What's inside this issue?

• Wildlife Overlook — NO feeding ANY wildlife — dog food found in grate.
• N.C. Rate Bureau requests an overall 50.6% rate increase for dwelling policies — written and emailed comments must be received by August 25, 2023.
• BHI Transportation Files Amendment to lawsuit in Superior Court.
• ReadyBrunswick — Brunswick County's new emergency notification system.
• NCDHHS urges caution after three deaths due to Vibrio this summer.
• Please share BHI roads with us!
• BHA news: Pardon our dust, home occupations and Bald Head Island in the news.
• Don't miss — August Island Report.
• Upcoming events.
• BHA quick links (ARC and BHA committees) and Board meetings.
• Handy Bald Head Island website links.

Wildlife Overlook —

NO Feeding ANY Wildlife

Think you're feeding the turtles? You're not!

Dog food and dog biscuits were found scattered in a grate of the Wildlife Overlook last weekend. See the photo and a close-up shot.

For the safety of humans and wildlife:

• NO feeding ANY wildlife.
• NO fishing or swimming in ANY lagoon on BHI. 

It is unlawful on Bald Head Island and in North Carolina to feed, harass, annoy, provoke, injure, infuriate or enrage any wildlife. Once an alligator learns about feeding behavior by humans, it can become a dangerous predator. HELP the alligators by LEAVING THEM ALONE. Call 911 if you see any violators — these unlawful actions create the potential of harm for EVERYONE. Tell the dispatch operator that you are on Bald Head Island.

Get the facts! Visit NCwildlife.org. Help spread the word to your guests and renters.

N.C. Rate Bureau Requests an

Overall 50.6% Rate Increase for Dwelling Policies

Public Comments Must Be Received by August 25, 2023

The Rate Bureau represents the insurance companies in the state and is not a part of the N.C. Department of Insurance. The Rate Bureau filed the proposed increase with the Department of Insurance on July 13. The request would take effect on June 1, 2024.

Dwelling insurance policies are not homeowners’ insurance policies. Dwelling policies are offered to non-owner-occupied residences of no more than four units, including rental properties, investment properties and other properties that are not occupied full time by the property owner. The last time the Rate Bureau made a dwelling rate filing was in August 2022, when it requested an average statewide increase of 42.6%. After negotiation, the Department of Insurance and the Rate Bureau reached a settlement for an overall average rate increase of 9.9%.

Opportunity for Public Comment

People wanting to comment on the rate request may do so in one of two ways:

Emailed public comments should be sent to:

NCDOI.2023DwellingandFire@ncdoi.gov

Written public comments should be mailed to:

Kimberly W. Pearce, Paralegal III, 

1201 Mail Service Center 

Raleigh, NC 27699-1201

All written and emailed comments must be received by August 25, 2023. Click HERE to read the July 31st press release.

BHI Transportation Files Amendment to Lawsuit

in Superior Court

On August 2, 2023, BHI Transportation (BHIT) filed an amendment to its lawsuit regarding the Right of First Refusal (ROFR). In the amendment, it states, "Plaintiffs wish to amend the Complaint to state additional claims for slander of title and tortious interference with contract. ..." Click the button to read more.

ReadyBrunswick — Brunswick County's New Emergency Notification System

Get alerted about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for Brunswick County's Emergency Alert System. This system provides recipients with critical information quickly, in a variety of situations. You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify. Sign up HERE to choose the type of alerts you want to receive OR text "BRUNSWICK" to 888777 to receive Emergency Notifications only (zip code is required).

NCDHHS Urges Caution After Three Deaths

Due to Vibrio this Summer

Please share BHI roads

with us!

Driving slowly can help reduce the number of wildlife creatures getting hit, such as birds, squirrels, turtles and snakes. The speed limit on BHI is 18 mph unless otherwise posted. Pass it along!

BHA News

Pardon Our Dust...

Over the next few weeks, there will be some much-needed and budgeted maintenance repairs to BHA's Association Center and offices. The BHA office remains open Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm, and all staff are available.

Home Occupations

While a home office on beautiful Bald Head Island is a dream to some, it’s reality to others. With 21st century technology, many professionals have the ability to work from home, whether it’s in Charlotte, NC, or BHI. During the onset and height of Covid, this ability to work remotely helped speed up the changing work landscape dramatically. 

Let’s consider another type of scenario of working from home. Perhaps someone was considering starting a home business such as a yoga studio or a golf cart repair shop. Note that neither is permittable on BHI, per both Village Ordinances and BHA Covenants. But, for the sake of explanation, let’s explore why. Both of these example businesses would definitely see an increase in foot and golf cart traffic from not only customers, but also in the golf cart repair shop scenario, from vendors and deliveries, etc. And what about parking for multiple vehicles at once?

BHA’s Covenants regarding home occupations largely takes into consideration the impact to adjacent neighbors. Read more. ...

Don't miss!

