During town hall meetings, the National Weather Service will discuss Hurricane Irene's impacts, as well as products and services provided to the public during the storm. Town Hall hosts are seeking to understand public perception of the threats posed by Hurricane Irene, find out how weather information was received and used by the public and discuss how the National Weather Service can improve its service to North Carolina. The public will have an opportunity to fill out a questionnaire and ask questions of weather service and emergency management officials.

The meeting in Dare will be at the Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo at 7:00, December 14. Hosted by the NOAA's National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City, North Carolina Emergency Management,  North Carolina Sea Grant and East Carolina University, For more additional information, visit http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/mhx.

Recovery Circles and Classes

Recovery Circles, In collaboration with Dare County Department of Social Services and East Carolina Behavioral Health, will be starting in Avon and Frisco on December 20th.   The holiday season and winter is a tough time of year for a lot of people. Many people are still dealing with the devastation left by Hurricane Irene. They are designed to give the citizens of southern Dare County a safe place to come, learn about recovery and share with others that are dealing with similar challenges. 

During the month of December, help The Outer Banks Hospital shine the light on prescription drug abuse by changing the lights on our Tree of Change from white to multi-colored. For every $5 dollars donated, OBH will replace a white light with a colored bulb to symbolize the change we would all like to see in our community - more awareness and fewer lives lost to prescription drug abuse. The tree will be in front of the hospital on Hwy 158 for all to enjoy as the transformation from clear to colorful takes place. Your donation of $5 per bulb will benefit the Dare Coalition Against Substance Abuse (Dare CASA) and their efforts to curb addiction right here in Dare County.  Prescription drug overdose is now the fastest growing drug problem in the US. Between 2004 and 2008, the number of visits to hospital emergency departments involving the non-medical use of narcotic painkillers increased 111%. In Dare County, several deaths were attributed to prescription drug overdose in 2011. Awareness is essential to turn this problem around.

Study on Parents of Children on the Autism Spectrum

If you are a parent raising a child with autism spectrum disorder between the age of birth- 21 years in your family home at least 50% of the time, you may contribute to this study by answering a survey as honestly as you can.  The survey should take approximately 20 to 30 minutes of your valuable time.  To participate simply click on the following link

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AutismParentResearch 

If you know a family member, friend, or acquaintance that is parenting a child on the autism spectrum who may be willing to participate, please forward this link to them.  I am seeking parents of children across the entire spectrum of the ASD community. Ann Liesen, MA, Doctoral Candidate, Oakland University

December 16, at the Outer Banks Hospital Cancer Resource Center.    Pre-registration is encouraged and may be made by calling (252) 449-8265. Hyman B. Muss, MD, is a professor in 

Dr. Muss on Breast Cancer in Seniors.

Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Join us for a provocative and entertaining follow up to the landmark documentary by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein. This new film offers birth-planning guidance around key topics such as the role of doulas (labor support specialists), the advantages of birth centers and the alarming escalation of cesarean sections in the United States. 

Doors open at 6:45. Meeting starts promptly at 7pm. Discussion to follow. Kill Devil Hills Library meeting room,  Kill Devil Hills.  If you are a new parent, pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant, or are passionate about birth and babies, this FREE educational event is for you! Partners, family, friends, and babes in arms are welcome.

Outer Banks Birth Network provides families with caring support, sound guidance, and evidence-based information, and a safe place for encouragement and connection. By making informed choices and having confidence in the process, families can experience safe and satisfying childbirth. All events are FREE and open to the public. Contact: Amanda Finchem at outerbanksbirth@gmail.com or 252-207-5601 or   www.birthnetwork.org/outerbanks

http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/252867654768523/

Each holiday season the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island offers free admission for visitors who participate in our gifts for "Santa Paws" program for our four-legged friends.  Now in its 5^th year, the Santa Paws program has provided hundreds of items donated to the Outer Banks SPCA for care and feeding of shelter animals. Santa Paws is asking for donations of 7 lbs. of dog, puppy, cat or kitten food, rawhides, pillow cases, bleach, dog shampoo, blankets, paper towels and clumping kitty litter.  All of these items will be placed under our Santa Paws Christmas Tree for delivery on December 23^rd to the Outer Banks SPCA Animal Shelter in Manteo.

Continue . . . 

