What's inside this issue?

• Event Cancellation — the G.O. Bond Referendum Information Session that was scheduled for February 15 has been canceled.
• Village of BHI's 2024 G.O. Bond Referendum — helpful links, important dates and voting information.
• BHA 2024 assessments due February 15, 2024.
• Don't miss — February Island Report.
• Events.
• BHA quick links (ARC and BHA committees) and Board meetings.
• Handy Bald Head Island website links.

~ Event Cancellation ~

The G.O. Bond Referendum Information Session

Scheduled for February 15

Has Been Canceled

The G.O. Bond Referendum Information Session that was scheduled for February 15 has been canceled after participation was withdrawn by the Village of BHI and the BHI Club. BHA's intention for hosting this event was to bring together the Village and the BHI Club, along with their respective engineers and professional experts, to help inform all BHA members, including voters, about the referendum. With such an important and complex issue, BHA also intended that this event would allow for audience questions, both submitted in advance and live.

The Village of BHI submitted the following statement for publication:

The Village, out of an abundance of caution in not wanting to be perceived as promoting or being an advocate for approving the GO Bond referendum, has decided not to participate in the BHA’s information and Q&A session scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. The Village apologizes for any inconvenience this decision may cause the BHA but believes it is the right decision based on concerns being raised about the session, its format, and those who specifically have been invited by the BHA to participate in the session.

As we also understand there may be island residents who still have questions about the project with respect to the purpose, need, and funding options, the Village will plan to host a 2nd information session (TBD) so that folks can receive this information and be provided with another opportunity to ask questions in advance of the March 5th referendum. The Village will also provide an opportunity to submit questions in advance as it has done in the past. The upcoming meeting details will be communicated in the next Village’s Voice.

The BHI Club submitted this explanation:

The Club’s presentation was built upon the foundation of the Village’s slide deck, historical data, and engineered solutions. Without the Village’s engineering and data facts, the Club’s brief presentation is not as effective. We also do not feel it is appropriate for this to be viewed again as primarily a Club issue. Due to this, the Club will remove itself from the Q&A event tomorrow.

BHA encourages property owners to continue educating themselves on this important topic. Visit the Village of BHI's web page HERE and attend the upcoming information session that the Village plans to host.

Visit the BHI Club's web page HERE for information and updates.

BHA thanks those who submitted questions for this information session. Both the Village and the BHI Club have committed to answering those and any additional questions from the public. Questions and comments can be submitted to the Village of BHI HERE and to the BHI Club HERE.

Village of BHI's 2024 G.O. Bond Referendum

Vote on Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Brief Background

The Village of Bald Head Island is planning for a coastal storm damage reduction (CSDR) project in the winter of 2024-25. The full project as proposed will use Jay Bird Shoals to supply the project with approximately 1 million cubic yards of beach-quality sand. The sand will be placed east of the terminal groin along South Beach, down through the area where the sand tube groins are installed. It will restart east of Muscadine Wynd and will fill to the east end of the Shoals Club.

Read more about the background, with additional resources and quick links for the December Town Hall video and slides, an overview article, statements of disclosure and more on the Village's 2024 Bond Referendum web page HERE.

A Bond Referendum

A bond referendum is a voting process that gives voters the power to decide if a municipality should be authorized to raise funds through the sale of bonds, for specific purposes. A general obligation (G.O.) bond is long-term borrowing in which a municipality pledges its full faith and credit (taxing power) to repay the debt over a specified term. G.O. bonds are the least costly financing option available to the Village to finance major capital costs and offer significant savings to taxpayers over the repayment period. 

During the upcoming March 5, 2024, primary Bald Head Island voters will be able to vote YES or NO on two questions. To read the questions, click HERE.

Questions?

The Village is still taking questions. Please send them to GOBOND@villagebhi.org.

The questions and answers will be posted on the 2024 Bond Referendum web page (click on the button below) and will be updated as more questions are received. The questions are being separated by category (finance/tax, shoreline and bond referendum).

Important Dates:

January 15, 2024 – Absentee ballots for the bond referendum will be available.

February 3, 2024 — Residency deadline.

February 9, 2024 – Last day to register to vote in the referendum.*

February 15, 2024 – Early voting period starts.

February 27, 2024 – Absentee ballot request deadline (5:00pm).*

March 2, 2024 – Early voting period ends.

March 5, 2024 – The referendum will take place. Absentee ballot return deadline is 7:30pm.* (NOTE: absentee ballots must be RECEIVED BY this deadline, not postmarked by this deadline.)

By March 15, 2024 – Canvass of returns by Board of Elections.

* Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters.

Voting and Residency

As of January 2, 2024, there are 381 people registered to vote in BHI elections. If you live on Bald Head Island full-time or part-time, you may want to review the voting requirements and determine WHERE you want to exercise your voting rights.

