Month: May 2023

As part of Hurricane Preparedness Week, Governor Roy Cooper is urging North Carolinians to learn about and prepare for the dangers of severe tropical weather in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

“Severe tropical weather can have devastating impacts on communities across the state and the best way to prepare is by having a family emergency plan and kit,” Governor Cooper said. “These small steps now can bring big relief for people trying to stay safe during a storm and recover more quickly after it’s over.”

“Part of being prepared includes practicing what is in your emergency plan, so that everyone in your household is comfortable with their role in the plan,” said North Carolina Emergency Management Director, Will Ray.

The plan should include details on how and where you would evacuate, a meeting place, and important phone numbers. Everyone should have an evacuation plan to stay with family or friends, or at a hotel outside the affected area. Staying at a public shelter should be a last resort, not your primary plan. Offer to share your home as a shelter location for family or friends from coastal or flood prone areas.

Be sure to write down your plan and gather important documents, such as copy of driver’s license, insurance policies, medical records, and bank account information, and put them somewhere you can quickly access in case of emergency. In addition to practicing your emergency plan, the Governor encourages North Carolina residents to have flood insurance, which is not normally part of homeowner’s insurance policies. Residents should also review and update homeowners or renters’ insurance policies to ensure they are current and include adequate coverage for their current situation.

Governor Cooper also emphasizes that all North Carolinians should be looking out for one another by checking on their neighbors, especially the elderly who may be more vulnerable.

Having an emergency kit allows people to survive for a few days with little or no outside assistance. Assemble an emergency supplies kit that includes enough non-perishable food and water to last each family member three to seven days. Other essential items include:

• First-aid kit
• Weather radio and batteries
• Prescription medicines
• Sleeping bag or blankets
• Changes of clothes
• Hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant
• Cash
• Pet supplies including food, water, bedding, leashes, muzzle and vaccination records
• Face masks and hand-sanitizer

Residents should pay attention to weather and evacuation information from local news media and have a battery-powered radio in case there is a power outage. If asked to evacuate, residents should promptly follow evacuation instructions.

To help mitigate damage to your home from severe weather, people can take common sense measures such as trimming trees, covering windows, securing loose outdoor items before severe weather strikes.

North Carolina continues to recover from the devastating effects of multiple large storms including Hurricane Ian, which brought wind, rain, isolated tornadoes and power outages to North Carolina. Tropical Storm Fred caused devastation and six deaths in Western North Carolina two years ago. In 2020 Hurricane Isaias and the remnants of Hurricane Eta pummeled parts of the state; as did Hurricane Dorian in 2019; Hurricane Florence, Tropical Storms Michael and Alberto in 2018; and Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

More information on emergency planning, preparedness and hurricanes is online at ReadyNC.gov.

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Team members of Ranger Challenge, the “varsity sport” of the Army ROTC program at Virginia Military Institute, placed fifth, winning a Sandhurst Medallion for the top five overall teams out of 48 teams in the annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point April 28 and 29. 

During the two-day competition, VMI competed against teams from USMA, the Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy, as well as Army ROTC units across the United States including Texas A&M, Notre Dame University, North Carolina State University, Liberty University, and the University of Central Florida. In addition, 14 international teams competed including the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in Great Britain, as well as teams from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Korea, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Poland, Thailand, and Sweden.

While it is called the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition after the RMAS, the annual competition has always been held at West Point. Sandhurst was started in 1967 when RMAS presented West Point with a British officer’s sword to use as the prize for a competition to promote military excellence. It wasn’t until 1975 that the competition began to resemble its current form with teams taking part in different challenges to test their military skills. Sandhurst was only an internal West Point competition until 1992 when ROTC teams began competing, and in 1993 RMAS began taking part annually. The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC-Canada) joined in 1997 and since 2002 the competition has featured a diverse group of international teams as well as the Naval, Coast Guard and Air Force academies and ROTC teams from across the country.

After fighting through two days of obstacles including weapons disassembly/assembly, grenade assault, gas mask function, rifle and pistol shooting, programing a radio, carrying a casualty, land navigation, and lugging their minimum 35-pound rucks for approximately 30 miles, the winner is chosen based on performance at each of the obstacles as well as the speed with which they complete them.

USMA Black was the winning team, (one of the 14 teams from West Point) and was awarded the Reginald E. Johnson Memorial Plaque, named for a Sandhurst competitor who died during the land navigation phase in 1980. Although it is called a plaque, the award follows the initial tradition of the competition and is a mounted cadet saber. The saber has been used as the award since 1999. USMA Gold, the Air Force Academy, and Texas A&M placed second, third, and fourth respectively.

