April 2025 Edition

City Offices Closed April 18th

Morehead City's Administrative Offices, including City Hall and the Library, are closed on Good Friday, April 18th, in observance of Easter.

The Recreation Center at 1600 Fisher Street will be open on an abbreviated schedule,

from 8 a.m. - 12 noon.

Donate Blood at the

Battle of the Badges

You can help save a life, while participating in a friendly competition!

Morehead City is holding our second Battle of the Badges Blood Drive with the American Red Cross on Thursday, May 8th. When you donate, you get to cast a vote for Morehead City Fire-EMS or Morehead City Police. If you complete a Power Red donation, you get two votes.

Last year, a single vote determined the winner - who will donate the most this round?

You can register for your donation appointment by going online or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

This event is being held at Emergency Operations Center, on the second story of the Morehead City Police Department, at 300 N. 12th Street.

Crystal Coast

Boots & Badges to Support Two Families with April Events

Crystal Coast Boots & Badges will once again hold a benefit ride and a charitable softball game between Police and Fire-EMS in April. Morehead City is a proud supporting sponsor of these events, which are held by a nonprofit that is led by members of Morehead City Fire-EMS and Police.

Crystal Coast Boots & Badges announced Brittany Kelley and Gregory Smith as this year's recipients with the following statement:

"Brittany Kelley has used her diagnosis to amplify breast cancer awareness. She bravely battles her own condition while raising three boys and coordinating her 'Let's Make Pink Just A Color' walk/run event.

She is truly inspiring and embodies the spirit of a warrior.

Gregory Smith is a firefighter-paramedic with the Pine Knoll Shores Fire Department. He has dedicated his life to serving the community, from Cedar Island to the Bogue Banks and beyond. After receiving a life-saving transplant, he now faces growing medical expenses."

On Saturday, April 26th, the fourth annual benefit ride will be held starting at Rotary Park. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and kickstands up at 11 a.m. Lunch will be included for the first 150 participants to register. You can find full details on the benefit ride here.

Starting at 2 p.m., the gates to Big Rock Stadium will open ahead of the charitable softball game at 3 p.m. Tickets and t-shirts will be sold at the gate to support either the Fire-EMS Team or Police Team. There will also be a silent auction and donations are being accepted now. You can find additional information on the game here.

For additional information on these events, sponsorship, or donating toward the auction, email ccbootsandbadges@gmail.com.

Watch the video on last year's Boots & Badges events below.

Baker Sworn into MCFD as Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal

Join us in welcoming Jason Baker as Morehead City Fire-EMS Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal!

He began his role on Monday, March 10th.

He started his fire department career by volunteering with MCFD starting in October 1996. He later moved away from the area for a few years, and when he returned, he began working for Pine Knoll Shores Fire & EMS in 2005. He then became the Chief there in 2011 and held that role until recently.

“I am super excited to be back in the Morehead City Fire Department, it’s like coming home to me,” said Assistant Chief Baker. “I never thought I’d be back here, but by God’s grace, I’m back here and I’m excited.”

Chief Courtney Wade said he looks forward to the future of this role, with Assistant Chief Baker. “With Jason's knowledge and on the job experience, it will give him the ability to build upon and expand the fire prevention division,” he said. “A solid foundation has been established, it will be his job to take it to the next level."

Revenue and Collections Department Now Accepting Credit Card Payments

 Morehead City's Revenue and Billing Department is now able to accept credit cards at the walk-up window! Morehead City customers who come to City Hall, at 1100 Bridges Street, to pay their utility bills can now utilize credit card payments if they wish. 

In order to utilize credit card payments, the charge must be at least $2.50, and there is a 3.5 percent credit card processing fee for utility bills that goes directly to the credit card company. 

For general and miscellaneous billing, there must be a charge of at least $2.50, and the credit card transaction fee is 3.75 percent. There is no cash back option available.

Michael McGraw, pictured, was the first customer to utilize his credit card at the window.

