Presentation was on Thursday, September 28, 2023 from 10:30am to 12:30pm in the Betty Carr Board Room at the Pine Knoll Shores Town Hall at 100 Municipal Cir, Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina.
As of July, our new website is up and running.
This new version—I refer to it as version 2.0—could not have come this far without the foundational work undertaken by John and Anne Clarke over the past year.
However, as their lives got busier and demands on the website grew, I took it upon myself to learn something about web design.
I’m still counting on John and Anne’s participation in the tech space especially as we continue to videotape our forums and add videos of key events and places.
Ultimately, I was able to construct a new layout and add more content. I also enlisted the help of a professional web designer (Alyce Meserve) for oversight and to answer my more detailed questions.
Some features you will recognize and some are newly added:
The Meetings tab lists our meeting dates through 2023, as well as past agendas and meeting minutes.
The Resources and Partners page is one of my favorites.
The final page of the website is a brief form that connects us directly with you. If you are interested in volunteering, donating, offering an opinion, or in need of a community service, send us a note. Your input is valued.
The initial discussion was around THE LIST of service and medical professionals.
Four individuals were given folders to take to their neighbors to broaden our input. All were asked to fill out the forms and request this information from their neighbors.
The remainder of the meeting included a review of previous topics.
The community forum is on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 10:30 AM at Town Hall. Kay Coole, director of the Crystal Coast Hospice House, will update us on the services and care Hospice provides. She will also discuss volunteer opportunities.
John and Anne Clarke will video the presentation for viewing on our FB and website.
Hotel Alice hosted a meet and greet on September 13, 2023 for all of PKS. It was well attended.
The Hotel is building their presence in the community and are frequently completely full. They are also undertaking major upgrades (all new mattresses, new furniture, improved bar service, etc.) to enhance their customers’ experience.
Hotel Alice continues to host food trucks for a variety of eating out options. When we are aware of the schedule, we post the planned visits on our FB page.
Much of this meeting was spent talking about possible approaches to the Carteret Hospital.
The group believes that the community needs more, specific physician specialties; the hospital makes decisions regarding recruitment based on numbers.
Our goal: To put a community voice into the recruitment process.
Virginia Cuttrell – one of the speakers from the hospital last year – is in charge of recruitment.
In a recent dialogue with her, it was clear that we need to agree on our position/request before we approach the hospital again.
To inform our position, these approaches were mentioned:
Anne Bures and I will shift through options, check assumptions with you, and present a position to the group for follow up.
Today’s meeting was informal, spirited, and focused on updating our activities to date. It’s been a busy month.
Hotel Alice is hosting a meet and greet on August 13, 2023 for all of PKS.
Announcements were posted around the area thanks largely to John and Jean Macheca and our FB page.
Specialty drinks will be offered as well as charcuterie boards and snacks. Two bartenders will be on hand to serve the crowd. We sincerely appreciate the outreach the Hotel is making to our community.
Hotel Alice is offering a 15% discount on rooms if callers mention “PKS” when they call. The Hotel is one of the best choices for our friends and relatives when they visit here.
Hotel Alice also hosts food trucks for a variety of eating out options. We post the planned visits on our FB page. An accompanying margarita is often recommended and prepared at a discount price at the Hoffman Bar.
Spoondrift Market’s popularity has grown quickly and hours now extend to Saturday. Their special wine tasting evenings have gained a following.
John Macheca continues to lead our group’s efforts to establish nearby connecting spots for PKS. The Inn at Pine Knoll Shores will be approached and the Trinity Center will be scouted out as possible locations.
Leslie Yarbrough, our Public Safety Admin, is now compiling and emailing weekly listings of Upcoming Happenings in Pine Knoll Shores.
If you are not on her email list, you can sign up on the town’s website or directly with her by calling 252-247-2268 ext. 10 or emailing [email protected]. Stay in the know! We post these listings on our Facebook page.
Paper copies of our lists of Service Providers and Medical Personnel are available in the lobby of Town Hall.
At the meeting, four members were given folders with forms to be passed to neighbors for their input to these lists.
