The Youth Risk Behavior Survey sample included 1,110 of the total 1,561 high school students in the county, a response rate of 71%.  Among the questions included in the survey instrument were several that assessed the student's exposure to and participation in violence-related behavior. Bullying appears to be among the most observed of the violence-related behaviors in Dare County High Schools. Almost two-thirds of students reported having seen other students being bullied on school property. Almost 24% of students reported themselves having been bullied on school property.

I had good intentions this last week to connect with friends

PLEASE email me if you are working against bullying

who are in the frontlines of bullying.  But, suddenly it is Wednesday and it is too late.  So I decide to at least figure out what the bullying policy is in North Carolina Schools.  Dare and Currituck Counties both have Student Codes of Conduct and Discipline Systems.  They each have policies on bullying and harassment based  some state policy,  statute, or regulation. No luck.  I wondered how hard it would be to report an incident online.Much of the language was semi-legalize which I recognize from my former days in human resources  One pleasant surprise was Currituck County had a page on their website, where I - or anyone - could report an incident. Not obvious to find but type in bully on site search.

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Gardens bring communities together. Not only are community gardens a good way to get more fresh fruits and vegetables in our diets, they also allow us to be active outdoors and build a strong community.   Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina: Growing Communities through Gardens      

There are three established well-organized active community gardens in Dare County. Garden organizers are currently recruiting gardeners and establishing work and planting schedules for their spring gardens.  Individuals interested in gardening or volunteering with the organization and management of a Community Garden can contact your neighborhood garden at Manteo, Hatteras, or Southern Shores.

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OBX Relay for Life-May 14, 2011 uploaded by obxvoice

There are many moments that create the Relay experience.   Specific details vary by event.  But the key moments that all events share in common are listed below:

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March 8th 7-9pm KDH Library. Moms often share advice, tips and philosophies with each other, but men rarely find themselves together talking about pregnancy, birth, and fatherhood. In this special session Just for Dads, Michael Egan, experienced father of five, will lead a lively discussion about living with pregnant women, being supportive during pregnancy and birth, how things change after kids, and what it means to become a family. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a man who's been there!

If you are a new dad, your partner/spouse is pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant, this FREE event is for you! Ladies: Please invite the dad or dad-to-be in your life and share with your expecting friends. All events are FREE and open to the public.  Doors open at 6:45. Meeting starts promptly at 7pm. ***Please follow the sidewalk on the LEFT side of the building around to the ramp/rear door.***
 For more info email outerbanksbirth@gmail.com or call 252-207-5601  

Robert Perry, Director of the Albemarle Ecological Field Site, Institute for the Environment UNC-Chapel Hill and Natural Resource Chair of the League of Women Voters of Dare will present a power point presentation on the Causes and Consequences of the Pains Bay Fire.  This presentation will be held at the Kill Devil Hills Town Hall on Thursday, March 22 at 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, and followed by dinner at Mako Mike's for those interested. The public is invited to attend along with LWV members, no reservation necessary.  Those wishing to attend dinner after the program please notify Joan Phifer, Program Coordinator, at 480-3200.

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4th Annual Outer Banks Senior Games to be held April 16th to 28th. The annual event attracts more than 200 participants who compete in a variety of activities from basketball to bowling to swimming and dance.  The two week long event kicks off on April 20th with an opening ceremony at The Baum Center, complete with the "lighting of the torch."

There is something to interest everyone. Medals are awarded for arts and crafts such as needlework, woodworking, photography and poetry. Many local businesses welcome different events, with Nags Head Bowling Center hosting bowling events and the Outer Banks YMCA hosting the swimming events. All seniors who are at least 55 or older by December 31, 2012 are encouraged to participate. The deadline for Registration is March 9th, 2012.  Registrations forms may be picked up at The Baum Center or print one online at: http://www.darenc.com/depts/OldAdlts/SrGames.pdf.  If you are interested in competing or volunteering for The Outer Banks Senior Games, Brandi can be reached at the Baum Center in Kill Devil Hills at 475-5635 or brandiwh@darenc.com.

The Dare County Department of Public Health (DCDPH)is presenting Drugs Exposed in collaboration with the Children of Youth Partnership. The program will be presented on March 15, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Fessenden Center in Buxton.    Drugs Exposed is a community-based program that provides a look into the teenage drug culture and presents parents with information that is needed to combat illicit drug use.  DCDPH provides Drugs Exposed as a free service to adults in Dare County. 

Community members are invited to attend the event where they will have an opportunity to take a look into a mock teenage bedroom and to identify objects that may reveal potential substance use or abuse.  The mock bedroom will then be reviewed with community members, identifying all objects that are associated with substance use or abuse.  An overview of current drug use trends will be explored as well as resources available for parents and community members. 

