Dare County Sheriff's Office is now collecting used cell phones for distribution to victims of domestic and elder abuse.  This effort is part of a nationwide initiative by the 911 Cell Phone Bank Program.  There are over 1500 law enforcement and community service organizations around the country participating in the program, which has over 2,000 phones donated each month for 911 emergency use.

Sheriff Rodney Midgett stated, "Phones collected here will be turned over to the 911 Cell Phone Bank and remarketed.  In return, a bank of phones for emergency use, as well as cash, will be generated to fund emergency and community service needs here.This program will benefit the Outer Banks Hotline and the Dare County Department of Social Services. A used cell phone is still capable of calling 911 even when the regular phone service has been stopped. People who may be the victims of abuse in our community need these phones so that they can dial 911 in the event of an emergency."

Used cell phones can be dropped off at the Sheriff's Office in Manteo at the Dare County Justice Center.  Or, call the Sheriff's Office at 475-5980 to make an appointment to drop-off your used phones on Hatteras Island or Colington.  The 911 Cell Phone Bank has partnerships with the National Sheriff's Association (NSA), the National Association of Triads, Inc. (NATI), and the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA).  For more information, visit 911CellPhoneBank.org or call the Dare County Sheriff's Office at 475-5980.

 Saturday, September 18, 2010, on the Hatteras village waterfront. The day brings island fishing families and visitors together on the waterfront to celebrate the living traditions and heritage of Hatteras Island, a special place where the pull of the sound and the sea remains as irresistible today as in years past for commercial fishermen and charter-boat captains and mates.  An enthusiastic and spirited band of volunteers, headed by Lynne and Ernie Foster, deliver a fun-filled day packed with friendly competitions and contests, boat and gear displays, cooking demonstrations, children's activities, and more.

Contributions to make Day at the Docks a success this year are appreciated. Mail a check made out to "Day at the Docks" to Day at the Docks, P.O. Box 120, Hatteras, NC 27943.

The North Carolina Religious Coalition for Justice is an interfaith effort made up of concerned individuals who want to change the harsh rhetoric of the current immigration debate and remind people of faith that our primary religious calling is to love one another.  The Coalition had its beginnings in the North Carolina Council of Churches, but it is in no way limited to official Council members. The Coalition ecourages the state and local governments of North Carolina to provide for fair treatment and protection of our state's immigrant population, including access to education and mobility. In addition, they are troubled and grieved by the separation of families and other forms of suffering that continue to take place as a result of immigration raids.  Immigration policy is complex and multi-faceted, but we agree that all immigrants are made in God's image and that our religious traditions demand that we care especially for the stranger. We call on all people of faith to stand with immigrants as a matter of religious responsibility, to advocate for their well-being and protection, and to educate our local communities about issues affecting immigrant peoples.

Read more abour Latinos in North Carolina
In July, the Coalition published a report on the of immigrants, Latino and Asians in North Carolina.   Immigrants (the foreign-born) make up 7% of the state's population, while nearly one-in-ten North Carolinians are Latino or Asian.  Latinos and Asians wield $18.8 billion in consumer purchasing power. At last count, businesses owned by Latinos and Asians had sales and receipts of $5.3 billion and employed more than 44,000 people. At a time of economic recession, North Carolina can ill-afford to alienate such a critical component of its labor force, tax base, and business community.

More major hurricanes strike North Carolina in August and September than all other months combined. The best way to stay safe is to stay informed.
"We have 18 Twitter feeds that instantly update citizens on real-time travel conditions, as well as changes to our ferry schedules," said Lisa Schell, the N.C. Department of Transportation's new media coordinator. "In an emergency, we'll immediately send out tweets alerting the affected areas about road closures, flooding, dangerous driving conditions and evacuation routes." 

The department's Twitter feeds provide easy access to travel information for North Carolina residents. Twitter is accessible on hand-held devices even if traditional telephone service and electricity is disrupted. NCDOT's goal is to keep motorists safe using the "know before you go" approach. The department encourages citizens to check Twitter on their computers or smartphones before they leave home, work or school, but not while driving. Behind the wheel, they should be focused on one thing only - operating the car safely.

NCDOT maintains Twitter feeds. For a complete list, visit http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/twitter/default.html.  Citizens are also encouraged to use the department's other social media tools - Facebook, Flickr and YouTube - for valuable transportation information.

An estimated 5.3 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease. An estimated 5.3 million Americans have not yet been diagnosed.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is linked to the cause of degenerative memory and thinking disorder.

Join us for our Second Annual Walk for the Mind on September 11th, 2010 at 9am, held at Roanoke Island Festival Park, as we help to  support our local caregivers and community members suffering from dementia. With the money raised, GEM  will provide scholarships & community  workshops  for  local Veterans and all Dare County families that will  benefit from  the program.

We will have several addresses, one on being a caregiver for someone with dementia.  Other speakers will speak on behalf of the local support group for the Wounded Warrior Project. The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors.  Its purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women;  To help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and
To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members  For more information or to sign up, please call or email  Emily Karr: ekarr@darenc.com(475-5638)or Gail Sonnesso: gsonnesso@gmail.com(480-3354)  All donations are tax deductable. Registration is FREE, but it is $10 for a t-shirt if you register by September 1st.

 

The Albemarle Walk for Hunger will be held on Sunday, October 10, 2010. The Annual Walk is largest single fundraiser for the Food  Food Bank of the Albemarle is having its Annual Walk for Hunger. Last year the walk  raised $35,280. This year, with your help, the Bank hopes to surpass that amount.  Every dollar raised will provide approximately 5 pounds of food. Consequently, if we reach our goal of $36,000 we will be able to provide an additional 138,400 meals to the families who must rely on Emergency Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries to survive.