The CURRENT

Week of

June 22, 2026

________________________ 

WELCOME to THE CURRENT, the weekly digital newsletter for the Town of Oak Island.

Since it first launched as a monthly publication in December 2020 and later shifted to a weekly publication in 2023, there have been 165 editions of The CURRENT. Each one started with a heartfelt message and a cover photo that showcased some of the most amazing scenery in the entire world, found right here in our own backyard.

This week we break that tradition, and use the cover photo and opening message to remember someone special, who for several years gave us the incredible images which brought each of those editions to life. 

Five years ago, Shawn Barry started working for the Town of Oak Island as a "part-time drone pilot." Admittedly, the Town's administrative staff at the time didn't fully know the potential for what such a position could achieve ... but Shawn did! He worked tirelessly to improve the technology, training, and recognition this vital resource needed to thrive in such a unique niche of public safety. Through his dedication and commitment to "Be Better" he transformed not only the way Oak Island serves its residents, but also helped to improve the training and understanding of UAS placement in agencies throughout our region and even across the nation.

From firefighters directed towards unseen hotspots, to lost children reunited with parents, and multiple swimmers caught in the grip of an unfamiliar current, there's no mistaking it; Shawn Barry saved lives!

This past Friday, June 19, following a courageous battle with cancer, Shawn Barry passed away at the age of 56.

In a statement to staff on Friday, Town Manager Kathryn Adams noted how "it is not very often we lose an active employee. Shawn was a dedicated public servant who gave so much of himself to this community. I have respectfully requested and received approval from Mayor Chris Brown, to have flags lowered to half-staff on all Town facilities."

From the entire Administration, Staff, and Elected Officials for the Town of Oak Island, Godspeed Shawn Barry.

*****

Thank you for taking the time to read this special introduction, as we take the time to honor someone who made them so special. Now, as Shawn would prefer, it's best to get on with business. And there's plenty of business to discuss, as dive into this week's edition of The CURRENT.

MEETINGS & CLOSURES

  • Business Advisory Board
  • Planning Board

NEWS & NOTICES

  • Beach Day Traffic Safety
  • Water Conservation Update
  • Stormwater Survey Work
  • Par 3: Greens Improvement Project
  • Leaf Collection Delay Update

JOIN THE TEAM

  • Board & Committee Openings
  • Job Opportunities

SAFETY BRIEF

  • Chop With A Cop
  • Car Seat Safety Checks

THIS WEEK AT THE REC

  • Recreation Center Schedule

UPCOMING EVENT FLYERS

  • Chop With A Cop
  • Beach Day 2026
  • Summer Concert Series
  • Dutchman Dinghy Dash

Meetings & Closures

Council & Board Meetings

  • BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 30 at 9:00 AM in the Training Room located on the 2nd floor of the Police Department at 4621 E Oak Island Drive.

  • PLANNING BOARD will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 30 at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers, located on the 2nd floor of Town Hall at 4601 E Oak Island Drive.

For full information on all Council, Board, and Committee meeting dates, visit the Meetings Information page at OakIslandNC.gov/MEETINGS or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE


Holidays & Closures

There are NO holiday closures for the week ahead. The next holiday closure will be on Friday, July 3, 2026 in observance of Independence Day.

Town Hall will also CLOSE EARLY on Wednesday, July 1 at NOON to allow for staff preparations on Beach Day.

  • Garbage & Recycling Collection will run as scheduled, though service may run slower than usual due to traffic and holiday volume
  • The Disposal Convenience Site will also be CLOSED on Friday & Saturday, July 3 & 4
  • Fire, Police, and other Emergency Services are always available by calling 9-1-1

To view all Holiday Closures, visit OakIslandNC.gov/HOLIDAY or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

News & Notices

Beach Day NEXT WEEK

The most exciting day of the year in Oak Island, BEACH DAY is next week on Wednesday, July 1. Celebrating the Town's founding, activities are scheduled throughout the entire day and ending in a spectacular Fireworks Display on the Oak Island Pier at 705 Ocean Drive.

Beach Day Fireworks Traffic Pattern

While Parks & Recreation have done a great job scheduling a full day of fun activities, the Town's Public Safety departments are working equally hard to ensure the day is a safe one as well, and offer the following reminders:

PARKING: As a reminder, Beach Day is a Town-sponsored event, meaning Paid Parking will NOT be enforced throughout the entire day in the Middleton Park Complex area, from SE 46th St - SE 49th St. All other areas will operate under normal enforcement. Paid Parking ends at 5:00 PM each day, and will NOT impact the Fireworks Display that evening (parking in all locations for this event will be first-come, first-served).

