The following information is obtained from the Carolina Beach Police Department on a weekly basis.
Patrol/Investigations:
Big Apple Bakery, 1200 block of N Lake Park Blvd., reported on February 1st of being a victim of fraud.  The case has been closed.
Arrests:
Karen Decatur (28), 19000 block Hey 21, Rocky Point, NC was arrested on February 2nd for Possession Schedule III and Drug Paraphernalia.
Raesean Reynolds (22), 900 block S Lake Park Blvd., was arrested on February 2nd for Driving While Impaired, Possession Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia.
Shane Roberts (23), 200 block of Carolina Beach Ave N, was arrested on February 3rd for Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia.
Samantha Roberts (21), 400 Carolina Beach Ave N, was arrested on February 3rd for Child Abuse.  
Richard Hertzel (53), 500 Hamlet Ave., was arrested on February 5th for Domestic Violence Protection Order Violation.
Elizabeth Harrell (27), 900 MacMillan Ave, Wilmington, was arrested on February 5th for Larceny, Possession of Schedule IV and Drug Paraphernalia.
John Blake (31), 900 MacMillan Ave., Wilmington, was arrested on February 5th for Drug Paraphernalia.
Barbara Freeman (55), 300 Columbia Ave, was arrested on February 6th for court violations on previous charges.
Justin Sillmon (37), 300 Raleigh Ave., was arrested on February 6th for Driving While Impaired.
Melissa Bunn (34), 5800 McDonald Rd, Parkton, NC, was arrested on February 7th for Driving While Impaired.
Steven Raney (30), 300 Canal Drive, was arrested on February 7th for Driving While Impaired.

By WILLARD KILLOUGH III
Managing Editor

CAROLINA BEACH - The Carolina Beach Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing February 11th to consider a modification to a previously approved conditional use permit (CUP) for a new Harris Teeter Grocery Store on North Lake Park Blvd. The modification will substantially change the flow of traffic in the area and restrict traffic for other local businesses in the area while allowing unrestricted traffic flow for Harris Teeter.
The Planning Commission  recommended the Town Council deny the request based on not meeting the General Condition that the use will not materially endanger the public health or safety if located where proposed and developed to the plan as submitted. 
The Commission also recommended that the stop light be moved to intersect with Bennett Lane where the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) originally recommended, for the Planning Department to recommend a turnaround plan and that the applicant perform a Business Impact Analysis.
The Council unanimously approved of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to build a new 53,000 square foot Harris Teeter Store and Fuel Station at 1000 North Lake Park Blvd during their August 11th, 2015 meeting. On November 9th, the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) recommended changes for the traffic pattern approved by Council in August.
In June, BBM Associates Inc of Raleigh, NC, submitted full color renderings to the Town of Carolina Beach showing a 53,000 square foot store and a fuel station. The location was formerly Jubilee Amusement Park which was demolished years ago to make way for a mixed-use condo and retail project that never  materialized before the real estate market collapsed.
The plans - submitted by Barnes Development Co. of Charlotte, NC - show a free standing 53,288 square foot Harris Teeter Store with 5,480 square foot area for future expansion. The total area of land to be developed is 7.10 acres. There will be 269 parking spaces and a fueling station near the entrance at 1000 North Lake Park Blvd. The entrance will be located across from Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage and will include a stop-light intersection with an added turn lane on the east side of the road for vehicles turning into Harris Teeter.
The plans show four areas where the vehicle access will be connected to the older Federal Point Shopping Center that was once home to Food Lion years ago before that store moved to the Snow's Cut Crossing Shopping Center at the foot of Snow's Cut Bridge leading into Carolina Beach. The off-site improvements to Lake Park Blvd include a relocation of the
existing traffic signal at the Federal Point Shopping Center entrance to a new entrance that will service both Federal Point as well as this development.
Cross access easements between Jubilee Carolina and Federal Point’s owners will allow cross easement access between the two properties for both customer and service truck access. As part of the access improvements, Lake Park Blvd will be widened to accommodate a dedicated left hand turn lane into the new entrance. To accommodate the widening, Jubilee Carolina will dedicate a portion of its frontage as right of way as well as work with NCDOT to obtain a small amount of right of way from the neighboring Wings parcel. Those improvements were outlined in a Traffic Impact Analysis prepared by Kimley-Horn and presented to NCDOT.
In August Town Senior Planner Jeremy Hardison said, "They are making significant traffic improvements in this area. One noticeable change will be the stoplight relocation. Currently it is between the ABC Store and the Wings. They will be locating it on the other side of the Wings Store to create a centralized access point to service both the Harris Teeter property and also Federal Point" shopping center.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) wanted the intersection relocated to Bennett Lane rather than the location proposed by the developer.
NCDOT officials met with the developer in September and according to Benjamin T. Hughes, PE - Senior Assistant District Engineer for NCDOT  - "The development stated they cannot proceed forward with the relocated traffic signal aligned with Bennett Lane" and, "The Department recommends that any
relocation of the signal align with Bennett Lane to provide additional access to all homes and commercial businesses on the west side of Lake Park Blvd and to facilitate access for future redevelopment."
Following that meeting, NCDOT informed the developer that if the intersection was not relocated to Bennett
Lane, additional changes would be required for the new intersection. 
On November 9th, Amy Kimes with the North Carolina Department of Transportation wrote to representatives of the project, "The WMPO, NCDOT and Carolina Beach staffs have reviewed the Harris Teeter development. We concur with the recommendations of the TIA (Traffic Impact
Analysis) as stated below and shown on the attached site plan with the included additions (in red)."
The plan already calls for relocating the traffic signal at the Federal Point Shopping Center south on North Lake Park Blvd to a new location across from Coldwell Banker. Kimes letter included an additional comment stating, "Existing Federal Point Shopping Center Driveway will be restricted to a right-in/right out only" traffic pattern.
The new intersection would have traffic lights and provide a southbound left-turn lane with 200 feet of turn lane. It would also provide a west-bound left turn lane with 200 feet of lane. Kimes additional
comments include providing a median island along North Lake Park Blvd "as required by the NCDOT Driveway Permit" and, "Provide north-bound right-turn lane with 175 feet of storage and a 100 foot taper. Close/remove the existing driveway located on the west side of North Lake Park Blvd that is within the intersection."
The driveway recommended to be closed or removed is at the Pleasure Island Plaza on the west side of Lake Park Blvd.
Kimes wrote, "Restrict Bennett Lane to a right-in/right-out/left-in only" intersection.
Hardison explained Monday February 1st, Harris Teeter's request to modify their permit is the result of the turning lane and include reducing the width of sidewalks from 5' to 4' feet, a waiver of landscaping requirements in one portion of the project and approval of 7 compact parking spaces.
During the Planning Commission's February 11th, meeting, Hardison explained, "Originally DOT recommended the stop light to align with Bennett Ln, but Harris Teeter wanted to provide access to the Federal Point Shopping Center. Harris Teeter wanted the stop light to move north, closer to the Federal Point Shopping Center. This would allow access to and from the Harris Teeter and Federal Point to occur without interacting with parking traffic. Also, it would avoid having all the Federal Point traffic weave through the Harris Teeter parking lot. The applicant thought this would be the best location to provide access for both properties, maintain mobility and minimize internal congestion."
Hardison said after meeting with NCDOT Harris Teeter went back and redesigned the site to make the entrance align with Bennett Lane but those designs brought additional constraints such as loss of required parking spaces and the parking lot split in half with the connector street to Federal Point Shopping Center creating unsafe pedestrian access. Also, it would result in the loss of the pharmacy and any area designed for future expansion of the store.
Then Harris Teeter wanted to use the plan as approved by Council in August and submitted that plan for NCDOT comments. That resulted in the most recent plan calling for medians and turning restrictions for surrounding areas.
Benjamin T. Hughes with NCDOT informed the Commission that regardless of whether or not the entrance is located at Bennett Lane or the location as requested by the developer, they will still be required to install medians to protect vehicles traveling through the intersection. The medians protect vehicles waiting at the intersection from vehicles turning left into traffic from surrounding properties. Hughes said they see a 40% reduction in accidents with the addition of medians at intersections.
Brett Keeler - a resident of Bennett Lane - said the proposal will have negative impacts on the public health and safety because, "Of the lack of ability for delivery trucks to safely navigate drop offs and pick ups." He said large vehicles making deliveries to businesses along that portion of Lake Park Blvd - and some on Bennett Lane - already deal with limited areas to turn around. Bennett Lane is a dead-end street. He said the project will cause people to make u-turns to reach many of the 40 or more businesses in the affected area. He said a plan to facilitate u-turns a greater distance south at the intersection Lake Park and Saint Joseph Street is not a practical solution.
Keeler said, "We've gone over this time and again that those 47 businesses and 30 residential properties are going to be affected negatively" and, "We've seen over and over, stories about huge big box stores that come in, impart huge amounts of change, decided it doesn't work and then they leave and all those changes  stay there." He said local businesses that will be cutoff or strangled will be negatively affected and potentially move.
Richard Phillips is the HOA president of Island Forrest on Bennett Lane. He said, "Harris Teeter has not done adequate studies on Bennett Lane and the current existing light." He said, "The only reference he gives as to why it doesn't work at Bennett Lane is because it impacts possibly their pharmacy, possibly their future expansion. I have three daughters that will be coming out at Bennett Lane and I can't prioritize their pharmacy or future expansion over the risk my daughters are going to have... they are going to take a u-turn" and, "I've been here nine years now. We're home. We have to make them do adequate studies and compare all possible alternatives and I don't think that's been done."
Local business owner Attorney Ned Barnes is located at the Pleasure Island Plaza. He's been at that location for 30 years and said the project will negatively impact over 40 businesses in the area on the west side of Lake Park Blvd. Many of those businesses have been in business for decades. He said, "Having been here as long as I have I can tell you for a lot of these businesses, myself included, it has been a real struggle financially for these businesses to grow, build and thrive over those years. As I reviewed the plan... it's clear that what's going to occur is anyone traveling north on Lake Park Blvd, if they wish to enter any of those businesses as it stands right now, they would have to drive to the stop light at the intersection of Dow Road, hope they can make a u-turn to loop around to go to any one of these businesses. I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to understand what a big impact that's going to have on these businesses."
Barnes said it would negatively impact both the businesses and the citizens that frequent the hardware store, salon, restaurants and real estate offices in the area as well as residential homes on Bennett Lane.
Barnes said the Bame Ace Hardware store  have been told by their delivery truck drivers they will not be able to deliver if the medians are installed and that will have an impact on a family owned business that's been on the island for many decades.
He said there are numerous vacation rental offices in the affected area. In the summer visitors check out at 11AM on Saturdays and usually check in around 3PM. He said those visitors will have to travel a greater distance to another light to make a u-turn and wait in traffic before reaching those offices due to the restrictions the new medians will bring. They will have to repeat that process in the opposite direction in order to leave the area.
Commissioner Tammy Hanson said NCDOT, "Works inside a box" and studies that worked well in other towns may not work in Carolina Beach. She referenced a change in traffic pattern on Lake Park Blvd some years ago called a Road Diet where a section was reduced from four lanes to two lanes with bike lanes on either side. That change caused massive traffic congestion with vehicles sometimes backing up to neighboring Kure Beach. She said, "We were told the Road Diet was going to be safer and how many people got hit or almost hit and had wrecks and how much business did we lose that one summer when people could not drive on this beach. I don't see how we can just slap a median up all the way down the road, put up a couple of u-turns and expect this to work."
The Carolina Beach Town Council will hold a public hearing on the issue at their March 8th meeting at 6:30PM at Town Hall.

