12 minute read
WHAT’S HAPPENED
Each year McLeod Health recognizes years of service of all employees that have a landmark anniversary. Honorees included employees that have been a member of the McLeod Health team for a minimum of five years to and as many as 45 years. On November 4 and 5 McLeod Loris and McLeod Seacoast hosted luncheons to show their gratitude for employees with 20+ years of service. McLeod Loris staff members celebrating 35 years included: Vice President of Patient Services Nancy Barnes, Director of Lab Services Karen Gore and Pharmacy Technician Ginger Owens. McLeod Loris staff members celebrating 40 years include: Radiology EKG Technician Sobra Watts, Radiology Office Coordinator Sherri Wilson and Physical Therapy Department Secretary Tammy Wright. McLeod Seacoast staff members celebrated with 35 years included: Assistant Vice President Quality and Safety Linda Johnson, Business Services Transcriptionist Debbie Tyler, Respiratory Therapist Kenneth Vaught and RN in Same Day Surgery Patty Wade. McLeod Physician Associates also honored their employees for their years of service. Practice Administrator Abby Hewitt was celebrated for 25 years of service.
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Calabash Elks Lodge Donates to Brunswick Family Assistance
Thanks to the generosity of their members and friends and the members of their Ladies Auxiliary, Calabash Elks Lodge donated 1,344 pounds of nonperishable food to the Brunswick Family Assistance’s (BFA) Food Pantry to help local food-insecure residents during the holiday season. All the food was collected during the lodge’s Holiday Food Drive Contest, which was a competition between the lodge members and their Ladies Auxiliary to see which group could collect the most food. A friendly wager was involved, with the Ladies proclaimed as the contest’s winner, but the real winner was the BFA and local residents.
Brunswick Arts Council Announces NC Cares for Arts Reimbursement Awards and BAC Grassroots Grant
Brunswick Arts Council awarded $163,737.36 in grants to 23 Brunswick County arts organizations and businesses through the North Carolina Art Council’s NC CARES for ARTS grants. Funds are awarded to support ongoing operating expenses, salaries, utilities, rent, etc. for these arts businesses. Brunswick Arts Council also awarded $31,401 in awards to 12 Brunswick County arts organizations and community groups through the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Program grants. Funds will be used to support various arts activities in 2021.
Golfers turned out to support Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce at the Carolina National Golf Club on December 4. The Southport-Oak Island Golf Classic is a fundraising event for the Southport Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit, membership-based organization focused on creating business opportunities. The December tournament was postponed from its usual May date due to COVID-19 restrictions. Outdoor activities like golf have social distancing naturally built into the sport and can be enjoyed, even in groups, without any close physical interaction among players. However, working with the professionals at Carolina National Golf Club, changes were made to make the event safer including pre-loading box lunches and drinks in the carts and eliminating the awards ceremony. On the course, employees from First National Bank in Southport distributed hand sanitizer. This year the tournament added a chipping game prior to the start and during the event. The “Chip a Shot Into the Pot” was both challenging and entertaining as individuals attempted to chip into a toilet donated by Moffitt Builders, LLC. The winner, Cody Kratzer, a member of Frank Institute team, was the only one who was able to keep the ball in the bowl. Kratzer won an electric grill from BEMC and a case of toilet paper. Each player who attempted received a Moon Pie for their efforts. The organizing committee for the event included co-chairs Adam Powell, AAMS, Edward Jones and Ben Frazier, The State Port Pilot and committee members Randy Moffitt, Moffitt Builders and Joe Biernat, Joe’s Golf Simulator. The committee expressed appreciation to all its sponsors and volunteers including Platinum Sponsors: Frank Institute, BEMC and Rudd Sold – Brooke Rudd-Gaglie of Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS. A special thanks to Jeff Phieffer and Carolina National Golf Club Staff for their support.
