KEY INFORMATION:
- The 2025 CSDR Project is set to begin in a few weeks, pre-project surveys have begun.
- BHI Transportation, Inc. has posted the new passenger ferry schedule.
- Beach bonfire season is almost here, what you need to know.
- Annual golf cart registrations will begin no earlier than Monday, December 2, 2024, this year status updates will be posted online.
REMINDERS & EVENTS:
- Annual change from chloramines to chlorine is underway.
- There will be an island-wide litter sweep this Saturday, November 9, 2024.
- Village offices will be closed on Monday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
- The next regular Village Council meeting is on Friday, November 15, 2024.
- Dementia seminar scheduled for November 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Department of Public Safety.
- The fourth annual Golf Cart Christmas Parade will take place on Friday, November 29, 2024.
2025 CSDR Project
The Village’s 2025 Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Project is set to begin in the next few weeks. Pre-construction meetings have taken place with the dredging contractor (Marinex Construction), groin tube contractor (McPherson Marine), regulatory agencies, coastal engineers, surveyors, and Village staff.
Pre-project surveying is in progress. Marinex expects to begin staging equipment on the beach starting November 16, 2024 (the first day they can operate on the beach per the Village’s permit). The main staging location on the beachfront will be near Beach Access #11 (Sandpiper Trail). Islanders may see some of the offshore equipment staged next to Battery Island before November 16.
The Village has a dedicated project webpage which will be updated regularly as the project proceeds (view HERE). The Village will also be posting updates on its social channels (HERE).
Islanders should expect the following during the project:
The beach will remain open except for the areas of immediate construction where a 1,000-foot section of the beach will be closed at any given time when nourishment is underway. Due to the many variables associated with the construction progress, such as mechanical or weather impacts, it is extremely difficult to forecast when the contractor will close a particular section of the beach. There will be a large pipe that carries the sand slurry down the beach and heavy excavation equipment which will be working 24/7 until the project is completed. There will be noise from the large machinery 24/7, this will include the “backup signals” from the machines and lighting which are required for the safety of the crew. Sand ramps will be spaced along the beach (approximately every 400 feet) to allow beachgoers to walk over the pipe and access the ocean.
Please help the construction crew by being mindful of the construction fencing and signage. Do not go beyond any signage or barriers as doing so may place yourself and others in harm’s way.
This information is on the project webpage. Please make sure you let any visitors and guests know about this project and these expectations.
The approximate end date for this project is April 30, 2025. This date is subject to change due to weather and mechanical impacts that could change the project schedule. Please check the project webpage for updates.
New Ferry Schedule
As previously reported, the NC Utilities Commission approved a new passenger ferry schedule as part of a settlement between Bald Head Island Transportation and Island stakeholders. The agreement includes a one-year trial period, the elimination of the mid-day break, and the introduction of a reservation system for employees and contractors by January 31, 2025.
BHIT will implement the new schedule starting December 1, 2024. For more details and to view the schedule, visit BHIT’s webpage HERE.
Beach Bonfire Season
Beach bonfire season begins on November 16th and will end on April 30, 2025. Individuals must apply for and receive a permit to have a bonfire on the beach. The permits are issued by the Department of Public Safety. Applications are accepted Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (except Village holidays). Applications can be emailed or delivered in person to the administrative assistant at the Public Safety Building (psadmin@villagebhi.org, 273 Edward Teach Extension). Applications must be submitted at least 24 hours before your requested burn time.
Locations for bonfires by individuals are limited to four beach access sites: Access #5, Access #24, Access #35, and Access #39 (one bonfire per beach access site at the same time). Only one permit shall be issued per beach access per day. Permits for Monday through Friday will be issued the day prior. Permits for Saturday, Sunday, or holidays that fall on Monday will be issued on Fridays.
Over the years beach bonfires have become very popular, and the permits are applied for well in advance by several individuals. If you have applied for a permit, you will receive a phone call on the day of issuance, if you do not answer and there is another person who has applied for that same night, the next applicant will be called, and so on until we speak with someone who verbally claims the permit. For more information, please visit our webpage HERE.
Annual Golf Cart Registrations
Golf cart owners will be able to apply and pay for annual renewals beginning on Monday, December 2, 2024 (no earlier). On this day, a “2025 Golf Cart Registration Renewal” button will appear on the Village’s webpage.
This year, please note the date you submitted your renewal. The Village’s webpage will be updated regularly as stickers are available for pick-up at the Department of Public Safety. We will be indicating what renewals have been processed by the date they were received. We process renewals in the order they are received.
REMINDERS & EVENTS
Annual Change from Chloramines to Chlorine
The annual change from chloramines to chlorine is underway (Brunswick County started on October 26). This process is expected to continue through mid-December 2024. Customers may notice some discoloration and the presence of sediment in your water. These conditions are not harmful and should be of short duration. For more information, view the full notice on our Utilities webpage HERE under Notices.
Island-Wide Litter Sweep
An island-wide litter sweep will be taking place this Saturday, November 9, 2024. Participants will meet in front of Room Service (next to Maritime Market) at 10 am to pick up gloves, grabbers and litter bags and then set out to their designated spots. Water, fruit and treats will be provided to volunteers. Look for prizes for the most unusual trash as well as the most interesting.
Community service hours can also be earned. Please email Barbara Giera with any questions.
Veterans Day
Village offices will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2024, in observance of Veterans Day. This includes the Island Package Center and Post Office and Public Safety administration. Please call 911 if you need a Public Safety Officer to come to you.
Next Regular Council Meeting
The next regular Village Council Meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 15, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in the multi-purpose room in the Department of Public Safety (273 Edward Teach Ext.). The agenda will be posted HERE. Zoom information to listen in remotely can be found HERE.
Dementia Seminar
Project Longevity/Community Care will be hosting Jason Clamme from Lower Cape Fear Life Center to conduct a Dementia Seminar. This will be taking place on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Department of Public Safety (273 Edward Teach Ext.). Seating is limited, attendees are advised to bring their own chair in case it is necessary.
Golf Cart Christmas Parade
The fourth annual Golf Cart Christmas Parade will take place on Friday, November 29, 2024. Cart line-up begins at 3:30 p.m. at the Shoals Club parking lot and the parade route, led by Public Safety’s fire truck carrying Santa himself, meanders along South Bald Head Wynd and ends at the Bald Head Island Club and their Winter Wonderland Festival.
The entry fee is only $20 per cart, with all proceeds benefiting Brunswick County Family Assistance. To register, you can use VENMO to Christine Osborne @Christine-Osborne-22, or ZELLE to 919-868-0643. Follow this with an email to either Christine Osborne or Joyce Nelson with the number of carts you’re entering, along with your family name and cart name.