Buxton Civic Association raises $1,500 for upcoming initiatives at Mardi Gras Fundraiser

The new-in-2024 Buxton Civic Association (BCA) hosted its first-ever community fundraiser on Saturday at Café Pamlico, and the Mardi Gras-themed celebration raised just shy of $1,500 for the organization’s upcoming initiatives.

The Saturday afternoon event featured Cajun-inspired hors d’oeuvres, live music from Micah Iverson, and raffles for items donated by local Buxton businesses, including Kim Mosher Designs, Beads & Grinds, Lighthouse Sports Bar, Napa Auto & Marine, Buxton Village Books, Alien Java, and Soothing Waves OBX Massage.

“We are so pleased with the turnout, and so thankful for the staff at the Inn on Pamlico Sound/Café Pamlico, as well as Micah and all the people who donated items,” said BCA President Heather Jennette. “Funds will be used to cover continued costs such as conferences, including one this next week, community projects, insurance, [and more.]”

The BCA is continuing a revitalized push to repair or replace the jetties at the end of Old Lighthouse Road in Buxton, and will be representing the community at the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission meeting in New Bern on Feb. 26-27, as well as the North Carolina Beach, Inlet and Waterway Association (NCBIWA) Conference in May.

The BCA  joined the NCBIWA shortly after forming in April 2024, (becoming the first Hatteras Island-based group to become a member), and they attended the November NCBIWA conference, sharing a presentation on Buxton in front of 200 government representatives, engineers, consultants, and legislators.

Jennette and Co-Vice President Brian Harris both said that it took them more than 30 minutes to leave the room after the presentation, simply because people kept coming up to them and asking how they could help. Conversations were ongoing throughout the November conference, with many new connections formed with multiple organizations.

The BCA is hopeful that the upcoming February and May trips will keep the efforts and enthusiasm to stabilize Buxton Beach on the statewide radar.

“After we went to the [conference] in November, a lot of things happened. A lot of contacts were made,” said Harris at the February 3 Dare County Board of Commissioners Meeting, where the group shared an encore of the November presentation. “We were just flooded with people coming up to us with ideas, and asking how they could help… It was unbelievable.”

Although the Mardi Gras celebration has ended, with dozens of locals and visitors attending the Saturday afternoon fundraiser, the BCA continues to accept new members and support for their Buxton Beach initiatives, as well as unrelated projects to enhance the community, like the seasonal holiday lights display throughout the village.

“If anyone was unable to attend and still wants to support us, we are always open for donations via our website or by mail, and we are a 501(c)3,” said Jennette. “We hope to make the Mardi Gras event annual, and [we hope] that it will only get bigger and better each year!”

For more information on the Buxton Civic Association, including updates on their recent push for beach stabilization, visit their website or Facebook page.