The
June 2006 • Vol. 2, No. 12 A Shoreline Community, Pine Knoll Shores, N.C.
Town Hall 247-4353
Treat for All Ages
It’s Fun, It’s Educational, It’s the New Aquarium
If you ’re really bored this summer, or you ’re
thinking about going Christmas shopping,
even though it’s June, maybe it’s time to head
to the Pine Knoll Shores aquarium. Finally,
the aquarium has reopened! Just in time
for the summer!
If you’ve been
there before it
closed, maybe
you remember
how small it was.
In comparison
to then, this
remodeled
aquarium is
colossal! And
you’ll never
guess who
helped make it
happen!
You know,
of course, that
the volunteers,
the architects, and the staff made the new
aquarium reality. But, true or false; seven-
year-old Jackson Alexander helped, too?
True! He really wanted to go to the aquarium,
but it was closed. So, he built his own
By Cierra Tomaso
Our youngest contributor, Cierra Tomaso, with our mayor,
Joan Lamson.
aquarium, furnished with plastic aquatic life.
Jackson charged two dollars to come to his
exhibits. Jackson says “the aquarium is one
of my favorite places on the island.” He also
ran a lemonade stand with his five-year-old
sister, Cailiegh.
Jackson
raised more
than seventy
dollars so that
the aquarium
would open
sooner. He was
the first one in
the aquarium
at the grand
opening, and
he cut the
ribbon. After
the ribbon was
cut, a cannon
boom startled
everyone! The
aquarium, after nearly one and a half years,
was once again open!
Soon everyone poured into the aquarium,
and passed a desk, and then came a door. A
Continued on Page 4
By Bob
It’s finally here - the long anticipated
opening ceremony officially welcomed
visitors to the magnificent new North Carol ina
Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. This local
gem is the culmination of 33 months of work
that finished with a structure that is three times
the size of the building it replaces.
The new aquarium is decidedly a “must
see” facility for local residents. The design
of the outside structure, with its large bronze
sculpture of aquatic life that mimics the type
of fish that inhabit our coastal waters, is truly
breathtaking. Directly ahead as you enter
the aquarium is a 32-foot Smoky Mountain
waterfall. Following the waterfall exhibit
is a 306,000-gallon tank holding a three-
quarter-size replica of a German submarine
that was sunk by the United States Coast
Guard Cutter Icarus off the North Carolina
coast during World War II. This 93,000-
square-foot facility presents aquatic life
that one would find in our state. Among the
Ruggiero
many exhibits featured are the Mountain’s;
the Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Tidewater and
Ocean areas. Also for viewing is a replica
of the Queen Anne’s Revenge that mimics
the authentic vessel still being explored by
treasure seekers.
After an opening day welcome from
Director Jay Barnes, and comments from
Bill Ross, Secretary of Environment and
National Resources of North Carolina, Lt.
Governor Beverly Perdue stated that this new
facility is considered to be a lasting legacy
and a tremendous investment for the area and
Eastern North Carolina. Perdue introduced
Jackson Alexander, the second grader who
was greatly disappointed when his parents
brought him to the coast only to find that
the aquarium was closed for renovations.
Young Jackson decided to help with the
funding. He built a replica of the aquarium
buildings in his bedroom and charged his
parents admission when they entered his
Continued on Page 4
19
CERT members Bill and Dorothy Steenland with Team Leader Tom Tempel.
LABRIE LAWRENCE J ETUX
144 BEECHWOOD DR
PINE KNOLL SHORES, Nc 28512
Ribbon cutting event with Aquarium Director Jay Barnes, young Jackson Alexander and Lieutenant
Governor Beverly Perdue.
Standard
Pre-Sort
Permit #22
lead City, NC 28557
Deadline for July issue is Monday, June 19th. Deadline for August issue is Monday, July 17th Articles always welcome!