According to the Brunswick County Board of Elections, “The residency qualification to register to vote in a municipality or county is that the persons registering must have, by the time of the election, resided in that municipality or county for at least 30 days with the intent to make that county, municipality, precinct, ward, or other election district a permanent place of abode.” The residency deadline is Saturday, February 3, 2024. (Read Brunswick County's "Clarification on Voter Residency Requirements" HERE.) For the Brunswick County Board of Elections web page, click HERE.

BHA News

BHA's 2024 Assessments Due February 15, 2024

For 2024, BHA's assessments remained the same as last year. A home is $570.00, and a lot is $190.00. Please remember that BHA's 2024 assessments are due February 15, 2024. The mailed coupon contains an incorrect due date. BHA apologizes for the error and any confusion it may have caused.

BHA allows a 30-day grace period for assessments, so late fees and interest do not begin to accrue on outstanding balances until March 15, 2024. Thank you to all who have already paid! For any questions, contact Leigh Ann Fink at 910-457-4676, ext. 27 or LeighAnn@BaldHeadAssociation.com.

Don't miss!

• Love the wild.
• BHI native plant series feature — Coastal Redcedar.
• ARC — Updated lighting guidelines and ARC's 2023 stats.
• Monthly ARC Quiz.
• President's Letter.
• 2024 BHA annual assessments.
• Keeping data secure.
• BHI's lending library.
• Monthly contributors — the Village of BHI, Old Baldy Foundation and the BHI Conservancy.
• Plus much more!

Due to flooding in BHA's Association Center,

all activities are being temporarily relocated during renovations. For the latest updates, check our online event calendar for location information.

Bees, Birds and Butterflies Presentation

Tuesday, February 27

1:00-2:00pm

BHI Conservancy's Fleming Room

The BHI Garden Club will host coastal scientist Allison Polinski and coastal educator Heather Bariso at the Fleming Room of the BHI Conservancy (700 Federal Road) on Tuesday, February 27, from 1:00-2:00pm. They'll be discussing the various pollinators (bees, birds and butterflies) and the flowering plants that are native to our Island. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Barbara Giera at barbara.giera@gmail.com or Grace Valentine at gracevalentine@verizon.net.

BHI Conservancy Hosts

"Shew’s Natural Treasures: The Coastal Plain of Southeastern North Carolina"

Thursday, February 29, 6:00-9:00pm

The Bald Head Island Conservancy is hosting Roger Shew, senior lecturer of geology at UNCW’s Department of Earth & Ocean Sciences, and Jess Bradley, Director of Media Productions UNCW, to showcase the new documentary "Shew's Natural Treasures: The Coastal Plain of Southeastern North Carolina." There will be a Q&A with Roger Shew and film director, Jesse Bradley, after the film.

Doors open at 5:30pm. The event will be held at BHI Conservancy's Fleming Environmental Education Center (700 Federal Rd). The event is FREE, but registration is needed at this link. Contact info@bhic.org for additional information.

Garden Club Field Trip to Shelton Herb Farm

Wednesday, March 13

8:30am Ferry / 10:00am Tour

RSVP by Monday, March 4

The Garden Club is back in action on Wednesday, March 13, taking a field trip to Shelton Herb Farm! You'll tour the farm and make your own herb container garden to bring home. The cost is only $40 and includes a 14” bowl, an assortment of herbs, potting soil and lots of instruction. Attendees should bring a bag lunch, a sun hat, garden gloves and a smock or apron. Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.

Attendees need to be at the farm by 10:00am, so folks should take the 8:30am passenger ferry. The plan is to carpool to Shelton Herb Farm in Leland, which takes about 30 minutes from Southport. The visit should last two hours. Then we plan to stay and eat our bag lunches on their picnic tables.

RSVP by Monday, March 4, to Barbara Giera (click HERE) or Grace Valentine (click HERE).

Picture Book Writing Retreat

May 3-5

Only 12 spaces available!

"Everyone has a story; what's yours?" Join Jenny Bowman, children's book author and editor for a

Picture Book Writing Retreat May 3-5. The retreat is open to 12 participants. Visit HERE to learn more about this special event on Bald Head Island. For questions, contact Betsi Stephen at betsistephen@gmail.com.

Yoga Classes

~ Classes are paused until Association Center reopens ~

Once yoga classes resume, they will continue to be taught by Pam Moulin 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.

BHI Transportation

Announces Deadline of March 31, 2024,

for 2-part ("Old") Paper Ferry Tickets

According to BHI Transportation's announcement:

Bald Head Island Transportation will STOP accepting two-part (“old”) paper tickets after March 31, 2024. "Old" Bulk 40 tickets (only) may be exchanged for a coupon code through March 31, 2024.

Starting April 1, 2024, only QR-coded “new” tickets and transferred or newly issued passes will be valid for ferry boarding.

Click HERE for the announcement. Click HERE for BHI Transportation's website.

BHA's Board of Directors invites property owners and others to join its monthly public meetings in person or remotely via Zoom. 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.

[NOTE: The day/time of Board meetings has changed.] The next BHA Board meeting public session is scheduled for Friday, March 22, 2023, at 10:00am. Stay tuned for location details.

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