Here's the latest info. I've received regarding the negotiated rulemaking committee work currently in process to develop a plan for off road vehicle management in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
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National Park Service News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DATE: November 5, 2008
CONTACT: 252-473-2111 ext. 148
Information Available on NPS ORV Management Alternatives
Superintendent Mike Murray announces that information about off-road vehicle (ORV) management alternatives being considered by the National Park Service (NPS) for Cape Hatteras National Seashore has been provided to the Seashore’s ORV management negotiated rulemaking advisory committee. The information is also available to the public and has been uploaded to the PEPC website, under ORV Management Plan project, entitled 2008 11Nov 05 – ORV EIS Alternatives:
parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=358&projectId=10641&documentID=25051
“For clarification, NPS is not seeking or considering public comment on these materials at this time. We are sharing this information with the negotiated rulemaking advisory committee now solely for members' use in negotiating a consensus alternative for recommendation to the NPS,” said Superintendent Mike Murray. “NPS highly values public input in the planning process and will actively seek public comment on the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) when it is released for public review in the early fall of 2009.”
If you have further questions, call 252-473-2111 ext. 148.
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The next meeting will be held on Friday and Saturday, November 14-15. The public comment time is still at noon and 5:30 pm on Friday and noon on Saturday.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Upcoming concert
I received a press release recently about a concert to be held next week at DeepWater Theater, so I thought I would pass the info. along, in case you will be here next week and might be interested in attending.
Bryan Bowers in Concert ~ 7:30 PM, Wednesday, November 19th at Deepwater Theater sponsored by the Ocrafolk Festival Outreach Program & the Ocracoke Preservation Society. Bryan will also be giving an autoharp workshop on Wednesday at 4:00 PM at Deepwater Theater. Both events are free and open to the public, donations to the Ocrafolk Festival are welcome. For more information contact David Tweedie at fiddlerdave@embarqmail.com or 252-928-3411 or visit www.deepwatertheater.com or www.bryanbowers.com.
Bryan Bowers biography
Born August 18, 1940 in Yorktown, Virginia, Bryan Bowers was raised in New Bohemia near Petersburg of the Civil War's Battle Of The Crater fame. As a child, Bowers would tag along with the field workers and gandy dancers and learned to sing old call-and-answer songs. Bowers recalls, "The music I heard while working in the fields was mesmerizing. And, I'd see the gandy dancers coming down the tracks, setting the rails and getting their ties straight. You've heard that song `Whup Boys, Can't you line 'em?, Chack a lack.' Whup Boys, can't you line 'em? was the call the leader would sing. Chack a lack was the bounce-back of the hammer after falling on the pin. I just thought that music was something that everyone did. It was years later that I realized what I'd been raised around."
Bowers enrolled at Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, but found that college was not satisfying an emptiness he felt. Three hours short of earning a degree in Spanish, Bowers dropped out. About the same time (the late '60s), Bowers discovered music when he took up the guitar. "The roots of the music had gone real deep in me. Music was real fulfilling, unlike anything I had ever done before."
It wasn't long before Bowers encountered the autoharp. "I ran into a guy that played several instruments and could get the harp in good tune. He played without any fingerpicks, just with his fingernails. He had a real sprightly style on it. It was the first time I'd heard someone play it in good tune and play it well. It opened my eyes and my ears. I went out and got one the next day."
Bryan relocated to Seattle, WA in 1971 and played for coins as a street singer and in bars for the right to pass the hat. Once he had polished his technique, he headed east in a 1966 Chevy panel truck he affectionately called "Old Yeller." "The Dillards heard me in DC when I went to the Cellar Door," recalls Bowers. "I introduced myself and played the `Battle Hymn Of The Republic' to show them how the harp worked. Sam Bush, Curtis Burch and Courtney Johnson of the New Grass Revival were there. I didn't realize how presumptuous I was being. The Dillards took me to a bluegrass festival at Berryville, Virginia and when they got an encore, they put me out there for their second encore, saying `Here's a guy you ought to hear.' The bluegrass community has been real supportive."
Bower's creativity and talent have won him induction into Frets Magazine's First Gallery of the Greats after five years of winning the stringed instrument, open category of the magazine ›s readers' poll. This distinction put Bowers along side other luminaries, such as Chet Atkins, David Grisman, Stephan Grappelli, Itzhak Perlman, Tony Rice, Rob Wasserman and Mark O'Connor, recognized for their personal accomplishments. In 1993, Bryan was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame to stand only with Maybelle Carter, Kilby Snow, and Sara Carter.
