Island Review - April 2024

▪ Aycock Brown

▪ Business Spotlight

▪ Garden Gate

▪ Rental Signs

▪ At the Aquarium

▪ The Ocean Breeze

▪ Emerald Tidings

 Food for Thought

▪ Property Watch

▪ Chamber Connection

▪ Book Bag

▪ Events Calendar

▪ Mayors’ Notes

coasting

Celebrating Wine and Food

Swirl, smell, sip and repeat as the Beaufort Wine and Food Annual Spring Festival takes over the waterfront village April 25-April 28. The annual event features days full of tastings, seminars, dinners, live and silent auctions, a fashion show and more. Culinary talent and wine industry leaders descend on Beaufort as guest chefs are paired up with some of the Crystal Coast’s best restaurants and chefs for an unforgettable experience. All in the name of charity!

Through the years, Beaufort Wine & Food has showcased great wineries and winemakers from around the world and who work alongside some of the best chefs Eastern North Carolina has to offer. Visitors can expect elaborately paired wine dinners in local restaurants and private homes, brunch, tasting seminars and more over the course of five busy days.

This year’s wine dinners are slated in a variety of Crystal Coast restaurants. Tickets for these sensory experiences go fast, so be sure to reserve your spot early.

Events culminate on Sunday, April 28 with the grand Vin de Mer Culinary Experience. The tented event brings together hundreds of wine labels and local and regional restaurants in what the organization previously described as a little bit of “controlled chaos.” It is the see and be seen event of the festival, bringing together the best that the Wine & Food Weekend has to offer for a 4-hour whirlwind of fun.

Tip – be sure to keep your phone close at hand so you can note your favorite wines along the way.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit beaufortwineandfood.org or call 252-515-0708.

Shore Protection Office Surveys Beach

Over the past several weeks we have had several Winter storms roll through the area that had a significant amount of SE winds associated with them. Swells generated from SE winds have the most energy and are the most impactful that we experience of all swell directions. As you may well know, these events have

lead to some pretty significant erosion escarpments along Bogue Banks beaches. Some of these escarpments are as much as 6’ in Emerald Isle.

According to the Shore Protection office, history tells us that many times these “Hot Spots” will heal themselves once spring weather patterns arrive. The sand usually remains in the nearshore system and SW winds have a tendency to roll the sand back up the beach. Hopefully this will be the case!

In late April of this spring the Shore Protection Office will be conducting the annual island wide beach survey. This detailed survey will map out beach profiles every 1000’ feet down the entirety of Bogue Banks. Each profile has a “trigger” in place which tells us when to get concerned. The office will be working closely with a team of engineers to look at the data and identify any problem areas. The data will be presented to the Beach Commission where it can collectively discuss potential solutions if needed. At this, the office feels sand will return during spring.

It's Publick Day at the BHA

The Beaufort Historic Site transforms into an open-air marketplace on Saturday, April 13. Come explore the vast array of crafts, art, and food for sale from various vendors and Old Beaufort Farmers Market favorites. The event is inspired by “Publick Times”, the colonial-era event that took place twice a year in Williamsburg, Virginia when courts were in session. People would come to town to see and be seen, conduct court business, shop, gossip, dine, and dance.

The modern-day event offers some of the same. Expect to find a variety of vendors selling antiques, vintage finds, collectibles, art pieces, wood crafts, furniture, hand-made jewelry, baskets, pottery, candles, and much more! All proceeds from Publick Day go toward the ongoing restoration efforts and educational programs of the Beaufort Historical Association. We still have vendor spots available! Please email PR@beauforthistoricsite.org, or call 252728-5225 for more information regarding this event.

Photograph Courtesy of

MHC Parks & Rec Named Mainstreet Champ

The Town of Morehead City’s Parks & Recreation Department was recognized as a 2023 recipient of the North Carolina Main Street Champion Award last Thursday during the 23rd Annual NC Main Street Conference in Goldsboro, NC. This honor is awarded to individuals and groups who go above and beyond in their contributions for the continued revitalization and community building of their downtown districts.

Downtown Morehead City, Inc. eagerly nominated the Morehead City Parks & Recreation Department for this award based on their many years of strong partnership and collaboration on downtown programs and projects. The organization submitted the following statement along with their nomination:

“The Town of Morehead City’s Parks & Recreation Department is an essential part of Morehead City’s downtown district. Its support of Downtown Morehead City, Inc. has been integral to the organization’s success. Collectively, the Parks & Recreation team is responsible for running an impressive recreation center, coordinating sports programming for youth and adults, managing the historic Curb Market, maintaining more than ten parks and facilities within the downtown district, and planning a series of family-friendly events.

These events bring together community members from all walks of life. Several members of their staff also sit on multiple Downtown Morehead City, Inc. committees, and generously share ideas, resources, and volunteer hours to help the organization thrive.

Through the Parks and Recreation Department’s efforts, Morehead City’s parks and recreational spaces have been transformed into vibrant hubs of activity. Downtown Morehead City, Inc. proudly acknowledges the Town of Morehead City’s Parks & Recreation Department as its 2023 North Carolina Main Street Champion.”

“We are so fortunate to work with an incredible group of people through the Morehead City Parks & Recreation Department,” said DMC,

Inc. Executive Director, Kathryn Metts, “and we are grateful for their dedication to making our downtown community the best it can be!”

A total of forty Main Street Champions were named in communities across North Carolina in 2023, with medals and certificates of honor presented by N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary, Machelle Baker Sanders, and Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development at the N.C. Department of Commerce, Kenny Flowers.

View the Morehead City Champions video, and learn more about the recognition program, on the Downtown Morehead City, Inc. website.

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR TIME ON THE ISLAND!

Kathryn Metts Executive Director

Spring into Action in Downtown

We can’t help getting excited when April rolls around, with the flowers in bloom and warm breezes returning to the Crystal Coast – it’s a beautiful season to experience in downtown Morehead City. And as always, there’s plenty to do, see, explore and enjoy in our downtown district! We’ve got plenty of ideas and suggestions to help you make the most of the month:

Take advantage of the spring sunshine and get outdoors! Downtown Morehead City is home to many parks, public water access points, playgrounds, and walking trails – plus fishing charters, kayak tours and ferry services – which make it easy to spend time in nature. Plan a picnic, follow our sculptural fish walk, or join our new Adopt-a-Block Program and help us keep our community beautiful and litter-free! We recently took ownership of the Adopt-a-Block Program from the Town of Morehead City and are excited about helping our downtown district stay clean all year long. If you are interested in volunteering with us, creating a team for your business/organization, or would like to learn more about the program, please visit our website: www.downtownmoreheadcity. com/adopt-a-block

In the mood to reset and refresh? Spend a weekend spring cleaning and donate your secondhand items to a downtown thrift store, or consign with a downtown boutique or antique shop. While you’re out, drop by our other retailers for the latest spring and summer finds, oneof-a-kind art pieces, and more. And don’t forget about your outdoor

spaces! Our downtown furniture and home goods stores can help you revamp a patio, deck, or garden area to maximize your outside living.

Plus, April is usually the beginning of our return to al fresco dining along the downtown Morehead City waterfront. Grab your group and head downtown for dockside drinks and eats – one of the things that sets us apart from other coastal destinations! Where else can you enjoy fresh, local seafood with a stellar view of the intracoastal waterway and Sugarloaf Island?

There are also several fun events happening downtown this month –channel your inner sommelier at the 3rd Annual Crystal Coast Corks & Forks Blind Wine Tasting on April 12th, check out the buzz during the North Carolina Seafood Festival’s Bites & Blues event on April 13th, or try your hand at an Oil Painting Master Class with the Arts Council of Carteret County on April 25th & 26th. For more details, stay up to date by following our social media pages.

Downtown Morehead City, Inc. is a North Carolina Main Street 501c3 economic development organization that supports new and existing businesses in the downtown area, and partners with the Town of Morehead City on various design and economic vitality projects. We encourage you to support small, local businesses all year long! Downtown Happenings is an e-newsletter distributed monthly to those who would like to be in the know on the latest projects and events that are taking place downtown. Sign up at downtownmoreheadcity.com

New Bern Bears are Everywhere

Can You Find Them All?

Stubby and stocky statues of black bears are all over the place in New Bern, N.C.

Collectively, they are a curious lot, challenging all who travel U.S. Route 70 to pause in “Bear Town” and look for their paws.

The Greenville (N.C.) Daily Reflector reports that there are more than 80 fiberglass/ceramic “Bear Town Bears” stationed throughout the city. They were introduced as part of New Bern’s 300-year anniversary observance in 2010.

The bear is more than a mascot, the news reporter said. Bears are “part of the heritage of North Carolina’s second oldest town.”

“The bear is the symbol of Bern, Switzerland, the hometown of a group of settlers that founded New Bern” in the early 1700s,” according to the article.

Each “Bear Town Bear” is an ambassador for the city, serving to welcome visitors and guests. Their sponsors have assigned the bears interesting names, designed to evoke a chuckle. Here are some of the local favorites:

“Bear-ly Legal” is sponsored by Stubbs & Perdue Law Firm. Artist: Gee Vee Meyer.

“Honey, I’m Home” is sponsored by Coldwell Banker Willis Smith. Artist: Donna Woodruff.

“Dr. Paw” is sponsored by William Hand III Dentistry. Artist: Molly Knazek.

“Tooth Beary” is sponsored by Kincaid & Purvis Dentistry. Artist: Glenna Davis.

“Bearon De Graffenried” is sponsored by Union Point Park. Artist: Barbara Hesketh.

(Baron Christoph von Graffenried of Bern, Switzerland, relinquished his office as a minor government official there because he wanted to

find fortune in America. He is considered the founder of New Bern.)

Bear Town Bears is operated as a joint project between the New Bern Tourism and Development Authority and Craven Arts Council & Gallery.

The “Flag Bearer” bear at New Bern’s City Hall was replaced in 2020. The original statue washed away during Hurricane Florence in 2018.

“Flag Bearer represents our city, our state and our country,” said Matthew Montanye, Director of Public Works. He told WITN-TV that efforts to replace the bear ran into snags when the pandemic hit.

“It actually took us the better part of six or seven months to actually get the bear manufactured and shipped to New Bern before we could have it painted,” Montanye said.

The original artist Vicki Vitale-Farrow was asked to paint the new Flag Bearer, and she said she made a few additions to the statue to strengthen the symbolism and illustrate “freedom, patriotism and the love of the country.”

She is also the artist of “Semper Fi,” the bear that greets folks at New Bern’s Coastal Carolina Regional Airport. The bear stands tall in the airport’s main lobby wearing his Marine Corps Dress Blue uniform.

“It’s for all the Marines who come in and out of this airport and for what they do for our country,” said Vitale-Farrow. Semper Fi was assigned the rank of corporal.

One of the newest bears in town stands watch at Saint Paul Catholic Church. Its named is “Ursus Paulus,” which the Rev. Tom Tully said is Latin for “Paul the Bear,” reflecting the Catholic tradition. The artist is Sandy Bruno.

Mike Wagoner

tide tables

APRIL 2024

MAY 2024

34º 43’ Latitude

76º 42’

HIGHLOW

Atlantic Beach -:41 -:39

Atlantic Beach Bridge +:22 +:34

Beaufort Inlet -:19 -:17

Bogue Inlet -:13 -:13

Cape Lookout -:43 -:49

Core Creek Bridge +1:00 +1:19

Drum Inlet -:29 -:31

Duke Marine Lab +:16 +:12

Ft. Macon USCG -:09 -:10

Harkers Island +1.26 +2:06

Harkers Island Bridge +1:42 +2:04

Hatteras Inlet -:18 -:15

Newport River +:44 +1:02

New River Inlet -:10 -:11 DST FOR MOREHEAD CITY, NC

DST

FOR MOREHEAD CITY, NC

34º 43’ Latitude

76º 42’ Longitude

Tidal Time Difference

Between Morehead City &:

HIGH LOW

Atlantic Beach -:41 -:39

Atlantic Beach Bridge +:22 +:34

Beaufort Inlet -:19 -:17

Bogue Inlet -:13 -:13

Cape Lookout -:43 -:49

Core Creek Bridge +1:00 +1:19

Drum Inlet -:29 -:31

Duke Marine Lab +:16 +:12

Ft. Macon USCG -:09 -:10

Harkers Island +1.26 +2:06

Harkers Island Bridge +1:42 +2:04

Hatteras Inlet -:18 -:15

Newport River +:44 +1:02

New River Inlet -:10 -:11

Bringing Color & Style to the Coast

Chris and Katherine Porter have worn many hats throughout their careers. A North Carolina native, Chris graduated from UNCChapel Hill and later completed his MBA at Vanderbilt. Chris worked as the lead for several consumer product businesses during his 25 years with Sara Lee and Hanes. Katherine has her own impressive resume, originally from Memphis, she worked for advertising giant Leo Burnett and later became a certified Neurology nurse. So one might ask, how did this dynamic duo end up with a Kitchen and Bath remodeling business in Eastern North Carolina?

It all started when the world shut down in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. With the world in chaos, Chris and Katherine knew it was time for a change. Having owned a vacation home on Emerald Isle since the 90s, the Porters knew exactly where they wanted to land.

“We are kind of corporate gypsies.” Laughs Katherine “On top of our careers, we’ve renovated over 10 homes in the last 20 plus years and we’ve always had a passion for that.”

Chris and Katherine Porter purchased Artistic Tile in Atlantic Beach, NC from Doris and Monty Groff in 2021. The Groffs opened the tile business in 1997 and after almost 25 years of supplying tile for the Crystal Coast, The Groffs felt it was time for them to take a well-earned step forward into retirement. Monty stays on as a part-time consultant for Chris and Katherine.

“We’ve both had great careers and life experiences and we

each bring different skills to the table.” Says Chris. “We felt confident in our abilities and teamwork as a couple.”

Today, the company has expanded on the legacy of Artistic Tile and rebranded as Artistic Kitchen and Bath. They have updated their showroom’s extensive tile and countertop selection to include custom cabinets, vanities, and tile. On top of rebranding and offering more services, Chris is also a licensed General Contractor. This allows Artistic Kitchen and Bath to manage all aspects of any project.

“Updating interior spaces, replacing fixtures, and cabinets, upgrading old flooring, and changing dated color pallets make a big impact on the welcoming feel of a house overall.” Says Katherine.

Artistic Tile offers multiple options when it comes to renovations. They not only work on the interior of the home but have also expanded to create beautiful outdoor kitchens and living areas. Artistic Tile allows homeowners to reclaim their homes from outdated designs of the past to beautiful new finishes and designs. “To see a before and after is really amazing. It sometimes feels like it’s not even the same home.” Says Chris.

Together, Chris and Katherine are diving right into their passion project turned business; and are transforming “Artistic” to become the premier remodeler of kitchens and bathrooms on the Crystal Coast.

Are you getting lost in the ocean of vacation rentals?

Do you need more personal attention?

Call or stop by our office to see how we are different!

coastal calendar

APRIL and other equipment to safely view the ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com.

Looking Forward to the 'Season'

April at the Beach is always a great time to enjoy our beautiful Island paradise! Visitors and citizens alike enjoy warmer weather, spring showers, and flowers blooming galore. This is truly the time to get outside and walk on the beach, or just walk through our many beautiful neighborhoods. Fishing, which is always good here, is getting better each day, so take time to “wet a hook”, who knows, you may catch your dinner for the day.

