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Welcome to the August 2025 edition of The Loop, the official newsletter of the Town of Wrightsville Beach, keeping you in the loop.
July was a busy month in Wrightsville Beach.
Our 4th of July weekend was bustling with beachgoers, and I’m grateful to our staff and first responders who kept operations running smoothly over the strenuous holiday weekend.
We also hosted Police Chief Bishop's first Meet the Chief event, promoted several police officers, welcomed three new police officers and one firefighter, and hosted a ribbon cutting for our new tennis and pickleball courts.
As we move into August, I look forward to beginning to wrap up another great summer season together.
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Darryl Mills
Mayor, Town of Wrightsville Beach
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Pictured: The moon next to Johnnie Mercers Pier. Photo courtesy of Patrick Carroll. | | | |
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Board of Aldermen Meeting Date Changed
to Tuesday, August 12, 2025
The Board of Aldermen will hold a meeting on August 12, 2025, in the Council Chambers, 321 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach, NC, 28403, beginning at 5:30 pm. This meeting is being moved up from August 14, 2025.
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August Utility Bill Update & Public Workshop on August 20
A reminder to all Wrightsville Beach utility customers: The August 20th water and sewer bill will reflect the new rate increase.
CFPUA will also host a public workshop on the upcoming utility consolidation. Customers will have the opportunity to ask questions about the consolidation, learn about improvements coming to water and sewer infrastructure, and set up their online accounts and Autopay with CFPUA. The workshop will be held Tuesday, August 20, 2025, from 4:00PM to 6:30PM in the Town Council Chambers.
If you are unable to make the first workshop, there will be another opportunity to meet with CFPUA on September 17, 2025, from 4:00PM to 6:30PM in the Town Council Chambers.
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Report an Issue
Help keep Wrightsville Beach running smoothly!
If you spot a pothole, broken sign, or anything else that needs attention, submit a Public Works Work Order form online. It’s quick, easy, and helps us to serve you better.
Submit a work order here.
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Playground Repair
Our Parks Maintenance team replaced the cables and parts on the “Cruise Line” zipline swing at Wrightsville Beach Park.
These updates will keep the Cruise Line safe, sturdy, and ready for more adventures. Thank you, Parks Maintenace Crew!
| Pictured: Parks Maintenance Crew Replacing Equipment on the Cruise Line Zipline Swing. | |
Turtle Watch Reminder
The Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project has confirmed three loggerhead sea turtle nests on our beach strand so far this summer.
Due to July's high tides, WB has significant escarpments in some areas of the beach and turtle nests that were laid at the base of these escarpments, had to be relocated to the base of the dunes. Public Works is monitoring these escarpments.
Please give all marked nests plenty of space, turn off or shield oceanfront lights at night, watch for turtle tracks, and use caution when walking on the beach.
| Pictured: Relocated Sea Turtle Nest. | | |
The following is a summary of notable reports by WBPD. This information is a matter of public record and reflects activities within town limits during the month of July.
Incidents: 63
Arrests: 27
Charges: 96
Speeding stops: 71
Noise citations/warnings: 25
DWI Arrests: 10
Traffic Stops: 294
Meet the Chief and
Police Promotions
Wrightsville Beach residents gathered for the Town’s first Meet the Chief event, where Chief Bishop answered concerns and connected with the community. The evening also included a promotion pinning ceremony, celebrating several WBPD officers on their well-deserved achievements.
The Town also celebrated the swearing in of three new officers to the department.
Events like these highlight the strong bond between our police department and the community they serve, reinforcing Wrightsville Beach’s commitment to safety and connection.
| Pictured: Promotion Ceremony, Meet the Chief, and the swearing in of new Officers.
| | | Welcome Our Newest Firefighter! | Pictured: WB Firefighter Tom McGovern. | |
The Wrightsville Beach Fire Department is excited to welcome its newest full-time firefighter, Thomas “Tom” McGovern, to the team!
Tom has been part of our community since 2019, serving as a seasonal Ocean Rescue Lifeguard while attending UNCW. Most recently, he worked as a full-time firefighter with the City of Wilmington. Since joining the WBFD, Tom has been busy with hands-on training alongside the crew.