TRAFFIC: All vehicles should exit the Island using E Oak Island Drive -- DO NOT use side streets like Yacht Drive or Beach Drive for "shortcuts" as these will only slow traffic down when having to merge back onto E Oak Island Drive later to access either the Swain's Cut Bridge at Middleton Ave (NC 906) or the G.V. Barbee Bridge at Long Beach Rd (NC 133).

To learn more and help us to SHARE this information, just visit the Beach Day page at OakIslandNC.gov/BeachDay or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE


Stormwater Survey Work Notice

Starting on Monday, June 22, 2026, two survey crews from the Ardurra Group North Carolina (“Ardurra”) will be performing work to develop a Town-wide inventory of the existing stormwater system. This includes conducting a Stormwater Infrastructure Condition Assessment and a Stormwater Modeling Evaluation of the island portions of Town; which will also include preparing a Capital Improvement Plan focused on flood mitigation strategies.

As part of the assessment, Ardurra will be performing survey work on ALL of the Towns stormwater infrastructure, to include all ditches, pipes, outfalls, catch basins, and driveways. Workers in marked vehicles may be seen in the Town right-of-way (ROW) and other areas critical to managing stormwater runoff. These workers are gathering data to assess the condition of each stormwater asset, and are authorized by the Town of Oak Island to perform this work.

Stormwater Survey Fieldwork Zones Map

NOTE: Work will begin in Zone 3A as noted on the Field Work Map above, and proceed east through Zones 3 & 4 first, before moving on to Zone 2 and working westward. To ensure work is completed as safe and quickly as possible, please DO NOT stop or interrupt workers, to try to speak with them while performing their duties.

To learn more about this work, and he 5-Year Stormwater Master Plan it will support, just visit the dedicated page at OakIslandNC.gov/SWplan or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE


Water Conservation Reminder

As an important reminder, to ensure adequate water is available for essential needs, Brunswick County has declared a Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert. Despite recent rains, this alert is still in effect.

Water Conservation Alert Stage 1 Graphic

Brunswick County Public Utilities is asking customers to diligently use water wisely. Demand for water has exceeded 80% of the available production and distribution capacity. As Independence Day approaches, water demands are expected to increase. Under a Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert, water system customers are requested to make voluntary adjustments to their water usage habits to appreciably reduce peak demands. 

This Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert does not affect the use of private groundwater wells or those using highly treated reclaimed wastewater. (St. James, Winding River, Sea Trail, and Sandpiper Bay golf courses use reclaimed water. Other golf courses use wells and ponds for irrigation.)

To view the full notice, as provided by Brunswick County Public Utilities, just visit the OKInformation page at OakIslandNC.gov/NEWS or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE


Par 3 Greens Improvement Project

Oak Island Par 3 Golf is excited to share some new progress updates on an important Greens Improvement Project currently underway! Work has now begun on the greens at holes #2, #4, and #5, where new sod is being installed to enhance the playability and overall course conditions.

Par 3 Golf Course Project Update Graphic images of the golf greens being resurfaced

In addition to the greens themselves, surrounding areas are being carefully filled, leveled, and improved to create a more consistent and enjoyable experience.

Over the coming weeks, players can expect to see new sod being installed on the greens, as well as seeding and smoothing uneven areas nearby. During this time, temporary greens are in place on these holes so that play can continue with minimal disruption. These improvements lead a renewed commitment to investing in the long-term quality of the course, and will work to provide a more playable, marketable course in the weeks and months to come. 

To follow along with these updates, just visit the Par 3 Golf page at OakIslandNC.gov/GOLF or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE


Leaf Collection Delay Update

An even better update to the good news last week, regarding the unfortunate delay Leaf Collection Services. As of Monday, June 22, 2026, BOTH vacuum trucks have been repaired and returned to service!

Leaf Collection Delay Notice

With both trucks now back operating, and the extra effort from the Public Works Department utilizing additional personnel and heavy equipment, ALL Leaf Collection schedules are anticipated to be caught up by next week, conditions permitting.

A special thanks to the Public Works Department for their tireless, and often thankless efforts to minimize the impacts of this delay, especially during such a busy season for this work.

