It's Saturday morning as I write this — breezy, rain in the forecast. And here I am disturbed (again) by the sound of leaf blowers in my neighborhood. I get up early on purpose to avoid this noise and air pollution, but here they are.
I work for a villa rental company and we have had complaints from visitors who spend $3,000 for a week on the ocean that they were disturbed during the course of the morning (and often afternoon) by the blowers. Folks come here to relax and renew, but are often subjected to more harsh noise and diesel air pollution than they get at home. There was a time when the Holiday Inn had their employees use brooms in the early morning hours, which was very thoughtful.
I went to Northridge Plaza recently to check the movie schedule, and there was a solitary man blowing the entire parking lot on a very windy day. To what avail? I have often seen groups of two or three men wielding blowers on a rainy day trying to remove leaves from a puddle. Not an easy task ... and they all wear large headphone-like earplugs. This blowing also blows pesticides and animal feces into the air, settling on window sills, railings, cars, etc. This may seem a minor issue, but to many it's not. And, most of the equipment used is antiquated with little noise and air pollution control.
Check out nonoise.org. There is a story of a grandmother who takes on the blowers, among many other important health and pollution aspects of excess noise.
I've been personally battling this for 20 years. We need to engage the business community and regime management companies to discuss this issue.
Linda Cope
Hilton Head Island
The board of directors of the Art League of Hilton Head held a special meeting on Friday, Jan. 29, to revisit our decision to create an art destination at The Mall at Shelter Cove in light of recent revelations about the financial condition and uncertainty of the future of the mall. We have been in close contact with officials from the Town of Hilton Head and management of the mall to ensure that we have the fullest and most current information.
We believe that many of our original justifications for our decision to lease the space in the mall are still sound: reduction of our space expenses, creation of an exciting venue where art is created, taught, displayed and sold, and space more attractively maintained than our current gallery location.
However, given the current uncertainty, the board believes that it needs better evidence of an improved picture for the mall. Therefore, the board unanimously agreed to delay signing a lease for new space at this time, and to continue to gather information and monitor the situation as plans for the mall's future are better known. We expect to make this decision within the next three to four months. We greatly appreciate the continued cooperation and support of the Town of Hilton Head Island staff and the mall management.
Cynthia Chiappetta
President, Art League of Hilton Head
On behalf of the board of directors of Hilton Head Heroes, we would like to thank the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce for honoring our program as the chamber's 2009 Organization of the Year. We know that there are dozens of other wonderful organizations that have an amazing impact on our community and that could have been honored this year, but we are especially grateful to have been chosen. This award is proudly shared by all of our board members, both present and past, who have faithfully guided this program for more than 10 years.
It also recognizes a plethora of local businesses and volunteers for their heartwarming generosity and critical support. But mostly, it honors the hundreds of families who have made our incredible island their home for a week — in many cases saying goodbye to one of their brave young children against the beautiful backdrop of sunsets, playful dolphins, quiet bike rides and beach walks ... feeling safe and welcomed by the loving embrace of a very special caring and giving community. Our mission is to “help create memories that will last a lifetime.” We will personally cherish the memory of being honored with this award forever.
Gregg and Lindy Russell
Co-founders, Hilton Head Heroes