VMI squad leader, Collin Fitzpatrick ’23, a history major from Duck, North Carolina, assigned tasks to his team members. “Everyone on the team was well rounded in their training and prepared to handle any military task asked of them. We trained hard through early mornings and late nights for this competition, and I’m very proud of our performance. I cannot wait to see the team that the new leadership will build next season,” he said.

According to Maj. Cory Weiss, assistant professor of military science / operations officer, officer in charge and head coach for them, the team was named champions of the 1^st Brigade Army ROTC Ranger Challenge last October, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, which qualified them to compete at Sandhurst. “This is the first time VMI has been to Sandhurst since 2019, and at that time they placed 26^th overall. Sandhurst is both physically and mentally demanding, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team. Fifth place at Sandhurst is a monumental accomplishment. It is the most difficult competition in the world for cadets,” stated Weiss.

Try outs for the Ranger Challenge team at VMI are held each fall and spring.

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The 2023 North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards were presented to three Dare County residents at the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 1, 2023.

Each year, the Governor of North Carolina recognizes individuals and groups of people who have made a significant contribution to their community through their dedication to volunteer service.

Nominations are submitted to the governor’s office for the various types of volunteers (senior, youth, faith-based, family, group and business), as well as for various categories that are based upon the area of service a nominee volunteers within (animal, environmental, preservation, youth, disaster, etc.).

Once award coordinators for the 100 counties around the state have submitted their top 10 volunteer nominations for their individual county, these recommendations are reviewed by the commission, and awards are given out in each of the counties.

Dare County’s winners of the 2023 North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards are as follows:

Kaye White, who was nominated by Taylor McConnell, received a 2023 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for her work as a volunteer for the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Paula Donaghy, who was nominated for the award by Cady Breslin, received a 2023 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for her work as a volunteer for the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Patricia “Patti” Bourexis, who was nominated by Mary Ann Williams and Kathleen Brehony, Ph.D., received the prestigious North Carolina Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service for her work as a volunteer for the Coastal Humane Society.

The North Carolina Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service—which is North Carolina’s highest volunteer honor—was implemented in 2006 and is held in conjunction with the North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards each year. The award is designed to recognize the top 20-25 volunteers within the entire state, and Bourexis was one of only 25 recipients of the prestigious award for 2023.

For more detailed information about each of Dare County’s 2023 award recipients and their dedication to the community through their volunteer service, please click here.

Any individual, group or business from the public, the nonprofit sector or the private sector can be nominated for the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award.

If you know an individual or a group of people who have given substantial amounts of their time and talent to help others in the Dare County community, be sure to submit an application for the 2024 North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards when nominations open later this year.

For more information about the North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards, please contact Shannon Glaser at 252-475-5753 or Shannon.Glaser@DareNC.gov.

 

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Are you searching for a new career? Make arrangements to join to Currituck County Schools for a career fair on Friday, May 5, 2023, at J.P. Knapp Early College High School.

From 2 to 6 p.m., attendees will learn about the vast career opportunities offered across the expanding district, participate in on-site interviews, complete applications, and see why Currituck County Schools is a great place to work and grow.

For more information, call 252-232-2223, or visit www.currituck.k12.nc.us. You can also scan the QR code on the flyer below using your smart phone’s camera.

J.P. Knapp Early College High School is located at 2966 Caratoke Highway in Currituck.

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Celebrate the First Friday of May on Friday, May 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Downtown Manteo.

Dare Arts will be hosting the opening reception for Cathy Mendola’s Fiber Art Exhibit and they will have The Saakuma Dance Troupe performing in The Courtyard.

There will be live music all over downtown Manteo, including Morgan Creek Bluegrass at Magnolia Pavilion, Steve Hauser at Old Tom Street, Toolan & Evans at NouVines, Olivia Maramenides at Poor Richards, Bill Rea at 1587, and “Uncle Jack” Waddell at Lost Colony Tavern.

The First Friday Manteo Stroll featuring specials, celebrations and more inside Manteo restaurants and shops is also happening. First Friday is a free, family-friendly event.

For more information on First Friday, visit darearts.org.

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The Outer Banks SPCA Pet of the Week is Talon.

Talon was surrendered to the shelter at no fault of his own. He is super playful and loves everyone. This spunky boy would make a great addition to any family looking to take on a seven-month-old pup!

