Judges Hear Aurguments For Replacing the Outer Banks Bonner Bridge

On Tuesday May 13 a 3 judge panel heard arguments from both sides (the NCDOT and the environmental groups) about the replacement of the Bonner Bridge at the NC Outer Banks. The state argued for a short bridge that would run parallel to the Bonner Bridge and the environmental groups argued for a more expensive longer bridge that would bypass Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. A decision by the judges will takes weeks and possibly months to issue a ruling based on the arguments presented by the opposing parties.

Bonner Bridge to Hatteras Island
Bonner Bridge to Hatteras Island

New Coat of Paint for Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Stones to be Moved

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is getting a fresh coat of paint and the engraved lightkeeper stones (cut from the base when the lighthouse was moved in 1999)  are being moved to a new location. The massive stone blocks are being moved closer to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and will be placed in a semi-circle to form an  outdoor theater called Keeper of the Light Amphitheater. A trip to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is a must with all the spucing up going on!

Pinetops 300 Tractor Pull May 2014

Pinetops 300 Tractor Pull May 2014

The popular Pinetops 300 Tractor Pull is May 16 and May 17, 2014 with a show each night at 7:00pm. People come from all over the Eastern United States to attend the show. North Carolina is a big agricultural state and we love a good tractor pull! Sure to be fun, entertaining and LOUD! Kids love this kind of stuff (even the big kids!). For more info see Pinetops 300 Tractor Pull.

Pinetops 300 Tractor Pull 2016 Dates and Info Found Here!

The fun starts Friday night:

Friday Night , May 16, 2014 at 7 PM

LGT-FWD UPOC, HSS R4
MINI R4, MOD R4, SW R4,
TWD R4, FWD R4
Region 4 Event
Saturday Night May 17, 2014 at 7 PM

Kiddie Pull 6-7
HSS R4, MINI R4, MOD R4,
SF R4, TWD R4, FWD R4
Region 4 Event

Admission Prices:

  •  Adults  $20
  •  Children age  6-12:  $5
  •  Children under age 6  admitted FREE

Watch last year’s Pinetops 300 Tractor Pull video…

See the map for how to get to the Pinetops 300 Tractor Pull…

Pinetops, NC 27864

Artsplosure The Raleigh Arts Festival in May

Artsplosure The Raleigh Arts Festival will be May 17-18, 2014 and will be downtown in Moore Square and in Raleigh’s City Market area. This year will feature:

  • Arts Market- over 170 visual arts and crafts exhibitors from NC
  • Student Art Exhibition – a show of artwork by public and private middle and high school students from Wake County
  • Kidsplosure-interactive educational activities and entertainment just for the kids
  • Aerialists and/or other unique variety acts and performances
  • Music-performances by Jazz, Blues, and Alternative

All the fun start Saturday morning at 10:00 am at Moore Square City Plaza  at 200 S. Blount St.  in Raleigh, NC.

Music from last year’s Artsplosure…

 
 

Location of Artsplosure in Downtown Raleigh

Raleigh, NC 27601

Rainforest Adventure at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences

A special exhibit it now at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences called Rainforest Adventure. It is an education trip to a tropical rainforest. The Museum’s website states “Swing like a spider monkey. Ride the butterfly zip-line. Discover a rodent that weighs more than 100 pounds and a beetle that can carry more than 850 times its own weight. Visitors to this new exhibition are invited to explore one of the least-known habitats on Earth in a fully interactive maze, chock full of the sights and sounds of a tropical rainforest. The journey begins in the highest treetops surrounded by migratory birds and radiant sunlight. In an effort to reach the forest floor, visitors must answer questions about the rainforest. Incorrect answers lead to dead ends, while correct answers lead them deeper into the four layers of the rainforest: emergent, canopy, understory and forest floor.” It’s a really fun way to learn for the kids with the activities and interaction within the exhibit. For more information of for tickets see Rain Forest Adventure.

Beautiful Wildflowers Along NC Highways and the North Carolina Wildflower Program

Have you ever noticed the large areas of wildflowers along the interstates and highways as you travel in North Carolina? The North Carolina Wildflower Program  is part of the highway beautification program in the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The wildflower beds are planted and maintained by the Roadside Environmental Unit.The program includes soil preparation, fumigation, planting, mulching and maintaining the wildflower areas.

Sunflowers on Highway 64

Funding for the program comes from revenue of the sale of personalized license plates and direct contributions to the wildflower program. Contributions can be made to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. So next time you travel in North Carolina and see a beautiful wildflower bed in the median or along side the highway remember how it got there. And for your safety please don’t stop and pick the flowers. Just enjoy the beautiful view!

Find out more about the North Carolina Wildflower Program…