June 21, 7:00 pm at  All Saints Episcopal Church, Southern Shores.The Peace and Justice Interfaith Coalition is sponsoring this film with the support of The All Saints Episcopal Church and The Outer Banks Pridefest Organization  Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families -- including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson -- we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard's Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.

Red Nose Pros Get Ready For July 

Sporting their red noses are Chris Kelley, Executive Director of the Outer Banks Relief Foundation; Luanne Hege, Board Member; Morgan Mason of Sun Realty and Chairman of the event Julie Walter of Homes & Land of the Outer Banks.

Outer Banks Relief Foundation Christmas in July leaders working hard at signing up businesses.

 The RED NOSE promotion allows businesses to sign up as sponsors and present a display of red noses. Employees encourage their customers to make donations and receive a red nose to help celebrate Christmas in July!  It's a great way for businesses to personally engage with their clients with humor and good will, while helping local families in desperate need of support. 
This is the second year for this unique and fun event!   To get in on the fun, call the Relief Foundation office at 252-261-2004. Red Noses mean you care!

Since 2006 the Outer Banks Relief Foundation, Inc. has raised and given more than half million dollars to people on the Outer Banks struggling with debilitating diseases, such as cancer, or who have experienced a personal tragedy or crisis with themselves and/or a member of their family.

 

Ervin Bateman, the foundation's Vice-President of Finance stated, "In showing the spirit with which the foundation  was founded, I am pleased to report as of January 24, 2011, 263 individuals and/or families in our Outer Banks community have been given over a half million dollars:  $153,683 in  Kill Devil Hills; $134,619 in Nags Head, $43,923 in  Kitty Hawk; $5,500 in Southern Shores; $72,080 in Manteo; $17,503 in Wanchese; $8,700 in Manns Harbor; $7,000 in Avon; $5,000 in Buxton; $6,200 in  Frisco; $1,500 in Hatteras; $2,895 in Rodanthe; $1,000.00 in Salvo; $7,000.00 in Waves; $5,000.00 in Grandy; $3,287 in Powells Point; $5,000 in Columbia; and $18,754 to other areas of the Outer Banks.  The individuals/families that live outside Dare County were either employed in Dare County, or regularly receive services and/or resources in Dare County when we assisted them."

Food for Thought

Helps Record Number of Children    

The number of youth Food for Thought, Inc. served in Dare County grew from 420to 648 during the 2010-11 school year, representing a 65 percent jump, according to Loismary Hoehne, president of the all-volunteer non-profit that provides weekend healthy meals children. Any child that qualified for free or reduced lunch also qualifies for this program.   When Food for Thought  started in February 2006, they  fed 54 elementary children so the program has grown significantly in five years.  In preparation for the upcoming school year, Food for Thought will kick off a new campaign, "Feed a Child" in early August.  This multi-media campaign will focus on obtaining commitments for 700 children's weekend meal bags from area businesses, churches, individuals, community groups and others.  

How can individuals and businesses help?  That's easy.  An individual can become a volunteer and: help receive, pack and distribute food; help raise funds; help with website support; work with publicity and media relations; provide in-kind services; as well as make a donation to feed a child.To volunteer, contact Margaret Lawler, 261-5482, and Linda White, 441-4464.

Alley Cat Rescue Seeks Facility for Cat Adoption

 Alley Cat Rescue, an Outer Banks non-profit organization which rescues and finds homes for homeless cats and kittens in our community, is seeking a permanent facility to be used in the group's efforts to reduce the number of abandoned cats who are euthanized each year.  The organization rescues homeless cats along the Outer Banks providing them with medical treatment spaying and neutering, and prepares them for adoption by loving families.  Alley Cat Rescue works in conjunction with local agencies, residents and business owners to provide domestication assessment and processing for cats in need of homes.  "Volunteers from Alley Cat Rescue perform hands-on rescues of homeless & abandoned cats," Patrick explains.  "But, that's only the beginning.  From there, we make sure they get medical attention from local vets and are then spayed or neutered.  This is followed by our 'domestication process' which prepares formerly un-socialized cats to live with adopted families."
 