Click image for larger view...

2016-1-28-NCDOT-Concept.pdf (Plans showing project layout and traffic pattern on Lake Park Blvd.)

2016-1-28-NCDOT-JRG Notes.pdf (Plans showing project layout and traffic pattern on Lake Park Blvd.)

Harris Teeter-TIA-Approval.pdf (Notes and plan from NCDOT)

By WILLARD KILLOUGH III
Managing Editor

CAROLINA BEACH - The Carolina Beach Town Council will hold a meeting February 18th, at 9:AM at Town Hall to consider information on a proposal to increase utility rates to fund a five year $57.8 million dollar infrastructure improvement plan.
Currently the average residential meter access fee is $13.84 for water and $25.02 for sewer.  Included in the meter access fee, you are allowed 3,000 gallons of consumption before additional charges apply.  Consumption over 3,000 gallons will be billed at $3.70 per 1,000 gallons for water and $6.67 per 1,000 gallons for sewer. Under a proposal to be presented to the Council on February 18th, the monthly base allocation of 3,000 per month would be replaced with a monthly fee for the meter and a charge for every 1,000 gallons of water and sewer. For example, a 5/8 or 3/4 inch residential meter would be $15.22 per month for water and $27.51 for sewer. For water use up to 3,000 gallons per month the rate would be $0.86 per 1,000 of water use and $1.46 per 1,000 of sewer. Over 3,000 gallons per month and the water rate increases to $4.28 per 1,000 gallons of water and $7.28 per 1,000 gallons of sewer treatment.
For a customer using around 6,000 gallons of water and sewer each month the monthly bill would eventually increase by  $13.98 per month.
The existing rates generate $5,771,130 annually. Under the proposal that number would increase to $10,719,116 a year by 2021.
The Council heard options to fund infrastructure projects over the next three years to repair aging water and sewer lines and make improvements to storm water systems during a workshop held Tuesday morning January 26th.
Some work has already been completed in the downtown area. The lions share of remaining work addresses residential areas west of Lake Park Blvd and some areas on the northern end of Town.
Other improvements include a new discharge pipe at the Waste Treatment Plant off Dow Road, repairs to a sewer equalization basin, replacing pumps at sewer lift stations and new wells for drinking water, a 3 million water storage tank, a new 16" storm water forcemain, and dredging the Carolina Beach Lake.
The Town brought in financial advisers from Charlotte, NC based First Tryon to examine and explain various financing options.
Historically the Town has used "Installment financing" to finance projects with bank loans. That type of loan typically requires a shorter repayment period resulting in higher annual debt service payments but lower overall interest.
The State Local Government Commission must approve debt taken on by municipalities and when a Town is considering a large debt such $57.8 million, they prefer Town's use a different method.
The other option presented to the Council at the January meeting is using Revenue Bonds which can be paid back over a longer period of time - up to 25 years. That results in a lower annual debt payment. Utility revenues must produce a minimum debt service coverage of at least 1.20 times the revenues generated by those fees.
The Revenue Bonds are sold on the Municipal Bond Market to investors.
Installment financing at 15 years with a bank could cost the Town a little over $6.5 million annually. Using revenue bonds, the annual debt of $5.1 to $5.7 million over 20 to 25 years. There are also options to defer principal and capitalized interest for a few years to ease the burden and allow revenues from rates to build before the first debt payment.
Revenue Bond options with varying structures would lead to $107 and $123 million over 20 to 25 years.
Councilman Steve Shuttleworth said that people have complained for many years about poor water quality particularly in the older residential areas of Town. He said it's an issue that Council pledged to fix some years ago.
Shuttleworth said he needs more details on how much of a rate increase will be needed to fund the debt before making a decision on which financing model to use.
Daryll Parker with Willdan Financial Services offered scenarios on water, sewer and storm water rates including "structural adjustments" to rates and 10% annual increases over a number of years in order to repay the debt  regardless of whether Installment Financing or Revenue Bonds were used to fund the projects.
Parker explained, "Right now your base charge includes 3,000 gallons of flow you are kind of giving away that first 3,000 gallons of your water service. What we are proposing is kind of phasing that out to where you have a base charge... that pays for the availability of service and as soon as you turn on your water faucet you start paying for the flow. Just doing that is going to significantly increase the revenues and your financial picture."
Currently the average residential meter access fee is $13.84 for water and $25.02 for sewer.  Included in the meter access fee, you are allowed 3,000 gallons of consumption before additional charges apply.  Consumption over 3,000 gallons is billed at $3.70 per 1,000 gallons for water and $6.67 per 1,000 gallons for sewer.
The Town began using the 3,000 minimum years ago because many vacation properties are vacant during the off season and use little or no water. The minimum was adopted to ensure a consistent revenue source throughout the year to maintain a utility system required to serve greater demand during the busier summer months. Additionally, you can't have service disconnected to avoid paying the monthly base fee.
Shuttleworth said Council needs to know what they can afford with annual rate increases and talk about options such as deferring projects and reprioritizing.
He said, "I would like some numbers to help me understand more clearly. Some basic numbers... for example, what is our average bill to a homeowner. Therefore, if we did a 10% on an average bill for water, sewer and storm water, if it's X and we increase that 10%, over five years what would that be?"
Council member Leann Pierce said, "If we are going to pledge these funds and we can only use these funds for certain things, I think we need to know how they are generated and who's paying what" and, "There is a big difference between commercial and residential and we got hit hard commercially on storm water fees and things like that and I want to see those broke out separately."
She said, "I know my bills went up substantially and I've heard it from a lot of businesses around Town."

