Odds & Ends From Ocracoke
It has been a while since the last blog post so I thought I would just tell you about a few things that have been going on around here.
So far it has been a mild winter for which I am grateful. Today it is sunny and around 60 degrees. Yesterday was even warmer. It is hard to believe right now that it is January.
Many of you may have already heard that the National Park Service will be requiring a permit for driving on the beach. This will go into effect beginning February 15, 2012. The NPS has published the final rule document for the management of off road vehicle use at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in the Federal Register. You can find this rule at https://www.federalregister.gov
Basically, anyone wishing to drive a vehicle on the beach will have to purchase a yearly or weekly permit after watching a 7 minute on beach driving at one of 3 designated locations.
No costs for the permits has been announced yet.
The final rule is also available on the NPS Planning Environmental and Public Comment website at parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsList.cfm?projectID=10641
For further information you may call 252-473-2111 Ext 148
Another huge issue that has raised a lot of hackles is the increase of ferry tolls for the Swan Quarter/Ocracoke, Cedar Island/Ocracoke and Southport/Fort Fisher ferries and the implementation of tolls on the Bayview/Aurora and Cherry Branch/Minnesott Beach ferries. New tolls will go into effect no later than April 1, 2012.
Several meetings have been scheduled for discussion of this matter, one of which was recently held on Ocracoke Island. As you can imagine residents and business owners are opposed to the toll increases and do not think it is fair.
No decision has been made yet on the amount of the tolls/toll increases but we have been hearing the current tolls will at least double. (A one way trip across the Sound is currently $15 for a regular passenger car. This may soon cost $30 or more...one way).
If you would like to submit a comment or question please do so NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 16, 2012 to the following address:
Mr. Jamille A. Robbins, Public Involvement Officer
NCDOT-Human Environment Section
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1598
E-mail: jarobbins@ncdot.gov
Now for some less controversial news. Ocracoke School has really been enjoying the new gym that opened just before basketball season began. The gym is awesome! It is a "real" gym like other schools have and it is wonderful to have it.
Basketball has always been the sport at Ocracoke School. It is the only sport that has been played competitively over the years until recently. There are now boys and girls middle school and high school teams and believe me...they take this game very seriously. We have some fantastic players on all of the teams. For the past few years Ocracoke School has been playing in a conference. This is a big deal for our school.
There are still a few games left to play but so far this season:
Ocracoke High School Dolphins boys and girls both beat their long time rivals team...the Hatteras Hurricanes. This was the first time this has happened...EVER! You can imagine the excitement!! The new gym was rocking that night!
Ocracoke High School hosted a Holiday Tournament in December in the new gym with 4 teams competing over a 2 day period. The Ocracoke girls won first place and the boys won second place.
Echo Bennink, senior, was honored for reaching 1000 points in her high school career. She was also featured on a local TV news show as Player Of The Week! You can watch the video here:
http://www.witn.com/video/?topVideoCatNo=default&autoStart=true&clipId=6648255
I have been hearing rumors that Ocracoke School may soon be forming teams in other sports such as baseball. There are some really great baseball players on Ocracoke. If you saw the July 4th parade last year then you may remember the baseball team (the Raptors) that were winging candy pretty hard and fast into the crowd.
Ocracoke School also has a very good cross country team that regularly wins awards and provides participants a great way to stay in shape.
The First Annual Ocracoke 5K and Family Fun Run will be held on April 28 with proceeds benefitting island organizations The Ocracoke Booster Club (also new at Ocracoke School this year) and the Ocracoke Community Radio (WOVV). Those organizing this event are hoping to make it an annual occurrence.
The course is US ATF certified.
For more information or to register for the Ocracoke 5K and the Family Fun Run please visit their website:
http://www.ocracokeisland5krun.org/
Listverse has named Ocracoke Island #3 on their list of top 10 beaches! On their website they noted the privacy and seclusion of our beaches and say we have "some of the most pristine sand to be found". The beaches that made their list aren't just located in the US...there are beaches in Brazil, the Greek Islands, Philippines, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. We are so proud!
You can see the top 10 beaches chosen by Listverse at http://listverse.com/2012/01/03/top-10-best-beaches-in-the-world/#.Tw2TIUeJKEB.facebook
This is the time of year when folks on the island take a breather. People go on vacation or do projects around the house that we don't have time to do during the busier times of the year. It is very quiet here and most of the businesses are closed. Soon, however, we will start preparations for a busy season full of new and returning visitors to our little piece of paradise. Everyone will be busy opening, sprucing, stocking and getting ready for your arrival. I have to say that while I do enjoy the peace, quiet and slower pace of the winter I am looking forward to the warm sunshine. I can almost feel it.
