Welcome to my newsletter. I hope to include on this web page Outer Banks information of general interest as well as matters affecting real estate sales. Your comments and suggestions are more than welcome.

The Winged Horse Extravaganza

Those of you who have been to the Outer Banks in the past few years have seen the winged horses, both stallions and colts that have appeared in front of many businesses and organizations. Pictured here is Water Wings, Corolla Real Estate and Corolla Classic Vacations' horse. With a perfect curl on his flanks and a sun drenched head and mane, he is truly representative of the Outer Banks. He is even riding a surfboard built by Tony Beugless, a local surfer. Tony's wife, Renee Hilimere painted the horse, which is full size, in her kitchen. This program is the brainchild of Linda Lauby, president of the Outer Banks Press. Her work has resulted in a whole herd of horses already in place for the summer. These horses, all individually decorated by their sponsors, were designed to capture the spirit of the 2003 First Flight Centennial Celebration.

The painted, bejeweled, garbed and otherwise adorned horses are everywhere on the Outer Banks. It is well worth a drive up and down the beach just to see them. All of the horses and their locations are included on maps printed in all Outer Banks Press publications. All of them are also included in a full color commemorative book featuring photographs of each horse, along with sponsor and artist information. Also, all decorated horses are included in an on-line map which will be available at www.outerbankspress.com.

In December 2003 an auction was held held to coincide with the First Flight Centennial Celebration. Each horse was auctioned, with most of the proceeds going to the Icarus International's Monument to the Century of Flight and the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. Requests by sponsors to benefit specific local charities were also honored.

Water on the Southern Curituck Outer Banks

In mid-August, after 13 years of planning, Currituck County started using its new reverse-osmosis water treatment plant. The plant is expected to help hundreds of property owners who have struggled for years with contamination and natural deposits found in private well water. Soon there will be the capability to serve 5,455 homes, enough to fully develop the Southern Currituck Outer Banks.

The purpose of the new plant is to provide a central water system that will supply safe, reliable and high-quality potable water the Outer Banks portion of Currituck County. Prior to the development of the new plant potable water for the area was provided from small community systems or individual wells. The home owners with private wells had high levels of iron, manganese, hardness and chlorides and had to use expensive home treatment devices or bottled water for drinking.

The treatment plant has two separate systems; each can produce approximately 1 million gallons a day. The reverse-osmosis plants draw from larger, deeper wells of brackish water some 200 feet below the surface where the primary impurity is salt. The water is forced through a fine membrane while the majority of the contaminants are rejected. Contaminants are flushed to drain,while project water is carried to a storage vessel. The salty discharge produced by reverse-osmosis is pumped to a pipe, clarified and discharged into the Atlantic Ocean through two screens that empty into the ocean 250 feet offshore.

Reverse-Osmosis plants are becoming more common because conventional water plants draw from shallow water that is not producing enough water to handle growth in the area.The new plant will improve water quality, provide an emergency reserve, result in better fire protection and maintain capability to build on the Currituck County Outer Banks.

Route 12-Steak & Seafood Co. and Raw Bar

Located in the Timbuck II Shopping Village in Corolla, you will find a quiet, casual and inviting restaurant with lots of flair, serving traditional Outer Banks favorites as well as specialties prepared by Chef "Finely" Ron; crab bisque, crabcake sandwiches, a hamburger topped with lump crab meat, prime rib, pastas, seafood platters and raw or steamed seafood, just to name a few. President Mark Grizzard and Manager Stephen Hilliker along with their experienced staff work hard to make you want to come back every chance you get. One of the featured entree's, The Ahi Pepper Fillet; yellowfin tuna wrapped in applewood smoked bacon, grilled with cracked peppercorns served over baby spinach and finished with a green peppercorn, garlic demi glace is sure to make your mouth water, finish up with a piece of Chef's homemade bourban pecan pie. With a full bar and exciting wine menu why not visit Route 12 for lunch or dinner, and for those homebodies these guys will be more than happy to set you up with take out.

OBX - A Golfing Destination

We all know of the beautiful ocean beaches, Gulf Stream and sound fishing as well as delicious fresh seafood. What is also becoming apparent is that the Outer Banks is emerging as a golfing destination as well.

Many golfers enjoy the variety of a number of courses to play, and they have it here on the Outer Banks. There are five courses in Currituck County not far from the beach:

• Kilmarlic Golf Club (252-491-4220) The newest, features a 6500 yard par 72 PGA Championship course. Kilmarlic was host to the 2004 North Carolina Open. It is located 3 miles from the Wright Memorial Bridge.
• The Pointe (252-491-8388) Another fine 18 hole course is 3.5 miles from the beach. This course was built on former sod farms.
• The Carolina Club (252-453-3588) 13.5 miles from the beach, features a 7000-yard par 72. They rave about their bent grass greens and players particularly like the par 3 Island Green.
• Holly Ridge (252-491-2893 )Only 1.5 miles from the beach, is also 18 holes and has a full size driving range.
• Goose Creek (252-453-4008) Yet another course to play while here, is in Grandy, NC and is about 12.5 miles from the beach.

There are also four courses right on the Outer Banks:

• The Currituck Club (252-453-9400) Located in Corolla on the northern beaches, has a GPS positioning system, a full driving range, and some of the most scenic greens along the Currituck sound you could imagine.
• Duck Woods Country Club (252-261-2609) Further south, in Southern Shores, is the oldest course on the Outer Banks! This course opened in 1969 and is currently undergoing a major expansion. They are adding a 24,000 square foot handicap accessible clubhouse with banquet and dining room seating for up to 300.The new facility will also have a 65-seat bistro. A 2,200 square foot fitness center is also in the works.
• Seascape Golf Links (252-261-2158) in Kitty Hawk. Also undergoing renovation. They have a new clubhouse and have transformed some par five holes to par four by moving the tees. Extensive repairs have also been made to their irrigation system. Seascape is an 18-hole links style championship course and is centrally located to all of the Outer Banks.
• Nags Head Golf Links (252-441-8073) Further south in Nags Head. They boast the longest 6100 yards a golfer will ever play.

When coming to the Outer Banks for your beach vacation do not forget to pack your golfclubs.