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Winners in this year’s tournament were:
1st Place in the Championship Flight went to the Allen Kinney Electrical Team: Allen Kinney, Timmy Robinette, Pat Cullifer and Gerald Harrington
First Flight: Farm Bureau Insurance Team: Ken White, Joe Yalch, Adam Byrd and Jamie Perritt
Mixed Flight: Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS Team: Margaret & Al Bishop, Mike Reaves and Pat Goodman
Ladies Flight: Rivermist Creekers Team: Michelle Taylor, Deb Sullivan, Annette Prout and Debbie Bjorkman
Winners for the Closest to the Pin prizes: Timmy Dean, Pat Goodman, Brian Frank, Gene Duckworth, Susan Morrison and Cori Booth
Ribbon Cutting for Pink Flamingo Resale Shop
On December 4 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce and local officials took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house celebration for Pink Flamingo Resale Shop. The business is located at 6692 Beach Drive in Ocean Isle Beach.
Southport-Oak Island Chamber Announces Annual Award Winners
In the spring of 2020 Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce accepted nominations for its annual business awards: Small Business of the Year, Small Business Customer Service of the Year and Nonprofit Organization of the Year. Once nominated, the qualifying business or nonprofit was required to submit a nomination packet, which was then presented to April Scott, director of Brunswick Community College Small Business Center, for her review and recommendations. The winners were scheduled to be unveiled at the chamber’s Annual Meeting in June, but with COVID-19 safety restrictions the chamber postponed the announcement with hopes of gathering at a later date. Later Kim Felts, 2020/2021 chamber president, took to Facebook Live to present the awards to the winners.
• Small Business of the Year: Island Spas and Pools on Oak
Island
• Small Business Customer Service of the Year: Moore Street
Market in Southport
• Nonprofit of the Year: Associated Artists of Southport at the
Franklin Square Gallery
Beginning in February 2021, you may nominate a business or nonprofit by visiting the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce’s website at chambersmallbusinessawards.com.
The North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service announced the 2020 Governor’s Service Award recipients, with both the Dosher Memorial Hospital Volunteers and Ann Hollingsworth, vice president of the Dosher Volunteers, being among the honorees. The Governor’s Volunteer Service Award honors people who have shown concern and compassion for their neighbors by making a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service. The award was created in the Office of the Governor in 1979. More than 170 members of the community volunteer at Dosher, where they have given generously of their time for more than 50 years. The Dosher Volunteers provide service and support in multiple areas, which include the Emergency Department, Surgical Services and Physical Therapy along with answering the phones in the Patient Care Unit, Patient Registration, and Dosher Clinics. Through raising funds in both the Dosher Flea Market and the hospital gift store,
the Dosher Volunteers have given more than $2 million as an organization to Dosher Hospital used for programs and equipment that enhance patient care.
Hollingsworth received a standalone award, selected not only for her service to Dosher but also for her participation in volunteer initiatives within the community of Boiling Spring Lakes. As quoted from Hollingsworth’s nomination, “In many ways, Ann is the face of the Dosher Volunteers. She has volunteered at Dosher since 2004 and is a favorite with patients and visitors. Even those who do not know her name will reference ‘the lady with the hats’ when complimenting the service they receive at Dosher. She is not only the vice president of the organization, she is a familiar face at the main reception desk and helps patients, visitors and vendors find their way and get what they need.” Since the onset of the COVID pandemic, the hospital has minimized their volunteer headcount and closed the Flea Market to the public, for the safety of all. Everyone looks forward to the day that it is safe to bring this most valued group of individuals back on board at full capacity.
Rivers Edge Veterans Association Provides Scholarship Support for Brunswick Community College Students
Dosher Memorial Hospital and Medical Clinics have been named 2020 Guardian of Excellence Award® winners by Press Ganey, in three separate areas:
• Guardian of Excellence for Patient Experience in the Emergency
Department
• Guardian of Excellence for Patient Experience in the Dosher
Medical Practices
• Guardian of Excellence for Quality for hospital services
The Guardian of Excellence Award recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations that have achieved the 95th percentile or above for performance in the area in which they have been recognized. The Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award is a nationally recognized symbol of achievement in healthcare. Presented annually, the award honors clients who consistently sustained performance in the top 5% for each reporting period during the course of one year. Dosher’s commitment to quality and patient experience is supported through a number of dedicated individuals who have made it their mission to deliver excellent care through every phase of a patient encounter and to seek ways to create continual improvement. According to Dosher CEO Dr. Brad Hilaman, the awards represent an important recognition from the industry’s leader in measuring, understanding and improving the delivery of care.