• Smart building and landscape guidelines help a barrier island's sustainability.
• BHI native plant feature of the month — American Beautyberry.
• The monthly ARC Quiz — decorative name signs, basketball hoops, dead plants and more.
• President's Letter.
• Monthly contributors — the Village of BHI, Old Baldy Foundation, the BHI Conservancy and the Village Chapel of BHI.
• Plus much, much more!

BHI Pirate Invasion

August 4-6

Close to 40 pirates will be setting up camp and docking their ships on Bald Head Island beginning Friday, August 4. Come join in the fun at Marina Park (111 Keelson Row) starting at 10:00am on Saturday, August 5, when pirates will entertain you with stories, songs, living history demonstrations and sword fighting shows. Make sure you get down to Beach Access #5 at 11:00am for the sea battle, when Captain Sinbad and Captain Blackbeard attempt to invade our Island while the brave pirates on shore try to fend them off. To learn more, visit the website HERE.

National Lighthouse Day Weekend

August 4-6

Pay tribute to Old Baldy's maritime history and celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Cape Fear Light Station. Featuring fun for all ages, including food, spirits, a 5k/10k race and more. Click HERE for information.

Pilates Is Back This Summer!

Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm

August 10, 17, 31

September 7

Join instructor Debra Drumheller for Pilates this summer in BHA's Association Center (111 Lighthouse Wynd). The cost is $10 per person. Please bring your own mats. Click HERE or on the poster for additional details.

Photo Workshop

with Dr. Ted Peck

Tuesday August 15

7:00-9:00pm

BHA’s Association Center 

Learn to take/make incredible photos with your cell phone. Learn about simple photo-editing apps, stabilizing your camera, in-camera photo settings and more. No charge for the event, but donations for the Village Chapel are requested. Registration (click HERE) is required by August 14. Thank you to BHA's Education and Recreation (ER) Committee for sponsoring this event.

Shag Dancing Lessons

6:00-7:00pm, Six Tuesdays:

September 12, 19, 26 & October 3, 10, 17

BHA's Association Center

Join us for shag dancing lessons! The cost for the 6-week series is $60 per person / $120 per couple. We need a minimum of 14 participants. Interested? Sign up by August 15 by emailing

F.A. McLeod at faatbeach@gmail.com.

Yoga Classes

Ongoing ~ Mondays and Wednesdays

11:45am-1:00pm

Yoga classes taught by Pam Moulin are held in BHA's Association Center (111 Lighthouse Wynd) on Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:45am-1:00pm.

Pam has 36 years of experience as a fitness instructor and 19 years of experience as a yoga instructor, and she's been teaching yoga on Bald Head Island for 13 years. All levels are welcome. Classes are $20, and participants must bring their own yoga mat. Pam requires that all participants show proof of vaccination against Covid-19. For all new participants, it's strongly suggested to email Pam beforehand (and let her know of any physical limitations) at pammoulin@ec.rr.com.

Village Chapel Outreach

Pet Food Drive

The Village Chapel outreach team is conducting an ongoing pet food drive to support Brunswick County families in need. All donations are distributed through Brunswick County Food Pantries and Meals on Wheels routes. New, unopened pet food donations can be dropped off at Salty Paws BHI near the Maritime Market when the store is open. Please do not leave donations outside the front door when the store is closed. Donations can be made directly on the Paws Pantry website HERE, where you can make a monetary donation or purchase food directly from Amazon or Chewy for Paws Pantry. Let's help our local Brunswick County pets in need!

School Supplies Drive

The Village Chapel Outreach team is hosting a school supplies drive through August 20 to help local Southport teachers and students. Please consider supporting them! They are collecting school supplies, with collection boxes posted at the Post Office and the Chapel, as well as accepting monetary donations online. If you don't have time to shop, make checks payable to Village Chapel of Bald Head Island (PO Box 3035, Bald Head Island, NC 28461) or donate on the Chapel's website HERE and designate "School Supplies" in the notes section for the donation. Questions? Contact Linda Rabb at linrab@gmail.com.

For additional information, visit the Chapel's Facebook page HERE.

In need of, or know someone in need of,

support on BHI? 

The Village Chapel is here to help — for those who might need help with meals,

in-person visits or other types of support, due to an injury, family emergency or for any other reason, please reach out to Christine Osborne, who heads up the Meals Committee for the Village Chapel under our Outreach Team. If more than meals are needed, Christine can coordinate with other Village Chapel committees to see what support they might be able to offer. All requests for support will be kept confidential. Christine can be reached at 919-868-0643 or via email at christine.osborne8@gmail.com.

BHA's Board of Directors invites property owners and others to view its monthly public meetings remotely via Zoom. Board meetings are typically held the second Friday of each month beginning at 11:00am EDT. Agendas, approved minutes of previous meetings and a link to the current monthly Zoom meeting can be found on the meeting information web page. Click on the link below to learn more.

The next BHA Board meeting public session is scheduled for Friday, August 11, 2023, at 11:00am at BHA's Association Center (111 Lighthouse Wynd).