The Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament will be held on Saturday, September 18th, and you can register now to participate. This tournament benefits area high school students who are pursuing the Marine Sciences fields and dredging in Bogue Inlet.

You can watch a promotional video about this year's tournament, and find additional information and registration forms online at emeraldislefishingtournament.com.

On the website, you can learn more about the scholarships this tournament funds, as well as places to stay for the event weekend, and watch the results live on September 18th. You can also follow the tournament on Facebook.

The Town of Emerald Isle is pleased to have three live camera feeds that show the traffic coming to and from the B. Cameron Langston Bridge. Two of the cameras face east and west, respectively, on Emerald Drive, while the third offers a southwest view down Coast Guard Road.

These live camera feeds can be found on the free Emerald Isle, NC app from the App Store or Google Play, or on the Town's website here.

The Town would like to thank NCDOT, Pro AV/Crystal Coast Wireless and Video Solutions, and Holiday Trav-L Park for their roles in making these traffic cameras possible.

Additional traffic and beach cameras are coming soon at the Western and Eastern ocean regional accesses. You can read more about these exciting additions on the Town's website.

Download the free Emerald Isle, NC app and receive a free donut from Flip Flops Donut Shop!

Download the Town's official app to your smartphone, visit Flip Flops Donut Shop at 7702 Emerald Drive, Suite D, and show them the app to receive one free Bogue Beach donut. This delicious treat features a maple glaze and cinnamon sugar. There is a limit of one free donut per customer.

On the Emerald Isle, NC app, you can check out our beach warning flag color of the day, view our traffic cameras and the Bogue Inlet Pier Cam, read the latest Town news, view upcoming events, find restaurant and shopping suggestions and more.

Download the app today on Google Play or the App Store.

Thank you to Flip Flops Donut Shop for working with the Town of Emerald Isle!

Emerald Isle Fire Department Cancer Awareness shirts are now on sale online, and are available to purchase through 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 12th.

There is both a unisex t-shirt, along with a Ladies cut t-shirt available for $25 apiece.

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.

Click here to order yours!

All proceeds go to support a North Carolina cancer charity.

The official beach driving season begins on Wednesday, September 15th.

Beach driving permit applications for the 2021-22 season are available online at www.emeraldisle-nc.org/beach-driving. As of September 1, permits are available either online or in person at the Police Department, at 7500 Emerald Drive. Due to the high volume of permit applications, same day service cannot be guaranteed. Those who apply will receive an email or phone call when their permit is ready to pick up.

Watch the video below for information on the updated application process.

Emerald Isle is fortunate to have a number of Ocean Rescue Lifeguards who will be on duty along the 12 miles of beach strand daily through September.

The Town would like to take this opportunity to recognize the Ocean Rescue Lifeguards for their hard work in 2021.

You can read more on the Town's website about our lifeguard numbers and the duration of the beach warning flags this year.

Even with having lifeguards on the beach, knowing the meanings of the various beach warning flags is crucial. Please keep in mind that the Town's recommendation is that you do not enter the water at all on red flag days. If you haven't reviewed the Town's official beach warning flag colors and their meanings, now is a great time to review our beach warning flag video below.

In addition to the physical flags strategically placed across the Town's beach strand and main access points, you can visit the Town's website or free smartphone app to find this information, as well as the official Town of Emerald Isle Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

You can view our Beach Safety FAQs on the Town's website. Click here to learn more about RIP currents, and what you should do if you get caught in one.

In an effort to assist local property owners and candidates, the Town of Emerald Isle Planning Department wishes to share the following Public Service Announcement.

The Town of Emerald Isle regulates political signage placement within the Town limits. The following regulations should be adhered to when placing signage for candidates within the Town of Emerald Isle:

(H) Temporary political signs advertising candidates or issues subject to the following conditions:

1. Signs may be placed within the NC 58 right-of-way and within the right-of-way of all Town streets, but permission of the adjacent private property owner is required.

2. Signs must be placed at least three (3) feet from the edge of the street pavement, and shall not be more than forty-two (42) inches higher than the asphalt roadway surface.

3. Signs shall not be displayed earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the start of "one-stop" voting and shall be removed no more than ten (10) days after the election. This year, One-Stop Voting begins on Thursday, October 14.

