Nags Head Blog

Reports of an explosion of the fireworks truck on Ocracoke

2009-07-04T14:16:00Z

It will be a tragic 4th on Ocracoke. It's reported that the truck with the fireworks for tonight's display exploded this morning, causing some serious injuries. Emergency medical services are on their way.

Paddleboarder in the Ocean

2009-06-27T14:20:00Z

Beautiful morning in the ocean at Nags Head. There were a couple of stand up paddleboarders near the Huron wreck. The figure in the center of the pic is one of them ona wave, with Nags Head pier in the background.

Clear water, little chop from the north wind.

It's been a great week to play in the ocean, clear water, nice waves, warm. As good as it gets!

NC Spin blog on small business

2009-05-15T16:06:00Z

A very perceptive blog post from Tom Campbell at NC Spin - http://www.ncspin.com/spin/articles/2009_05_13_2917.php

He makes a good case that North Carolina should support its small businesses more, and give away less money to the big corporations. I am biased - I have two small businesses in NC, and it infuriates me that the legislature takes my tax dollars and gives them away to huge corporations. Small business bears a lot of expense to comply with state regulations and taxation. For example, the state changed the sales tax collection method a few years ago to require that business pay sales tax twice a month, based on prior tax collection. They doubled the cost of compliance for a small business, with no net improvement in the overall tax collected, just better cashflow for the state. People see business owners as wealthy individuals, but the business owner is the one who signs personally for his business debt, and for many years, is usually reinvesting in the company to make it grow.

Another example, on the federal regulation level, is the restrictions on 401K contributions by anyone who owns more than 5% of a small business. All my employees can contribute up to 20% of their salary to the 401K plan the company created, but the owners are restricted to the company average(usually around 6-7%) plus 2 %.

Anyway, Mr. Campbell's post is very perceptive, and recognizes that small businesses are much more rooted in the community, and should be encouraged by our tax system.

An X zone on the Kill Devil Hills oceanfront

2009-05-07T18:45:00Z

One of my property owners has written a piece that is rich with information. He has accomplished an unprecedented change in the flood map on a select portion of the oceanfront in Kill Devil Hills. Follow to http://croatansurfclub.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/x-marks-the-spot/

This makes the oceanfront condominium properties more attractive to a purchaser, but the real long term value is in the cost of insurance for the condominium association. I would not be surprised if this lowered their cost of insurance by a couple of hundred thousand dollars per year.

They've done a lovely job on the ladnscaping, and it's a first class project. I'm proud that Village Realty will be managing the condominium association and representing many of the properties for rent.

Re-shingling and Recreating in the Nags Head Historic area

2009-03-24T17:16:00Z

There was a stir from the public a few months ago when one of the older cottages near Jockeys Ridge, and the cottage to the south changed hands, and the plan to tear down one of the two cottages came out. Every community hates to lose its past - unfortunately, it sounded like the old oceanfront cottage would have been very difficult and expensive to update, and it was close to unsafe.

A couple of pictures below show the beginnings of a new cottage on the same site, and the current state of construction. It looks like a very nice reconstruction with a double porch and L shape, and fits in well with the neighborhood. Give a couple of years on the cedar shakes and it'll have that weathered look. The building in the foreground of the 3rd pic is the garage, not attached to the cottage.

In the last picture, even the cottage next door gets some new shakes, and a new roof. It's nice to see the owner reinvesting in the property.

Still chilly here in Nags Head, warmer weather on the way for the weekend!

Kelly's St. Patricks Day Parade

2009-03-16T13:01:00Z

It was a slightly damp, cool day for a parade, but the crowd turned out, and the marchers were troopers!

It was the 20th annual parade, and Mike Kelly honored his parents and grandson as grand marshalls. Thanks Mike, for another great parade!

This year, Kelly added an 8 K run for the leprechauns, through Nags Head Woods. I was out run once again by Dorie Fuller, and Myers too. Oh well, great morning for a run.

http://www.kellysrestaurant.com/

Still a Northwest Wind

2009-02-23T15:07:00Z

It is still blowing (not as hard) from the northwest, the coldest wind for the Outer Banks. I had to get the dog a little exercise yesterday at sunset, so we went tot he edge of Jockeys Ridge. Yes, she should be on a leash - no, I saw nary a soul.

