From CoastalReview.org The hundreds of cold-stunned sea turtles that washed ashore after temperatures fell earlier this month on the Outer Banks have been given a second chance. Over the last few weeks, staff at the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation, or STAR, Center at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island have been caring for [...] Island Features |  Full Article

These days, the month of December is celebrated as a holiday season. In the early days of the United States Life-Saving Service (1871-1915), however, it was part of the “storm season” when the Life-Saving stations were operational and active. These few months produced an enormous number of storms, mostly nor’easters. They were just as dangerous [...] Island Features |  Full Article

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station (CLSS) is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, as one of the seven original Life-Saving Stations to be built in North Carolina in 1874. As such, the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station and Historic Site in Rodanthe will be sharing stories about the seven 1874 Outer Banks stations until the end of 2024, to celebrate and mark this [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Photos by Don Bowers Hatteras Islanders are clearly in the holiday spirit, as evident by the number of lights and displays at local residences, businesses, and everything in between. Island Free Press Photographer Don Bowers took a tour of the island this past week to collect a sample of these eye-catching displays, and from Hatteras [...] Island Features |  Full Article

A recent major renovation that has transformed the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum into a cutting-edge destination that explores the state’s rich maritime history is being recognized nationally. The Hatteras museum, part of the North Carolina Maritime Museum System under the state’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, has been nominated for Best New Museum [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Hyde County, which includes Ocracoke Island, has joined other North Carolina counties participating in the America 250 NC program. The program marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of America’s Declaration of Independence and will be celebrated nationally as well. The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission is a nonpartisan organization that was established by the U.S. Congress [...] Island Features |  Full Article

The first-ever Shuck Hatteras Festival, held in mid-December 2022, attracted around 500 oyster fans. The second 2023 edition, also held in the sleepy month of December, had more than 1,000 attendees and ended up being one of the biggest Rodanthe events of the year. Riding a wave of success and growing popularity, the festival is [...] Island Features |  Full Article

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island has rehabilitated and released 399 sea turtles with the aid of several long-standing community partnerships on the Outer Banks. The turtles were initially brought to the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center at the Aquarium because of cold-stunning, a hypothermia-like condition that occurs when the water temperature drops quickly [...] Island Features |  Full Article

The Avon Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) is hosting a community dinner on Wednesday, December 18, at 6:00 p.m. at the Avon Fire Station on Harbor Road. The seasonal community dinner is an old tradition for the Avon Fire Department that has been dormant for quite a few years, according to Chief Frank Hopkins. However, the [...] Island Features |  Full Article