- Could we, should we, build groins at our inlets?
- Monkey Junction roadwork - they're back to work
- The February edition of SCM
- Super Bowl on the peninsula
**We hope you like the Snow's Cut Update. We'll tell you something you don't know, give you some ideas for the weekend and show you some cool links.
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Should we be considering this?
Quietly, the Town Council of Carolina Beach took a controversial stand on an issue of great importance to North Carolina. At their January 13 meeting they voted to join the Brunswick Beaches Consortium and the North Carolina Beaches, Inlets and Waterways Association (NCBIWA) in lobbying the state legislature to allow terminal groins at our inlets. They even pledged $2,500 to help the lobbying effort. (Councilman Alan Gilbert voted against it because he thinks the issue is too controversial.)
Let's slow down. What's a groin again? It's a hardened structure (rocks or concrete) that stops sand from moving around. Unlike a jetty, it doesn't extend out into the ocean. It just kind of hugs the shoreline. A terminal groin is one that is located at the end of an island. The picture you see is the terminal groin at the north end of Pea Island at Oregon Inlet. (Outer Banks)
Last year the NC Senate passed a bill (by a score of 41-8) that would allow a pilot groin project. It went nowhere in the House because there is a general sentiment that there should be NO hardened structures on any beach in the state. As evidenced by the Senate vote, the tide may be turning on this subject (no pun intended). The groups mentioned above want to re-introduce the legislation in 2009.
Dr. Orrin Pilkey, of Duke University, is the state's leading expert on coastal geology and he wants us to leave the beaches alone. He is opposed to sandbags and beach replenishment and calls this "the most damaging proposal of all." (Read his recent editorial.)
While there is almost universal agreement that hardened structures just cause even worse erosion to adjacent areas, one local expert, Spencer Rodgers of NC Sea Grant, says that terminal groins are "potentially a coastal management benefit," because they keep the inlets from migrating so quickly. (Read this article by NCBIWA.)
I'm not advocating either way, I just hope that you'll take the time to look at both arguments. In fact here are two more pieces on the matter:
Pro - Mayor Debbie Smith, Ocean Isle Beach
Con - Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions
It's times like this that I'm glad I'm not a politician.
The February edition is here.
Another month means another Snow's Cut Monthly.
This time we take a hard look at the Pleasure Island Greenway proposal - what's possible, what's likely and what's just a dream.
Speaking of dreams, we also tell the tale of a man who had a simple one - to live as a free man. He succeeded. If you're not inspired by this guy, you have no pulse.
Monkey Junction Superstreet Update
They sure have been moving slowly with the Monkey Junction intersection project, but as of today they're back to work. I'm told that they ran into some engineering problems, but got them straightened out yesterday.
So watch out, the lane closures are back - for at least another month or two.
The stormwater part is all finished and now they're on to curbs, pavement, paint and lights. In case you're wondering, all those metal rods sticking out of the ground denote the location of the new curbs that will keep you from making illegal left turns.
Super Bowl on the Cape Fear Peninsula
Enough of this serious business. Sunday is America's most observed national holiday and I'm ready to party. Unfortunately I'm invited to a party hosted by the commissioner of my fantasy football league and she expects me to pay the league entry fees I still owe. (50 bucks just to go to a stinking party!) 
At least they'll be serving Sandpiper Subs. Mr. Sandpiper is a big football fan and he'll bring you 3' of sub for $20. He also has footlongs for the normal 8" prices. Call 458-4885 for free delivery.
Maybe I'll just skip the party and go to one of these places:
Let's start with the Last Resort. New owners Bob and Kim Lewis are huge Steeler fans, so if you're a terrible towel freak I suggest you go there. To show that I won't let my bitterness as a Ravens fan permeate the E-news, I've even included a picture of the Last Resort gang celebrating the AFC Championship.
They're going to start the party at 2pm with an old-fashioned tail gate party in their parking lot. They'll be serving $2 domestic beers all day and having a pot luck at halftime.
They'll also be setting up a projector screen outside to watch the game in larger-than-life fashion.
The Black Horn is having $2 Coors Light, and $3 Super Bombs. They're also serving a full all-you-can-eat buffet featuring wings, Pittsburg sandwiches, South Western Items (a nod to Arizona), Baked Mac N Cheez, Chili, salsas, dips, yada yada. Also, a Half Time Trivia Contest, with Flick Football and Rock Paper Scissors competitions on the sidelines all day long. There will be lots of prizes...and fun. Did I mention their 22 HD TV's, 84" big screen, and Surround Sound?
The Ocean Grill has $10 Miller Lite Buckets, $15 Corona Bucket, $4.99 Chili Nachos, $4.99 Wings and $9.99 Oyster Buckets.
The Shuckin' Shack is your Cincinnati Bengals headquarters (Hah!) Owner Matt Piccinin cannot bring himself to cheer for the Squeelers, but he says that Southwestern Pennsyltuckians are still quite welcome. They'll have $1.50 Coors Lights, $5 Bloody Mary’s and $10 Domestic Buckets. For special Football Day eats they're having a Low Country Boil for $18.50 (shrimp, sausage, potatos, corn, and cole slaw), and all-u-can eat oysters for $16.50/per person.
Michael's Seafood is having a $1 beer special (it's a secret) and all u-can-eat-wings (of many different flavors) for $9.95. They'll be having contests with prizes and giveaways as well. is having a $1 beer special (it's a secret) and all u-can-eat-wings (of many different flavors) for $9.95. They'll be having contests with prizes and giveaways as well.
Jack Mackerel's has $2 Bud selects and $4.75 mimosas and Bloody Marys. (Perfect if you want to start the party at noon.) They'll also have some food specials - wwe just don't know what yet.
The Harbor Masters will warm you up with FREE oysters from 3-6. They'll also have all-you-can-eat shrimp for $9.95, 50 cent wings and $1.50 Coors Lite
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