibel limit after 10 p.m.,” he said. “In any part of this village all summer there are people making more noise than I am. I hear whooping and hollering of people driving by.”

He suggested a decibel level of 62 after 10 p.m.

Death had said at the August commissioners’ meeting that even music in indoor establishments nearby the Ocracoke Campground sometimes floats over to the campground.

Will Doerfer, the special assistant county manager, said he is working on the ordinance situation.

“There’s a lot of emotion around this issue,” he said, “and also the unique environment of houses in close proximity.”

He suggested that the decibel level remain as it is up until 10 p.m. and set another level for after 10 p.m.

To read the original ordinance, click here.

To read the amended ordinance of 2011, click here.

Amy Srail Johnson, president of the Ocracoke Child Care Center, also in the public comment period, reported that the center has been dealing with scabies for more than a year.

“We had one closure last year because of this and four closures this year,” she said. “It has ruined us economically and we implore the health department to report it, track it and eradicate it.”

The center is closed now and hopes to reopen March 1, she said.

Later in the meeting, Ocracoke commissioner John Fletcher also spoke on this problem.

“I’ve been contacted by various ladies and men on Ocracoke and thought last year that public health would get rid of it, but it still exists,” he said.

He said the Ocracoke Health Center and the Hyde County Health Department should work together to get it done.

Rich also reported that the NC Ferry Division has applied for and received a $7 million federal grant for Ocracoke and Hatteras Island infrastructure associated with the proposed addition of a passenger ferry service to the car ferry fleet at Hatteras Inlet in 2017.

Among the proposed changes on Ocracoke would be docking areas, a tram service around the village, and a passenger shelter with restrooms, Rich said.

Ocracoke Civic and Business Association meeting tonight (Sept. 9)

September 9, 2015

0

Here are the details and draft minutes of the OCBA.

OCRACOKE CIVIC AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Monthly meeting 7 p.m. Sept. 9, 2015

Ocracoke Community Center

Agenda

Call to Order

Approval of August minutes

Treasurer’s report

Travel & Tourism Director report (Sundae Horn)

As-needed reports:

National Park Service

County Manager (Bill Rich)

County Commissioner (John Fletcher)

President’s report (Hatteras Inlet; shoulder season events/marketing)

New business

— Request for OCBA to purchase a locked lost-and-found box for about $200 for the sheriff’s office (Peter Vankevich)

Old Business

–OCBA needs a treasurer/bookkeeper

–Christmas street lights

Announcements

Adjourn

Note: 2015 meetings: Second Wednesdays of the month. 7 p.m. Ocracoke Community Center (unless otherwise stated). Next meetings are:

Oct. 14, 2015

Nov. 11, 2015

Dec. 9, 2015 (Election of officers and board members)

Jan. 11, 2016

Ocracoke Civic and Business Association

DRAFT Minutes

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. Ocracoke Community Center

Meeting was called to order by President Rudy Austin at 7:09 p.m. Board members present: Rudy Austin, Connie Leinbach, Jim Borland, Justin LeBlanc

Others present: Sundae Horn, Fred Westervelt, Ed Fuller (for the NPS), Arleen Burley, Sue Dayton, Matteus and Daniela Gilbert, and Kris Noble.

Minutes: Of the July meetings were approved.

Treasurer’s report:

Justin read a letter received requesting improved recycling on the island. Sue Dayton noted that there is a major lack of recycling at the Ocracoke public access beaches, but she had seen recycling containers at the Hatteras beach. Kris Noble said the county had received the same letter and she will look into it. Sundae suggested that Kris also call the Ocracoke School because they don’t recycle. She also said the signage at the dump as to what goes in which cans could be improved.

Travel & Tourism Director’s report: Sundae Horn reported that she attended the Coast Host meeting in New Bern. She’s not sure we should join. Neither the NPS parks nor the ferries aren’t on their publicity materials. Ocracoke Island Realty is the only Ocracoke business who is a member of this organization.

