New Friends (Continued trom
principal and Debra as a school secretary. Steve is an enthusiastic fisherman, golfer, tennis player and, of course, a library Friend. Steve
proved his mettle and his strength when he transported what seemed liked tons of books for the April book sale.
Three Bogue Banks residents are nominated to the Friends Board of Directors each October for three-year terms and are introduced
at the January meeting of Friends. Vacancies on the board are filled with appointments by the executive board. Present members of the
Friends Board welcomed Steve at their annual luncheon honoring our librarians, Brita Flynn, Donna Freeman, and Andrew Porter, on
April 14, during National Library Week.
Assistance to Seniors
Still Available
Byjillian Hardin
Delegates of the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature
(STHL) have good news to report to the senior community.
During the first meeting of 2011, the group discussed Medicare
changes and financial assistance for low-income beneficiaries.
The new Director of the Senior Health Insurance Information
Program (SHIIP) Kevin Robertson, offered some encouraging
information for older adults with Medicare. The North Carolina
Department of Insurance has approximately 800 SHIPP volun
teers who answer questions and counsel Medicare beneficiaries
and caregivers. Medicare prescription drug plans and other heahh
insurance concerns. Robertson said that this year, “Baby Boom
ers are beginning to enroll in Medicare in North Carolina, and
during the next five years, we expect to offer assistance to more
than 700,000 older adults.” He went on to say that through the
Relay for Extra Help project, “low-income beneficiaries can apply
for NCRX, a state financial assistance program that helps low
income beneficiaries pay for prescription medications.” Regional
Area Agencies on Aging have partnered with Wal-Mart and local
pharmacies to assist older adults with applications. Other Medi
care changes include new Medicare Part D open enrollment dates.
Beginning this year, older adults can enroll in new prescription
drug plans between October 15 and December 7.
STHL members heard from Angie Dorsey, with Legal Aid of
North Carolina. Dorsey reported that “during this difficult eco
nomic time, older adults have a way of obtaining legal advice free
of charge. They can call the North Carolina Senior Legal Helpline”
for legal advice from attorneys, including “clarification of legal
issues and review of legal documents. Lawyers also write letters
and place telephone calls on seniors’ behalf and if they require
extensive services, refer them to a local legal aid provider.” The
North Carolina Senior Legal Helpline is available for adults aged
60 and older by calling the toll free number 877-579-7562 for
more information.
During the two-day meeting, STHL members heard from
various state leaders including a panel of advocates for the aging,
who encouraged each STHL member to talk to the older adults
within their communities to find out whats important to them.
The panel sounded a singular message: these are tough financial
times for all and the need for advocacy for seniors is more impor
tant than ever.
Dennis Streets, Director of the Division of Aging and Adult
Services, provided budget updates for three of the STHL’s top
legislative priorities. First, he reported Governor Perdue has
recommended that Project C.A.R-E (Caregiver Alternatives to
(Continued on page 4)
Beach News Notes
By Phyllis Makuck
Carteret County Shore Protection Reserve Fund. State
legislation passed in 2001 authorized a 50/50 (now 40/60) split
of county occupancy tax revenues between the county’s Shore
Protection Office and Tourism Development Authority (TDA).
That same legislation capped Shore Protection reserves at $15
million. Reporting on the March 28 Carteret County Beach Com
mission meeting. News-T/mes’reporter Bren Tataragasi indicated
that once the cap is reached, all “idle” funds will go to the TDA.
Since federal and state funds are being cut, the Beach Commis
sion wants Shore Protection reserves to grow beyond $15 million.
If legislative efforts do not achieve that end, it may be possible to
give money directly to towns for beach nourishment purposes,
which would be in keeping with the terms of the original legisla
tion and would keep the Shore Protection Office reserves below
the current cap.
Local Nourishment Efforts. News-Times reporter Eren
Tataragasi also reported on an issue concerning the agreement
to use dredged sand from Morehead Harbor to nourish Bogue
Banks beaches. The National Park Service has requested some of
the sand go to Shackleford Banks. Since the Park Service did not
initially seem interested in the project, Shore Protection Office
Manager Gregory “Rudi” Rudolph is hoping this issue can be
resolved.
Army Corps of Engineers’ Dredging Projects, Given pres
sures for deficit reduction, funding for Army Corps dredging
projects is shaky. At particular risk are shallow-draft waterways
such as Bogue Inlet, Beaufort Bulkhead Channel and the Intra
coastal Waterway since deep-draft harbors take priority. Speaking
of Bogue Inlet, Rudolph indicated that there are carryover federal,
state and local funds totaling about $209,000 that “will likely get
us through the summer/fall of 2011,” but funding for fiscal year
2011-12, which begins October 1, will require congressional ac
tion.
Property Insurance Proposals. Proposed legislation in both
houses of the state legislature could have a major effect on prop
erty insurance for coastal regions. A senate bill proposed by Sen.
Thom Goolsby, New Hanover County, would create a new board
to review rates. A house bill sponsored by Carteret and Jones
County Rep. Pat McElraft and several others would create a joint
legislative commission that would study the possibility of replac
ing the current beach plan with a “catastrophic fund” and conduct
a comprehensive review of current plans and rate schedules. In
the meantime, the N.C. Rate Commission has scheduled a public
hearing on the recent proposed increase of rates for non-hom
eowner dwellings. That hearing will be held on June 21.
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