Coronavirus cancellations on the Outer Banks

Please send your cancellation and postponement announcements to kpugh@jammediallc.com or swalker3@jammediallc.com.

— The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is closed starting today, March 17^th until further notice. You can see more information on our facebook page at this link: https://www.facebook.com/OBCWE/ [facebook.com]

—-Taste of the Beach events canceled

Statement from Outer Banks Restaurant Association regarding OBX Taste of the Beach:

While we decided a week ago to cancel the group events for this year’s Taste of the Beach, in consultation with state and local officials, we left the events hosted by individual members intact, pending further developments. As those developments are rapid and continually erring on the side of caution and public safety, we have decided to cancel all remaining Taste of the Beach events slated for March 26-29. This decision was again made in consultation with the Dare County Health Department and others. Refunds will be issued automatically, but may take a couple days to appear on ticket holders’ accounts.

We urge all our patrons, and all our local restaurants to make safety the top priority, and follow the guidelines and restrictions set forth by our state and local officials. This is a trying time for all of us as individuals, as small businesses, and as a community. Please consider supporting our local restaurants by enjoying their food to-go, or by purchasing gift cards directly from them, and not through OBRA, as it is the individual restaurants that could use the funds in the short term to provide our team members with some income.

This too shall pass, and we all look forward to sharing great food and great times with you all again. If you have any questions, please submit them in an email to obxtasteofthebeach@gmail.com

— Updates on events in Kill Devil Hills:

• The KDH Police Department’s Coffee with a Cop event that was scheduled for March 17th has been cancelled.
• The West-side Recreation Group meeting that was scheduled for March 18th has been cancelled.
• The Community Appearance Commission/Help KDH Kick Butts meeting that was scheduled for March 26th has been cancelled.
• The Town’s annual Trash Attack! community clean up event that was scheduled for April 25 and its corresponding poster contest, ending on March 24, have both been cancelled.

— The Portsmouth Island Homecoming has been canceled.

We regret to announce that we have no choice but to cancel our Portsmouth Homecoming, which was scheduled for April 25, due to the corona virus situation. Not only do we fall into the mandated “over 50 people” category, we also have no handwashing facilities and cannot keep people separated, per the 6’ requirement. We cannot take the chance of anyone unknowingly bringing this virus to Ocracoke, and we do not want you to become infected at our event and take it home. For those members who purchased raffle tickets, we will hold the raffle at a later date and will keep you informed. Stay tuned to this Facebook page and our website for further details as we deal with this unfortunate turn of events. Stay home and stay healthy. We will miss you.

— Effective March 16, all Superior Court and District Court proceedings in Currituck County will be postponed for a minimum of 30 days. Cases will be rescheduled for a session that falls after April 16, 2020.

— The front lobby at Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative will be closed beginning Monday. “For those needing to make a cash payment, we will accommodate you through the dropbox next to front door.”

— The YMCA of South Hampton Roads, which includes the Outer Banks Family YMCA in Nags Head, Currituck Family YMCA in Barco and Albemarle Family YMCA in Elizabeth City, has made the decision to close all facilities for the next two weeks (March 16-29) for the health and well-being of the community. “As an organization rooted in social responsibility, we must do our part in heeding the call from state government, national government, and national health agencies in taking the steps needed to slow the spread of this illness through social distancing.”

— The Town of Duck has has canceled or postponed all recreational events until after April 15, when activities will be re-evaluated.

— Arts of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City has cancelled all activities for the month of March.

In an effort to keep everyone safe, we are following the State of North Carolina guidelines to help prevent the spread of the virus. The state has asked for the cancellation of events with more than 100 people. That’s almost every event AoA has planned for the next few months. Therefore, we will be postponing all our public events through March and, perhaps, April.

This is a trying time for all but if we can minimize interactions that can spread the virus, we can all help to decrease its transmission. Please stay home and make art!

Sincerely,
Laurie Edwards, Executive Director

—- Starting Monday, Dunkin’ Donuts in Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo, Grandy and Elizabeth City will be converting to drive-thru ONLY. “We have made adjustments to keep our speed and service fast while keeping everyone safe and healthy,” the franchise owner said in a statement.

— All Dare County Parks and Recreation programs and activities have been suspended until further notice.