One participant said "Drugs exposed equips Dare County parents with the knowledge of what to look for, and how to talk to children about drugs and alcohol." Another shared, "this program spreads awareness and brings attention to the enormity of our teen's problems.  Drugs Exposed helps to educate parents to know the common household items that can be used to get high or as paraphernalia."

For more information about the project or to schedule a presentation of Drugs Exposed please contact, Beth Nettnin, Public Health Education Specialist with the Dare County Department of Public Health at 475-9374 or bethn@darenc.com.

In order to carry out the project, students researched the ecology of the area, the protected pocosin forest, under the management of the US Fish and Wildlife Service-USFWS, the history of the Pains Bay Fire, the policy of fire management in the area, how this particular fire was managed, and how Outer Banks citizens felt about the smoke from the Fire, as well as prescribed fires.  The latter was determined by a survey that the students developed and administered in conjunction with USFWS personnel and finally, the students offered a series of policy recommendations regarding future fire management.

We know that the smoke from the Pains Bay Fire had an impact on people's recreational activity, comfort levels ,and in some cases, personal health.  This is an important issue to understand due to the increasing numbers of people living next to or near wildlife refuges, parks, wilderness areas and national forests.  The many growing communities here on the Outer Banks are good examples of this trend.

Then I worked my way up the food chain.  In this case, it was the North Carolina State Board of Education.   With some clever searching, I found HRS-A-007, Policy for anti-harassment, bullying and discrimination.  However, this policy was deleted on 2/17/2012. Deleted Policies cannot be reviewed.  

Read this and skip all my complaints about research

Back to my search of the NC Board website.  One gets 50 results for bully, some of which look very interesting. But it 

is now 5:18 pm.  I realize this search could go on for hours. I definitely should have connected with local friends earlier. And I will do that.  However, if you have a child, you might want to look at the 50 results which contain lesson plans for different grade levels. Good to know  for you and your child - and for you and your child's teacher.

Volunteers from Outer Banks organizations will  go out into the community on April 23 in search of those who don't read much, or don't readily have access to books. This is not so folks can give books to book groups, friends or family. And all givers must be 16 years or older. (Anyone younger must be accompanied by an adult.)World Book Night books are specially-produced, not-for-resale paperbacks

 The Island Book store is coordinating this effort in the Outer Banks.  The store in Kitty Hawk will prepare FIVE boxes of 20 copies of the same book.  [The book selected will depend on availability of the World Book Night organization].   Givers will be responsible for any expenses incurred in picking up their carton and distributing the books. Authors are foregoing royalties to make this possible, and American book publishers, the American Booksellers Association, Barnes   Noble, the American Library Association, the Association of American Publishers, Ingram Book Company, UPS, and a dozen printers and binders have paid for the production and shipping. 

Non-profit groups who would like a box of books to distribute can contact Island BookStore.  The five boxes will be reserved on a first come, first serve order.   Please contact Meaghan Beasley,  252.255.5590, islandbksobx@yahoo.com

There are many moments that create the Relay experience.   Specific details vary by event.  But the key moments that all events share in common are listed below:

Survivors Lap

Relay starts with a Survivors Lap - an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we've achieved over cancer.   We also recognize and celebrate caregivers at Relay For Life. These individuals give their time, love, and support to friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers who face cancer

After dark, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony.  Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence.

Fight Back Ceremony

Last, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer. That personal commitment may be to do something as simple as getting a screening test, quitting smoking, or talking to elected officials about cancer. By taking action, people are personally taking steps to save lives and fight back against a disease that takes too much.

Manteo Community Garden, "Mano al Hermano"   is located in Manteo south of business US 64 Hwy at 1122 Fields Drive, near the Roanoke Island Memorial Gardens.  The garden is approximately 1.15 acres of cleared land made available to the nonprofit organization Mano al Hermano through a Dare County Airport Authority license agreement.   Spring 2012 is projected as the first productive growing season. Contact:  Ginger Candelora     252 202- 0842    candelora@centurylink.net    

Hatteras Island Community Gardens, "Coastal Harvesters" consist of two gardens; one located at Fox Water Sports in Buxton, the other on CC Gray Drive in Avon. Both were established in 20011 and are administrated by Coastal Harvesters, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Buxton, Contact:  Carol Bauer    252-489-8980   ctbauer@aol.com  

Southern Shores Community Garden  "Dare to Grow"  is the result of an internship completed by Wake Forest University senior Kaitlyn Hudgins the summer 2011 and is located on the Caratoke highway  plot owned by and next to the East Carolina Bank, 1 Juniper Trail, Southern Shores.

Contact:   Lucinda Hudgins    252 261-4102    seafood@tommysmarket.com