Click here to view the presentation included in the meeting agenda... (Opens as an Acrobat PDF file)

The 12th Annual New Hanover County Special Olympics Polar Plunge was back at the Boardwalk this year with hundreds lining the Atlantic to take a dip in ocean. With water temps in the 50’s getting out of the water was the major hurtle as wet plungers were hit with air temps in the high 20’s! Never the less the temperatures did not stop the crowd from “Freezin for a Reason” raising money for an amazing cause!
Proceeds from the Polar Plunge along with the race go directly to the Special Olympics New Hanover County who provides year-round sports training, competition, social events and Camp Shriver summer camp for people eight years of age and older with intellectual disabilities. In New Hanover County, over 600 athletes participate in Special Olympics. Our program receives no government funding and relies solely on private and corporate support as well as the efforts of over 300 volunteers to provide these services at no cost to the athletes or their families. For more information visit http://www.plungenhc.com  or follow the Polar Plunge on Facebook!

Over 200 Run to Benefit NHC Special Olympics

This past Saturday the New Hanover County Special Olympics Annual Polar Plunge 5k and Mile fun run was back at Carolina Beach with a Boardwalk start and finish! Over 200 participants came out to the race with Carolina Beach’s David Streb taking the overall spot with a time of 20:05 and first place female finisher was Bethany Nay of Wilmington with a time of 21:19. For a complete list of results and time visit its-go-time.com/polar-plunge.

The start of the Polar Plunge, which had almost 200 Participants this year.

CAROLINA BEACH, NC - Saturday March 12th the Steve Haydu St. Patrick’s Lo Tide Run will once again bring thousand to Carolina Beach all for one great cause. 100% of all proceeds from registration fees, sponsors and individual donors are distributed to recipients selected by an all volunteer board of directors to assist local cancer victims in need.
The donations are distributed in memory of Steve Haydu of Carolina Beach, who died from cancer at a young age.
The recipients are New Hanover County residents diagnosed with cancer and are without medical insurance or in financial need. All donations are tax deductible.
The impact in their lives of getting much needed financial help from their community is worth running for. The annual race would not be possible without all of the amazing support of sponsors, participants and the volunteers. Race organizers ask that the community be involved.
If you want to join in on the fun, registration is still at  www.LoTideRun.org. Race day registration will open at 7:00am at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk located on Cape Fear Boulevard. In addition to a wonderful time supporting a great cause and a beautiful forecast, the Lo Tide Run awards are sure to please.  

CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. - A former Carolina Beach Police reserve officer was arrested March 17th, for 2nd Degree Force Sex Offense at his home on Raleigh Avenue in Carolina Beach.

The New Hanover County Sheriff's Department arrested 29 year old Joseph Adam Silva. Silva was hired as a Reserve Police Officer with the Carolina Beach Police Department on March 30, 2015 and separated from employment with the Carolina Beach Police Department September 23,2015. He resigned in the Spring of 2015.

G.M Turner of the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office took out a warrant for Silva on March 17th. In the warrant it states that Silva, "Unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did engage in a sex offense" with a female by force and against the victims will.

We will bring you more on this story as it develops.

RALEIGH, N.C. : March 15th, 2016 - A group of eight municipalities and one county from across the state will receive assistance with bicycle and pedestrian planning, thanks to grants awarded this month by the N.C. Department of Transportation.
Now in its thirteenth year, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant program helps North Carolina communities develop a comprehensive strategy for expanding bicycle and pedestrian opportunities within a given community.
Recipients were selected from a pool of 17 applications by an awards committee comprised of transportation planners from across the state, including representatives of regional planning organizations and councils of government, local governments and NCDOT staff from multiple units.
Recipients this year include:
• Carolina Beach (pedestrian plan)
• Carthage (joint bicycle/pedestrian plan)
• Cramerton (bicycle plan)
• Currituck County (pedestrian plan)
• Fayetteville (pedestrian plan)
• Flat Rock (joint bicycle/pedestrian plan)
• Laurel Park (joint bicycle/pedestrian plan)
• Newton (pedestrian plan)
• Spindale (joint bicycle/pedestrian plan)
The planning grant initiative is jointly sponsored by the NCDOT Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation and the Transportation Planning Branch. To date, over $4 million has been awarded to 173 communities through the planning grant program.
Plans funded are not for one specific project, but represent a comprehensive strategy for expanding bicycle and pedestrian opportunities within a given municipality. These plans address facilities, programs, services and regulations that encourage safe walking and bicycling.
The Town was given the option to manage the administrative process for the grant at the local level or let NCDOT manage selecting a design firm and other administrative processes. The Town chose to let NCDOT take the administrative role.
Plan development will begin in June or July of this year.
The Town of Carolina Beach will establish the project steering committee consisting of local citizenry. A primary local contact will serve as the liaison between the locality, consultant and NCDOT. This person along with the steering committee will give principal direction to ensure the plan captures what the community desires.
The Town has been working on expanding bike and pedestrian paths throughout Town. Currently the Town is preparing to construct an Island Greenway on U.S. Military land connecting the areas of Mike Chappel Park on Dow Road and Alabama Avenue at the southern end of Town.
They are also preparing to complete a multi-use bike and pedestrian path on Cape Fear Blvd and have plans to install a path along Harper Avenue.