The Town of Atlantic Beach has partnered with Premium Parking to professionally manage our paid parking program for the 2024 season, which runs April 1 through September 30. Utilizing this professional service frees up Police Personnel for other needed duties, as well as providing funds for beach services such as: 7-day-a-week lifeguard service, operation and maintenance of three public beach access bathhouses, daily garbage/refuse pickup and disposal along the entire beachfront and various free summer recreation programs. One big change to the program for this year is the Re-Entry passes, which will no longer be used for parking. Atlantic Beach residents and property owners are eligible for two free parking registrations per year, per parcel. Business owners are eligible for one free parking registration per year, per business. Registrations are assigned to license plates and no physical sticker will be issued.

We have another special event during April, The AB King Mackerel

Buying or Selling Property?

Fishing Tournament Sapphire Soiree. Since the re-start of the tournament, the leaders have created several fund-raising events to assist with the overall project. The Soiree is held each year in the spring at the Cottage at the Crystal Coast located in Atlantic Beach and raises money for the AB Fire Department for life-saving equipment.

The annual Beach Music Festival will be held at the Circle on May 16th! We are accepting sponsorships now at Town Hall, if you would like to help sponsor this event contact us and someone will help you decide what level is right for you. This festival has grown into a full week of celebrations of Beach Music running May 12th-16th and is recognized as a benchmark representative for Beach Music Festivals. We will provide more information on the week of festivities in the upcoming May issue.

I encourage you to check out the new decals being installed on our police vehicles; we think they look great and are very fitting for our beach. In addition, take the opportunity to welcome our new Police Chief, David Clifton, who is working hard to make Atlantic Beach Police Department the best around.

When you read this, I will already be in my fourth month as Mayor of the great Town of Atlantic Beach. I have met so many wonderful people and it is a privilege and honor to serve such a fine group of citizens!

I look forward to a fun, healthy and safe spring and summer season!

Mayor Danny Navey

Pam Bird 252-241-0160

Sarah Bird 252-241-7925

Paige Coker

Alicia Nelson 252-241-0402

Al Williams 252-726-8800

Terry Rogers 252-342-3617

Dennis Simpson 252-269-1929

Shelton Edmondson 252-908-5878

Leigh Anna Weaver 252-558-8955

Clark Woodard

Mini-Golf and Concession Stand Opens for the Season

Located at 915 W Fort Macon Road, the AB Town Park features a splash pad, large skatepark, 18-hole mini-golf course, half-court basketball court, picnic shelter, concession stand, and public restrooms. Admission to the mini-golf course is $6 per person ages 7 & up. Ages 6 & under are free with a paying adult (limited to 4 free per 1 paid adult). The concession stand features

slushies, Dippin’ Dots ice cream, and candy! The splash pad will open for the season May 11. The Concession Stand and Mini-Golf hours are:

March 30 through May 5: Saturday and Sundays ONLY from 10am until 6pm.

*April 1- 5 (for Carteret County School System Spring Break): Daily from 1pm until 6pm*

May 11: Open 7 days a week from 10am until 10pm.

Paid Parking for 2024 Beach Season Runs April 1-Sept. 30

The Town of Atlantic Beach has partnered with Premium Parking to professionally manage the paid parking program for the 2024 season. Premium Parking operates 1,000 locations nationally.

The Town’s parking program generates funds for beach services which include: a 7-day-a-week, paid summer lifeguard program, the operation and maintenance of three public beach access bathhouses, daily garbage/refuse pickup and disposal along a five-mile beachfront, traffic safety enforcement for a summer population that approaches 50,000, and various free summer recreation programs activities like the AB Beach Music Festival and July Fourth Fireworks. These funds ensure that such tourist-related beach services are not fully subsidized by the local property taxpayers.

The paid parking program is enforced April 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024 from 9am – 6pm every day. The pay-to-park rate is $4.00 per hour. Failure to follow the paid parking policy will result in a $50 citation.

Celebrate our 10th Anniversary Beach Music Festival with a week of Beach Music themed events.

Atlantic Beach Property Owners are eligible for two free parking registrations per year, per parcel. Business Owners are eligible for one free parking registration per year, per business. Registrations are assigned to license plates; no physical sticker will be issued. License plates are registered through the town’s website www.atlanticbeach-nc.com by filling out a form and providing proof of parcel or business ownership.

Visitors who visit frequently may purchase a 2024 Season Permit for $200 by visiting the town’s website. Once purchased, you may park in any town-owned paid parking space (Excluding 30-Minute parking, Loading Zones, Handicap Spaces, Golf Cart Only spaces).

We encourage everyone to download the free Premium Parking App and pay for parking using their mobile phone. There will be limited pay machines operating at the circle and the New Bern Avenue Beach Access for visitors who prefer to pay using a machine with credit/ debit card, no cash accepted. With mobile payments you will receive an alert 15 minutes before your parking session expires, allowing you to tap a link and extend your parking session without having to leave the beach and run back to a pay machine.

AB King Mackerel Fishing Tourney Sapphire Soiree

Join the Atlantic Beach King Mackerel Tournament at the Sapphire Soiree on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at the Cottage at the Crystal Coast to raise money for life-saving equipment for the AB Fire Department. Tickets are $100 each and include food, open bar, live entertainment by Trainwreck, and 1 reverse raffle ticket for a $1500 giveaway! Tickets are available at: www.abkingmack.com

Nutritional Needs Change as we Age

Healthy eating is important at any age and can set the course for a life of vitality and wellness. Sufficient nutrition can help prevent chronic illnesses and make sure that growing bodies develop properly. As one ages, various changes take place in the body, making healthy eating even more essential.

According to Healthline, nutritional deficiencies can effect aging individuals, which can decrease quality of life and lead to poor health outcomes. Individuals should pay attention to their vitamin and mineral intake at various ages so they do not miss out on important nutrients. As a person ages, here are some approaches to consider.

Consume fewer calories: According to Connie Bales, PhD, RD, associate director of the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center at Durham VA Medical Center, people need fewer calories every decade. That’s because individuals are moving around less and have less muscle. This causes a decline in metabolic rate.

Include more nutrient-dense foods: Even though caloric needs go down with age, it’s important to pack as much nutrition into the calories a person does consume. That means finding nutrient-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, nuts, beans, vegetables, fish, and lean cuts of meat.

Consume more lean protein: Muscle loss and loss of strength can develop as a person ages. Healthline says the average adult loses 3 to 8 percent of their muscle mass each decade after age 30. Eating more protein could help aging bodies maintain muscle.

Eat fortified cereals and grains: The ability to absorb vitamin B12 can decrease as one gets older and with the use of certain medicines. Many health professionals recommend patients get more vitamin B12 by consuming foods enriched with this vitamin. Vitamin supplements may be needed in addition to food.

Drink more fluids: Health.com says sensation of thirst declines with age. Drinking water and other fluids becomes a priority to stay hydrated. It also helps with digestion.

Prioritize bone health: Osteoporosis is a concern for older adults, particularly women who have reached menopause. Osteoporosis occurs when bones become brittle and can break from only the slightest bump or fall, says the Mayo Clinic. Vitamin D and calcium help strengthen bones, and older adults may need more of these nutrients.

Individuals should speak with their health care providers and nutritionists for further insight into their changing nutritional needs. Such professionals can help customize diets to address specific health concerns.

Life Properties, or The Fab 4 as they like to call themselves, consists of four professional real estate agents with Bluewater Real Estate in Emerald Isle, NC. They are all long-time residents of Carteret County and know the beautiful Crystal Coast area intimately. They keep the highest level of integrity and commitment to their clients as well as maintain the highest level of professionalism in the home buying and selling process. The team has built their business on referrals, and commitment to the relationships they have built with their clients. Give one of us a call TODAY!

Carolina Cabinets on Demand is the premier cabinet dealership on the Crystal Coast serving all Eastern North Carolina and offering the largest showroom. We pride ourselves on integrity, workmanship, and quality. We provide our customers with quality service and attention throughout the planning, design, installation, and beyond. Carolina Cabinets on Demand is your Crystal Coast Cabinet Connection! Allow Carolina Cabinets on Demand to help provide you with the dream home you deserve.

Grief Is for People

By Sloane Crosley

It is rare to find a book which contains so many genres as this one does. Sloane Crosley’s new book is a memoir, a mystery, a psychological treatise, and an expose on one of the most intriguing professions in America. The mystery involves the break-in of her New York apartment and her effort to find her stolen jewelry. The psychological component is her dealing with her grief from the suicide of her best friend. The expose is her telling about her years in the publishing business. In all this is a poignant memoir. Crosley has written other books and was a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American humor.

Crosley relates the personal trauma of having someone enter a window in her apartment and absconding with several pieces of jewelry, including pieces handed down from her grandmother. After the police are no help in solving the crime, she finds some of the pieces are listed on Craig’s List. The story of her bravely going to retrieve them is dramatic. The title of the book comes when she bemoans the loss of the stolen items and realizes true grief is not reserved for material objects as grief is to be for people not things.

Then she experiences true grief when her mentor and close friend, Russell, commits suicide. Three nights before his death she has dinner with him and sees no signs of his depression. Russell was senior publisher at a large New York publishing house where Crosley was employed for many years as his assistant. Russell was gay and in a relationship with a longtime partner. Crosley describes her friendship with her mentor as very close and special. She writes, “How difficult it is to love someone who was so wrong and will never be right again.” This is but one of the revealing sentences embedded in this memoir.

One very interesting section of this book deals with the autobiography A Million Little Pieces by James Frey which she and Russell were tasked with promoting. Oprah made it one of her book selections which became a challenge for them to promote with the added pressure of the national attention. Many will remember it was discovered Frey filled the book with exaggerations and fallacies later found out which made it a nightmare for Crosley and Russell. The pressures of the publishing business may have been one of the contributing factors in Russell’s suicide.

You will not find a book with more revealing insights into grief and loss as this one. Crosley is a gifted writer and presents her observations on life and death in sentences loaded with wisdom. She asks the question, “Who among us is categorically happy?” In the temptation to blame someone who takes their life she writes, “Who are we to litigate the severity of someone else’s pain?” She admits, “Grief has colonized my entire personality.” This book is a warm remembrance and both consoles and challenges the reader.

Curt Finch Emerald Isle Books

Aycock Brown Introduced Tourism to the Outer Banks

North Carolina’s Outer Banks is a national treasure…because a 20th century press agent named Aycock Brown said so.

News and photo editors across the state and nation trusted him. Aycock Brown had an uncanny knack for getting his material published.

Thus, as “the father of coastal tourism,” he was “king of the dunes” in the Outer Banks for several decades, both before and after World War II. North Carolinians are forever grateful. Aycock Brown was still cranking out publicity when he died in 1984, at age 79.

April 13, 2024, marks the 40-year anniversary of his death, so it’s appropriate to pay tribute to the man and reflect on his good deeds.

Aycock Brown was gifted in several ways. One editor commented: “Give Aycock Brown sand and sea water, and he will make something newsworthy about it.”

He loved taking photos of vacationers. “Mind if I take your picture?” he would ask beachgoers.

He was a charmer. They’d agree and Aycock would send the photos to the visitors’ hometown newspaper editors. Sure enough,

the pictures would get published, gaining another bit of free publicity for the Outer Banks.

Stormy Gale Brown Ballance said her father developed his fine art of conversation on the porches of the villages of the Outer Banks. “That skill, honed with endless hours of leisurely jawing, made him successful in building relationships,” she said.

Aycock Brown was nice to people. He gave holiday gifts to bank tellers and widows, and the trunk of his car was full of trinkets for journalists, children, tourists and politicians. His generosity was genuine, but it also won him friends,” a co-worker said.

When they saw or heard about “a story,” they would call him… and he would fly off to get the scoop.

Aycock Brown was born in 1904 in Happy Valley, a small community in Caldwell County about halfway up the mountain to Blowing Rock in Watauga County. His parents named him Charles Brantley Aycock Brown, after North Carolina’s sitting governor, Charles Brantley Aycock of Wayne County.

The Brown family moved to a farm at Occoneechee near

Outer Banks History Center photo

Hillsborough in Orange County. Aycock Brown was introduced to journalism as a teenager, working as a printing apprentice at the Orange County Observer.

In 1923, Aycock Brown was hired as a reporter at the Elizabeth City Independent. About six months later, he decided to enroll at Columbia University in New York City to take some journalism courses. Shortly thereafter, he took a job as a copy editor at the Durham Herald.

“That lasted two days,” Brown said. “That’s how long it took them to find out I couldn’t spell and didn’t know where to put commas.”

Aycock Brown resurfaced in 1928 in Carteret County to work as a reporter at The Beaufort News. He also did some consulting work with local investors who built a toll bridge from Morehead City to Atlantic Beach and put up a dance pavilion near the surf. Aycock Brown named the resort “The Pagoda by the Sea.”

Aycock Brown moved on later in 1928 to join the political campaign of Alfred E. Smith, the Democrat who opposed Herbert Hoover in the U.S. presidential election. Smith lost, and so did Aycock Brown, because he wagered his pay on the wrong man.

Broke, he took up bootlegging, and went to Ocracoke. Arriving in a small skiff loaded with bootleg liquor, he came face to face with a young woman who was standing on the dock.

“I’ll tell you how pretty she was,” he said. “For several minutes, I completely forgot about all of those gallons of liquor in the boat. And it was good stuff.”

Capt. Bill Gaskill, owner of the Pamlico Inn at Ocracoke, offered Aycock Brown free lodging for two weeks in exchange for some positive public relations work to promote Ocracoke as a tourism destination.

Aycock Brown readily agreed…allowing him some time to get better acquainted with Miss Esther Styron. One thing led to another, causing Aycock Brown to nix his grand plan to sail on to Cuba to take a job as press agent for a carnival.

Instead, he opted to stay in Ocracoke and court Esther. They were married in 1929 and planned to make Ocracoke their home.

Genealogist Ron Ragland wrote: “For the next few years, Aycock dreamed up odd Ocracoke promotions. He sold stories about Blackbeard and the beaches to big-city newspapers…he painted the Ocracoke Lighthouse on conch shells in India ink and sold them to tourists. He eventually sold an essay about Ocracoke Island, titled ‘Cape Stormy,’ to the Saturday Evening Post.”

“Yet,” Ragland said, “the Great Depression made it harder to make a living pushing tourism.”

Aycock Brown had a typewriter, and he could type, so he pitched his services in that regard as well. “If anyone had any legal work that needed to be typed up, I did it,” Brown told author David Stick.

Life on Ocracoke was hard, but an opportunity knocked, causing the family to relocate to Beaufort in 1935.

Aycock Brown was hired “as a temporary press agent for an organization attempting to save the town’s railroad, which was in danger of being decommissioned,” according to his biographer.

“When the railroad was saved, largely due to Brown’s promotional efforts, Brown was soon asked to run The Beaufort News temporarily, while its publisher, William Giles Mebane, was ill. He retained the position when Mebane eventually died of his illness in 1935.”

Aycock Brown connected with his readers and introduced new regular features, including “Covering the Waterfront” and “Fishing and All Outdoors.” It was all rather humorous, because he neither fished nor swam in the ocean. But he didn’t let that stop him from hooking new readers.

He preceded the fish house liars group of storytellers, but they may have taken their cue from Aycock Brown.

Always the opportunist, Aycock Brown was keen on promoting new events such as a bow and arrow “goggle fishing tournament”

that suggested spearfishing was the next great sport. It brought in a slew of news media coverage for Carteret County…and two entrants.

As a community service, Aycock Brown would read capsules of the national news from behind the curtain during the “Banks Night” motion picture shows at Beaufort’s downtown cinema, known as the Sea Breeze.

Aycock Brown also served as a visionary leader of the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce in its pursuit of tourism as a key to foster regional economic development.

Aycock Earned a Chapter in Carteret County History

While Aycock Brown was serving as editor of The Beaufort News from 1935-41, he was constantly on the prowl to find new ways to expand business and commerce in Carteret County and the region.

Somehow, Aycock Brown managed to get himself hired by the U.S. Army as a civilian consultant to promote activities associated with the construction and opening of Camp Davis Army Air Field at Holly Ridge in Onslow County in 1940-41. It was designed as a state-of-the-art anti-aircraft artillery training facility.

The new camp was named for Army Maj. Gen. Richmond Pearson Davis of Statesville, N.C., who served in World War I as a troop commander in France.

Representing a $16.8 million investment, Camp Davis was a massive construction project, consisting of more than 3,000 buildings on 45,538 acres as well as two paved 5,000-foot runways and two railroad spurs. Workers came by the hundreds, if not thousands.

Camp Davis was built in just five months. Troops started arriving in April 1941, and the facility was fully operational by June. At its peak, more than 20,000 officers and soldiers were stationed at Camp Davis.

Aycock Brown made sure that the news media got the story … and that the politicians got the credit … as he was paid to do.

A few months later, Japanese aircraft bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941.

Aycock Brown immediately volunteered to serve his country, but he was too old, too skinny and too near-sighted to qualify for soldiering.

The Naval Intelligence Office took him on, however, as a special civilian agent to cover the North Carolina coast.

“Driving his old jeep along the shore, it was his job to photograph sinking ships, interview survivors and arrange proper burials for the dead,” wrote Lorraine Eaton of The Virginian-Pilot newspaper.

One eerie aspect of Aycock Brown’s work was fingerprinting the bodies of any U.S., British and Canadian sailors and merchant marine seamen that washed ashore during World War II in order to identify them.

Eaton said: “This information was vital to national security, as the Germans could and did strip the identifications from bodies recovered off torpedoed ships to provide enemy spies with Allied identities.”

In the spring of 1942, Aycock Brown had his hands full, as two British ships were torpedoed by German U-boats and sank off the North Carolina coast only about a month apart.

On April 9, 1942, the San Delfino, a merchant marine oil tanker, was attacked by U-203 off Cape Hatteras, due east of Rodanthe. Twenty-eight men died, but 22 were rescued from the sinking ship and delivered to the port at Morehead City.

On May 11, 1942, the Bedfordshire, an armed trawler, while on patrol off Cape Lookout, was destroyed by U-558, killing all 37 hands aboard. The Bedfordshire had departed that very morning from Morehead City.

Over a period of several weeks after these two vessels sank,

I want you to know how much we appreciate the work you did to make our bathroom a reality. Your work was truly exceptional but more than that, we appreciate how you truly wanted to please us by going over the job until we were satisfied. Thanks again - George W. (Beaufort) Custom

As out-of-state owners of a beachfront property on Emerald Isle, Artistic Kitchen & Bath was recommended by our property management company. It was great to find an outfit that offered "one-stop" shopping for everything we needed. We upgraded and completely renovated our kitchen, wet bar and five bathrooms, including custom cabinets, hardware, countertops, tiling, flooring, appliances and bathroom fixtures, plus all the plumbing, electrical and painting needs. - Kyle P.

at the aquarium

Camp Scholarships Available

Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina – The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is pleased to offer a limited number of scholarship opportunities for our week-long 2024 Summer Camps. This program is made possible by the receipt of a Student STEM Enrichment Program grant through the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

The award announcement by Burroughs Wellcome states that the goal of these scholarships is to “empower and inspire North Carolina students to pursue excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through activities taking place outside of the traditional classroom schedule.” The Aquarium’s grant program is titled “A Year of STEM and the North Carolina Aquariums.”

With the support of this generous grant, all of the North Carolina Aquariums will be able to offer a small number of summer camp scholarships. At Pine Knoll Shores, we aim to reach underserved and underrepresented students, grades K through 8, and cover the cost of registration fees so more children can attend our interactive, STEM-focused educational camps. Applications for summer camp scholarships will open on April 1, and applications must be submitted to the Aquarium by April 28.

Find dates and registration information for our week-long camp

offerings at www.ncaquariums.com/pks-camps. General camp registration opens online Monday, April 1, at 9 a.m. Aquarium members receive a 10% discount on all camp fees! Learn more at ncaquariumsociety.com/memberships.

Camps will include Sea Squirts for grades K-1, Aquatic Adventures for grades 2-3, Coastal Explorers for grades 4-5, and Sea Scholars for grades 6-8. All camp session dates can be viewed on the website. General registration opens online on Monday, April 1, at 9am. Hard copy applications for the Scholarships will be available at the Aquarium visitor’s services desk and other locations in the community. Check the website for a full list of locations.

Spring Things

Nothing says spring quite like getting outside when plants are blooming, and birds are calling. The Aquarium Spring Breaks Camps allow children to get outside for some fun and learning during their spring break. Registration is online only, and camp fills up quickly. Follow the link to see available dates. There are spots still available for grades 4-6.

Participants enjoy outdoor activities, animal interactions, discovery labs, and behind-the-scenes action. Participants must bring their own lunch and bottled water and wear closed-toe

shoes. Remember to dress appropriately for the weather. Camps are held 8:30am- 2:30pm. Price is $40 or $36 for members. Camp payment is due in full once registration is confirmed. www. ncaquariums.com/pks-camps.

Other spring activities include daily programs at the Aquarium. Watch staff feed animals in different habitats, learn about the sharks in the 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck habitat, and watch the otters interact with enticement items. A schedule of events can be found at www.ncaquariums.com/free-programs-pks.

Swamp and Savannah Art Exhibit

An art exhibition in the Spadefish Gallery at the Aquarium features photography and poetry by Melissa Dowland, a true naturalist who leads Teacher Education at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

The exhibit, called Savannah & Swamp, features Dowland’s photography of many beautiful places across the state and beyond. The photographs on display capture the nature found at many North Carolina State Parks such as Merchants Millpond, Jones Lake, and Lake Waccamaw, along with National Wildlife Refuges and National Forests.

Lessons Learned from Spring 2020 rental signs

Previous generations were defined by the Great Depression, World War II, and the Vietnam War, but we will be remembered for having lived through the trauma of a worldwide pandemic. For those of us working in the vacation rental industry, the challenges were immediate, and the learning curve seemed insurmountable at times. The human ability to adapt and change means that we also took to heart many of the lessons we learned, and this has been one of the most positive outcomes from an otherwise very dark time in our recent history. Four years later, this seems like an appropriate moment to review just what has changed for the better as vacation rental managers and vacation rental homeowners.

I remember vividly my first thought when we learned that in North Carolina all vacation rentals were suspended by a state government proclamation in late March. Needless to say, vacation rental revenue and the commissions we earn are the main source of income for our small family business. Laying aside for the moment the personal fear for the health of our immediate family, as business owners our overriding concern was for the financial security of our front-line workers, our housekeepers and maintenance staff, reservationists, and our other support teams. We immediately let our staff of approximately one hundred folks know that their salary would be covered for 8 weeks while we all learned more about how the pandemic would ultimately affect tourism on our beautiful and somewhat isolated island. This alleviated the worry for our employees about whether they would still have a job and be able to pay their bills for the next two months. What we did out of the compassion we felt for our work family turned out to be the most prescient and best decision we made during the terrifying first days of the shutdown in March of 2020. We pivoted to remote work for many members of our work team and discerned how to safely send maintenance and housekeeping people into vacant properties to do inspections and be ready in anticipation that the government order for suspended rentals would be lifted in the coming weeks.

Our lesson learned? Prioritizing the financial security of our team members first so they can continue to maintain an exemplary work ethic and provide memorable hospitality for our guests and homeowners. By investing in our staff through higher wages and providing a generous benefits package, we have seen and learned firsthand that when you show your team you can be trusted to take care of them, they will consistently take care of the guests, homeowners, sales clients and vendors we are grateful to serve every day at Emerald Isle Realty.

Rental guests rightfully were panicked as well in those early weeks of the pandemic and our remote reservation agents’ days were busy working with guests to move their March reservations to the fall of 2020 in hopes the pandemic might be better understood or more naively, might even be over by then. When guests wished to cancel, we practiced compassion again and guests were offered immediate refunds of advance monies paid for their 2020 reservations. Hope is the most ephemeral of human emotions, but through the chaos of cancellations and uncertainty we were driven by the hope that just as in that dreadful time after 9/11, people would realize they could enjoy all the beauty of life on our island safely and comfortably in a vacation rental home. The Governor of North Carolina rescinded the order suspending vacation rentals the first weekend in May of 2020 and we went from almost zero occupancy to 100% occupied in an astonishing few weeks. The weeks we generously and immediately cancelled were quickly re-booked by families discovering the Crystal Coast after the pandemic changed their previous travel plans to cruise or stay at a theme park. Our lesson learned this time? Our guests remembered the way they felt appreciated and cared for when we offered reassurance and compassion instead of being belligerent and rigid about our cancellation policy, and they have loyally returned when travel felt safe to them again in late 2020, and every year since.

Other valuable lessons were learned in housekeeping about new protocols for disinfecting and sanitizing between guests. Our linen service now includes the No Worries bedding option where we use the hotel standard of triple sheeting and fresh comforters every week. The final and perhaps most important lesson we learned is just how resilient we can be as vacation rental managers. By showing compassion first to our staff, then double helpings of compassion to our rental guests and homeowners, we reaped all the psychological rewards of knowing during this tremendously adverse time, we had made that day just a little bit better for someone else. Four years later and vacation rentals on the Crystal Coast are still thriving and all the new families we greeted in the last three years are making plans once again to spend their precious vacation time with us in a sweet little cottage by the sea.

Julia Batten Wax Broker/Owner Emerald Isle Realty jwax@eirealty.com

Julia Batten Wax Owner, Emerald Isle Realty

We’ll help others share your point of view.

Dream homes do come true and keeping them from becoming a nightmare takes the right kind of care. You can rest easy allowing Emerald Isle Realty to manage your beach property — we’ve been treating property owners like family for 62 years. And with our exclusive online rating system, we’re the first stop for most vacationers planning a trip to the Crystal Coast. Let us do all the work. After all, it’s your vacation home. Call for your personal revenue analysis.

Spring has Sprung!

Happy Easter everyone, It’s that time of year again. April showers bring May flowers, and very soon, May flowers will be bringing visitors to our island for another summer of fun. We have been keeping a close watch on the beach strand for the past few weeks. We have had several winter storms come through the area with SE winds that can lead to seasonal erosion along the beaches of Bogue Banks. According to the Carteret County Shore Protection Office (SPO), most of this sand remains in the nearshore system and, once Spring weather patterns arrive, the SW winds tend to move this sand back onto the beach in a way that helps the erosion heal itself. We will be closely monitoring the situation and will keep you informed. I know it’s hard to believe, but last month we also passed the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the worldwide, Covid epidemic. We are still seeing and feeling the long-term effects of that episode play out locally, in many ways. It will be interesting to see what comes next as our calendar moves forward. While Einstein’s “Theory of Relativity” posits that there are no “goalposts” or “hitching posts” in the universe, where you can safely drop anchor, growth and redevelopment may be the only constants in the lives of Carteret County residents.

This is the time of year when all the Towns on the island get down to the business of preparing what must be, by State law, “balanced” budgets for the coming fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, which begins on July 1, 2024. Pine Knoll Shores is no different. Each year the Commissioners and town staff sit down and go over the details of every line item, looking for ways to economize and streamline our delivery of essential services to our citizens. As a municipal government, almost everything we do is either required by law or by local policy but, when push comes to shove in hard times, we do have some limited control over the level of effort we put into the different activities we must maintain in the short-term. In the relatively small town of Pine Knoll Shores, there is a constant, daily interaction

between the Town Manager, staff, and Commissioners that facilitates communication and keeps everyone on the same page. Every year, the process we go through to prepare the budget is a little different; we are constantly seeking to implement continuous improvement and come up with new ways of displaying and explaining budget data and processes.

Being an election year, 2024, will no doubt continue to surprise, perplex, dismay, and distract us from reality, and it will most certainly stretch the limits of our credulity. The table appears to be set, and what a playing field it is: two wars that could easily escalate; moderating inflation and economic activity; millions of illegal border crossings; growing government deficits; and escalating trade and investment conflicts. Fasten your seat belts and let the games begin. While the prices of some goods do go up and down, the overall price level rarely, if ever, declines. Nevertheless, we can be thankful that inflation, the rate at which prices go up, is moderating. This is beneficial, but only if inflation continues to moderate. The recently released Federal Budget, however, has Federal expenditures in excess of 23% of GDP for the coming fiscal year, up from the 18.4% of GDP average for the entire postwar period. Federal deficits are expected to be $1.6 trillion this year, more than 6% of GDP, and are expected to rise after that. The annual Federal deficit as a % of GDP may not fall below 6% at any time in the next decade. Don’t try this at home. Deficits are excess expenditures that, with everything else equal, can push inflation higher. There is absolutely no fiscal discipline coming out of Washington. Stay tuned.

That’s it for this month. Be happy spring is here. According to the NWS, the average daily temperature in April is about 62 degrees F, and it only gets better from here. If I can be of service to you on any issue, please contact me at: mayor@townofpks.com; or by phone at: 252 622 2338 (cell).

Mayor John Brodman

Pine Knoll Shores

pks women's club

PKS Women's Club

Just imagine how many social opportunities have been experienced since 1984 when the first PKSWC was formed. Imagine the smiles as friends gathered over the years to plan ways to give back to their community. This rhythm of friendship and fellowship has continued for these 40 years. On February 23, 2024, at the Town Hall in Pine Knoll Shores, the rhythms flowed like a current of camaraderie. A celebration was purposefully planned and well attended.

As, past president and longstanding member, Bonnie Ferneau states, “A wonderful celebration was held for the 40th Anniversary of the PKS Women’s Club on February 23rd. 58 members, including Honorary member Betty Carr and PKS Town Commissioners Robert Cox and John Ferguson attended. The Town Hall was decorated with Women’s Club banners, history posters of the four decades and beautiful table decorations of greenery mixed with starfish (The starfish is the theme for the PKSWC). A reception was enjoyed and short program with Town Manager and member, Julia Anderson leading off. She was followed by comments from past presidents about their involvement beginning with the 4th President Marge Turney (1987-1988). The welcoming of new residents and involvement in our many activities in the community were highlighted: supper club, book clubs, CCC scholarship, domestic violence, Hospice House tile, 20 years of Mile of Hope, goodies for hospital staff during COVID-19, contributions to Bogue Banks Library and to PKS Fire and Police. The chance to give back to our community was highlighted! The ceremony concluded with cake cutting by past president, Marge Turney and President Renee Rogers”.

Renee Rogers, president, said, “I was happy to see so many members, both old and new, gather to celebrate four decades of giving back to the community and making a difference for those around us. I am thrilled to be a member alongside some of these “greats” who have made the club what it is today.”

As a club we have so much to be thankful for and so very much to look forward to. We don’t plan for perfect moments although we are diligent in preparation and connection has surely been fostered among us. If this sounds like a group of ladies you would like to gather with, we would love to have you join us.

We welcome new members. Any woman who lives or works in Pine Knoll Shores is eligible to join, as is any woman in a nearby community that is not served by another women’s club. Our monthly meetings are usually held on the fourth Friday of each month at 10 a.m. If you are interested in finding out more about the club, we invite you to follow our Facebook page at facebook.com/PKSWC.

