Archive for category: News

The Veterans Advisory Council helps Dare County Veterans by serving as a liaison with the community in coordinating services and activities benefiting Veterans and their families. Members of the Veterans Advisory Council solicit information and provide updates about community-based activities honoring Veterans. Meetings of the Veterans Advisory Council are open to the public.

ICO is collaborating with DCVAC in hoping to bring The Wall That Heals exhibit to our Veterans on the Outer Banks in 2023.  This exhibit features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C.

Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron-shape and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 140 numbered panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Machine engraving of the more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provide readability of The Wall day and night.

As on The Wall, the names on The Wall That Heals are listed by day of casualty. Beginning at the center/apex, the names start on the East Wall (right-hand side) working their way out to the end of that wing, picking up again at the far end of the West Wall (left-hand side) and working their way back in to the center/apex, joining the beginning and end of the conflict at the center.

If you would like more information about the services of DCVAC please call Patty O’Sullivan, Veterans Affairs Administrator 252-475-5604, or Interfaith Community Outreach, please call Jenniffer Albanese, Executive Director 252-480-0070

If you would like to donate to Veteran Outreach in hoping to bring the Wall That Heals exhibit to our Veterans on the Outer Banks, please use our secure donation form:

The largest ladies-only billfish event set new records this year for teams (154) and purse ($102,000). Team Bi-Op-Sea surpassed last year’s second-place finish by capturing the top trophy and jackpot in 2022.
Photo credits: Capt. Dave Lear

Manteo, North Carolina:

At the 33rd annual Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament, the bridesmaids walked down the aisle to the awards alter. After finishing second last year, Team Bi-Op-Sea captured the Billfish Jackpot and the top team trophy in 2022. The tally of two sailfish and one blue marlin releases based on time earned a jackpot payout of $44,200 for the local team. Bi-Op-Sea, a 59 Spencer, is owned by Charles “Craig” Johnson and run by Capt. Jesse Granitzki. This year’s memorial tournament set new benchmarks in teams (154) and purse ($102,000). An estimated 950 female anglers competed in the annual contest. 

“We’ve had the same group of girls fishing with us for years,” Granitzki explains. “The team is our wives and girl friends. They all have a good time and are happy to catch fish.” Wendy Hayes and Kay Hall each scored a sailfish as part of an early double-header. Danielle Stine added the blue marlin to the scorecard a short time later. Bi-Op-Sea’s other team members included Mary Dembosky, Taryn Hall, Claudette Lajoie and Cara Sumners. Chris Stine is the boat’s mate.

Tarheel, a 46 Ricky Scarborough run by Capt. John Bayliss, earned second-place honors, also with 350 points. Carson Flatt released a blue marlin, while Nancy Brown and Flatt added a white apiece. John Bayliss, Jr., is the mate and Paige Bayliss, April Piland and Nicole Scotti were the other competitors.

Coming out of the Doghouse (61 Harrison), anglers Ginger Shackleford Oxnard (blue), Denise Jones and Codi Flemming (sailfish) were awarded the third-place billfish trophy. Britton Shackleford was at the helm for the catches. Denise Jones, Audra Shackleford and Bailey Shackleford completed the team with Bo Davenport working the cockpit.

Capt. Barry Daniels and the crew aboard Skirt Chaser, a 54 Buddy Cannady, earned the fourth place trophy after scoring a blue (Paula Snearer) and two sails (Jenny Bray, Chandler Price). Skirt Chaser is based at Oregon Inlet.

Team Gills Gone Wild competed on Mel-O-Dee, a 38 O’Neil run by Capt. Buddy Callaway to record two blue marlin releases for fifth place in the billfish division. Lillie Leavel and Nikki Seward were the anglers on those entries.

In the optional Dolphin Jackpot, winner-take-all division, Waverunner underscored the current situation with inflation. Alyssa Leary’s 16.2 pound dolphin was the heaviest fish and with a payout of $57,800, that catch was worth $3,567 a pound! Brian White runs the 63 Custom boat based in Manteo.

