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For more information about how to protect yourself from the flu or information about the flu vaccination, contact, Margaret Parker, Immunization Nurse with the Dare County Department of Public Health at 475-5003 or visit www.flu.gov.

Youth Volunteer Opportunities

Today's youth is wired, to the extreme. Many OBX organizations have facebook pages with adult fans. I imagine many OBX Youth have pages if they are 13 and older. The question is how do we let youth interested in volunteering know about service opportunities. Could we connect one group with the other through a facebook group/cause. Twitter? Any suggestions, please send my way. In the mean time, I have had requests from parents to identify volunteer opportunities for their kids.

Youth are motivated, energetic, and strong. They could be a great resource for your organization. Young people volunteered at twice the rate of adults with 55 percent of young people volunteering, compared with only 29 percent of adults. Youth who volunteer are less likely to engage in risky behavior, are more likely to feel connected to their communities, and tend to do better in school. Youth who volunteer do so out of altruism, strongly agreeing with statements such as "I would like to help make the world a better place," and "It's important to do things for others." Only 5% of students became involved with volunteering through a school requirement. A youth who has a parent who volunteers is nearly three times more likely to volunteer on a regular basis. Thirty-nine percent of teenagers volunteer on a regular basis; 35% do so occasionally; and 27% are episodic volunteers.

Chance to Model for Fashion Show to benefit Seniors.

Parks & Recreation and Older Adult Services are putting together a multigenerational Fashion Show on Friday, March 25^th at 6:00pm, located at the KDH Youth Center, to support the F.C. Minton Fund and Senior Games. We have asked local shops and boutiques to provide clothing for our volunteer models, keeping in mind the theme of this Fashion Show: Candy Land. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, March 1^st, at $15.00 for adults, and $10.00 for children 12 and under, dinner included.

WE STILL NEED MODELS!!! If you would like to be a volunteer, please contact Emily Karr at (252) 475-5638 by Friday, February 18^th! Models will be assigned a clothing store, show off an outfit and receive FREE admission!

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer

at the Beach Food Pantry There are many ways to become involved in helping the Beach Food Pantry. We are open Monday through Friday from 2 pm to 4 pm. If you would like to volunteer to help clients during these hours, please contact a coordinator from a participating church listed on the Supporting Members page

Youth Partnership for Dare County is looking for caring volunteers to tutor at-risk preschool children using the WINGS preschool literacy program. WINGS volunteers will play literacy-based games at least once a week, focusing on memory, comprehension, problem-solving, creative thinking, and decision-making. The typical time spent volunteering each week is 1-2 hours. For more information, please contact Carla Heppert at 252-441-0614 or email her at wings@darekids.org. Children and Youth Partnership is a non-profit organization serving children, youth, and families in Dare County. The Partnership administers the state Smart Start program for Dare County for children birth through age 5 and is a central source of information about activities, programs and resources for children

volunteer

Children at Play - the Outer Banks Children's Museum is looking for volunteers! We are looking for individuals who would be interested in assisting in building, painting or creating new exhibits. Exhibits are designed to teach and inspire young children in our community. This is a fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity. If interested, please contact us at the museum at 261 0290. Children at Play is a locally founded 501(c)(3) non profit organization.

The Dare Literacy Council is looking for volunteers to help with fundraising, administrative tasks, publicity, and tutor/student support. If you have an education background, volunteers are needed to help with assessing students and developing tutor seminars. If you are fluent in Spanish, help is needed communicating with students. The DLC is an all-volunteer organization so as little as one hour is a tremendous boost to helping the DLC continue to serve the community. To volunteer, call Marian at (252) 261-6940, email dareliteracy@gmail.com or visit dareliteracy.org

The Senior Nutrition's Home Delivered Meals Program serves seniors 60 years or older, homebound and unable to prepare a nutritious meal. The Albemarle Commission needs volunteers to deliver meals to seniors in Manteo and in the beach area, Monday through Friday. If you can share one hour a month to assist with meal distribution, please contact Mary Jernigan at (252)475-5637 at the Baum Center or Sandra Cantrell- Bush at (252)473-9279 at the Dare County Center.

If you are interested in
becoming a volunteer, a partnering church or civic/community organization with Respite Care, please contact, Stephanie Bowers, Program Coordinator at (252) 475-5028.

Meet new friends and do good. VOLUNTEER.

Need Volunteers?

Submit form at CommonGood or email nancy@obxcommongood.org

CommonGround Updates

FOCUS ON:

People with Disabilities

Exceptional Children in Dare and Currituck Counties

Dare County Schools serve approximately 550 students with disabilities through Exceptional Children's Services.One of the things we are doing to help include more E.C. students in the regular classroom is what we call "Cooperative Teaching." This is a scenario where the "general education" teacher and the "special education" teacher co-teach a class. The general education teacher is the expert in the curriculum and the special education teacher is the expert in strategies, interventions, and accommodations. It is a win/win situation for all the students in the class.