The following information is obtained from the Carolina Beach Police Department on a weekly basis.
Patrol/Investigations:
CVS, 900 block of Dow Rd., reported on February 29th of being a victim of Fraud. The case is under investigation.
Zackery Moore (36), 100 block of Georgia Ave., reported on March 1st of being a victim of a simple physical assault. The case was closed due to declining prosecution.
Angelia Clinton (33), 400 block of Carolina Beach Ave S, reported on March 3rd of being a victim of Fraud. The case is under investigation.
Jodi Perryman (45), 400 block of Cape Fear Blvd., reported on March 4th of being a victim of an animal bite.  The case has been closed.
Katie Morgan (30), 1600 block of Carolina Beach Ave N., reported on March 4th of being a victim of Fraud. The case is under investigation.
Kandelyn Hurst (19), 400 block of Carolina Beach Ave N, reported on March 5th of being a victim of simple physical assault. The case is closed.
Jason Moore (39), 100 block of Sixth Ave., Kure Beach, reported on March 6th of being a victim of Larceny in the 1000 block of N Lake Park Blvd. The case is under investigation.
Arrests:
James Matthews (35), 1000 block of Frank Welsh Rd, Fayetteville, NC, was arrested on March 1st in the 100 block of Raleigh Ave., for Communicating Threats, Larceny and Possession of Marijuana.
James Magill (27), 1200 block of Saint Joseph St., was arrested on March 1st in the 700 block of N Lake Park Blvd for Driving While Impaired.
Justus Simmons (32), 1000 block of Old Mill Creek, Bolivia, was arrested on March 2nd in the 200 block of Carolina Beach Ave N., for Larceny and Fraud.   
Jamell Roland (27), 100 block of Rutledge Dr., was arrested on March 3rd in the 1400 block of N Lake Park Blvd., for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Christian Lilly (19), 6000 block of Myrtle Grove Rd., was arrested on March 4th in the 700 block of N Lake Park Blvd., for Driving While Impaired and Possession of Schedule IV.
Christopher Fryxell (38), 400 block of Carolina Beach Ave N, was arrested on March 5th in the 400 block of Carolina Beach Ave N., for Driving While License Revoked.
Theodore Dow (28), 1200 block of Eastham Dr, Apex, NC, was arrested on March 5th in the 100 block of Charlotte Ave., for Trespassing.
Roger Johnson (50), 4300 block of Stratton Village Ln., Wilmington was issued a Town Civil Citation for Improperly Parked on March 5th in the 300 block of Carolina Beach Ave. South.
Other: No Town Ordinance or Freeman Park violations were written.

By WILLARD KILLOUGH III
Managing Editor

CAROLINA BEACH - A decision made by the Obama administration earlier this week will prohibit leases with oil companies to drill in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean for the next six years.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) removed the Atlantic Ocean for leasing from 2017 to 2022.
According to Dustin Cranor with Oceana.org, "While Oceana applauded the Obama administration for listening to widespread opposition along the East Coast, it continues to urge the government to stop seismic airgun use in the Atlantic and not to hold new lease sales in the remote and unforgiving Arctic Ocean."
In 2014, Kure Beach became ground zero for opposition to seismic airgun testing in the Atlantic Ocean for oil and gas exploration. According to Oceana.org, "Seismic airguns are used to find oil and gas deep underneath the ocean floor. Airguns are so loud that they disturb, injure or kill marine life, harm commercial fisheries, and disrupt coastal economies. These dynamite-like blasts—which are repeated every ten seconds, 24 hours a day, for days and weeks at a time—are 100,000 times more intense than a jet engine. Seismic airgun testing currently being proposed in the Atlantic will injure 138,500 whales and dolphins and disturb millions more, according to government estimates."
The sound waves that return to the vessel towing monitoring equipment are used to determine if oil or natural gas are located beneath the ocean floor.
Since Kure Beach first tackled the issue of seismic testing in January 2014, 110 East Coast municipalities, as well as more than 100 Members of Congress, 700 state and local elected officials and 1,100 business interests that have all publicly opposed offshore drilling and seismic airgun use.
The Kure Beach Town Council adopted a resolution in opposition to seismic testing for offshore oil and gas exploration during their January 19th, meeting. The vote was quick and unanimous.
The meeting room was standing-room-only with many people in attendance to hear the official vote on an issue that started in December 2013 when then Mayor Dean Lambeth signed a letter supporting seismic airgun testing for off shore oil and natural gas exploration.
The Mayor signed a letter written by America's Energy Forum - a group sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute - that describes its mission as, "a non-partisan community of concerned citizens committed to two goals – achieving energy security for our country, and holding our elected officials more accountable in shaping energy policies."
The letter sent in December 2013 was addressed to Tommy Beaudreau of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in Washington D.C.
That resulted in unprecedented levels of public outcry opposing that position.
When members of the community heard about the letter, they were outraged the Mayor had acted in their name without first asking the public for their input.
A crowd of approximately 300 people rallied at Kure Beach Town Hall on January 27th, 2014 meeting to voice their opposition to Mayor Lambeth signing the letter.
The Council did not vote to oppose seismic testing and a second vote was held April 15th 2014, with Mayor Dean Lambeth and Council members Craig Bloszinsky and Steve Pagley voting against a motion by then Council member Emilie Swearingen to adopt a resolution opposing seismic testing. Swearingen and Councilman David Heglar voted in favor of the resolution.
Swearingen ran against Lambeth for the Mayor's seat in November 2015 and won. Mayor Lambeth commented that media attention to the issue played a role in his unsuccessful bid for reelection.
Carolina Beach and the City of Wilmington also previously adopted similar resolutions opposing seismic testing.
That set the stage for the vote passing the resolution of opposition on January 19th, 2016.
Jacqueline Savitz, Oceana’s vice president for the U.S., said, "President Obama has taken a giant step for our oceans, for coastal economies and for mitigating climate change. This is a courageous decision that begins the shift to a new energy paradigm, where clean energy replaces fossil fuels, and where we can avoid the worst impacts of decades of our carbon dioxide emissions."
She explained it's, "An unnecessary risk to nearly 1.4 million jobs and over $95 billion in gross domestic product. This includes fishery and tourism economies that rely on healthy oceans."
She explained, "With offshore drilling off the table in the Atlantic, there is absolutely no reason to risk the damage that would be caused by seismic airguns in that area. We urge the President to go further and to stop seismic airgun use, an extremely loud and dangerous process used to search for oil and gas deposits deep below the ocean floor. Seismic airgun permits are still being pursued in an area of the Atlantic that is twice the size of California, stretching from Delaware to Florida. With no
drilling plans in sight, there is absolutely no reason to put more than 100,000 marine mammals in harm’s way, in fact doing so would be appallingly irresponsible. The noise from seismic airgun blasting is so loud that it can be heard up to 2,500 miles from the source, which is akin to the distance between Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas."

