Gather your family, friends and best green attire - the Emerald Isle St. Patrick's Festival is slated to return on Saturday, March 11 at Emerald Plantation Shopping Center.

On this date, you can enjoy the 30th Annual St. Patrick's Festival, which includes art and crafts vendors, nonprofits, food and drink vendors, a beer tent, amusement rides, live music and more! Please note, applications have closed for all event vendors.

On Saturday, amusement rides will be operating from 9 a.m. - 6 pm. In addition, food vendors, 75 arts and crafts vendors, beer garden and live entertainment will run from 10 am. - 5 p.m.

On Friday, March 10, join us for amusement ride armband night from 3- 8 p.m. There will be no food and drink vendors on this date.

You could win a brand new golf cart from Johns Golf Cars by purchasing a raffle ticket!

The Emerald Isle Business Association has partnered with the Emerald Isle Golf Cart Advisory Committee for your chance to win this four seat, customized golf cart valued at $13,500!

Ticket sales will be online only until the Emerald Isle St. Patrick’s Festival on Saturday, March 11. On that date, there will be in-person ticket sales, and the winner of the golf cart will be drawn that afternoon.

Online tickets are $20 and are now available. You can purchase multiple raffle tickets at the same time, with six for $100.

Proceeds will benefit area programs and charities through the Emerald Isle Business Association, and improvements to the Emerald Isle Golf Cart program.

The Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament has up to six scholarships available for area students who are pursuing a degree in Marine Sciences or Technologies.

These $3,000 scholarships are available to graduating seniors at Croatan, West Carteret, East Carteret and Swansboro high schools and MaST Early College High School.

You can find the application details and materials on the Town's website, or on the Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament website.

The Emerald Isle Fire Department is pleased to present the Inaugural Junior First Responder Camp in April!

Registration for this camp opens at 1 p.m. on February 1, and will be available online. Registrations require a copy of the child's birth certificate and a recent sports physical. Once the spots are filled, you will be alerted via email if your child(ren) will be able to attend, and will be sent a payment link. This opportunity is first-come, first-serve.

This camp is for children ages 8 - 13, and participants will get firsthand interaction with fire trucks, hoses and more.

Camp runs from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. daily, and two separate sessions will be held:

The cost is $60 per participant. There are 25 spots available per week.

Questions can be directed to Deputy Chief William Matthias at bmatthias@emeraldisle-nc.org, or by calling 252-354-8696.

Are you interested in other camp opportunities for your children through the Town of Emerald Isle? Registration for Jr. Lifeguard Camp opens April 1, followed by registration for Summer Day Camp on April 10.

Summer Day Camp is held through Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation and spots are awarded through a lottery system.

Is a new job part of your New Year's resolutions? The Town of Emerald Isle is now hiring a limited number of full time and part time positions, as well as seasonal lifeguard positions. Visit our website for a full list of available positions and apply online for the one best suited to you.

Do you have what it takes to be an Emerald Isle Ocean Rescue Lifeguard, or know someone who does?

Applications are now open for lifeguard positions in 2023. You can find the job

description and application on the Town's website.

The Emerald Isle Fire Department will begin testing in January, and training will start mid-March. Lifeguards will be on the beach strand in phases, beginning April 1.

Do you work in the real estate or vacation rental sector in Emerald Isle? You are cordially invited to the Town of Emerald Isle’s Hospitality Meeting on Tuesday, February 14.

This meeting will be held from 9 – 10:30 a.m. in the Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners Meeting Room, at 7500 Emerald Drive. This meeting will cover updates from the Town and potential ways we can partner together to best reach our guests. We love Emerald Isle!

There are 30 seats available, and RSVPs are due by Tuesday, February 7 at noon. Please respond to Anna Smith, Town Clerk/Public Information Officer, at asmith@emeraldisle-nc.org to secure your seat. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.

The Town of Emerald Isle has free 2023 calendars available for the public to use.

Town residents and property owners can pick up the calendars at the Community Center, 203 Leisure Lane; the Police Department at 7500 Emerald Drive; or the Town's Administrative Offices at 7509 Emerald Drive.

These calendars feature Emerald Isle photos, beach safety information and lists all upcoming Town events for the year. Pick up yours today! Please note, these calendars are not available to be shipped.

If you prefer an electronic calendar format, you can view our upcoming events and meetings on the Town's website at emeraldisle-nc.org.

