About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 11, 2019)
Letters and Opinions VOTERS BEWARE: HB445 weakens vital shorefront protections Page 4, March 11,2019, The Islander Publisher's Statement THE ISLANDER (USPS 002430), A member of the Georgia Press Associa tion and Glynn County’s only weekly newspa- per is published 51 weeks a year for $35 per year in Glynn County and $40 per year in the United States outside Glynn Comity by Permar Pub lications, Inc., 1604 B Newcastle Street, Brunswick, GA 31525. Periodicals post age paid at Brunswick, GA. The Island er is also available to subscribers online at www.theislanderonline.com. Contents of The Islander, including advertising, may not he reprinted or re produced in any form without written permission of the publishers. POST MASTER send address change to The Islander, P.O. Box 20539, St. Simons Island, GA 31522. Publication Deadline Publication Date: Every Monday Deadline: Thursdays, 12 PM for ads and news copy for the following Mon day’s edition. Holiday Schedule On Monday Post Office holidays, The Islander is printed on the Friday before. 2019 Postal Holidays Tuesday, Januaiy 1 New Year’s Day Monday, January 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Monday, February 18 President’s Day Washington’s Birthday Monday, May 27 Memorial Day Thursday, July 4 Independence Day Monday, September 2 Labor Day Monday, October 14 Columbus Day Monday, November 11 Veterans Day Thursday, November 28 Thanksgiving Day Wednesday, December 25 Christmas Day Holiday Deadline: Wednesdays, 12 PM for ads and news copy for the following Monday’s edition. Mission Statement: to publish the truth without fear or favor. Established 1972 Matthew J. Permar - Publisher Elise J. Permar - Publisher 1972-2003 Gertrude Bradshaw - Co-Editor 1972-1991 Managing Editor & Advertising Manager Pamela P. Shierling 912-265-9654 Church News Patty Gibson - 912-638-8844 Contributors Ginny Johnson, Jeff Lane, Phone Number 912-265-9654 email: ssislander@bellsouth.net www.theislanderonline.com Award Winning Newspaper 1975 1980 1985 • 1976 19811992 1977 1982 1999 1978 1983 2002 1979 1984 2008 2012, 2016 On February 28 House Bill 445, a proposal that would weaken Georgia’s Shore Protection Act, was quickly adopted by the General Assembly’s House Natural Resources Committee without adequate public notice, pro viding no time for citizens to formu late and voice opinions. Considering the public hazards and unjustified exemptions created by HB445, suspicions are vigorous as public opposition rapidly spreads. Please urge your state General As sembly members to oppose HB445 and ask for a public hearing to be held by the Senate Natural Resources Com mittee before proceeding. Ponder these highlights: • Georgia’s coast suffered millions of dollars in damage from hurricanes in 2017, and DNR staff frequently talks about the growing risks of ris ing sea-level, yet HB445 requires a mere 25 feet between high-tide and Tall ships to visit Brunswick St. Marys Tall Ship Alliance along with the Brunswick Landing Marina will host two Tall Ships in Brunswick during April. The Nao Santa Maria Tall Ship will sail in to Brunswick on April 8 and remain through April 15. Then two days later the Privateer Lynx Tall Ship will return to Bruns wick on April 17 and remain through April 28. Info: stmarystallshipalliance@ gmail.com and oceanfront development. • Instead of using available shore- erosion data like other states, HB445 ghostwriters say absolutely nothing about dangerous erosion along our coast - applying only the 25-foot mea surement from various landmarks, despite mounting oceanfront hazards. • Most conspicuous and unwar ranted are the bill’s unprecedented provisions that exempt from regula tion highly vulnerable oceanfront lots on the Sea Island Spit and other ar eas. It appears that such exemptions would encourage hazardous develop ment on Tybee Island’s beachfront as well. The fragile strand known as the Sea Island Spit was nearly destroyed by hurricanes Irma and Matthew. More over, Federal law prohibits FEMA- subsidized flood insurance on the Spit because it’s so hazardous. At a time when Georgia should be strengthening legal safeguards along the ocean shoreline, HB445 weakens protections and exempts hazardous areas from much-needed controls. ~ David Kyler, Center for a Sus tainable Coast Saint Simons Island AM AVIATION INSTITUTE OF MAINTENANCE AIRLINES ARE HIRING Get FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Financial aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-564-9634 Spring break is Inn yourJiS|| r . - rCM Muw t One of a Kind Boutique hotel _ V y [ 599 Beachview Dr • St. Simons Island 912.634.2122 ~ i.877.oceaninn www.oceaninnsuites.com ^ ... V Catty-comer from the Historic St. Simons Island Lighthouse HADfARJNS Local seafoods, grilled steaks, local vegetables, nightly specials, great wines. A buzzing bar with specialty cocktails. Dinner served: Mon.-Wed. 5-9 pm. Thurs-Sat 5-10 pm. 55 CINEMA LANE ST. SIMONS ISLAND 638-9100 HALYARDSRESTAURANT.COM Inspired Italian cuisine, inside or outside. 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