This photo looks across the Roanoke Sound from Jockeys Ridge. That's the north end of Roanoke Island (home of the Lost Colony) on the left, and Durant's Island towards the right, next to the sunset.

One track in the sand

2009-02-18T14:01:00Z

Only one track on the beach this morning. The sandbar looks like it shifted north.

A juvenile humpback whale was washed up on the beach yesterday morning. About 25 feet long. The Marine Stranding team was there when I took photos yesterday afternoon. Check out the baleen, the mouth strainer. It's like a huge brush, and i'd never seen one up close. The smell really knocked you off your feet.

Birds working on Friday

2009-02-13T19:04:00Z

It's hard to show the incredible number of birds working the ocean today. And fishing boats out during the day and night.

Breezy morning in Nags Head

2009-02-12T13:19:00Z

It's a breezy morning in Nags Head. Lots of birds working, but spread out.

And it is probably close to 60, warm and breezy.

Calm Ocean

2009-02-11T13:38:00Z

Pelican line in flight.

A calm ocean in February, Nags Head Pier in the morning light.

The same pelicans in the closeup above.

February Beach

2009-02-09T14:24:00Z

Winter in Nags Head

2009-02-03T18:36:00Z

It has turned back to winter today. Our pipes froze during the last cold spell, but then we enjoyed some pretty nice temps, close to 60 on Sunday.

Lots of fishing boat lights on the horizon at night, and a one just passed this afternoon with a big flock of seagulls close by.

There are some incredibly colorful sunsets this time of year, and I got over to the sound just in time to catch the last part of one, photo below.

Obama on immigration part 2

2008-10-10T13:17:00Z

I posted on Obama and immigration a couple of months ago. I'm supporting McCain, but Obama is right on target about the community college issue in NC. Unfortunately, I feel like many of Obama's positions lack an understanding of business, especially small business. I am discouraged that many of his programs are centered on more government and mandates, instead of working with market forces. I haven't seen that he's a different kind of politician, witness his lobbying dollars received from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and his real estate ties to the Chicago influence peddler. McCain is different from the run of the run of the mill republican, and he's got the right stuff. My dream ticket is McCain/Obama - but not expecting it.

Raleigh News and Observer

Obama steps into N.C. immigration debate

Opposes ban on illegal immigrants in college

Rob Christensen, Staff Writer

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama suggested this weekend that the children of illegal immigrants should have an opportunity to attend public community colleges -- thereby interjecting himself into a contentious North Carolina issue.

Obama said children who attended public schools should have the chance to continue to improve themselves rather than being consigned to the fringes of society.

"For us to deny them access to community college, even though they've never lived in Mexico, at least as far as they can tell ... is to deny that this is how we've always built this country up," Obama said in an interview over the weekend with WUNC during a campaign stop in Greensboro.

The campaign of GOP presidential hopeful John McCain issued a statement saying McCain was opposed to providing benefits to illegal immigrants but did not specifically address the issue of whether they should be permitted to attend community colleges.

"John McCain does not support amnesty or benefits for undocumented immigrants," his campaign said in the statement. "He has consistently opposed giving amnesty or public benefits to undocumented immigrants."

In his interview with WUNC, Obama said he favored tightening border security and cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants. But he also said there must be a path to citizenship for those already in the United States.

Obama said many children of Mexican immigrants have spent nearly their entire lives in the U.S., and "for all practical purposes, they are an American kid."

"I think we don't want them in the underground economy," Obama said. "We want them contributing, and it makes sense for us to provide them some pathway. If they've been here a certain period of time, and they've been good citizens, let's try to figure out how we can work them into the fabric of our society."

This month, the State Board of Community Colleges agreed to spend up to $75,000 to study whether to admit illegal immigrants as students.

There were 112 illegal immigrants among the 300,000 students enrolled in the state community college system last year.

Do a Good Turn Daily

2008-08-09T12:59:00Z

I had to share this note I received yesterday. It warms your heart when our staff provides great service - in this case to some folks who weren't our customers, just needed some help. But winning people over with one kind act at a time is just good business, too. Be good scouts, and do a good turn daily!