From his rather unglamorous beginning as a street singer, Bryan Bowers has become a major artist on the traditional music circuit. He has redefined the autoharp and is also well known as a singer-songwriter. Bryan has a dynamic outgoing personality and an uncanny ability to enchant a crowd in practically any situation. His towering six foot four inch frame can be wild and zany on stage while playing a song like `Dixie' and five minutes later he can have the same audience singing `Will The Circle Be Unbroken' in quiet reverence and delight.
For nearly three decades, Bryan Bowers has been to the autoharp what Earl Scruggs was to the five-string banjo. He presents instrumental virtuosity combined with warmth, eloquence, expression and professionalism.
"To call Bryan Bowers' performance simply a 'concert' would be inadequate if not inaccurate ... (it) could better be described as an experience!"
-Deseret News
"Bowers is widely regarded as the leading virtuoso on the autoharp... Bowers also has distinct gifts as a singer and songwriter."
-People Magazine
"...This man makes more music from an Autoharp than you can imagine from a 12-string guitar and a harpsichord combined. He has more stage presence and charisma than any stage performer in recent memory."
-The Washington Times
Bryan Bowers in Concert ~ 7:30 PM, Wednesday, November 19th at Deepwater Theater sponsored by the Ocrafolk Festival Outreach Program & the Ocracoke Preservation Society. Bryan will also be giving an autoharp workshop on Wednesday at 4:00 PM at Deepwater Theater. Both events are free and open to the public, donations to the Ocrafolk Festival are welcome. For more information contact David Tweedie at fiddlerdave@embarqmail.com or 252-928-3411 or visit www.deepwatertheater.com or www.bryanbowers.com.
Bryan Bowers biography
Born August 18, 1940 in Yorktown, Virginia, Bryan Bowers was raised in New Bohemia near Petersburg of the Civil War's Battle Of The Crater fame. As a child, Bowers would tag along with the field workers and gandy dancers and learned to sing old call-and-answer songs. Bowers recalls, "The music I heard while working in the fields was mesmerizing. And, I'd see the gandy dancers coming down the tracks, setting the rails and getting their ties straight. You've heard that song `Whup Boys, Can't you line 'em?, Chack a lack.' Whup Boys, can't you line 'em? was the call the leader would sing. Chack a lack was the bounce-back of the hammer after falling on the pin. I just thought that music was something that everyone did. It was years later that I realized what I'd been raised around."
Bowers enrolled at Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, but found that college was not satisfying an emptiness he felt. Three hours short of earning a degree in Spanish, Bowers dropped out. About the same time (the late '60s), Bowers discovered music when he took up the guitar. "The roots of the music had gone real deep in me. Music was real fulfilling, unlike anything I had ever done before."
It wasn't long before Bowers encountered the autoharp. "I ran into a guy that played several instruments and could get the harp in good tune. He played without any fingerpicks, just with his fingernails. He had a real sprightly style on it. It was the first time I'd heard someone play it in good tune and play it well. It opened my eyes and my ears. I went out and got one the next day."
Bryan relocated to Seattle, WA in 1971 and played for coins as a street singer and in bars for the right to pass the hat. Once he had polished his technique, he headed east in a 1966 Chevy panel truck he affectionately called "Old Yeller." "The Dillards heard me in DC when I went to the Cellar Door," recalls Bowers. "I introduced myself and played the `Battle Hymn Of The Republic' to show them how the harp worked. Sam Bush, Curtis Burch and Courtney Johnson of the New Grass Revival were there. I didn't realize how presumptuous I was being. The Dillards took me to a bluegrass festival at Berryville, Virginia and when they got an encore, they put me out there for their second encore, saying `Here's a guy you ought to hear.' The bluegrass community has been real supportive."
Bower's creativity and talent have won him induction into Frets Magazine's First Gallery of the Greats after five years of winning the stringed instrument, open category of the magazine ›s readers' poll. This distinction put Bowers along side other luminaries, such as Chet Atkins, David Grisman, Stephan Grappelli, Itzhak Perlman, Tony Rice, Rob Wasserman and Mark O'Connor, recognized for their personal accomplishments. In 1993, Bryan was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame to stand only with Maybelle Carter, Kilby Snow, and Sara Carter.
