KEY INFORMATION:
- The Village is keeping an eye on the tropical weather outlook.
- Snorkel extension installations are complete!
- Tips for sharing the roadways on BHI.
REMINDERS & EVENTS:
- Old Baldy’s Run for the Light is this Friday, August 8, from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.
- The BHI Yacht Club Summer Concert Series ends with an encore performance from The Embers on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
- The next regular Village Council meeting is on Friday, August 15, 2025.
- BHI Transportation, Inc.’s passenger ferry schedule changes go into effect Friday, August 15.
- You are invited to the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Input Meeting (online), which is scheduled for Monday, August 25, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- New trash compactor hours.
- As previously reported, Public Works no longer accepts hazardous waste outside of scheduled drop-off days.
Tropical Weather Outlook
As of 2:00 today, the National Weather Service’s Tropical Weather Outlook webpage indicates the following:
Active Systems:
The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Dexter, located over the northwestern Atlantic Ocean.
Off the Southeastern United States:
A weak area of low pressure located several hundred miles off the coast of the southeastern United States continues to produce only limited shower and thunderstorm activity. This system is forecast to drift northward over the next day or two before turning northeastward. Environmental conditions now only appear marginally favorable for tropical development into early next week as the system moves northeastward, remaining offshore of the eastern United States (this morning, the outlook indicated that a tropical depression could form by this weekend).
The Village will continue to monitor the forecast and notify Islanders if action should be taken via the CodeRed notification system (sign up HERE). If you have not started your hurricane season preparations, please do so now. There are several resources on the Village’s website HERE, including the recording of our June hurricane preparedness forum and our podcast episode on hurricane preparedness.
Snorkel Extensions
Village Utilities and its contractors have completed the second round of snorkel extension installations on several grinder pumps on the island. This is in response to PTC #8 flooding on the island last year. After this flooding event, the Village identified specific properties that would benefit from the devices. The upgraded devices will not completely prevent stormwater from entering the system but will provide more operational control and speed up operability after a flooding event. Letters were sent to the property owners for both rounds of installations.
Tips for Sharing the Roadways on BHI
During peak season, there are additional golf carts, pedestrians, bikers, etc. that share the road with each other and commercial ICE vehicles. Each year, prior to this busy time, the Village sends out a reminder to contractors to remind them to be alert while driving on BHI. Below are some of the tips we share with the contractors, that we are also sharing with our Village’s Voice readers in hopes all who use the Village roads continue to be safe (this information is also included in our new visitors guide HERE).
Speed Limits & Stop Signs: A universal speed limit of 18 mph is enforced throughout the Village. Slower speeds are mandated in designated areas, such as the Timber Bridge (5 MPH), due to high pedestrian traffic in the area. All drivers, whether they operate a golf cart or an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, are urged to drive slowly and carefully. All drivers must obey stop signs and must look both ways before proceeding.
Bicycling Guidelines: Cyclists should ride on the right side of the road, in the same direction as vehicle traffic. Group riders should ride in a single file. Inexperienced riders should avoid busy Village roads. Helmet use is mandatory for cyclists under 16.
Personal Electric Devices: E-bikes and electric scooters are permitted but can only be operated by individuals with a driver’s license. Helmet use is mandatory for operators of these devices.
Pedestrian Guidelines: Pedestrians should walk against traffic to see approaching vehicles and bikes. They should stay off or as close to the side of the asphalt pavement as possible to avoid impeding traffic.
Nighttime Safety: The island is very dark at night due to efforts to minimize light pollution and protect sea turtles. Individuals walking at night should wear bright or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight. REMINDER: red lights are the only lights permitted on the beach between May and October.
REMINDERS & EVENTS:
Old Baldy’s Run for the Light
Old Baldy Foundation’s Run for the Light Race will take place on Friday, August 8, from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. This 5k/10k/1 mile road race will take place on Village streets. Ballast Stone Alley at Lighthouse Wynd and Lighthouse Wynd at North Bald Head Wynd will be closed at around 4:30 on the 8th and should re-open after the event ends.
Runners/walkers are instructed to travel on the left side of the road against traffic. The 5K route begins at Lighthouse Wynd, proceeds down N. Bald Head Wynd to Federal, and returns at Palmetto Cove. The 10K route goes from Lighthouse Wynd down N Bald Head Wynd to Federal and loops around Palmetto Cove back to Federal, to South Bald Head Wynd, cutting back to North Bald Head Wynd via Stede Bonnet Wynd. View the route maps HERE.
