Month: April 2023

Sentara Healthcare recently presented College of The Albemarle’s (COA) Foundation with $100,000 for Sentara Scholars.  Sentara is investing more than $3 million in Sentara Scholars to provide financial assistance to eligible students pursuing degrees or certifications in healthcare-related fields. Scholarships will be awarded throughout North Carolina and Virginia.

Sentara Healthcare has established an employment pipeline with COA and 19 other educational partners to provide job opportunities for graduates of the college’s healthcare programs. This partnership aims to address the shortage of healthcare workers in the region and provide students with a clear path to employment after graduation.  The funds given to COA for scholarships further strengthen Sentara’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to the communities they serve.

College of The Albemarle provides highly qualified, skillful healthcare workers throughout our service area and beyond.  “The support these funds will provide for our health science students is extremely important to help them be successful,” said Robin Harris, Dean of Health Sciences and Wellness Programs.  “Financial need and working too many hours outside of classes often impact students’ time and energy to dedicate to their rigorous studies and preparation for clinical learning experiences. Unexpected life events and the stress associated with them can also impact their ability to focus on their studies. This wonderful gift will help us give support, providing students in need the best opportunity to learn and become the highly skilled health practitioners needed for our communities.”

The scholarship funds are designated for direct tuition assistance, with up to twenty percent available for emergency use.  Eligibility considerations include but are not limited to students who must be in-state residents enrolled in a healthcare or healthcare-related undergraduate or professional degree or certificate program.

“College of The Albemarle is extremely appreciative of these scholarship funds that will support so many seeking a degree, diploma, or certification in a healthcare-related field,” said COA President Dr. Jack Bagwell. “We are committed to helping students realize their dreams, providing them with better skills, leading to better jobs.   Partnerships with employers such as Sentara Healthcare ensures educational and workforce opportunities are available for everyone, making our communities economically stronger and great places to live.”

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On Sunday, April 16, 2023, Street Thing Skate Jam was put on by Ghost Ship Supply Co and Mom’s Sweet Shop, another amazing local business, which attracted approximately 150 people participants and attendees throughout the day — and was enjoyed by all.

“Our goal for this event, as with all events and partnerships, is to create jam style experiences celebrating radical creative expression, building community, and giving back to great local causes,” said Ghost Ship Supply Co in a statement.

As 3 sick bands played at the edge of the street course, we held a judged jam styled session for a few hours where “Best Trick” and “Wildcard” winner were selected.Then skaters and spectators in attendance chose the “Crowd Favorite” recipient.

We also launched a new game, “Skate Roulette” to move the crowd, incorporating a spinner wheel laced with skate tricks informing a mass game of S-K-A- T-E for 25+ people. Street Thing Skate Jam benefitted the Beach Food Pantry, a community service. They provide a full array of groceries available to those in need, whether it’s on a temporary or ongoing basis.

Stop by and meet the amazing team of volunteers who are there to help keep our community fed!! We’re humbled by the donations, not just by every skate jam entrant but also the greater Outer Banks community. Overhaul was 335+ pounds of food donations providing a total of 279 meals!

Click the thumbnail below to access a photo gallery highlighting the event:

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James Hill is a ukulele virtuoso. Perhaps ukulele and virtuoso in the same sentence seems an oxymoron, but the best way to learn the truth of the statement is come to St. Andrews by the Sea Episcopal Church in Nags Head Nags Head, Sunday May 7 as the Bryan Cultural Series brings James Hill and the genius of his ukulele performance to the Outer Banks.  The performance will begin at 4:00 p.m.

Hill has been hooked on the instrument ever since he was introduced to it in the fourth grade in his childhood home of Langley, British Columbia. 

Since that early initiation into world of what is often considered a simple instrument to play, Hill has taken the ukulele to places few dare to go. He rocks out to Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin; jazz—he does that as well. Blues, of course. Even a touch of Michael Jackson and some country thrown in.

And he does it all with a wry and subtle sense of humor that puts the audience at ease and gets everyone ready to sit back and be amazed.