From his rather unglamorous beginning as a street singer, Bryan Bowers has become a major artist on the traditional music circuit. He has redefined the autoharp and is also well known as a singer-songwriter. Bryan has a dynamic outgoing personality and an uncanny ability to enchant a crowd in practically any situation. His towering six foot four inch frame can be wild and zany on stage while playing a song like `Dixie' and five minutes later he can have the same audience singing `Will The Circle Be Unbroken' in quiet reverence and delight.
For nearly three decades, Bryan Bowers has been to the autoharp what Earl Scruggs was to the five-string banjo. He presents instrumental virtuosity combined with warmth, eloquence, expression and professionalism.
"To call Bryan Bowers' performance simply a 'concert' would be inadequate if not inaccurate ... (it) could better be described as an experience!"
-Deseret News
"Bowers is widely regarded as the leading virtuoso on the autoharp... Bowers also has distinct gifts as a singer and songwriter."
-People Magazine
"...This man makes more music from an Autoharp than you can imagine from a 12-string guitar and a harpsichord combined. He has more stage presence and charisma than any stage performer in recent memory."
-The Washington Times
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Potluck
Tonight was the annual Fall OPS membership meeting and potluck. The food was absolutely fabulous, even better than most potlucks. Which is saying a lot...as linguist Walt Wolfram, the guest speaker for the evening, put it: "Ocracoke has the best potlucks". So this one was the best of the best. One of my favorite dishes was the scallops which were in a terrific creamy sauce and of course were as fresh as can be. I told you this wasn't your average potluck!
After the meal, Walt showed a portion of the recently released DVD from the NC Language and Life Project, "Carolina Brogue". What he showed was the special features, which were three short tributes to well known and loved (and, now, missed) Ocracokers David Esham, Roy Parsons, and Muzel Bryant. Family and friends of the three had been invited to attend the potluck and meeting, and several were there. The tributes were touching, and seemed to be enjoyed by all. If you knew any of those three O'cockers (or even if you didn't, but if you just enjoy hearing and/or learning more about the Ocracoke brogue), I highly recommend the DVD. They are available from the OPS museum and would make excellent Christmas gifts for anyone who loves Ocracoke.
After the meal, Walt showed a portion of the recently released DVD from the NC Language and Life Project, "Carolina Brogue". What he showed was the special features, which were three short tributes to well known and loved (and, now, missed) Ocracokers David Esham, Roy Parsons, and Muzel Bryant. Family and friends of the three had been invited to attend the potluck and meeting, and several were there. The tributes were touching, and seemed to be enjoyed by all. If you knew any of those three O'cockers (or even if you didn't, but if you just enjoy hearing and/or learning more about the Ocracoke brogue), I highly recommend the DVD. They are available from the OPS museum and would make excellent Christmas gifts for anyone who loves Ocracoke.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Going out of our way for BBQ
We went to Greenville today for a cardiology appointment for John. It makes for a long day, riding the early AM ferry to Swan Quarter, and then spending the whole rest of the day (or at least it seems that way) driving. Because of the time of John's appointment, we couldn't get back to Swan Quarter for the afternoon ferry home, so we had to "drive around" (go up to Manteo, across to Nags Head, then down the Outer Banks to catch the ferry home from Hatteras). As if that wasn't enough driving, we actually made it take longer intentionally - we took a smaller road, and then took a detour off it to a small building in the middle of nowhere. Why? Because that place sells the greatest barbecue around (at least in John's opinion). It's not a restaurant, it's a smokehouse/processing place. They sell North Carolina style (chopped pork) barbecue in tubs. John filled up a cooler with several pounds of 'cue, which made him very happy. It was well worth the little bit of extra driving!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
A long line, and a full jar
The wait for brunch at the Cafe Atlantic today was anywhere between an hour and two hours long. Luckily, it was a beautiful, sunny day so people didn't seem to mind sitting on the porch (or standing in the parking lot) chatting with friends while waiting. I did see a handful of people give up and leave, but most hung in there until their names were called. The tip jar on top of the dessert counter was full, and I overheard a server saying that she had seen tables leaving $50 tips for $50 meals. The general sense was summed up well by a diner at the table next to me. When asked "was it worth the wait?", he said "I wouldn't have waited two hours just for the food, but it was worth it for the cause". I was personally very happy to be able to give to this particular cause, but I probably would have waited for 2 hours for Cafe brunch anyway!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Community support
Today, I enjoyed participating in multiple yard sales. There was the one on the lawn at the Pony Island motel, which supported the Ocracoke Youth Center. And then there was one at each of the churches, which supported...well, the churches, of course! There were lots of people at all of the sales, and I hope that all three organizations benefited.