More event information, including registration, is available HERE.
BHI Yacht Club Summer Concert Series
The BHI Yacht Club 2025 Summer Concert Series concludes next week with an encore performance by the Embers on Wednesday, August 13, at Marina Park from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Village is a sponsor; we have law enforcement there and our own booth. Come say hi!
Next Village Council Meeting
The next regular Village Council Meeting is on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The agenda will be posted HERE. Zoom information to listen in remotely can be found HERE.
Passenger Ferry Summer Schedule Adjustment
BHI Transportation Inc. posted the following announcement on Monday, 7/21:
In accordance with the North Carolina Utility Commission Order dated 7/9/2025, the Summer Passenger Ferry schedule will be adjusted to change the current Friday and Saturday 9:30 p.m. departure from Bald Head Island (BHI) to 10:00 p.m. beginning Friday, 8/15/202,5 and Saturday, 8/16/2025.
The 9:30 pm BHI departure for Friday, 8/8/2025, and Saturday, 8/9/2025 will be the last 9:30 p.m. departures for the remainder of the Summer schedule. Those with Friday and Saturday 9:30 pm reservations departing BHI after 8/9/2025 will be contacted via email and/or text and may transfer their BHI departure reservation to the new 10:00 p.m. departure or another available departure time. The updated Friday and Saturday 10:00 p.m. departure is available for reservations beginning 8/15/2025.
This change does not affect any other Summer Passenger Ferry schedule departures, the Employee / Contractor Ferry schedule, nor the Winter Passenger Ferry schedule. NCUC order and updated schedule (beginning 8/15/2025) available here: https://www.baldheadislandferry.com/schedule/
Hazard Mitigation Public Input Meeting
Last month, a kickoff meeting was held for the 2025 Update to the Southeastern NC Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (RHMP). Following this, the RHMP Planning Committee has scheduled the first Public Input Meeting for Monday, August 18, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
This virtual meeting will provide an online opportunity to learn more about the Plan Update and provide important feedback to help shape the process. Last updated in 2021, updating the RHMP will help ensure all applicable counties and their municipalities remain eligible for various forms of federal pre-disaster and post-disaster hazard mitigation funding.
The meeting will be hosted through Microsoft Teams, and registration is required through this link. To learn more about the 2025 RHMP Update and how you can participate further, click HERE.
New Trash Compactor Hours
The gate to access the trash compactor is now closed daily. It will be open the following days and hours:
- Monday – Friday 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 AM to 1:30 PM.
The compactors are not meant for paint, lawn chairs, construction debris, or yard debris. Please help the Village keep this area clean. Do not leave items outside the gate. Public Works has left a truck there to accommodate folks who are adjusting to the new schedule. The truck is temporary. If you have concerns about the new schedule or have other trash disposal needs, please contact us via the Village’s online service request portal HERE. This portal should be used to contact Public Works to notify us of overflowing public trash receptacles around the island, including those at beach accesses and the market area.
The recycling receptacles continue to be available 24/7. Please make sure you place unbagged acceptable materials in these containers. Please use the “cardboard only” receptacle for all cardboard. A list of acceptable material can be found HERE. If you have renters, please be sure you have designated receptacles in your home for them to place recyclables and that they know what is acceptable. This info is in our new Visitors Guide (HERE).
Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
As previously reported, on June 1, 2025, the Village stopped accepting hazardous waste drop-offs daily. Hazardous waste includes paint, chemicals, and electronics. The Village will be scheduling specific days (previously reported as weeks) during the year in which this type of waste will be collected from property owners at Public Works and promptly taken off-island.
This is a common practice for counties and municipalities on the mainland and helps protect the collection area from contamination.
The fall dates have been determined and are November 20 and 21. If there is a weather delay, the alternate dates are December 4 and 5.
The Village has added these dates to its Trash & Vegetation Pick Up Calendar and Village Calendar, and as soon as the spring dates are arranged, we will publish this information.
If you have a property manager or trusted neighbor who handles maintenance and post-storm activities, you should be able to use these folks to help you get any hazardous waste items turned in during the designated dates.