Many of you probably know all about blogs. I, however, knew nothing about them until I started The Silver Strand News in October of 2010. Those of you who began using the internet in the early 1990s will remember joining usenet groups or subscribing to email lists on a particular subject. The idea and format of the blog (a combination of the words “web” and “log”) got going in the late 1990s. Originally it was a way for an individual to create an online diary or journal. Now there are millions of blogs devoted to every conceivable subject from politics to cooking. The format, however, still reflects the original purpose of blogging. It’s a bit geeky, but it’s a great way for people with a mutual interest, in our case the Silver Strand, to communicate with each other in an informal way. Here’s what you need to know:
The Silver Strand News is a public blog which means its contents are available through a search engine, i.e Google, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.
After you access the site, you can sign up for an Email Subscription. This will enable you receive updates via email on new Posts on the blog. Once you sign up you will receive an email from the Silver Strand News asking you to confirm your subscription. You must confirm your subscription in order to be subscribed by clicking on the long line of fine blue print. You can then choose how often you would like to be notified, daily or weekly. Your email address will not be shared. You can unsubscribe at any time. You don’t have to be a Subscriber to read the blog or leave a comment, but if the content interests you, bookmark the site, as above, so you can return to it easily.
You can leave a Comment or a Reply anonymously. You don’t have to put your name or email address on either. Readers can comment under any of the Posts. People who read your comment can respond to it under “Reply.” Or they can simply add another Comment. Your comment will be sent to me for approval, see below.
Posts are simply topics or subjects of interest to our readers. Only I, as editor, can create and publish a Post. As a reader, however, you can make suggestions about a topic by leaving a Comment under the Post “What Topics Would You Like to See in the Blog.” Your comment is then sent to me for approval and, if everything looks okay, I will add your suggested topic as a Post. If you would like to be credited just leave your name as you want it to appear at the bottom of the comment.
I know these restrictions are irritating, but they serve a purpose which is 1) to protect me because I’m responsible for what appears on the blog 2) To keep the spammers, the crazies and self-promoters off the site and 3) to protect you, dear reader who, after pushing the comment button, may feel remorse about an ill-considered remark caused by drinking too much coffee (or something else). Have no fear. If something seems amiss, I can edit your comment or delete it.
Photos/Images: If you have a photograph or image that you would like to share, please leave a Comment under a Post or category to which your image applies and I will get in touch with you.
The Silver Strand News 
Hi, I just posted a reply to the story about preparedness but my comment has a typo: “Is Bill Pope’s video available online or, if not, could you it be?” My post is waiting for approval. Would you edit out the word “you” or is easy for me to delete a reply before it’s approved and repost?
Hi Regan,
Thanks for your comment. Please send revised post. I can’t edit the one you sent without posting to the blog first. All best, Sandra
Will the waterbus be operational during the April 10-12 anniversary festivities?
Yes. Although the Water Bus won’t officially start operations until June, it will be doing runs during this special weekend. I will post schedule in the next couple of days.
Hi there! I’m a resident and have been curious about all the empty lots around here. Don’t know if you’ve ever posted about these but would love to know the reason why nobody is building anything on those lots. I strongly doubt that any of these are owned by anyone next to them since I would build a sweet pool on that if I had an adjoining empty lot available 🙂
We are new home owner in the silver Strand (Channel Pointe Mall) I love decorating and plan on making a spooky patio but have no idea how many kids to plan for on Halloween. Any idea how many I should expect?
Hi Patricia,
Welcome to the Silver Strand News. In terms of the main Halloween event, most of the action occurs on Roma
Court,between Ketch and Topsail Malls, the northern end of the Silver Strand. The turnout is huge. 100s of people with kids. However, I would
suggest asking your near neighbors south of Topsail Mall and Via Donte about how many people spill over into your area.
Probably quite a few.
In the high traffic part of the Strand, we ran through thirty, yes 30, pounds of candy before 8:00 pm last year. Perhaps we were a bit generous, but geez!
Why have the birds left the lagoon? Is it because the new opening to the water that fills the lagoon now has a grate that stops the fish from coming in? No fish no wonderful birds.
I’m not an expert on birds, but my husband has been bird watching in the lagoon for years and says that August, September and October are normal down periods for bird life here.
When the weather turns cooler, the migrating birds will arrive and things should liven up. According to the Department of Public Works, the improvement made in early 2012 to the tide gates at the southern end of the lagoon consisted of replacing the manually-operated slide gates with new automated gates, repairing the concrete wing walls and relining the corrugated metal discharge plates. However, let’s keep an eye on this.
great job
Thanks so much. Sandy