Port Vandemere Community Blog

Thursday January14, 2010

Progress Energy has just sent us a nice photo of what the street lamps will look like. I have to say I’m pleased with their selection.

Everyone in town is looking forward to the next few days, warm and sunny in the 60’s. My daffodils are already up about 6″ meaning its time to start thinking about gardening again at Port Vandemere.
The garden is doing well, showing its winter hues in the grip of our recent cold snap.

The cold doesn’t keep Sailor from taking a swim. Silly Labrador…

January 14th, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Tuesday January 12, 2010

Cold, cold, cold what can I say. We have ice on the creeks like I’ve never seen before yet it feels so nice in the sun. Tomorrow comes more normal weather for us and I know the crews from Progress Energy are looking forward to that! Yes you read correctly we have construction crews back at Port Vandemere installing our underground power. Here are some shots from today

More tomorrow on the marina, Cama is working on the draft of the permit which also requires some back and forth communication. But for the most part its here! Yipee!!!!!

I’ll be in touch with our owners over the following week to start the slip selection process. Bear with us, we are still working hard with CAMA to issue our permit document and draft the packages for each owner to select your slip. We will want to make this a smooth and easy process. Wait for your packet, review it and then we’ll answer questions.

January 12th, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Happy Holidays everyone!

We passed through the public hearing with no objections and have heard back from all but two of the 26 agencies with few comments. With a few minor details to add to our master plat (like hand rails etc.) in response to those comments we hope to make the Jan 6 issuance date. Once we get an ‘all clear’ I’m going to send out the plat for slip holders to PICK YOUR SLIPS!!!

Hope that all of you affected by our little Christmas Blizzard are snuggled in tight. Sometimes I miss the Winter Wonder Land of my youth from growing up the Appalachians of Tennessee, snow cream and igloo’s, hot cider and stories by the fire.
Other than a being a little wet and windy, Vandemere was unscathed and now is a balmy 40, getting up into the mid 50’s tomorrow.
I wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.

December 21st, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (2)

We got a few official looking envelopes in the mail over the last two weeks from the state agencies, which raised my pulse in excitement just a bit. One was the official ‘Sign’ to be placed on site, just saying ‘Permit in process’. Part of our final permit process gives anyone in the community the right to comment about the new marina. They have to post adds in the news paper, which was done last week and post signs on site. We had another 8 days remaining in this stage.
We still have a little waiting to do, but now its down to less than a month before we are issued the final permit.

We are ready to install once the permit lands on our desks! All the arrangements have been made, pilings ordered, decking selected, to get going immediately.

December 1st, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (5)

The recent issue of Sail Magazine, (Nov 2009) had a nice article about sailing our home waters, those of the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound. Here is a little exert from the article written by David W. Shaw, a sailor from Maine:

…the Neuse River, measuring more than five nautical miles across at its mouth is the widest of all river in the U.S.-where some of the best and least-heralded cruising grounds on the entire East Coast. We were happy to be there. ….A few miles upriver from Maw Point, on the North Shore, is the quiet town of Oriental, appropriately billed as the sailing capital of North Carolina. A sailing school, a couple of charter boat companies, a plethora of yacht brokers and an active cruising and racing community of local sailors give Oriental a distinctly nautical character. ….Oriental has been “discovered” and is more popular than ever. But it has managed to retain its rural charm and remains a favorite stop among snowbirds transiting the ICW….. we chose to stop at Broad Creek..threading our way through the well marked channel… A cool northerly breeze blew through the stands of trees. There was a house or two perched on shore, but otherwise the scene was wild and remote, much like Maine, except with marshes instead of rugged granite.
.I waved at two guys in a skiff. They slowed down, pulled up alongside.
“Where y’all from?” one of the guys asked.
” Maine” , Liz said “We just sailed from Maine.”
“No kiddin’”, the other guy said “Maine. You came a long way then.”
I nodded. “Yea, it’s a bit of a sail.”
“Y’all need anything: You fixed OK for food?” one of the guys asked. ” We’d be glad to take y’all to the store.”
Ever since we’d entered southern waters we’d noticed how nice people were. Strangers said hello to Strangers. Strangers said “Thank you” and “You’re Welcome.” They called Liz “ma’am”, which took some getting used to.
I thanked the kind men, and said we were all set.
” Welcome to North Carolina,” they said, and motored away.
“I think I’m gonna like it here” I said, my hand lightly gripping the backstay. I had the odd sensation that I was home. It was a good feeling, one I’ll never forget.

