More of South Beach closes yesterday
Posted in The Scoop | By Dawn |
Parts of the beach were already closed around ramps 43 & 45 near Cape Point due to least terns exhibiting nesting behavior or what is called “scratching” making the point virtually inaccessible via pedestrian or ORV traffic. Yesterday morning the National Park Service discovered a single least tern egg which prompted further closures of South Beach around what is known as the hook south of Cape Point. I work at Finnegan’s Restaurant located across the street from the access road to get to the point. I can personally attest to the fact that these recent beach closures has certainly affected our business. We rely heavily upon the patronage of many fishermen & women especially in the spring and fall seasons. Conversation among the tables in the restaurant are ruled by the beach closures and their expected and already noticeable effects. I was told that the Falcon Motel has received 4 calls canceling this weekend’s reservations, and that Monday several people turned their keys in early as a result of the news of the closures. Later in the evening I was informed that one of the campgrounds has experienced similar cancellations for the same reasons. I can only imagine what this small sampling could mean for the rest of the island’s business trends. Living in such a small community I have found that it is easy for rumors to spread and compound quickly, and I try to keep a level head about most things, wishing for the best. However, in light of the events unfolding before us it is becoming abundantly clear that we may not only be experiencing a nationwide recession, but one on a microlevel that could potentially prove to be extremely detrimental to our close knit, fragile community. Facing current challenges such as the mortgage crisis, a flailing stock market, and obscenely high gas prices may prove to be catastrophic for many of Hatteras Island’s residents if coupled with a major decline in our tourism industry. We are already at a disadvantage because we have no organized local government or media capable of fighting or aptly representing our cause. Yes, we have many individuals and organizations trying to band together and broadcast the community’s voice, but our words are drowned by megalomaniac special interest groups. For so long Hatteras has been able to exist untouched by the bureaucratic fingers of the archetypal American society. Is it too idealistic to believe that this little strip of land could remain that way forever?
More in depth info regarding the beach closures can be found at the following links:
