CONTENT

06 Welcome

08 Board of Directors | Ex-Officio Seats

10 Parks and Recreation

16 Springtime in New Bern

24 The Great Trent River Raft Race

26 DOT: Summer traffic and construction

28 MCAS Cherry Point

32 Membership Directory

Welcome

Dear Member Friends,

A new year is once again upon us and 2025 rolled in with a surprise…Snow! Whether snow and ice are your thing or not, we can all admit, it’s nice to see and feel spring in the air. Our market has come alive, and the excitement of new possibilities awaits us all.

In this edition of Insights, we’ve highlighted some of the people and happenings that are generating all the excitement. From our highways to our efforts to get ready for the Spring and Summer rush, New Bern is continuing its effort to be a destination for business, visitors, retirees and young families.

I want to once again thank each of you for supporting and taking time to read Insights. With your continued support and encouragement, we intend to keep providing you with a resource for what is happening in the greater New Bern Area…timely and accurate information about the market and the wonderful businesses making it thrive.

All of us are very lucky to live in an area as rich in its history, culture and people as New Bern. We here at the Chamber are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and are so appreciative of the support you show us.

I hope you all have a safe and prosperous spring.

Kevin M. Roberts

President

New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce

New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce 2025 Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Dr. Ray Staats

Chair

Craven Community College

Ed Hughes

Immediate Past Chair

Individual

Jim Robinson

Incoming Chair

Robinson & Stith

Dan Roberts,

Treasurer

Edward Jones

Lindsay Sims

Mitchell Hardware

Chris Hayter

International Paper

Ross Hardeman

Sumrell Sugg

Kevin Roberts

President & CEO

New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Term Expiring December 2025

Andy MacLaren

BSH

Wendy McCoy

Union Home Mortgage

Tieghlor Melton

Thompson Home Group

Judy Pierce

CarolinaEast Health System

Brad Poirier

Bear City Impact

Dean Quadir

Persimmons

Cameron Stallings

Southern Bank

Term Expiring December 2026

Suzanne Gifford

Partners in Education

Brynn Harms

Optimize Receivables

Manny Kahsai

Trent Cadillac

Grant Loftin

Hyundai of New Bern

Knox Proctor

Ward and Smith

Chrystal Regan

Tryon Palace

Term Expiring December 2027

Tony Norwood

Moen

Joe Peters

Curtis Media Group

Mike Raines

Century 21 Zaytoun Raines

Andy Schneider

Chemac

Josh Taylor

SVN / Commercial Real Estate

Jill Thompson

Bradham’s Legacy

Lauren Wargo

Duke Energy

EX-OFFICIO SEATS

Voting: By Appointment

Melissa Riggle

Director, Craven County Tourism Development Authority

Andy Shorter

Director, Coastal Carolina Regional Airport

Karen Sullivan

Director, Swiss Bear, Inc.

Jeff Wood

Director, Craven County Economic Development

Voting: At-Large

Tarshi McCoy

Riverfront Convention Center of Craven County

Holly Tolston

Craven County Schools

David Wang

The Epiphany School of Global Studies

Tom Braaten

Past Chair 2013

Nancy Alexander

Past Chair 2014

Tharesa Lee

Past Chair 2016

Jeff Medlin

Past Chair, 2022

Non-Voting

Foster Hughes

City Manager, City of New Bern

Rhonda Murray

MCAS Cherry Point, Community Plans & Liaison

Parks and Recreation

New Bern offers facilities for recreation or leisure throughout the spring

Spring has sprung and that means longer days, warmer temperatures, and the opportunity to get outside! Several new amenities in our community will help shake off the winter blues and enjoy all our coastal landscape has to offer.

New Bern’s marshwalk at Lawson Creek Park (1309 Country Club Road) is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Thanks to updates and renovations to Jack’s Island at the east end of the park, now it’s even better. The marshwalk has been extended and a new covered picnic area has been constructed.