We are able to meet all educational needs of identified students in Dare County Schools. The IEP team determines the most appropriate setting for a student and also determines what special education services and related services may be needed in order for the student to access the general curriculum. The IEP will specify the services, modifications, and accommodations that will be utilized to help the child.There are times when a student may have some emotional/behavioral (mental health

) issues that are beyond the educational component. They are so significant that they are across all environments (school, home, community, etc.) In these type of cases, we have the involvement of other agencies, such as Department of Social Services, East Carolina Behavioral Health (mental health) and others. They help families to get additional supports which may include residential treatment care. This is usually covered by Medicare of insurance.

There are many groups in the community that are very supp

ortive of the E.C. students in Dare County Schools. The Knights of Columbus are wonderful in collecting monies through donations to help support E.C. teachers efforts in reaching their students. Other groups include the Autism Society, the Angels of Dare, as well as agencies. Schools welcome volunteers to help support activities within their schools.

by George Graham, Director, Exceptional Children.

Currituck County Schools offer a full continuum of services for students identified as Exceptional Children. Our programs are federal, state, and locally funded and all programs follow the Procedures Governing Programs and Services for Children with Disabilities or the locally adopted Academically and Intellectually Gifted Plan and state guidelines.

The Currituck County Exceptional Children is looking for parent, student and staff representatives to participate on our EC Advisory Committee. Please contact Kim McClellan, Director of EC

or Kay Wittenberg, Administrative Assistant, if you would like additional information. Future Meetings are

02-10-11

04-07-11 and 05-19-11

OBX Peace and Justice Interfaith Coalition Film Showing

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Tuesday, February 12, 7:00 pm at Kelly's Restaurant. Young peole are invited, 12 and up, if accompanied by an adult. the documentary features, Rachel Simmons, who has been studying girls' relationships, behavior and psychology for more than a decade. Her bestselling 2002 book Odd Girl Out: the Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls started a widespread cultural conversation about girls' psychological aggression and bullying. In A GIRL'S LIFE, Simmons goes back into the field to introduce audiences to four typical teenage American girls. The girls tell their own deeply personal tales of dealing with issues like cyber-bullying, body image and violence.

Girls growing up in America today have more opportunities than their mothers and grandmothers ever imagined. They do well in school; by fifth grade they're equal to boys in math and science, and they're significantly better at reading and writing. They have more career choices, more flexibility in family roles and more female role models in positions of political power.

But even as doors open, girls may not be able to walk confidently through them. When they get to middle school, girls' self-esteem plunges. Twice as many girls as boys attempt suicide. Twice as many show signs of depression. Girls have a higher risk of abusing alcohol and drugs, and violent physical assaults by girls have skyrocketed since 1990.

Do You Know Your Numbers?

February is National Heart Health Month. Part of heart-health awareness is knowing those critical numbers - blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose. The Outer Banks Hospital will host free

health screenings in the lobby from 8:30 am to 11:00 am on February 15. Call 449-9184 by February 13 to make an appointment.

Cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of women, claiming the lives of more than nearly half a million each year. That's one out of every four women or six times more than will die of breast cancer. The Outer Banks Hospital invites you to raise your awareness, be informed and know your numbers.

The statistics are alarming:

Only 13 percent of women view heart disease as a health threat, even though it's women's number-one killer.
Cardiovascular disease kills more than 480,000 women a year, about one per minute.
One in three adult females and males in the U.S. suffers from a form of cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease claims more lives than the next four most common causes of death combined.
On average, an American dies of cardiovascular disease every 35 seconds.
Coronary heart disease is the number-one single killer of women over age 25.
Sixty-four percent of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.
One in 2.6 female deaths is from cardiovascular disease, compared with one in 30 from breast cancer.

On February 12 at 9am, Dr. Noel Peterson, a cardiologist from the East Carolina Heart Institute, will present "The Heart Truth," an informative free lecture at the Front Porch Caf� in Nags Head. Peterson is the Director of Women's Cardiovascular Services and Preventative Cardiology at ECHI. To attend "The Heart Truth" call 449-7390 or go online www.theobh.com and select "events." A complimentary continental breakfast will be provided. Seating is limited.

Significant progress has been made in increasing awareness among women from 34 percent in 2000 to 57 percent in 2006. However, most women fail to make the connection between risk factors-such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol-and their personal risk of developing heart disease. A nationwide campaign-The Heart Truth-is underway to raise awareness that women need to protect their heart.

Genetic Testing Presentation

Cecile Skrzynia, MS, an assistant professor in the departments of medicine and genetics in the UNC School of Medicine, will conduct a Lunch & Learn workshop on "Genetic Testing: Is it Different From Other Medical Tests" at noon on Friday, February 18th in the Cancer Resource Center at The Outer Banks Hospital. Pre-registration is encouraged and may be made by calling 252-449-9184. A complimentary light lunch will be served.

