Phase III of the Hurricane Florence funded dredging project began in Emerald Isle the week of February 22, 2021. According to the Carteret County Shore Protection Office, the Liberty Island is on site working now, and will be joined by the Ellis Island. Dredge work has an April 30 deadline. View weekly updates on this beach nourishment project by visiting the Carteret County Shore Protection website.

Safety First: Everyone is reminded that areas of the beach may be closed to foot and vehicular traffic while the work is being conducted. Please do not approach the equipment. We look forward to this project being completed this spring.

Sand Fencing: Oceanfront property owners are reminded that they will need to contact our Planning Department at 252-354-8548 to secure the proper permit before installing their sand fencing. Planning Director Josh Edmondson has created a brief video on what you need to know, and you can watch it here on Youtube. You must wait to reinstall your fencing after the entire project has been completed, including the planting, but you can call in advance to secure your permit.

Fortunately, indicators used to track COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations are on the decline. We sincerely appreciate the entire Emerald Isle community’s diligent efforts to remain safe.

In concert with the recent announcements and changes made by the State of North Carolina, the Town of Emerald Isle will be making the following adjustments to our local operations:

ADMINISTRATION/ PLANNING: The Administration Building will increase limited public access on March 15, 2021. Guests will be required to wear a mask and entry to the building will be limited to the front waiting area. The facility will continue to operate during normal business hours, weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

POLICE: The Emerald Isle Police Department will increase its limited public access on March 15, 2021. Guests will be required to wear a mask and entry to the building will be limited to the front waiting area. The facility will continue to operate during normal business hours, 7-days per week.

PARKS & RECREATION: The Parks & Recreation Community Center will open with limited public access on March 15, 2021. CDC precautions must be followed, including the wearing of face masks at all times by the public. The number of participants within the building will be limited, to meet state guidelines. Members are reminded to clean before and after themselves when using exercise equipment.

Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

FIRE/ EMS: The Emerald Isle Fire and EMS Stations will continue to provide 24/7 full service and operations. Visitors will be required to ring the doorbell and communicate with staff (outdoors). For the safety of all personnel and to maintain a continuity of operation, entrance into both structures will remain limited.

Again, thank you all for the continued strength and patience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue to wear a mask when in public, maintain a safe distance from others, and secure your vaccine when possible.

The Town of Emerald Isle is moving forward with changes to the paid beach parking program, with a projected start date of Thursday, April 1. A proposal was presented at a budget planning meeting on February 15, and the Board of Commissioners will take an official vote at the Tuesday, March 9 meeting.

The proposed changes will help reduce the cost burden of beach related services for Emerald Isle property owners. It also reduces the out of pocket (per visit) costs for the average guest.

Currently, Emerald Isle charges a flat rate of $10 per car. The new hourly program allows a visitor the opportunity to pay as little as $2 per hour in the shoulder seasons and a maximum of $4 per hour during the peak season and holidays.

You can watch the upcoming meeting on March 9 on GoToWebinar by registering here, or by tuning in on our Facebook page.

You can view full details on these proposed changes here: Beach Parking 101

The Town of Emerald Isle has a number of online platforms you can use to stay connected to the latest news and see beautiful pictures of our area.

Follow us on the following platforms:

Every Friday we share pictures from the community - and we need your help. Send your Emerald Isle pictures to Anna Smith, Public Information and Media Director, at [email protected] for consideration. Please include "Friday Features" in the subject line, and the name of the photographer. Or, tag us in your photos around town on Instagram.

The Town of Emerald Isle remains focused on beach safety year-round. A key component to a safe beach season is the recruitment, training and employment of highly qualified lifeguards.

The Town is currently looking for accomplished swimmers to join our team! Candidates must be 18-years of age or older, possess a valid driver’s license, able to swim 500-meters in less than 10 minutes, and have the capacity to successfully complete USLA certified training.

Watch our 15-second advertisement teaser and learn more about the opportunity here: https://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/lifeguards

Please share the link above and encourage exceptional candidates to apply!

Get to know our hardworking Town staff! Every Tuesday you can find our latest staff feature across our social media feeds. We appreciate all they do, and want to shine a spotlight on their accomplishments.

In case you have missed the start of this series, you can find them here:

-Josh Edmondson, Planning Director

-Artie Dunn, Public Works Director

-Alesia Sanderson, Parks and Recreation Director

-Tucker Robinson, Police Officer

-Kelee Norris, Paramedic

Improvements and repairs to a Carteret County bridge are underway and expected to last through the end of March.

In January, N.C. Department of Transportation contract crews started closing one of two lanes of the bridge to Emerald Isle. Contractors are using flaggers at the ends of the work zone to direct traffic.

Weekend closures can be expected between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., while weekday closures can be expected between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The lane closure will allow contractors to continue rehab work, which extends the life of the bridge. Drivers should expect a lane closure to last through March 2021.

Motorists should use caution while crews are working and allow themselves more time than normal to reach their destinations.