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The Brunswick Community College Foundation is excited to announce that Rivers Edge Veterans Association (REVA) has once again provided scholarship support to a deserving Brunswick Community College (BCC) student. This year’s recipient is Lori Fitzgerald, a first year associate’s degree nursing student. Since its inception, REVA’s focus has been on improving the lives of local veterans and their families, including support for qualifying BCC students. The deserving student must be a veteran, a family member of veteran or a descendant of a veteran. REVA started the scholarship fund in 2019 because they felt there was a need to support veteran students. Members understand how difficult it can be to continue an education while starting a career and/or a family when they return to civilian life. REVA was organized in September 2016 by Nick Micale, who had the vision to form an association with a mission to foster camaraderie among Rivers Edge veterans and to give assistance to veterans in need via local veteran support organizations. REVA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established by military veterans who are residents or property owners in the Rivers Edge Golf and Plantation community in Shallotte.
The nonprofit Ocean Isle Museum Foundation, Inc. (OIMF) announced that Amanda Martin of Shallotte won a Toyota RAV4 in their fundraising raffle. OIMF sold 600 tickets at $100 apiece for the chance to win a 2021 Toyota RAV4 XLE SUV. The winning ticket was drawn on January 8, 2021. Martin is a CT Technologist. Given the challenges of 2020, OIMF thought it fitting and wonderful that their winner happened to be a
professional healthcare worker. Martin had just finished working 13 consecutive shifts and was getting ready for shift number 14 when she got the news about winning the car. OIMF would like to thank Dunning Toyota/Subaru of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and especially Julie Dunning and Alan Cantor, who vacation on Ocean Isle Beach and have been true supporters of the foundation and its work. This type of contest is not something that OIMF typically engages in. However, with the Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium closed for so many months due to COVID-19, the OIMF fundraising committee and the board of trustees agreed to step out of the box and give away a car. OIMF would like to offer its sincere thanks to everyone who supported the Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium by buying a ticket.
Doctor Michael L. Cahn Opens New Private Practice Location
Michael L. Cahn, MD FACS DABVLM announces the opening of his new private practice located at 4222 Long Beach Road SE in Southport. Locals may know the building as Dosher Medical Plaza,
Dr. Dan Spagnoli and his experienced dental team offer formerly Dosher Urgent Care. Dr. Cahn resigned from Vein Clinics of state-of-the-art treatment for wisdom tooth discomfort America earlier this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic with the goal of at the Oral and Maxiliofacial Surgery Center in Supply, NC. opening a new practice specializing in the modern treatment of uncomfortable and embarrassing varicose and spider veins without scarring or downtime. As a general surgeon, Dr. Cahn also specializes in outpatient, same-day surgeries for patients in southeastern North Carolina and surrounding areas. Dr. Cahn says it is important to know that the COVID-19 pandemic has both indirect and direct effects on the vascular system. People who have been following stay at home guidelines likely have been sitting for longer periods of time than normal circumstances and are therefore more symptomatic. In addition, We are now offering people who have contracted COVID-19 virtual consultations. are at higher risk of blood clots and a potentially life-threatening condition Call to see if you called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
qualify for this offer.
Emma Snapp Named N.C. State American Legion JROTC Cadet of the Year
Eat, Drink, and Smile Confidently with Brunswick Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
910-269-2420
Dental Implants Tooth Extractions Deep IV sedation General Anesthesia Financing Options Intraoral Scanning New Technology to New Technology to Prevent Dry Sockets Friendly and Caring Staff All Insurances Filed 90 Medical Center Drive SW Supply, NC 28462 - brunswickoralsurgery.com
South Brunswick High School Cougar Battalion Executive Officer, Cadet Major Emma Snapp, has been named the North Carolina State American Legion JROTC Cadet of the Year. Cadet Major Snapp was selected based on her activities in Americanism, Citizenship, Youth Activities, Community Involvement, Participation in JROTC Programs, Award and Decorations, Physical Fitness Scores and Duty Positions held.