Spring Clean Up

Slated for Late April

If this warm weather has you ready to clean and refresh your space, then you're in luck! Morehead City and GFL will host the annual Spring Clean Up April 21st - 25th for city residents on our roll-out cart services.

Clean up your property and place all items intended for collection by the curb the evening before your normal trash collection during those dates. This can include furniture, appliances, bedding, carpet, boxes, clothing, household items and paint that is 100 percent dried.

Items that cannot be accepted include TVs and computers, motor oil, paint thinners, yard debris, pesticides, batteries and sleeper sofas.

In addition, the Carteret County Household Hazardous Waste Collection will take place from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26th, at the Carteret County Health Department on Bridges Street. This is for items including cooking oil, drain openers, batteries, paint and paint thinners, automotive fluids and pesticides. They are unable to accept commercial waste, infectious, biological or radioactive wastes, explosives or ammunition.

Parks and Recreation Events

View the April calendar of classes at the Recreation Center on our website.

Did you know you can still buy an annual pass to our Recreation Center? Click here for details!

Easter Egg Hunt April 17th

 Hop on over to Rotary Park on Thursday, April 17th for Morehead City Parks and Recreation's Annual Easter Egg Hunt! The hunt starts at 5:30 p.m. sharp, so make sure you bring your basket early and are lined up ready to go ahead of time. The egg hunt will be divided for ages 10 and younger. Keep your eyes open, because not only is the Easter Bunny scheduled to attend, but there will be a golden egg in each age group waiting to be found. Rotary Park is located at 2200 Mayberry Loop Road.

Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention

Morehead City Parks and Recreation will offer its next session of Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention beginning April 29th. This session will meet two days a week for six weeks, from 11 - 11:45 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The program is free for Morehead City Recreation Members and $30 for nonmembers.

Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention focuses on balance, weight shifting, mind/body connection and spatial awareness. For more information, please contact certified instructor, Stephanie Stoll at 252-726-5083, ext. 707. Registration for Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention is now open online at moreheadcity.recdesk.com or in person at the Recreation Center. Space is limited, so register soon!

Unified Hoopers

Unified Hoopers is an all-inclusive program focused on introducing the fundamentals of basketball to individuals with and without disabilities. Participants ages 7 and older will have the opportunity to participate in basketball drills and fun scrimmages. Sessions are held on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Recreation Center gymnasium. Program registration is required. For additional information on Unified Hoopers, please contact Andre Perez, Athletics Supervisor, via email at andre.perez@moreheadcitync.org, or call at 252-726-5083, ext. 703.

Spring Break Tennis Camp

Morehead City Parks and Recreations will offer Spring Break Tennis Camp for children ages 8-14, and limited space is still available.

Spring Break Tennis Camp will take place April 22-24 at the Shevans Park Tennis Courts. Led by PTR certified instructor and West Carteret High School Tennis Coach Mary Marino, participants will learn essential skills including racket grip, forehand and backhand techniques, and an introduction into the overhead serve.

For more information on Spring Break Tennis Camp, please contact Andre Perez, Athletics Supervisor, via email at Andre.perez@moreheadcitync.org or call 252-726-8053, ext. 703. The camp for beginners will be held 9-10:30 a.m. and intermediate will occur 10:30 a.m.-12 noon. Spring Break Tennis Camp registration is available online.

 Men's Tennis

Join us this summer for Men's Tennis! It's an exciting and competitive singles tennis program for men ages 18 and older. Interested players should know how to keep score, perform the basic serve, full court rally, and have thorough knowledge of the game. All matches are played at Shevans Park Tennis Courts from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesdays. The registration fee is $55 per individual, and space is limited. For more information on Men's Tennis, please contact Andre Perez, Athletics Supervisor, at andre.perez@moreheadcitync.org or call 252-726-8053, ext. 703. Men's Tennis registration opens online on April 11th.