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

Due to Covid-19 guidelines, the Emerald Isle Golf Cart Safety, Rules & Regulations Class is only available ONLINE. Click on the link below to learn more and save $25 OFF your registration/ renewal.

Please read the presentation carefully, as there will be a short test at the end. Participants must receive a score of 80% accuracy (or greater) to receive a discount of $25 off the 2021 Golf Cart Registration.

Once you submit the test, you will receive a confirmation email with your results.  Please download and save your results. Then, attach the results to your online renewal application/ new application. Be sure to check the Golf Cart Safety Class Discount option on the GC application in order to upload your results and receive the $25 discount. Thank you and good luck!

After cancelling the 2020 ride due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual Bike the Banks/Crystal Coast Lighthouse Challenge is back! The sixth annual ride will be held Saturday, May 1st. Sponsored by the Emerald Isle Bike and Pedestrian Committee, the event features three rides; 10, 50 and 100 miles to challenge bikers of all skill levels.

The premier event of the day is the century ride, at 100 miles, which is an out-and-back ride that will take the participants from the Emerald Isle Community Center down Bogue Banks to Fort Macon, then back to Atlantic Beach, over to Morehead City, through Beaufort and Down East Carteret County to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse - at least as close as you can get on a bicycle.

There is also a 50 mile out-and-back ride to Fort Macon. This ride begins at the Community Center, goes to the Point in Emerald Isle, then down the island to Fort Macon and back.

The final ride, a 10-mile fun ride, is designed as a more leisurely ride for adults and families. That ride begins at the Community Center and follows the Emerald Isle Bike and Pedestrian Path to the Eastern Ocean Regional Access parking lot in Emerald Isle, near mile marker 15.

The 2019 ride attracted 175 riders, according to Mike Taylor, a member of the Bike and Pedestrian Committee and chair of the ride event. “We know there are a lot of bike riders who want to participate in an organized, supported ride and the Bike the Banks/Crystal Coast Lighthouse Challenge is just that ride,” Taylor said. “Bike riding in Carteret County is a lot of fun.”

The ride will comply with all town, state and federal Covid-19 guidelines including: all participants and their guests must wear a mask prior to the start of the ride, social distancing will be observed prior to the start of the ride and at rest stops. All snacks at rest stops will be individually wrapped and hand sanitizer will be available.

The ride is held to promote bike riding in Carteret County and to raise funds to support the Emerald Isle Bike and Pedestrian Path that runs for 12 miles throughout town.

Both the century ride and the 50-mile rides begin at 8 a.m. The 10-mile ride starts at 8:30 a.m. All three rides begin and end at the Emerald Isle Community Center at 203 Leisure Lane, which is located near mile post 19 on Emerald Drive (NC 58).

Registration is $40 per rider for the 100 and 50 mile-rides and $25 for the 10-mile event. Those who pre-register for the ride by April 3rd are assured a Bike the Banks t-shirt.

Registration is available online at: www.active.com/emerald-isle-nc/cycling/bike-the-banks-2021.

Registrations will also be accepted on the morning of the ride beginning at 6:30 a.m. at the Emerald Isle Community Center. At that same time, riders who are pre-registered can pick up their t-shirt.

A brief meeting will be held shortly before each of the rides. The century ride course will close at 2:30 p.m. All riders should wear helmets, and the use of rear flashers are encouraged to improve visibility. Rest stops with drinks and snacks are strategically located for all three rides.

Parking for participants is available at the Community Center, and at the Emerald Isle Town Hall at 7509 Emerald Drive. To reduce traffic and for safety purposes, personal SAGs are not encouraged. There is no rain date. The ride will be held unless adverse weather creates safety concerns or the Governor’s Covid-19 guidelines change.

Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC) is expanding the benefits of the Connect to Save initiative by offering free Google Nest smart thermostats to members who enroll in the program by March 21. Typically offered through the program at a deeply discounted rate of $25, these devices automatically adjust their temperature settings during times of high demand for power in an effort to help lower energy use and associated costs.

“Connect to Save benefits our members year-round, but its impact is especially important during times of year when energy use is higher, such as the cold winter months,” said Melissa Glenn, communications specialist for the cooperative. “These smart devices not only help individual members save, but they also work together across the co-op network to reduce demand for power during peak times, which helps keep costs lower for our entire membership.”

In addition to a free smart thermostat, members can receive $50 for installing a smart water heater control on their electric water heater through the program.

For more information on how to participate in this limited-time offer, CCEC members are encouraged to visit connecttosavenc.com or call (844) 577-SAVE.

Hello from Bogue Banks Water. Thank you for your patience these last few weeks, while we have been working remotely. We remain closed to walk in customers, but fortunately all our staff are healthy and back at the office.

Field techs are back to the task of upgrading meters and cellular end points. If you would like one of these endpoints, we do have a few remaining at the $40 install price. The order form is on the website.

With warmer weather approaching, please remember to conserve water whenever possible. If you plan on watering your lawn, try to limit watering to 3-times per week and avoid weekends all together. This will help keep your usage lower and avoid using water during our peak demand days.

We appreciate each one of you!