(Continued from page 31)

10 bodies of British seamen were found. They washed ashore at various locations in Carteret, Dare and Hyde counties. Six were positively identified by Aycock Brown and the authorities.

Carteret County historian Rodney Kemp said Aycock Brown was an unsung war hero, in a sense, and many of his “war stories” are preserved in collections at the History Museum of Carteret County in downtown Morehead City.

After World War II, Aycock Brown came back home to Carteret County to perform some of his “press agentry magic” for clients such as the Sanitary Fish Market & Restaurant, which was established in 1938 on the Morehead City waterfront. Aycock Brown and Tony Seamon, co-founder of the Sanitary, had become fast friends.

In 1949, Jack Riley of The (Raleigh) News & Observer wrote: “Aycock Brown was the first writer to extoll the virtues of Tony Seamon’s seafoods at the Sanitary, and his squibs led to a growing clip file of free publicity the like of which has never been shared by another Tar Heel restaurateur.”

Riley said: “The grateful Seamon dropped a $350 press camera into his lap and launched Aycock Brown on his own….”

John Tunnell of Morehead, who started working at the Sanitary as a 15-year-old cook in 1945, said Capt. Tony and Aycock were like peas in a pod. The two of them could talk, laugh and connive for hours. They were born promoters.

“Aycock Brown got the first free piece of publicity for the Sanitary, an article that ran in the Greensboro Daily News,” Tunnell recalled.

A photograph of Aycock Brown in his Navy uniform also hangs on the “wall of fame” at the Sanitary, Tunnell said. “Next time, you’re there, ask someone to show it to you.”

One of the early advertising specialty items (perhaps developed by Seamon/Brown) promoted “Meet and Eat” at the Sanitary. It was a pocket-sized combination bottle opener/screwdriver in the shape of a fish. Each was stamped with a four-leaf clover and the words “Good Luck.” These items were very popular with fishermen. Proceeds benefited the VFW Welfare Fund.

Tunnell concluded: “Aycock was a great person and a good publicity man. He did a lot for tourism in eastern North Carolina.”

‘Indefatigable Tourism Promoter’ Brown Was a Treasure

Aycock Brown’s introduction to Dare County occurred in 1948, when the Roanoke Island Historical Association asked him to be in charge of publicity for “The Lost Colony,” the outdoor symphonic drama about the lives of the first settlers who came from Europe in 1587.

Asked to help revive slumping attendance figures, Aycock Brown “tapped into the spirit of the community.” One of his publicity photos featured the Elizabeth City High School band performing a concert on stage at the theater.

Another idea was to create a cameo role in the production for J. Fred Muggs, the chimpanzee who worked regularly with Dave Garroway on television’s “Today Show.” Monkeys might have been aboard the Elizabeth II with the colonists, Aycock reasoned. “The Lost Colony” director vetoed that suggestion.

“OK, then how about chorus girls from Las Vegas? That would make a heck of a promotion,” Aycock Brown reportedly countered. The answer was a louder “no.”

Aycock Brown settled on having a “celebrity” make a guest appearance in each production. Indeed, that sparked new interest and boosted attendance.

Aycock Brown had the connections to make it happen. He befriended the local Western Union telegraph office operator. When a prominent visitor sent a telegram, the Western Union man notified Aycock that “someone important” was in town. Aycock would hunt down the person…and get him or her into costume.

Eventually, Aycock Brown opted to hitch his publicity wagon to a cast member from “The Lost Colony” who showed great acting potential. He was Andy Griffith, who performed in the production from 1947-53 and advanced to play the lead role of Sir Walter Raleigh with gusto.

Aycock Brown would later portray the whole village of Manteo as “Mayberry on the Coast,” depicting the community as a “sister city” to Griffith’s hometown of Mount Airy in Surry County.

Aycock Brown was hired in 1952 as Dare County’s first tourism bureau chief. He was paid a handsome annual salary of $10,000 to get free publicity for Dare County.

Back then, community leaders reckoned that they would have to shell out about the same amount of cash for a full-page advertisement in a national magazine.

It proved to be a prudent investment to go with Aycock Brown. He was described as “an indefatigable promoter” by Wynne C. Dough, former curator of the Outer Banks History Center.

In 1995, Lorraine Eaton of The Virginian-Pilot newspaper wrote: “For nearly three decades, Aycock Brown cruised Dare County wide-eyed as a lemur, a straw hat on his head, an outrageous shirt on his back and at least three cameras slung around his neck. He knew everyone, and he was everywhere all the time. His impact was incredible.”

“When someone reeled in a record blue marlin, Aycock Brown was on the dock to greet the proud angler,” Eaton wrote.

Brown photographed members of the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club so often that they awarded him an honorary embroidered patch, noted Rebecca Bengal, a correspondent for Our State magazine.

Hugh Morton of Grandfather Mountain near Linville, N.C., an acclaimed photographer and promoter in his own right, labeled Aycock Brown as the “Barker of the Banks,” because no one worked harder, turning out so many stories and photos. More importantly, no one had more success in getting “stuff published.”

Morton said Aycock made each editor feel that “Aycock was an extra staff member on the Outer Banks, looking after the editor’s interests.” They valued “the incessant flow of words and pictures that would otherwise not be coming from any other source on the coast,” Morton added.

Aycock often made three trips a day to the post office. He would often hand stamp envelopes: “News Rush!”

Inside could be articles and photos of Outer Banks shipwrecks, storms, tree skeletons, driftwood, shells, visitors frolicking on the beach, nature scenes, dune buggy races, giant fish fries, pirate jamborees, swimsuit fashion shows, dolphins, waterfowl, sea turtles, majorettes on Jockey’s Ridge, hang gliders, spectacular sunrises … and more big fish.

Perhaps Aycock Brown’s most famous news photograph was inspired by the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969. Brown’s tourism office was hosting an event that evening at the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kill Devil Hills.

There was a huge crowd, so no one noticed Aycock slip away. With a transistor radio in hand, he walked out to a spot where he could see a rising crescent moon appear over the lighted monument. When astronaut Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, Aycock snapped the classic photograph … for his editors.

Morton commented in 1976: “No person will ever know how much in actual dollar value Aycock Brown has added to the tax books of Dare and other coastal counties, but it is up in the millions.”

By 2022, travel and tourism expenditures in Dare County reached $1.974 billion, ranked fourth among the state’s 100 counties, trailing only Mecklenburg, Wake and Buncombe. Nice job, Aycock.

April 2024

Atlantic Beach

staying busy

BOARD

2 Planning Board, usually 1st Tuesday, 6pm, call 726-2121, town hall meeting room. 22 Town Council, usually 4th Monday, 6pm, town hall meeting room.

Indian Beach

10 Town Board, 2nd Wednesday, 5pm, town hall.

Pine Knoll Shores

2 Board of Adjustment, as necessary, 1st Tuesday, 9am. 4 Strategic Planning Committee, 1st Thursday, 2pm. 8 Fire/EMS Department, 2nd Monday, 7pm. 8 PKA, 2nd Monday, 9:30am, town hall. 9 PARC, meetings to be held on the 2nd Tuesday, 9am. 10 Board of Commissioners, 2nd Wednesday

15 PIKSCO, 3rd Monday, 5:30pm. 17 Community Appearance Commission, 3rd Wednesday, 9am. 23 Planning Board, 4th Tuesday, 5pm.

Emerald Isle

9 Town Board, 2nd Tuesday, 6pm, town board meeting room, 7500 Emerald Drive. 18 Business Assoc., 3rd Thursday, noon, EI Parks & Rec., 354-3424. 22 Planning Board, usually 4th Monday, 6pm, town board meeting room, 7500 Emerald Drive.

Around the County

16 Carteret County Republican Party, 3rd Tuesday, 6:30pm, CCGOP Headquarters, 5370K Brandywine Crossing Hwy 70, Morehead City, all Republicans welcome to attend, 247-5660, carteret.nc.gop.

25 Carteret County Democratic Party, 4th Thursday, 5pm, Promise Land Market, Morehead City, all Democrats invited to attend, carteretdemocrats.org.

EMERALD ISLE April 2024

Emerald Isle Parks & Recreation - All activities take place at the Community Center in Emerald Isle, unless otherwise noted. The Community Center’s hours are: Mon-Fri, 7:30am-7:30pm, Sat, 8:30am-3pm, closed Sunday. Call (252) 3546350 for more info. Be sure to visit our website www.emeraldisle-nc.org/eiprd.

Adult Programs

•AA: Wednesdays 6:30pm & Saturdays 6:30pm at town board meeting room.

•Art Club: Meets every Wed, 12-4pm at town board meeting room to critique, create and converse. All are welcome.

For a complete list of adult programs visit www.emeraldisle-nc.org/clubs.

Athletics (Fun for all ages!)

Open-Play Indoor Soccer: Mon 6-7pm, 16+, Wed 6-7pm, 12 & under Fri 6-7pm, 16+

Open-Play Basketball: Tue 6-7pm - 16 & under, Sat 9-11:30am, age 12 & under, 11:30am-3pm, age 16 & up.

Open Indoor Volleyball: Thu 6-7pm, 16+

*UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL ATHLETIC EVENTS COST $2 FOR NON-MEMBERS*

Fitness

The Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation offers a variety of fitness classes. Fees: Members $1/class, non-members $5/class (unless otherwise noted)

Fab, Fit & Fun: Mon & Fri 8am STEP Aerobics: Thu 8am

TABATA: Mon & Tue 5:30pm 20/20/20: Tue 8am

DANCE FITNESS: Wed 8am POUND: Wed 9:30am

HIIT: Mon & Wed 12pm

Shotokan Karate: Tue & Thu 6:30pm & Sat 10:15am - Members $5 and NonMembers $10

Yoga Program Schedule

Taught by certified Yoga instructors on staff, these classes focus on basic Yoga postures & asana for the beginner; Fees: $2 members & $7 non-members (unless otherwise noted)

• Yoga: Mon 9:15am; Thu, 8am; Fri 9:15am

• Chair Yoga: Mon 10:30am & Thu 9:30am

• Gentle Yoga: Sat 9am

Special Events and Information

Mondays: Story Time and Pre-K Play. 9am-10am. We’ll have a fun story session in our classroom and afterwards, head over to our spacious gymnasium for open play. All children must be accompanied by an adult, as supervision is not provided. It’s a perfect opportunity for parents and kids to connect, socialize, and have fun together. Please bring any supplies needed such as diapers, wipes, bottles, etc. Call (252) 354-6350 for more details.

April 8 - April 19 Summer Day Camp Registration. Emerald Isle Parks & Recreation takes great pride in the Summer Day Camp program offered to children ages 5-12 (must have completed kindergarten) each summer. For 2024, a lottery system will be in place for registration. NO CAMPING OUT REQUIRED! Registration forms must be turned in between 8am on April 8th and 4pm on April 19th. Only one registration form required per family. Staff from Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation will conduct the lottery on Wednesday, April 24th and parents will be contacted accordingly. Registration forms will be available at www.emeraldisle-nc.org beginning April 8th. Camp operates from 7:30am until 5:30pm Monday through Friday during all weeks of camp. The fee for each themed week of camp is $150; $60 cash per diem fees apply throughout the week.

Fri. April 19: American Red Cross Blood Drive. 1:30-5:30pm. Carteret County Chapter of the American Red Cross is holding a blood drive at Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation Community Center from 1:30pm-5:30pm, 203 Leisure Lane. Please give!

**NOTE: Please visit www.emeraldisle-nc.org for current updates and cancellations. Find us on Facebook!

As the Mayor of Emerald Isle, NC, I am excited to share the variety of events and activities that our vibrant community has to offer.  April in Emerald Isle is also the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors. With our beautiful beaches, parks, and outdoor recreational activities, there is no shortage of ways to experience the beauty of the Crystal Coast. Whether it’s a relaxing day at the beach, a boating adventure, or exploring the local shops and eateries, Emerald Isle offers a diverse range of activities to suit all

Enjoy Spring in Emerald Isle turtle tracks

interests.

We pride ourselves on a strong community spirit and a commitment to preserving the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Emerald Isle. There is always something to enrich the lives of our residents and visitors.

April in Emerald Isle is not just a time of year; it’s an experience. I warmly invite you to join us in celebrating the beauty, culture, and community spirit that make Emerald Isle a remarkable place to be this spring.

Stranded Turtle Update

This past week the state sea turtle meeting for the central region of the state was held at the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium. The central region spans from Cape Lookout to Onslow Beach. This recap is of strandings but more specifically, strandings due to cold stunning.

In the state of North Carolina, the total number of stranded sea turtles is 838. This number is an increase from the average number of 595. Cold stunning season occurs when the water temperature lowers to 50 degrees. At this point the sea turtle’s internal system slows due to a condition like hypothermia in humans. The season typically runs from November through March.

In Carteret County (this includes waters such as the sound and creeks/rivers that dump into it as well as the ocean) during the 2023 (and beginning of 2024), 195 sea turtles were stranded. An interesting thing to note is that there was a 20% increase in the strandings of green sea turtles and an almost 24% decrease in the strandings of loggerhead sea turtles. If you remember back to the summer of 2023, Emerald Isle saw 3 green sea turtle nests laid on its shores. Another interesting fact is that this winter, Pamlico sound has a Hawksbill sea turtle stranded. This is the first time a Hawksbill sea turtle has been found in the waters of North Carolina. We can only hope we will be so lucky to have a Hawksbill grace our shores.

As mentioned above, cold stunning is the primary cause of stranded sea turtles in the waters and shores of our state. Unfortunately, cold stunning is not the only reason for stranded sea turtles. In 2023 there was an increase in boat strikes to sea turtles. Please keep your eyes peeled when out on the water for these precious turtles. A total of 197 stranded sea turtles were taken to rehab centers throughout the state, to include Karen Beasley

Sea Turtle Hospital, STAR rehab center, and CMAST. Of these 197 stranded sea turtles, over 140 have already been released back into the wild! A big shout out to all of those who help rescue these stranded creatures, those who spend countless hours and resources rehabbing them, and those who help in the release of them, getting them back to warmer waters so they can continue their journey of life. A special shout to the Coast Guard who have helped many times over transporting rehabbed sea turtles back to the Gulf Stream.

As our temperatures warm, our days of cold stunned sea turtles in the waters of the Crystal Coast are hopefully over with but should there been a deep dip in temperatures this spring, please report any stranded sea turtle you may encounter. With the reopening of the Bogue Inlet Pier, should a sea turtle be caught, please report this to the Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol. The program can be reached by contacting 252-646-8292. You can also stay up to date by viewing our website at www.eiseaturtlepatrol.org our Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/EISTP

Mayor Jason Holland

Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol

staying busy SWANSBORO

April 2024

Swansboro Parks & Recreation

All activities take place at the Recreation Center (830 Main St Ext) in Swansboro, unless otherwise noted. The Recreation Center’s hours are: Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm, Sat, 8am-12pm, closed Sunday. Call (910) 326-2600 for more info. Be sure to visit our website at swansboro.recdesk.com to register for events.

Adult Programs

Onslow Senior Services Nutrition Site: Mon-Fri, 9am-12pm

Fitness Programs

POUND Fitness Class. Saturday’s 9-10am. Come get fit with Ripstix! Join us at the Swansboro Recreation Center for a 5-week Pound fitness class with OFFICIAL POUND Instructor Karen Daly. Pound is a fun, total body workout that fuses the best strength training, Pilates, and cardio moves through drumming exercise. The use of Ripstix, lightly weighted drumsticks, challenges the body’s stability and balance resulting in constant core activation. Register for the series for $25 or drop-in for $6 per session.

