First I want to say 'kudos' to Currituck High School.  I reported an anonymous bullying incident at 5:00 pm last Wednesday.  On Thursday at 8:30 am the principal of the school, called me to followup. 

If you want to know what the law says about cyberbullying, a complete list can be found on the  UNC School of Government blog on Criminal Law. 

But the one of the best site I found on cyberbullying is http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html

 You can find out more information on what is it? how it works :: why cyberbully? :: prevention :: take action :: what's the law?   You and your kids can 

1. Take a  survey on what you and they know. 
2. Make a pledgeabout cyberbullying and digital hygiene
3. Are you cyberbully or a cybersaint. Different tests for ages 7-10, 10-13, 14-17 AND for parents, teachers and law enforcement.

The site is put together by Parry Aftab,  one of the leading experts, worldwide, on cybercrime, internet privacy and cyber-abuse issues. Granted much of her own site promotes 'consulting' and 'appearances' opportunities, but you can learn on lot on her website - and for the most part something you can share with kids.

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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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.

continued     

Have you ever wondered how to find help or a community service for yourself or someone in need? There are about 30,000 nonprofits in North Carolina.  Finding the one you need can be difficult.The first step in finding help is knowing who to call.  9-1-1 is for emergencies, 4-1-1 is for directory assistance and 2-1-1 is for finding community health and human service resources. Call 2-1-1 any time 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to link to vital services in your community.  This service is free and multilingual.

 continued.

If you a leader of a nonprofit group, organization or a government agency that services the community, make sure you are added to 2-1-1 database.  Go to http://www.unitedwaync.org/2-1-1-partner-resources and click "new agency information"  This is blue print on white] to access a form. 

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March 8th 7-9pm KDH Library.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  

 OBX Sounds, collaboration between Dare County Arts Council and 99.1 The Sound, will continue with the series of showcases featuring all original, all local music on Thursday, March 15th at Kelly's Restaurant and Tavern from 7-9 p.m.

Showcases will be held every third Thursday from 7-9pm, through April at Kelly's Restaurant and Tavern in Nags Head.  Each musician selected will have one track included on the inaugural Outer Banks Sounds CD recording, a chance to perform on the live radio show, Acoustic Lunch, industry exposure, radio play, and twenty copies of the CD recording.  A CD release party and performance will wrap up this 8-month program. This is a great opportunity to support established and up-and-coming musicians alike and help promote local artists of the Outer Banks! 

Proceeds from sales of the Outer Banks Sounds CD will benefit DCAC and the Community Music School that was devastated in Hurricane Irene. The school is a DCAC initiative that brings quality, affordable music instruction to local youth.   To find out more about the Community Music School and OBX Sounds, visit www.darearts.org.

Northern Outer Banks residents can do their part to keep our coastal waters, citizens and fish drug free.

The Dare County Sheriff's Office, in partnership with North Carolina Sea Grant, theN.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island, will host a community medicine drop-off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 22. The event will be held at the aquarium at 374 Airport Road in Manteo. Sheriff's deputies will be on hand to collect the medications.

This effort will allow community members to dispose of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications in a way that will not contaminate the water supply.

"The unintended consequences of disposal of unwanted medicines represent an emerging concern for the aquatic environment and public health," says Sara Mirabilio, fisheries specialist at Sea Grant's Manteo office and event co-organizer.There is growing concern that flushing drugs may impact the coastal environment. The sewage treatment plants and septic systems that receive residential wastewater are not designed to remove chemicals found in our drugs. The chemicals from medicines that go down the drain are turning up in rivers, lakes, streams and wells across the country.

"The presence of these pharmaceuticals in our waterways have the potential to cause reproductive, behavioral, immune system and neurological problems, as well as cancerous tumors, not just in fish and shellfish, but also in birds, amphibians, reptiles and other coastal wildlife," Mirabilio adds.

This community medicine drop-off is part of a larger effort called Operation Medicine Drop. This program is a partnership of Safe Kids North Carolina, the Riverkeepers of North Carolina, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of North Carolina and local law enforcement agencies that collaborate to encourage the public to safely dispose of unused and unwanted medication.

March 20 2:30 Pm. 252-480-2866

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Who should participate? 

