H
ands Across the Sand marked it’s 9th year on May 18. A now world-wide
event, thanks to Dave Rauschkolb founder of this event, who organized
joining of hands as a call for an end to offshore oil drilling. In 2009, Dave
watched as the drilling in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama came closer
to Destin, and a bill here in Florida that could’ve brought it within 10 miles of these
beaches. It became a real possibility that oil riggs could be placed in this tourism town.
Wanting to do something to “draw a line in the sand,” that visual image sparked the
joining of hands, which is now spread to over 80 beaches, in 50 states, and over 10,000
people.
Vaughn Greene with the Walton County Democratic Women’s club organized this
year’s event in Inlet Beach, expressing her passion for this cause. While heading down
the beach, many bystanders ended up joining in after hearing what it was for. The hope is
for a permanent ban on offshore drilling, along with bringing awareness of pollution and
steering away from dependence on oil. Joining hands and looking out into the beautiful
Gulf while speaking about the cause is a great way to get close and personal with what
could happen if changes were to occur.
photos & story by
Shanna Magnuson
VIP Destin at Inlet Beach Public Access
Hands Across th e Sand
Hands Across th e Sand
2019
46 | VIPDestinMagazine.com
Chris Forman & Emily Ellis
Laurie Reichenbach, Joanne Boyne & Lynda McMahan
Mike Sturdivant & Michel Spender
Frank & Vaughn Greene
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