It’s a great way to meet your neighbor and involve them in a service that will also benefit them when they have a home maintenance or medical need.
The list will be updated and expanded over time. The format is being revised so that it will easily be read on our website whether you view it on your computer or on your phone.
Karen Murphy heads our Transportation initiative.
We are currently recruiting for volunteers willing to take residents to local doctor’s appointments, pick up prescriptions, and help with grocery errands. These trips may include medical appointments in New Bern.
If volunteers are not available, there are low-cost options that we can recommend.
The group was made aware of a new business serving our county: Carteret County Concierge.
In addition to providing additional transportation options, this group offers a variety of services including help with personal storm preparation, property services, gift/party planning, home/pet monitoring, vacation planning, and senior companionship.
Each service is designed and priced to meet individual needs. Call Cindy Blizzard at 252-342-4392 for schedules and quotes. This notice also appears on our Facebook page.
Mike Dilauro has scheduled our next community forum for Thursday, August 28, 2023 at 10:30 AM at Town Hall.
Kay Coole, interim director of the Crystal Coast Hospice House, will update us on the services and care Hospice provides. She will also discuss volunteer opportunities.
You can watch the entire presentation below:
Lastly, website 2.0 was launched this month.
The website has a new design and organization as well as additional content.
It is now linked with our FB group page, and provides opportunities to send us suggestions and ask questions.
Features will continue to be enhanced for ease of navigation and communication. It is also the subject of next month’s Shoreline article.
Members were encouraged to continue to spread the word that these tools are available.
The objectives for the July meeting were similar to that from June: I was looking for some good discussion around the initiatives we have been working on.
The initiatives are the tactics that contribute to the big picture and each initiative has specific goals that need to be articulated.
Since we weren’t able to cover everything in one meeting, the conversation carried over into this July meeting.
We reviewed the decisions made and steps forward from our last meeting for these initiatives:
Gathering Places (John M.), The List (Cindy S.), and Transportation (Karen M.). Amy Novick from the Hotel Alice and Marion Goetzinger representing Spoondrift Market were present and key to the discussion on Gathering Places. Both venues have been actively engaging the community.
Hotel Alice has established itself as a unique destination place embracing the history of Pine Knoll Shores while offering an iconic ocean side venue.
As Sales Director, Amy’s energy has drawn in special local activities (goat yoga, anyone?) and unique brews on tap from the Mill Whistle Brewery, Carteret County’s oldest and only Nano brewery.
We are very fortunate to have Hotel Alice partner with us and offer a safe, comfortable place to meet up as well as provide extended family a nearby destination place.
In a relatively short time, Spoondrift has seen their tables filled with local residents and out-of-towners enjoying locally roasted coffee from the Carolina Coffee Roasting Co while reviewing a varied selection of local crafts.
Merchandise includes artwork, jewelry, greeting card clothing, and specialty food items. A game table has been added while the comfortable lounge area allows quiet conversations.
We are excited by the warm reception Spoondrift has been given and look forward to growing with them.
The initial list of service people and medical professionals has been created and will also appear on website/Facebook pages.
Paper copies will also be available at PKS Town Hall.
These are providers/agencies that council members have used and have been given the highest ratings based on their experiences. We will continue to expand this list.
Importantly, we ask for the community’s comments based on their personal experiences should they use any of these providers. A simple rating of 1 to 5 stars (5 being the highest) will let us know you agree (or not) with our assessment of the quality and professionalism of these agencies.
All additional comments are also welcomed. This feedback is valuable.
Karen Murphy heads our Transportation initiative. We have a list a list of agencies that provide transportation for a fee, but we would also like to have a list of volunteers (they don’t have to be PKS Council members) who would be willing to:
Anyone learning of a need for this service should notify Karen. Karen will reach out to our volunteers. Ideally, we would have 3–4 persons willing to provide this service. Please give Karen your name and contact information if you are willing/interested in participating.
Thank you!
Time did not permit in-depth conversations on the remaining initiatives: Forums/Education (Mike D.), Food Security (Robin/Terry S., Linda C.), Carteret Hospital (Cindy S., Anne B.).
They will be covered in our August meeting.
