Dare County Newsletter - July 2025

All Dare County offices and facilities will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2025 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. These scheduled holiday closures include the Dare County C&D Landfill, Manns Harbor Transfer Station, Buxton Transfer Station and Manteo Recycle Yard. 

However, Dare County Public Works—which only provides trash collection for the unincorporated areas of Dare County as well as the Town of Kitty Hawk—has announced that there will be no changes to the Dare County residential and commercial trash collection schedule for the week of Independence Day 2025. 

All areas whose trash collection and sanitation services are provided by Dare County Public Works will therefore operate on their normal schedule during the week of Monday, June 30, 2025 through Saturday, July 5, 2025.

To view a list of trash collection schedules for the unincorporated areas of Dare County and the Town of Kitty Hawk, please visit DareNC.gov/Trash or click the button below. Dare County wishes our residents, property owners and visitors a safe holiday weekend! 

Deputy County Manager: Broadening Oversight in Community Services

Sheila Davies, PhD, has been named Deputy County Manager, assuming oversight of several additional departments and services, including Library Services and Parks and Recreation. This expanded role encompasses programs such as Older Adult Services, Friends of Youth and Transportation. She will continue serving as Dare County’s Director of Health & Human Services. By integrating these departments under unified leadership, the county aims to enhance coordination and efficiency in delivering essential services to the community.

Assistant County Manager: Integrating Public Works, Planning and Procurement

Dustin Peele will serve as Assistant County Manager and has expanded his responsibilities to include oversight of the Dare County Public Works and Dare County Planning departments. He will continue to serve as the county’s project manager and oversee the county's purchasing operations. This consolidation is designed to streamline infrastructure development and procurement processes, ensuring that projects are executed effectively and resources are utilized optimally.

These leadership enhancements reflect Dare County’s commitment to responsive governance and the continuous improvement of services that impact residents’ daily lives.

Dare County, in partnership with Dare County Schools, will host a groundbreaking ceremony beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 for the new Dare County Early College, a transformative educational initiative that will provide local students the opportunity to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate degree or career certification.

The groundbreaking event will be held at the future site of the new Early College facility, which will be constructed on the College of The Albemarle  (COA) – Dare Campus in Manteo. Members of the Dare County community are invited to attend the ceremony to celebrate the beginning of this exciting new chapter in Dare County education.

Parking is currently limited on the COA-Dare Campus, so guests are requested to park in the lot on the north side of the campus, enter through the main COA-Dare building, and walk across the lawn to reach the construction site. 

Construction of the Dare County Early College is currently expected to be completed in the winter of 2026. The first class of 57 rising ninth-grade students—the Class of 2029— will begin classes on the College of The Albemarle Dare Campus during the upcoming school year while the Early College building is constructed. To learn more about the Dare County Early College project, please click here to visit the Dare County Schools website or visit DareNC.gov/Projects and click on "partner projects."

The Dare County Board of Commissioners will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025 at 9 a.m. The meeting will take place in the commissioners meeting room, which is adjacent to the Dare County Administration Building located at 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo. The agenda packet for the July 14, 2025 meeting will be available on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 and can then be accessed online at DareNC.gov/BOC. 

Monday, July 14, 2025

Dare County will host a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house event on Monday, July 14, 2025 beginning at 3 p.m. to celebrate the recent completion and official grand opening of Dare County EMS Station 8, located at 6677 Highway 64/264 in Manns Harbor. 

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, an open house will be held until 6:30 p.m., providing members of the community an opportunity to tour the new Dare County EMS facility. During this time, the newly renovated Manns Harbor Volunteer Fire Department and the Manns Harbor Community Center will also be open for touring. 

In addition to self-guided tours, the open house portion of the EMS event will also feature Dare County EMS ambulance displays, “Stop the Bleed” training, “Hands Only” CPR training, free blood pressure checks, and various educational handouts and children’s activities provided by Dare County EMS personnel. Light refreshments will also be served.

The newly constructed facility in Manns Harbor is the fourth new Dare County EMS station to be completed during Dare County’s multiphase project through which outdated EMS facilities are being modernized to better serve the residents and visitors of our community. For more detailed information about these projects, please visit DareNC.gov/EMSProjects or click the button below.

July is National Parks and Recreation Month! In celebration of this occasion, Dare County invites residents, visitors and property owners from throughout the community to attend the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s second annual Family Fun in the Park Block Party on Friday, July 18, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

This free event—which will feature a cookout, inflatable water slide, games, scavenger hunts and emergency services vehicle displays, among many other activities—will take place in a loop along Mustian Street and within Aviation Park in Kill Devil Hills. 

The fun begins at the Veterans Drive entrance to Family Recreation Park (between the baseball fields), where participants will pick up a map that can be stamped at each stop and returned when finished for entry to win several prizes. Bring your family, friends and neighbors for an unforgettable evening of fun and community spirit. This is a free event, and everyone in the community is invited to attend!

Attendees are encouraged to park at First Flight Elementary School, which is located at 107 Veterans Drive in Kill Devil Hills. The parking lot at Family Recreation Park will be roped off for emergency services vehicle displays and pedestrians.