HIIT Bootcamp Fitness Class - March 2-23, 8-8:45am. Unlock Your Strength and Energy! Join Our 5-Week Series. Are you ready to take your fitness and energy levels to new heights? Our Saturday series, kicking off at 8am, is your ticket to improved mobility, increased strength, and a toned, revitalized you! Led by our Visiting Fit Coach trainer, each 45-minute session is designed to help you become the best version of yourself. Our program is your path to greater strength, improved energy, and a more vibrant you!

Open Play Pickleball Annual Registration 2024. The 2024 Pickleball Open Play Membership starts January, and runs until the end of the year. This is a casual and coed season perfect for any age or ability. The league will meet Monday through Saturday mornings from 8am to 12pm (spring/summer hours) and 9am to 1pm (fall/winter hours). $35 for resident and $40 for non-resident for the entire season, or drop-in fee of $5 for any one session.

Tai Chi Class Series. Join Swansboro Parks & Recreation for Tai Chi with instructor Sifu Dr. Harold McMillion for an 6-week series. Tai chi is a series of gentle physical exercises and stretches. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion. Tai chi is sometimes described as meditation in motion because it promotes serenity through gentle movements — connecting the mind and body. Ages 18+. $25 series registration.

Programs

Sun. 14: Theatre Trip - "Fiddler on the Roof" Join Parks and Rec for a trip to New Bern to see the Rivertown Players' performance of this popular show. Bus leaves at 1:45 and returns at 6:30pm. Call 910-326-2600 for more information.

Sat. 20: Music Therapy. 10:30-11:30am. Swansboro Parks and Recreation and Down Syndrome Network of Onslow and Carteret County are partnering to offer inclusive musical therapy sessions geared towards youth and young adults they are all FREE to attend! Sessions will be held at the Swansboro Recreation Center at 10:30am

Sat. 20: Touch a Truck Event. 10am-2pm. At the Swansboro Municipal Park. Free car seat checks and more.

~Emerald Tidings~

EI Fishing Tournament Funds Help Light Up Emerald Isle

We’re thrilled to announce that the Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament has made a generous donation of $7,500 to the Emerald Isle Christmas Light Committee!

This contribution will greatly support their fundraising efforts for new Christmas lights in our town.

We’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from the fishing community and their commitment to making Emerald Isle shine even brighter during the holiday season. Let’s give a big round of applause to the Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament for their generosity and dedication to spreading holiday cheer!

If you would like to make a donation please make checks payable to The Town of Emerald Isle and send them to: The Town of Emerald Isle, Attn: Laura Rotchford, 7500 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle, NC 28594.

Community Engagement Events in Emerald Isle

On February 12, the Town of Emerald Isle hosted its annual update meetings at the Islander Hotel & Resort ballroom, fostering meaningful dialogue with local stakeholders. The event comprised two distinct sessions tailored to engage area business owners.

The morning session convened 80 professionals from the realty, rental, and commercial property sectors, while the afternoon session saw participation from 30 owners of restaurants, shops, bars, and stores in the area.

Highlights from the event included insights from CCTDA Director Jim Browder, who discussed the tourism development authority’s ongoing initiatives during the realtor-focused session. Additionally, Kyle Lagos, a local businesswoman and CCTDA Board Member, presented pertinent CCTDA data during the afternoon meeting.

Town Manager Matt Zapp delivered comprehensive updates on Emerald Isle’s status, sharing key facts, figures, and ongoing projects in a “State of Emerald Isle” update for attendees. Accompanying him were department heads from the police, fire, planning, public works, and parks system, offering valuable insights and addressing queries from participants.

In another engagement effort, Mayor Jason Holland and Manager Zapp served as guest presenters at Leadership Carteret for the Class of 2024 later in February. Mayor Holland extended a warm welcome to the class, while Mr. Zapp provided essential information regarding the local government’s operations.

Emerald Isle’s Achievements in 2023:

With a general tax rate of $0.165, Emerald Isle boasts the second-lowest tax rate among all North Carolina coastal towns.

• EIPD conducted 234,115 business checks in the community.

• EIPD achieved an impressive Average Response Time of 5.4 minutes.

• Public Works completed 35,283 Yard Debris stops, collecting 2,691 tons of material.

• A total of 60.7 tons of trash and 36.7 tons of recycling were removed from the beach by the Public Works department.

• The Planning Department issued 629 permits amounting to an improvement value of $62M.

• 707 individuals purchased annual memberships to the Community Center, attending 18,419 times throughout 2023.

• The combined EI Fire & Rescue department responded to a total of 1,368 incidents.

• EIFD Ocean Rescue played a crucial role in saving 95 individuals from ocean-related incidents, achieving a 100% survival rate for beachgoers.

Traffic Count Numbers for 2023

• Bogue Inlet Pier saw 303,600 vehicles visit the pier.

• At the EORA, 51,048 vehicles used the parking lot.

• At the WORA, 70,389 vehicles used the parking lot.

• 4,145,070 vehicles traveled through the intersection of NC 58 + Coast Guard Road.

These achievements

underscore Emerald Isle’s commitment to community wellbeing and efficient governance, reflecting its vibrant and thriving environment.

Carteret-Carven Electric Cooperative is planning to start maintenance/tree pruning on the system in Emerald Isle tentatively at the end of next week or on March 4th. This work will be conducted by Xylem Tree Experts, and they will be working on all overhead lines that service the town of Emerald Isle. The plan is to get as much done as possible until it is too congested then return to finish later in the year.

Crew leaders from Xylem Tree and CCEC will be talking with members as they move through the area to answer any questions or concerns, they may have. Members will possibly notice a difference in the tree pruning because of the specifications and updated guidelines recommended by the International Society of Arboriculture and American National Standards for Utility Pruning

The goal is to prune the complete system and not have to return for another 3 to 4 years. By using different pruning methods, we can alter growth to make this happen.

Project 2:

Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative will have a maintenance crew replacing poles and wires on Cedar Street, Forest Drive, Loblolly and a short section of Ocean Drive. Members have been contacted by CCEC. The project should take about 3-4 weeks to complete. Some short outages are expected and will be brief.

Jr. Lifeguard Camp Registration Opens April 1

Are you interested in camp opportunities for your children through the Town of Emerald Isle? Registration for Jr. Lifeguard Camp opens April 1, followed by registration for Summer Day Camp on April 10.

Summer Day Camp is held through Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation and spots are awarded through a lottery system.

Paid Parking Begins April 13; Passes Available

Paid parking will begin on April 13, and two free passes are available for Emerald Isle taxpayers. Paid parking will be at the Eastern and Western Ocean Regional accesses.

In addition, Handicapped/100% Disabled Vet, Purple Heart or Emerald Isle Business Owners are eligible for one free permit. Supporting documentation must be uploaded when applying for this one free permit in these categories.

Parking pass applications will be available online only for the month of March, and will also be available in person beginning April 1. Starting on that date, you can apply at the Emerald Isle Police Department at 7500 Emerald Drive. You will need a current vehicle registration(s) and driver’s license when applying for your permit. You will receive an email when your pass is ready for pickup. If you have questions, please call EIPD at 252-354-2021.

Emerald Isle taxpayers are eligible to receive two annual free parking permits for the Eastern Ocean Regional and Western Ocean Regional accesses.

Paid beach parking will begin on on April 13 and will run through September 15. You can find additional details about paid parking and these passes on our website.

Paid Parking will once again range from $2-$4 per hour, with a maximum amount paid up to four hours. If you stay longer than this, you will only pay the four-hour price.

Apply For Your 2024 Golf Cart Permit

Golf cart permits are available for 2024 through the Emerald Isle Police Department. These permits expire on December 31 of each year, no matter when you last purchased a permit.

New this year: You will receive a golf cart safety keychain with your permit, that includes a QR code to our interactive golf cart map. You can find the full list of golf cart rules and regulations on our

website, along with your permit application. In addition, watch our video below for an overview of Emerald Isle’s golf cart rules.

Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative Information

In January, the co-op announced that the cooperative’s board of directors approved a rate adjustment effective April 1, 2024. Members on residential and medium general service rates will see an adjustment in their facilities charge starting with April bills. The facilities charge is a fixed monthly fee that covers the costs of items associated with providing electricity to members, such as poles, wires, transformers, and meters. For the average CCEC residential member, the rate adjustment means paying $3.20 more per month. Beginning April 1, a typical member using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month will see their bill increase from $123.27 to $126.47. After the April rate adjustment, rates for CCEC members will remain below the average electricity rates in eastern North Carolina. For more information on the rate adjustment, visit ccemc.com/2024Rates.

Bogue Banks Water Corporation

Bogue Banks Water Corporation (BBWC), is the non-profit water utility serving Emerald Isle, Indian Beach, and Salter Path, is embarking on an important initiative to secure the future of our water services. We are exploring the purchase of four lots situated within the eastern commercial zone of Emerald Isle. These lots, located at 3101 and 3103 Emerald Dr, and 3104 and 3106 Ocean Dr, are already zoned for commercial use and are conveniently adjacent to existing businesses such as Dollar General and Emerald Isle Mini Mart.

Moreover, within close proximity, CenturyLink operates a utility building while Carteret-Craven Electric Co-op has a substation behind the Emerald Isle Fire Station, further enhancing the utility infrastructure in the area. These lots have a history of hosting commercial enterprises, making them ideal for potential future water utility needs.

At present, BBWC does not have specific plans for the site but aims to secure it for future endeavors, which could range from establishing a well site, water treatment facility, water tower, or a combination thereof. However, to meet regulatory requirements for new drinking water wells, we need a minimum land area of 200’ by 200’, which is increasingly scarce in our service area due to extensive development on the island. The location of these lots, roughly in the middle of our service area, coupled with their size and existing infrastructure, makes them particularly promising for our future needs.

There are, however, restrictive covenants currently affecting the four lots BBWC intends to purchase, necessitating their removal to ensure flexible use in the future. To address this, our local NC House Representative, Celeste Cairns, has graciously agreed to sponsor a bill that would enable BBWC to condemn these restrictive covenants solely on those four lots after their purchase. In support of this endeavor, Cairns has requested the Town of Emerald Isle to pass a resolution endorsing BBWC’s pursuit of the property and the removal of the covenants.

BBWC has presented this proposal at the Emerald Isle Commissioners meeting held on February 13th, 2024, and will do so again on March 12th, 2024. Prior to the March meeting, the town and commissioners will be seeking public feedback on this matter. We encourage you to participate in this important dialogue.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to BBWC’s Executive Director, Seola Hill, at Shill@boguebankswater. com. Your engagement and support are vital as we endeavor to secure the future of water services for our community.

Sweeten the Day with Peaches

Although many desserts make for a sweet ending to delicious meals, there’s something so inviting about a moist and tender cobbler to add that yum factor. Cobbler consists of a fruit filling covered in a biscuit batter of sorts. When baked, the ingredients blend together to form a spoonable treat that is tender but with the right amount of bite.

Enjoy this recipe for “Peach Cobbler” courtesy of Taste Better From Scratch and contributor Lauren Allen.

Peach Cobbler Servings: 9

5 peaches, peeled, cored and sliced (about 4 cups)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

For the batter:

6 tablespoons butter

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk ground cinnamon

1. Add the sliced peaches, sugar and salt to a saucepan and stir to combine. If using canned peaches, skip steps 1 and 2 and follow the directions starting at step 3.

2. Cook on medium heat for just a few minutes, until the sugar is dissolved and helps to bring out juices from the peaches. Remove from heat and set aside.

3. Preheat oven to 350 F. Slice butter into pieces and add to a 9-by13-inch baking dish. Place the pan in the oven while it preheats, to allow the butter to melt. Once melted, remove the pan from the oven.

4. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk, just until combined. Pour the mixture into the pan, over the melted butter and smooth it into an even layer.

5. Spoon the peaches and juice (or canned peaches, if using) over the batter. Sprinkle cinnamon generously over the top.

6. Bake at 350 F for about 38 to 40 minutes. Serve warm, with a scoop of ice cream, if desired.

Summer Flowers

According to the Farmer’s Almanac online, the last frost for Morehead City will be March 29 for the 2024 growing season. This lines up with most of the other sources that I could find that have the average last frost date for Carteret County over the last 20 years as March 20, give or take 17 days. From my experience since moving to Carteret County, our last frost has been on Easter weekend. This lends a little weight to the saying I heard when first moving here that Good Friday is a good time to begin planting summer flowers and vegetables. This year March 29 was Good Friday, in keeping with that, it should be okay to begin planting summer flowers and vegetables.

To begin with, let’s consider some summer annuals. These are plants that would need to be planted each spring, enjoy the flowers through the summer before the plant dies with the first frost. Often these plants are removed before the first frost to make way for winter color that will be planted in the same bed. Some plants that grow well in sandy soils or in containers with full sun include petunia, Calibrachoa (million bells), Celosia (cockscomb), Cleome (spider flower), Portulaca (mossrose), salvia, zinnia, and marigolds. Most of these are also drought tolerant so if they lack water on occasion they may suffer a little setback, but they will recover and be fine. With long blooming seasons once flowering, they usually continue until they die from frost or are removed to make way of a cool season

annual. When planted in containers to add color on porches and patios, combine a taller plant like spider flower with a plant that has a creeping habitat like million bells to give a variety of textures and colors.

There may be more shade than sun around the house, making it a little difficult to find plants to add color to these areas. Plants including Impatiens, Begonia, and Torenia (wishbone flower) grow well in part shade to deep shade and actually prefer to live on the shady side of the house. If they must receive direct sunlight, it’s best for them to get this early in the morning.

These plants may also be drought tolerant, but they grow better when planted in soil that is kept evenly moist, but not wet, throughout the growing season. Some annuals are heavy feeders and do best with light liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks, while others prefer only a little fertilizer, and too much fertilizer will cause them to stop flowering and revert back to growing leaves. When grown in containers, annuals may continue to flower all summer long and can be enjoyed as splashes of color around the yard.

Many herbaceous perennial plants will grow during the spring and summer and are killed to the ground in the fall by a frost, but can also provide a lot of flowers to brighten a dull patch in the garden. Most of these will work in a container, but will fare much better when planted in the soil. Some plants to consider might include: Echinacea (purple

Shawn Banks, County Director N.C. Cooperative Extension

Camellia

coneflower) with its many different colors; Gaillardia (blanket flower) with both red and yellow on the same flower; Heuchera (Coral Bells) known for its colorful foliage in shaded areas; Hemerocallis (daylily) in many varieties; Iris with species for dry to moist and wet soil; Lantana a wide array of colors and forms (some are more upright while others spread along the ground); Lilium (lilies) with many to choose from including the Easter lily that can be planted in the flowerbed when it finishes flowering in the container; Penstemon (bearded tongue) with its tall, spikes of flowers; Salvia which comes in many colors, mostly blues; and several others that I don’t have space to mention.

If I had to make recommendations, I would recommend a visit to the local garden center. Most of the time the locally owned garden centers have plant specialists that know the plants and can make recommendations based on the area you plan to place the plant. Sometimes it helps to have a picture of the site and know how big the area is where the plant will grow. Garden centers in the big box stores, may also have people who can help you find a few plants that will grow in the desired location. By asking for suggestions you may save some time rather than looking at plants that won’t work, but you also might miss the opportunity to see something you would otherwise miss.

This spring, take some time to explore the garden centers in your area, see what they have and find the perfect plant to add a splash of color in your landscape.

property watch

ATLANTIC

Kenneth Jones and Adam Gardner to G5 Rentals, LLC, 141 Morris Drive, $105,000.

