It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Fort Fisher State Historic Site gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Kure Beach, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me”
“I have been employed with Always Best Care for almost a year. I have thoroughly”
“As a certified nursing assistant for the past 13 years I am proud to say”
“A great place to work with amazing leadership! Great care for our clients! 5 stars”
“Hats off to the owner of Always Best Care NC. Shawn is a great person”
“The staff at Always Best Care is top notch! The caregivers are very caring and”
“Always Best Care strives for care that goes above and beyond expectations. Your loved ones”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with.”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed,”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Always Best Care goes above and beyond to provide great care for you or your”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We”
“I contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many”
“Watching your parents age is an emotional experience. My mother has suffered from emphysema since”
“Other Navigation through the process of finding a Memory Care Facility for my husband. The Owner.”
“Phenomenal services providing peace of mind during difficult times when your elderly loved ones need”
“I could not be happier with this service. I schedule care in 15 minute or”
“I Love Always Best Care, we have an amazing team and I am lucky to”
“I am a past client of this provider Staff helped guide and navigate options for my”
“I am a past client of this provider ABC caregivers took care of my 93 yr”
“ABC caregivers took care of my 93 yr old father from when he came out”
“Great training”
“I am a past client of this provider Always Best Care provided excellent, diligent, responsive and caring home health assistance to my mother who was recovering from an unexpected surgery. They were able to assist on incredibly short notice and made a difficult situation for our family much better. Each of their carers was exceptionally professional and attentive, especially Lori and Kylie who were incredible. I felt safe leaving my loved one in their care and appreciated that they went above and beyond to meet our needs. They provided regular updates to me and my family and made my mother feel so well attended, especially as she needed extra mobility and personal care help. I would absolutely not work with any other company, should we ever need home health assistance again. Highly recommend.”
“They helped me with getting a wheelchair! They didn't want anything but to help me gain my mobility! They are all super nice and very helpful! Give them your trust, they have mine. If I ever need home help, it'll be through them!”
“I have been employed with Always Best Care for almost a year. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with them. They are a very dedicated and supportive team to work with.”
“As a certified nursing assistant for the past 13 years I am proud to say working with Always Best Care as a CNA and Brain Fitness Coordinator, I could not be part of a more dedicated team of professionals. Our caregivers and staff are truly the best with their heartfelt dedication to our clients as well as the care this agency takes to provide training, support, and employee appreciation. Always Best Care is truly one of the best! Michele SL”
“A great place to work with amazing leadership! Great care for our clients! 5 stars all day long!”
“Hats off to the owner of Always Best Care NC. Shawn is a great person and shows so much compassion for his staff and his clients. I met him at an Always Best Care conference and he is such a stand up guy.”
“The staff at Always Best Care is top notch! The caregivers are very caring and know their job well. Definitely would recommend this agency!”
“Always Best Care strives for care that goes above and beyond expectations. Your loved ones are sure to be well taken care while in the care Always Best Care staff. They assure that your loved ones are happy and healthy, all while keeping their independence as much as possible. If you’re looking for top quality care, you have found the right place!”
“I feel so blessed to be served by such caring and helpful people. I had to downsize due to an unexpected illness and Always Best Care (ABC) stepped in to make this possible. Kind, compassion, pleasant, friendly, joyful and talented professionals comprise those providing this service. I literally couldn’t have lived for at my assisted living since I had so many hospital visits each week. I didn’t want to go alone to these appointments and this freed my family from needless distress and worry about my wellbeing when they couldn’t be there. I highly recommend ABC since they are an essential component providing excellent and reliable support.”
“ABC services do an amazing job. They have helped my 90 year old mother in law transition into her new home after moving to Raleigh from Winston Salem. She has dialysis 3x a week and they have worked so hard to coordinate a schedule to make sure everything runs smoothly. Sherry continues to amaze me in how she is able to help figure out schedules and provide customer services in a kind and professional manner. We will continue to look to this wonderful service provider as her needs change and feel blessed to have them on site at Atri”
“I cannot recommend this service enough. The owner Shawn was wonderful to speak with. He was sincerely concerned about my mom and our family. He is an excellent listener and introduced me to Paige who is equally wonderful. Together they found a great place for my mother in a very short time. Paige was always available to speak on the phone and addressed my questions or concerns. I would recommend using this service for your loved one. Laura B of Raleigh”
“These people are Angels. Kathryn was lightning quick with new solutions everytime things changed, and things changed constantly. My dad has a chance to live the rest of his life with dignity and my mom has a chance to live a fuller life because of the help we got from Kathryn and this team. They have a great network and valuable knowledge but what observed that makes them invaluable is that they care...and when you are on this situation I found that this is the quality that matters the most. Cannot thank them enough.”