REMEMBER: You Can Help prevent costly and time-consuming repairs to these vacuum trucks! Please ensure no large, hard objects are left in the leaf piles, such as limbs, bricks, rocks, garbage, stumps, rebar, concrete, lawn equipment, golf clubs, stolen street signs [NOTE: all of these are REAL items which have been found before!] and other heavy items which regularly damage of the collection trucks.

To learn more and help SHARE this information, just visit the Public Works Department page at OakIslandNC.gov/PW or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Join The Team

Board & Committee Openings

The Oak Island Town Council is now accepting Committee Applications(PDF, 1MB) from interested persons for the following appointed Boards & Committees:

  • Environmental Advisory Committee (1 unexpired term ending June 2027 and 2 terms expiring June 2029)
  • Board of Adjustment (1 Alternate term expiring March 2029)
  • Brunswick County Airport Commission (1 term expiring June 2030)
  • Planning Board (2 Alternate terms)

Appointments may be made at the July 14, 2026, Council meeting. Please submit applications to the Deputy Town Clerk by Friday, July 3, 2026 at NOON, either in-person at 4601 E Oak Island Drive, or via email by clicking the link below.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS


Job Opportunities

The Town of Oak Island is committed to providing municipal services to all residents & visitors in a professional, timely manner. That means having the right people in the right places to achieve success as a team!

Now Hiring Job Listings Graphic showing the Town Logo and Town Hall, with a listing of open job positions below

Currently the Town is accepting Applications for Employment for the following positions:

To learn more about these listings, or to apply for other opportunities as they become available, just visit the Job Openings page at OakIslandNC.gov/JOBS or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Safety Brief

Chop With A Cop

LAST CALL to BURY THE HATCHET!! This week on Tuesday, June 23 starting at 10:00 AM the Oak Island Police Department's popular Chop With A Cop program will return to Throw Baxe Axe House & Board Game Lounge in Southport.

Chop-With-a-Cop-Slide.jpg

Now in its fourth year, this innovative and exciting event invites area teens to join with local law enforcement agencies in a time of fun axe throwing competition, in which participants are paired with local law enforcement and first responders.

Pre-registration is required, so sign up TODAY at OakIslandNC.gov/PROGRAMS or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE


Car Seat Safety Checks

Also this week on Thursday, June 25 from 9:00 AM - NOON, the Oak Island Police Department will be conducting Child Car Seat Safety Checks at the Southport Walmart, located at 1675 N Howe Street in Southport NC.

Car-Seat-Checks.jpg

Come join the Oak Island Police Department, as we partner with Southport Walmart and several local safety agencies to offer these FREE Child Car Seat Safety Checks. No registration or appointment is needed, just come by and make sure your children are riding safe!

To view and share this event, visit the Town Events page at OakIslandNC.gov/EVENTS or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

"This Week At The Rec"

"This Week At The Rec"

Provided below is a listing of the fitness programs, education classes, and events happening at the Oak Island Recreation Center, located at 3003 E Oak Island Drive. For questions or additional information, contact the Recreation Department at 910-278-5518.


Monday, June 22

  • Recreation Center
    • 9:00 AM: SilverSneakers Fitness with Maggie
    • 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Art Creations Day Camp (pre-registration required)
    • 10:15 AM SilverSneakers Cardio Dance with Vicki
    • 11:15 AM: Gentle Yoga with Mert
    • 4:00 PM Multi-fit with Claire
    • 5:00 PM Dance Lessons with Casey
    • 6:00 PM Barre with Suzanne
  • Middleton Park Complex
    • 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM Farmers Market
  • Oak Island Pier
    • 8:00 AM Pier Yoga (pre-registration required)
  • Cape Fear Yacht Club
    • 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Sailing Camp (pre-registration required)
  • Ocean Education Center
    • 10:00AM – 2:00 PM Open
  • Middleton Park Racquet Courts
    • 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Tennis Academy (Pre-registration required)

Tuesday, June 23

  • Recreation Center Fitness Classes
    • 8:30 AM: SilverSneakers Classic Fitness with Susan
    • 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Art Creations Day Camp (pre-registration required)
    • 9:30 AM: Gentle Yoga with Mert
    • 11:00 AM: Qigong, Breath & Movement with Jude
    • 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Line Dancing Club
    • 6:00 PM: Barre with Suzanne
  • Cape Fear Yacht Club
    • 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Sailing Camp (pre-registration required)
  • Kayak Tour
    • 10:00 AM Kayak Tour with Parks & Recreation (pre-registration required)
  • Ocean Education Center
    • 10:00AM – 2:00 PM Open
  • Middleton Park Racquet Courts
    • 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Tennis Academy (Pre-registration required)