Outside of work, Tom enjoys staying active through working out, running, swimming, and paddling. Be sure to give him a warm Wrightsville Beach welcome if you see him around town!
| Pictured: WBFD Training with the Ladder Truck. | |  | SALA Regional Competition | Pictured: WBOR 2025 SALA Regional Champions. | |
The Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue (WBOR) competition team defended their regional title for the fifth year in a row at the USLA South Atlantic Regional Championships in Nags Head, NC.
With standout performances, including first place finishes in events like the Beach Relay, 2K Run, Rescue Race, Landline, and Beach Flags, the team placed in the top three in 10 of 14 events, earning first overall in five categories.
Several guards also qualified for the USLA National Championships in Huntington Beach, CA, August 6–9, where they’ll compete against the nation’s best and defend their 2024 national titles.
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| | Ribbon Cutting: New Tennis & Pickleball Courts Open! | |
The Town of Wrightsville Beach recently celebrated with a ribbon cutting for the newly renovated tennis and pickleball courts at Wrightsville Beach Park. These exciting upgrades were made possible thanks to the collaboration and support of many dedicated individuals and organizations.
We extend our sincere thanks to:
The Board of Aldermen
Parks & Recreation Director Katie Carus-Childers
Bill Fay, Evan Morigerato, and the Public Works Staff
The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant Authority
Wrightsville Beach Foundation
Jim Chaffins
Jackie Jankins
Antoine Hawkins
Timeless Construction
Cape Fear Engineering
Administrative Assistant Kris Thompson
Town Manager Haynes Brigman
We are thrilled to provide these improved amenities for our residents and visitors to enjoy. Be sure to stop by and check the new courts out!
| | Pictured: The ribbon cutting celebration for the new court facilities. | |
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Adult Pickleball Lessons Are Here!
Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation is offering another session of adult pickleball lessons for beginner and intermediate skill levels!
Lessons are taught by Antoine Hawkins. Beginner's sessions are September 8 – October 6; Intermediate September 10 – October 8. Both classes are 8:30 – 10:00 am.
Spots are limited, register now through the Parks & Recreation Online Catalog or by calling (910) 256-7925.
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Fall Youth Programs - Register Today!
Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation is excited to offer a variety of youth programs this fall, including Lacrosse, Basketball, Performance Club, Pickleball & Tennis Lessons, and our new Fall Junior Lifeguard Program! Don’t miss out on these fun and active opportunities for the kids!
Spots are limited. Register now through the Parks & Recreation Online Catalog or by calling (910) 256-7925.
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Join us for Fitness Classes
Stay active, meet your neighbors, and make the most of summer at Wrightsville Beach.
| | Click the calendar below to view the full schedule on the Town's website. |
| Did you know UNCW has a facility here in Wrightsville Beach, just behind the Town Hall? | | |
UNCW established the Aquaculture Facility and program in 1997 on Harbor Island at Wrightsville Beach to address the need for hatchery and grow-out technologies to support coastal ecosystems. The university uses its strategic location in coastal North Carolina and its Center for Marine Science to teach environmental responsibility in conjunction with mariculture technology development.
The goals are to develop and share cost-effective, environmentally friendly technologies for marine food production through controlled breeding and to mitigate depletion of marine populations through commercial cultivation or stock enhancement.
| | Pictured: UNCW farm-raised Black Sea Bass. | Pictured: UNCW Research Specialist Partick Carroll, TOWB Communications Manager Bailey Hartsell, TOWB Town Manager Haynes Brigman, UNCW Research Professor Md Shah Alam, and UNCW Executive Director of the Center for Marine Science Ken Halanych. | | |
While freshwater aquaculture is a large and well-established industry in the U.S., land and freshwater resources and suitable species for traditional pond-based aquaculture are becoming increasingly scarce.
Marine aquaculture, or mariculture, has the potential to increase the supply of sustainable farm-raised fish products and to help feed more people.
Fish from production trials at the UNCW Aquaculture Facility are sold to wholesalers along the east coast and local restaurants, including three10 in downtown Wilmington. The trials evaluate the price, quality and demand for UNCW’s farm-raised black sea bass, providing the foundation for strong business planning and a guide for future investment.