ATLANTIC BEACH

Walter and Joyce Burnette to Cristy and Jonathon Wall, 107 Smith St., $65,000.

Richard May and Barbara Young to Robert Moore, 127 Old Causeway Road, $230,000.

Charles and Kimberly Dew to Rusty Rose and Jenny Perry, 1904 E. Fort Macon Road, $300,000.

Robersonville Ice and Coal, Inc. to Annie and Lee Cox, 1904 E. Fort Macon Road, $330,000.

Making Memories Vacation Rentals, LLC to Jane and Donald Moody, Jr., 2008 E. Fort Macon Road, $390,000.

William and Carla Griffin to Adam and Julia Case, 105 Beachwood Drive, #1C, $425,000.

Jessica and Hugh Parker, Jr. to Kyle and Anna Johnson, 201 Freeman Lane, $445,000.

Benjamin and Virginia Eagles to Gwendolyn and Elbert Pitt, Jr., 1400 E. Fort Macon Road, $475,000.

David and Dianne Jones, Robert and Penny Jones, William Jones, and James and Sherry Jones to David and Dianne Jones, 405 E. Atlantic Blvd., $483,000.

Spencer Mishky to Woosaah Life, LLC, 314 W. Bogue Blvd., $497,000.

John Polashock to Justin and Leah Brinkley, 2503 W. Fort Macon Road #205A, $580,000.

2305 W Fort Macon RD, LLC to Lisa and John Nicholson, 2305 W. Fort Macon Road, $589,000.

Lila Butler to Travis and Naomi Bailey, and Mary and Lewis Bailey, 400 Henderson Blvd., $625,000.

Elizabeth and David Ward, Jr. to Jeffrey and Shannon Longshore, 2111 W. Fort Macon Road, $645,000.

Ashley and Barry Robertson, Jr., and Harriet Stephenson to Terri Eddins and John Smith, 102 W. Terminal Blvd. #13, $650,000.

333 Dunescape, LLC to Jonathan Sutton, 2111 W. Fort Macon Road, $660,000.

Coastal Escape Properties, LLC to Brian and Jessica Lesesky, 107 W. Bogue Blvd. #8, $715,000.

Theresa Harrell and Ruric Anderson, Jr. to Lusa and Danny Williams, Jr., 202 Robin Ave. #A, $725,000.

Andrew Thompson and Carolyn O’Sullivan to Armistead & Heather Properties, LLC, 112 Salt Marsh Way, $740,000.

12 Ocean Drive, LLC to Jason and Karin Rackley, 108 W. Terminal Blvd., $756,000.

12 Ocean Drive, LLC to Joseph and Erin Fillon, and David and Kimberlie Meeker, 108 W. Terminal Blvd., $762,000.

Teresa Pierce to Christopher Daniels, 241 Bayview Blvd., $957,000.

David and Molly Logan to Kelly and Kent Cooke, 538 N Kinston Ave., $1,650,000.

Doris Robinson to Jennifer and Sherrill Normann, Jr., 104 Shoreline Drive, $1,775,000.

111 Ocean Ridge Drive, LLC to MAHAA at Ocean Ridge, LLC, 111 Ocean Ridge Drive, $3,375,000.

BEAUFORT

William and Karen Walton to Sharon Beatty, 515 Mulberry St., $10,000.

Marsh Street Properties, LLC to Carrie Sharpe, 104 Bell Creek Drive, $30,000.

Richard and Kay Babcock to The 121 Gosling Lane Trust, 121 Gosling Lane, $30,000.

Phillip and Janice Sowers to Edward Dennis, and William and Crystal Dennis, 103 Oyster Court, $50,000.

Brian and Kathy Schutz to Karen and Robert Garris, Sr., 212 Jonaquins Drive, $55,000.

Mark Hall to Matthew Stokes and Mark Stokes, 416 Margaret Road, $65,000.

Gregory and Vicky Caulder to Kyle Chadwick and Kailani Koahou, 945 Crow Hill Road, $75,000.

David Gillikin to Norma Garrity, 177 Otway Farm Road, $82,000.

Wendell and Tasha Murrell to Jacqueline Lynch, 106 Olivia Road, $140,000.

Claire Irish to Kurt Anderson, 414 Tradd St., $200,000.

Katherine Inabnitt, Jamie and Robert Edwards, Bruce Jones, Jr. and Randy and Alicia Price to Coast Building Solutions, LLC, 401 Austin Road, $208,000.

Marina Bonaventura to Crystal Coast Fishing Co., LLC, 139 Conway Road, $245,000.

Steven Gallagher to Lavonda and Kevin Daniels, Jr., 134 Gillikin Road, $245,000.

Christopher Spivey, and Demetris and Denise Collins to Cedric and Naonni Collins, 203 Ida Bell Lane, $250,000.

Blue Treasure, LLC to Streamline Developers, LLC, 101 & 114 Freedom Park Road, $254,000.

Janet and Scott Pace to Laura MacInnes, 406 Meeting St., $325,000.

Lee Allen to Christina Avant, 202 Rutledge Ave., $325,000.

Streamline Developers, LLC to Laura Etheridge, 306 Fishing

Duck, $385,000.

Sound Shore Construction, Inc. to Peter and Margaret Grimes, 201 Taylorwood Drive, $399,000.

Jonathan and Mary Thompson to Robert and Crystal Riddick, 2223 Lennoxville Road, $422,000.

James and Sabrina Davis to Mary Penn-Soranno, 266 Great Egret Way, $425,000.

Streamline Developers, LLC to Andrew and Erin Boggess, 104 Blue Bill Way, $437,500.

Bonnie and Jonathan Scoggins to Douglas Reeves, 316 Bettie Path Road, $455,000.

Boulia Enterprises Real Estate & Development, Inc. to Allison Parker, 705 Russells Creek Road, $467,500.

Ross Restorations, Inc. to Edward and Elizabeth Corvinus, 706 West Beaufort Road, $468,000.

Streamline Developers, LLC to Ketih and Teresa Patton, 187 Pine View Blvd., $495,000.

Techwood Coastal, LLC to Bonnie Bobetskey, 422 Taylorwood Drive, $590,000.

Patrick Nichols and Michelle Koons to Carl and Barbara Russell, 256 & 323 Gatesy Lane, $625,000.

Beaufort Club Group, LLC to American Homesmith NC, LLC, 123, 205, 207, 209, 211 & 213 Windswept Lane, $681,500.

Stephanie and James Williams, Jr. to Stephen and Kirsten Fuller, 302 Hedrick St., $685,000.

Shane and Emily Gentry to Teresa Pierce, 224 Hwy 70 Bettie, $750,000.

Kimberly Sommers and Brad Peterson, and Carey Goldberg to Scott and Courtney Auman, 1903 Live Oak St., $1,287,500.

Joseph and Margaret Spruill to Taylor and Mary Whitford, 507

Bogue Banks & area property transfers as recorded at the Carteret County Registrar of Deeds during FEBRUARY 2024

Turner St., $1,400,000.

Judith and Gary Mercer to LLC Investments, LLC, 1301 & 1303 Lennoxville Road, $1,500,000.

Ian and Tracy Huckabee to Mike and Liz Waine, 313 Ann St., $1,712,000.

BOGUE

Timothy and Leonila Parkhurst to Karen Quigley, 107 Wild Oak Drive, $363,000.

Philip and Ellen O’Briant to MKS Investments, LLC, 1001 W. Mclean Drive #B, $1,430,000.

CAPE CARTERET

Heather and Charles Coates, Jr. to Elizabeth and Jonathan Thompson, 212 Quailwood Court, $98,000.

Hatfield Land Holdings Company, LLC to Andres Aguirre and Maria Marquine, 201 Loma Linda Drive, $355,000.

Harber Properties, LLC to Daniel and Evelyn Corbett, 229 Quailwood Court, $415,000.

P&P Land Development, Inc. to Julie Anderson and Justice Giovingo, 202 Channel View Court, $645,000.

CEDAR POINT

Cedar Point Developers, LLC to Horizons East, LLC, 232 Coastline Circle, $87,500.

Joshua Cheshire and Nicholas Cheshire to Tyson Family Properties, LLC, 203 Hidden Bay Drive, $140,000.

Jessmarc Properties, LLC to Kitchen Kraft, Inc., 176 Cedar Point Blvd., $249,000.

Timothy and Nancy Riddle to Wendy Martin, 300 Lighthouse Lane #C3, $297,000.

Horizons East, LLC to Evelyn Davis, 232 Coastline Circle, $547,000.

Jerri Builders Homes, LLC to

Amanda and Tori Timmerman, 306 Coastline Circle, $580,000.

Nimesh and Megha Parikh to Shane Edwards and Holly Zabinski, 201 Walkers Cay, $615,000.

Bryan Dupree to Sharon and Rufus Kimrey, Jr., 202 Marsh Island Drive, $615,000.

DAVIS

T. Moore Properties, LLC to Todd and Nina Black, 919 Hwy 70, $130,000.

Barbara Nelson to William Gordon and Jessianna Hanlon, 764 & 770 Hwy 70, $170,000.

Bobbie Gillikin to William McNairy, 215 Mollie Lewis Road, $700,000.

EMERALD ISLE

Thomas Shore, III to Timothy Doran, 8402 Canal Drive, $249,000.

Annette Carter to Brandon and Stacey Rouse, 406 Ridge Road, $250,000.

Jeffrey and Evelyn Steckroth to Thomas and Alice Owens, 207 Old Cove Road, $290,000.

Rebekah and David Shehr, and Maylon McDonald, Jr. to M & K Coastal Properties, LLC, 129 Fawn Drive, $295,000.

Rebekah and David Shehr, and Maylon McDonald, Jr. to M & K Coastal Properties, LLC, 131 Fawn Drive, $295,000.

Kitchen Kraft Inc. to Darren and Laura Hignite, 309 Old Ferry Road, $325,000.

Dennis and Judith Hodges to Andrew and Stacy Erickson, 117 N Jackson Ave., $420,000.

Shawn and Stephanie Parker to Joseph and Megan Spath, 117 S. Jackson Ave., $476,500.

Justice Realty Group, LLC to Jose and Idelsi Urquijo, 7223 Canal Drive, $530,000.

Ernest and Karen Connor to John and Mary Judd, 9201 Coast Guard Road #C102, $566,000.

Bradley and Erica Why to William and Pamela Walker, 8801 Reed Drive #W202, $580,000.

Shena Lee to Castle Investment Properties, LLC, 9201 Coast Guard Road #D302, $614,500.

Jimmy and Martha Parker to Richard and Catherine Henderson, 10300 Coast Guard Road #201A, $639,000.

Michael and Janet Oehl to Jeffrey and Julie Hall, 111 Fawn Drive, $769,000.

Carlita and Isaac Brady, III to Charles and Sandra Elks, 109 W. Summer Place, $775,000.

Evelyn and Stuart Davis to David Pasquel, 5124 E. Bogue Sound Drive, $820,000.

Michael and Janet Oehl to D3J Enterprises, 112 Sea Dunes Drive, $860,000.

James and Beverly Daggerhart to Marisanna, LLC, 112 Periwinkle Drive, $890,000.

John and Susan Hawkins to Tracie and Andrew Underhill, 228 West Shorewood Drive, $895,000.

Hunter and Morgan Harrison to Michael O’Connell and Kaitlyn Sweeney, 102 Clark Road, $1,093,000.

PMJ Holdings II, LLC to Krystle Stallings and Robert Rogister, Jr., 125 West Seaview Drive, $1,100,000.

Cally Semanderes to Shipwreck Breeze, LLC, 325 Shipwreck Lane, $1,237,000.

David and Doris Sisk to Dina and John Foster, III, 8625 Ocean View Drive, $1,501,000.

Allan and Nancy Harvin to Anthony and Nancy Creech, 7520 Sound Drive, $1,600,000.

Anne Hale to Caldwell

Reinsurance Investments, Inc., 1809 Ocean Drive, $1,635,000.

Bluewater Investors, Inc. to MAHAA at Ocean Drive, LLC, 5713 Ocean Drive, $5,000,000.

GLOUCESTER

Ricky and Pamela Cockrell to Larry and Lena Antill, and Amy and William Howell, 413 Sand Dollar Drive, $110,000.

Terri Gillikin to Ferry Dock Road, LLC, 159 Ferry Dock Road, $200,000.

HARKERS ISLAND

Allyson and Robert Hutson, II to John Griffin, 1083 Island Road, $30,000.

Stephen Ketcham and Kara Mueller to Jacob and Brittany Jannise, 544 Cape Lookout Drive, $42,000.

Constance Rosser to David Garmon, 1421 Island Road, $95,000.

Thomas and Karen Taylor to Robert Hinnant, Jr., 220 Mary Ella Road, $477,500.

Paula and John Murray, Jr., and Juanita and Joseph May to Heather Brushwood, 609 Bayview Drive, $525,000.

INDIAN BEACH

Ascent Advisors, LLC to Douglas Finley and Lisa Sowers, 1700 Salter Path Road #204K, $525,000.

Curtis and Joanna Harrell to Mary Cobb, 1700 Salter Path Road #103R, $590,000.

Gary and Jill Osborne to Robert Snipes, III, 1505 Salter Path Road, $590,000.

Eric Westman to John Mayberry, 1701 Salter Path Road #103E, $600,000.

Ryan and Lindsay Huebler to The

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Envision, LLC, 1505 Salter Path Road, $615,000.

Nathan and Victoria Allen to My Home, LLC, 1505 Salter Path Road, $643,000.

James and Kimberly McDaniel to Douglas Rickert and Terrie Baker, 1435 Salter Path Road #L6, $860,000.

MARSHALLBERG

Anne Hubbard to BNC Construction and Land Management, LLC, 143 Polly Way Lane, $50,000.

Anne Hubbard to BNC Construction and Land Management, LLC, 149 Polly Way Lane, $50,000.

MOREHEAD CITY

Johnson Street Ventures, LLC to William Rike, IV, 1927 Snowy Egret Drive, $15,000.

WARAND, LLC to Megan Mansfield, 1306 Fathom Way, $98,000.

Andy and Amy Wyborski to William and Judy Long, 206 S. Spooners St. Ext., $143,000.

J & V Rentals, LLC to Michael and Colleen Small, 3905 Guardian Ave., $153,000.

John and Tricia Kiefer to Belinda Whitlatch, 600 N. 35th St., $200,000.

Connie Chavez to Christin Fitzsimmons and Stephen Lancaster, 2900 Myrtle St., $205,000.

Matthew and Katherine Goodwin to Trevor and Elizabeth Rudd, 111 Vashti Drive, $219,000.

Jennifer Hunter to Glenda Poythress, 134 Willow Pond Drive, $285,000.

Charles Parker, Jr. to Laura Pearson and Curtis Pearson, 201 Florida Ave., $290,000.

Linda Myers to Gordon Yowell and Donna Dimatteo, 509 Village Green Drive #25A, $295,000.

Joseph and Janet Sanacore to Treyburn and Mary Perry, 1200 Pinnacle Court, $305,000.

Deborah Goodwin to Deidre Bernard, 3010 Mandy Lane, $345,000.

Ruth Rosenstein to Laura Leslie, 204 Lazy Lane, $400,000.

Desmond and Marian McGrann to Steven McGrann and Brigitte Laurent, 106 Sleepy Court, $425,000.

Jeffrey and Shea Hassell to Margaret Hitchcock, 1006 Els Court, $430,000.

Mary Boughton, Barbara and Nicholas McGowan, and Douglas and Kelly Boughton to Matthew and Christine Grossi, 204 Hodges St., $455,000.

