PITA NewsLetter
April 2013 PITA Newsletter April 2013.pdf
A bird's-eye view of Plum Island's shifting sands.
Aerial photos taken for PITA are helping document the dramatic changes to our shoreline as wind and waves move mountains of sand.
PITA has been taking photos of beaches from Hampton south to Gloucester from a Plum Island Airport-based plane since last summer. The flights have continued roughly monthly, typically at low tide and both before and after major storms. Volunteers Ross Wescott and Steve Atherton are the photographers.
The idea is to show how the beaches, especially Plum Island and Salisbury, are changing and help guide efforts to protect them. The photos are shared with the Merrimack River Beach Alliance, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Newbury and Salisbury conservation commissions and others. Many of the photos have also been published in the Newburyport Daily News.
The photos clearly show where sand is being lost on Plum Island and elsewhere and where it is building up.
They also provide clues to the reasons why. For example, the photos show a series of sandbars running roughly parallel to the beach from the mouth of the Merrimack River to Plum Island Center, which help protect the beach by absorbing some of the pounding of the huge waves whipped up by northeasters.
The section of the beach south of the Center that has suffered the worst erosion, leading to the loss of six homes after the early March northeaster, is unprotected by such a sandbar.
The photos also show how rebuilding the South Jetty is affecting the shore, both inside the river and outside. Already a sandbar is building up on the ocean side near the end of the jetty. Sand is also building up along the beach south of they jetty, especially at the spot shown as Shad Point on old maps of the Island, roughly opposite 30th Street.
Work on the jetty is over for now, with about 700 feet of the 1,400 foot structure rebuilt at a cost of $3.5 million. Another $5.5 million is available for the most seaward part of the jetty.
PITA, meanwhile plans to continue its photographic record of the shifting sands. You can help this effort by joining and contributing to PITA. See photos from September, on Pages 4 and 5.
PI Beautification Activities
PI Beautification center island transformation "Sponsor a Planter" fundraiser - watch for flyers !
Island Wide Yard Sale - 25 houses needed to move forward ~ target date Saturday, May 18th (Rain date May 19th) Call Jill Mandragouras1-508-843-6393 to sign up today!
Family Pepper Weed Pull ~Saturday June 1st 9:00-12:00 volunteers contact Lynne Petty 508.277.2383
PI Beautification meeting held at PITA Hall the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM
Plum Island looks very small against the Atlantic Ocean
Taste of PI Friday May 17th
Friday, May 17, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The Taste of Plum Island -- the unofficial kickoff to summer hereabouts since 2000 -- is Friday, May 17.
It's a chance to mingle with your friends and neighbors while sampling some of the finest appetizers, main dishes and desserts that local restaurants have to offer.
Tickets are $35 and include beer, wine and soft drinks. We limit the number of tickets and sell out every year, so be sure to buy yours early. They will be available at the usual spots, including Bob Lobster, Dick's, Mad Martha’s, Moe's and Surfland. You can also reserve them by calling 978-462-8579.
Doors open at 6 and the evening winds down with the drawing for our famous raffle including Flat Screen TV, and many more gift certificates and items from local businesses at 8.
We're still working on the lineup of restaurants participating this year, but last year's included Bob Lobster,
American Barbecue, All American Tavern, Angelina's, Black Cow, Bucciarelli's Butcher Shop, Carry Out Cafe, China One, Domino's Pizza, Famous Pizza, Giuseppe's, The Grog, Hanah Japan, Jewel in the Crown, Mapow Sushi Thai Restaurant, Newbury Butchery, Not Your Average Joe's, Oregano Pizzeria and Ristorante, Plum Island Beachcoma, Plum Island Grille, Port Tavern, Purple Onion and Starboard Galley.
Not to mention desserts from Zac and Ani's, Alden Merrill, Edible Arrangements, Gram's Ice Cream, Dolce Freddo Gelato, Simply Sweet and Revitalive Cafe.
We thank them all for their generous support.
All proceeds benefit PITA's efforts to make the Island a better place to live and visit, including our work to combat erosion and preserve beach rights-of-way.
Inside This Issue
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-A bird’s eye view of plum islands shifting sands
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-Taste of Plum Island, Friday, May 17th
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-Sustaining Coastal Cities, A Conference at Northeastern University May 22-23
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-PITA Sign remade
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-PI Beautification Activities - Yard sale target date May 18th
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-The Art of Summer! - at PITA Hall July 12, 13 & 14
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- Plum island aerial photos Page 4-5
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•Rent PITA Hall inexpensively as a Member
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•Find PITA now on FaceBook -- Contribute photos, comments.
