4th Annual Pro/Am Silvagni Benefit Surf Contest - August 1st + 2nd

Watch the Pros Catch a Wave This Weekend (and even try yourself)!

Details:

• What: The 4th Annual Pro/Am Silvagni Benefit Surf Contest
• When: Saturday and Sunday, August 1st and 2nd, 2009 at 8:00 am
• Where: Hamlet Street Public Beach Access, Carolina Beach, NC
• Info: All proceeds go to benefit Andrew Silvagni and The Lyme Disease Foundation

Divisions include Pro Short Board & Long Board as well as Amateur Short Board & Long Board. The competition will take place in front of the Boardwalk next to the Courtyard Marriott Hotel (please park a the Hamlet St. access and walk over).

This years event will also include an art Festival on the Boardwalk area featuring local and area artists.

For more information, please visit the blog entry for the 4th Annual Pro/Am Silvagni Benefit Surf Contest at www.SurfSchoolNC.com or contact Tony Silvagni at (910) 232-1592.

Fundraisers At The Last Resort Bar in Carolina Beach

The Last Resort Bar in Carolina Beach, NC is holding two important fundraisers this weekend. Please read below for details about each:


Friday, July 31st at 7:00 pm - Join the members of The Last Resort Bar in Carolina Beach, NC tonight, July 31st, at 7:00 p.m. for a fundraiser for Step up for Soldiers in honor of North Carolina troops leaving Iraq who face lifelong injuries.

Step up for Soldiers assists families making homes handicap accessible for those returning home with lifelong disabilities. Step up for Soldiers and its volunteers build ramps, widen doorways, do plumbing or anything else these injured soldiers need to make their lives whole again.

There will be a Pig Pick’n with all the fixins and the rock band Bald Fury will provide live entertainment. Come on out & support this extraordinary organization.

Sunday, August 2nd at 4:30 pm - The Last Resort will be holding a Live Bachelor Auction to benefit the NHRMC Coastal Care Van on Sunday, August 2nd from 4:30 - 9:00 pm.

Twelve unmarried bachelors will strut their stuff, bearing unique prize packages to the highest bidder all to benefit a great cause - the fight against breast cancer.

Bidding for the bachelors begins at 7:00 p.m.



For more information about these fundraisers, please contact The Last Resort at 910-458-1128.

Kure Beach Boardwalk Nearing Completion

The Star News reports today that the Kure Beach Boardwalk is improving access to the beach for residents and visitors and that town officials have received recent positive response to the project.

The boardwalk project, funded through state and county grants, began construction in April this year and the final inspections are currently underway. Finishing touches are still in the works, such as landscaping and renovations of the older portion of the boardwalk just north of the Kure Beach Pier.

The new boardwalk extends from the older section and runs parallel to the beach, connecting to Atlantic Avenue, with crosswalks leading to the beach. The intent of the project was to expand public access to the beach and improve safety for people walking to and from the beach.

To read the full article at StarNewsOnline, please visit this link:

www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090727/ARTICLES/907279968

Have you used the boardwalk?
What do you think of the project?
Is it an improvement for beach access in Kure Beach?

Tell us what you think. Vote in our poll!

Votes Are In - It's A Yes for the Pleasure Island Farmer's Market

Thank you to everyone who voted in our poll regarding the Pleasure Island Farmer's Market.

When asked if you would like to have a Farmer's Market in Carolina Beach, the consensus was overwhelmingly YES! (40 yes votes, 1 no vote).

We appreciate hearing your feedback and will keep you posted about the developments of a Farmer's Market in the Carolina Beach town square this summer or fall.

Thanks again!

Ironman Showing at Carolina Beach Lake Park

The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce Free Movies at the Lake Series continues this weekend with a showing of Ironman on Sunday night, July 26th.

The movie is shown outdoors at Carolina Beach Lake Park so bring your own chairs and blankets to get cozy. This is a great event for the whole family.

The movie starts at 8:45 pm. Concessions are available.

The Oscar nominated Ironman stars Robert Downey, Jr. and Gwenyth Paltrow. When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark (Downey, Jr.) is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.

For more information and to see the complete film schedule for the summer, please visit:

www.PleasureIslandNC.org/freemoviesatthelake.asp.

Free Summer Concert Series - Barry Brown, Country Music

Join us tonight in Kure Beach for the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce Free Summer Concert Series featuring Barry Brown. Enjoy the sounds of this Nashville Recording Artist's country music outdoors at the Fort Fisher Military Recreation Area in Kure Beach, NC. - for free!

This show in the Series is tonight, Friday, July 24th from 6 pm - 8 pm. Bring your own beach chairs, blankets, and food. Beverages are available for sale on the premises (please do not bring beverages or pets).

For more information and to see more dates in the Series, please visit: www.PleasureIslandNC.org/freesummerconcertseries.asp.

See you there!