Fear not...before you realize it you will be packing and heading to see us with a smile on your face. Spring is just around the corner!
So far it has been a mild winter for which I am grateful. Today it is sunny and around 60 degrees. Yesterday was even warmer. It is hard to believe right now that it is January.
Many of you may have already heard that the National Park Service will be requiring a permit for driving on the beach. This will go into effect beginning February 15, 2012. The NPS has published the final rule document for the management of off road vehicle use at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in the Federal Register. You can find this rule at https://www.federalregister.gov
Basically, anyone wishing to drive a vehicle on the beach will have to purchase a yearly or weekly permit after watching a 7 minute on beach driving at one of 3 designated locations.
No costs for the permits has been announced yet.
The final rule is also available on the NPS Planning Environmental and Public Comment website at parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsList.cfm?projectID=10641
For further information you may call 252-473-2111 Ext 148
Another huge issue that has raised a lot of hackles is the increase of ferry tolls for the Swan Quarter/Ocracoke, Cedar Island/Ocracoke and Southport/Fort Fisher ferries and the implementation of tolls on the Bayview/Aurora and Cherry Branch/Minnesott Beach ferries. New tolls will go into effect no later than April 1, 2012.
Several meetings have been scheduled for discussion of this matter, one of which was recently held on Ocracoke Island. As you can imagine residents and business owners are opposed to the toll increases and do not think it is fair.
No decision has been made yet on the amount of the tolls/toll increases but we have been hearing the current tolls will at least double. (A one way trip across the Sound is currently $15 for a regular passenger car. This may soon cost $30 or more...one way).
If you would like to submit a comment or question please do so NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 16, 2012 to the following address:
Mr. Jamille A. Robbins, Public Involvement Officer
NCDOT-Human Environment Section
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1598
E-mail: jarobbins@ncdot.gov
Now for some less controversial news. Ocracoke School has really been enjoying the new gym that opened just before basketball season began. The gym is awesome! It is a "real" gym like other schools have and it is wonderful to have it.
Basketball has always been the sport at Ocracoke School. It is the only sport that has been played competitively over the years until recently. There are now boys and girls middle school and high school teams and believe me...they take this game very seriously. We have some fantastic players on all of the teams. For the past few years Ocracoke School has been playing in a conference. This is a big deal for our school.
There are still a few games left to play but so far this season:
Ocracoke High School Dolphins boys and girls both beat their long time rivals team...the Hatteras Hurricanes. This was the first time this has happened...EVER! You can imagine the excitement!! The new gym was rocking that night!
Ocracoke High School hosted a Holiday Tournament in December in the new gym with 4 teams competing over a 2 day period. The Ocracoke girls won first place and the boys won second place.
Echo Bennink, senior, was honored for reaching 1000 points in her high school career. She was also featured on a local TV news show as Player Of The Week! You can watch the video here:
http://www.witn.com/video/?topVideoCatNo=default&autoStart=true&clipId=6648255
I have been hearing rumors that Ocracoke School may soon be forming teams in other sports such as baseball. There are some really great baseball players on Ocracoke. If you saw the July 4th parade last year then you may remember the baseball team (the Raptors) that were winging candy pretty hard and fast into the crowd.
Ocracoke School also has a very good cross country team that regularly wins awards and provides participants a great way to stay in shape.
The First Annual Ocracoke 5K and Family Fun Run will be held on April 28 with proceeds benefitting island organizations The Ocracoke Booster Club (also new at Ocracoke School this year) and the Ocracoke Community Radio (WOVV). Those organizing this event are hoping to make it an annual occurrence.
The course is US ATF certified.
For more information or to register for the Ocracoke 5K and the Family Fun Run please visit their website:
http://www.ocracokeisland5krun.org/
Listverse has named Ocracoke Island #3 on their list of top 10 beaches! On their website they noted the privacy and seclusion of our beaches and say we have "some of the most pristine sand to be found". The beaches that made their list aren't just located in the US...there are beaches in Brazil, the Greek Islands, Philippines, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. We are so proud!
You can see the top 10 beaches chosen by Listverse at http://listverse.com/2012/01/03/top-10-best-beaches-in-the-world/#.Tw2TIUeJKEB.facebook
This is the time of year when folks on the island take a breather. People go on vacation or do projects around the house that we don't have time to do during the busier times of the year. It is very quiet here and most of the businesses are closed. Soon, however, we will start preparations for a busy season full of new and returning visitors to our little piece of paradise. Everyone will be busy opening, sprucing, stocking and getting ready for your arrival. I have to say that while I do enjoy the peace, quiet and slower pace of the winter I am looking forward to the warm sunshine. I can almost feel it.
Fear not...before you realize it you will be packing and heading to see us with a smile on your face. Spring is just around the corner!
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