Approximately two years ago, the original boardwalk – a 400-foot stretch through the coastal marshes of Lawson Creek – was expanded to what is now a nearly quarter-mile, scenic walkway along the creek with a large fishing and observation deck. The original boardwalk dated back to 1990 and was destroyed by hurricane Florence in 2018. The City used FEMA funds to rebuild it after the storm. Two more phases of work since then have been funded by a CAMA grant (Coastal Area Management Act) and through FEMA funds after a change in scope on another project. Now, the marshwalk is triple the size and offers residents, visitors and families an opportunity to stroll through the scenic beauty of our coastal marshes.

On top of that, major improvements have been made to Jack’s Island, reshaping a small peninsula adjacent to the marshwalk. Over time, the sidewalk around the island had begun to deteriorate, and in the hot summer months there wasn’t much shade. The sidewalk has been replaced and extended, and a large, new picnic shelter has been constructed. Renovations to the parking area are now complete, too. The picnic area is available for special events and rentals through the City’s Parks & Recreation department.

“We have the perfect climate for enjoying the marshwalk,” said Kari Warren, Director of Parks and Recreation. “The weather is beautiful ten months out of the year here, providing the perfect opportunity for a walk along the water’s edge, for watching and photographing wildlife, fishing, or gathering with family and friends for a picnic.”

Less than a mile northeast, construction has begun on the Broad Street Pier Project along the Neuse River downtown. The City hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in early March. The pier is located near the Broad Street traffic circle and will be completed in two phases. The first is a long, wide pier that will extend 216-feet out into the Neuse from the riverwalk with two perpendicular piers and an observation area at the end. The pier is expected to open in May. Phase 2 will include a parking area and new public restrooms. This project is made possible by donations from the NC Wildlife Habitat Foundation, the NC Coastal Conservation Association, and ARP-enabled funds allotted from Ward 3 Alderman Bobby Aster.

“We’ve been talking about this project for years – how we could improve waterway access for our residents and visitors,” said Mayor Jeffrey Odham at the groundbreaking event. “Oftentimes, we hear ‘We’d love to have somewhere to fish.’ This is a very special project, and a lot of people have worked hard to make it happen.”

Now, New Bern will not only have the perfect spot for fishing, but also for gathering kids and families at the river for fun and recreation. The pier will also be ADA accessible.

If you’re not the outdoorsy type, head over to the brand-new Stanley A. White Recreation Center at 601 Third Avenue. It opened in late January. The former recreation center (located on Chapman Street) was substantially damaged during hurricane Florence. In 2023, construction began on a new one less than a quarter mile away on higher ground. The facility is 35,000 square feet, nearly twice the size of the old one, and includes a double gym, elevated walking track, cardio and weight equipment, a fitness studio, meeting space, health screening room, game room and a kitchen. Parks & Recreation staff oversee program offerings such as athletics, classes, summer camps, special events, reservations and rentals. Membership opportunities are available as well as open-gym activities. The facility will also serve as an emergency shelter.

And if you stop by the facility, be sure to visit the outdoor memorial to the former recreation center – a section of steel from the rafters of the old building and a reminder that we are resilient in the face of disaster.

These new public amenities enhance our landscape and increase quality of life for residents and visitors. Whether you’re looking for recreation or leisure, shake off the winter blues by visiting New Bern – we look forward to seeing you!

Springtime is a great time to be in New Bern

By Mike Danahey

Spring has sprung, and for those looking for things to do this season and beyond in New Bern and Craven County, a visit to Visit New Bern (https://visitnewbern.com/) is a great place to start.

Through its website, the destination marketing organization points locals and visitors to things to do, itineraries to discover, places to stay, and places to eat and drink.

Visit New Bern will celebrate the third Arts in April, a month-long festival showcasing the city’s vibrant arts community.

From family-friendly downtown events and fine arts showcases to theatre and concert performances, the Arts in April calendar (https://visitnewbern.com/annual-events/arts-in-april/) has something for everyone.

As but one example, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, the public is invited to help paint a mural on a bare brick wall at Mitchell Hardware, 215 Craven St. Supplies will be provided as volunteers paint in a mural outlined by the Craven Arts Council.

From noon to 9 p.m. On Saturday, April 19, The Athens Theatre, 414 Pollock St., will host the Arts in April Theatre Festival.

The fest will include 45-minute workshops throughout the day. A $10 Day Pass will allow anyone 15 years and older to participate. Workshops will include an overview of directing, principles of acting, Improv Essentials, contemporary Broadway style singer techniques, a Choreography Guide to Stage Dance, Costuming and Technical Theatre 101.

Free festival events will run throughout the day, including New Works Reader’s Theatre scenes or 10-minute play presentations, open mic monologues or spoken word presentations, improv comedy segments, dance challenges and backstage tours.

This festival is intentionally “pop-up” in style, with room for the spontaneous inclusion of whoever participates. The content of all free activities will be appropriate for families with kids of any age.

From noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, “A Celebration of African American Artists” will be held at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, 604 Johnson St. Produced by the church and the African American Heritage and Culture Center, this third annual event is free to attend. It will feature artists working onsite in various media and sharing their stories with the public.

Arts in April will also feature ongoing events at venues that include the Craven County Students Art Show at the Duffy Exhibition Galley, the Twin Rivers Artists Association & Craven Community College Exhibition at the Bank of the Arts (Main Gallery), and Chris Bennet at the Bank of the Arts (Director’s Gallery). Complimentary shuttle service will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., making it easy for guests to experience all the exciting events and attractions throughout the day.

“In 2024, we had 146,000 visits to the downtown area on the weekends in April. There was a significant uptick in visitor traffic each Saturday throughout the month,” Visit New Bern Executive Director Melissa Riggle said. “On April 13, the downtown area saw 18,600 visitors. They came from as far as Boone, Raleigh, Wilmington, Elizabeth City, and Charlotte.”

The arts will continue to blossom the following month. From Mother’s Day, May 11, through May 18, New Bern will host the 5th Annual North Carolina Plein Air Art Festival. (https://ncpleinair.org/)

“Plein air” is French for open air, and the painting style traces back to French Impressionists such as Monet, Renoir and Degas.

According to the website for this event, painting venues will include Historic New Bern, the first capital of North Carolina; Beaufort, the home of the North Carolina Maritime Museum; and Oriental, the sailing capital of North Carolina. Artists will also choose other sites and landscapes in Craven, Carteret and Pamlico Counties.

The festival headquarters will be at Historic New Bern’s Farmers Market, less than two blocks from Tryon Palace. The Farmers Market will offer outdoor painting demonstrations, workshops, art displays and sales.

Pop-up exhibits and art sales will happen in Beaufort and Oriental, with location details, dates, and times on the NC Plein Air New Bern website.

All activities are free, but for the workshop, Saturday’s awards celebration, and the small fee artists pay to enter the Quick Paint competition.

Professional artists can compete to win the Best of Show Koffenberger Award and other prominent awards, while amateur painters can also compete for ribbons and cash awards in the aforementioned Quick Paint competition.

Attendees will be more than welcome to visit with the painters. To that end, Visit New Bern’s website will feature a map showing where artists will be setting up for the day and have a QR code available for this as well.

As the above events illustrate, the arts community is an integral part of New Bern, which holds many galleries and shops, along with the New Bern Civic Theatre and the Rivertowne Players. (https://visitnewbern.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/)

“Downtown New Bern is filled with locally owned shops, restaurants, and galleries, each adding to the heart and soul of our community,” Riggle said. “Many of these spaces provide local artisans a place to showcase and sell their work, while our theaters allow performers to share their talent and passion for the arts. With so many vibrant venues, local musicians have a fantastic platform to take the stage and connect with audiences.”

Beyond the arts, Visit New Bern’s website notes spring means the village is fully blooming.

(https://visitnewbern.com/spring-is-here-and-new-bern-is-in-full-bloom/).

Things to do include the New Bern Historical Society’s Heritage Homes Tour (https://newbernhistorical.org/homes-tour/). This year, the self-guided tours will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, focusing on the downtown and the DeGraffenried historic districts.

