What’s Up Duck

By Monica Thibodeau –

The Duck Boardwalk.

Summer is in full swing and Duck is busy celebrating its tenth anniversary as a town. May 1^st marked the beginning of our second decade, and although Duck is rich with history, it is fun to look back on these last ten years and see how the town has blossomed.

The new town offices and community building are right in the center of the town, surrounded by our 11-acre park. Be sure to stop by and take a look at the facility. The lobby of the main building is now home to a wonderful collection of photographs that offer a great sense of Duck’s roots as a lifesaving station and coastal fishing and hunting village. A talented committee of local volunteers put the display together, and we are looking forward to seeing more displays in the future.

Thanks also to the efforts of Postmaster Chuck Burdick, who in cooperation with the United States Postal Service and our Town Staff, developed a postmark commemorating our 10-Year Anniversary. The special postmark is available at the Duck Post Office, 1245 Duck Road, throughout the month of May.

I never get tired of writing about the boardwalk, one of the jewels of this community. The most recent phase was just completed, so now you can access the boardwalk by the Wings store, across from Christopher Street in the village, and stroll along the sound all the way to the Waterfront Shops. Like this newest section which cost over $140,000, the entire 3,500 feet of boardwalk has been constructed with grant funds. Take a stroll on just a portion or the entire length; it’s wonderful to see so many people discovering and enjoying it.

Fourth of July in Duck.

Duck has a great season of summer events planned. From the weekly concerts on the green, to the family magic shows, children’s story time and new “morning theater programs”, there is something for everyone. Things will kick off with the U.S. Air Force Heritage Band’s Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble on June 9^th. The fun continues with the annual July 4^th Parade, and wraps up with the Duck Jazz Festival on Columbus Day weekend. All the details can be found on www.townofduck.com.

Duck is the in process of studying its most precious resource—the beach. The three-phase study began last fall with detailed mapping of the dunes, the beach and the area just below the near shore water line. This data will be used as an important baseline and will also be compared with historic data. With this highly sophisticated mapping complete, the next phase examines trends between the shoreline changes and the wave data statistics. The final phase of the study, expected to be finished in the fall, will provide some suggested erosion remedies and potential project costs.

Our local budget must be established before June 30^th of each year. It’s a balancing act as over a third of Duck’s income comes from “shared revenues” of occupancy and sales tax and is contingent upon the tax rates of the neighboring towns. Duck should not expect a tax increase this year, but all options will be on the table when the entire county undergoes a revaluation of property values which will be revealed early in 2013. All NC counties must have a revaluation at least every eight years. Work is already underway for this comprehensive review, and the affects will vary from town to town.

If you’ve enjoyed the summer here, think about another trip during the shoulder season, when mild temperatures continue and the pace slows even more. Duck offers something special in every season, and we welcome you back anytime.

Monica Thibodeau is the managing owner of Carolina Designs Realty and has been a resident of Duck since 1988.