By WILLARD KILLOUGH III
Managing Editor

CAROLINA BEACH - The Carolina Beach Police and Fire Departments recently began carrying a drug called Naloxone (nah LOX one) that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save a persons life.
Police officers and Fire personnel are often the first on scene when responding to a medical call where a person has overdosed on prescription opioids or heroin.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, drug overdose deaths, driven largely by prescription drug overdose deaths, are now the leading cause of injury death in the United States“ surpassing motor vehicle crashes.
In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the number of drug overdose deaths had steadily increased for more than a decade.
According to the Carolina Beach Police Department, "Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdose and is the standard treatment for overdose. However, existing naloxone drugs require administration via syringe and are most commonly used by trained medical personnel in emergency departments and ambulances."
The Police and Fire Departments recently partnered with the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition - a public health and drug policy organization based in Durham, North Carolina, that promotes and tracks the use of Naloxone by public safety agencies.
They distributed Naloxone kits for Carolina Beach Police Officers and Firefighters to carry and utilize in the event of an opioid related drug overdose. Both departments began carrying Naloxone at the end of February, 2016.
All personnel have bene trained on the administration of the life saving drug including signs of an opioid overdose and procedures to properly report incidents where Naloxone is used.
According to the Police Department, "Most recently, on March, 06 2016 Carolina Beach Police Officers were dispatched to a residence on Snapper Lane., in Carolina Beach in reference to a medical call with a man in his 30's. The responding officers arrived on scene and determined the signs were of an opioid overdose. Officer D.McNeil of the Carolina Beach Police Department administered a dose of Naloxone, reversing the effect of the opioid until paramedics arrived and continued medical care."

(Pictured above: ) The Veggie Wagon is located at 608 South Lake Park Blvd in Carolina Beach. April and Max Sussman opened the business as a roadside produce stand in 2009 and have since expanded the business offering their fresh locally sourced products to Whole Foods Market stores in Wilmington and Winston-Salem as well as at Overstock.com's Farmers Market. They also recently announced that three Triangle-area breweries are carrying their products including dill pickle peanuts, pimento cheese, spinach artichoke dip, spicy cheese dip, hummus, pretzels and more. They are now expanding to 1117 North Lake Park Blvd to open a new retail and office location in the former location of Carolina Beach Creamery.

By WILLARD KILLOUGH III
Managing Editor

CAROLINA BEACH - The Veggie Wagon in Carolina Beach is expanding their operations to include a new retail and office location at 1117 N Lake Park Blvd adjacent to Carolina Beach Town Hall.
Max and April Sussman, founders and owners of The Veggie Wagon, said last week they began operations in 2009 at 608 South Lake Park Blvd as a roadside produce stand and have since expanded their operations. The original location at 608 South Lake Park Blvd will remain open. The second location will give them room for additional office and retail space. They specialize in delivery of fresh local North Carolina fruits, vegetables, and homemade products to the Wilmington, Kure Beach, Carolina Beach, and Wrightsville Beach areas. They travel to all the best local farms and small batch producers to bring customers the freshest and tastiest items North Carolina has to offer.
"It gives us a chance to expand our staff and take our existing business model and add new farmers and more income into more farmers pockets," Max Sussman said. "We're keeping the expansion on the Island that has supported us for the last five years."
There are multiple options for this expansion and Max and April found it very important to continue to support the Island with additional jobs.
Several of The Veggie Wagon’s products can be found on the shelves of Whole Foods Market stores in the North Carolina cities of Wilmington and Winston-Salem, as well as at many smaller retailers and most recently at Overstock.com’s Farmers Market.
They recently began providing their products to three Triangle-area breweries: Bombshell Beer Company of Holly Springs, Compass Rose Brewery of Raleigh and Nickelpoint Brewing Company of Raleigh.
“We saw a need in breweries that didn’t serve food,” Max Sussman said. “It’s just been a really neat program. A craft beer deserves more than a bag of chips, and it’s been a cool learning experience to figure out what pairs well with each place’s beer.”
The Sussmans said The Veggie Wagon’s unique program allows breweries to offer more variety than food trucks without all the difficult regulations. Some of the products you’ll find in participating breweries include dill pickle peanuts, pimento cheese, spinach artichoke dip, spicy cheese dip, hummus, pretzels and granola bars made from beer grain. Each brewery gets a cooler, and new items are delivered weekly. The Veggie Wagon offers delivery of fresh produce and other items including gourmet coffee, meats, pastas, breads, cheeses, gift baskets, and more.
Sussman said, "Our goal here at The Veggie Wagon is to deliver to you the best local produce that can be grown in coastal North Carolina within 24 hours of being picked." You can shop in person or online at www.theveggiewagon.com

By WILLARD KILLOUGH III
Managing Editor

CAROLINA BEACH - The beach renourishment project for Pleasure Island is moving north to the Carolina Beach Fishing Pier. Work was recently completed for a portion of the project in Kure Beach. Now work will begin at the pier in Carolina Beach and progress south towards an area near the downtown Boardwalk.
The beach re-nourishment project is scheduled to be complete by April 30, 2016. Crews working for Marinex Construction Inc.  - a contractor hired by the Army Corp of Engineers -  recently completed work in Kure Beach, NC, south of Carolina Beach.
Work on the Kure Beach portion of the project began in January in the area of Ocean Blvd in Carolina Beach and proceeded south to an area north of the Kure Beach Fishing Pier. Then work began on another section in southern Kure Beach in the area of Fort Fisher and the Air Force Recreation Area south to just before the coquina rocks.
For the southern portion of the project covering Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, sand was dredged from a site off shore using the Dredge Savannah (Ocean Certified Pipeline Dredge) to pump sand ashore using the submerged pipeline which connected to a pipe running along the beach front.
Once that work is complete crews will begin work in Carolina Beach at the Carolina Beach Fishing Pier and proceed south to the area of Hamlet Avenue.
Sand will be dredged from an area in the Carolina Beach Inlet and pumped through large pipes the length of the project area.
The Town of Carolina Beach announced on February 19th,  "Due to projected conflicts between high tide and beach re-nourishment preparations, areas north of Zone 10 in Freeman Park will be closed to vehicle access beginning February 29, 2016. No vehicle access will be permitted to this area of the beach until all beach re-nourishment activities are completed. We anticipate reopening this area in May 2016."
Freeman Park, located beyond the end of Canal Drive on the Northern End of Pleasure Island, is largely outside of the Town's jurisdiction. They have authority to manage the area as a park. That was granted to them by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners some years ago.
There is a fee charged for vehicle access to drive on the beach front within the park. There is a separate fee for camping during the summer months.
According to Town officials starting February 29th, 2016, campsites #1 through #63 in Freeman Park will have obstructed ocean views and beach access due to the upcoming beach re-nourishment project in Carolina Beach. Piping will be positioned close to these campsites impacting the landscape and means of accessing the water. The beach re-nourishment project is scheduled to be complete by April 30, 2016. However, the piping may take longer to be removed. Please take this information into account when planning a camping trip at Freeman Park during the upcoming months. If you have any questions, please contact Town Hall at (910) 458-2999. Now through May 2016, areas north of Zone 10 in Freeman Park will be CLOSED to ALL pedestrians, horseback riders, and vehicles due to projected high tides and beach renourishment dredging.
The cost for the joint Carolina Beach and Kure Beach project is $12,876,439.00. That price increased when additional sand was factored into the project.

Workers were preparing new poles along Lake Park Blvd in downtown Carolina Beach on Monday March 14th. The Town plans to add parking meters along that road in the Central Business District. The new meters will begin operation around April 15th. Parking is enforced beginning April 1^st continuing through October 31^st.  During this time paid parking is in effect from 8:00 am until 7:00 pm seven days a week. Parking at meters is $1.50 per hour. You may use nickels, dimes, and quarters to purchase time in 2, 4, and 10 minute increments at parking meters.  Visa, Master Card and American Express may be used as well to purchase time in 20 minute increments with an hour minimum.Parking in Town owned parking lots is $1.50 per hour or $8 per day.

