NCDOT Announces Bridge Work Schedule

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has released the following information:

Lane closures resumed on the Emerald Isle Bridge (N.C. 58) for bridge preservation work, and they will continue through next spring.

A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will be allowed to close one of two lanes at 7 p.m. and be required to reopen the lane by 6 the following morning, seven days a week. (Rain could postpone a nightly lane closure.)

The closures are scheduled to last through Oct. 30 under this schedule; then the contractor will follow a different schedule into the springtime.

However, no lane closures will take place Oct. 21-22 due to special events.

The contractor will follow this schedule for a lane closure starting Nov. 1, lasting into next spring when the bridge work is expected be completed:

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; then again from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday – 24-hour lane closure

As with most highway contracts, there will be no lane closures on the bridge during the holiday periods of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.

When a lane is closed, flagging operations will be used to allow traffic from each direction to take turns crossing the bridge, so drivers should expect delays and proceed cautiously in the work zone

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.

Longtime Public Works Director Artie Dunn retired on September 30, following 31-plus years of service to the Town.

He was recognized and thanked for his dedication and hard work at the September 14 Board of Commissioners meeting, where September 30, 2022, was proclaimed John "Artie" Dunn Day. In addition, a public retirement reception was held for him before the meeting.

The 8th Annual Emerald Isle Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K is slated for Saturday, October 22, and registration is open for participants and volunteers.

Late October is beautiful in Emerald Isle, with average temperatures ranging from 45-55 degrees during race hours. This is a Boston Marathon-qualifying event, with a wonderful course.

You can register to participate in any of the three races through this link.

If you have any questions, please email emeraldislerun@gmail.com. Due to the high volume of communication, please allow 10-12 days for a response. Click here to visit the Marathon's official website for details and to register for any of the three races.

The Emerald Isle Fire Department, in conjunction with other area departments, will present the Fire Prevention Week Kickoff on Saturday, October 8 at Lowe's Home Improvement in Cape Carteret, at 401 W. B. McLean Drive.

This event is open to the public and will feature games, firetrucks, safety tips, vendors, and food and drinks from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The NFPA Fire Prevention Week is recognized from October 9 - 15 this year. The theme is "Fire won't wait. Plan your escape."

You can help save a life - donate blood at the Emerald Isle Community Center on Friday, October 14!

The American Red Cross has a critical need for donations. This blood drive will be held from 1-5:30 p.m. at the Emerald Isle Community Center, at 203 Leisure Lane.

To schedule an appointment, please contact 1800-red cross, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call Kristin Willis at 252-341-1325.

Join the Emerald Isle Police Department for two great events on Thursday, October 27th, in the Town Board Meeting Room at 7500 Emerald Drive.

Coffee with a Cop will be held from 9 - 10 a.m., and offers a chance to interact with members of the EIPD, with no agendas or speeches. Come enjoy a cup of coffee, a bite to eat and the chance to talk with your neighborhood officers.

Stay for PEP: Police Educating the Public, which will be held immediately after from 10 - 11 a.m. This month's topic will cover safety tips ahead of the upcoming holiday shopping season.

Join Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation for a family friendly Halloween Bash on Friday, October 28th!

This event will feature candy, popcorn, a photo booth, coloring station, pumpkin painting (bring your own pumpkin) and a Halloween movie.

There will be a 20 minute movie presentation of "Scooby Doo! Run for your rife!"

For more information, call 252-354-6350.

The Emerald Isle Fire Department is selling cancer awareness t-shirts online only, with proceeds benefiting the Little Pink Houses of Hope. This organization gives a week-long vacation to breast cancer patients and their families. This year, ten families were able to enjoy a vacation in Emerald Isle through Little Pink Houses of Hope.

The t-shirts come in both unisex and ladies' cut styles, at $23 apiece, plus shipping. The unisex shirts come in youth and adult sizes, and feature the Little Pink Houses of Hope logo on the shoulder.

These shirts are only sold through the online store and will be shipped directly to the purchaser in October. Please note, these shirts will not be sold onsite at the Emerald Isle Fire Department stations or at the Town Administrative Offices.

T-shirt sales will continue through October 31.

Mark your calendars for the Inaugural Emerald Isle Car Show on Saturday, November 12!