“Kind aides who were patient and caring with my Mother. Quality service.”
“Always Best Care goes above and beyond to provide great care for you or your loved ones. Always Best Care makes it possible to stay in home, and stay as independent as possible. ABC staff are there to assist in keeping you or your loved ones safe, healthy and happy. If you are looking for top quality care, you have found the right place!”
“Excellent! Shawn was a Godsend. He found a great, affordable community for my Mom. We are very satisfied with his service and professionalism. He took his time and our requirements and found the perfect place. Highly recommend him and Always Best Care!”
“I contacted Shawn when my mother returned home from the hospital. There are so many options it was confusing for me! Shawn and his team sent me several places to review and then accompanied me to visit independent living facilities. I appreciate the resources and information provided. Shawn, thank you for being focused on our family's needs and sharing your expertise. Your compassion and patience is so very appreciated!”
“Watching your parents age is an emotional experience. My mother has suffered from emphysema since the early 2000s and was diagnosed with dementia in 2018. We've worked with many companies to provide care for her and companionship. Since 2020, as my mother has significantly declined, we've had to make the decision to move her into a facility. For the past three years, Always Best, and more specifically Nancy Newcomer, has provided consistent and quality care for our family. Nancy is always on time, caring, and reliable. We've experienced companies with high turnover and feel blessed to have had Nancy's support for three years. She doesn’t do this solely for a paycheck but also checks on my dad on her days off and genuinely cares. I'd highly recommend this company to help care for your aging loved ones.”
“Other Navigation through the process of finding a Memory Care Facility for my husband. The Owner. Met with my daughter and me. We included my husband. Right away we could hear see and feel this man's compassionate heart. He cared for his own aging family members and can relate. He personally called to check in with us despite the fact that we needed a facility and not home care. Taking it one step further he went on tours with us and we discussed pros and cons without his bias of one over another. Once our loved one was placed this gentleman continued advising at our initiation of calls. He never failed to call back. Highly recommend this man.”
“Phenomenal services providing peace of mind during difficult times when your elderly loved ones need you the most. Highly recommend!”
“I could not be happier with this service. I schedule care in 15 minute or 30 minute visits for 6 visits a day. They make sure that my 96 year old mother takes her meds, walks to meals, they deliver her meals when she is too tired to walk, they water her plants, bathe her, they will help in anyway to provide the best care. Shawn Cothran, the owner, made a personal visit to her room to make sure she had all that she needs. The caregivers; Vera, Jackie, Toni, Elizabeth and many others could not be better. I highly recommend this service.”
“I Love Always Best Care, we have an amazing team and I am lucky to be surrounded by such caring hearts.”
“I am a past client of this provider Staff helped guide and navigate options for my mother. We found a new home for her and the extra attention she is now receiving has given both the family and her comfort and peace of mind. It is a challenging transition and the help was invaluable. Many thanks!”
“I am a past client of this provider ABC caregivers took care of my 93 yr old father from when he came out of the hospital until he passed away 8 months later. The nurse was very fast and efficient and met us at his residence when we arrived from the hospital. Many caregivers were so sweet and careful with him and were helpful to my mother as well. He would be happy to see their smiling faces. They were also very accommodating for schedule and other changes. I would highly recommend them!”
