Going Green in the Outer Banks
It seems like everyone is making some kind of effort to Go Green these days. People and businesses are doing this in many ways from changing light bulbs to starting a recycling a program. With the recent passing of Earth Day, there is no better time to consider the environment and do your part. Starting on May 1st, the town of Kill Devil Hills will be implementing a residential curbside recycling program.
The program will be run by Outer Banks Hauling and Bay Disposal. It will bear a small cost but the rewards are priceless. In order to participate in this exciting program, residents will be required to pay a small fee of $8.95 per month. The fee will go to cover the materials needed to recycle and the costs of labor/pickup services. The agreement between the town of Kill Devil Hills and Outer Banks Hauling/Bay Disposal goes into effect on May 1, 2008 and is currently approved until April 30, 2011, with an opportunity to extend the contract another 3 years.
Pickup for the new program will be once a week on Monday or Tuesday, depending on your location. This is a great opportunity to not only help the environment, but also keep your community clean. To find out more information regarding the new program, please visit the Town of Kill Devil Hills website at
www.kdhnc.com or the Bay Disposal website at www.BayDisposal.com.
Labels: Kill Devil HIlls Recycling Program
The Hatteras Weather Bureau Station
Built over 100 years ago in 1901, The Hatteras Weather Bureau Station was the first official building constructed for the US Weather Bureau. It is centrally located in the middle of Hatteras Village at the intersection of Kholer and Saxton Cut Streets. Throughout the century, The Hatteras Weather Station has survived some of the worst storms to hit coastal North Carolina. The station is now listed on the National register of Historic places and receives adamant attention from the National Park Service Preservation staff to help maintain this historic site.
The Hatteras Weather Station was originally used as the residence of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse keeper in 1874. The station was occupied by an observer and a maintenance man and was outfitted with telegraph communications to relay information to the District Forecast Center in Washington D.C. The station was a crucial part of the infant US weather system, relaying detailed forecast and storm information every hour.
Currently the U.S. Weather Bureau Station is operated by The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and provides information on all things “Outer Banks” related, from attractions to directions. The station is open from 9am to 5pm from March until December.
The U.S. Weather Bureau Station / Hatteras Welcome Center:
57190 Kholer Road
Hatteras Village
(877) 629-4386
(252) 986-2203
Labels: Hatteras Welcome Station, The US Weather Station
Off Road Vehicles
As you can imagine, there are plenty of beaches within the Outer banks for you to enjoy. But, did you know that off-roading is permitted on many of the beaches? With the coastline as a beautiful backdrop, this is a great activity just for fun or maybe to help you find the best fishing spot. All can enjoy, but there are some regulations to be followed.
Use only designated access ramps. It is prohibited to go around the access points to get to the beach.
Drive only on marked ORV routes and comply with posted restrictions. Driving or parking on the dunes is prohibited.
Avoid driving or parking on the wrack line. The wrack line is a line of stranded natural debris caused by high tide.
Must have a current driver’s license.
Observe posted speed limits.
Pedestrians have the right of way.
The issue of ORV”s has been a topic of discussion lately. A group called the Defenders of Wildlife, along with other groups, are petitioning a federal judge to suspend the use of ORV’s on portions of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This is mainly due the increased threat to local endangered shorebirds.
This past February, the groups filed for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court asking that the area in which ORV’s are permitted be reduced by 12%. The decrease in land used by ORV’s would provide the shorebirds with needed land to nest and raise their chicks. The restricted land would still be accessible to pedestrians.
Here is a map of the proposed restricted areas.
Nothing has been settled yet, but they are expected to rule on this matter relatively soon. We’ll keep you posted.
Labels: off road vehicles, Outer Banks