 "As demand for rescues has grown, we've found that our end-to-end process now requires a permanent facility here in the Eastern North Carolina," Patrick says.  "We are appealing to local land owners, facility owners and philanthropists as we seek a permanent facility for Alley Cat Rescue. Contact Amanda Marie  207-5153 or  alleycatrescueorg@yahoo.com.

Fear has no place in Schools

In the 1982 Supreme Court decision Plyer vs Doe, it was declared illegal to deny a child access to a public school education based on immigration status. It's a decision that makes sense, after all, children have little choice to immigrate and creating entire generations of uneducated residents generates no positive benefit to anyone. So why are some North Carolina lawmakers pushing a bill that would force K-12 school principals in that state to ask parents about the immigration status of their children?

The bill itself provides no reasoning. It simply states that the information would be gathered for "analysis,"  even though the information can't be used to bar children from school. In other words, the demand to ask the immigration status of children outlined in the bill would serve no useful purpose aside from turning educators into pseudo-ICE agents and creating an environment of intimidation in the North Carolina school system.

Targeting children is an especially cruel turn of events. On Tuesday June 6th, the North Carolina House Education Committee will begin a hearing on the surreptitiously named HB 744 "Safe Schools Act" at 10 a.m. If you agree that fostering an environment of fear in schools is unacceptable,  

Hatteras Island Asset Map

The Hatteras Island Asset Map now contains more than  80 cultural, natural, and business assets identified by island residents. Assets identified in the first phase of the mapping project include everything from museums and surf shops and restaurants to night skies and sunset views.  "The assets reflect an eclectic approach to identifying what is special about the island, but all share roots in our unique cultural and natural environment," Susan West, a Buxton resident involved in the project, said.

   

Asset mapping is one part of Saltwater Connections, a community-driven initiative serving the unincorporated villages located on the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway which begins at Whalebone Junction in Dare County and ends at the community of Bettie in Carteret County.    The project is designed to help strengthen the economic, social, and environmental well-being of coastal villages, while retaining the heritage, character, and quality of life that make the villages special.Contact West at (252) 995-4131 or email ridgeroad@earthlink.net.

Dogs for Dad

The Currituck Animal Shelter will honor Dads on Father's Day Weekend, June 18-19, with reduced prices and extras for all Dads who would like to adopt their new best friend that weekend.  For that special weekend dog and puppy adoptions to Dads will be just $65.  All dogs have been tested for heartworms; are dewormed; had their rabies vaccination; are spayed or neutered unless they are too young, in which case they come with a voucher for later use; are microchipped; and come with 30 days of free pet insurance!  Dogs for Dads will even receive free gourmet dog food,  a free dog lead, and a free online digital photo of Dad with his new dog.  Bring the entire family to help Dad find a new family member whom the entire family will love and enjoy! 

 

If Dad prefers to adopt a kitty, a discount is also available along with several of these other enhancements.  The Currituck Animal Shelter is located next to the Currituck Regional Airport off of Hwy. 158/Short Cut Rd. in Maple, NC.  Weekend hours are: 11:00 am-3:30 pm.  Phone: 252-457-0011.

 

Hospital Offers Screening for Skin Cancer

The Outer Banks Hospital, in partnership with Kitty Hawk Kites and Kitty Hawk Surf Co. will offer free skin cancer screenings, sunblock samples and tips for preventing skin cancer on Wednesday, June 29 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm during the 3rd Annual Sandsculpture Festival. The three-day Sandsculpture Festival is held in front of Kitty Hawk Kites and Kitty Hawk Surf Co. located in the Jockey's Ridge Crossing Shopping Center at Milepost 12 1/2 in Nags Head.