“ABC caregivers took care of my 93 yr old father from when he came out of the hospital until he passed away 8 months later. The nurse was very fast and efficient and met us at his residence when we arrived from the hospital. Many caregivers were so sweet and careful with him and were helpful to my mother as well. He would be happy to see their smiling faces. They were also very accommodating for schedule and other changes. I would highly recommend them!”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Ocean Front Park and Pavilion with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Freddie's Restaurant or visit 1921 Fort Fisher Monument, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Kure Beach, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Kure Beach, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Kure Beach, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
KURE BEACH, N.C. (WECT) - The Town of Kure Beach is asking for public input as it reworks its paid parking program to comply with an agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE).According to the announcement, the town has been notified by the USACOE that it does not meet the parking requirement required in its agreement for beach renourishment.“Our projects are cost shared 65% federal and 35% nonfederal. The nonfederal split 17.5% comes from state funding and 17.5% from Tourism Funds (ROT). To make th...
KURE BEACH, N.C. (WECT) - The Town of Kure Beach is asking for public input as it reworks its paid parking program to comply with an agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE).
According to the announcement, the town has been notified by the USACOE that it does not meet the parking requirement required in its agreement for beach renourishment.
“Our projects are cost shared 65% federal and 35% nonfederal. The nonfederal split 17.5% comes from state funding and 17.5% from Tourism Funds (ROT). To make these projects happen the Beach Towns sign agreements with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) that spell out the responsibilities of each Municipality,” the town explains.
The agreement states that Kure Beach must “maintain 443 parking spaces, necessary roads, parking areas and other public use facilities open and available to all on equal terms.”
Early in the summer, the USACOE ruled that the town was not offering parking on equal terms. In response, Kure Beach sent the following explanation:
“The USACOE rejected our interpretations and notified us we were not in compliance and that our project was suspended until we came in compliance. You may ask why we didn’t appeal or take legal action. The short answer is we didn’t have the time, and it would have caused us missing the current renourishment cycle scheduled for later this year,” Kure Beach says.
In order to meet the requirements, the town is adjusting its paid parking program. The proposed parking fee changes can be found here, and those who would like to comment on the changes can do so online here.
The changes will be discussed in November and voted on in December by town council at its monthly meetings.
Copyright 2024 WECT. All rights reserved.
One of the area's favorite and longest running holiday traditions, the Cape Fear Festival of Trees, will be held in November.Here are four things to know about this holiday event.What's happening?The Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to the highest quality LifeCare, education, and supportive services, will hold its annual Cape Fear Festival of Trees, from Nov. 22 through Dec. 30, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, 900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Be...
One of the area's favorite and longest running holiday traditions, the Cape Fear Festival of Trees, will be held in November.
Here are four things to know about this holiday event.
The Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to the highest quality LifeCare, education, and supportive services, will hold its annual Cape Fear Festival of Trees, from Nov. 22 through Dec. 30, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, 900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach. The festival began more than 30 years ago as a fundraiser to support local nonprofit Lower Cape Fear LifeCare. A spectacular forest of about 50 festively decorated trees greet visitors at the aquarium throughout the engaging aquatic displays.
Area businesses, groups, organizations, families and individuals sponsor the trees. Sponsors decorate their trees in a theme of their choosing. Sponsors can decorate their trees in a way that represents their mission ? a take-off on a current trend, focuses on the services or products that the particular business offers, or honors and remembers loved ones. Also sponsors can request Lower Cape Fear LifeCare volunteers to decorate their tree to fit their theme.
Standard admission rates apply. All tickets must be reserved in advance on the aquarium’s website, https://www.ncaquariums.com/tickets-ff. People interested in booking a specific date should reserve their tickets early. The aquarium and festival will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Lower Cape Fear LifeCare receives no funds from ticket sales during the event. Donations are greatly appreciated.
Volunteers and Lower Cape Fear LifeCare team members create a variety of handmade holiday wreaths that visitors can purchase. The wreath can be made classically traditional to fun and funky to popular holiday themes to fit each person style and taste.
Proceeds gained through tree sponsorships, donations from visitors, and wreath sales go to work right here in the Wilmington area providing care and support to local individuals and families living with serious or life-limiting illnesses.
If you can't make it to the Cape Fear Festival of Trees in New Hanover County, visit the fifth annual Festival of Trees at the Museum of Coastal Carolina, 21 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach.
Visitors can stroll through the museum at a leisurely pace and admire trees artfully decorated. The themes include "‘Twas the Night Before Christmas," “Elf” (the movie), Disney as well as coastal, nautical and traditional holiday themes.