Barbara Johnson to Kenneth and Trudy Burnette, 205 Spruce Drive, $475,000.

Virginia and Luciua Jones to PALCO Investments, LLC, 103 Bay View Ave., $495,000.

Edward and Kadja Hutchinson to George Wainwright, III, 1305 Fathom Way, $560,000.

Pro Environmental Services, LLC to Blanca and Michael Elizalde, 919 Calamanda Court, $575,000.

Karen Toler to Hanna Toler, 3102 Evans St., $600,000.

Outdoor Holdings, LLC to Mason and Lauren Price, 1007 Shepard St., $600,000.

Patricia Stowe, Leslee Sharp, Jo Ann and Terry Reed, Jenny and Edward Rankin, and Sheryl and Jerome Harrison, Jr. to Matthew Buta, Jr., 1506 Avery St., $654,000.

David and Elizabeth Stevens to Jeffrey and Ginger Nunn, 100 Olde Towne Yacht Club Drive #405, $753,000.

Michael Mann and Christine Carroll to Elaine Francis, 150 Lands End Court #C23, $871,500.

PALCO Investments, LLC to Timothy and Emily Payne, 2040

Mason Lane, $1,300,000.

Eva and Thomas Higgins, III to David and Molly Logan, 5223 Webb Court, $2,300,000.

Guardian Avenue, LLC to Midtown at Guardian, LLC and James H Poole, Jr., LLC, 3904 Guardian Ave., $4,400,000.

NEWPORT

Christopher and Leisa Manning to Karen Castellanos-Cordova, 158 Oriental Court, $17,000.

Kenneth and Dana Crow to Alejandro Garcia, 115 Lincoln Drive, $37,000.

Alyssa Allen to Jonathan Collins, 106 Crissy Wright Drive, $45,000.

L.J. Collins Real Estate, LLC to John Wedemeyer, 869 Cannonsgate Drive, $50,000.

Lowell Bowen, III to Jeffrey Holland, 502 E. Branch Drive, $51,000.

Rodrigo and Jennifer Vieiradarosa to Randy and Karen Turner, 108 Ellery St., $52,000.

Clifton and Deborah Parker, and Athan and Julie Parker to Streamline Developers, LLC, 633 Cannonsgate Drive, $60,000.

Michael and Kimberly Tart to Richard and Amanda Pease, 549 Sea Gate Drive, $60,000.

Jason and Kathryn Allen to Streamline Developers, LLC, 305 Kensington Place, $65,000.

RTKC Associates, LLC to Streamline Developers, LLC, 105 Marshland Circle, $75,000.

Denise and Ronald Cooper, and Linda Doveala to Robert and Tara Weingartner, 708 Cannonsgate Drive, $81,000.

Richard and Lillian Buck to Marianne Kukulinski, 127 Washington Ave., $84,000.

Frances and W.D. Mills, Jr. to Streamline Developers, LLC, 213 & 217 Colleton Square, $104,000.

Ronald Sutphin to William and Beth Henderson, 200 Kings Way,

$150,500.

C.R. Wheatley, III to A&B Property Management, LLC, 228 Cottontail Run, $185,000.

James Speight, III, Patrick Speight and Christopher Speight to Juan Geronimo, 153 E. Southwinds Drive, $185,000.

Brandy and Robert Rogers to Matthew and Merrie Funtal, 108 Clayton Drive, $195,000.

Christina Avant to Patricia Franz, 1601 Courtyard West, $215,000.

Randolph Sloup to David and Carolyn Blake, 159 Ocean Drive, $225,000.

Edward Willard to Kevin and Crystal Pugh, 220 Kings Chase, $232,000.

Don Dennison, Jr. to Molly Thomas and Joseph Culpepper, III, 504 Scot Drive, $250,000.

Phillip and Kathleen Maxson to Eric Gregson, 215 Two Oaks Court, $250,000.

Hassell Hillard, Sr. to Phillip and Kathleen Maxson, 1904 Thomas Court, $265,000.

Crystal Casas, LLC to Morgan Cole, 1706 Carolina Ave., $277,000.

Ronald and Sandra Ragan to George and Jill Jones, 441 Kensington Place, $300,000.

Bigfoot Endeavors, LLC to Michael and Rebecca Oliver, 129 Scott St., $322,000.

KKW Land Group, LLC to Thomas McDowell, 925 & 945 Hardesty Loop Road, $325,000.

Stancil Builders, Inc. to Andrew Winters, 222 Morada Bay Drive, $392,000.

Aaron and Morgan Cole to Benard Beasley, 1193 Nine Foot Road, $450,000.

Wanda White to Barbara Johnson, 105 Buena Vista Drive, $531,000.

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Jerri Builders Homes, LLC to Deborah Jefferson, 303 Seafarer St., $595,000.

Suellen and John Higgins, Jr. to 2Kings, LLC, 116 Mary Lane, $645,000.

Todd and Marianne Gallaher to Ricardo and Deborah Ulmer, 270 Live Oak Road, $655,000.

Streamline Developers, LLC to Scott and Jennifer Wilkie, 208 Cumberland St., $705,000.

Elm Street Builders, LLC to Kaci and James Dunnavant, III, 219 Cumberland St., $795,000.

Rhoderick Williams, Jr. to Annie and Jeremy McCargo, 104 Hardwick Lane, $905,000.

James Shuler and Kelly Shuler to

Providence Properties, LLC, 214 Kings Chase, $1,125,000.

PELETIER

Carolyn Campbell to Yancey and Sandra Barker, 131 Bucks Corner Road, $180,000.

Johnathan and Kaitlyn Williamson to Susie Wood, 111 S. Brookside Court, $408,000.

PINE KNOLL SHORES

Robert and Cheryl White to Samuel and Carolyn Morgan, 169 Arborvitae Drive, $170,000.

Warren Nash and Roberta Spillane to Michael and Mara Crooke, 288 Ramsey Drive, $645,000.

Gregory and Cheryl Poplett to Harriett Fisher, 151 Arborvitae Drive, $657,000.

Sharon and Rufus Kimrey, Jr. to Meghan Mooney and Michael Smith, Jr., 351 Salter Path Road, $875,000.

Barbara Fix to Robert Richter and Anneli Richter, 575 Coral Ridge Road, $999,000.

STELLA

AJP Properties, LLC to Jennifer and Joshua Pruitt, 103 Lily Court, $220,000.

SWANSBORO

Christopher Schultz and Kelly Romans to Jeremy and Megan Johnson, 213 Little Kinston Road, $200,000.

Ashley and Jason Harrell, and Mary and Adam Thoms to John and Kelley King, 118 Hadnot Drive, $245,000.

Daniel and Jean Peterman to Bret and Elizabeth Benton, 113 Hadnot Drive, $250,000.

Brian and Kellie Dobler to Michael Kowalczyk, 424 Old Church Road, $280,000.

Easy Day REI, LLC to James Taylor, 408 Moss Springs Drive, $340,500.

Gary and Tammy Champion, and Tommy Champion to Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc., 604 Old Church Road, $550,000.

*Publisher’s Note: This data is provided as public information available to all county residents. Island Review accepts no liability for errors or omissions and has endeavored to be as accurate as possible. Price given indicates the number of tax stamps purchased at deed filing (representing $2 for $1,000 of sales price, in $500 increments) and as such, may not exactly reflect the true purchase price.

ARIES (March 21-April 20) - Grit and guts will get you what you deserve this month, Aries. You may have an opportunity to make a good deal of money, so give this plan careful consideration. Ask for advice if the need arises. There is more to any situation than the money factor. When a new opportunity comes your way, look beyond the payoff to see what the heart of the offer entails. It is a time of transformation. Be careful where you direct your attention, as what you do will have lasting effects. Choose your plans wisely. You can get your spark back with some help from friends. You may have been struggling in one form or another, but others can provide the perspective needed.

TAURUS (April 21-May 21) - Taurus, there has been change in your life and you may want to blame the stars. Things will move out of your comfort zone and you will have to sharpen your ability to adapt. Look to your family members if you need inspiration on a new project. Use loved ones as a sounding board for all of the ideas that are bouncing around. Mid-month is the perfect time to strip away all of the unnecessary static in your life. It is doing more harm than good. Open yourself up to new opportunities. You are a dependable rock and that comes with a lot of responsibility. Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed, and in those instances feel free to delegate some tasks.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) - Gemini, you may be questioning the relationships in your life at the time being, but don’t worry too much. If you hit a rough patch, things will clear up in a few days. The willpower that you have been relying on lately is still going strong. That is excellent and it’s having a profound effect on other areas of your life. There is a lot of stuff going on around you, and you need to sort through the noise to determine your priorities. Things will start to become more clear as the month comes to a close. Too much joking around may strike a nerve of someone close to you. Feel out every situation before you start communicating in such a laid back and jovial way.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) - A big shift in your perception and attitude will bring new components to your life that you may not have anticipated. This month you’ll certainly have a few eyes-wide-open moments. Cancer, gossip is not something you usually delve into, but you may get roped into a conversation. Try not to give any weight to the rumors swirling around. You are in a great position to make some lasting and strong impressions on others. Focus on group work, as this will showcase how well you work with others. Cancer, like it or not, you have to stand by a promise or a commitment you made to someone, even if you no longer feel like doing so. Once it is finished, you can go your separate ways.

LEO (July 23-August 23) - There will be no hiding out at the beginning of the month. You will soon learn that things will come your way at a rapid pace. Do your best to keep up, mighty Lion, as it’s bound to be exciting. You shouldn’t be boastful about your abilities, but try not to be too modest. Accept the credit you are given. Graciously embrace all of your good press. Leo, you do not know which direction to go in mid-month, and that is perfectly fine. Try out different options and figure out what fits best. This will require some trial and error. If others have underestimated you or written you off in the past, you will have an opportunity to prove them wrong, even if you already know the truth.

VIRGO (August 24-September 22) - Virgo, you might be willing to throw caution to the wind and get away on a moment’s notice. There are affordable ways to do this if you are willing to do your homework. An interesting invitation might come your way. It could open the door to a very busy social calendar if you accept and do some key networking. You have a tremendous amount of power at your disposal. Use all of it wisely and thoughtfully. Others will be strongly affected by your presence. Your keen eye for detail has you pointing out a mistake that may have cost someone a lot of money. Your reward could be a promotion or another commendation.

LIBRA (September 23-October 23) - Libra, even though some drama may be swirling in your universe, you find it tolerable because it’s coming at you in small portions. Just stay on the sidelines as much as possible. An issue that you were worrying about is unlikely to surface. Stay in the present instead of looking ahead to all of the things that might go wrong. A conflict you may feel is beyond your control may crop up at the worst time. Use this as a learning opportunity on how to cope under pressure. Making room for your needs right now is challenging as others seem to require all of the attention, Libra. You will have a chance to balance the scales soon enough.

SCORPIO (October 24-November 22)Scorpio, if boredom has set in, it’s better to look to new experiences instead of doing something rash just for the thrill. See which classes you can take or find new restaurants to explore. It may seem as if you are operating on autopilot. Days seem a carbon copy at this point. Do something to alter your routine. You have the power to produce a powerful outcome, even if it seems that forces are working against you. Do not give up; in fact, double down your efforts. Right now you may be reluctant to commit or comment on an issue that is affecting some in your circle. You can get involved once you dig further and do your own research.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23-December 21)Self-care and healing are what you should focus

on right now, Sagittarius. You may have been pushing your needs to the side lately and you need to make this a priority. It’s best if you avoid crowds at the beginning of the month. You will benefit from some quiet time that only comes with being alone or within small groups of close friends. Take things with a grain of salt if people seem insensitive to your feelings. You don’t know what others have going on in their lives. Sagittarius, when you hang out with friends, you may be tempted to spend more than is in your budget at the moment. Set a limit, and perhaps leave your credit cards at home.

CAPRICORN (December 22-January 20) - You are not normally characterized as ‘impulsive,’ Capricorn. But you may surprise everyone this week. An opportunity to travel or another adventure could drop in your lap. Maybe this is the time to throw caution to the wind and grab on. Nothing can stop you when you put a lot of gusto behind your efforts. Just be mindful of who you might affect if you take things with a little too much ambition. You are definitely ready to move forward, but others in your orbit may be holding you back. Know when to cut loose and do things according to your bigger vision.

AQUARIUS (January 21-February 18) - Try to create some tranquil spaces at home. You can use a haven, especially when a lot of stuff is thrown at you outside your home. If you are not feeling challenged, you have to find activities that will get your brain moving again. Do whatever you can to spark some excitement. Aquarius, are you getting the sense that something is going on around you that you’re simply not a part of? Maybe your exclusive invitation is just waiting in the wings. Be patient. Thinking about all of the things in your life that may not be going to plan could have you feeling down. Flip the perspective and start focusing on the right things.

PISCES (February 19-March 20) - Pisces, you may be on a mission to get things done at the beginning of the month. Don’t rush in your efforts to complete everything or you are bound to make mistakes that are not easily fixed. The choices coming your way are quite varied. It can be overwhelming, so do not make any rash decisions until you work through all of your options. Stand up for what you want, even if means that you are taking a different stance than others. You don’t have to please everyone in every endeavor. You are known for being a dreamer, but right now you have to come down from the clouds and develop a solid plan of action. There will be time for fanciful ideas later.

best buy$

FINANCIAL SERVICES & INSURANCE

Bluewater Insurance Services: 201 Mangrove Drive, Emerald Isle, 252-354-1414. Offering coastal homeowner, commercial property, automobile and builders risk insurance along with general liability, workers compensation and more. The dedicated team is ready to provide their undivided attention to help you meet the needs of your family and business. Visit bluewater.com/insurance.

Crossbridge Financial: 2906 Hull Road, Kinston, 800-655-9487, www.crossbridgefinancial.com. Work toward the retirement you imagine with an independent financial advisor poised to help you customize your financial planning and wealth management to help bring your future into view.

Emerald Isle Insurance: 8754 Reed Drive, Unit 9, Emerald Isle, 252-354-5086. Protect your beach property & save on flood insurance by working with Rhonda & Sherry for coverage on your primary residence, second home or rental unit.

GEAR & EVENT RENTALS

Island Essentials: Linen & Leisure Supply Company, Emerald Isle, 888-398-8887, 252-3548887, info@islandessentials.com. High quality baby & beach gear rental equipment with free delivery & pick-up to your vacation home or special event. Bed & bath linen service also available. Year-round, reserve ahead to ensure availability.

HEALTH & BODY

Cape Carteret Aquatic & Wellness Center: 300 Taylor Notion Road, Cape Carteret, 252-3931000, ccaw.net. M-F 5:30am-9pm, Sat. 8am-4pm, Sun. 1-6pm. Youth & adult programs, swim lessons, yoga & Pilates, bosu, indoor heated pool, hot tub & steam, professional staff & personal trainers, regular & seasonal memberships.

Carteret Health Care: 3500 Arendell St., Morehead City, 252-808-6000, www. carteretgeneral.com. The nearly 150-bed comprehensive medical center recently completed a $53 million expansion featuring a cancer treatment center, women’s health clinic and more with a focus on the highest level of care.

HOME SERVICES

C.O.D. Home Services: Coastal Carolina premier contractor – whether you’re remodeling one room, for building an entire home. Recognized in 2016 by the NC Home Builders Association, owner Mark Merrell works hand in hand with clients to make all their dreams come true. Call 252-354-3635 or email codhomeservices@ymail. com.

