October 20, 2009

Cape Lookout Lighthouse will be repaired and re-opened to the public

To celebrate the ongoing commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Cape Lookout Lighthouse on the Core Banks of  North Carolina, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced last week that $487,000 will be provided for repairs to the tower.

After the repairs, which should be completed by next year, the National Park Service will  re-open the lighthouse to the public.

It was closed to the public in 2008.

“Standing 163 feet tall, Cape Lookout Lighthouse is one of the most recognized symbols of North Carolina as well as  a national treasure, but a cloud has hung over the structure because it has not been open to the public for more than a year,” Salazar said in a teleconference with Sen. Kay Hagan of North Carolina.  “Today I’m happy to announce that we will provide $487,000 for the repairs that will re-open the lighthouse, hopefully by the 2010 season.”

In his announcement, Salazar thanked North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr, Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan, and Republican Rep. Walter Jones.

“I am very pleased that Cape Lookout lighthouse has been awarded these funds,” Burr said.  “These much needed repairs will allow the lighthouse to re-open so that future generations of Americans will be able to enjoy this national treasure and fully appreciate its historical significance to our state.”

"For 150 years, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse has greeted visitors to the North Carolina coast and played a significant role in the state’s coastal economy.  Even today, the lighthouse helps guide ships into North Carolina ports and supports recreational boating along the Outer Banks,” said  Hagan. "Since coming to the Senate, I have worked toward securing the funds to restore the lighthouse. I am thrilled to join Secretary Salazar in announcing this federal funding to support its critical rehabilitation. The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is one of North Carolina's most beautiful tourist attractions, and an investment of this size will help boost the coastal economy. This funding will also help to ensure that future generations are able to experience firsthand the enduring legacy of North Carolina’s maritime heritage."

“I am very happy that the Cape Lookout Lighthouse will be repaired and reopened.  The lighthouse is a very important part of Eastern North Carolina heritage, and I look forward to a new generation of people who are able to take advantage of its history,” Jones said.

Located in Cape Lookout National Seashore, the lighthouse was first lit on Nov. 1, 1859.  The anniversary celebration kicked off on Oct. 10 at the seashore in a ceremony with 500 people including members of the public, the National Park Service, the Coast Guard, and descendants of lighthouse keepers.

Transferred from the Coast Guard to the National Park Service in 2003, the lighthouse continues to serve as an active aid to navigation.  Though operational, the lighthouse has been closed to the public since the spring of 2008 due to structural and safety problems.

The Secretary said the required safety and structural changes will include repairs and alterations of the cast-iron staircase, railings, landings and galleries. After the funding is provided, the Park Service will put the project out to bid.

For more information on The Cape Lookout Lighthouse, the Cape Lookout National Seashore, and the 150th anniversary celebration, go to http://www.nps.gov/calo/index.htm.

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October 20, 2009


October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The pink ribbon has become the symbol of hope for a cure for breast cancer and a reminder that breast cancer does not have to be fatal.

“Wearing a pink ribbon also reminds women that they need to get regular breast checkups,” said Melinda Beach, Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program Coordinator for the Dare County Department of Public Health (DCDPH).
 
All women should be conducting monthly breast self-examination, and should have a clinical breast exam as part of their yearly annual gynecological exam. Women, 40 years or older, should be sure to have a screening mammogram every one to two years. 

A mammogram can detect changes in breast tissue very early. With a mammogram, breast cancer can be found up to two years before it is felt. Breast changes occur in most women, but most of these changes are not caused by cancer.

Through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) and the generosity of the Outer Banks Hospital Community Benefits Foundation, the DCDPH provides free mammograms for eligible women. Women may qualify to get these tests at no cost if they are:

• between the ages of 40 and 64,
• not enrolled in Medicare Part B or Medicaid,
• have little or no health insurance to cover Mammograms and/or Pap tests, and
• meet certain household income guidelines.

   
For more information concerning breast cancer screenings and free or low cost breast examinations and mammograms, contact Melinda Beach at 475-5003.

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October 20, 2009

Information needed for Hatteras Island events calendar

Preparations are underway for a 2010 Hatteras Island events calendar.

The Hatteras-Ocracoke Council of the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce is undertaking the long-needed project. A council committee is now assembling information and art work for publication.

“So many great events happen on Hatteras Island,” said Rhonda Roughton, who is chairing the council calendar committee. “The calendar will let everyone know what’s going on throughout the year.”

The calendar will list events that are open, welcoming, and of interest to Hatteras Islanders and Outer Banks visitors and events sponsored by or benefiting Hatteras Island non-profit and public sector organizations.

The council committee has prepared an event listing form which is available on the Outer Banks Chamber website, www.outerbankschamber.com, or by calling John Griffin at (252) 987-2332 or e-mailing Griffin at griffijt@embarqmail.com.

Event information requested includes event title, date and time of event, a brief description including location, beneficiary organization if any, and contact information for the organization sponsoring the event. This event information can also be mailed to John Griffin, P.O. Box 382, Rodanthe, NC 27968.

The deadline for submitting information is Nov. 1.

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October 20, 2009



Steve Sink of Linwood, N.J., took this photo of a lone fisherman at sunset at Cape Point in November of last year.










Rebecca Arney of Polkville, N.C., and her family love to visit the Outer Banks.  They usually visit in September and usually stay on Ocracoke,  where this photo of the Ocracoke Lighthouse was taken on a stormy day last fall.







October 6, 2009