Sandra Harris

Oct 1, 2000

OCRACOKE ISLAND: Teachers Explore Unique Culture

Ballance's war tale is just one piece of Ocracoke's rich history that he passes on to 23 teachers from across the state. For four days, the Ocracoke native, teacher, author and historian serves as a guide for the "Island People, Island Culture" seminar.

Oct 1, 2000

A Ferry Tale for All Seasons

Two blasts from the ship's horn and slips away from the Cedar Island The Carteret slips away from the Cedar Island ferry dock to begin the two-and-a-quarter hour Pamlico Sound crossing. Destination: Ocracoke Island.

Sep 1, 2000

ISLANDS IN CONTRAST: Exploring Southern Barrier Islands

North Carolina Sea Grant's Lundie Spence and Walter Clark lead the chattering contingency from the Encore Center for Lifelong Enrichment at North Carolina State University. The mission is to learn about a trio of barrier islands clustered along the state's southern coast — Masonboro Island, Bald Head Island and Wrightsville Beach.

Jun 1, 2000

SEAFOOD SAFETY: N.C. Products Get Clean Bill of Health

Before Wayne Mobley begins a state inspection of an eastern North Carolina crab company, he washes his hands in the picking room. Then Mobley glances around at elderly women sitting…

Jun 1, 2000

SEA SCIENCE: Floyd Follow-up: The Lingering Effects

As spring turns into summer, North Carolina Sea Grant researchers have a watchful eye on coastal waters — and they will have some high-tech eyes as well. Efforts to determine…

May 1, 2000

RHYTHMS OF THE SEA: Griffith Chronicles Coastal Change

In his new book, The Estuary's Gift: An Atlantic Coast Cultural Biography, Griffith not only reports results of his formal studies, he also weaves the stories of very different people who are linked by their ties to the coastal waters.

May 1, 2000

LEGAL TIDES: Repair and Rebuild: After the Storms

By the time he made landfall, Floyd's wind force had been downgraded. But, as the storm made its way inland, it was clear that the toll would be high for the Brunswick County community of 7,000, Oak Island Mayor Joan Altman recalls.

May 1, 2000

BEACH EROSION: Nature’s Work-in-Progress

Waves crashed up the beach and scoured sand from the base of the man-made six-foot dune that stood between the advancing sea and the Hitkos' new home. The line of dunes that runs along their property and the public access way also took a pounding.

Mar 1, 2000

A Stitch in Time: Netmaking is Becoming a Lost Art

Each day, the family practices the time-honored craft of netmaking at Harris Net Shop in Atlantic. The work is tedious and precise, requiring the hand sewing of each net. Harris has callouses on his hands from more than 30 years of stitching nets.

Mar 1, 2000

THE FATE OF A FISHERY: Shad and River Herring at the Turn of the 21st Century

The sun has hardly risen over the Chowan River, but Herbert Byrum, his brother Bobby and crewman Hazel Rountree are already knee-deep in fish. River water, slime and silvery fish scales wash around their boats as they dip more wriggling bodies from the shrinking confines of the pound net — 40 pounds of fish per dip. When it’s full from gunwale to gunwale, their skiff holds about 4,000 pounds of river herring. The other fish — striped bass, perch, and catfish — to back over the side.