A new couch ... and some new sand!

We are excited to report that Our Beach Place should have a nice, sparkling new sofa come this weekend. Those of you who have stayed at the OBP know that it's long overdue. We're very excited.

We're also excited about this:

Congressman Mike McIntyre's office announced [last week] Carolina Beach is one step closer getting much-needed dredging.

The memorandum of agreement or MOA between the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the state of North Carolina to pay for the project has been approved. The agreement will allow the state and local communities to pay the Army Corps to dredge the Carolina Beach inlet as well as the Lockwoods Folly and New Topsail inlets.

State leaders say the waterways are critical to commercial and recreation fishermen and the tourism industry.

Huzzahs all around!

Filmmakers look to promote Pleasure Island

There will soon be a new "welcome to" video to promote Carolina Beach and Pleasure Island, according to the Star-News.

Albert Hedgepeth III, founder of Rendered Communications and a producer, is hiring seven or eight people who have experience in the local film industry to help him with the video. They'll be shooting at various events and venues in Carolina and Kure beaches for the next several weeks, including inside one of the tanks at the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

"Our objective is to give a modern, hip overview of the island to show the activities that are going on here," Hedgepeth said.

While he already has some of the footage on file from summer months, one of the biggest challenges will be shooting warm-weather activities now, such as surfing, paddleboarding and kiteboarding, he said.

The video should be a part of the site by mid-February, Hedgepeth added.

Blu Zeus Interactive Marketing of Wilmington is designing the new website. The last time it was updated was in 2007, said Gail McCloskey, president of the chamber. ...

"Our goal is to get people across the bridge, and once they do that they'll see all the things we have to do," [Chamber Assistant Director Greg] Reynolds said. "They'll say, ‘Wow, I didn't know that about that place. I didn't know there were so many things to do.'"

Get creative and original this winter in Carolina Beach

From a press release:

This winter, the adventurous are skipping the trip westward and trading their snowmen for sand castles. Why hit the slopes when you can hit the sand with an original winter getaway at Carolina Beach?

For some travelers, Carolina Beach (http://www.carolinabeachgetaway.com) puts a decidedly original spin on the winter getaway they seek. Lively local festivities, including the 147th Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Fisher, complement a fantastic variety of area amenities, including locally owned shops and restaurants, as well as rentals and accommodations at discounted rates.

Budget-Friendly Beach
Looking for a wallet-friendly winter getaway after the hustle and bustle of the holidays? Carolina Beach makes it easy to plan for a long weekend or extended family getaway with rental options for any budget. Motels, hotels and many beach condos offer low off-season rates that make Carolina Beach an attractive destination during the winter and throughout the year(http://www.carolinabeachgetaway.com/lodging/). Others might check out the special offers at area hotels and motels (http://www.carolinabeachgetaway.com/lodging/hotels_motel ...).

A Different Kind Of Winter Chill
With high temperatures often reaching into the 60s in January, Carolina Beach offers milder winter getaway weather than other traditional destinations. Outdoor adventurers seeking an active getaway will be pleasantly surprised at nature’s bounty this time of year. Speckled trout and striped bass are especially plentiful in area waters, much to the delight of both seasoned and amateur anglers (http://bit.ly/

pLY3Uv). And an array of unique birds make their winter homes at Carolina Beach State Park, from the belted kingfisher and Boat-tailed Grackle, to Bonaparte’s Gull, the Bufflehead, Forster’s Tern and more (http://bit.ly/oY5L9N). Bundle up and hike along one of the park’s six nature trails. Sugarloaf Trail, named for the 50-foot sand dune near the bank of the Cape Fear River, offers a three-mile journey that is an excellent place for watching water birds, exploring the tidal marsh, and observing fiddler crabs as they travel over the mudflats.

...

CB gets another grant, but pier project still on hold

From the Star-News' Shannan Bowen:

Another state grant has been awarded for Carolina Beach's proposed Ocean-to-Sound Park and state fishing pier, but the project itself still remains on hold.

The N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund awarded $369,179 to Carolina Beach for the project, and the town will have to match that amount, according to a news release Wednesday from Gov. Perdue's office.

The town already received $250,000 in state grants, and all grants will help pay off $4.3 million in land the town purchased in hopes the state's Aquariums Division would build its third aquarium fishing pier here.

Carolina Beach manager Tim Owens said the town is still applying for other grants to help cover the costs of the land. He said the council, which has three new members, will decide the future of the park and fishing pier.

Happy New Year!

Now get down here and enjoy the beach!