Top Outer Banks News

Vandalism and Violations Reported at CHNS During Government Shutdown

January 18, 2019 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist | 3

As the federal government shutdown affects the cleanliness and responsible use of National Parks throughout the country, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) is apparently not immune to spates of vandalism or park violations. A January 17 social media post by the Outer Banks Preservation Society (OBPA) outlined some of these recent violations, and called on the public at large to continue using the park in a safe, clean, and responsible manner. “It’s a sad day when I get a request from NPS to write a post like this,” stated the OBPA. “…It is not acceptable to tear up NPS signage. It is not acceptable to create a situation where the remaining NPS personnel are forced to clean up human waste outside of the toilet facilities. It is not acceptable to drive through vehicle free areas and do doughnuts in the sand.” “What is acceptable is that people realize that this shutd [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Rare Super Blood Wolf Moon Coming on January 20

January 14, 2019 | Hatteras Features | By: Joy Crist | 1

A total lunar eclipse, which will coincide with a super moon and the first full moon of the year, is going to occur on January 20, 2019, and residents all along the East Coast should have a prime front-row seat for the show. The event is technically labeled as a “super blood wolf moon,” as a number of unusual factors are aligning to create a celestial show that we won’t see again until the year 2036. Specifically, a “wolf moon” refers to the first full moon in January, while a “super moon” is when there is a full moon at the same time that the moon is closest to the earth, making the moon appear much larger than usual. A “blood moon” is part of a lunar eclipse, and refers to the reddish hue that occurs when the earth’s shadow comes between the sun and the full moon. A lunar eclipse happens when the sun, moon, and the earth are all aligned in a straight line called syz [...] Hatteras Features |  Full Article

First Annual Hatteras Village Waterfowl Festival Coming in February

January 11, 2019 | Hatteras Features | By: Joy Crist

Locals and residents who want to discover the wild landscapes of Hatteras Island in the wintertime will have a prime opportunity to explore, thanks to the launch for the first-ever Hatteras Village Waterfowl Festival. The Hatteras Village Civic Association, along with the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, is sponsoring the first annual Hatteras Village Waterfowl Festival, which will be held on February 22-24, 2019 at various locations throughout Hatteras Village. The festival kicks off on Friday evening with a “Fin, Feather and Bourbon” event at the Hatteras Civic Center, where attendees can sample fine seafood and fowl dishes accompanied by an assortment of wine pairings and North Carolina bourbons. There will also be a silent auction at the event, with profits benefiting the Cape Hatteras schools’ art programs. During the day on Saturday, the schedule of events will be varied and wil [...] Hatteras Features |  Full Article

Statewide Crab Pot Cleanup to Begin This Week

January 14, 2019 | Fishing

The North Carolina Coastal Federation is set to begin its sixth year of the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project this week, when 78 commercial watermen along the coast will set out into the sounds to collect lost crab pots. The federation is partnering with North Carolina Marine Patrol for this project, which is funded by $100,000 from the North Carolina General Assembly. The project received grant monies from N.C. Sea Grant and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program in the inaugural year, 2014, where cleanup efforts only took place in the northeastern North Carolina waters. As of January 2017, this project has expanded statewide to all internal coastal waters thanks to continued funding from the General Assembly. During the 2018 project, over 2 million acres of waterways were canvassed to recover a total of 3,496 crab pots by 76 watermen along the [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Homeowners Insurance Rate Hikes Proposed up to 30%

December 27, 2018 | Real Estate

The North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB) submitted a Homeowners Insurance Rate Filing to the NC Department of Insurance NCDOI) on Dec. 20. The filing reflects an overall statewide average increase of 17.4 percent for homeowners, renters and condominium rates. However, NCRB has requested a rate increase of 30 percent in the homeowner rate in the beach (barrier island portion) areas of Currituck, Dare and Hyde counties and a 25 percent increase in the homeowner rate in the inland areas of Currituck, Dare, Hyde and Pamlico counties. The data included in the filing indicates the need for a rate increase up to 94 percent; however, the Rate Bureau decided to cap the  increase at 30 percent to reduce the impact on policyholders. Filed tenants (renters) and condominium rate increases are between 5 percent and 15 percennt. Homeowner rates are based on $200,000 coverage, protection class 5 with fram [...] Real Estate |  Full Article