Brought to the Outer Banks by the Bryan Cultural Series, Hill’s musicianship and personality make this a perfect afternoon treat the whole family will enjoy. With his extraordinary repertoire of music and his ability to recreate just about any sound on his instrument, his performance is sure to have everyone leaving with a bounce in their step and a smile.

James Hill’s performance will be at St. Andrews by the Sea Episcopal Church in Nags Head on Sunday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for the event are $15.00 and are available at Gray’s Department Store, 3860 N. Croatan Highway; Kitty Hawk; Sea  Green Gallery, 2404 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head; Downtown Books, 105 Sir Walter Raleigh St., Manteo and Island Bookstore, Scarborough Faire Shops. 1177 Duck Road, Duck. Tickets may also be purchased online at Brown Paper Bag Tickets.

For more information about the Bryan Cultural Series and to find more information about the James Hill concert visit bryanculturalseries.org.

Towne Bank of Currituck, OBX Chevrolet Buick, Ramada Plaza Hotel of Kill Devil Hills, and Hilton Garden Inn of Kitty Hawk provide substantial support for this cultural offering of events.  

The Bryan Cultural Series is a non-profit organization formed in 2012.  The board of directors is composed of nine community leaders dedicated to offering a series of high-quality cultural events.  These events will include a variety of visual, literary, and performing arts.  The board strives to glean from the talent that has attained regional as well as national recognition to maintain a high standard.  

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Every two seconds of every day someone needs blood.  This lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation. A single donation can save more than one life. During April 2023, a total of 222 units of blood were collected from 230 generous Outer Banks Donors; 28 people were first time donors.

 “The need for blood is constant”. said Frank Spruill, Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador. “While 62% of the U.S. population can give blood, only about 3% donate. The actual blood donation takes about 10 – 12 minutes, and the entire process from arrival to departure is about one hour”. 

If you are healthy and feeling well, please schedule an appointment to donate  now. Appointments can be made by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767). 

Red Cross May Blood Drives 

• May 1
  • Manteo Baptist Church: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• May 10
  • Our Lady of the Seas, Buxton: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• May 24
  • First Flight High School, Kill Devil Hills: 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• May 26
  • Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• May 30
  • Pitts Center, Town of Southern Shores: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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Blues, jazz, rock n’ roll, pop, and bluegrass are just a few of the music genres visitors and residents of downtown Manteo can enjoy during The Courtyard Sessions: Live At Lunch at Dare Arts starting on Wednesday, May 10.

The Courtyard Sessions: Live At Lunch is a weekly event that will be held on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is free and open to everyone.

“With delicious eateries and unique shops, midday is a bustling time in historic downtown Manteo,” said Dare Arts Executive Director Jessica Sands. “Who doesn’t love hearing some live music while they shop and enjoy lunch? Our Courtyard is a great spot to take a break from shopping to enjoy a sweet treat or a coffee outside, and so we figured why not add some live music in there too! We are so excited to host The Courtyard Sessions: Live At Lunch, which features a great mix of our local musicians.”

The full schedule for The Courtyard Sessions: Live At Lunch is below:

• May 10: Doug Dino
• May 17: Tripp Harrison
• May 24: Vinny Blues Travelin’ Roadshow
• May 31: Bar Cats Duo
• June 7: Steve Hauser
• June 14: Sam On Sax
• June 21: Bill Rea
• June 28: Mary Joy McDaniel
• July 5: Julien McCarthy
• July 12: Mary Joy McDaniel
• July 19: Ruth Wyand
• July 26: Scott Franson
• August 2: Bill Rea
• August 9: Ruth Wyand
• August 19: Devin Frazier
• August 23: Steve Hauser
• August 30: Devin Frazier
• September 6: Rory Kelleher
• September 13: Julien McCarthy
• September 20: Sam On Sax
• September 27: Scott Sechman

“Armed with nothing more than a guitar to keep the tunes going, a harmonica for in between the melodies, and an unmistakable voice, I am a one-man band travelin’ roadshow,” said Kitty Hawk musician Vinny Blues. “Come take it easy with me and enjoy some ramblin’ gypsy outlaw tunes in The Courtyard on Wednesday, May 24.”