Residents get a free parking decal with the purchase of a Vehicle Identification Decal each year. That parking decal allows residents to park for free in single-space metered parking and in Town owned parking lots.

Permanent residents of the Town are required to purchase and display a Town of Carolina Beach Vehicle Identification Decal (VID) on their automobile. The Town VID is a tax and is issued for a one-year period each year.

The VID also assists in identifying residents of the town during times of natural disaster and other emergencies.  The VID will be either North, South, East or West depending on your properties location on the island.

With the purchase of a VID, permanent residents and property owners receive a parking permit at no additional cost. The parking permit allows parking in the Town of Carolina Beach municipal lots without having to pay the meters.  Make sure there are Town of Carolina Beach signs in the lots that state “Town Decals Valid in this Lot”.  Also, if signs state a parking time limit, (2 hours at meters), obey the time frame stated.  The following are not Town of Carolina Beach lots and parking decals are not valid:  310 Canal Drive; 313 Carolina Beach Ave North; 217 Carolina Beach Ave North and 104 Hamlet Drive.

Decals may be purchased at Town Hall.  Permanent residents must provide a copy of N.C. Vehicle Registration with their Carolina Beach address. Out of town property owners must show a copy of New Hanover County tax bill or deed as well as a copy of their vehicle registration. VID’s may be purchased by mail with proper documentation, a check for the decals and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Town of Carolina Beach, 1121 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach, N.C. 28428.

The cost for the VID is $5.00 if purchased January 1st-March 31st. Decals purchased on/after April 1st cost $15.00 each.  Additional decals for residents/owners of more than one property are available for $1.00 per decal.

For more information, visit www.carolinabeach.org or call 910-458-2999.

St. Patrick'™s Day came early in Carolina Beach for the 12th Annual Steve Haydu St. Patrick's Lo Tide Run! The 5k/10k brought close to 2,000 participants to the Island bright and early last Saturday as runners and walkers of all ages gathered together to support the local non-profit!
The all-volunteer board provides monetary assistance to New Hanover County residents who are battling cancer and struggling with financial obligations.
They strive to empower the community to come together to support and honor local cancer warriors through a fun and inspiring 5K and 10K race.
This year'™s overall male 10k winners are as follows: Jeremy Beall of Crofton MD with a time of 36:56, Justin Scott of Raleigh 37:04 and Patrick Farwell on Wilmington 38:47. Jeremy Beall has traveled to compete in this race for quite sometime and was excited to get the overall win this year. No one could have been more happy then his Mom, Ms Linda Beall who served as a Lo Tide board member for several years and still continues to volunteer her time to the cause. This year’s first place overall 10k female winner is Sondra Hepp of Cary NC 41:50, in second Erin Latta of Greenville NC 44:54 and in third is Erika Wise of Carrboro NC 47:09. Jack Brunecz of Fayetteville took first for the overall 5k male division with a time of 16:50, in second at Dakota Spurley of Carolina Beach 18:07 and in third Cameron Rieman of Wilmington 18:29. For the 5k females Kim Mueller of Wilmington took first with a time of 18:17, in second Kayla Darden of Ormond Beach 20:36 and in third  12 year old Paxton Chitty of Wilmington 21:16. 89-year-old Donald Lamarre of Wilmington one first place in the 10k 65+ division with a time of 1:20:21! For a complete list of results visit its-go-time.com.
Specials thanks to everyone who came out and showed their support, thank you to the over 50 volunteers and dedicated course monitors, Don and Kathy you two are amazing, the Lo Tide Run board, all of this year'™s sponsors: Love is Bald, Bozart Family Dentistry, Harris Teeter, Bev at Jack Mackerels Island Grill, Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn, L&L Tent and Party Rentals, Sharon Lyons & Associates, Kathryn Jennings-Breed at Alpha Mortgage, Compass Pointe, Aberle Construction, The Law Office of Terrie Haydu, E-Z Box of Wilmington, Sea Coast Rentals, Unique Tool & Die, Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar, Omega Sports, Whole Foods, Kate's Pancakes, The Shuckin Shack, Victory Beach Vacations, BG Woods, The Got-Em-On Live Bait Club, Matt at Secof Construction, Federal Point Lodge #753, the Cameron Team, The Island Men, Wayne at Red Hotz, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce, the Lazy Pirate, the Island Gazette Newspaper and Keeler at Z107.5! Thank you to the Town of Carolina Beach, Brenda Butler, Margaret Dowling and Mayor Dan Wilcox. The Carolina Beach Police Department and all of those who waited in traffic for an amazing cause! Be sure to continue to follow the Lo Tide Run Facebook, twitter and www.LoTideRun.org  for future Fundraising events and updates!

CAROLINA BEACH - A former Carolina Beach Police reserve officer was arrested on March 17th, for 2nd Degree Force Sex Offense at his home on Raleigh Avenue in Carolina Beach. On March 24th, 29-year-old Joseph Adam Silva of Raleigh Avenue in Carolina Beach was arrested on additional charges by both the Carolina Beach Police Department and New Hanover County Sheriff's Office. Those charges also include theft of goverment property, impersonating a law enforcement office and sexual servitude. (See list of charges below)

Silva was hired as a Reserve Police Officer with the Carolina Beach Police Department on March 30, 2015 and separated from employment with the Carolina Beach Police Department September 23,2015. He resigned in the Spring of 2015.

G.M Turner of the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office took out a warrant for Silva on March 17th. In the warrant it states that Silva, "Unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did engage in a sex offense" with a female by force and against the victims will.

On March 17th, more than eight detectives from the New Hanover County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant on Silva's home in the 500 block of Raleigh Avenue. They also searched an adjacent property. Among the items they were searching for was Silva's cell phone which they ultimately located.

On March 24th, Silva was arrested on the following charges and placed in the New Hanover County Detention Center under a $2.5 million dollar secured bond:

BURGLARY-2ND DEGREE
BURGLARY-2ND DEGREE
BURGLARY-2ND DEGREE
CHILD ABUSE
CHILD ABUSE
IMPERSONATE LAW ENFORCEMENT
IMPERSONATE LAW ENFORCEMENT
IMPERSONATE LAW ENFORCEMENT
IMPERSONATE LAW ENFORCEMENT
EMBEZZLEMENT-PUBLIC OFFICER/TRUSTEE >=$100,000    
STORAGE OF FIREARMS TO PROTECT MINORS    
SEXUAL OFFENSE-2ND DEGREE    
SEXUAL SERVITUDE    
SEXUAL SERVITUDE

According to the Carolina Beach Police Department, "On March 24,2016, The Carolina Beach Police Department charged Adam Joseph Silva with Embezzlement by a Public Officer in reference to Town of Carolina Beach communication equipment. This additional charge stemmed from an investigation by the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. The equipment was recovered from Mr. Silva’s residence. Mr. Silva was hired as a Reserve Police Officer with the Carolina Beach Police Department on March 30, 2015 and separated from employment with the Carolina Beach Police Department September 23, 2015."

That equipment was a police radio.