This car show will be held from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Western Ocean Regional Access, at 9003 Louise Avenue. Come check out the car show, listen to live music, and peruse raffle items donated by area businesses.

This family friendly event will help raise funds for the Emerald Isle Police Department's Shop With A Cop initiative this holiday season.

Find full details and register your vehicle on our website.

If you are interested in donating to the raffle, contact Officer Blalock at gblalock@emeraldisle-nc.org.

We look forward to seeing you at the Emerald Isle Christmas Parade on Saturday, November 26th, at 2 p.m.! This free, family-friendly event will be held along Highway 58, starting at Black Skimmer Drive and going to Mangrove Drive. 

Click here to register as a participant in this parade.

The 16th Annual Day4 Kids was a huge success on September 10th, with free family fun at the Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation's Community Center.

Attendees were treated to cotton candy, hots dogs and drinks, while a DJ played music in the background. Bounce houses, games, and community partners were stationed around the gymnasium with ample amounts of entertainment for area children.

Thank you to Emerald Isle Realty and RuckerJohns for sponsoring this event, and to our community partners who participated!

The Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament saw a strong turnout of participants on September 17th.

This year, there are 36 boats on the water, 47 adults in the surf category, and 17 junior anglers. The Captains Party on Friday evening was a great success, according to Commissioner Mark Taylor, and proceeds will go toward scholarships for area students pursuing degrees in Marine Sciences and Technologies.

Thank you to the sponsors and participants who make this fishing tournament possible!

You can find information on the Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament on their website.

Visit the Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament's Facebook page for updates and giveaways.

The Beach Music Festival returned September 24, much to the delight of thousands of attendees.

Music was played from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. under beautiful blue skies.

This year, Too Much Sylvia, Chairman of the Board, The Embers and the TAMS played at the event, held at the Western Ocean Regional Access. Sammy O'Bannian served as the MC.

Thank you to UPP Global and the Carteret County Tourism Development Authority for sponsoring this year's event!

Beach driving permit applications for the 2022-23 season are currently available online at www.emeraldisle-nc.org, or in person at the Police Department, at 7500 Emerald Drive.

You will receive an email alerting you when your permit is ready to be picked up at the EIPD.

The official beach driving season began Thursday, September 15th.

Please note, the traffic pattern has changed this year when accessing the beach strand at the Point. Drivers should respect the roped off areas and follow the traffic flow. The new ingress and egress also applies to foot traffic.

You can watch a video from Chief of Police Michael Panzarella on the changes here.

Watch the video below for information on the beach driving application process.

Emerald Isle's Ocean Rescue Lifeguards have concluded the 2022 season along the beach strand.

Our 20 USLA (United States Lifesaving Association)-certified lifeguards patrolled the beach from April through September in marked red Jeeps, and on towers at the Eastern and Western Ocean Regional accesses.

Town staff would like to recognize and thank our lifeguards for their hard work throughout the season.

Applications will open in November for the 2023 Ocean Rescue Lifeguard team.

The beach warning flags will continue to fly throughout October, in conjunction with the National Weather Service.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs through November, and the best time to prepare is before a named storm is slated to come to the area.

On August 10, the National Weather Service - Newport/Morehead City office, presented a community hurricane forum in the Town Board Meeting Room. You can watch the recording of this hurricane forum here.

If you are an Emerald Isle resident or property owner and do not have a disaster re-entry permit, now is the time to apply for one. You can view details on our website. Property owners should check now to ensure they have their disaster re-entry permit, and apply for one through the Police Department if they do not have one. You will be required to provide proof of residency as part of this application.

In addition, make sure your hurricane kit is fully stocked and your property is ready in the event a storm comes to North Carolina.

You can find a comprehensive emergency preparedness list and other important information on our website.

Emerald Isle EMS provides for special medical care and/or help evacuating during disasters, including hurricanes, to those who are registered under the Medically Fragile List.

It is important to note that this form should be completed and submitted to Emerald Isle EMS well in advance of impending disasters. If you or your family member are not already on this list, please take the time today to register.

Contact Emerald Isle EMS at 252-354-2249 if you have additional questions, or would like to register with the Medically Fragile list.

Please note, this registration service was previously handled through Carteret County Emergency Services. If you previously signed up through the County, you will need to register with Emerald Isle EMS.

