Oh, happy days!

This is really good news:

Mark your calendars and get ready to boogie - the 28th Carolina Beach Music Festival is right around the corner! Held on Saturday, June 1st from 10:30 am - 4:30 pm right on the beach in beautiful Carolina Beach, North Carolina.

But this is even BETTER news!

 It's official! Construction work on the Snow's Cut Bridge is finished for the rest of summer.
Crews finished work on the southbound lanes Thursday, a day earlier than they planned.
DOT crews have been working on the southbound lanes of the bridge since November. Lanes will be open for the rest of the summer, but the work isn't complete.
After the summer months crews will begin to work on the northbound lanes in the fall on October 1.

CB changes roads for repairs; CB to sell pier properties

Once again, Carolina Beach is changing up its road business. Snow's Cut Bridge on Carolina Beach Road was recently reduced from four to two lanes beginning this past week, according to WWAY.

"Crews will do extensive repair work. The project is expected to last approximately four months. The lane closures will remain in place during the entire construction period."

 And in other news, CB is going to see how much it can get for its pier property, according to WECT.

It doesn't mean the pier project is dead because the town can still take the properties off the market. "If we get a good offer the council will have to consider that," said Tim Owens, town manager. "The other alternative would be to move forward on the park as we decided to do. It's really about whether we get a good price or not."
They're hoping a strong bid will help them with their debt.
The town is in the initial stages of listing the properties.

CB's 'road diet' reversal set

Seems CB's "road diet" problem is not quite over. Not quite. But almost.

"The reversal of a hotly contested road project in Carolina Beach looks like it will finally be coming to an end," says WWAY.

Fattening Lake Park Blvd on Pleasure Island is on track to be completed by one of the busiest weekends of the season.

Since it was implemented a few years ago the “road diet” has caused public outcry about traffic and parking problems. In 2010 the "diet" reduced the four lane road to two lanes with a center turn lane and bike paths along with diagonal parking.

Town manager Tim Owens says the reversal should be completed by Memorial Day weekend. ...

The road diet was originally part of a plan to give downtown Carolina Beach more of a "main street" feel.

CB trying to resolve 'road diet' problem

"Last year the Town of Carolina Beach trimmed down it's main road from four to two lanes. The 'road diet' for Lake Park Blvd. has caused some huge headaches for people," said WWAY. The CB town council recently met to talk about possible solutions.

The road diet not only did away with lanes of traffic. It also added a dual purpose turn lane, bike lanes and diagonal parking spaces. Severe congestion problems, safety of bicyclists and small business sales suffering are just a few of the problems the diet has caused.

CB native Munley deservedly given key to the city

"Still leaning on her cane but smiling broadly Tuesday night, Sgt. Kimberly Munley accepted the key to the town from the Carolina Beach Town Council," writes the Star-News.

You'll remember that Munley was the "hero cop" who brought down Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan back in November after he had opened fire on the base at Fort Hood, Texas, killing 13 and wounding more than 30 others.

Munley is the daughter of former Carolina Beach Mayor Dennis Barbour.

The council declared Nov. 5 a day to remember the bravery and sacrifice of the Carolina Beach native, who was shot in both legs and once in the wrist while helping stop a deadly shooting at the U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, Texas, on that date last year. Flanked by her family, including her 3-year-old daughter, Munley thanked the council for the "tremendous support" she received from the town and county since the incident.

"It was a big job that day and a group effort – I just happened to be the one, with Mark Todd, to get there first," Munley said.

In other CB news, the council is apparently getting an earful about the new traffic patterns.

Watch out for a new traffic pattern

WECT is reporting that a new traffic pattern in CB has caused some confusion.

Lake Park Boulevard used to have two lanes in each direction, but now it only has one. Officials say they are trying to help the flow of traffic, but residents say one lane just isn't enough.

"I mean, two lanes coming off the beach, just makes sense," said pizza delivery driver Lanelle Barrow. "Maybe in the long run it will be a good idea, but right now, I don't see it."

The plan to change traffic patterns has been in the works with town leaders for five years. They hope the changes will give the area a more traditional "downtown" ambiance.