: ivmaHWtmr \
PHOTO BY BILI FAVFR
OSPREY usually take their catch to a nearby tree or pole to feed.
Fishing With The Feet
BY HILL FAVKR Careful observers can watch them shake a time or
We seldom think about some animal using its feet two to remove water from themselves and their catch,
to fish or to capture its prey. But we have an excellent Often, these birds will even turn the fish around in
example of one in our area in the their talons, to put the head in the direction of tlight.
osprey. The large black and while Sometimes we can watch the osprey perch on a
birds fly out over the water and nearby tree or pole to consume its catch, (earing away
dive from 50 or more feet to catch bits with the strong bill. Often the bird will take the
their prey with their mighty catch to the nest where three or four eager young birds
talons?their feet! wait to devour the fish.
Osprey are expert fishermen, Magics once were on the lookout for osprey, and
and when they spot a fish near the they would swoop down at the fisherman and cause it
surface, they fold their wings and to lose the fish. The eagle would then drop down and
plunge head-first into the water, of- grab the fish before it hit the water surface. We are un
ten disappearing under the surface, able to see this unusual activity, now that eagles are so
FAVKR They w ill rest on the surface for a rare. But we can listen for the telltale whistle of the os
moment and then tly upward, often with a sizeable lish prey and watch these majestic birds as they use their
clamped in their talons. feet to fish.
The Fraternity Of The Night
The woman on the screen h;is un
ruly hair and unblinking red-rimmed
eyes. Then comes the voice-over:
"More insomniacs get their news
from ABC World News Overnight
than from any other source."
Once again I'm reminded that I'm
not alone. Somewhere out there is
the rest of the fraternity of the night.
I've never been much of a sleeper.
I was the kind of kid who deemed
getting a nightly spanking preferable
to going to bed at the proscribed
time.
There was that brief stretch late in
high school when I taught myself to
sleep until noon on Saturdays, be
cause I thought that was a cool thing
to do. But the only way I could
swing it was to wait until 6 a.m. to
go to bed.
In college, I was pleased to learn
that the ability to stay awake all
night is a handy skill in hoth the aca
demic and social arenas.
It was a little touchy a few years
later when my son was born, and the
two hours at a time his body needed
sleep rarely coincided with my own
biological timer. But we persevered,
and now I have a night-owl teenager
who occasionally joins me in the liv
ing r<*?m for bad science fiction
movies during the wee hours.
If this nocturnal tendency left me
feeling bedraggled or exhausted dur
ing my workday, I 'd probably be an
noyed. if iioi aiamicu. But ii doesn't.
I come home tired, fall asleep ear
ly, then awaken in three or lour
hours. I stay up for a few minutes or
an hour and sleep some more. This
can happen three or four limes some
nights.
All this may sound like something
of an inconvenience, but it's not
once you get used to it. I've used the
wee hours to catch up on the laun
dry, bake a pie. pet the cat. write a
letter, finish a book, or just lie on the
dock and watch the night sky.
If all of a sudden I started sleep
ing straight through, I wouldn't have
nearly as much time to myself. I'd
feel as if I were missing something.
As a veteran insomniac, I've
learned that there's nothing like a
dose of televised overnight news
and commentary It) slop your mind
from racing so you can get some
rest. Apparently some folks ewer at
the networks understand this and do
all they can lo be accommodating.
* Corner ^
Kingtown Rd. Ash
287-5247
Under New Management
? Groceries
? Gas
? Snacks
? Beer
? Game Room with
Pool Tables
Lynn
Carlson
My first late-night news pal was
Charlie Rose?the TV guy, not the
congressman. Rose, a North Caro
linian who hails from Warren
County, used to have the graveyard
shift at CBS before public television
realized what a good interviewer he
was and gave him an intellectual
type show with better hours and cre
ative license.
It" you've ever seen Rose, you
know he has good manners, a linger
ing Southern accent and a particular
ly soothing interview style. He asks
meaningful questions then actually
keeps his mouth shut until the per
son he is interviewing has answered.
It's quite refreshing.
When we lived in the mountains,
the CBS affiliate there ran Rose's
show over and over from about 1:3U
until 5:30 a.m., so I got to see i? at
least once almost every night.
Upon moving off the mountain
and onto lloldcn Beach. I was de
lighted to find cable television avail
able, iiiinkiiig I'd my Sate
nights enjoying black-and-white
movies on my choice of a half
do/en late shows. I tried, but it's not
the same. Movies are too stimulating
for a hair-trigger insomniac. Get in
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MODERN WOODMEN
SOLUTIONS
Glenda J. Barefoot, FIC
Shallotte
910-754-5454
tsoqwj Tclrruucj l
MODERN WOODMEN
Of AMERICA
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tcrested in an epic like "Giant" at 2
a.m. and you'll still be watching
when the alarm goes off.
So my current partners in Dream
land are Boyd Matson and Thalia
Assuras on the aforementioned ABC
World News, 1:30 to 6 a.m. Sunday
through Thursday on Vision Cable
channel 4.
I was momcnlaiy aimmcd when
they changed the cable line-up re
cently, and the new label they sent
for my remote says channel 4 has
become the I-.! network. On my 1 V,
it's still the ABC affiliate oul of
Durham, and I hope i( stays that
way.
Boyd's kind of a pretty-boy with
out the attitude, and Thalia seems to
be sort of a tomboy?the kind of gal
who reads the sports like she actual
ly cares who won. They goof around
with each other and run clips from
"Nightline" and the Brinkley
Roundlable and show basically the
same 3D minutes or so of news all
night long. I guess they assume no
one's really watching at that time of
night?and how many of us can
there be. anyway?