According to Lt. Brewer with the Sheriff's Department, "The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office has arrested Joseph Adam Silva. Silva was originally arrested on March 17, 2016 for 2nd sex offense.  Sheriff's Office Detectives continued their investigation into Silva which has led to his arrest today for multiple felony sex offenses. Silva has been arrested for several felonies including impersonating law enforcement,  felony sexual servitude adult victim,   2nd degree burglary, 2nd degree forced sex offense,  failure to store firearm to protect minor,  misdemeanor child abuse, and felony embezzlement/public officer/trustees. Silva is in the New Hanover County Detention Facility under a $2.5 million dollar bond."

Click here to view the charges and description of the incidents that led to those charges and Silva's arrest.

We will bring you more information as the story develops.

Click here to view the 2015 delinquent property tax listings for New Hanover County. The file will open as a PDF document containing all of the listings as of March 21st, 2016.

By WILLARD KILLOUGH III
Managing Editor

CAROLINA BEACH - Heavy rainfall in September and October of last year brought massive amounts of storm water runoff to the Carolina Beach Lake. When warmer weather returned earlier this year, algae began to grow rapidly. Recently the Town began to treat the lake with a blue dye chemical that helps to curtail algae growth. Brian Stanberry - Assistant Operations Director for the Town - explained last week that, "Due to the deluge of tropical rain in October and continued precipitation since then, the Town has experienced an increase in algae growth in Carolina Beach Lake. This algae growth is spurred by the nutrient runoff that is created during such rain events. Other contributing factors to this algae growth in the Lake are abnormally high ground water levels, continued rainfall, warm temperatures and low lake levels. The town is only able to control the level of the lake. To date, because of the large amount of rainfall and high ground water levels, we have had to maintain the lake levels low to guard against flooding during rain events."
The Town has dealt with the algae growth in numerous ways over the years. Often a blue chemical dye is used to control sunlight and reduce growth. Another method used years ago was a mechanical rake fitted to a homemade wooden barge with an outboard motor. That would rake the algae to the shore. Another method is aeration of the water  using fountains placed at several locations in the lake to promote circulation and reduce conditions that promote algae growth.
Those fountains have been out of operation for some time now.
Stanberry explained, "The Town has a history of maintaining and controlling the algae growth within the Lake. These efforts were increased in October, as a reaction to the change in conditions. Since that point, the algae has been treated with environmentally-friendly aquatic herbicide to kill the growth. Aquatic dye is regularly added to the Lake water to help prevent sun light from reaching the lake bottom and to deter growth of the algae. Microbes are added to help decompose the dead algae that fall to the Lake bottom and would furthermore decrease the depth of the Lake."
He explained, "To help combat the algae problem, going into Spring, we will be expanding the coverage of the algae treatment through application from a small boat and increasing the frequency. In addition, efforts will be increased to remove the algae, as it migrates to the shore line."
He explained, "From a long range solution perspective, the Town has incorporated the dredging of Carolina Beach Lake into the upcoming Water/Sewer/Stormwater Revenue Bond. This project will greatly improve flood reduction efforts and decrease the concern over algae and other evasive aquatic plants."
Stanberry explained, "Carolina Beach citizens can aid in our efforts to reduce the algae by helping eliminate the nutrients that are transported to the Lake through stormwater runoff. Some simple methods of doing that are always picking up after pets. Pet waste is a major detriment to water quality and contributes to the growth of aquatic algae. Citizens can also lend a hand by being mindful of fertilizer application to their yards and not applying before a rain event. Ensure that the fertilizer is not applied to impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, streets and curbs. These nutrients are carried away in the rain and are transported to the Lake in condensed form, only exacerbating the nutrient levels."

By WILLARD KILLOUGH III
Managing Editor

KURE BEACH - The Kure Beach Shoreline Access, Beach Protection and Parking Committee has created an "Adopt-A-Beach" that encourages people who are interested in adopting an area of the beach front to help keep it clean of litter.
The Committee created a website at www.kbadoptabeach.com containing information on available sections of the beach that can be adopted as well as program guidelines, maps and other important information including an online Partnership Agreement Form that can be electronically submitted. Adoption sites are designated
at each public access point south to the next access point. You will choose the section of the beach you want to adopt based on the number provided on an online map.
Participants provide their own gloves, bags, water and sunscreen and are warning to be careful when handling sharp objects and to not lift anything too heavy.
Adoption sites are quarterly commitments, based on a calendar year whereby organizations/individuals agree to daily/weekly trash pick up during the summer months (June – August) and monthly pick-up during the off-season. Monthly adoption is also taken for the high use months of June through August.
Trash is defined as, "Discarded matter and rubbish. Some examples include: cigarette butts, bottles,bottle tops, fruit peels, pieces of plastic and broken toys."
The trash can go in bins at each access site. If the bins are full, you can place the trash next to the bin for pick-up by the Town. You can also take the collected trash with you and dispose of it at your home.
No one should walk on the dunes. If there are items on the sand dunes, Town personnel will pickup those items.
Tents, or equipment such as broken chairs or coolers left on the beach are not the responsibility of the Adopt-A-Beach volunteers.
11 of the 17 Adopt-A-Beach areas are still available. More than one person/group can adopt the same beach. If you have an interest in a specific beach section that has already been adopted, you can still submit your request online.
The program is an effort to provide a great way for businesses, civic clubs, school groups, neighborhood associations and individuals to make a significant contribution to the preservation of our beautiful coastal environment. By participation, groups and individuals become strong advocates for the preservation of our beach community and the efforts to maintain a litter-free environment.

