Bird's Eye View for January 3, 2011

Elizabeth Vaughn>> Happy New Year! And, welcome to the January 3rd, 2011 edition of the Bird’s
Eye View – our first show of the New Year. I am your host Elizabeth Vaughn.
[pause] We've already seen what winter storms can
do to our area, but it’s never too late to start preparing for the next one. Currituck
County officials advise residents to pay attention to a variety of winter-weather related topics
and to be prepared well ahead of time in the event a winter storm hits our area again.
Some of the important topics you should learn about include recognizing a winter storm forecast,
dressing properly for outdoor safety, preparing your home, automobile and pets for cold weather,
traveling in winter conditions and understanding the dangers of winter storms and wind chill.
You can easily find winter weather safety information on the Currituck County website,
currituckgovernment.com. And be sure to stay tuned to local access channels and other county
media to stay up to date on any closings or emergency information.
[pause]   If you find yourself staying calm, cool and
collected during emergency situations, you might just be the type of person to join the
Community Emergency Response Team. Citizens who join this team are called on during emergency
situations to take care of not only themselves, but their family and their neighbors. To be
a member, you will go through 21 hours of hands-on training and you’ll participate
in drills and exercises conducted by Currituck Emergency Management and local fire stations.
Once you're on the team, you will be on a team of citizens depended upon to give immediate
first aid assistance, to do damage assessments and to organize other volunteers at disaster
sites and during emergency situations. To sign up, contact Currituck Emergency Management
at 232-2115. [pause]
Training classes for the 2011 Master Gardener Volunteer Program begin this month. On Tuesday
January 18 from 1:00 to 4:00 join other garden enthusiasts for the introductory course that
kicks off the 13 week program. Attendees will get a variety of horticultural training including
plant identification, organic gardening, landscape design and so much more. Fee for the courses
is $95. To get an application to register, contact the cooperative extension at 232-2262
or visit their website at currituck.ces.ncsu.edu. [pause]  
On Saturday, January 15th starting at 10:00 a.m. join members of the cooperative extension
for a class on composting. You’ll learn all the different aspects of composing. It’s
a great class for beginners and also for those who are already composing on a small or large
scale. Pre-registration is required. Contact the cooperative extension to sign up at 232-2262
[pause]   If you’re looking to fulfill some of those
New Year’s resolutions, there are several activities offered by the Department of Parks
and Recreation that might make that a little bit easier. In January and February, improve
your flexibility, build muscle and ease your mind with yoga. Classes will be offered twice
a week, on Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:45 at the Currituck Senior Center. You
have to bring an exercise mat, yoga straps and a block. You must register for this class
and there is a $25 fee. To register, go online or call the Parks and Recreation Department
at 232-3007. [pause]  
If you're looking to get your child more active, spring soccer sign-ups are here. Registration
for youth soccer is going on now through January 29th . Kids ages 5 to 12 can join. There will
also be an onsite registration on January 29th from 9:00 to noon at the Parks and Recreation
building. For more information call 232-3007. [pause]  
Currituck County Schools are calling all budding young artists to enter the Student Art Calendar
Contest. Students as young as kindergarteners all the way up through seniors in high school
are invited to show their creativity by submitting artwork to the contest by March 1st. Winners
will be chosen to have their original art printed in the 2011-2012 Student Art Calendar.
For more information, visit the school’s website at Currituck.K12.NC.US to view a video
PSA with all the information you need. [pause]  
The year-long wait for America’s favorite sweet treat is finely over. It's Girl Scout
cookie time! Girl Scouts right here in Currituck County will start taking your orders on January
8 and the program will run through March. The Girl Scout Cookie Program does more than
just provide all of us with those iconic cookies. It teaches girls financial and communication
skills and its proceeds fund leadership programs and travel opportunities for girls right here
in our community. There are eight great varieties being sold this year for just $3.50 per box.
If you don't have a Girl Scout in your neighbor just log on to gsccc.org/cookies or call 757-340-YUMM
to find a girl selling near you. [pause]  
And a wonderful event is coming up at the Currituck County Rural Center that aims to
make a real difference in the lives of the hungry in our community. The Ride for Hunger
Horse Show will take place at the rural center on Saturday, January 15th from 10:00 to 4:00.
Proceeds will benefit the Lower Currituck Food Bank. The event is open to all riders
and will have English, Western, Fun and Gaming riding. Not only will you get to enjoy the
show but you’ll also get to see all the wonderful changes made to the rural center.
All of this while helping the hungry in Currituck County. For riders, helmets are required.
And, cost for the event is $1.00 per person and $5.00 per class. A food vendor will be
on site. For more information call Lori McGraw at 261-1080 or Summer Casper at 573-1114.
[pause]   Before we go, there are some other Currituck
residents that need your help. The lovable cats and dogs at the Currituck Animal Shelter
are eagerly awaiting a good home this New Year. All animals adopted from the shelter
come with 30 days of pet health insurance and those who are old enough are micro-chipped
and have their rabies vaccination. Let’s take a look at who’s ready to join your
family. [pause]
Playful and lovable kittens are available for adoption.  We have a variety of different
colors and hair-coats.  All kittens are litter box trained, had their first set of vaccines,
come with free insurance, and a spay/neuter voucher.  A kitten would be a fun addition
to almost any family! [pause]  
Chip is a beautiful long haired 6 month old male.  He loves to play, purr, and sit in
your lap.  He is litter box trained, current on vaccines, micro-chipped, and comes with
free insurance and a neuter voucher. [pause]  
Grams, an 8 year old old laid back Beagle with a wonderful personality, appears to
have been deprived of affection in her earlier life, so she loves to be loved and is so
grateful that she gives you all of her love in return.  She is current on vaccines,
micro-chipped, heartworm negative, has insurance and has a sponsor who paid her adoption fee,
she says, "Adopt me --please!"  [pause]  
Epona, a 4 year old Greyhound mix, is adorable and extremely lovable. She gets along with
other dogs and loves playing.  She is spayed, current on vaccines, heartworm negative, micro-chipped,
and comes with free insurance. [pause]
Well, that does it for this edition of the Bird's Eye View. You can always check us out
online at the Currituck County website where you can sign up for county e-newsletters like
the eGoose. You can watch streaming county video right from your computer of the Birds
Eye View, Board of Commissioners meetings, and Board of Education meetings. To watch
these programs on your television, tune in to Mediacom's Government and Education Channel
18 on the mainland, Charter Channel 19 on the Outer Banks, and Cox Channel 46 on Knotts
Island. You can also stay in touch with the county on YouTube under CurrituckGovernment
or on Twitter under CurrituckGov. Thank you so much for tuning in.