The UNCW Aquaculture Facility has direct access to high quality seawater from Banks Channel, a protected channel that is continually flushed from a natural ocean inlet. Banks Channel and surrounding waters are designated as Outstanding Resource Waters by the state of North Carolina and are protected for recreational and shellfishing purposes.
| Pictured: Sea beans, product of the UNCW Aquaculture Program. | | | |
Board of Aldermen Meeting
July 10, 2025
Click On Video to Watch
| | BRIDGE REPLACEMENT BULLITEN | | | |
NCDOT Bridge Replacement Project in Wrightsville Beach
NEXT MEETING:
August 11, 2025, at 10:00 am in the Town Hall Conference Room
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) plans to replace three aging bridges in Wrightsville Beach as part of a single project (Project HB-0040), and repairs are no longer a long-term solution.
What’s Changing:
- Causeway Drive Bridge (US 76): Will be rebuilt as a 4-lane bridge with a center median.
- The Two Bridges on West Salisbury Street (US 74): Each will be rebuilt as 2-lane bridges.
The new bridges will be built in roughly the same location as the current ones. While no new car lanes will be added, the new designs will improve access for pedestrians and cyclists with:
- 10–12-foot multi-use paths
- 6-foot bike lanes
Town Action & Community Involvement
Though this is an NCDOT project, the Town of Wrightsville Beach is actively involved to ensure the community’s voice is heard throughout the planning and construction process.
Key Town Efforts Include:
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Bridge Replacement Committee: Formed by the Board of Aldermen, this committee includes six residents, three ex officio members, and four Town staff. Its mission is to gather public input, review project updates, and provide recommendations to the Board and NCDOT.
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Transportation Consultant: Was hired by the Town to support the committee and staff. The consultant is helping with NCDOT communications, traffic studies, emergency service access, and technical project guidance.
- The town is also in the process of hiring an emergency response consultant to assist with planning.
Wrightsville Beach is committed to keeping residents informed and minimizing disruptions throughout the duration of this important infrastructure project.
For more information and FAQs on the Bridge Replacement Project, click here to visit our website.
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| TOWB & CFPUA CONSOLIDATION | | | |
Town of Wrightsville Beach & CFPUA Consolidation
After months of planning and a state-funded study, the Town of Wrightsville Beach and Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) have finalized an agreement to consolidate water and sewer systems. This transition will take place over the next 12–15 months and is expected to be complete by September 2025.
At that time, CFPUA will assume ownership and management of the Town’s water and sewer infrastructure. Customers will become CFPUA customers and begin paying CFPUA rates, which are comparable to current Town rates.
Why consolidate?
The consolidation allows for major upgrades to aging infrastructure, secures a more reliable water supply, and improves long-term service. Over $23.5 million in improvements are planned, including connecting the Town to CFPUA’s advanced Sweeney Water Treatment Plant.
What to expect:
- Town customers will remain under Town service through the transition.
- There may be brief service disruptions due to infrastructure work, updates will be communicated in advance.
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Water meter upgrades have begun to prepare for the transition. Read more about meter upgrades here.
- All Town water/sewer employees will be offered roles with CFPUA.
For more details and FAQs, click here.
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Curious about how something works in the Town of Wrightsville Beach?
Whether it’s about town services, processes, or operations, we’re here to help keep you informed!
Use our fillable form to ask your question, and we’ll get back to you with an answer.
Click here to submit your question.
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321 Causeway Drive
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
(910) 256-7900
Visit us online townofwrightsvillebeach.com
OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
PARKS & RECREATION
(910) 256-7925
PLANNING & INSPECTIONS
(910) 256-7937
PUBLIC WORKS
(910) 256-7935
COMMUNICATIONS
(910) 239-1712
POLICE NON-EMERGENCY
(910) 452-6120
FIRE NON-EMERGENCY
(910) 256-7920
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Chris Bannerman is our Parks Maintenance Supervisor! Chris has been with the Town of Wrightsville Beach for just over two years.
Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, spending time with friends, and helping out at his family’s grape vineyard in Pender County.
We’re grateful for Chris’s hard work and dedication in keeping our coastal Town looking its best!
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