Guided tours that allow visitors to explore New Bern by boat or trolley through the downtown bring the town’s charm to life (https://visitnewbern.com/things-to-do/tours/guided-tours/).

Attractions such as Tryon Palace (https://visitnewbern.com/tryon-palace/), which served as North Carolina’s first capital, and its North Carolina History Center also offer plenty from the past to discover.

With its rotating exhibitions, shopping, rare artifacts, and various interactive historical activities, the Center is the best place to start any visit to Tryon Palace.

For travelers to the area and locals looking for a night or two away from home, Visit New Bern’s website notes the variety of places to stay, including cozy B&Bs, waterfront hotels, and marinas.

The latest of those properties is Tryon Riverfront Inn (https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/cltriup-tryon-riverfront-inn-new-bern/).

The 74-room hotel is located in downtown New Bern, among restaurants, shops, and attractions. The Riverfront Convention Center of Craven County and Tryon Palace are within walking distance, and the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola is less than a half-mile away. The hotel features the Compass Rose restaurant, event space, and a fitness center. It is part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

Riggle said Hilton curates and develops a site for its Tapestry Collection to reflect its unique, local character. In New Bern, that meant reflecting the town’s 300-year history and coastal location.

“There is a map of the historic downtown on the wall behind the front desk. Images of New Bern are displayed throughout the hotel,” Riggle said.

In addition to the information on its website, Riggle said people are welcome to call, email, or stop by the Visit New Bern office.

“Visit New Bern is a destination marketing organization dedicated to showcasing our local shops, restaurants, attractions, and accommodations,” Riggle said. “We not only promote events that support our local community but also help make our city an even more enticing destination for visitors.”

Visit New Bern

316 S Front St.

New Bern, NC 28563

Phone: 252-637-9400 / 800-437-5767

[email protected]

www.visitnewbern.com

“Visit New Bern is a destination marketing organization that focuses on highlighting local shops, restaurants, attractions and accommodations.”

Melissa Riggle,
New Bern Executive Director

DOT: Summer traffic and construction

Crews at work on the U.S. 70 improvements

All utility work on the U.S. 70 Improvements project is currently 99% complete. This includes wet utilities for water and sewer for both Craven County and the City of New Bern. Due to the project’s tight corridor, which aimed to minimize business and property displacement, extensive utility relocation work has extended the project completion date to spring of 2027.

Contractor crews are actively working on new storm drains as part of the process to improve existing and open new service roads along the project corridor. Once complete, the project will house 80,000 linear feet of new storm drain lines and 750 storm drain boxes. Currently this work is 50% complete, with 40,000 linear feet of new storm drain installed. Additional work on six culverts, part of the storm drain system, has continued.

Noise Wall construction continues adjacent to U.S. 70 Eastbound and Westbound near the Neuse and Trent rivers.

A portion of Brown Drive in front of the Taco Bell and Burger King has now closed. The new service road between the Trent East Shopping Center and Taco Bell, Burger King, and Bojangles was opened last October. These service road relocations are part of the planned movement of service roads away from U.S. 70 to provide space for the future interchange ramps. Additional service roads will open over the coming months, with the next being a new service road connection to Airport Road.

Crews are close to completing the entrance/exit ramps for the future Grantham Road interchange. In the following stage of construction, U.S. 70 travelers will be temporarily shifted onto the new ramps while crews build the bridges that will take the new U.S. 70/Interstate 42 roadway up and over Grantham Road. This work includes altering the grade on U.S. 70 by paving, which will continue over the coming weekends. This process will be repeated at each of the five interchanges (Williams Road, Airport Road, Grantham Road, Taberna Way and Thurman Road).

It is important to note that construction stages will progress at different times through various sections of the project. Currently, a majority of project efforts are focused on Grantham Road, but work at the other four interchange areas (Thurman Road, Taberna Way, Airport Road, and Williams Road) is also underway.

Spring Schedule

Starting May 15, no weekend lane closures of U.S. 70 will be allowed in order to keep vehicles moving during peak travel season. This is in addition to no Monday through Friday daytime lane closures on U.S. 70, which is a year-round restriction. Night-time lane closures from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday may occur.