Since my husband is the Albemarle District Commissioner, I checked to see if Boy Scouts should be included.  Sure Enough.  211 has a service tree, a taxonomic scheme to classify community services.  I searched Boy Scouts and found they were listed under

Individual and Family Life

Social Development and Enrichment

Youth Development

Programs that provide opportunities for children and youth to participate in a wide range of recreational, cultural, social and civic activities through memberhsip in ....

If you are confused about where you belong please Contact Patty McKenna.

211 will only be as good as the information included.

If you are interested in the upcoming implementation of 211 Services in Currituck or other northeastern North Carolina counties, please contact Patty McKenna or nancy@obxcommongood.org

The 2-1-1 phone number and nc211.org will be available April 1 in Dare County. 211 provides information and access to local human services information. This pilot-program funding is from the Outer Banks Community  Foundation and the Outer Banks Community Foundation. Thank You.  And a big thanks to Patty McKenna , Coordinator, Community Services Collaborative, a program of the Outer Banks Relief Foundation  

On April 1,  211 Service will go live in Dare County. You can help improve the implementation by placing 211 Test Calls. Landline activation is usually smooth, but there may be some difficulty initial with cell phone carriers. been that there is some back and forth with the cell phone carriers until all the wrinkles are out.  Currituck and Hyde will be coming soon, as well as the rest of Northeastern North Carolina. 

If you are in Dare County make a 2-1-1 call on April 1 from a landline and a cell phone and report bad outcomes toouter.banks.collaborative@gmail.com? And this is no April fools joke!!  On a landline in Dare, if you get the message "Thank you for calling 2-1-1. To speak to a specialist in English please press 5" then we're good. If you get a message from your telephone company about reaching a line not in service, report it to  outer.banks.collaborative@gmail.com. 

Please call from your place of business as well. Apparently, larger employers in Dare might have PBX which may require minor tech support to allow 2-1-1 calls can be placed there.

On a cell phone, if you get anything other than "Thank you for calling 2-1-1. To speak to a specialist in English please press 5," please report the following to outer.banks.collaborative@gmail.com

1. the number you called from

2. your mobile service provider

3. your general location when you placed the call

The 2-1-1 call center manager will receive the report and address the problem. 

If you are interested in the upcoming implementation of 211 Services in Currituck or other northeastern North Carolina counties, please contact Patty McKenna or nancy@obxcommongood.org

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.

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.

The Community Care Clinic of Dare provides free medical care to patients between the ages of 18 and 64 who are eligible based on their income. A patient must live or work in Dare County and have an income not to exceed 250% of the Federal Poverty level. (250% of the 2012 Federal Poverty Level would be $27,925 for one person or $57,625 for a family of four.) Because it's based on a patient's yearly income, eligibility is not affected by fluctuating seasonal income, which is commonplace in our area. The clinic is not a walk-in urgent care clinic, and patients are asked to register first  in order to be scheduled to see a provider. 

"Since the clinic opened in 2005, a lot of hard work has been done," said Rick Gray, Director of the Community Care Clinic of Dare. The clinic has seen well over 2,000 patients since opening its doors to Dare County residents in need.  The non-profit health care center now serves over 642 active patients and registers approximately 25-30 new patients every month.

The Community Care Clinic of Dare helps patients stay healthy and manage chronic diseases such as Hypertension, Diabetes, COPD and more.  The Clinic provides prescriptions and other necessary testing materials through the NC MedAssist program based in Charlotte, NC. This state program helps patients with free medications. If ineligible for MedAssist, clinic staff attempt to place patients with pharmaceutical companies' individual programs and often provide vouchers to local pharmacies for short term needs.

Last April, the Clinic moved into its new, centrally located office in Nags Head. The new location, 2808 S. Croatan Hwy, is next to New Horizons and is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am to 2pm, in the evenings on the 2nd and 3rd Mondays from 6pm - 9 pm. Patient Registration and Information takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 1pm. On Hatteras Island, the clinic is open on Tuesday evenings in Frisco from 6pm to 9 pm. The Hatteras clinic operates in the Dare County Department of Public Health building

The clinic is very grateful for, and dependent on its team of volunteers and medical professionals.  The clinic is always in need of volunteers and donations in any amount are needed and very much appreciated.  For more information about the Community Care Clinic of Dare, please call 252-261-3041.