The Courtyard Sessions: Live At Lunch are sponsored by The Town of Manteo and TowneBank.

This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

For more information on The Courtyard Sessions: Live At Lunch, visit DareArts.org/courtyard. 

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The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources (DWR) reminds the public to avoid contact with discolored water as it may indicate the presence of an algal bloom, and to report any potential occurrences of blooms. DWR has already received six reports of potential blooms this spring. Of those, two were confirmed to contain cyanobacteria, a type of algae which can be harmful to people and pets.

Algae are a natural occurrence in all waterbodies, but certain environmental conditions can cause rapid cell growth called blooms. These conditions include increased nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), elevated temperatures (although blooms may occur year-round), increased sunlight, and low or no water flow. Algal blooms can appear as surface scums (which look like spilled paint and can be bright green, red, brown, or blue), algal mats (dense, macroscopic growths that float on the water surface) or discoloration throughout the water column. See examples of blooms here. Blooms tend to move due to wind and wave action. Decaying algae may produce a strong, foul odor that can impact a large area.

Certain algae can create toxins that lead to adverse health effects in humans, pets, and aquatic organisms. They are called Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). A test must be conducted to determine whether it is harmful algae.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health (DPH) routinely encourages the public to avoid contact with large accumulations of algae and to prevent children and pets from swimming or ingesting water in an algal bloom. Remember: when in doubt, stay out!

DPH suggests the following steps to safeguard against algal blooms:

• Keep children and pets away from water that appears bright green, blue, discolored, or scummy.
• Do not handle or touch large mats of algae.
• Avoid handling, cooking, or eating dead fish that may be present.
• If you come into contact with an algal bloom, wash thoroughly.
• Use clean water to rinse off pets that may have come into contact with an algal bloom.
• If your child appears ill after being in waters containing an algal bloom, seek medical care immediately.

If your pet appears to stumble, stagger, or collapse after being in a pond, lake, or river, seek veterinary care immediately.

DPH also reminds the public to take precautions as other microorganisms or pollution may be present in waterbodies that can lead to recreational water illness.

To report an algal bloom, contact the nearest DEQ regional office or submit a report online. To view reported algal bloom events, visit DWR’s Fish Kill & Algal Bloom Dashboard.

To learn more about algal blooms, visit the DWR website. For more information on the potential health effects from algal blooms, visit the DPH website.

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The Currituck County Board of Commissioners will meet in a work session at 4:00 PM on Monday, May 1, 2023, in the Board Meeting Room of the Historic Courthouse, 153 Courthouse Road, Currituck, North Carolina. Commissioners will discuss the following items:

• One-Acre Lots
• Text Amendments and Planning Timelines
• Mainland Calendar and Business Directory Proposals

Upon adjournment of the May 1, 2023, regular meeting, the Board of Commissioners will hold a work session to discuss the new Tulls Creek Elementary School.  The Work Session will be held at 6:00 PM, or as soon thereafter as reached, in the Board Meeting Room of the Historic Courthouse, 153 Courthouse Road, Currituck, North Carolina.

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 On the evening of April 17th, the staff of NC Cooperative Extension in Currituck County rolled out the red carpet and welcomed county commissioners, advisors and special guests to the Sanderlin Auditorium at the Currituck Extension Center.

The evening, dubbed the OSCERs (Official Special Celebration of Extension Report), featured refreshments sponsored by the Currituck Extension Foundation, various displays highlighting programs and activities, and an awards show celebrating the highlight accomplishments of 2022. 

The overarching theme of 2022 was an increase in both the number of classes offered to the public as well as the attendance and depth of participation in all educational programs. The program portion of the evening highlighted the most important accomplishments resulting from the more than 377 classes and consultations offered to the community in 2022.

