mr. braxton and with ms. diane reynolds who is one of our outstanding teachers. mr. braxton and i have only been at the school for less than a month and already found ms. reynolds to be an inavailable -- invaluable member of our staff who cares deeply for our teachers and the staff and are making sure our students with special education needs are being fully realized in the education classes, being fully included and coming to the fullness of their potential in our school. so we're definitely very proud to recognize ms. diane reynolds. [applause] >> it's been my privilege to be at dr. martin luther king middle school since it's been at the present site. i only missed one year there. being at the school. and i've really enjoyed it. i live in the neighborhood and would like to recognize my mom who's here tonight. right there. and then sarah who works with me and she's wonderful. [applause] >> thank you very much. >> thank you. >> yes. we have another one. another rave review award. i'd like to introduce the principal of mission high school. eric, you want to come on up?

let's find out from mayor howard braxton who's joining me on the phone what is happening there. mr. mayor, i spent a lot of time on topsail beach covering lots of hurricanes, the destruction of topsail beach that's happened so many times before. what's the situation now? >> the storm has passed us now. but we're still getting high winds and heavy rain. even though it's passed us, we still have to be very cautious. >> and where are you? where are you staying safe right now? >> i'm at the emergency operations center just outside of surf city actually in surf city. we're off the island. >> okay. >> but we're very close by. >> you and your family have quite the history of topsail beach there. what is the expectation of how topsail may have endured irene? >> may have enjoyed it? >> may have endured it. >> oh, endured it. everybody was ready to leave, i think. we've all been through storms before. but they take heed and believe no matter if it's a 1, 2, 3 or 4, whatever the category is, they treat it as a 3 or 4 or 5. and they're prepared for it. you never take these things likely. >> you