— Walmart has joined other stores in reducing hours. Beginning Sunday, March 15. Walmart stores and Neighborhood Markets will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. until further notice. “This will help ensure associates are able to stock the products our customers are looking for and to perform cleaning and sanitizing,” the company said in a statement.

— Eastern Shore Animal Hospital has implemented the following plan beginning Monday:

• Please remain in your vehicle with your pet.
• Call us from your vehicle. (252-453-8200). Please understand that this may increase our call volume and we will make every effort to answer all calls as efficiently as possible.
• We will collect all the necessary information needed from you over the phone.
• When we are ready to evaluate your pet, we will come to your car to retrieve your pet for an exam by our veterinary team.
• You will stay in your vehicle.
• Then, we will call you with the examination results and treatment plan options.
• Once your pet’s visit is completed, we will return your pet to you and arrange payment at your vehicle.

— Based on the Governor’s directive and in the interest of the public’s health, Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama is directing that all weekend Masses in the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh be cancelled until further notice.

The diocesan website provides a list of Masses, outside of our diocese, that are available for viewing

https://dioceseofraleigh.org/news/where-watch-mass-online

— The Frisco Native American Museum is closing for the time being and has canceled the Native Journeys event at the end of April.

— Grocery stores across the country are implementing earlier closing hours to allow employees to restock shelves and conduct thorough cleaning operations. Publix in Kill Devil Hills will close at 8 p.m. and Harris Teeter in Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Corolla at 9 p.m. until further notice.

— As a result of the warnings and concerns associated with COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the Kill Devil Hills Fire Department has suspended unnecessary visits and apparatus tours to our station.
This precaution is to ensure that we are ready to respond to the emergency response needs of our community. If you have business with us, please:

1) For emergencies, always call 911;
2) Non-emergencies, call
252-480-4060; or
3) Email Fire Chief Troy Tilley at
troy@kdhnc.com

— Taste of the Beach events: At the monthly meeting of the Outer Banks Restaurant Association (OBRA) on March 10, OBRA membership voted unanimously to cancel the THREE CORNERSTONE events at The SOUNDSIDE EVENT SITE in Nags Head that are part of Taste Of The Beach. The three events include Flashback Friday on March 27, the BBQ & Wing Showdown on Saturday March 28, and the Grand Tasting & Bartender’s Bubbly Bash on Sunday March 29.

— The Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series and the 4 Seasons Chamber Music Festival have agreed to cancel the performance scheduled for April 18 at St. Andrew’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church. We hope to reschedule this event at a future date. All tickets purchased for this event will be refunded. The Series will contact ticket holders regarding the process for refunding the tickets.

Further The Series has suspended ticket sales for the Ocracoke Alive Benefit Concert scheduled for May 8 pending a review in early April of the prospects for the concert going forward. Ticket holders may request a refund by emailing tickets@bryanculturalseries.org or calling 252-207-5287.

The Series is following the policy below adopted in face of the current health crisis.
— The Currituck Chamber of Commerce Spring Social originally scheduled for Saturday April 4th has been postponed until Friday May 29th. Since the state has asked us to limit all events and gatherings of 100 or more people we will follow their recommendation.

— — All Dare County Special Olympics events and practices are canceled through at least May 15.

—- The Arm Wrestling event at Longboard’s scheduled for March 14 has been canceled.

— The N.E.S.T. Board of Directors announces that the 25th anniversary fundraiser has been postponed. Originally scheduled for Sunday, March 29, organizers have postponed the event after guidance from state health officials. Organizers will continue to accept donated items for the raffle and silent auction, as the event is anticipated to return this fall.

— The Outer Banks Chamber Reverse Raffle has now been switched to an online format on Thursday, March 26 at 5:30 p.m. via the Chamber’s Facebook Live feed. The Reverse Raffle is the largest fundraising initiative for the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce annually and the funds raised from this event help to support the critical mission of empowering the Outer Banks business community.

— The Eastern Carolina Concert Society Grand Finale Concert, originally scheduled for this Sunday at Duck United Methodist Church, has been POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

— Taste of the Town Tuesday scheduled for March 17 at the Outer Banks Brewing Station has been canceled.

— The Kelly’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Nags Head has been canceled.