Staff were recognized with superlative awards for their efforts in 4-H work, Family and Consumer Sciences programming, Agriculture efforts, Community Development work, and general program management which contributed to an overall economic impact of just over $1.3 million in Currituck in 2022.

NC Cooperative Extension has been providing services to improve agriculture, the environment, health and wellbeing, youth, and communities in Currituck for over 100 years. The complete 2022 report can be viewed at go.ncsu.edu/22currituckimpacts. Be sure to follow @CurrituckCES on social media for weekly program spotlights and lookbacks as well as upcoming event announcements and educational content. For more information about NC Cooperative Extension in Currituck contact Cameron Lowe at 252-232-2261 or Cameron_Lowe@ncsu.edu.

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Come clap, sway, and tap your feet to an evening of lively entertainment complete with refreshments included in your ticket price of $10.00.

Just Playing Dixieland is an eight-piece New Orleans style brass band playing traditional American Jazz. This performance is a one-night benefit concert at the Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse, 831 Herbert Perry Road, Kitty Hawk—located on the corner of Kitty Hawk and Herbert Perry Rds.—on Friday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. 

• The band features several highly talented OBX jazz musicians: 
• Paul Lesiewicz on saxophone
• Robert Jacobs on piano
• Larry Blake on trumpet 
• Marty Griffin on trumpet
• Art Cone on trumpet
• Dave Luckenbaugh on trombone
• Rich Meinhardt on trombone
• Matt Patuto on drums
• Doc Sawyer on tuba
• D’Andrea Foreman Hinkle on clarinet

Tickets are $10 per person and can be paid online in advance via credit card at https://uucob.org/concert/ or by cash or check only at the door. The concert will start promptly at 7:30 pm and is open to the public. 

To learn more about The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Outer Banks, visit: www.uucob.org

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Cucalorus and NC Aquariums are pleased to present the 12th annual Surfalorus Film Festival, a three-day event taking place this September 18-20, 2023 at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, NC.

Surfalorus takes place in conjunction with the Eastern Surf Championships and features the best surf movies of the year, some laid-back parties, and the best waves of the season. The festival has a history of bringing the work of surfing legends and noteworthy filmmakers to audiences in North Carolina.

The 12th annual Surfalorus Film Festival seeks new surf films celebrating the sport as well as our oceans and the bold, creative filmmakers who can bring these stories to life. The regular deadline to submit a film is April 28, 2023.  The final submission deadline is May 26, 2023.

Surfalorus Festival Director Zach Hanner said, “Surfalorus has evolved into a three day celebration of wave riding and surf culture and highlights the joy and elation we feel from watching someone score a massive barrel or from the mana (Hawaiian for “spiritual magic”) we take in through enjoying a special story from surfing’s history. Now that the festival runs concurrently with the ESA contest, the vibe at each screening is one of pure stoke. While our preferred environment is the water, gathering together in a dark room to watch surf movies creates a true feeling of community and the energy is palpable!”

One goal of the festival is to showcase the most talented surf filmmakers of our time. Alumni include: Isaac Halasima, Cyrus Sutton, Richaard Yelland, Nathan Oldfield, and a new wave of female surf filmmakers like Crystal Thornburg-Homcy, Devyn Bisson, Lauren Hill, Jess Lowcher, Leah Dawson and Jordyn Romero.

Surf film enthusiasts should start planning their vacation for this fall. For travel info, visit  http://www.surfalorus.com/travel/ or https://www.outerbanks.org/places-to-stay/.

Surfalorus accepts shorts, features, documentaries and any other surf inspired films by filmmakers of all backgrounds from around the globe. Submit films online at FilmFreeway.com/surfalorus. Final submission deadline is May 26, 2023. For additional questions, contact dan@cucalorus.org.

Surfalorus is presented by NC Aquariums and is organized through a premier collaboration between Dare County Arts Council and Wilmington, NC-based Cucalorus Film Festival, which will celebrate its 29th anniversary in November. Surfalorus is sponsored in part by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.

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