By WILLARD KILLOUGH III
Managing Editor

CAROLINA BEACH - The Carolina Beach Town Council decided during their March 22, meeting to delay a project to extend the downtown ocean front Boardwalk walkway 875' feet north to Pelican Lane. The Council agreed to rescind a bid awarded to a company to construct the boardwalk extension and will seek new bids later this year to begin construction following the busy summer season.
The primary reason was how noise and construction related activities would impact adjacent vacation rental properties during the peak summer season. The Council previously awarded a bid to Paragon Building Corp. of Wilmington, NC, in the amount of $727,211.00 to construct an 875' foot northern extension to the wooden ocean front boardwalk in the downtown area during their Tuesday February 23rd, workshop meeting.
The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) approved a variance requested by the Town of Carolina Beach on Tuesday November 17th, for relief from coastal development regulations to construct the 875' foot northern extension of their existing 757' foot long oceanfront wooden boardwalk in the Central Business District. The Council approved construction of the first phase of the project to improve the existing boardwalk in the amount of $991,536.00 awarded to Civil Works Contracting. That project was completed in the Spring of last year.
The second phase of the project called for $672,064.67 for an 875' extension of the boardwalk to the north.
The original budget for the project was funded by a grant from  New Hanover County of $500,000, a North Carolina Water Resources grant of $250,000 requiring the Town match the funds with $250,000 and a grant from the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management for $600,000. That funding totaled $1.6 million dollars.
The Town was later asked to match the Coastal Management grant with $228,321.
The Council later approved changes including "engineering/contract management" at $68,090, attorney fees of $38,880 and $231,065 for "landscaping/irrigation/sunshades, etc".
The new total budget for both phases of the project is $2,168,035 dollars.
The first time the Town advertised for bids on the extension project, there was only one response. They readvertised the project and received several bids with Paragon being awarded the contract. Work was supposed to begin this month and be complete before the busier summer months.
During the Council's March 22nd, meeting Cramer explained that since the February 23rd, meeting, "We've been trying to see if we can get this project off the ground and moving as fast as possible so as to minimize the impact on neighboring businesses during their season. We had our preconstruction meeting on March 7th and received the schedule from the contractor and that schedule recommended that we start working on the project the week of the 14th or March."
Cramer explained, "Knowing that, the Council has been extremely sensitive to the public around that area and the impacts on the visitors with any construction that we do during this time frame, I reached out to the property owners that are adjacent to the boardwalk area... and got their concerns. If we would have started March 14th, the project  would have gone 100 days and taken us into late June, the 21st. Most of the project we would have started from the north and come in to the south. Which means we would have started construction in front of the Hampton Inn and then backed our way out to the north and continued to construct. With the schedule in hand we believe that most of the heavy construction work and noise would be completed by mid April." He said, "In reaching out to the public and talking with business owners and residents in that area, I received two main concerns. One was they were appreciative that we were trying to get it done before the season but were very concerned this would have a negative impact on their visitors. One, we would have to take away their access ways to the beach during the time-frame. Part of that, we would be able to open back up but only when we weren't transferring materials and doing other work in the area because it is a construction zone and we don't want to put anyone at risk who is either barefooted or wearing flip flops crossing a construction area."
Cramer explained vacation rental owners were concerned about access to the beach for customers that come to the area largely for that purpose. The fear is that people would be deterred by having to walk a farther distance to access the beach when staying at a hotel or vacation rental property. He said business owners were concerned that noise would drive people to stay in other areas of Town.
Cramer said the contractor has worked with them on mitigating those issues but they haven't been able to fully address the concerns raised by businesses and residents in that area. He said one option is to move forward as contracted knowing of the impacts to area properties. The other option was to split the project and work around the busy summer months.
The Hampton Inn is planning to open in July of this year. The Town told the developer a Boardwalk or access way would be provided by the time they opened.
Cramer said splitting the project would increase the mobilization cost of the project a little over $106,000.
Cramer said one plan was to complete part of the project by June of this year and then return again in the fall to complete the remaining work.
Cramer said, "The third option doesn't make everybody happy. It does save us from having to do the project during the height of the season. That is to rescind the award of the contract and kick the project to the fall. Effectively what that does is, it makes it so we have no construction going on in the height of the season in front of the businesses but it also leaves the Hampton Inn having to pay for their connection to the ocean. Their access way. Or to build it on their own  if they are to open up by July. That is a requirement from the Hampton Inn franchise that any hotel placed on the ocean that when they open they do have individual private access to the beach. Naturally that is a very big concern of theirs."
He said, "With that in mind we feel like we have been very forthcoming in trying to push the project as hard and fast as we can to get it done before the season but we do not believe that is going to work out."
Cramer said rescinding the bid awarded in February is possible. Since a notice of award or a notice to proceed has never been issued, the Council would simply rescind the award of the bid.
Mayor Dan Wilcox said providing access for the Hampton Inn is, "Basically being done for each of the accesses that already exist down along the area of the new Boardwalk. It's nothing special that's being done for the Hampton Inn."
Cramer said existing beach accesses to properties are being largely replaced to be uniform to the Boardwalk extension.
Councilman Steve Shuttleworth said the Town is better off waiting until the fall after the busy summer season. He said, "I appreciate you reaching out to the owners out there and making sure we are not impacting their fragile business season as it is. So while it's not a perfect solution... we are better off waiting until the fall." Shuttleworth recommended rescinding the award made on February 23rd. That will stop the project and the Town will work on rebidding the project in July and returning to the Council to award a new contract in August.
The Hampton Inn will be required to build their own access connecting to the Boardwalk extension.
Council member Leann Pierce said she agrees it is too late in the season to start work  and the Town should wait until the fall. The council voted unanimously to rescind the February 23rd contract award to Paragon  Building Corporation.
Cramer thanked Paragon for working with the Town. They will be able to bid on the project again later this summer.

The following information is obtained from the Carolina Beach Police Department on a weekly basis.
Patrol/Investigations:
Hunter Bradley (23), 1300 block of Snapper Lane, reported on March 7th of being a victim of Larceny. The case is under investigation.
Margaret Matthews (69), 1400 block of Spot Lane, reported on March 7th of being a victim of Larceny and Burglary.  The case is under investigation.
Gold Sands Motel, 1200 block of S Lake Park Blvd., reported on March 8th of being a victim of Larceny and Breaking and Entering. The case is under investigation.
Perry Baughman (61), 900 block of Colonial Circle, reported on March 9th of being a victim of Larceny. The case is under investigation.
Tyler Devine (25), 100 block of Halyburton Memorial Pkwy, reported on March 13th of being a victim of Larceny in the 1600 block of S Lake Park Blvd. The case is under investigation.
Arrests:
Katie Hannah (24), 1000 block of Old Dow Rd., was arrested on March 7th for court violations on previous charges.
Olivia Wiggins (23), 4900 block of University Dr., Wilmington, was arrested on March 8th for Driving While Impaired.
Dianna Langley (56), 500 block of Upland Dr., Wilmington, was arrested on March 8th for Driving While Impaired.
Donald Dorsey (44), 100 block of Lighthouse Dr., was arrested on March 9th for court violations on previous charges.
Terence Ward (54), 600 block of Carolina Beach Ave S., was arrested on March 9th for Driving While Impaired.
Hayley Neininger (24), 100 block of Cherokee Trail, Wilmington, was arrested on March 10th for court violations on previous charges.
Jarrod Laws (26), 100 block of Pointer Court, Pfafftown, NC, was arrested on March 10th for Trespassing.
Dustin Creech (17), 500 block of Shell Dr., Kure Beach, was arrested on March 10th for Possession of Schedule IV and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Cory Ballin (22), 0 block of S Lake Park Blvd., was arrested on March 10th for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Brian Pridgen (26), 900 block of S. Sixth St., was arrested on March 10th for Possession of Heroin and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Tyler Williams (27), 300 block of Columbia Ave., was arrested on March 10th for Possession of Schedule III and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Jake McConnell (21), 400 block of 4th Ave N, Kure Beach, was arrested on March 11th for Driving While Impaired and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
John Ecker (16), 400 block of Carolina Beach Ave N., was arrested on March 11th for Sell/Deliver Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell or Deliver Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Joseph Womack (19), 0 block of Fox Chapel Ln, Pittsboro, NC, was arrested on March 12th for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Demario Lloyd (28), 3600 Angier Ave, Durham, was arrested on March 12th for Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Wallace Smith (49), 900 block of Berkeley St., Durham, was arrested on March 12th for Possession of Marijuana.
William Wilkins (43), 6000 block of Myrtle Grove Rd. Wilmington, was arrested on March 12th for court violations on previous charges.
Mark Reingold Jr (27), 400 block of N Third St, was arrested on March 12th for probation violation.
Jake Skumpija (18), 100 block of Hawfields Dr., Pittsboro, NC, was arrested on March 12th for Driving While Impaired.
Cassie Meyer (20), 1900 block of Whippoorwill Ln, Chapel Hill, NC, was arrested on March 12th for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Kaitlyn Brown (21), 2800 block of Martha’s Chapel Rd., Apex, NC, was arrested on March 12th for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
LaToya Lucas (33), 1100 block of Garner Rd, Raleigh, NC, was arrested on March 12th for Intoxicated and Disruptive.
Other:
Barry Douglas (51), 100 block of Greenville Ave., was issued a Town Civil citation for Parking the Wrong Way in the 1700 block of Carolina Beach Ave. North.
Triston Kandare (18), 900 block of Spring Ln, Wilmington, was issued a Freeman Park citation for having a glass container on the beach.