Facilities Maintenance Technician Bruce Erickson Named 2022 Earl Murray Jr. Employee of the Year

At their December 7, 2022 meeting, Nags Head’s Board of Commissioners named Facilities Maintenance Technician Bruce Erickson as the Town’s 2022 Earl Murray Jr. Employee of the Year. 

Presented by the Board each December, the award, named after Police Sergeant Earl Murray, who died in the line of duty on May 15, 2009, recognizes Town employees who have excelled in: 

• performance 
• quality of work 
• willingness to cooperate with others
• attitude towards the public and co-workers 
• attendance. 

The award recipient, chosen from a list of nominations presented by Town department heads, receives a plaque, a $400 reward, and a paid day off. Nominees receive a $200 reward and a paid day off. 

“Bruce is passionate about his job and our town,” said Public Services Director Nancy Carawan. “He’s already working while most of us are still asleep, making sure Nags Head is in excellent shape. Bruce takes ownership of everything he does here; from cleaning our public spaces to decorating our facilities for holidays. And, he does this with a smile on his face. This ownership extends past Bruce’s normal working hours as he is always taking note of something that is out of place or attempting to forecast when something may become a problem. He finds ways to quickly resolve issues before anyone takes notice. Bruce takes a lot of pride in his work and is always seeking to improve things. He exemplifies the traits of an employee of the year.”

“It’s an honor to celebrate Bruce’s accomplishments,” said Nags Head Mayor Ben Cahoon. “This award validates his exceptional work as well as his contributions, behaviors, and successes. Bruce is clearly dedicated to his job and our community, and it shows.”

Mayor Cahoon further said, “Each year this is a difficult decision for the Board because we must choose from a group of nominees who have all shown enthusiasm for their jobs and a commitment to Nags Head. It’s an honor for us to be able to recognize these employees and their achievements.”

Erickson has been with the Town for four years. 

The other nominees for this year’s Earl Murray Jr. Employee of the Year award are: 

• Administrative Services:  Tax Collector Linda Bittner
• Fire and Rescue:  Captain Phil Wolfe
• Planning and Development:  Building Inspector III Steve Syzmanski
• Police:  Detective Christian Aguirre 
• Town Clerk:  Permit Specialist Kim Thompson

Holiday Happenings

• Shop for handmade gifts finely crafted by local artisans while the kids entertain themselves on the playground at our LAST holiday market on Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 9 am to 12 pm.

• On Thursday, December 15, kids can get their cheer on by hunting for candy canes at Dowdy Park from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Hunts for two age groups will be held to ensure safe and fair candy cane discovery. 

• The Town will hold a holiday decorating contest for all Nags Head residences and businesses. Express your holiday spirit with festive creativity. Winners in each category will receive a special recognition yard sign, mention on the Town of Nags Head’s web site and social media and in the local newspaper, and recognition at the January 2023 Nags Head Board of Commissioners meeting. 
  
  
  Entry forms must be received by 5 pm on December 9 (TODAY). Judging takes place Tuesday evening, December 13, so be sure to turn your lights on as soon as it gets dark.
  
  Contest categories include:  
  • For the Joy of It – no specific theme, but wow factor is important 
  • Best Beach Theme – no explanation needed
  • Griswold Award – inspired by the movie “Christmas Vacation”  
  • Anything But the House – decorate anything but the house:  boathouse, barn, shed, dog house

Christmas and New Year's Office Sanitation Collection Schedule

 As a result of the upcoming holidays, we've altered our office and sanitation collection schedule. 

All administrative offices will be closed Friday, December 23 through Tuesday, December 27 and Monday, January 2. 

Week of December 19

• Recycling Collection - Monday, December 19 (curbside recycling subscribers only)
• Blue Route Trash Collection - Monday, December 19, Thursday, December 22, and Friday, December 23 
• Green Route Trash Collection - Tuesday, December 20 and Friday, December 23          
• Commercial Dumpster Collection - Monday, December 19, Wednesday, December 21, and Friday, December 23             

Week of December 26

• Recycling Collection - Monday, December 26 (curbside recycling subscribers only)
• Blue Route Trash Collection - Tuesday, December 27 and Thursday, December 29 
• Green Route Trash Collection - Tuesday, December 27 and Friday, December 30
• Commercial Dumpsters Collection - Tuesday, December 27, Wednesday, December 28, and Friday, December 30

Week of January 2 

• Recycling Collection - Monday, January 2 (curbside recycling subscribers only)
• Blue Route Trash Collection - Tuesday January 3 and Thursday, January 5 
• Green Route Trash Collection - Tuesday, January 3 and Friday, January 6
• Commercial Dumpsters Collection - Tuesday, January 3, Wednesday, January 4, and Friday, January 6

Important Notes

• Please recycle your cardboard! Cardboard-only dumpsters are available at Town Hall (5401 S. Croatan Hwy.) and Public Works (2200 Lark Ave.). 
• Commingled recyclables can be dropped off at Town Hall and Public Works 24/7/365. 

Wright Brothers National Memorial Hosts First Flight Anniversary Event December 17

On December 17, 2022 at 9 a.m., Wright Brothers National Memorial, First Flight Society and Outer Banks Forever, will celebrate the accomplishments of Wilbur and Orville Wright on the 119th anniversary of their first heavier-than-air, controlled, powered flight. Park entrance fees are waived on this special day.

Read more about the event.

Information and photo credit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial Facebook page.

As you deck the halls this holiday season, be fire smart. A small fire that spreads to a Christmas tree can grow large very quickly. 

Feel free to give Nags Head Fire Rescue a call at 252-441-5909 if you have any questions. 

Shoe boxes, pasta containers, Amazon boxes... all common cardboard items. In the U.S. alone, around 100 billion cardboard boxes are produced every year. Recycling one ton of that cardboard saves approximately nine cubic yards of landfill space!

Thank you for recycling your cardboard this holiday season!

If you don't have time to haul your recyclables to the recycling centers we have at town hall (5401 South Croatan Highway) and our public services facility (2200 Lark Avenue), subscribe to the curbside recycling collection service offered by TFC Recycling. The cost is only $9.60/month thanks to a $5/month subsidy from the Town.

• View a calendar of all the upcoming meetings.
• View meeting agendas for the Board of Commissioners and the Planning Board.
• All Board of Commissioners and Planning Board meetings are livestreamed via the Town's YouTube channel.