Expanded Plastic Bag Ban Law takes effect October 1, 2010 - Contained in the State budget enacted June 30 (Senate Bill 897) and beginning this fall, Outer Banks businesses in Currituck, Dare and Hyde Counties will be required to bag customers' purchases in either recycled paper bags or reusable cloth bags, under the General Assembly's approved budget plan for the coming year.

The new law expands a plastic bag ban enacted last year, prohibiting major retailers from distributing lightweight plastic bags to their customers. The new law will ban plastic bags of any weight from being used by any businesses in the three counties beginning on Oct. 1.

The ban allows businesses time to empty their stock of already purchased plastic. Small retailers who purchased plastic bags before May 1 will have until the same time next year to make the switch.

Ordinance FY 2010-11 Budget - Town Council approved the FY 2010-2011 Budget of $6,404,650 with a tax rate of fourteen cents (0.14) per $100 valuation of taxable property in the Town of Southern Shores, with three cents (.03) reserved for capital reserve fund for capital projects. Go to FY 2010-2011 Budget to see ordinance and spreadsheets.

New Town Manager - The Town Council of Southern Shores is pleased to announce that Mr. J. Peter Rascoe has accepted the position of Town Manager for the Town of Southern Shores . Currently Mr. Rascoe is the County Manager for Chowan County . Mr. Rascoe will assume his duties with the town on June 9, 2010.

Mr. Rascoe stated, "I am very excited about serving the Town of Southern Shores as its next Town Manager. This is a great opportunity and I look forward to working with the Town Council, the Town Staff, and all the citizens of Southern Shores to make this an even better place to live."

Mr. Rascoe has worked for Chowan County since 1999 and has served as county manager for the last two years. He is also a commander in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Previously he served as an attorney with the North Carolina Attorney Generals Office and has had a private law practice. Mr. Rascoe has a Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina State University and a law degree from the University of South Carolina . He serves on numerous boards and commissions such as the UNC Coastal Studies Institute Foundation Board and the Trustee on the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund Board.

Mr. Rascoe is married to Dianne Daniels formerly of Elizabeth City and Southern Shores. Along with family they look forward to becoming part of the Southern Shores community.

Canal Dredging Project Update - Project has been put on hold until Fall 2010