To adopt Talon or any of the other shelter animals, visit the Outer Banks SPCA Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., or give them a call at 252-475-5620.

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The North Carolina Department of Commerce has awarded four special workforce training grants totaling more than $1.6 million to North Carolina nonprofit organizations, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are supporting this state initiative, called the “ARPA Business Work-Based Learning Grant” program.

“Helping businesses train their workers and strengthen their pipeline of talent is critical to meeting the needs of our changing economy,” Governor Cooper said. “Workforce investments like these grants will support not only the small businesses that are so important to our communities, but also the diverse North Carolinians who will be able to succeed in good jobs at these companies.”

Those awarded grants include:

• North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) Foundation: A $1 million grant will provide wage reimbursements and wrap-around services for trainees, to complement a hospitality workforce training program supported by other grant funds. While the grant can serve the entire state, the NCRLA Foundation will prioritize outreach efforts to businesses located in North Carolina’s rural and underserved Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties as well as Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)-certified and minority/female/veteran-owned businesses.
• Carolinas Associated General Contractors (CAGC) Foundation (serving Alamance, Forsyth and Guilford counties): A $350,000 grant will help CAGC develop a training and work-based learning program in skilled trades related to construction. The program will include placing “construction bootcamp” trainees in temporary positions with small construction businesses, while also supporting minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged businesses in a “business academy” program to expand their capacity and their talent pipeline.
• AB Community, d/b/a Knox St. Studios (serving Forsyth and Guilford counties): A $300,000 grant will provide work-based learning and leadership/entrepreneurship training opportunities to small businesses in underserved communities. On their program, Knox St. Studios will partner with RTriad, an information technology services and training company, and Access Center for Equity & Success, another nonprofit organization focused on the construction industry.
• Cloth and Surf for Youth (serving Scotland, Duplin and Dare counties): A $10,000 grant will support a partnership with one or more small Historically Underutilized Businesses in the aviation services industry to provide training that leads to a federally-required aviation certification.

“One strategy in our First in Talent economic development plan is to bolster a robust small business recovery in a way that includes rural communities, as well as women- and minority-owned firms,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “That’s exactly what these innovative grants aim to do. Our Division of Workforce Solutions and our local workforce development boards are eager to assist and to collaborate with the organizations receiving grants, to help small businesses meet their talent needs through work-based learning, in important fields like hospitality, construction and aviation.”

The source of funding for these grants is the State Fiscal Recovery Fund (SFRF), a component of the American Rescue Plan Act which provided $5.4 billion to North Carolina to help turn the tide on the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery. The N.C. General Assembly appropriated the SFRF in the 2021 Appropriations Act (Session Law 2021-180).

In November 2022, the Department of Commerce awarded grants to 11 local workforce development boards from the same funding source.

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Two Dare County employees, Tim White and Josef Vesely, were recognized with a service pin presentation at the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 1, 2023.

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The Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF) is pleased to announce a new endowment to support Outer Banks youth and other causes has been established by Thai Room Restaurant owners Scott and Lakkana (Pai) Ngeonjuklin. The Tawan Endowment for the Outer Banks was created with a preference to support local programs that provide better futures for disadvantaged children, including those that provide support for academic achievement for students faced with adversity. 

“Tawan!” means ‘sunshine’ in Thai,” said Scott, “and we are both excited and humbled to be able to begin this new endowment to contribute back to the community.” The new Tawan Endowment for the Outer Banks will primarily support local charities that help children to persevere and rise above challenges or adversity. As a donor-advised fund, all grants made from the fund will be recommended by the Ngeonjuklins. 

“The Thai Room and Scott and Pai’s family story are such a wonderful part of Outer Banks culture,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Chris Sawin. “Each of us at the Community Foundation are grateful for the opportunity to help them put something back.”

 Endowment funds have been created over the years by individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits, civic groups, and government agencies for causes they are passionate about. Funds can be created to memorialize loved ones, support a favorite issue or charity, provide scholarships, and more. The first step is to visit https://obcf.org/giving/create-a-fund/or call the Community Foundation at 252-261-8839. The Community Foundation holds more than 200 endowments for the Outer Banks; anyone can learn about or donate to any of these existing funds online at www.obcf.org/donate.

Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization that inspires philanthropy and connects people who care with causes that matter. The Community Foundation manages more than 200 charitable funds for individuals and agencies, including 66 scholarship programs; awards grants to nonprofits; and provides tailored services to help donors pursue their charitable interests. Since its inception in 1982, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $13 million in grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and students.  

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