For more information about the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s 2025 Family Fun Block Party on Friday, July 18, 2025—including an event flyer, map, and list of participating organizations and activities—please visit DareNC.gov/BlockParty or click the button below.

Do you have an old cell phone, tablet, iPod or other mobile electronic device you no longer use but don’t want to simply toss in the trash? Consider donating it to a great cause instead! 

For the past four years, the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council has partnered with Cell Phones for Soldiers—a national nonprofit organization that provides free communication services and emergency financial assistance to active-duty military members and veterans—to collect old cell phones, tablets, MP3 players and various accessories from the Dare County community.

Since its founding in 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers has delivered more than 450 million minutes of talk time to active-duty service members and veterans, which is funded through the responsible recycling of over 25 million donated cell phones and mobile devices.

To date, the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council has collected 408 cell phones, 76 charges, 17 accessories, seven tablets and two iPods for the program. All cell phone types are accepted—including smartphones, flip phones and slider phones—as are a variety of accessories, such as chargers and cases. 

Donated devices are accepted regardless of their brand, type and physical condition—including those that are no longer operational—and they are wiped clear of any personal data before being refurbished and provided to active-duty service members or veterans in need or responsibly recycled to minimize environmental impacts. 

Those who would like to donate an old cell phone or tablet but would prefer to clear data from the device before dropping it off can find instructions for how to do so at CellPhonesForSoldiers.com.

Drop-off boxes are conveniently located at the following Dare County facilities:

Dare County Administration Building (954 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo)

Virginia S. Tillett Community Center (950 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo)

Thomas A. Baum Senior Center (300 Mustian Street in Kill Devil Hills)

Hatteras Library (57689 N.C. Highway 12 in Hatteras Village)

For more information about the Cell Phones for Soldiers program—including the answers to several frequently asked questions—please visit CellPhonesForSoldiers.com or click the button below.

July 31, 2025 marks International Lifeguard Appreciation Day—a perfect opportunity for Dare County to recognize and celebrate the incredible individuals who keep our shorelines safe every day. Whether you’re a year-round resident or a summertime visitor, you’ve likely seen local lifeguards standing watch, scanning the horizon and always ready to respond at a moment’s notice. 

These dedicated life-saving professionals do far more than just rescue swimmers in distress—they also help educate the public about beach and ocean safety, share important updates and alerts, monitor frequently changing conditions, and serve as the first responders on-scene in many emergency situations. Their vigilance is the backbone of beach and ocean safety, and we are immensely grateful for their service!

To all of our local lifeguards who patrol the shores from Duck to Hatteras: Thank you for your dedication and your unwavering commitment to keeping Dare County beachgoers safe this season! 

Want to learn more about beach and ocean safety on the Outer Banks or find out where local lifeguards are stationed throughout the county? Click the button below or visit LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com, your go-to resource for daily beach condition reports, safety tips, rip current information and much more.

Dare County, in partnership with Current TV, has released a new video titled, “Navigating Hatteras Island on Golf Carts and LSVs,” which was created in response to increased public interest and questions regarding where golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSVs) can legally be driven on roadways in Dare County—as well as the rules and regulations that are currently in place for those who are permitted to operate them, per North Carolina law.   

Part of Dare County’s continued efforts to enhance and improve public safety for the residents and visitors of the Hatteras Island community, the video addresses a series of common questions by providing clear, concise and easy-to-understand information on golf cart and LSV use in Dare County. To view the video on Dare County’s YouTube channel, please click the button below.

As America approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2026, Dare County is proud to join communities across the nation in commemorating this historic milestone. With a focus on honoring our shared history, fostering education and celebrating cultural achievements, Dare County’s America 250 celebrations will showcase the unique contributions of our region to the broader story of the United States.

Dare County's A250 Committee has created a website for visitors and residents to learn about historically important places and events in the Outer Banks. Explore the pivotal events, places and voices—both historical and modern—that make our county the "Land of Beginnings," from the first in flight to the first life-saving station.

This initial launch of the A250 website marks the beginning of an evolving resource that will continue to be updated as plans are developed and events are finalized leading up to the 250th celebration in 2026.

Meet Onyx, our Outer Banks SPCA Pet of the Week! This handsome boy is 1.5 years old and was sadly surrendered into the care of the Outer Banks SPCA after his family lost their housing. Onyx grew up surrounded by love, living with multiple young children and knowing what it felt like to truly be part of a family.

Onyx is an active, energetic and adventurous guy who's always ready to explore and make the most of every day. He loves car rides and playing with toys, and he gets along well with kids and other dogs. Onyx is smart, loving and eager to find a new forever home where he can feel like family again!

Are you ready to meet Onyx and see if he's the perfect furry fit for your family? Click here to watch a video produced by Current TV, or stop by the Outer Banks SPCA, (which is located within the Dare County Animal Shelter at 378 Airport Road in Manteo) anytime during the hours listed below for a meet and greet!

Outer Banks SPCA Adoption Hours:

Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for naptime)
Saturday & Sunday: By appointment only