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.

Mountains to Coast bike tour ends in CB

About 1,000 amateur cyclists from more than 35 states and four countries finished up the 14th annual Mountains to the Coast Bike Tour on Saturday. They crossed the finish line in Carolina Beach.

From WECT:

The riders started their week-long trek across the state in the mountains of Brevard to the coast of North Carolina. The event is designed to promote physical fitness and health, economic impact and publicity to communities across the state, as well as showcasing the state's scenic attributes.This year's participants range in age from 5 years old to 84 years, with an average age of 56 years. According to the North Carolina Amateur Sports, Cycle North Carolina risers are environmentally conscious.

Happy Island Day!

OK, so it was yesterday. My bad.

From WECT:

Despite possible rain in the forecast, Carolina Beach hosted its third annual "Island Day" at the Carolina Beach Lake Park without a hitch on Sunday.
Locals enjoyed free food and drinks provided by local establishments, as well as the Carolina Beach fire and police departments. Those in attendance enjoyed live music and fun activities around the park.
The event's goal is to bring the community together for a fun day and raise awareness of the efforts of the city's fire and police departments.

Mountains to Coast bike tour to end in CB

From the Star-News:

About 1,000 cyclists will cross the finish line in Carolina Beach Oct. 6, ending Cycle North Carolina’s 14th annual Mountains to the Coast Bike Tour.
The week-long tour starts in Brevard and ends on Carolina Beach’s Boardwalk. It’s the third year that the Wilmington area has been the tour’s final destination. In 2000 and 2005, the rides ended at Battleship Park.
The finish line celebration will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Boardwalk.

Accomplishing something like this is impressive. I can barely lift my head outta bed most days.

And still more about 'the ban'

From the News & Observer ...

Carolina Beach may become the first smokeless strand of sand on the state’s coastline.

The town council voted 4-1 at its regular meeting Tuesday night in favor of an ordinance that would prohibit smoking on the beach. On the advice of their attorney, town officials will seek the state legislature’s approval for the measure, because it’s not clear whether the town or the state has jurisdiction over the beach.

That means the rule wouldn’t go into effect until at least next near.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/08/15/2271861/carolina-beach-moves-to-be-first.html#storylink=cpy

If this doesn't move you, you have no heart OR soul

Seriously.

Seven-year-old Mya Bartlett [of Carolina Beach] doesn’t like to talk about the accident that fractured her skull and left her with traumatic brain damage. It happened on April 8, 2010.

She was kicking a soccer ball, fell backward, and hit her head. The Hello Kitty ponytail holder she was wearing damaged her fragile skull.

“As the doctors said, it was as if she had a rock and a knife in her head when she fell. The rock was the plastic, and the corners and edges acted as a knife,”  said Mya’s mother, Tristen Waters.

Waters thought it was a freak accident, but after doing some research, she learned that injuries from hair accessories are fairly common, especially for girls who are very active.

Now Mya and her sister, Kyra, are turning an injury into an investment. They are making and selling safe hair accessories.

“They got no plastic and no metal,” said Mya of her accessories. She and Kyra design and sew the bows themselves, with a little help from Mom.

Waters said Mya struggles with ADD, ADHD, and memory loss among other things, as a result of the injury, but she’s proud that her girls are helping to prevent similar problems, one hair bow at a time.

“The product that they are making is going to save lives.  And because the product their making is saving lives, they are saving the world.”

The girls used the money they made from the bows and bands to pay for summer camp. 

Now they are deciding what charity to help out with the rest of the money they made

CB gets into the "banning smoking on the beach" discussion

Carolina Beach is exploring the idea of banning smoking on the beach, according to WWAY. The reviews are mixed so far.

"I don't think we should be Gestapo," said Lou Belo, who is against a smoking ban on the beach. "It's outside, it's no problem, if people would only clean up after themselves.
"I'm not a smoker, but I'd support it," Keith Hargrave said. "I mean, I walk up and down the beach. You can look in the sand right here there's cigarette butts all over the place. People don't respect the rules."

The town council will hold a public hearing on a possible smoking ban at the beach during its next meeting Tuesday.

Debate over a smoking ban at the beach is nothing new. In november, Wrightsville Beach residents will have a chance to vote yea or nay for a smoking ban along their shores.

Carolina Beach Councilman Lonnie Lashley put the item on next week's agenda after getting several complaints from residents. He would not talk to us on camera, but he says it has nothing to do with Wrightsville Beach. ...

The public can give their feedback during the town council meeting Tuesday night. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Carolina Beach Town Hall.

Count me as someone who is all for the ban.