THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 21, 1995 TAG: 9510210289
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
SOUTHERN SHORES
BLUE SKY MODEL GOING UP: Construction of the Project Blue Sky training center gets underway Thursday.
Groundbreaking for the 3,950 square-foot hurricane-resistant model structure will be held at 9 a.m. on the construction site, adjacent to the Southern Shores Town Hall.
James Long, commissioner of the North Carolina Department of Insurance, will announce his department's participation in Project Blue Sky and address concerns about the insurability of coastal homes.
The training center, designed by Ben Cahoon of Kill Devil Hills and engineered by Ralph Calfee of Kitty Hawk, will incorporate steel, masonry and wood and feature cutaway wall sections demonstrating hazard-resistant construction techniques developed by Project Blue Sky.
Protection against wind and flood also will be demonstrated.
``One side of the building will be more traditional with smaller windows that are easily shuttered,'' explains Cahoon. ``The other side will be contemporary with large window openings that are more difficult to protect.''
The center, which includes classrooms and hands-on demonstration areas, will serve as a national model for Project Blue Sky construction centers, to be built in other coastal states, and private industry to promote the development of hazard-resistant residential construction.
MANTEO
BLACK TWIG BORER STRIKES: Dogwood trees in the Manteo area are showing signs of damage from a small insect called the black twig borer, says Susan E. Ruiz-Evans, associate agricultural extension agent.
The black twig borer, a member of the beetle family, is one of the few in its category to attack healthy plants. It is very small, dark and oval-shaped. The borer does not generally kill the whole plant, although the dieback of twigs can have considerable impact on the appearance of infested trees and shrubs.
In Dare County, dogwoods are the predominate host, although the pest has been observed on redbay, southern magnolia, southern prickly ash and live oak trees.
Pruning is a very important component of control. Infested branches should be pruned back to healthy wood. Chemical control is available, and information on the recommended pesticides can be obtained by calling the extension office at 473-1101, ext. 241. by CNB