Wednesday, June 24

  • Recreation Center Fitness Classes
    • 8:00 AM SilverSneakers Strength and Tone with Vicki
    • 9:00 AM: SilverSneakers Stability with Mary Beth
    • 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Art Creations Day Camp (pre-registration required)
    • NOON Zumba with Emily
    • 1:00 PM Craft Class (pre – registration required)
    • 4:30 PM Multi Fit with Claire
  • Cape Fear Yacht Club
    • 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Sailing Camp (pre-registration required)
  • Ocean Education Center
    • 10:00AM – 2:00 PM Open
  • Nature Center
    • 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Open
  • Middleton Park Racquet Courts
    • 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Tennis Academy (Pre-registration required)

Thursday, June 25

  • Recreation Center
    • 8:00 AM Total Body Blast with Mary Beth
    • 9:00 AM SilverSneakers Circuit with Maggie
    • 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Art Creations Day Camp (pre-registration required)
    • 5:00 PM Zumba with Emily
    • 6:00 PM Barre with Suzanne
  • Excursions
    • 8:30 AM Carolina Beach State Park (pre-registration required)
  • Cape Fear Yacht Club
    • 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Sailing Camp (pre-registration required)
  • 801 Event Center
    • 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Story Time by the Sea (Free with Pre-registration)
  • Nature Center
    • 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Open
  • Middleton Park Racquet Courts
    • 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Tennis Academy (Pre-registration required)

Friday, June 26

  • Recreation Center
    • 9:00 AM SilverSneakers Classic Fitness with Susan
    • 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Art Creations Day Camp (pre-registration required)
    • 4:30 PM Multi Fit with Claire
  • Cape Fear Yacht Club
    • 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Sailing Camp (pre-registration required)
  • Nature Center
    • 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Open
  • Nature Canter
    • 2:00 PM Book Club Meeting
  • Middleton Park Racquet Courts
    • 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Tennis Academy (Pre-registration required)
  • Middleton Park Complex
    • 6:30 PM Summer Concert with Too Much Sylvia

Saturday, June 27

  • Recreation Center fitness classes
    • 10:00 AM: Community Yoga with rotating instructors
    • 11:30 AM: Barre w/ Suzanne
  • Oak Island Pier
    • 8:00 AM Pier yoga with rotating instructors

Monday, June 29

  • Recreation Center
    • 9:00 AM: SilverSneakers Fitness with Maggie
    • 10:15 AM SilverSneakers Cardio Dance with Vicki
    • 11:15 AM: Senior Yoga with Mert
    • 4:00 PM Multi-fit with Claire
    • 5:00 PM Dance Lessons with Casey
    • 6:00 PM Barre with Suzanne
  • Middleton Park Complex
    • 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM Farmers Market
  • Oak Island Pier
    • 8:00 AM Pier Yoga (pre-registration required)
  • Ocean Education Center
    • 10:00AM – 2:00 PM Open

              To view and register for any Recreation Center programs, visit OakIslandNC.gov/PROGRAMS or click the link below.

              CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE


              Upcoming Event Flyers

              Click on the graphic below for more information, or to download and print your own!


              THANK YOU

              ____________________ 

              Thank you for reading this edition of THE CURRENT, and choosing to stay informed on the News & Events happening in Oak Island, NC.

              This information is produced by the Town of Oak Island Communications Office and is intended for information and educational purposes only. Any perceived endorsement or promotion of third-party products, services, or organizations is unintentional. For more information on any of the departments or services provided by the Town of Oak Island, call 910-278-5011, or email info@oakislandnc.gov.


              PAST EDITION ARCHIVE

              DID YOU KNOW? The CURRENT, hasn't always been a weekly publication. Originally produced as an award-winning digital monthly newsletter, The CURRENT published 35 editions, spanning a period of three years from from December 2020 to 2023. As a monthly publication, The CURRENT provided longer form, "magazine style" reading, along with added commentary, and content contributed from community partners.

              Past editions of both the weekly and monthly formats are available to view anytime, by clicking the links below.