Re: fireworks for 2016: If the NPS approved launching them from the beach, there would be a traffic control problem and getting cars off the beach by 9 p.m., although fireworks don’t typically start until 9 or 9:30 p.m. Ed Fuller said the main concern for fireworks on the beach is traffic and fire damage. He suggested the NPS parking lot at the south end of the island might be the best site.

Rudy said he has another lead on a barge he’s looking into.

Arleen Burley noted that there still is a strong need on the village for more/better public restrooms.

Sue Dayton related how visitors come into her shop (Roxy’s Antiques) and don’t know that they’re on an island. She said we have a captive audience on the SQ and CI ferries to give them information, be it by closed-circuit television video or a live person. Kris Noble said she is on the NC Low board and will check to see if they have grants to make videos.

Report from Matteus Gilbert: Matteus, a junior, had been selected by his teachers to attend the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership conference at Loyola University in Chicago July 18 to 25. At this, attendees learn how they can make a difference in the community, learn about social change and models of leadership. Forty percent of the attendees are international. He said the seminar’s main aim was to get the students to think about how they will make a difference in their community. The group went to Humbolt Park to clean it up. This activitiy became the largest volunteer effort in Chicago’s history. He also worked in a homeless shelter. He got a chance to meet HOBY founder actor Hugh O’Brien.

As part of his charge, Matteus has to do 150 hours of community service, which will earn him points toward next year’s seminar. He said he will organize a litter sweep and, at the OCBA’s request, will help fix the Christmas lights. He’s in the Beta Club and will talk to Jeff Schleicher, the shop teacher. Perhaps this work could be done in the shop class’s pending new quarters in the old firehouse.

NPS report: Ed Fuller reported that from Jan. 1 to Aug. 11, 1,204 annual beach-driving passes were sold, up from 1,111 last year for the same time period. Weekly permits for this period were 3,520, down from 3,538 last year. All the shore bird nesting is over. There are 82 turtle nests; 19 have hatched–all loggerheads except one green turtle nest. Hatchings will be going on for a while.

Handicapped access to the beach was discussed. Ed noted that the park service has three beach-going wheel chairs and he’s looking into buying two more. The NPS will install new bike racks at the lighthouse and airport beach area. He has ordered 18 bike racks.

NPS parking lot near the ferry terminal: The NPS is looking into how to clean this up. They are thinking about requiring (free) permits for overnight parking there. They are thinking about contracting for towing service.

County manager: Kris Noble attended for County Manager Bill Rich. She said the county is helping to locate some Sound side access and that there are two potential sites: one for ORV and one for pedestrians. There will be a public meeting Sept. 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center for public input on Sound side access. That morning, there will be a smaller group meeting to view the potential sites.

Some of the points Hyde County is suggesting to the NPS to modify their beach access are:

Handicap access to the beach is important to John Fletcher, she said, and the county will ask the NPS to consider waiving or having lower fees for handicap beach-driving.

Increase the budget for more beach-going wheel chairs

Work with a marketing program to get the word out

Annual permits should be valid from the date-of-purchase, not calendar year. Also, make available more varied ORV permits (such as weekend or daily passes).

She attended the Waterways and Inlets Commission meeting in Hatteras the day before about the worsening shoaling problem in the Hatteras Inlet, and more than 100 people attended. The next one is Sept. 19 inn the Hatteras Civic Center. The Army Corps of Engineers had made charts of the inlet. Then the local fishermen told them what they thought was out there. The local fishermen think if a dredge could bust through 200 or 300 yards, then they could cut a path. The best spot for this is on the state-owned side of the inlet. The fishermen are concerned that more sand is moving into the inlet than ever before.

Hyde County will support them with a resolution and lobbying.

The VisitNC “TRAC” group will be on Ocracoke as a community resource on Oct. 22 in the Berkley Center. This group will help be here as a marketing resource for Ocracoke businesses.

