On May 14, 2012 Gene Ballance and James Barrie Gaskill planted the first cultch (oyster shell) on Hyde Bed #78.  Both watermen on the island, Gene and James Barrie wanted to conduct a test run – seeing the best transport method for the soon to be arriving three truck loads of cultch.  They took shells stored from the last two years of the annual OWWA oyster roast and shoveled into stackable totes each holding about two bushels. A total of 66 bushels (33 totes) were planted on Hyde Bed #78.  Read more about OWWA’s oyster restoration project.

There are 19 nonprofit organizations and 6 advisory boards on Ocracoke Island. They address needs within the community or play a vital role in the island’s tourism industry. Almost all are volunteer.  As Ocracoke faces mounting regulatory and economic pressures critical decisions require widespread input during development. What measures can be taken to involve more people in making these important community decisions? Is there a need for classes on nonprofit management and compliance? What is needed to help essential organizations ease their work load? It may be funding, space, technical support or finding ways to create jobs out of these nonprofit responsibilities. The Island Organization Survey is being used to generate discussion during face to face meetings. Karen Lovejoy started the process during the winter of 2011 and should be finished by May of 2012. Feedback from the five Ocracoke community meetings held by Saltwater Connections have also included discussion on improving capacity building. The above research will be combined then mailed out by OFI for residents for review and comment.