Did you see The Charlotte Observer article last week about the rise in sea level making the N.C. coast unrecognizable over the next century? At least 10 people have emailed it to me. * The article said that water is rising three times faster on the N.C. coast than it did a century ago. If sea level continues to rise at this rate, water will rise at least 1 meter by 2100. Currently, about 2,000 square miles of our coast are 1 meter or less above water. * "Few places in the United States stand to be more transformed" than the North Carolina coast, the article says, along with this: "The Outer Banks, some scientists predict, could disintegrate into a string of high spots - Avon, Buxton, Ocracoke - reachable only by boat."...
Believe it or not, I'm not saying this to be a downer and make you lie in bed at night worrying about your property values (although I guess that's a valid concern over the next 90 years). I'm saying this because it is evidence that we have to appreciate all of our days here and enjoy every minute we have on these strips of sand. We all know these sandbars won't last forever, right? Even if people spend millions to pump sand on the beaches, Mother Ocean is going to swallow these islands in the end...
I'm not going to be here in 2100, but my children could be. I picture them as those old people who were forced inland (like the last residents of Portsmouth Island who finally had to move to Beaufort), sitting in a rocking chair on a porch in Raleigh telling some reporter about what it was like to grow up on the now-disappeared Outer Banks. No matter what happens, we'll all have our memories. Let's not take this place for granted...
So, while the islands are still intact, what is happening upon them this on this fair winter week?...
The Outer Banks Hospital's Flights of Fancy Gala "Treasures of the Nile" is being held on Saturday night at the Wright Brothers Memorial Pavilion. Proceeds benefit the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases on the Outer Banks. Call (252) 449-9184 early in the week if you still want to try to get tickets...
Always a bright spot of an Outer Banks winter is the Frank Stick Memorial Art Show, in which dozens of local artists enter a work of art to be judged by two visiting artists. It's always held at Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head, and this year marks the 33rd annual event. The artists enter a variety of works - paintings, photography, ceramics, sculpture - and this year there's a fiber arts category as well. The opening reception, this Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m., is a local who's who in the art world and it's a lot of fun. If you can't make the reception on Saturday, the show will be open to the public from Sunday, January 30 through February 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Be sure to vote for the People's Choice Award...
Meanwhile, over at the Dare County Arts Council Gallery in downtown Manteo, the January show, SURFACE, continues through January 31 (Monday). It's a combined show of seven artists (Katy Caroline, Cammie Hall, Lindsay Neilson, Kinga Rojek, Louise Sanderlin, Mary John Slaughter and Mary Wickre), and it's a good one. Don't miss it. * While you're over there in Manteo, do a little shopping, have dinner out and hit the Pioneer Theatre at 8 p.m. True Grit is playing this week...
History buffs will enjoy the Kinnakeet History Potluck Dinner on Friday at 6 p.m. at the Avon Fire Station. Bring a potluck side dish or dessert to share, enjoy a great meal, then hear some of the stories about the history of Kinnakeet. Call (252) 995-5651 for information...
If cabin fever is getting to you, you've got some nightlife options. Kelly's has karaoke on Monday, open mic on Wednesday, martinis and manicures on Thursday and Borderline Crazy on Friday and Saturday. Ocean Boulevard has Wet Bedty on Friday night.
Several self-improvement courses are coming up this week:
The Mind-Body-Spirit Rejuvenation Yoga Retreat is being held at a cottage in Duck from Friday night through Sunday morning. You can drop in or attend the whole weekend. It's a weekend of yoga, journaling, learning to connect with Source and much more. Call Michelle Dorer at (252) 202-0345 for information...
With substance abuse the Number 1 health issue in Dare County, the Dare County League of Women Voters is hosting a program called Substance Abuse and Recovery Support Systems on Thursday night from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kill Devil Hills Town Hall. The public is invited, and it's free. Representatives from New Horizons, Dare CASA, Dare Challenge and Oxford House will present a varied program explaining the support options for those facing substance abuse issues...
For businesses, on Wednesday, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce is hosting a seminar called E-Mail Marketing Tips and Tricks at the Comfort Inn Oceanfront in KDH. You'll learn how to build relationships, reduce email size, dodge spam filters, about signatures and other marketing tips. Cost is $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers. Call (252) 441-8144...
For parents, the Children and Youth Partnership's Family Fun Night Workshop "Help, My Child Won't Listen" is being held at the Fessenden Center in Buxton on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. Call (252) 441-0614 for info...
For preteens and teens, the American Red Cross Babysitter Training Course is being held at the Outer Banks Family YMCA on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The course provides kids ages 11 to 15 with the information and skill necessary to provide safe and responsible care for children. Call (252) 449-8897 to register...
So, there you have it: Opportunities for fund-raising, art, history, self-improvement and just plain old fun. The Outer Banks are alive and well - for now - so get out there and enjoy them!!!
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