She also shared some recent statistics she found on expenditures of tourism dollars in the millions in eastern NC. Hyde County was No. 85 in terms of growth. There was $33.17 million spent on travel & tourism, which is up 2.5 percent from last year. However, she said, Dare County’s expenditures grew by almost 7 percent with $1 billion in revenues. Currituck County is up 5 percent; Beaufort County is up 6.5 percent ($76 million in tourism revenues. She said it would behoove Ocracoke to be more aggressive with its marketing and to encourage people to get here early.

Jim Borland responded that the majority of the tourist money Hyde gets is from Ocracoke and that Ocracoke can’t be compared with Dare County in terms of revenues. Other counties don’t have the ferry situation we have.

Rudy said we can’t heavily promote the island and then have people waiting three hours to catch the Hatteras ferry. That will anger them and create worse publicity.

Old business: Can the Ocracoke School shop class revamp the 25+ Christmas lights? They need to be brushed, repainted and lightbulbs replaced.

No new treasurer yet.

Storm water: Justin reported that installation of the drainage at Blackbeard’s Lodge will happen after tourist season because they will have to close off that portion of Back Road for a day to do so.

New Business: John Fletcher, via Rudy, asked the group for ideas about where the new EMS office could be located.

Meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m. The next meeting is Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Ocracoke Community Center.

Respectfully submitted,
Connie Leinbach, secretary

Hyde County commissioners meeting tonight (Sept. 8)

September 8, 2015

0

The Hyde County Board of Commissioners meets tonight at 6 p.m. on the mainland in Swan Quarter and by teleconferencing in the commons room of Ocracoke School.

Agenda is below:

Ocracats schedules spay-neuter clinic Sept. 22

September 8, 2015

0

Dr. Howard Johnson, a veterinarian from Boone, NC, performs surgeries on feral cats in the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. — Dr. Howard Johnson, a veterinarian from Boone, NC, performs surgeries on feral cats in a “mash-unit” type of setup in the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. He will be here again Sept. 22 to 24.

Ocracats, the local non-profit that works with the feral cat population on Ocracoke Island, will hold a free feral cat neuter-spay clinic for three days, Sept 22, 23 and 24, in the Ocracoke Fire House on Irvin Garrish Hwy.

Any islanders who have adopted and tamed a feral cat are welcome to bring this pet to the clinic as well.

All cats will be vaccinated for rabies.

Ocracat volunteers will be setting traps starting the week of Sept. 20, and would like input from the community about the location of breeding feral cats. Flyers at the post office and the Variety Store will be posted for islanders to request trapping.

Anyone who would like to borrow a Havahart trap to use for the clinic can also indicate this on the poster.

Tending to the captured feral cats last year in the OVFD firehouse.

Any feral cat that has a notched ear has already been fixed and should not be brought to the clinic.

Ocracats always needs help with the clinics.

Besides trapping and transporting the cats to and from the fire house, there are a lot of other jobs that need to be handled, such as filling in rabies certificates, keeping an ongoing record of the surgeries so that all cats are released to their correct colonies, set up and clean up, food donations, and fundraising table management.

All the usual volunteers for the clinic must find time for this even though everyone works other jobs.

Just an hour of volunteer time would help immeasurably. Those interested may also add their names and phone numbers to the sign-up flyers.

The best way to contact Ocracats is by email at ocracats@gmail.com, or on Facebook.

State legislative update: Another week without much progress

September 6, 2015

0

Published Sept. 2 at http://www.islandfreepress.org. Used by permission.

By SANDY SEMANS

State legislators are working behind closed doors as they continue to try to hammer out a budget that was due to take effect 66 days ago.
Rumblings around Raleigh don’t bode well for progress in completion of the fiscal 2015-16 budget, but leaders announced that they will work through the Labor Day weekend in an effort to produce at least a draft common-ground appropriations bill by next week.
Among the few points known to be worked out by the two bodies are the price tag of $21.7 billion and a $750 bonus for state employees and teachers.
Policy issues inserted into the Senate version of the budget are still a thorn of contention between the two chambers. And a provision inserted into the shallow draft dredging portion of the budget during negotiations also has drawn fire for the lack of transparency and cost.

Read the rest of the story here.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

The commissioners agreed to further explore changing the Ocracoke noise ordinance.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: