| Life on the Outer Banks August 2006 |
| Southern Shores wants some of the sales tax collected for beach nourishment |
Southern Shores Town Council has asked Dare County Board of Commissioners to give the town
a portion of the sales tax revenues that were collected for beach nourishment. The one-cent sales
tax was repealed earlier this year, and the collection of it ceased June 30.
The issue was addressed by commissioners on Monday after previous requests were made by
Southern Shores in March and May 2006. The requests asked commissioners for a response
regarding their intent to distribute the sales tax collected for beach nourishment and to develop a
comprehensive county-wide disbursement plan.
a portion of the sales tax revenues that were collected for beach nourishment. The one-cent sales
tax was repealed earlier this year, and the collection of it ceased June 30.
The issue was addressed by commissioners on Monday after previous requests were made by
Southern Shores in March and May 2006. The requests asked commissioners for a response
regarding their intent to distribute the sales tax collected for beach nourishment and to develop a
comprehensive county-wide disbursement plan.
The state of the Bonner Bridge
"The long bridge is the safest, most reliable and least expensive option in the long run," said Noah
Matson with Defenders of Wildlife in a phone press conference held Aug. 4. "NC 12 - the road
running across the current bridge and the refuge - is built on one of the most rapidly eroding
shorelines in the country and, as such, the road needs continuous upkeep to battle erosion and
overwash from storms."
"Political interference has jeopardized the whole project, causing a delay of more than two years,"
he said.
Environmental organizations agree that the long bridge is more environmentally sound because it
would completely bypass the refuge which is an important nesting site for sea turtles, piping
plovers and other shore birds.
According to an environmental impact statement which addresses both alternatives, the long
bridge would consume four acres of wetlands while the short bridge alternative and the
re-alignment of NC 12 to the west would destroy more than 78 acres of wetlands.
The Bonner bridge was built more than 40 years ago and as much as $50 million was spent
between 1987 and 1999 to repair and protect the bridge and NC 12 from the ocean.
Did you know?
During the early 1900s, a director of a New Zealand school for Chinese women visited China and
became fascinated with the fruit known at the time as a Chinese gooseberry. She brought back
several fruit-bearing vines for her gardener to cultivate. Eventually the fruit became so popular that
commercial growers became interested. In order to establish an association with New Zealand,
marketers changed the name to "Kiwifruit".
The skin of a kiwi is covered with a hairy fuzz, which can be removed with a vegetable peeler for
easier eating. The skin itself contains a form of protease meat tenderizer, which means it
shouldn't be combined with protein-based foods such as milk or cream. Many cooks add kiwi to
meat dishes specifically for its tenderizing quality.
During the early 1900s, a director of a New Zealand school for Chinese women visited China and
became fascinated with the fruit known at the time as a Chinese gooseberry. She brought back
several fruit-bearing vines for her gardener to cultivate. Eventually the fruit became so popular that
commercial growers became interested. In order to establish an association with New Zealand,
marketers changed the name to "Kiwifruit".
The skin of a kiwi is covered with a hairy fuzz, which can be removed with a vegetable peeler for
easier eating. The skin itself contains a form of protease meat tenderizer, which means it
shouldn't be combined with protein-based foods such as milk or cream. Many cooks add kiwi to
meat dishes specifically for its tenderizing quality.
U.S Department of Interior
Secretary Dirk Kempethorne
announced his proposal
backing a plan to build a bridge
parallel to the 2.7-mile Herbert
C. Bonner Bridge in a recent
news release.
However, environmental groups
are now stepping up efforts to
support the building of a 17-mile
long bridge option which
by-passes Pea Island National
Wildlife Refuge.