This article really captured the essence of our area. Talking with so many cruiser’s throughout the many shows we’ve done or along one of our passages north or south, they seem to share the same feelings about cruising through North Carolina, they feel at home here.

And yes I, say ‘Y’all’ too!

November 2nd, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

November 2, 2009
Updates on the Marina
It seems as though since the boat show things are in high gear again. Not only have so many of you inquired about the new cottages but we are in the final prep for starting on our docks. With only a few more weeks remaining before the marina permit arrives we’ve been running at full speed preparing to install the docks. I’ll post photos as we progress, from floating dock assembly to piling installation. If all goes as planned ‘B’ dock should be in by the first week in December.

New Faces at Port Vandemere
We’d like to welcome Reggie to our cast of characters. He is taking over the grounds maintenance and finishing up the lot mowing (where I left off before the boat show). Stop by and say hello if you see him out-in-about.
Our Friends Matt and Douglass, who helped us so much at the boat show, are also on board as members of the Port Vandemere’s sales team (Douglass) and as one of the fine craft’s men (Matt) who will help us build our cottages. If you came to the boat show, you probably met their smiling faces and saw the truly beautiful work that they create.

Updates on the Cruiser’s Cottages
My next step in the Cruiser’s Cottages is to produce the ’story boards’ for you to select your finishes from. The samples are on their way and prove to be a nice selection of solid hardwood flooring, in oak, pine and cherry as well as an array of granite and tile choices. So when you make your appointment for a visit you will be able to review our selections, choose a lot and plan. I should have this available by the first of December.
After I finish writing this update I’ve got 5 more plans to post.. so keep checking back.

November 2nd, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

The Annapolis Power Boat show has so far been rainy and cold but a few folks are stopping by our booth to look at homesites and boat slips. The news from Vandemere is a bit more pleasant, 60 degrees and no rain with temperatures returning to 70 later this weekend. I can’t wait to get back south!

Here are a few updates to the sites. I fixed the link to the Cottage Page l to look at the renderings we have so far. Also go to our Cruiser’s Cottage Available Homesites to look at the lots you can choose from to build your make your dreams of Coastal Cottage Living a Reality!!

October 16th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Sunday October 11, 2009

I’m so glad we made the last minute decision (3 weeks ago) to attend the boat show again this year. There has been a unbelievable response to our Cruiser’s Cottage Packages and our new construction programs. It’s nice to see that, even though we have all had a tough year, people are still dreaming and planning to live on the coast. We are committed to make those dreams a reality by creating the highest quality community, marina and cottage at the best value possible. Thanks for stopping by our booth!!!
If you haven’t had a chance to stop by we have 1 more day left at the show, stop by O14 and see our ‘mini cruiser’s cottage display!

Marina:
After passing our last review a few weeks ago we’re in the final stage. We have only about 30 to 45 days left to get the signed permit and begin installing the docks.

October 12th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

August 20, 2009

After the great e-mail we received last week, Roger was able to stop by the offices in Morehead City and pick up our paperwork. So we have it! Yea.
Now he has to prepare the formal application and make an obcene number of copies (something like 27) duplicates and submit it to the state. He’s already started preparing the documents and should have them in their hands by next Wednesday. So we are now offically on the final step. I’ve scheduled a few appointments with our dock guys and should have some timelines for everone in time for the 2nd edition of our newsletter.

The first edition of the newsletter is almost finished, and should go out tomorrow evening. Then we plan a slow sail to PV for the weekend, anchor out in the creek and take advantage of the cooler mornings to do some property maintenance and gardening around the pond and entrance way. With all the rain we’ve had the flowers are going gangbusters!

August 21st, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (2)