I watch for five minutes or 20
minutes or a hour-and-a-half?w hat
ever I need on a given night?until
the eyelids gro a- heavy and it's time
to slouch back to the land of coun
terpane.
What they do isn't exactly art.
and what kerns me coming back
isn't exactly science. But it works...
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guesicolumn
of Surf And Sand In Winter
BY JOHN SELLERS
I believe there is nothing th;it can calm one's nerves
more quickly than a brisk walk on a deserted beach in
winter. There is something about the undisturbed sand
and the roar of the waves crashing onto the shore that is
more tranquil than most tlrugs. The feeling that all this
was placed hert i"or onlv vou to enjoy is overwhelming.
Bundled up with "layered" clothing, gloves and to
boggan guards against the cold ocean breezes. The smell
of salt air stimulates our senses and the shrill cries of
sea-gulls seeking a handout serves to remind us that they
too are a part of our world.
Seemingly endless water with gentle whitecaps re
flecting the bright sunlight instills in us a feeling of hu
mility, when we realize that all of this grandeur could
not have been possible had it been left to mere man to
create.
To most of the long-time residents, this splendor no
doubt is taken for granted. But to us former "landlub
bers," it is breathtaking. It is a tonic to our conscious
ness. The rest of the world seems so far away as we con
tinue our stroll. These feelings will be shared by thou
sands during the summer months, hut right now this is
all ours.
As we return to our home after our walk. we do so
with realization th.it although we felt for a short time
that this majesty was ours alone, it was designed for
everyone to enjoy, and we are determined to do our part
to preserve it.
Probably in the past we have heen guilty ot taking for
granted that someone else would care for the area
enough to keep it presentable, but that usually is not the
case.
Maybe by stooping and bending to pick up pieces of
trash could mean that we could miss an aerobic class
and not feel too guilty. Not yielding to the temptation to
climb on the dunes or pick a sample of sea oats is not re
ally that hard if we only work at it
Leaving the beach better than we found it should be a
requirement for all of us. and by doing so everyone can
enjoy the peace and tranquility that we cherish so much;
and we will become better custodians of the world that
(iod has loaned us.
John Sellers lives til Sunset Reach.
Ali . ^aSElETTERS
Added Praise For Commissioner
To the editor:
I would like It) add my voice to
those who have written you to com
mend the courage of Teddy Altrcu
ici, a member of iiie Calabash Board
of Commissioners.
In her letter to you. Teddy suc
cinctly stated her opposition the
commitment of over S200.000 of
taxpayers' money for "planning" for
the proposed Southwest Brunswick
Water and Sewer Authority. She was
joined in that opposition by one oth
er commissioner.
in thcii arrogance, however, the
other four commissioners from
District 2 approved the expenditure
of these funds, which are projected
to increase to $500,000 tor "plan
ning." and. if approved, the cost of
this venture is expected to exceed
$30 million!
All this for a community already
90 percent possessed of sewer and
water service by Carolina Blythe
Co.. who have stated that they can.
and will, extend the service to the
area not now served, if those receiv
ing the service are willing to pay for
it.
Many of us feel that our commis
sioners have a mora!, if not a legal,
obligation to uive the taxpayers of
Calabash an opportunity to express
themselves in a referendum on this
proposition.
We appear to be getting govern
ment of the council, by the council
and for the council?instead of the
people.
James 'l'. Keagan
Calabash
Truth Not Enough
To the editor:
In hebruary of IWI, I was injured
in an accident at a local Southport
fast food restaurant. The outdoor ce
ment bench 1 was sitting on Hipped
over, and I hit the ground.
The restaurant has continually
claimed that the accident didn't hap
pen, and it's not responsible.
However, the tables and benches
have been replaced with one-piece
units, eliminating the possibility tit
another accident. I am greatly re
lieved this won't be happening to
anyone else.
Make sure to report any/all acci
dents, no matter how trivial. Get the
names, addresses and phone num
bers of anyone who may have wit
nessed the accident. You and your
party don't count.
Don't expect the employees or
manager to report the accident. In all
probability they won't. When in
douht. leave in an ambulance?
there's an automatic record of the
accident happening on the premises.
ill this day and age the iiuih jusi
isn't enough.
Taunya lledriek
Long Beach
Don't Change ESC
To the editor:
I am writing in regard to the re
pI
cent decision to change the manager
at the Employment Security Com
mission office in Shallottc.
I have known Mazie l-'rink for 35
years. I have been associated with
the employment office for 23 years.
It has been my pleasure to have
served on several county, state and
local committees with her. She has
shown leadership in the office and
community. Through her expertise,
the Shallottc office has grown to
new heights.
Due to her ability to work with lo
cal employers and to serve the peo
ple who go into that office for ser
vice. it would be disastrous to bring
in a new person. Also it is a total in
justice to her personally.
Betty S. Varnam
Varnamtown
^ Timothy P. Gibble, M.D.
Internal Medicine
Board Certified
An internist spcciali/.cs in all aspccts of adult
mcdical carc. from a common cold, stomach
or skin problems to chronic illness to inten
sive care. Internists provide preventive and
acute care and many outpatient and inpa
tient medical needs. Also, they provide diag
nostic services and referrals to subspccial
ists. if necessary.
Susan Gibble, PA-C
Physician Assistant Certified
A physician assistant provides carc through
assessing, diagnosing, prescribing medica
tions and treatment, ordering diagnostic test
ing and offering educational needs, always
under supervision of a physician.
T
Ofllce (910)754-892)
3 Mcdical Center Dr. Ilf On the Brunswick
Supply. NC 28462 f Hospital Campus
ci 994 ThE BHUNSWC* Bt ACON ^ J
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