Ducote Services: 2213-1 Bridges Street, Morehead City, 252-223-2133. Roofing, framing, and decks, they do it all. If you need general home repairs or full renovations, they will work with you to make your home safe and structured.

Emerald Isle Homeowner’s Services: 9106-B Coast Guard Road, Emerald Isle, 252-764-2563. Relax and leave your keys with us! A full service “boutique” property management services company specializing in vacation rentals, VRBO and annual rentals. Discover the low, streamlined service plans.

Home Repairs by Darryl Marshall: 230 West Shorewood Drive, Emerald Isle, 252-354-2883, homerepairs1@eastnc.twcbc.com. Serving Emerald Isle property owners for almost three decades. Specializing in remodeling and home repairs, services include carpentry, painting, roofs, decks, replacement windows and doors and yard maintenance. Call with all your home improvement needs.

John Harrell Electric Company: 919-921-7808, jharrell1510@yahoo.com. A licensed and insured electrician for the residential and commercial homes in Carteret County and surrounding areas. Liftavator: 4430 Hwy 70 East, New Bern, 888634-1717, encelevators.com. Service all brands of elevators & lifts with 5-year product warranty & 2-year service warranty. Licensed & insured. 24-hour service available. Building, installing & servicing elevators since 1985.

Royal Coat: 252-727-5418, www.royalcoat.com. Let the team at Royal Coat add a functional, decorative touch to your concrete surfaces, from patio and pool decks to driveways and garages. Free estimates.

The Simplified Island: Www.thesimplifiedisland. com. Looking for some help to declutter and organize your home? Make an appointment with the simplified island to simplify your home life.

INTERIOR/EXTERIOR DECOR

Artistic Kitchen & Bath: 252-241-7579. Free design consultation and estimates! The area’s most unique and extensive selection of interior and exterior tile, mosaics, glass, stone and hardwood. Professional installation. Drop by M-F, 10-5, Saturday by appointment, 607 Atlantic Beach Causeway, Atlantic Beach, or visit www.artistictileandstonenc.com.

Atlantic Breeze Storm Shutters: 3906 Arendell St., Morehead City, 252-727-9040. Free estimates! The Carolina’s only custom Bahama & Colonial manufacturer. Visit our showroom to see our complete line of storm shutters & awnings, in fiberglass & aluminum, folding accordion, roll downs- no storm bars, canvas & retractable awnings.

Budget Blinds: 3078 Hwy 24, Newport, 252-247-

3355, cell: 252-229-6431, budgetblinds.com.

Charlie Utz gives free in-home consultations in Carteret & Craven Counties on cellular shades, plantation shutters, blinds, woven woods, draperies & more.

Carolina Cabinets on Demand: 102 Five Aprils Drive #3, Peletier, 252-424-8265, 252-723-1352, www.carolinacabinetsondemand.com. Carolina Cabinets wants to help create the home of your dreams. Showcasing a wide variety of cabinet options to choose from, they will help you every step of the way. Let them help you make your house a home!

Great Windows: 252-728-3373. Quality custom made window treatments including blinds, shades & shutters. For a perfect match, professional decorators come to your home or business. Products include: Great Windows, Hunter Douglas, Timber and Somfy motorized remote control. Fast one-week service (shutters 15 days). Call today for a handcrafted, flawless fit, precise installation and 100-year warranty.

Island Furniture and Accessories: 407 Atlantic Beach Causeway, 252-727-4778. The only furniture store on the island. Specializing in coastal furniture and accessories for indoors and out. Interior design services available. Open 10am-5pm, Monday-Saturday. Visit www. shopislandfurniture.com.

McQueen’s Interiors: Pelletier Harbor Shops, Hwy 70/Arendell St., Morehead City, 252-2473175, mcqueensinteriors.com. 10,000 sq. ft. showroom of unique contemporary, traditional & coastal furnishings. Complete professional design services to make your home truly one-of-a-kind.

OUTDOORS & MARINE

Coastal Fence Co.: 7300 Highway 70 East, New Bern, 252-637-2591. Commercial and residential fence and gate services in eastern North Carolina, Coastal Fence has been a loyal, professional, and affordable company for 40 years. For all your gate and fence needs, call Coastal Fence!

Dunson Pool & Spa: 101 Crescent Drive Suite A, Beaufort, 252-838-6180. Whether you’re looking for a hot tub to help smooth out those sore muscles, searching for a needed part or ready to ready to take the plunge with a Swim Spa of your own, Dunson Pool & Spa’s Beaufort showroom is full of great ideas.

East Carolina Services: 1010 W. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, 252-240-1117, www. eastcarolinaservices.com. Fully licensed and insured landscape and pool maintenance offering hardscape design/construction, softscapes, irrigation, night lighting, sod and

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more. The pool and patio store offers free water testing as well as chemicals, equipment and accessories. Now selling Grill Dome Kamado Grills and Bull Grills.

Emerald Pool Works: Are you dreaming of a backyard pool? Custom design and construction of pools and hot tubs. Learn more at emeraldpw. com or call 252-764-7030.

Yardworks, Inc. Landscaping & Lawn Care: 902 WB McLean Blvd., Cape Carteret, 252-3939005, yardworkslandscapes.com. Over 20 years of experience working on the Crystal Coast. Quality service in landscaping, irrigation, lawn care, outdoor lighting, hardscapes and design.

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

Al Williams Properties, Real Estate & Development: 407 Atlantic Beach Causeway, 252726-8800, 800-849-1888, alwilliamsproperties. com. From sound to sea & beyond. We can serve your coastal real estate needs. Open 6 days/ week, by appointment on Sunday.

Beach Life Properties: 200 Mangrove Drive, Emerald Isle. Meet the Fab 4 today to start looking for your dream beach home!

Bluewater Builders: 201 Mangrove Drive, Emerald Isle, 252-354-7610, buildwithbluewter. com. From vacation homes to primary residences, Bluewater’s expertise can make your dream of living on the Crystal Coast a customized reality.

Bluewater Real Estate: 200 Mangrove Drive, Emerald Isle, 252-354-2128; 407 Atlantic Beach Causeway Suite #6F, Atlantic Beach 252-7263105; bluewaternc.com. Vacation, monthly & annual rentals. Real estate sales of island & mainland properties for all of Carteret County. Carolyn Blackmon: Broker/realtor with Bluewater Real Estate, Emerald Isle. A Carteret County native ready to assist newcomers and locals alike when buying and selling real estate along the Crystal Coast. Call 252-515-4831 or visit www. bluewaternc.com.

CENTURY 21 Coastland Realty: 7603 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle. With 30+ years we have served the rental and sales needs of Emerald Isle. National name recognition. Vacation, monthly and annual rentals. Knowledgeable and service award winning sales team supported by century21.com. Courteous local staff to meet your needs. Call us and see – you will not get a recording, only quick, professional personal service. Call 800-822-2121, 252-354-2131 or visit www.coastland.com.

Emerald Isle Realty: 7501 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle, Sales: 252-354-4060, 800-304-4060, EmeraldIsleRealty.com. Awarded 2005, 2009 and 2011 Top Office Production Award for Carteret County Our knowledgeable & professional sales staff is happy to discuss any of your

concerns & help you make the correct decision when buying or selling real estate on the coast.

Emerald Isle Realty Vacation Rentals: 7501 Emerald Drive, 800-849-3315, 252-3543315, private owner’s line 800-354-2859, EmeraldIsleRealty.com. With over 50 years in property management, maximizing the rental income on your investment property is our #1 priority. Call for a complimentary, confidential property management analysis.

Future Homes: 1075 Freedom Way, Hwy 24, Hubert (8 miles west of Swansboro), 910-5776400. Licensed general contractor with master craftsmen, modular technology, fast construction, display models.

Katrina Marshall, Real Estate Broker: Keller Williams Crystal Coast, 5113-A US 70 West, Morehead City, serving Morehead City, Bogue Banks and the surrounding area. Over 24 years experience working with property owners in Carteret County and the Emerald Isle area. Please call me to work for you, 252-499-0805 (office), 252-241-1081 (mobile) or kmarshall@kw.com. Landmark Homes: 252-393-2159, 800-6117705, landmarkhomesnc.com. Diane & John Ritchie offer fully licensed & insured, commercial & quality home building services as well as renovations to make your wishes come true.

Landmark Sotheby’s Realty: Steve Brown, Real Estate Broker with Landmark Sotheby’s International Realty in Morehead City, NC located at 4747 Arendell St., 252.723.8855. Steve has over 37 years experience in the real estate industry and specializes in the second home market. Utilizing the Sotheby’s International Realty brand with our multiple platforms and media partnerships, we provide your home with the ultimate exposure to a qualified audience. Call me today for specific details. Offices in Morehead City, Topsail, Wilmington, Southport, Ocean Isle Beach.

Sun-Surf Realty (Sales & Rentals): 7701 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle, Sales 252-354-2958, 800849-2958, Rentals 252-354-2658, 800-553-7873, sunsurfrealty.com. Come for a Week, Stay for a Lifetime. Call to receive a Vacation Guide or email guestservices@sunsurfrealty.com for assistance in planning your island vacation. If you are ready to purchase or sell your beach home, call one of our knowledgeable sales professionals. Syndie Earnhardt, Realtor: 252-646-3244, HomesOnTheCrystalCoast.com, real estate broker with 34+ years sales experience in vacation homes and condos, investment properties, year-round/permanent homes and vacant land, while working with Bluewater Real Estate and specializing in the Crystal Coast. Buyer representation available.

RECREATION

Emerald Isle Beach & Pool Club: 101 Dolphin Ridge Road, Emerald Isle, 252-241-5302.

Emerald Isle’s only private beach club. Weekly and seasonal memberships available. Private beach access, swimming pool, tennis

courts, shower and changing facilities, game room, full ABC permits and gourmet eatery for the convenience of members. Visit emeraldislebeachclub.com.

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores: 1 Roosevelt Blvd, Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512, 252-2474003. Enjoy a day with the family to see everything from sea turtles to jellyfish to otters and everything in between. Partake in arts and crafts planned on specific days. For planned events check out their website at www. ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores.

SHOPS & SERVICES

Churchwell’s Jewelers: 7901 Emerald Drive, Ste. 6, Emerald Isle. Featuring nautical, equestrian and traditional jewelry. Custom design available. Call 252-354-7166 or visit churchwells.com.

Emerald Isle Books: Emerald Plantation, Emerald Isle, 252-354-5323, emeraldislebooks.com. Great selection of books, greeting cards, kites, stationery, games, toys & puzzles for the entire family. Hardback books discounted 10%.

Ginny Gordon’s: 1011 Arendell Street, Morehead City, 252-726-6661, ginnygordons. com. Spice up your kitchen like a real cook. Selling cookware, aprons, cookbooks, and much more since 1982. Very nice and helpful people that will work with you to make your kitchen feel more like home.

Hang 10 Donuts, NOW OPEN, 157 Atlantic Blvd. Keep your eyes peeled for the opening of this new donut shop at the Atlantic Beach Circle! Impressions Art Gallery & Studio: 4426

Arendell Street #3, Morehead City. Come see or create your own beautiful art pieces to be put on display. Find peace and beauty in your local gallery. Visit today!

Performance East: 130 Masonic Ave., Cedar Point. Outdoor powersports are on full display at this off-shoot from the store’s headquarters in Goldsboro. Family owned since 1994 –

Performance East offers both sales and service of a variety of high-profile brands, from Sea Chaser to Yamaha. Visit performanceeast.com.

William’s Hardware: 3011 Bridges St., Morehead City, 252-726-7158. Your local True Value hardware store, with easy access to the beach, is ready to help you complete you next DIY project. Lawn and garden, power tools, plumbing and electrical supplies and keys cutting, you’ll find it all with a touch that only local service can provide.

money matters

Michael Spears Crossbridge Financial

Ways to Reduce Your Tax Liability

Want to pay less taxes? If given a way to legally reduce tax liability, most Americans would welcome that opportunity with open arms. Let’s explore strategic tax planning options.

Tax Planning for Gig Workers

There are ways for freelancers to reduce their tax burden and comply with IRS rules and regulations.

• Track business expenses and deductions. You can deduct business expenses from your taxable income. These might include home office expenses, equipment, supplies, and travel expenses.

• Learn about tax deductions for freelancers. Gig economy jobs are viewed as independent contract roles by the IRS and are therefore eligible for tax deductions such as for health insurance, retirement contributions, and even a portion of self-employment taxes.

• Contribute to retirement accounts. You can still contribute to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA to save for the future. Contributions to traditional IRAs are tax deductible, whereas contributions to Roth IRAs are not tax deductible but grow tax free.

Using RMDs for Tax Planning in Retirement

You’re required to take RMDs from certain retirement accounts the year you turn 73 which can create considerable taxable income. Here’s how to cut down on what you’ll owe.

• Withdraw more early on. You can start withdrawing money from retirement accounts without a tax penalty at age 59½. If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket when you retire, it could help to take larger distributions at the beginning of your retirement to reduce your account balance and lower your RMDs later.

• Make charitable donations. Donating your RMD to a qualified charity is known as a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), satisfies RMD

requirements and can reduce your taxable income while supporting a cause you care about. Just note the following requirements:

You must be 73 or older.

You are limited to $105,000 in 2024.

The QCD must be made directly from the trustee of the IRA to the charity.

You won’t be able to claim a QCD as a charitable deduction on your taxes.

• Consider a Roth IRA conversion. Although you will be taxed on retirement funds you convert to a Roth IRA at the time of conversion, future withdrawals from a Roth IRA are tax free. The onetime tax payment might be worth paying so you can avoid RMDs altogether and withdraw the money later without paying taxes on it. Discuss this possibility with your financial advisor and a tax professional before proceeding.

• Coordinate with social security. If you’re able to withdraw funds from your tax-deferred retirement accounts before you claim social security benefits, you may minimize tax liabilities. Also, if taking distributions from your retirement funds allows you to delay collecting social security beyond your full retirement age, your benefit will increase.

Reducing your tax bill sounds great, but it requires careful planning and understanding of tax laws. We’d love to help with your strategic tax planning. As always, we aim to help you make the most informed decision to optimize your financial well-being.

This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a qualified professional regarding your situation. Commonwealth Financial Network does not provide tax or legal advice.

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Darryl ....................................23

Impressions Art Gallery .....................................43

Island Essentials................................................25

Island Furniture..................................................15

Katrina Marshall.................................................29

Landmark Homes ..............................................23

Landmark Sothebys International Realty.............3

Liftavator ............................................................10

McQueen’s

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William’s

Yardworks

Our Clients Say it Best

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“I have the utmost confidence in Dennis We have been lifelong friends, and I couldn’t imagine a construction project, real estate purchase, or sale without Dennis.”

- G. Conekin

We can’t wait to welcome you to the family! experience

“We worked with Don out of state to buy a property in NC. We found him to be very attentive, professional, and very nice. We are happy homeowners because of Don’s help. Would highly recommend him!

- A. & L. Schipani

“Love Emma Lee! We have worked with her on five property deals since 2001. She is truly the best! She knows this beach market so very well and is a joy to work with! Definitely an awesome, trusted advisor! Thank you again, Emma Lee!

- P. Moss

Our Team of Real Estate Professionals are Ready to Put Their Knowledge to Work for You!

“A Tradition on the North Carolina Coast Since 1962!”

For over 62 years, our elite team of REALTORS® have represented thousands of sellers and buyers along our beautiful Crystal Coast. Emerald Isle Realty is focused on our clients. Each transaction is handled personally with unmatched customer service, integrity, confidence and expertise. If you are ready to get the most for your investment, reach out to our award-winning team today!