Fireworks and Music at the Gazebo

There are still plenty of weeks left this summer!

Head on down to Carolina Beach tonight (Thursday, 7/23) to enjoy the funky R&B sounds of Painted Man at the Gazebo from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

As a bonus, you'll get fireworks on the beach at sundown! And it's all free to attend. How can you beat that?

Be sure to check out the remaining summer band and fireworks schedule at the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce website:

Fireworks by the Sea Event Series.

Farmers Market Coming to the Carolina Beach Boardwalk?

The Carolina Beach Town Council had it's weekly meeting last night (Tuesday, July 14th) and the Star-News reports that the members gave tentative approval to a farmers market at the Boardwalk gazebo Saturday mornings from 7 am to 12 noon. The proposal included the dates of July 25th through September 26th.

It looks as though the farmers market proposal needs some more logistical details worked out, but the town council members voted unanimously to approve the concept of the farmers market.

Ken Badoian, who helped start the Wilmington Farmers Market, introduced the proposal and told the Star-News that he would like to see the market begin at the end of July but would postpone the start date to make sure everything was done right.

Read the full article at StarNewsOnline: www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090714/ARTICLES/907149926

Tell us what you think and vote in our poll!

The Carolina Beach Boardwalk is Back!

The Boardwalk at Carolina Beach, NC is featured on the front page of the Star-News this morning (Monday, July 13th) under the headline: "Boardwalk's back" with a wonderful photo of the amusement rides, music at the gazebo, and plenty of visitors.

The article talks about how the Carolina Beach Boardwalk rejuvenation project is really gaining traction. People are drawn to the area for amusement rides, music in the gazebo, and weekly fireworks. The Boardwalk Makeover Committee is focused on improving the overall image of the Boardwalk area as well as the attractions that bring people there. "Though they see room for improvement, locals, business owners, and tourists see definite progress over the past year and a half," states the article.

Carolina Beach town Councilman Dan Wilcox has been dedicated to the project and, along with the Boardwalk Makeover Committee, has worked to take something the town already has and make it better. A year ago the committee, along with many volunteers, labored to make physical improvements while this year the committee, city, and Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce has worked to make improvements in the entertainment and attractions at the Boardwalk.

Overall, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk is on the right track . Business owners and visitors alike are happy about the improvements and look forward to seeing more and more positive changes in the years to come.

To read the full article, please visit this link at StarNewsOnline:

www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090712/ARTICLES/907129984

Here are some upcoming events happening at the Boardwalk. Mark your calendars and come down for a visit!

Carolina Beach Boardwalk Blast Series:

Tuesday: Family Nite 6-8pm Bounce house, kid’s activities, variety shows, story telling, arts & crafts.

Wednesday: Cash Bingo 6-8pm, Cash prizes up to $1500. Nominal fee to play.

Thursday: Live Music at Gazebo 6:30-9:30. Great local or regional bands perform at the Gazebo stage before and after the fireworks display at the Boardwalk.

Friday: 6-8pm. Shaggin’ is back at the Boardwalk! DJ Music and some of the best shag dancing ever.

Saturday: Kid’s Bingo 6-8pm Great family atmosphere. Kids can win prizes and have lots of fun!

Sunday: Trop Rock DJ 6-8pm Island country & Carribean tropical rock music. Time to relax and enjoy before the movie at the lake!

Chamber of Commerce Fireworks and Music at the Gazebo:

Every Thursday through August 27th, enjoy great music at the Gazebo from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and Fireworks on the beach that begin after the sun goes down. It's a great family night at the Boardwalk! Check out the schedule of bands at Fireworks by the Sea on the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce website.

See you there!

FACTA Workshop - July 22, 2009

The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a workshop regarding the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA) from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Details:

• What: FACTA Workshop
• When: Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 6 pm - 7:30 pm
• Where: Carolina Beach Police Training Room (located in the Carolina Beach Town Hall)

If your organization sells products or services on credit, take note: August 1, 2009, is the deadline to comply with the identity theft requirements in the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA).

Dubbed the “red flag rules”, they require all financial institutions and creditors to create and implement a written program for detection, prevention and mitigation of identity theft of consumers’ data. In general, if a business regularly extends credit (or arranges for someone else to do so), the red flag rules apply. Accepting credit cards doesn’t make you a covered creditor.

Businesses must comply if there’s a reasonably foreseeable risk that identity theft could occur against a new or existing business account. If there is such a risk, you must develop a plan to detect, prevent and mitigate the theft and its effects. The plan must be in writing. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has identified 26 examples of red flags that could be incorporated into your program. It says the plan must be adapted to your business, so you can’t adopt a canned format based on minimal standards.

The potential penalty for noncompliance is up to $2,500 per violation.

Daniel Vulin of Pre Paid Legal Services, Inc., will be conducting the workshop which will include a 30-minute presentation with a question and answer session following the presentation.

How to Register:
Call the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce at 910-458-8434.