The Town of Emerald Isle is offering a subscription program to help offset the cost of an ambulance transport. This optional annual subscription of $50 covers the direct costs of ambulance services not paid by your insurance. The $50 covers two people: the head of household, along with one other person. You may include others living in the household for an additional $10 each. Your subscription begins two days after receipt of application, payment, and acceptance by the Town of Emerald Isle's Fire/EMS Department and expires on June 30th, 2023. There will be no refunds for cancelled or forfeited memberships.

Memberships will transfer, and provide identical coverage protection, once the Fire/EMS departments merge in 2023. Sign up today for this service.

Please note, any subscriptions done prior to June 30 have expired. This program runs with the fiscal year.

You can register online for the subscription program or call the EMS Department at 252-354-2249 to complete the information over the phone.

The Town of Emerald Isle is seeking great individuals to fill various part-time positions. Would you, or someone you know, be a fit for our team? You can find full details and apply online for the following roles:

The Town of Emerald Isle has a number of official online platforms you can use to stay connected to the latest news, upcoming events, the Parks and Recreation monthly calendars, our live beach and traffic cameras, and more.

You can also view the monthly Board of Commissioners meetings, which are live streamed on our Facebook page. These meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.

Follow us on the following platforms:

On Fridays we share pictures from the community - and we need your help. Send your best Emerald Isle pictures to Anna Smith, Town Clerk/Public Information Officer, at asmith@emeraldisle-nc.org for consideration. Please include "Friday Features" in the subject line, and the name of the photographer. You can also use #EmeraldIsleNC in your Instagram photos.

Hurricane season does not end until Nov. 30 and CCEC wants you to be prepared if our area is impacted by a storm.

Here are a few simple steps to prepare and stay safe this storm season:

BBWC Customers,

If planning on leaving your home for an extended period of time, evacuating for a hurricane or winterizing your home, please be sure to cut off your water at your customer cut off valve.

Most customer cut off valves are located in a green box close to BBWC's black meter box near the street. If you need help locating your customer cut off valve, please call our office and we can schedule for a technician to come out and mark your box with flags.

Note: Any repairs or replacement needed for the customer cut off valve are the responsibility of the customer. Please call a plumber.

As always, thank you for being our valued customers!

The number one goal of the Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol is to protect sea turtles. Some very devoted NRTs , Zone Coordinators and volunteers worked tirelessly through the summer to protect these hatchlings, and we could not have accomplished what we did without them. As of the writing of this article, our 2022 Season is down to only a few more nests waiting to hatch.

It seems like just yesterday I was excitedly typing about the season ahead and now I’m writing a summary. We had many successes this summer. We finished out the year with a total of 30 nests. Almost half of those nests (14) had a 90 percent or better hatch rate. Six more nests had an 80 - 89 percent hatch rate. We are pleased with those results. As we do after after season, we will evaluate what worked and what needs to be tweaked.

Along with successes, we faced some challenges this summer. Sadly, the worst was tampering with, and potentially endangering, an entire nest of hatchlings. Vandals moved all the identifying markers (stakes, tape and the Town-installed nest number post) away from Nest 18 and put them back up in a random spot. The vandalism was confirmed when hatchlings were found wandering around the beach in the dark, heading toward porch lights, not the ocean. Tampering with a sea turtle nest is against the law and when found, these people can face a hefty fine and/or be prosecuted. We are asking anyone who hears/has heard anyone discussing their part in this act to report that information to the Emerald Isle Police Department at 252-354-2021.

In addition to the vandalism, some nests faced challenges due to natural interference. One nest was damaged by a wild animal, so none of the remaining 12 eggs in that nest developed. As with every year, we face the challenges of higher tides from passing tropical storms or hurricanes. Hurricane Earl caused some very high, damaging tides this season. Efforts were made to protect the effected nests where possible. Happily, thus far, no nests were fully destroyed by these over washes.

Throughout the fall and winter, you can keep current with happenings in the EISTP by following us on our Facebook Page at Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol. In addition to current events through our quiet months, and next spring you will find announcements of the dates for the mandatory training sessions.

This will be my final article. Thank you for letting me keep you up to date on all things fun and informative about sea turtles these last few years. I’m a tad bit obsessed.

As always - please leave nothing behind on the beach except your footsteps!