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.

The Boardwalk gettin' busy with restaurants

Activity is picking up on the CB Boardwalk. Port City Foodies reports that D.J Fries is scheduled to open this week on the Boardwalk.

The addition makes for a new scene full of traditional favorites for foodies on the beach. DJ’s will serve natural, homemade-style french fries as well as funnel fries, said owner Dan Wilcox, who also owns MaddFish Grill. These sweet fries are short, round pieces of funnel cake coated with cinnamon and sugar.  “It’s something we thought would work well,” Wilcox said. “It’s a brand new business here.” He anticipates that DJ’s will be open noon to midnight.

In addition, Island Hots has opened in the old Trolley Stop location. It "serves up a variety of hot dogs – including one named for the store that’s served with onions, jalpenos, and a homemade red pepper relish, said owner Ron Stevens.

Look for other menu items like chicken tenders, root beer floats made with soft-serve vanilla ice cream and beer-battered onion rings that have become a favorite. There are 12 stools inside the shop where you can sit and chat with Stevens and his brother. But there’s also a large courtyard area that seats 50-55 people. “It’s a great spot to sit down and watch the fireworks,” he said.  Also noteworthy is Hurricane Alley’s, a new seafood restaurant, sandwich shop, bar and music venue. There, you can find steam pots and grilled sandwiches and a deck with an ocean view.

3 CB marinas added to 'Clean' list

From WECT:

Three marinas from Carolina Beach have been certified as North Carolina Clean Marinas, according to state regulations.

The Mona Black Marina, Federal Point Yacht Club and Carolina Beach State Park earned that designation in the Clean Marina program. To get this certification, owners need to prepare spill prevention plans and conduct safety and emergency planning. They also have to control boat maintenance activities to protect the water quality.

Marinas have to get recertified every couple years.

Other current clean marinas include Cypress Landing Marina, Harbour Village Marina, Wilmington Marine Center, Joyner Marina, Southport Marina and New Bern Grand Marina.

Some nice CB improvements

I don't know for certain it's been completed, but Carolina Beach Inlet was slated to be dredged and improved by now.

The [US Army] Corps [of Engineers] expects its side-caster dredge Merritt to finish clearing New Topsail Inlet in Pender County by June 8. Carolina Beach Inlet is next on the list [according to this report].

The dredge boat already passed through New Hanover County shores, but left for some emergency work in the northern part of the state.

Roger Bullock with the Army Corps said Carolina Beach Inlet needs to be at least 8 feet deep, so the job should take about a week.

And in addition, Snow's Cub Bridge has some improvements coming its way, according to the Star-News.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a $4.6 million contract to resurface the Snow's Cut Bridge to Pleasure Island

The contracts was awarded the American Bridge Co. of Coraopolis, Pa., according to a DOT news release.

The work can begin as early as July 1 and is scheduled to be completed within 390 days after the start date.

The bridge will be resurfaced using a new technique called hydro-demolition. Using that technique, crews will remove the old concrete on the bridge deck using high-pressure water. "Hydro-demolition is more precise than traditional pavement removal with a jackhammer, and it reduces the potential for damage to the bridge," the release states.

The bridge will be resurfaced with high-strength concrete, and contractors will also paint the structural steel and make repairs to the substructure concrete.