Regional Beach Access Parking Permits for Emerald Isle taxpayers, and other select groups, will be available online starting March 1.

Beginning April 1, you will also be able to apply for these permits in person. Please note, due to high demand, same-day service may not be available.

Paid beach parking will begin on on April 15 and will run through September 15. You can find additional details about paid parking and these passes on our website.

During the January 10 Board of Commissioners meeting, retired State Representative Pat McElraft was honored for her years of service to Emerald Isle, Carteret County and Eastern North Carolina.

She served three terms as an EI Commissioner, from 1999-2005, and noted that this special recognition was held on the same date 23 years after her first meeting with the Town.

She then served a partial term on the Carteret County Board of Commissioners from 2005-2006, before being elected to the NC House of Representatives. She held that role from 2006 through 2022, and opted not to seek re-election.

The Board recognized her with a retirement plaque, a proclamation stating January 10, 2023, as Patricia "Pat" McElraft Day in Emerald Isle, and a bouquet of flowers from Petal Pushers Flowers, Gifts & More.Rep

Live Christmas trees, without any lights, ornaments and tinsel, can be dropped off at the corner of Islander and Emerald drives through February 3rd. These trees will then be used to help build dunes along the beach strand, thanks to the efforts of the Surfriders Foundation - Bogue Banks Chapter.

In addition, the local Sea Scout Ship & Maritime Explorer Club can assist you by picking up your tree for a donation. You can find more details about these options online through the Surfriders.

The Surfriders are in need of volunteers to help move the trees along the beach strand. You can RSVP by emailing the group at chair@boguebanks.surfrider.org.

NCDOT Bridge Work Schedule

The following information is from the North Carolina Department of Transportation:

In November, a state highway contractor began daytime lane closures on weekdays on the two-lane Emerald Isle Bridge (N.C. 58) for the ongoing bridge preservation project.

The contractor will follow this schedule for lane closures, lasting until March 31, when the project is scheduled to be completed:

The contractor may elect to work either Saturday or Sunday, or both days, on the weekends. The contractor in September resumed the rehabilitation work under nighttime lane closures.

Drivers should proceed cautiously over the bridge and expect possible delays.

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.

Golf cart permits are now available for 2023 through the Emerald Isle Police Department. These permits expire on December 31 of each year, no matter when you last purchased a permit.

New this year: You will receive a golf cart safety keychain with your permit, that includes a QR code to our interactive golf cart map.

You can find the full list of golf cart rules and regulations on our website, along with your permit application. In addition, watch our video below for an overview of Emerald Isle's golf cart rules.

There are still a few months remaining in this beach driving season, and applications for the 2022-23 season are 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, and will conclude on April 30. There is a ten-day period around Easter when beach driving is closed.

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.

Join the Emerald Isle Neighborhood Watch in 2023! You can learn more information and helpful hints about keeping yourself and your neighborhood safe on our Neighborhood Watch webpage.

Don't forget to check out the latest Neighborhood Watch Newsletter, which is released monthly.

The Emerald Isle Fire Department 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 EIFD 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 the Emerald Isle Fire Department at 252-354-2445 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 the Emerald Isle Fire Department.

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 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 from July 1 - June 30, with the Town's fiscal year.

You can register online for the subscription program or call the Fire Department at 252-354-2445 to complete the information over the phone.

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.

The Emerald Isle Garden Club is hosting the Annual Card & Games Afternoon Tea Party

Bring your game face and good luck charm to the Emerald Isle Garden Club's Annual Card & Games Afternoon Tea Party. The event will take place on March 1st from 1-4 p.m. at the Emerald Isle Community Center located at 203 Leisure Lane Emerald Isle.

Ticket includes delicious desserts, chance at a door prize, raffle items and a cash raffle. Tickets are $15 each and are only available in advance of the event.

Contact Theresa Connelly-Kavanagh at 252-764-0420 for more information and ticket reservation forms.

Ticket reservations must be received by February 20th.

Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC) is pleased to offer Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships for rising sixth and seventh-grade students to attend basketball camps in June. Young women can apply for a scholarship to attend the Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Camp at N.C. State University. Young men can apply for a scholarship to attend the Carolina Basketball School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Eligible students can apply online by completing a form that includes two short essays, and all applicants must have a parent or guardian’s signature. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2023. Scholarship recipients will be announced in May. For more information on the Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarship program and to access the applications, please visit www.ccemc.com/SportsCamps.

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!