Bob,

I wanted to share with you something that happened to a fellow co-worker that I work with who should be commended for going that extra mile.

On Saturday, August 2, 2008, I was working late (9:30 - 10:00 ish), as usual on a Saturday, along with two of my cleaning crews and Johnny Pledger, late maintenance tech on call. We were busy putting linen bags out for Sunday, making set-up bags, getting cleaner boards put together and pulling keys when Johnny came back into the office looking for me. He said that he was approached by a woman, while he was pulling into the shopping complex to call it a day, who couldn't talk or hear. He said that she had a hand held computer and that is how she was communicating with him. She had just arrived here on the Outer Banks with another lady and two small children and was trying to find the place where to pick up her keys. The reservation was booked in another persons name but she had gotten here before they did. All she had was an address, so Johnny, being as helpful as he could, asked her what the address was and it was Currituck Clubhouse Drive. So he thought he could take her to her the security guard at the entrance of the Currituck Club and they could help her, however when they arrived, the security guard was already gone for the day. So he thought maybe she was renting from us so he told her to follow him back to the office and she could look through our packets to see if one was theirs. Well with no luck again, Johnny saw that I was still here and he came over to housekeeping with this lady and asked if I could help. He told me the story with what had happened so far and then I was able to pick up from there. After about 15 minutes of research and reading notes the lady was writing and her reading my lips we finally found out that she was renting with Seaside Vacations. I tried calling their after hours number to find the location of their office here in Corolla and no one answered. So I searched their website to see if they had directions listed on their website on how to get to their Corolla office (not very user friendly website like ours) and finally found out that they have an office located in the shopping center where the Harris Teeter is. So I asked Johnny if he would ride back over there with the lady and see if there was a box out front that would have their keys in it. Thankfully Johnny found the office and there was an envelope in their late box with their name on it. She thanked him multiple times for helping her. He came back to the office and told me that he thought he might get in trouble for being on the clock so long but said that he couldn't leave those ladies and the two kids (who were crying in the back seat but the ladies couldn't hear them because they were both deaf) out there in a strange place and no one around to help them. I told him that he did the right thing and he should be proud of what he did. He said, "Well I've done my good deed for the day, now I am going home!" I wished him a safe trip home and he was on his way back to NH.

It takes a special person to help those who are in need. Some people would have just walked away or given up, but you are very fortunate to have such a great person working for you that represents what Village Realty is all about. "EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE". I believe that Johnny deserves a pat on the back or a hand shake the next time you all see him.

Thanks for listening.

Thuy (twee) Aitken

Village Realty
Corolla Housekeeping Manager
www.villagerealtyobx.com

Extra Miles (with smiles) in Village Realty

2008-07-21T14:52:00Z

Not much effect from Cristobal in Nags Head. Another pretty day for the ocean.

I have to share the note below. It's great to work with people that get the whole idea that helping people on their vacation is good long term business, and a lot of fun, too. We've got people that understand the idea of customer service, and enjoy it.

"Jenny received a call last week from a lady desperate to find out “who rents ‘Martini”. This is a house directly across from NH Fishing Pier and after her calling multiple other companies and everyone telling her the same thing “we don’t rent it, I can’t help you”, Jenny said “I know exactly the house you are talking about, let me drive by and see whose sign is on it.” When she called the lady back to tell her the disappointing news that NO ONE rents that house the woman went on and on about how helpful she was and she couldn’t believe she would actually do that on her own time, “Village is where I will rent in the future.”

Thanks Jenny!!! A perfect example of “extra mile” that makes Bob Oakes smileJ

Maggie Sexton

Rental Manager, Nags Head

Village Realty

What to do when the system breaks

2008-07-12T20:15:00Z

Most of us make mistakes - it's human nature. Since I am theoretically in charge of my organization, when I make mistakes, they are usually larger than normal. This gives me a certain tolerance for other members of our organization, because I've either already made that mistake, or mine cost me a whole lot more money.

