bhoreline
Third Annual PKS Pickleball Tournament
See page 4
Cookout with the Cops
See page 15
Reflective address signs available in PKS
See page 24
Vol. 14, No. 3
A Shoreline Community, Pine Knoll Shores, N.C.
March 2019
Smoke Alarms Save Lives
By Chief Jason Baker
. Pine Knoll Shores Fire Department
Smoke alarms that are working properly can save lives, yet they are often
forgotten hy homeowners once they are installed—unless there is a cooking mishap
that causes them to go off or they beep when the battery needs to be changed. If you
do not ensure on a regular basis that your smoke alarms are in good working order,
you run a substantially higher risk of dying in your house should a fire occur. It is
wise to get into the practice of changing the batteries in your smoke alarms when
the time changes for Daylight Saving Time in the spring and again when it changes
back to Standard Time in the fall. Daylight Saving Time begins on March 10 this
year; replace the batteries in your alarms and check that they are working—and
plan to change them again on November 3 when we go back to Standard Time.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says that three of every five fire
fatalities in homes are due to the lack of operational smoke detectors. Smoke alarms
are one of the most economical items you can purchase for the peace of mind (and
safety) they provide in your home.
While it is essential that you have an escape plan to get out of your home in the
event of an emergency (and a place to meet outside so you can be sure everyone is
out), the hard truth is that you may never get to implement that escape plan.
Smoke is the “product of combustion,” as we call it in the fire service..The main
problem lies in what is being burned and what toxic smoke may be produced.
Think of your couch. If it catches fire, the smoke produced is toxic; when the
cloth and foam burn, carbon monoxide and, even worse, hydrogen cyanide are
produced. This toxic smoke will overtake you quickly: a couple of breaths of it and
you are dizzy and disoriented, but may be able to stiU attempt an escape. A couple
more breaths and you will be disabled on the floor. This scary scenario could have
been avoided with an early warning from a properly working smoke alarm. A few
additional tips to get the most out of your smoke alarms;
Correct placement is key. Smoke alarms should be placed on the ceiling at least
four inches from the wall. One should be placed in each bedroom and also outside
the bedroom. If your bedrooms are grouped together, you may be able to use a
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P
m AM
The Pin^KtKill Shores Radio Station broadca
with weather and emergency j
EMERGENCY-CALL 911
ECC 726-1911 • PUBLIC SAFETY 247-2474
MEET YOUR TOWN STAFF
Erica Reed, Finance
and Tax Technician
byjacquie Pipkin
Erica Reed began serving as Pine Knoll Shores’ Finance and Tax Technician, also
known as the Tax Collector, on December 27. While Erica may be new to town hall,
she is not new to Pine Knoll Shores. She moved from Chicago with her husband,
Pine Knoll Shores Police Officer Blair Reed, and son, Dillon, in 2014. The Reeds
wanted Dillon raised in the “yes ma’am, no ma’am” southern style.
In 2013 when the opportunity arose to purchase the Pine Knoll Shores home
originally built and owned by Blair’s grandfather, they saw it as a sign and seized the
opportunity. Erica echoes the sentiments of her husband in a previous interview:
“they never turned back and have no regrets.” Pine Knoll Shores has lived up to its
promise to provide a family-oriented, gentler-life community in which to live and
raise a family.
Erica’s definition of family is all-encompassing. She refers to the staff at town
hall as family, including members of the Department of Public Safety; a sentiment
repeated to me by many whom ! have interviewed for this series. Her idea of family
is further expanded to include the entire town of Pine Knoll Shores. Her goal is to
be an active, participating member and service provider to all of her families in this
“amazing town.”
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NC ARBOR DAY: MARCH 22
Tree City USA: 19 Years
by Sarah Williams
The Town of Pine Knoll Shores has succeeded, for the 19th year in a row, in being
recognized as a Tree City USA.
Pine Knoll Shores has always appreciated our trees and celebrated being a Tree
City community. Still dealing with the after-effects of Hurricane Florence, the Com
munity Appearance Commission (CAC) wanted to make sure that they celebrated
2019: Year of the Tree during the towns annual Arbor Day Celebration, to be held
March 22 at noon at town hall. After the ceremony, three-gallon trees that were
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Atlanflc Beach, NC 28512