Looking for a way to have a pancake breakfast before visiting Santa in Bear Plaza, taking in some shopping, and enjoying the many activities happening during the holiday season in downtown New Bern? Join Pancakes for PIE at Morgan’s Tavern & Grill, 235 Craven St.  Breakfast will be served Saturday, Dec. 15, from 7-10 a.m. to benefit Partners In Education, the local education foundation for Craven County Schools. Pancakes, bacon, sausage, fruit cup, orange juice, coffee, and water will be served in a festive setting.  The price is $7 per adult, and $5 for children 12 and under. Reservations are not required as this isRead More →

A tax credit opportunity zone designated for New Bern due to a purported high level of poverty is mostly made up of a decidedly well-to-do historic neighborhood, the city’s thriving downtown, and two major city parks. The zone also includes the New Bern Grand Marina, home port of some of New Bern’s nicest yachts. The zone also includes Trent Court and a rundown section of town between downtown and the Riverside Historic Neighborhood. “I believe we initially learned of the Opportunity Zones program from Alderman Jameesha Harris,” Colleen Roberts, New Bern public information officer, told the Post in an email.  “She was briefed about theRead More →

The City of New Bern will receive $475,000 to begin Phase I of Martin Marietta Park located on S. Glenburnie Road.  This funding will help kick off creation of the city’s largest ever park. The Governor’s Office released a list of 27 parks and recreation projects across the state that will receive funding through the NC Parks & Recreation Trust Fund, including Martin Marietta Park.    New Bern Parks & Recreation staff applied for the NC PARTF grant in May and learned last week that the City would be awarded funding.  The money will be used to install a children’s playground, boat launch, fishing pier,Read More →

Editor’s note: This is the full agenda with backup materials, but the translation from PDF to text has some glitches. The original PDF can be located here, CITY OF NEW BERN BOARD OF ALDERMEN MEETING AUGUST 28, 2018 – 6:00 P.M. CITY HALL COURTROOM 300 POLLOCK STREET   Meeting opened by Mayor Dana Outlaw. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Bengel. Pledge of Allegiance.   Roll   Consent Agenda   Consider Approving a Proclamation for Friends of the Library   Consider Adopting a Resolution Closing the 600 Block of South Front Street for a Dedication Ceremony.   Approve Minutes.   ********************   Discussion of Part-Time Animal ControlRead More →

GateHouse Media, owner of the Sun Journal of New Bern as well as newspapers in Kinston, Havelock, Marine Air Station Cherry Point, Camp Lejeune, Trenton, and Jacksonville, is offering buyouts in an attempt to further trim its payroll. GateHouse is seeking volunteers to accept a buyout package that offers six days pay for each year of employment. The cut takes effect on Sept. 7. Employees must decide by today, Aug. 27. Between Kinston and New Bern, staff has gone from a total of more than 30 a decade ago, to 11 now, with perhaps more cuts in the offing. The Post is aware of more than aRead More →

  The U.S. Forest Service called a 120-day halt to target shooting throughout Croatan National Forest on July 13, 2015. Then that restriction was extended, so it remains in place today, more than three years later. That hasn’t prevented do-it-yourself shooting ranges from continuing to riddle the landscape and pose a public safety hazard throughout the 160,000-acre public forest near New Bern. The illicit form of recreation often leaves damaged trees and plant life in its wake. And garbage. Lots of garbage. Everything from bullet-pocked refrigerators and propane tanks to beer bottles and auto parts. The rubbish and bullet holes have left a scar onRead More →

GateHouse Media, the company that owns the New Bern Sun Journal, is closing the pressroom where the Sun Journal is printed and shifting printing to Fayetteville. According to Mike McHugh, a Jacksonville Daily News reporter who resigned on Tuesday in protest of the cuts, closing the pressroom as well as a call center based in Jacksonville will cost 40 people their jobs. There was no response to an email requesting more information and comment from Mike Distelhorst, the GateHouse regional publisher in charge of newspapers in Jacksonville, New Bern, Kinston, and Wilmington. The newspaper industry has been struggling for years due to increased competition onlineRead More →

OK, it’s New Bern. Here’s what the venerable magazine says: New Bern, the adopted hometown of famed romance author, Nicholas Sparks, was settled by a Swiss baron three centuries ago. The town is full of history throughout its walkable downtown full of tree-shaded homes, centuries-old churches, and historic cemeteries. Make time for a visit to Tryon Palace, a historic site surrounded by gardens, and embark on a cruise of the Neuse and Trent rivers. Don’t miss the most iconic book set in every state. Here’s the link.Read More →

Second Eddie Ellis presentation added The New Bern Historical Society is pleased to offer a second presentation of Tales of Espionage in Civil War Craven County featuring historian and author Eddie Ellis, on Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cullman Performance Hall at the North Carolina History Center.  Tickets are $10 and are available at 252-638-8558 or www.NewBernHistorical.com/tickets. In eastern North Carolina during the Civil War, Union occupiers existed alongside Southern civilians. Military leaders struggled to capture territory, railroads, waterways.  One of the most sought-after commodities was information.  Ellis explains, “The Burnside-created enclave of coastal forts strung from New Bern to Fort Macon wasRead More →

Editor: Inspired by the limerick “Sally” in the film series “The Crown” — with apologies to the Brits. John Phaup, New Bern Behold our Lord Donald the Rex Who believes only what he can text Tho plenty of navel to gaze (And much to our on-line dismays) He keeps his head up his glorious Apps.Read More →