“The final environmental impact statement has been released on a proposed toll bridge over the Currituck Sound that would stretch between the mainland and Corolla.

The N.C. Turnpike Authority plans for construction on the bridge to start before the end of 2012, with the span opening to traffic by 2017.”

NCDOT states that the Mid-Currituck Bridge will:

• Substantially improve traffic flow on NC 12 and US 158;
• Substantially reduce travel time for persons traveling between the Currituck County mainland and the Currituck County Outer Banks; and
• Substantially reduce hurricane clearance time for residents and visitors who use US 158 and NC 168 during a coastal evacuation.

For more information and history on the Mid-Currituck Bridge, visit www.ncdot.gov/projects/midcurrituckbridge.

ProjectMap

For more information and registration, visit www.marsheslightmarina.com.

Marshes Light Marina & Community

The Town of Manteo is known for its exceptional downtown waterfront, Victorian-inspired architecture and the large selection of bed and breakfasts in the Outer Banks. Situated on the eastern side of Roanoke Island, Manteo lies between the North Carolina mainland and the barrier islands of the Outer Banks along the Shallowbag Bay.

The town’s theme is decidedly nautical, with the daily weather reports coming in the form of flags flying from the Manteo Weather Tower. Beacons of light from the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse still guide boats in safely, and charming shops and cafes line the city’s waterfront.

While the residents of Manteo embrace the modern charms of the seaside village, they are also keenly aware of the island’s historical importance. Over 420 years ago, a group of 117 men, women and children, with the blessing of Queen Elizabeth I, settled on the island. An ideal location for an English settlement because of its lush vegetation and mild climate, they established a colony only to subsequently disappear. “The Lost Colony,” as it has come to be known, today remains one of history’s biggest mysteries.

Three hundred years later, Union forces took control of the waters of northeastern North Carolina, and the groundwork of modern Manteo was laid when freed slaves lived and worked on the island. Nearly 4,000 freed slaves had become part of this ‘Freedman’s Colony’ until its official closing in 1867.

Today, the town’s tree-lined streets, shops, restaurants, fishing charters and bed and breakfasts reflect its history while keeping one foot firmly planted in the present as well.

Marshes Light

Close to history and close to the water, Marshes Light is a one-of-a-kind waterfront community located within walking distance of the shops and restaurants of historic downtown Manteo. The last opportunity for new construction within the historic district, Marshes Light includes homesites, single-family homes and marina villa homes in addition to a host of amenities including a 60-slip marina, all while reflecting Manteo’s unique character and charm.

Mayo Boddie, chairman of developer Boddie-Noell, pointed out, “I have always loved Manteo, and it’s why we decided to develop Marshes Light there. I own a condo there, I dock my boat there, and I love to spend time there, which is why I’ve been so passionate about Marshes Light and about connecting the community to historic downtown Manteo.”

(This article originally appeared in Ideal Living Magazine.)

Enjoying the new rocking chairs on the porch!

The weather was perfect for our recent Open House celebrating the Marshes Light Marina. We enjoyed Carolina blue skies and a light easterly breeze, a perfect day to be on the water.

Thanks to all who came by and big thanks to Manteo Marine for bringing some boats over for display and to Kitty Hawk Water Sports who provided free sailing demonstrations from the Marshes Light beach.

Kitty Hawk Water Sports Sailing

There were over 100 entries in our drawing for the use of a boat slip for a year. Congratulations to Harry W. of Massachusetts who won the boat slip drawing!

We are now turning our sights to the planning of the next Marshes Light Fishing Tournament. This year’s format will be different, with four categories of fish – king mackerel, dolphin, tuna and wahoo. There will be two days of fishing and it is scheduled for the weekend of October 14-15, 2011.

June 4, 2011 Noon until 5 p.m.

Could you imagine yourself boating here and mooring up for a week? Staying in a destination marina and exploring a charming historic town on foot. There’s a history center, mariner’s museum, outdoor theater, summer farmer’s market and “First Friday” street festivals. There are plenty of locally owned restaurants serving fresh food and fresh caught seafood daily. Maybe rent bicycles or don your running shoes and hit the miles-long bike and jogging path that run the length of the island.

Imagine.

Visit www.marsheslight.com for more information. For information on the Outer Banks and things to do, visit www.outerbanks.org.

Intrigued, I grabbed my camera and went outside. The coverall guy with hood was a professional diver, hired by Steve to find something boat-related that fell into the brink a while back. He was lowering himself into the water, attached to air tanks on deck by a good length of rope and hoses, and assisted by the Nags Head sweatshirt guy. He had a microphone, so he could converse with the guys on the dock as he explored the shallow depths of the marina basin. I mentioned to him to be on the lookout for vintage glass bottles as Marshes Light was a dairy farm about 100 years ago and there might be some interesing finds buried out in the muck. 

After a few minutes under water, the diver found what he was looking for and brought it up. Steve was thrilled, but I was a little disappointed that he didn’t find anything more exciting. I wondered how much the diver and assistant cost, compared to the value of the casing that they retrieved.  

All in all, not a typical Friday at the office; but I sure am liking our new location at the marina!

Salvaged!

Fishing began at 7 a.m. and ended in the afternoon in time for weigh-in at 4 p.m. at the Marshes Light Marina. At the end of the day, five fish were presented for weigh-in. I volunteered and helped the Marine Fisheries staff biologists collect data and tag the fish.  They weighed and measured the fish, then the biologists gutted the fish to determine if the fish were male or female and extracted the  otoliths, or ear bones, to determine the age of the fish. When an otolith is removed, it is sectioned into thin slices and viewed through a microscope, where it reveals a pattern of light and dark concentric rings. A darker denser ring forms in the winter months, while during warmer months, when the fish grow faster, they produce a clearer ring. These yearly growth rings are called annuli and are similar to the rings found in tree stumps. Fascinating!

Big thanks go to Bill Boykin, our Tournament Director and Dock Manager, who put everthing in place and recruited local fishing guru, Captain Marty, to be our resident expert. We are very grateful for Captain Marty’s expertise and for lining up all the volunteers needed to operate the tournament.  Also special thanks to my co-worker and dear friend, Ann Davis, for all her help and for organizing the vendors from the Manteo Farmers Market who sat up booths to sell their handcrafted goods along the boardwalk. We especially want to thank all of the volunteers, sponsors and vendors for being a part of the inaugural Marshes Light Marina King Mackerel Tournament.

The winning fish weighed in at 41 pounds, 9 ounces, and was caught by Amy McMullan on the Ocean Isle Fishing Center boat. Congratulations Amy and winner of the $10,000 first place prize!

1st Place King Mackerel