4. Signs shall not obstruct a driver's sight distance at an intersection or create an unsafe condition for motorists, pedestrians, or bicyclists.

5. Signs shall not be larger than six (6) square feet.

6. Signs shall not obscure or replace other signs.

7. No banners are permitted.

8. No campaign signs are permitted on or in front of Town-owned property, with the exception of Election Day and only in accordance with the guidelines established by the Town and the County Board of Elections.

9. There is no limit on the number of campaign signs, provided that all other regulations are followed.

For information related to NCDOT controlled roadways, please click here to review a 2020 press release:

If you have additional local questions, please contact the EI Planning Department at 252-354-3424 or visit www.emeraldisle-nc.org.

The Emerald Isle Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K is slated for Saturday, October 30.

Everyone who was registered for the March race date was automatically transferred to the October date, unless they requested otherwise. Volunteers will be dressed in costume and racers are encouraged to do the same.

Late October is beautiful in Emerald Isle, with average temperatures ranging from 45-55 degrees during race hours.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. 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 Town of Emerald Isle has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. According to a press release from the GFOA, this award is for the Town's comprehensive annual finance report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2020.

"The report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive 'spirit of full disclosure' to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report," the GFOA stated. "The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management."

The Government Finance Officers Association advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources, and practical research for more than 21,000 members and the communities they serve.

You can find the Town's comprehensive annual financial reports here.

The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season continues through November, and you are encouraged to make your preparations before a storm arrives. September is usually the peak of the hurricane season. So far, there have been 12 named storms this year.

The Town released a series of hurricane preparedness videos this spring to better educate the public on various topics that come to mind when a named storm is potentially heading our way.

You can always find hurricane preparedness information on our website, which includes a registration form for a disaster re-entry permit, in the event you do not have one. You should have your re-entry permit on hand before a storm is coming toward North Carolina. These permits are issued through the Police Department. If you do not currently have your permit on hand or need a second copy, apply online today or call the Police Department at 252-354-2021.

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 for the year, please take the time today to register.

This form is available online on the Town's website.

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.

Emerald Isle EMS is offering a subscription program to help offset the cost of an ambulance transport.

There are a few free subscriptions available, thanks to a generous donation by Fortitude Roofing. Call EMS Chief David Jones at 252-354-8595 to claim one during regular business hours, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. The remaining free subscriptions are on a first-come, first-serve basis, so don't delay!

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 EMS Department and expires on June 30th, 2022. There will be no refunds for cancelled or forfeited memberships.

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

View our video below for additional information about the EMS subscriptions.

Emerald Isle Public Works Department painted a section at the pier this summer where the emergency lane is, to indicate there should be nothing blocking the way between the red poles year-round. Signage has also been placed on the pier about the emergency lane, so it helps the Town's emergency responders easily traverse the beach strand without being slowed down when responding to a call.

This video explains the emergency lane is the 20 feet seaward of the dune line and must remain open for the entire length of Emerald Isle's beach strand. This means leaving it clear of beach gear, personal items and individuals. A good rule of thumb is if you see tire tracks from where the Town's Beach Patrol, Ocean Rescue Lifeguard and Public Works vehicles have traversed, do not place your beach equipment in that area.

Every second counts when responding to a call, and your help in keeping the emergency lane open is appreciated!

Earlier this year, the Emerald Isle Public Works Department rolled out technology that gives Town residents a bird’s eye view where the yard debris trucks are along their routes. This innovating use of ESRI technology, made possibly by independent contractor Greg Flinn, is now an online case study through ESRI publications.

The system allows residents to view the truck routes and see when their yard debris may be picked up by Public Works staff. Depending on various factors, such as distance traveled and the size of yard debris piles, times may vary on a weekly basis.

“This new system improves our level of customer service, and aids our staff when filing yard debris pickup reports,” said Artie Dunn, Public Works Director.

Paid Parking is underway at both the Eastern and Western Ocean Regional accesses and will last through September. It is in effect from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily, and is run through NCParkingCo.

Town property owners and long-term residents are able to obtain two free parking passes through the Police Department. You can apply online here, or at the Police Department from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, or 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. If you have not yet applied for this permit, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

Visit our website to view our Beach Parking 101 release, as well as videos on how to utilize the on-site parking kiosks or the Passport Parking app.

