Pine Knoll Shores
/,
By Michelle Powers
The Pine Knoll Shores Womens Club welcomed Glenda Riggs, Director of
Carteret County Domestic Violence Program, Inc. Center for Non-Violence,
to its October meeting. It was a perfect time for the club to reaffirm its ongoing
commitment to the Domestic Violence Program as October was Domestic
Violence Awareness month. The Domestic Violence Program has been a major
charity for the club, going back many years. In 1999 the Womens Club designed
and decorated the childrens playroom at the domestic violence safe house, and
club members were excited to learn that construction of a much-needed new
and expanded shelter facility is underway in Morehead City, with an anticipated
opening in April 2019.
Glenda Riggs with the Carteret County Domestic Violence Program at
a recent meeting of the Pine Knoll Shores Women’s Club
—Photo by Etaine Tempel
Ms. Riggs explained the many reasons so many abused individuals—both men
and women—don’t leave their abusers. Breaking the cycle of abuse takes time and
courage; many victims have no family support, few of their own resources, and fear
the consequences. She pointed out that “love doesn’t die because it hurts.” Many put
their lives at risk to “hold onto the dream of a loving relationship for themselves
and their children.” They have been isolated and degraded by their abusers and
have endured physical and mental injuries. She pointed out that typically victims
of abuse will leave seven times before they finally get away. The trained staff at the
Domestic Violence Center provides help and support to victims as long as it is
needed. They understand the psychology of abuse and don’t give up on a victim
despite the victim’s inability to easily break away from the abusive relationship.
The center offers a myriad of services and maintains a 24-hour crisis line, a safe
house, support groups, a food pantry, personal and resource counseling, child
advocacy, hospital and mental health advocacy as well as court advocacy. The
Domestic Violence Program is there to help victims every step of the way with
compassion and resources. For more information, visit carteretdomesticviolence.
com or contact the program by phone at 726-2336—or for emergency assistance,
call 728-3788 or dial 911. This Christmas, when buying gifts for family and friends,
think of those who might be suffering domestic abuse and consider a donation to
the Carteret County Domestic Violence Program.
The Shoreline I December 2018
During this holiday season the Women’s Club thanked the Pine Knoll Shores
town staffby providing them with a Thanksgiving feast at town hall on November
16. Adding to a turkey prepared by Town Manager Brian Kramer and wife Tricia,
the club members provided side dishes, desserts and beverages to thank the town
staff for their dedication to the Pine Knoll Shores community during Hurricane
Florence and its aftermath.
December 7 will be the club’s final get-together for 2018, with a holiday
celebration for club members and their guests at The Country Club of the Crystal
Coast. The Pine Knoll Shores Women’s Club wishes everyone a happy holiday
and looks forward to seeing old and new members at the first meeting of 2019 on
January 25 at the Pine Knoll Shores town haU at 9:30 a.m. Start the new year off
right by attending the meeting and joining your neighbors—and if you are new in
town, consider becoming a member. Guests are always welcome at meetings.
nhvfori Mem
By Ken Jones
Thank you for another great year
We are all still in recovery mode as our year nears the end. I want to take this '■
opportunity to thank you all for your valuable support allyeaf.-' Palways appreciate “
your comments and input, and this year was no exception. The best part of this '
year was the comments I got all along about the folks who work for our town; they
are the glue that holds our team together.
As I am writing this. I’m thinking of the most grass-roots event in our town: the
Halloween trick-or-treat event held every year at Brock Basin. The parents that
arrange this year after year do a great job, and I wanted to make sure they know ’’
how appreciative we all are. See pictures from this year’s event on the Town Crier ’’
pages.
To celebrate this time of year we have our annual flotilla on December 8 at
5:30 p.m. at McNeill Park, our volunteer and staff Christmas Party at town hall on
December 14 from to 5 to 7 p.m., our Christmas Parade on December 15 at
10 a.m, at Garner Park, and our Carol Sing on December 16 at Garner Park at
4:45 p.m. I look forward to seeing all of you at these events.
An idea we are working on for the coming year is our need to replant trees.
We are going to have a campaign (2019—The Year of the Tree) to encourage the
planting of trees that are indigenous to our area that are strong and have a good
root system. We’re not talking about sticks, but ball-and-burlap sized trees. The
long-term benefits of this effort will be less flooding and less wind damage. I look
forward to working together with you on this project.
Our first quarter 2019 Dinner with the Mayor will be held in February. Every
year I have four dinners, and our first quarter one is an “away game” where
we have a concentration of second-home owners. This is part of my #1 goal:
communication. We have held this event in the Raleigh area several times, and
for our summer event, we usually shoot for a Saturday night to give weekenders
a better chance to come. Our agenda is pretty much the same at all four dinners:
introductions, ordering food, and catching up on town business with two-way
communication. I always have a great time, and others who attend seem to enjoy it
very much as well.
Folks who move here to live year round find out just how special this town is.
The reason the town is special is because the people are special. Get involved, join
a board, be part of our team by helping make your town the best place to live. We
have room for every volunteer to join our town’s team.
I wish you a Holy Advent, a joyous Christmas, or perhaps a Happy Hanukah,
and all the best to each of you for a healthy and successful 2019, One Team, One
Town, One Pine KnoU Shores.