Stay Safe

In the event of a minor, non-injury collision on U.S. 70, motorists are encouraged to move their vehicles to the shoulder of the road, when possible, to keep traffic moving and reduce the likelihood of secondary wrecks.

As you drive through any work zone across the state, we ask that you stay alert, minimize distractions, and be patient. Let’s work together to make sure everyone gets home — including our construction crew members.

Stay Updated & Get Ahead of Delays

The U.S. 70 James City project team encourages residents and travelers to subscribe for email or text updates through the project website: NCDOT.gov/JamesCity.

The project team is committed to being a good neighbor in the James City community by minimizing traffic impacts as much as possible, but sometimes delays are inevitable during construction. The team distributes traffic alerts ahead of lane closures on U.S. 70 and other impactful events for the project to allow subscribers to plan accordingly. The team also publishes newsletters that include information on project progress, seasonal schedules, and other notable updates.

Have a question about the James City improvements project? Email the team at [email protected] or call and leave a message at 1-855-925-2801 and enter code 7872. Visit the project website to learn more: NCDOT.gov/JamesCity.

MCAS Cherry Point

Air Station of Year progresses toward modernization

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point takes a moment to celebrate being the cream of the crop, as Air Station of the Year, as it continues to progress toward modernization with several projects nearing completion.

On Feb. 13, 2025, the group was recognized as Marine Corps Air Station of the Year as part of the 2025 Marine Corps Installations and Logistics excellence Awards. The installation was also recognized as Marine Corps Air Station of the Year in 2024. The back-to-back award recognizes the outstanding achievements of the Corps’ top performing Marines, Sailors, civilians, and units in the Installations and Logistics community.

“Earning this award two years in a row is more than just an accolade, it is a reflection of the hard work dedication and passion between MCAS Cherry Point, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point, Fleet Readiness Center East and the community,” said Col. Brendan Burks, MCAS Cherry Point commanding officer. “It is the result of years of hard work, innovation, and collaboration from our service members, civilian workforce, and community partners who continue to push the limits of excellence at America’s Air Station.”

MCAS Cherry Point has several modernization projects and transition programs which contributed to Air Station of the Year recognition. Notably, the Facilities Directorate executed 409 contract actions totaling $206 million, advancing key initiatives such as a $53 million F-35 simulator facility, a $208 million F-35 maintenance hangar, and a $57.8 million fitness center. Major modernization efforts, including the $1.1 billion F-35 Transition Program and the $600 million Hurricane Florence Recovery Program, led to the repair of 185 buildings and the construction of critical new facilities, including two purpose-built fire stations and a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower.

This consecutive recognition not only celebrates MCAS Cherry Point’s continued leadership and innovation, but also places the installation in contention for the Commander in Chief’s Award for Installation Excellence, an honor it received in 2024. This distinction underscores the profound impact of teamwork, perseverance, and dedication exhibited at all levels and across all sections of the installation.

The installation continues to move forward with multiple construction projects and advancements, which will increase warfighter readiness, warfighting capabilities and continue to enhance service member, civilian and family member quality of life.

Of note, several projects are on course to wrap up by fall 2025, including two fire stations, the Provost Marshal’s Office, the squadrons headquarters building and the training auditorium/theater projects. The Cherry Point Fitness Center and Library Projects that broke ground in October and December of 2024, respectively, are progressing to be completed by fall 2026.

Commissioned in 1942, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is the world’s largest Marine Corps Air Station. Including its outlying fields and ranges, it occupies more than 29,000 acres of land in Eastern North Carolina and controls more than 9,000 square miles of airspace. MCAS Cherry Point provides a 24-hour airfield, year-round in the support of more than 130,000 annual flight operations as a primary aerial port of embarkation and debarkation for about 40,000 Marines and Sailors deploying annually on the East Coast. The installation is a true power-projection platform for warfighting and readiness within the Carolina Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Through its operation and development, the installation contributes approximately $2.64 billion to the state and local economy.