I read an interesting blog piece from Seth Godin (author of The Long Tail, and a couple more good books). He was talking about system failures, mistakes that resound across a whole organization. (the piece is here - http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/07/what-do-you-do.html)

He makes a good point about judging an organization by how well it corrects its mistakes. It's an old struggle between the dynamic and the static - the static process has to have a mechanism for change when it stops working. I tend to divide mistakes into human error and system error. Human mistakes are normal, and kind of hard to eliminate - people just aren't perfect. The system mistake, however, is a problem with the way the system is setup, and it leads to similar mistakes because similar situations occur. These kind of mistakes seem harder to correct. One of the best speakers I have heard was Horst Schultze (spelling?), the VP for Ritz Carlton. He was talking about an elevator availability problem, and traced the cause of the problem back to a decision that he made to buy less than the recommended amount of towels when opening his hotel. Our goal is to identify these type of problems, and make the changes that need to be made, as soon as possible. Of course, the hard part is to predict what effect the change you make will have on the other parts of the organization. The law of unintended consequences is alive and well, but it seems to me that you're still better off changing than standing still.

A brief gripe on the end of this entry. I was a bit shocked to read that the Governor of North Carolina's wife received an 88% raise, from $90,000 to $170,000. This was not for a new position, just increased responsibilities. No matter how well the job has been done, it's hard to justify. It seems to go with the several out of the country trips, the helicoptor transportation for the Easleys, and the arrogance the Governor displays in ordering the elimination of public record e-mails. The appearance stinks, it looks like the taxpayers are just making sure that the Easleys have a comfortable retirement. The feeling of entitlement to public money is one of the worst symptoms of a long career of being employed by the State. North Carolina deserves better.

Sea Holly

2008-06-20T12:43:00Z

I've been fascinated with this plant since I moved to Nags Head. It grows within 100 yards of the ocean, so it's salt tolerant as it can be. You don't see a whole lot of it around - an exception is the historic district homes in the heart of Nags Head.

From Wiki:

The Sea holly (biological binomial term: Eryngium maritimum) is a species of Eryngium in the plant family Apiaceae and native to most European coastlines. The protected dune plant grows to a height of 20 to 60cm and although widespread it is considered endangered. So, for instance, in Germany its occurrence has been greatly reduced throughout and has become extinct in some regions.

In Elizabethan times in England, these were believed to a strong aphrodisiac. They are named in a speech by Falstaff:

“	"Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of Green-sleeves, hail kissing-comfits and snow eringoes [sea-holly], let there come a tempest of provocation..."	”
—Falstaff, Act 5, scene v, "The Merry Wives of Windsor", William Shakespeare

Circling Back

2008-06-06T02:50:00Z

I subscribe to about 20 RSS feeds, and read a number of these blogs pretty regularly. Along with my local favorites, View from the Ridge and OBX Republic, The Four Factors of Leadership comes up with some gems.

The link below goes to a brief but excellent article on circling back. I have called this closing the loop, and it's a critical part of leading I believe, but something I don't do as well as I should. Enjoy!

http://daverendall.typepad.com/fourfactors/2008/05/circling-back.html

Stories to Tell

2008-06-03T12:22:00Z

New webcam image! Please let me know if it works for you. http://nagsheadblog.com/2008/06/02/nags-head-and-ocracoke-webcams.aspx

I asked some of the folks I work for their best stories from the Memorial Day weekend.

My best story of helping someone over the Memorial Day weekend had to do with helping an owner rather than a guest. When our wonderful managers decided we could all go home early on Memorial Day, as I was ready to leave, I noticed that an owner had planned to pick up a "starter kit" to make his home ready for a guest stay. He had not yet come by the office to pick it up, and of course was not aware that we were closing early. Not being able to contact the owner by phone, I decided the best course of action would be to drop the starter kit off to the house on my way home. This was much appreciated by the owner.

That's blowing my own horn a bit, but the fact is that I love working for a company where going the extra mile is simply the norm!!

Karen

Karen's story is a simple one, didn't cost anything but time (and a little extra gas), and it reminds me of one that Dave Holton told about 20 years ago when the Village Beach Club was just starting out. Dave talked about someone who left their purse at the club, and the staff member who found it had some choices on what to do 1) Hold onto the purse and tell the owner we had it when she called 2) Call the owner, let her know we had the purse, and we'd hold it for her. 3) Deliver the purse to the owner at her home. It depends on what level of service you want to offer. Deliver the purse!