‘Beach season’ will be arriving soon

Sunday, March 9, marks the beginning of the transition to “beach season” along the Crystal Coast in Carteret County, N.C.

 

That’s when we return to Daylight Saving Time (DST), “springing forward” to gain an extra hour of daylight extending into the early evening, an ideal time for strolling along the shoreline at low tide.

 

To get things rolling, the Emerald Isle St. Patrick’s Festival is Saturday, March 15, at the Emerald Plantation Shopping Center. (For details, access the Town of Emerald Isle’s website at emeraldisle-nc.org.)

 

On the following day, Sunday, March 16, the Bogue Banks beaches begin to get reclaimed by pedestrians, as the Town of Atlantic Beach discontinues private vehicle access.

Spring officially arrives on Thursday, March 20.

 

March winds can continue to pack a punch, but gradually parkas, scarves, mittens and toboggan caps are relegated to their proper closet nooks, replaced by jackets and hooded sweatshirts, as beach walkers lighten their load.

Easter won’t be here until Sunday, April 20 (about as late as it can get on the calendar), but by then, the Shibumi Shades and beach chairs should be popping up from Emerald Isle to Fort Macon.

 

Is this the year that the U.S. Congress decides to “lock the clock,” making DST the national year-round standard?

A bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act is being championed by U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), who argue that the time has come to “end the antiquated practice of changing clocks twice a year.”

 

Passage of the Sunshine Protection Act would eliminate the switch back to standard time for four months of the year. “If enacted, we would not ‘fall back’ in November and would enjoy a full year of DST,” Sen. Scott said.

Introduced on Jan. 7, 2025, the Sunshine Protection Act (S. 29) has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology, chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) is one of 28 members of the committee.

In making his pitch, Sen. Scott said: “I hear from Americans constantly that they are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year – it’s an unnecessary, decades-old practice that’s more of an annoyance to families than benefit to them.”

 

Although President Donald J. Trump has sent “mixed signals” about his position on the DST issue, Sen. Scott said he believes the president will come around to support “common-sense change that will simplify and benefit the lives of American families.”

Sen. Heinrich said: “More time for sunshine. Less time changing your clocks. The bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act is a no-brainer. Let’s get it passed this session.”

 

Exempt from the mandate would be those states and territories that do not currently observe DST (American Samoa, most of Arizona, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands).

Fifteen Senators are co-sponsoring the bill, and several offered comments.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said: “This is about public health; it is about our economy and it’s about just putting a little more light in families’ lives so they can spend time together, outdoors, in the sunshine.”

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said: “More sunshine; it’s better for our mental and physical health.” (She is shown below.)

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said, “More daylight after work means more business and more active, safer communities.”

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said, “Let’s say goodbye to 4 p.m. winter sunsets by permanently springing forward year-round.”

 

His point is well taken, but the real problem is that there are only so many daylight hours to spread around during the peak of winter.

The existing DST calendar may be the best alternative.