About Carteret County, NC

Mimosa Bridge Replacement Project

If you live in the Pine Knoll Shores, NC area, you need to know that the Mimosa Bridge Replacement Project is now underway! Signs are now posted for a detour of vehicular traffic, effective today 3/12/2012, from the intersection of Mimosa Boulevard and NC Highway 58 for the replacement of Mimosa Bridge. Access to Mimosa Bridge from Highway 58 will be closed. If you are a boater in the area, you will also need to learn different routes to navigate the canals. Fortunately, there are more ways than one to get to Bogue Sound!

The project is expected to be completed in late May, and will be wonderful when finished. There will be a walking path over the bridge, providing more safety for walkers in the area, and the bridge will also be about 10' higher than the bridge is now, which will allow more clearance for boaters! For more information about the project, visit www.townofpks.com.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day on the Crystal Coast!

Back in 1742, three brothers from Armagh, Ireland, stepped off the "Lydia" in Philadelphia. Their names were Jonathon (my GGGGGG Grandfather - or something like that), Joseph and Joshua Mooney! From there, they headed south to North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama. I will not bore you with the many details of my ancestry (although I have been told some pretty good stories), but I am proud to know how I became the gal I am today..... Irish! It's no wonder that green is my favorite color, I met my husband in a Pub, that I can quote many Irish Blessings or that I LOVE St. Patrick's Day.

To celebrate My being Irish, we always head to the St. Patrick's Day Festival in Emerald Isle... this year will be no different. And, even tho' my hubby isn't irish at all, he always enjoys the festival... so come one, come all, to the St. Patrick's Day Festival this Saturday, March 17th. Corned beef & cabbage, green beer, bagpipes and more will be waiting for you! For more ideas and ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day on the Crystal Coast, visit www.crystalcoastnc.org.

Wishing you all a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!

-An Old Irish Blessing-

May the blessing of the rain be on you—
the soft sweet rain.
May it fall upon your spirit
so that all the little flowers may spring up,
and shed their sweetness on the air.
May the blessing of the great rains be on you,
may they beat upon your spirit
and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there many a shining pool
where the blue of heaven shines,and sometimes a star.

Phew! What a week in the real estate business. Homes sold in Emerald Isle, NC shows that seven homes were sold and closed during the week of February 26, 2012 to March 3, 2012. Homes sold also shows that eight properties were put under contract to be sold in Emerald Isle during that same week. Of the homes sold and closed this week in Emerald Isle, NC, one was located in Bell Cove Village subdivision, another was located in Lands End subdivision, and another was located in The Sands subdivision in Emerald Isle, NC. The other four properties that were closed and sold in Emerald Isle, NC during that week were all located in Emerald Isle, NC general city limits. Home sold shows that one of the properties that were put under contract to be sold this week in Emerald Isle, NC was located in Ocean Reef subdivision, one was located in Osprey Ridge subdivision, one was located in Lands End subdivision, another located in Cape Emerald and another located in Pelician Point subdivion in Emerald Isle, NC. The other three properties that were put under contract to be sold in Emerald Isle, NC during that week were located in Emerald Isle, NC general city limits.

Just in case the North Carolina Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores, NC wasn't cool enough..... Penguins will be taking up residence there in May. That ought to cool things off just in time for summer! To celebrate, the Aquarium is hosting a Pre-Penguin Party on Saturday, March 10th, 2012. The event will take place from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm, and kids under 12 who are dressed like a penguin, will receive free admission. Kids in costume will also have the opportunity to enter their name in a drawing for "Ribbon Cutting Honors" when the penguins finally arrive. Fun & cool stuff will be going on all day throughout the aquarium: Meet a Pelican and learn how they relate to the Penguin, particpate in "Penguin Puzzler" Jeopardy, get artsy with penguin crafts and hands on activities, show off your best penguin walk in the "Wonderful Waddle" Competition, and more. The fun is not just limited to kids, but also to the Kids at heart. Adults &teens who dress up as penguins, will get admission for the kids rate of $6.00.

Emerald Isle St. Patrick's Day Festival, 2012

On Saturday, March 17th, 2012, from 9 am - 5 pm, The Crystal Coast will be celebrating the 21st Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival. The event, sponsored by the Emerald Isle Business Association, offers fun for the entire family. The Little Mr. & Ms. Leprachaun Contest will take place at 11:00 am, and throughout the day, you can enjoy games, rides, music, food (including shrimp burgers, corned beef & cabbage, funnel cake, BBQ, hot dogs, and more), a petting zoo, a beer garden, and much more.

The St. Patrick's Day Festival takes place at Emerald Plantation in Emerald Isle, North Carolina 28594, which includes many of the best shops on the Crystal Coast, and there will also be more than 75 arts & crafts vendors present, so if shopping is your thing..... you'll be happy at the festival.

Don't forget to wear green and plan on having a great time! Hope to see you there!

For more information about the Emerald Isle St. Patrick's Day Festival and to view a full schedule of events, visit their website at www.emeraldislestpatricksfestival.com.