Adult Tennis Clinic

Join us at Morehead City Parks and Recreation for an exciting tennis clinic designed for adults! Professional Tennis Registry certified instructor Mary Marino will guide you through the essential skills like racket gripping, forehand techniques, volleys and scoring. This program is open to both men and women, ages 18 and older. The cost is $50 per person. This clinic will be held at Shevans Park Tennis Courts from 6-7 p.m. on May 20th-22nd.

Youth Summer Tennis Camps

Join us for a fun and educational tennis experience this summer! Our Summer Tennis Camps are designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced players. Please ensure you sign up for the correct level and age group.

Beginners will learn the fundaments of tennis in a supportive and engaging environment. Intermediate players can sustain rally times of at least 6 hits, make 6 out of 10 serves, and play a full court set. The Advanced camp is designed for advanced high school players. This camp will push your skills and fitness to the next level with a focus on strength training, agility, footwork, and high intensity drills. Tennis Instructor Mary Marino will guide campers through the basic strokes, help build rally skills, introduce tennis rules and teach how to keep score. This camp is perfect for those new to tennis or looking to improve their game. 

Spring Fling Market

The tennis courts at Shevans Park are temporarily closed for a short timeframe,

 due to a restoration and resurfacing project.

Please stay tuned to our official social media accounts and website for updates on when the courts will reopen. This project was approved in the 2024-25 fiscal year budget, and is weather dependent.

Spring Fling Market

Join Morehead City Parks and Recreation for a fun-filled Spring Fling at the Curb Market on Saturday, April 19th, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon! Celebrate both Easter and Earth Day with a variety of exciting activities for kids, including planting gardens at the market, making seed bombs, face painting, and other springtime crafts. Plus, don't miss a special guest appearance by the Easter Bunny, who will be available for photos. It’s a perfect way to welcome the season with the whole family! 

Curb Market Vendor Meeting

The Morehead City Curb Market season is just around the corner, and we are kicking off with a meeting for all market vendors! Join us at the Curb Market, at 1213 Evans Street, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 5th to discuss the upcoming season. Following the meeting you can apply to be considered as a vendor.

You can RSVP by emailing curbmarket@moreheadcitync.org or

by calling or texting 252-241-2773.

Upcoming

 Library Events

Come celebrate National Library Week April 6-12 at the Morehead City Library.

202 S. Eighth Street! This year's theme is "Drawn to the Library."

Learn more about the great opportunities available at the Library this coming month by clicking on the items that interest you most.

• Your Next Chapter - The 2025 Reading Challenge: This year-long reading challenge is open to all ages for anyone with a Morehead City Library Card. (Don't have one yet? Stop by the Library to easily register!) You can register to participate in this challenge online at moreheadcitync.beanstack.com/reader365.
• Knit Wits: This knitting group meets each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.
• Book Club: The Book Club for adults will meet at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 3rd, to discuss The Water Knife, by Paolo Bacigalupi. 
• Library Youth Advisory Board: The Youth Advisory Board will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 3rd, for an activity, snacks, and to discuss upcoming events and library programs. 
• Crafternoon: Join us on Monday, April 21st at 3 p.m. for an afternoon of crafts. Space is limited, please register in advance.
• Preschool Story Time: Children ages 2-6 with a caregiver can attend Preschool Story Time at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We encourage you to call circulation desk at 252-726-3765 in advance to ensure there is space available. This month's themes include:

April 1st-2nd: Frogs

April 8th-9th: Insects

April 15th-16th: Easter and Eggs

April 22nd-23rd: The Color Green

April 29th-30th: Firefighters

You can learn more about the Library's variety of resources on our website.

Planning and Development Updates

The Planning and Development Department will issue quarterly reports to help highlight the latest information throughout Morehead City, as it pertains to planning, inspections and economic development.

The first edition of the Planning and Development Report can be found here, and covers from October - February with the inaugural report.

1100 Bridges Street

Morehead City, NC 28557

252-726-6848