Get in to the spirit of the season and know that you are also supporting the G.E.M. Center and The Nags Head Lions thus enabling these non-profits to provide programs for families facing Alzheimer's disease and eye glasses for those with vision problems. Enjoy works of Bach, Handle, Tchaikovsky and Mozart... performed by local artists in the beautiful sanctuary of St. Andrews.

David Spangler studied at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ, and has been a music educator for 34 years and currently resides in Manteo. David is currently the Organist for St. Andrews by the Sea. David will begin the program with "The Joy of Christmas."  

Claire Thomas 16 year old 11th grader at FFHS has been taking classical training in piano since the age of 8, including participation in college sponsored piano competitions, master classes, Outer Banks Piano Camp in NY, numerous private recitals and public performances.  Claire also plays the cello and flute and sings beautifully.  She has sung with the Outer Banks Children's Treble Choir, and the St. Thomas Girls Choristers in NYC. 

William Haresch, a 9 year old 4th grader at Kitty Hawk Elementary School, started picking out tunes on his plastic crocodile keyboard as a 4 year old.  William began formal piano training just a year ago.  In that year, he has participated in a piano competition and performed in recitals, at school, at church, and received invitations to perform for community groups. William Haresch will enchant us with "The Little Drummer Boy" on piano.

Sue Artz Renowned classically trained violinist Sue Artz grew up in Saratoga Springs, NY . She performed in symphonies all throughout her childhood and graduated with a BS degree in music performance from The College of New Paltz, NY. She has been on stage since age 6, playing for thousands over the years at various venues throughout the east coast, including Carnegie Hall with an orchestra.

Stacey Walters Is originally from Springfield, Ohio, became interested in music through her church and public schools.  Encouraged by her family to play the violin, she studied under John Smarelli, a well known musician and instructor in the state of Ohio.  Miss Walters is a graduate of Miami University. While in Cincinnati she performed with the Northern Kentucky Symphony.   Miss Walters also serves as the Choir Director at Grace Lutheran Church, Nags Head.

Dorothy Molz Since moving to the OBX seven years ago Dorothy has sung with the Outer Banks Chorale, performed with Theatre of Dare as Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan, also as Duchess of Wanchese with Gwen Cruickshanks "Duck Woods Theatre".  Presently she sings with Duck Methodist Church choir and the Outer Banks Chorus. 

 Rev. Nick Hodsdon has sung, danced, and acted professionally off Broadway, in summer stock, on TV and in video.  He performs here with The Outer Banks Chorus, Center Front and Theater of Dare, provides wedding services as both clergy and musician, and teaches guitar and recorder.

Angelo Sonnesso is a professional musician who received his MA in music from Columbia University. His styles include classical, sacred, contemporary and jazz. His lyric tenor voice and fluid keyboard style is memorable. He has performed at New York's Waldorf Astoria; The Brooklyn Academy of Music; New York's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and served as tenor soloist for the Church of  the Resurrection on New York's Park  Avenue.

  Tickets are $10 and available at the door, for further information please call Gail Sonnesso at 252.480.3354. We look forward to seeing you there!

For your donation you will receive free admission to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.  This year, Jennette's Pier is participating as a drop off point for Santa Paws items, but free admission to the aquarium will not be offered for those donations or location. So, help us spread holiday cheer to our furry friends at the Outer Banks SPCA, by making a generous donation today, while visiting their friends with fins! The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is located at 374 Airport Road, just north of Manteo.  The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Admission: Ages 13-61: $8 Ages 62+: $7 Ages 3-12: $6, no charge for children 2 and under, registered N.C. school groups and N.C. Aquarium Society members.  Join the N.C. Aquarium Society and enjoy unlimited FREE admission. For more information call 252-473-3494 or visit www.ncaquariums.com.

Ribbon of Hope continued . . .

The goal of the program is to have a positive impact on the lives of North Carolina's citizens in each of the state's 100 counties. The Foundation will award mini-grants of $25,000 to North Carolina community-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. These grants will support activities that establish or expand local programs in health, science, and education to serve identified needs of local communities. In addition, grantees will benefit from technical assistance provided by the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits.

The Foundation supports programs that emphasize the understanding and application of health, science, and education to meet the needs of North Carolina's citizens and communities. In order to be considered, proposals should relate to the establishment and implementation of projects tightly aligned with the goals and objectives of local community agencies, demonstrate their sustainability after grant funds are expended and, most important, address critical community needs that have been identified through comprehensive needs assessment activities. Contact Carrie Germeroth at 303.632.5578 for more information.