Save time and skip the line when you download the Passport Parking app.

Here are five great reasons to utilize this app:

Coastal Environmental Partnership and Carteret County have announced the next hazardous waste collection day will be held on Saturday, September 25, from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Items will be collected at the County Health Department, 3820 Bridges Street, Morehead City.

Accepted Materials: Used motor oil, lawn and garden fertilizer and pesticides, farm pesticides, gasoline, drain openers, paint thinners, cooking oil, anti-freeze and batteries and latex and oil paints. Each vehicle will be limited to 10 gallons of paint.

Non Acceptable Materials: Gas cylinders, explosives, ammunition, infectious, biological or radioactive wastes or commercial waste.

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

Every Friday 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 [email protected] for consideration. Please include "Friday Features" in the subject line, and the name of the photographer. Or use #EmeraldIsleNC in your Instagram photos.

Do you own a brick and mortar business in Emerald Isle you would like to see featured in our Business by the Beach series across the Town's social media feeds? Email Anna Smith, Town Clerk/Public Information Officer, at [email protected] for more information on this free opportunity.

These highlights are distributed each Saturday to reach both locals and visitors who are spending time in Emerald Isle.

If you have updated information on your Emerald Isle business from the past year, please email Anna Smith for updates on the Town's website and app.

Get to know our hardworking Town staff! Each 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.

Here are the employees who were recognized in August:

The Emerald Isle Golf Cart Safety, Rules & Regulations Class is 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!

It seems like the 2021 season just began with our Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol volunteers excitedly beginning to walk each zone every morning. Now the walking part of the season is almost over! Volunteers will continue to sit at existing nests trying to make sure the wee hatchlings make it safely into the ocean. With a total of 26 nests this year, that part of the 2021 season is still going strong.

Statistically, about 1in 1,000 of the hatchlings that actually make it into the ocean will live until adulthood. We want to make sure as many hatchlings as possible make that long swim to the Gulf Stream and the Sargasso Sea (also nicknamed “The Floating Rainforest of the Sea,” per the Smithsonian Channel). Once the hatchlings arrive in the Sargasso Sea, they are protected within the grasses and have abundant food sources trickling down thru the grass. Here in the grasses they will spend a few years floating about and growing.

We won’t have a final count of the hatchlings that made it into the Atlantic Ocean from our beach on EI until the last hatching makes its way into the water later this Fall. We also won’t know how many separate females nested here until later in the year.

It’s always exciting for us when the report is finalized and we can finally see which females returned and how many nests they deposited here. These reports are generated through federal grants that fund ongoing DNA research on sea turtle activities up and down the Atlantic Coast.

As always, we will not post any nest locations, nor will we post excavation dates or times. Visitors are welcome to join us nest sitting if you happen to find a nest location on your beach walks. Feel free to ask volunteers questions about anything sea turtle. You will find us more than willing to geek out about these little creatures!

Please remember when you exit the beach to leave nothing behind but your footprints!

Your September bill will show a credit - your share of $3.4 million we are returning to current and former members.

When you pay your bill each month, you are contributing to the equity, or your share of ownership, of CCEC. When capital credits are retired, a portion of that money is returned to you based on your years with the co-op and your annual energy use.

Unlike an investor-owned company where stockholders receive dividends, CCEC and other electric co-ops operate at cost. We maintain a portion of capital credits to help keep rates affordable by reducing the amount of funds we borrow to maintain and grow our electric distribution system.

Go to ccemc.com/CapitalCredits for more information and a list of unclaimed cash from past retirements.

Greetings from Bogue Banks Water! Our summer is winding down, and we hope you have enjoyed every minute of it!

We want to let you know of couple of changes to our policy:

1. We are no longer allowing residential meters to be larger than 1.5" without documentation from an engineer that proves more water flow is needed.

2. New construction: if you are planning to put in an irrigation system you must now purchase the irrigation meter at the same time as the residential/commercial meter is purchased.

Be sure to get the details from the updated version on our website: boguebankswater.com.

Thank you for being our valued customer, and thank you for helping us to conserve and protect this valuable resource: water!