In the time remaining, the group was introduced to our new website: www.pkscouncilonaging.com
This new version—I refer to it as version 2.0—could not have come this far without the foundational work undertaken by John and Anne Clarke—thank you both.
However, as their lives got busier and demands on the website were growing, I took it upon my self to learn something about web design.
I’m still counting on John and Anne’s participation in the tech space especially as we continue to videotape our forums—and possibly add brief videos of Hotel Alice and Spoondrift.
Ultimately, I was able to construct a new layout and add more content as well as engage a professional web designer (Alyce Meserve) for oversight and for my more detailed questions.
Please take a look and let me know what you think. Your comments are important. Our website and FB pages are now linked—there is value in synergy.
The wild west of Artificial Intelligence is entering the arsenal used by Scammers to steal from Seniors. Find out what it sounds like to be targeted by the grandparent scam.
The format for the June meeting was a break from the usual.
I was looking for some good discussion around each of the initiatives we have been working on.
The initiatives are the tactics that contribute to the big picture and each initiative has specific goals that need to be articulated. Since we weren’t able to cover everything in one meeting, the conversation will carry over into our upcoming July meeting.
The work of the Council has operationally been defined in terms of initiatives.
For each initiative, the group was asked a series of questions. The discussion for the three initiatives that were discussed—gathering places, the lists of vetted service people and medical personnel, and transportation—are summarized below.
I’d like to deviate a bit from our typical format where we each report what we have accomplished since our last meeting.
I am hoping for some good discussion around each of our initiatives. The initiatives are the tactics that contribute to the big picture and each initiative has specific goals that need to be articulated.
We won’t be able to cover everything in one meeting, so the conversation will carry over into our July meeting too.
All of work has been driven by responses to our earlier survey, i.e., it is data driven.
I’d like to preserve that approach as well as our emphasis on neighbor-to-neighbor connections.
Here’s the structure that I think will work for our meeting—and it can be modified as needed. We have operationally defined the work of the Council in terms of initiatives.
Let’s start our discussion with Gathering Places. I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!
Owned by John Macheca and Amy Novick
Establish relationships with nearby businesses that are comfortable, safe gathering places for PKS residents to informally meet up with the goal of building a sense of community, increase socialization.
Owned by Cindy Schersching and John Macheca
Provide the community with a list of service, maintenance, home repair service providers and, separately, a list of medical professionals that members of the Council have had personal experience with.
Referrals must meet a high standard of professionalism to be on the list.
Long known by current residents, military who served in the area early in their careers, and wandering (but not lost) adventurers, Carteret County is a good place to call home.
The environmental beauty—and the lifestyles it supports—as well as attractive opportunities for second starts in warm, safe small towns and communities draws like-minded individuals.
As many of those who find their place in this landscape are retirees, it is no surprise that the County has earned its recognition as a Certified Retirement Community by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.
The Leon Mann Enrichment Center in Morehead City is the heart of the quality of life for many Carteret seniors.
In its ongoing effort to improve the lives of seniors living in Pine Knoll Shores, the town’s Council on Aging introduced the community to the Leon Mann Center for Enrichment at the Council on Aging’s May 11th forum at Town Hall. Director LaKisha Williams and Customer Service representative Melanie Reed described the services and activities offered at the Center.
Established in 1997, the Leon Mann Senior Enrichment Center is a modern multi-purpose, single level facility operated and managed by the Carteret County Senior Services Department.
It serves as the focal point in the community where independently functional older adults can participate in activities and programs based on their interests.
True to its name, no other County facility offers the range of programs and services on a continuous basis with this focus.
Activities include exercise classes, Bridge, Tai Chi, Bingo, Friday night dances, chili cook offs, caregiver support groups, travel to New York City during Christmas, and trips to Nashville, Memphis, and Gatlinburg.
The facility also supports an exercise room, computer center, library and a great room.
Several of the offerings are portable and, if there is interest, can be offered at Pine Knoll Shores at no expense to the town. With advanced notice, transportation can be arranged between PKS and the Center with CCATS.