Skrzynia is a certified genetic counselor with the UNC Lineberger Cancer Genetics Program and counsels patients and families in the UNC Breast Center and the Gynecologic, Gastrointestinal and Urologic Oncology Programs.

Every week, Cecile Skrzynia talks to patients and family members about the genetics of cancer. She's a genetic counselor, and in 1996 she started the UNC Cancer Genetics Services. "A patient doesn't inherit cancer," Cecile explains. "A patient can inherit the susceptibility to develop cancer. When there's a doubt or question, or whenever someone is concerned about inheritance, that's when genetic counselors are called."

When she started UNC's Cancer Genetics Services in 1996, she was a team of one. Now, there are three more counselors, and she sees more than ever the need to help people look ahead and be prepared to deliver the best care possible. "I absolutely love this work," she says. "It's extremely gratifying to be able to help people and it's great to be part of this team at UNC."

Additionally, The UNC Cancer Specialty Clinic is accepting referrals for patients and families concerned about their risk of hereditary cancer due to a personal history of cancer younger than age 50 or because they have two or more relatives with cancer. Risk assessment will be provided and genetic testing if indicated. This specialty clinic will be held on February 18, 2011. Appointments may be made by calling (252) 449-8265.

The UNC Cancer Network is supported by the University Cancer Research Fund. For more information, see http://obxcancercare.org/.

For more information, please call 252.449.7350, or email CancerInfo@theobh.com.

Bag Oyster Shells for Marsh Restoration

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The North Carolina Coastal Federation, Jockey's Ridge State Park, and The Nature Conservancy are looking for volunteers to help with a marsh restoration project. On Monday February 21st they will work to bag oyster shells in the main parking lot of Jockey's Ridge State Park from 2 to 4 p.m. Stop by during this time to lend a hand. Volunteers who want to help bag oyster shells should wear closed-toed shoes and weather-appropriate clothes that could get dirty For questions please contact Sara J. Hallas (252)-473-1607, email sarajh@nccoast.org or visit www.nccoast.org.

Calling all hat makers, helpers & runners!

Sunday, February 27 � 11:30am - 2:00pm, Mighty Wind United Methodist Church, @ First Flight Middle School, 109 Veterans Drive, Kill Devil Hills. Join friends and members of the Mighty Wind Methodist church for a potluck lunch followed by making turbans, bandannas and headbands. As women undergo cancer treatments, many experience the difficult side effect of hair loss. To help maintain dignity and simply keep a head warm, we gather to cut fabric and sew these hats, turbans, bandannas and headbands. We need lots of people to cut out patterns (no experience necessary) and experienced people to sew them together.

The Women of Mighty Wind UMC supply all the fabric and patterns. We would appreciate it if you would bring scissors suitable to cut material. If at all possible, please bring your sewing machine. The hats are gifts to those in need. We give them to our family members, friends and neighbors. We also distribute them to local, regional, and state cancer treatment facilities for women who need them.

Plan for your pets' future today

Many people think of their pets as members of their families. Sadly, thousands of companion animals are surrendered to shelters and are euthanized each year simply because their human caregivers died or became too ill to care for them. Many are senior pets who were loved and well cared for but have uncertain futures in animal shelters. These animals became homeless because their caregivers made no plans for their continued care. Our pets depend upon their caregivers for not only their food, water, and shelter, but also for companionship. When the pet's caregiver passes away or is no longer present in his life, the center of his universe is gone and his life is changed forever. He has no way of even knowing what happened to his longtime best friend. We have all heard of dogs who devotedly lay beside their master's grave for months or even years, or who look out of the window for years, watching and waiting for their beloved master who will never return.

Providing care for your pets is a lifelong and beyond commitment. Who will be there to honor this commitment if you no longer can? Will the new caregiver have the means to provide for them? Having a plan in place will give the caregiver peace of mind knowing that their companion animals will always be cared for if something happens to them.

As a part of their humane education and public service program, the Animal Lovers Assistance League, who operates the Currituck Animal Shelter, is offering to provide a short presentation and brochures on this subject at the meetings of interested organizations in Currituck County and nearby areas, such as home owners associations, civic and church groups, and senior citizens groups. There is no charge for the service. To schedule a presentation, please email: gsikes@centurylink.net or call 252-232-3696.

Myths about Pregnancy and Birth Explained

birthnetwork logo Outer Banks Birth Network Free Workshop for Moms and Moms-to-be on February 10, 2011, 7-9pm Kill Devil Hills Library meeting room. Everything you ever wanted to know about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum but were afraid to ask. Join us for a fun-filled evening of myth-busting and learning led by a panel of birth professionals including a labor doula, a postpartum doula, a childbirth educator, a breastfeeding consultant and local mamas who've been there! If you are a new mom, pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant, or are passionate about birth and babies, this FREE workshop is for you! (252) 207-5601 or outerbanksbirth@gmail.com for more information.

Chutney by Nancy

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