Summer Bracher topped the heaviest tuna of the event at 72.1 pounds. Bracher was fishing on the family boat Pelican (56 Paul Mann) with Capt. Arch Bracher. Freetyme, a 32 Topaz skippered by Capt. Kenneth Freeman Sr., won the top wahoo trophy after Robin Levey boated the biggest entry at 43.5 pounds.

In the individual angler categories, Katherine Farless, competing on Samanna II (58 Ocean), earned the Paula Stansky Award for Angling Excellence after releasing a blue marlin she hooked and landed herself. Capt. Huck Harriss runs the boat. Evie Medico won the Lucy B. Gaddy Junior Angler Scholarship Award after catching a dolphin and releasing a sailfish. Medico was on Carolina Girl, a 53 Jarrett Bay with Capt. Jessie Anderson on the helm. 

“I’m proud of the fact that all the proceeds and 15 percent of the jackpot entries go to the Interfaith Community Outreach organization,” says Alice Kelly Tournament Director Heather Maxwell. “We also have other donations that support the tremendous work this group accomplishes for the Dare County community. Thanks to our teams and sponsors, the tournament will donate more than $60,000 to support those efforts again this year.”

According to ICO Director Jenniffer Albanese, 130 local cancer clients received services through ICO cancer stipends (210 adults and 54 children) last year. Those outreach funds totaled $98,000 to help the afflicted and their families with rent, mortgage, electric, auto repair, home rehabilitation, insurance, water, prescriptions, medical mileage for cancer treatments, lodging for treatment, counseling and funeral expenses. The ICO is a non-profit organization that serves the Outer Banks area and works closely with other charities and churches to help those in need. 

The 34th Annual Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament is scheduled for August 11-13, 2023, at Pirate’s Cove Marina in Manteo.

Right to left: Jenniffer Schwartzenberg, The Outer Banks Hospital, Jenniffer Albanese, ICO Director, Lyndsey Hornock, Program Assistant, Community Outreach and Marketing at The Outer Banks Hospital

The Outer Banks Hospital is pleased to announce that Interfaith Community Outreach is a recipient of the 2022-2023 Community Benefit Grants Program. Grants are awarded for projects that will significantly increase access to healthcare and financial resources in our community. Interfaith Community Outreach plans to use the funds to provide medical assistance, cancer outreach and crisis intervention for community members in need.

“No one hears the cry of the poor or the sound of a wooden bell”
                                                                                                         Haitian Proverb

Pictured top row from left to right is Julia Ashcheulova, Mike Pringle & Linda Palombo

At their March 31^st Board Meeting, Interfaith Community Outreach honored outgoing Board Chair, Linda Palombo, Vice-Chair, Mike Pringle and Board Member Julia Ashcheulova for their service and dedication to ICO and our Community. During their time on the Board, their leadership guided ICO through storm recovery and pandemic crises, resulting in ICO assisting significant numbers of neighbors in need. Our community is enriched by the talents and generosity of volunteers like Linda, Mike, and Julia. 

Interfaith Community Outreach.  Interfaith Community Outreach “Provides Assistance to Individuals and families facing a Temporary Emergency Crisis”. ICO will bridge the gap in our community for those in need. In 2021 ICO was able to assist over 1000 families and give back to our community over $400,000 in monetary outreach.  ICO’s office is in Kill Devil Hills at 115 Mustian Street.  If you’d like to donate, join their volunteer staff, or refer someone, please call 252-480-0070 or go online to www.interfaithoutreach.com to apply for assistance.

Contact: 

Jenniffer Albanese, Executive Director

Interfaith Community Outreach, Inc.

My name is Sophie Yacobi and I’m currently a junior at First Flight High School.  In my free time I enjoy playing soccer and going to the beach with friends.  I’ve just recently started volunteering here at Interfaith.  It feels so good to start my mornings helping others.  Growing up on the Outer Banks I’ve seen the struggles locals go through to keep this island running.  Taking time out of my day to give back to my community cost nothing to me, but may mean the world to someone in need.