Located at 3820 Galantis Dr, the center is open Mondays through Fridays 8:00 am to 5 pm. Membership and all offerings are free to the over-50 resident population with a few exceptions. A general registration form is all that is required for membership. Guests are welcomed.
Director Williams oversees an enthusiastic staff of dedicated individuals. In spite of ever-changing COVID protocols and challenging day-to-day operations, the staff again secured the Certificate of Excellence from the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services. This certification recognizes the Center’s exceptional standard of service.
The Center best serves citizens who:
If this describes you or someone you know, please check us out in person and on Facebook. New members are always welcome to explore this best kept secret.
If you are planning a visit and/or if you have additional questions, please call the Center at: 252-247-2626.
Presentation was on Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 10:30am to 12:30pm in the Betty Carr Board Room at the Pine Knoll Shores Town Hall at 100 Municipal Cir, Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina.
We recognized a new member – Ann Bures – whom we hope becomes a regular attender. We met at the PKS 50th Anniversary Celebration. She is a credentialed nurse.
Reviews of the PKS 50th and After Party at the Hotel were very positive.
Both events were well attended and enjoyed. We had good exposure as our table was between the Women’s Club food distribution and the FD/PD providing hamburgers and hot dogs.
The After Party at the Hotel Alice attracted a hearty crowd. The Hotel had agreed to discount several drinks and table snacks were available; the COA promoted the event throughout the day.
The Hotel bartender kept up with the crowd as well as possible as she was working alone. It appeared the Hotel had underestimated the numbers of people who attended. Two bartenders were necessary to serve and keep the snack trays filled.
We will meet with the new management to better understand how they would like to build the relationship with us.
Based on input from members, the initial list of highly rated service providers and highly rated medical professionals for the PKS community took shape.
We need input from the rest of the members to fill in some gaps. This list reflects community members who have had a good experience with the individuals they list.
The listed individuals must meet a standard of performance, e.g., responsive, keeps to the agreed timeline, reasonably priced, professional manner, etc. to be included on the list.
We also need feedback from individuals who make choices from the list to ensure it is a quality list and update it regularly.
Mike DiLauro organizes high school volunteers to help community members with a variety of tasks, e.g., leaf raking, mowing lawns, etc.
The students accumulate service credits for volunteering. The number of participants varies and it may be worthwhile to explore if the Boys Scouts or church groups have youths that are willing to participate.
Email Mike if you could use this help or have information on other sources.
Mike DiLauro also organizes our Community Forums.
The forum on Thursday, May 11, 2023 will host LaKisha Williams, Director of the Leon Mann Enrichment Center in MHC. Melanie Reed, the Center’s Customer Service Professional will join her. John and Anne Clarke will tape the presentation and post it on our website.
Director Williams will speak to the number and variety of classes and resources offered at the Center Monday through Friday including free lunches for individuals 60+. A reservation is necessary as well as a commitment to having 2–3 lunches/week.
Free CCATS transportation can be arranged between PKS Town Hall and the Center for different activities.
A few of the classes held at the Center “can travel” to different locations. We can review the list of activities and determine which may generate a following and/or fill a gap.
We can then approach the Center to determine if we can host them at PKS. The Center will provide the instructors and materials for free; the COA will help to promote the classes as they are scheduled.
John and Anne Clarke reported that the website is up and accessible. Not all materials are loaded yet, but we expect to establish a repository of materials and maintain a dialogue with the community.
In addition to Ann Bures, Carolyn Thompson and Ann Dezern, also a nurse, indicated their interest in our group. Each have been emailed a schedule of our meeting dates and invited to attend our meetings.
Several of us are aware that a few of our residents get lost when they walk the area. If they admit to being lost, it is fairly easy to reorient them. However, when their dilemma is hidden, the opportunity to help is limited.
A discussion was initiated to explore ways we may be of help. We recognized that people tend to walk with their phones, but may not know how to use them. Initial ideas to help orient neighbors who are lost include:
This issue may be best explored through a forum or at Coffee with the Crews get together.
The continuous need that must be met is to broaden our base beyond PKS. We may be able to bridge the gap with the help of the HOAs. This option and others need to be fully explored.