The Festival of Trees at the museum will open Thursday, Nov. 7 and run through Dec. 31, Thursdays-Saturdays. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
For more information, visit https://museumplanetarium.org/.
KURE BEACH — A local beach town has submitted almost $900,000 to state and federal relief agencies to reimburse its resources expended during last month’s Potential Tropical Cyclone #8.READ MORE: Stormwater strategy amid historic flooding: CB councilman advocates for a modernized systemThe Kure Beac...
KURE BEACH — A local beach town has submitted almost $900,000 to state and federal relief agencies to reimburse its resources expended during last month’s Potential Tropical Cyclone #8.
READ MORE: Stormwater strategy amid historic flooding: CB councilman advocates for a modernized system
The Kure Beach Town Council received a tally from affected departments this week. It passed a budget amendment to increase budgetary line items, including dune and building repair, to cover future costs while the town awaits aid.
The damage includes debris removal ($190,000), beach access and dune repair ($110,500), town hall building maintenance ($58,100), community center maintenance ($5,100), police department building maintenance ($5,000). The town plans to use $18,200 from insurance proceeds and $350,000 from its savings to balance its budget until reimbursement.
Mayor Pro Tem and Emergency Response Coordinator David Heglar reported construction and demolition debris accounted for 303,300 cubic yards removed. For vegetative debris, it was about 625 cubic yards; household hazardous waste was a little more than 1,300 pounds.
Flood waters also breached town hall.
“This conference room has completely been torn apart…We did get the carpet back in here for our council meeting tonight and for the election,” Mayor Allen Oliver said.
Though it wasn’t in the budget amendment, the town also counted the costs for additional labor and equipment used during the storm, totaling $15,000. The town’s emergency personnel made 24 water rescues, either from vehicles or homes.
The town has also assessed damage to individual homes. Three days after the storm, a Kure Beach and New Hanover County building inspector reviewed all houses, as required by state law when a disaster is declared. Though they did not enter homes, they observed the exterior, particularly water lines, to estimate interior damage.
The inspectors concluded 147 homes, out of more than 2,000 housing units in Kure Beach, had flood waters enter their living areas.
“The highest water that I saw was waist deep in a house … three and a half, four feet in some of the properties in the old part of Hanby and Wilmington beach [neighborhoods],” Heglar said.
Kure Beach resident Roy Erwin told Port City Daily his crawl space flooded, but the water didn’t enter his house.
“Our neighborhood (Beachwalk) was completely underwater,” Erwin wrote in an email. “Most of the crawl spaces flooded, and if your home was built on a slab, it flooded.”
Heglar said the town informed residents of assistance opportunities through the state and federal government. Gov. Roy Cooper announced his request for a federal disaster declaration for PTC #8 was granted on Oct. 19; three days earlier he made the state declaration for individual assistance.
The North Carolina General Assembly has already passed a $273-million disaster relief bill, but will also hold a session this week to consider long-term recovery funding for southeastern and western North Carolina, the latter still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Heglar reported on several visits from state leaders in PTC #8’s aftermath, including Sen. Michael Lee, Sen. Bill Rabon and Rep. Charlie Miller.
Mayor Oliver said he “ran into” Miller at lunch recently and shared the town’s cost estimate.
“So he was going to use that when they go back into session this week, so we should hear more about how much, what kind of money is going to come back to the town through the state legislation,” Oliver said.
Residents were also informed of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s recovery center at 1121 N. Lake Park Blvd. in Carolina Beach, which will stay open through Oct. 28. The SBA is offering assistance to residents and businesses in the tri-county affected by PTC #8 from Sept. 16 to 20.
However, Heglar tried to manage expectations for the town.
“For most of us in Kure Beach, that would be a low interest loan,” Heglar said. “They’re not going to give us grants because we’re not that poor. We may feel like it, but we’re not.”
According to U.S. Census data, more than half the homes in Kure Beach are valued between $500,000 and $1 million.
A large portion of Monday’s discussion centered on stormwater, with Heglar and council addressing the durability of the town’s system and preliminary damage estimates.