Please note: There is a $5 charge for all Chamber members and a $10 charge for all non-members.

Become a member of the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce and get access to more business-friendly workshops and seminars, networking events, area news, resources, and more!

Pink Panther 2 playing July 12th at Carolina Beach Lake Park - Free!

The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce Free Movies at the Lake Series continues this weekend with a showing of Pink Panther 2 on Sunday night, July 12th.

The movie is shown outdoors at Carolina Beach Lake Park so bring your own chairs and blankets to get cozy. This is a great event for the whole family.

The movie starts at 8:45 pm. Concessions are available.

Starring Steve Martin with Andy Garcia, John Cleese, and Lily Tomlin, Pink Panther 2 has Inspector Jacques Clouseau teamed up with a squad of International detectives who are just as bumbling as he is. Their mission: Stop a globe-trotting thief who specializes in stealing historical artifacts.

For more information and to see the complete film schedule for the summer, please visit:
www.PleasureIslandNC.org/freemoviesatthelake.asp.

See you there!

Free Summer Concert Series - Spare Change, Beach Music & More

Join us tonight in Kure Beach for the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce Free Summer Concert Series featuring Spare Change. Enjoy the sounds of awesome beach music outdoors at the Fort Fisher Military Recreation Area in Kure Beach, NC. - for free!

This 3rd show in the Series is tonight, Friday, July 10th from 6 pm - 8 pm. Bring your own beach chairs, blankets, and food. Beverages are available for sale on the premises (please do not bring beverages or pets).

For more information and to see more dates in the Series, please visit: www.PleasureIslandNC.org/freesummerconcertseries.asp.

See you there!

Leatherback Sea Turtle Nests on Carolina Beach, N.C.

A leatherback sea turtle, the largest living reptile in the world (about six and a half feet long and almost 2,000 lbs), made its way onto the shore at Carolina Beach early Wednesday morning. It spent about an hour or so on the beach to lay its eggs and then headed back to the seas.

The Star-News reports that while no one actually saw the leatherback turtle, Carolina Beach police Officer Wray Lefler found tracks measuring more than 6 feet across. He called Nancy Busovone of the Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project to alert her of the tracks. Upon inspecting the nest, Busovone identified decoy eggs left on top of the nest and determined that it belonged to a leatherback sea turtle.

It must have been an amazing sight just to have seen the tracks. Busovone told the Star-News that it "looked like a small tractor had come up the beach." She likened the visit to "an elephant wandering around on the beach and no one seeing it."

Leatherback sea turtles are endangered species but staff and volunteers with the Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project will do their part to keep the species around a bit longer. The nest area is currently blocked off with caution tape and in about six weeks, "volunteers will stand by around the clock waiting for a sign of eggs hatching so they can help guide the baby turtles safely into the sea."

Female leatherback sea turtles lay about 100 eggs per nest and babies will grow up to be as long as six and a half feet and weigh almost 2,000 pounds.

To read the full article from the Star-News, please visit:

www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090708/ARTICLES/907089954

For more information about sea turtles, please visit:

www.SeaTurtleProject.org

www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/leatherback.htm

Sunday Night Movie at Carolina Beach Lake - Madagascar 2

Join us Sunday night at Carolina Beach Lake Park for a showing of Madagascar 2 as a part of our Free Movies at the Lake Series all summer long.

Consessions are available and the movie starts at 8:45 pm.

Bring the whole family and remember your chairs and blankets!

See you then!

Pleasure Island Lifeguard Association Shrimp-A-Roo

On Friday, July 3rd, at 6:00 p.m., come down behind the Gazebo at the Boardwalk for a Shrimp-a-Roo hosted by the Pleasure Island Lifeguard Association.

This yearly event features fabulous shrimp donated by Blackburn Brothers Seafood, hush puppies and slaw donated by Michael’s Seafood Restaurant and Bowman’s Seafood. Donations are accepted for plates of food. Come out and show your support for this vital organization.

For more information, please visit: www.CBLifeguards.org

Friday Night Fireworks for Independence Day Holiday!

Have you made plans for the 4th of July Holiday weekend? Well, be sure to include the Friday night Fireworks on Pleasure Island!

The Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce sponsors a summer-long Fireworks by the Sea and music at the gazebo series at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Festivities usually take place on Thursday nights. Special for the 4th of July holiday weekend, we are celebrating with Fireworks on Friday night, July 3rd.

What a great way to kick off the weekend!! Enjoy a day at the beach, late afternoon at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk , dinner at any one of Pleasure Island's amazing restaurants, and cap it off with Fireworks on the beach. You can't beat it!

If you would like to get more involved in this special event, please contact the Chamber to find about volunteer opportunities. Volunteer positions are available on the Boardwalk or the beach from 3:30 - 5:30; 5:30 - 7:30; and 7:30 - 9:30. Call 910-458-8434.

Happy 4th and see you at the beach!