Free Crane

[gone fishin]

Originally Posted by BasicPatrick

We loose because we post complaints to ourselves instead of calling or writing an e-mail to our local state and federal elected officials demanding access be preserved!!!!

We loose because the membership of MA Striped Bass & Mass Beach Buggy is down significantly and they are the only two organization in MA that show up and are working to find solutions.

We loose because between political struggles the enviros are raising money to maintain their influence and as a community we raise nothing for political aciton.

We loose because we can not afford to take the economic loss we THINK is going on and document it according to the science of economics so that it can be used in the next round of political action.

We loose because we are talking about this now because of a crane when truth is that beach has been closed for birds since MAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How true Patrick!

It's amazing how the crane thing has taken on a life of its own. Especially when you and others call for a letter or simple participation to let our voice be heard in the political arena regarding access and the response is nill or little!

[Karl F]

Crane coming off North Beach
By Susan Milton
smilton@capecodonline.com
July 22, 2009ORLEANS — A crane, stuck on North Beach for days, is due home this morning after a change of heart by selectmen and state officials.

Early today, owner Mike Winkler is set to move his crane and excavator, under the watchful eye of an escort, past nesting least terns and piping plover chicks in Orleans.

Selectmen last week forbade Winkler from moving his $800,000 crane and an excavator until after the protected shorebirds had finished nesting and flown away. In late June, Winkler got emergency approval from Chatham and Orleans officials to take his equipment out on the beach to demolish and move several cottages left in peril because of erosion linked to recent storms.

After Winkler missed a July 1 deadline to remove the equipment, Orleans selectmen refused let him trek back over the barrier beach. The beach has been closed for weeks to traffic because of the shorebirds.

Influenced by two developments, selectmen changed their mind in a special meeting Monday afternoon. Winkler filed a lawsuit Friday that asked Judge Regina Quinlan in Barnstable Superior Court to block the selectmen's order, according to Winkler's attorney, William Riley of Chatham.

Also Friday, the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife absolved Orleans of responsibility even if the equipment's emergency move scares away nesting birds and dooms the eggs. If something were to happen to the protected birds, the state would "consider this an unpredicted outcome and no particular person or group's fault," assistant division director Thomas French wrote in an e-mail.

The language was key for Orleans selectmen, who worried that the state would close the town-owned beach or levy fines if a bird or egg died during the move.

After getting selectmen's consent Monday afternoon, a happy Winkler left from Ryder's Cove in Chatham at 11:30 p.m. to find the full moon tide washing over the beach, he said yesterday.

Seven hours later, his equipment was parked near Trail 1 in Orleans, poised for today's careful creep by the shorebirds. "We finally got everybody to agree," he said. "At least we're safe and sound."

[Plum Crazy]

Personally I think the whole business with the crane was a good thing.
It brought into the light how rediculous protecting these birds is, from another point of view.
The more publicity on how stupid this whole thing is the better.
This ESA has gone too far.
Keep sending those letters everyone. Sooner or later it will work.