The town’s stormwater department reported the system experienced no failures or observable damage. However, the town is conducting imaging of the system now to find any damage throughout the system.
“There’s no real obvious signs of damage, but I think it’s more suspected that it’s back under the dunes and back towards the streets,” Finance Officer Arlen Copenhaver said.
Copenhaver shared a “very very preliminary” estimate for stormwater repairs of $500,000.
Overall, staff and council were satisfied with the performance of the storm water system considering the anomalous rain conditions PTC #8 brought — 15 to 17 inches in less than 12 hours. By comparison, 2018’s Hurricane Florence devastated the region with 20 inches or more over 24 hours.
“None of the systems in the town of Kure Beach or in the state of North Carolina — or in the country of the United States — is designed for that much rain in that amount of time,” Heglar said.
He reported all 19 of the system’s exit points were all exceeded during the storm. Though none were blocked, pipes were completely full.
Two lift stations experienced issues but did not fail; four were alarming throughout the event because either people were opening their sewer clean-outs to try to get water out of their yards, or there was leakage into the system.
Heglar also reported the town met with North Carolina Department of Transportation officials to review the stormwater outfalls on their roads.
“NCDOT is not really very communicative because they’re in the western part of the state, repairing all the roads that are gone, so they’re doing bigger tasks, but we are on their list, and we’ll keep pressuring them,” Heglar said.
After review, Heglar reported 13 town-owned outfalls and two NCDOT outfalls did not keep up with the stormwater flow during the storm. Heglar said they requested NCDOT examine their size.
“And if they say they should be higher, then we’ll start pursuing with the EPA and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to get permission to upsize those because they go straight to the ocean,” Heglar said.
NCDOT officials also looked at the three ditches that crossed Dow Road and the town requested a hydrological study to potentially increase their size, as the 36-inch pipes in place now overfilled during the storm.
Erwin said he was pleased with the town’s response during and after the storm, and he thought improvements could be made to the stormwater system.
Reach journalist Brenna Flanagan at brenna@localdailymedia.com.
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CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) – The Town of Carolina Beach says it is making changes to its parking system through the end of the month.Based on a recent interpretation by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Town of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach were faced with losing the 2025 beach nourishment cycle and the funding for the 20-plus million dollar project unless changes were made to the existing parking programs.Prior to putting out to bid the scheduled Carolina Beach and Vicinity Coastal Storm Risk Manageme...
CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) – The Town of Carolina Beach says it is making changes to its parking system through the end of the month.
Based on a recent interpretation by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Town of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach were faced with losing the 2025 beach nourishment cycle and the funding for the 20-plus million dollar project unless changes were made to the existing parking programs.
Prior to putting out to bid the scheduled Carolina Beach and Vicinity Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, the USACE conducted a validation of the Town’s “non- Federal responsibilities” under the Project Cooperation Agreement (PPA) which requires, in part, the Town to provide 767 spaces “open and available to all on equal terms”. This requirement is not new, and the Town provides significantly more parking than required.
However, the Town claims recent guidance from the USACE required the Town to make changes to ensure the scheduled nourishment project would take place. Specifically, the USACE interpretation of “open and available to all on equal terms” requires the spaces to be within a ¼ mile of a beach access and to be spaced throughout the geographic area of the nourishment project.
The USACE’s position is that by allowing residential parking passes in these areas, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach would not meet the requirements of the PPA which would suspend the scheduled nourishment project.
The window of time for conducting the scheduled nourishment project is from November 1, 2024 – March 31st, 2025. The Town says failure to get the project out for bid while discussions continued with the USACE would have irreparable consequences to the condition of the municipal beach strand and the dune infrastructure.
While the Town disagrees with USACE’s interpretation regarding resident parking passes, it looks forward to continued discussions on this issue, and says Town Council took the action necessary to keep the nourishment project on schedule.
These changes have been in effect since October 2nd and will remain in effect until the paid parking season concludes on October 31st.
Council has directed staff to continue speaking with the USACE about its recent interpretation in advance of Council’s yearly discussion concerning resident parking passes.
The Town has prepared a Frequently Asked Questions page on its website to help answer questions you may have regarding the recent changes.
910-213-3800