The structure of the Youth Center yard sale was that you could donate items for them to sell, or you could set up your own table to sell stuff and then give them a portion of your proceeds. I had a box of things I wanted to sell, so I opted for this method. Unfortunately, I failed to consider the impact of being surrounded by other people who were also selling their stuff, not to mention the impact of visiting the other two yard sales. My point? I bought way much more than I sold, returning home with more than I had when I left! Ah, well...it was for a good cause.
This particular set of autumn yard sales has become an annual event, and I always enjoy participating. I love watching the community in action, supporting each other.
After the yard sales, I went to the Post Office and saw two flyers which reminded me about a couple of additional upcoming events of community support. Tomorrow, the Cafe Atlantic will be serving brunch for the only time this season. (I am very excited about this, as I've been jonesing for Cafe brunch ever since they announced they were no longer going to be serving it!) Then, on Friday the 21st a benefit lunch of BBQ chicken plates will be served at the Hyde County Government Center. Both of these events are to benefit a member of the community who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. I know that both events will be very well attended, because that's just one of the things this community does well: support each other.
The structure of the Youth Center yard sale was that you could donate items for them to sell, or you could set up your own table to sell stuff and then give them a portion of your proceeds. I had a box of things I wanted to sell, so I opted for this method. Unfortunately, I failed to consider the impact of being surrounded by other people who were also selling their stuff, not to mention the impact of visiting the other two yard sales. My point? I bought way much more than I sold, returning home with more than I had when I left! Ah, well...it was for a good cause.
This particular set of autumn yard sales has become an annual event, and I always enjoy participating. I love watching the community in action, supporting each other.
After the yard sales, I went to the Post Office and saw two flyers which reminded me about a couple of additional upcoming events of community support. Tomorrow, the Cafe Atlantic will be serving brunch for the only time this season. (I am very excited about this, as I've been jonesing for Cafe brunch ever since they announced they were no longer going to be serving it!) Then, on Friday the 21st a benefit lunch of BBQ chicken plates will be served at the Hyde County Government Center. Both of these events are to benefit a member of the community who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. I know that both events will be very well attended, because that's just one of the things this community does well: support each other.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Cake for breakfast and weather over water
I ate my cake from Cafe Atlantic today - for breakfast. Sometimes, you just have to completely indulge yourself and do something ridiculous. In my opinion, anyway.
This afternoon at 2, I went to the school to read to the first graders. I had been inside all day up to that point. As I was getting on my bicycle, I heard a ferry horn. I thought nothing of it. About a minute later, the horn sounded again. I thought "that's odd". A minute later, it sounded again. Now I was getting really curious. I heard the horn about 6 to 8 times in the time it took me to ride from my house to the school. As Alice would say, I thought it was "curiouser and curiouser".
When I got to the school, I heard the horn again and said something to Mary Ellen about it. She said, "it's because of the fog". Fog? I had no clue there was fog. There wasn't any in the village (or at least I hadn't seen any during my short ride to the school). It's fascinating to me how the weather over the water often differs quite a bit from that over land. (Mary Ellen said that earlier in the day it had indeed been quite foggy in the village, but I had missed that since I was indoors all morning.)
This afternoon at 2, I went to the school to read to the first graders. I had been inside all day up to that point. As I was getting on my bicycle, I heard a ferry horn. I thought nothing of it. About a minute later, the horn sounded again. I thought "that's odd". A minute later, it sounded again. Now I was getting really curious. I heard the horn about 6 to 8 times in the time it took me to ride from my house to the school. As Alice would say, I thought it was "curiouser and curiouser".
When I got to the school, I heard the horn again and said something to Mary Ellen about it. She said, "it's because of the fog". Fog? I had no clue there was fog. There wasn't any in the village (or at least I hadn't seen any during my short ride to the school). It's fascinating to me how the weather over the water often differs quite a bit from that over land. (Mary Ellen said that earlier in the day it had indeed been quite foggy in the village, but I had missed that since I was indoors all morning.)
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