South Brunswick Magazine Spring Edition 2021 by southbrunswickmagazine

Spring 2021 Spring 2021 || SouthBrunswickMagazine.com SouthBrunswickMagazine.com

WITH THE UNDERDOGS Holden Beach’s Rasta Rocket holds its own on National Geographic Channel’s Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks. C O M PL IM E N TA RY

SURFER GIRL BELLA FAIRCLOTH

FIDDLER CURTIS LEE

USCG STATION OAK ISLAND

Get your smile back.

If you are self-conscious because you have missing teeth, wear dentures that slip and move or don't want to have good tooth structure removed to make a bridge, talk to your dentist to see if dental implants are an option for you. Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to blend in with your other teeth. They are an excellent long-term option for restoring your smile. In fact, the development and use of implants is one of the biggest advances in dentistry in the past 40 years.

If you would like to explore all the ways dental implants are improving patients’ lives, please contact us for a free consultation.

Sunset

 910.535.6300  688

|  SunsetDental.com Sunset Blvd. North, Sunset Beach

 910.457.5026  621

|  SouthportDentalCare.com A Fodale Ave. Southport, NC

Making more smiles, together.

WE GET RESULTS! DON'T make a MOVE WITHOUT US!

BURT

LYNDA

BARBRA WAND

BOBBI-DIAZ WELCH

BRENDA MITCHELL

BUTCH WILLETT

DANNY CLEMONS

DANNY DULIN

EDIE SURRATT

GERRY HARDEE

MIKE BRENNAN

RONNIE RUSSELL

JACKI-POWER BROOME

LIBBA MOTSINGER

MICHELLE ROBSON

MONICA BAXTER

NEIL CASSTEVENS

RANDI COSTE

REBECCA KELLY

SUSAN STOMAN

TINA HANNABASS

CHARLENE COLE

JENNA KAZMIERCZAK

LINDY MAUNEY

LONDON SCIALDONE

STEVE MARENS

TONY DEAL

GUY & PATH ROTH

NOW 3 LOCATIONS FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS! 300 Country Club Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 910-250-1916

8001 E. Oak Island Drive Oak Island, NC 28465 910-933-6144

514 N. Howe Street Southport, NC 28461 910-363-4989

Complete Dental Care for the Whole Family Accepting New Patients! Complimentary second opinion • Complimentary Implant Consultation

Call us for Specials

No Insurance, No problem! 3 Convenient Locations to Serve You

1215 W Gate Dr Suite 180, Leland, NC 28451 (910) 663-1223 301 S Willis Dr, Shallotte, NC 28470 (910) 754-7700 1124 Gallery Park Blvd, Wilmington, NC 28412 (910) 218-1222

YOURCOMPLETEDENTAL.COM

COMPLETE

D E N TA L

THERE’S NO

REPLACEMENT FOR EXPERIENCE.

TRUST THE JOINT REPLACEMENT SPECIALISTS AT EMERGEORTHO.

Emerge Stronger. Better. Healthier.

The board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic specialists at EmergeOrtho perform nearly 3,000 joint replacements every year—the third highest volume in the United States. And the majority of them are done on an outpatient basis. Studies show high volumes of surgery are associated with better patient outcomes, so call us for a consultation. Because the more experienced your orthopedic surgeon, the better your surgery experience.

E MER G E O RT H O. CO M | 9 10. 3 3 2 . 3 8 0 0 © EmergeOrtho 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

D FEATURES

FEATURES

SPRING 2021 D VOLUME 12, ISSUE 3

PHOTO BY JASON SHANAHAN

78 42 FISHING WITH THE UNDERDOGS

Holden Beach’s Rasta Rocket holds its own on National Geographic Channel’s Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks. By Dennis Hetzel

54 FIDDLE ME THIS

South Brunswick Magazine

PHOTO BY REGINA LYNN

Bluegrass pioneer and fivetime national fiddle champion Curtis Lee, a resident of Carolina Shores with his wife, Ruth, is still heating up crowds with his fast fiddling. By Ashley Daniels

60 ONE IF BY LAND, TWO IF BY SEA

At Never Ever Boards in Oak Island, selling skateboards, paddleboards and surfboards helps owner Matt Troetti give back to the community. By Kathy Blake

78 SURFER GIRL

Holden Beach grom Bella Faircloth rides a wave of success. By Melissa Slaven Warren

Let Spring

Bloom Your local source for all of your garden & landscape needs Landscape Design & maintenance Garden Center | Gift Shop | Hardscape Design

WINNER

“Best Garden Shop” “Best Outdoor Shopping Experience” - People’s Choice Awards 2021

“Best Feel Good Store” - Southport Magazine 2019

Call today or stop by!  (910) 477-6024  1200 North Howe St. Southport, NC  allinbloomlandscape.com

 Like us on Facebook

Join Our VIP Club!

Get 10% off Your entire purchase! Text Bloom

to 22452

Spring 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IN EVERY ISSUE

DEPARTMENTS

16 PUBLISHER’S NOTE

27 SPIRITS

18 CONTRIBUTORS

Very Berry Infused Vodka By Sandi Grigg

21 WHAT’S HAPPENED

28 WHAT’S COOKIN’

32 ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

37 SPORTS

What’s been going on around town

Extras you’ll only find online

35 UP NORTH

Finds in the Spring 2021 edition of North Brunswick Magazine

93 BUSINESS PROFILES Wade’s Jewelers

95 SHALLOTTE INLET TIDE CHART 97 ADVERTISERS INDEX 98 TAGGED

South Brunswick Magazine

Gaining in popularity in South Brunswick County, disc golf is a sport anyone can play. By Carolyn Bowers

49 HISTORY

A fictional account of the day local war hero William Gause Jr. met President George Washington in what is now Ocean Isle Beach in 1791. By Ed Beckley

73 BEHIND THE BUSINESS

At The Daily Scoop on Main in Shallotte, Theresa Langley makes delicious treats and shares her blessings with the people of her hometown. By Claire Lynch

85 AROUND TOWN

The only U.S. Coast Guard Station in Brunswick County, Station Oak Island works to coordinate the safe passage of maritime traffic and protect North Carolina’s southeastern coast. By Rich O’Donnell

67 ART & CULTURE

At Mystical Reflections in Calabash, Judy Rodriguez, Lisa Bason and Felecia Blair practice the art of stained glass and share their passion with others. By Beth A. Klahre

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

BLT Avocado Toast By Sandi Grigg

PHOTO BY BRENT GALLANT

PHOTO BY JAMES STEFIUK

PHOTO COURTESY OF USCG STATION OAK ISLAND

D IN EVERY ISSUE D DEPARTMENTS

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Work with the Area Leader. It’s a Seller’s Market! Buyer demand continues to outpace the amount of homes for sale, making it a great time to sell. All price points are needed! If you have any interest in selling, contact one of our market experts today. INTRACOASTALREALTY.COM | OCEAN ISLE BEACH OFFICE: 910-579-3050 | LELAND OFFICE: 910-201-2200

Through its network affiliations Intracoastal Realty is a global - not just local real estate firm. We market your property to the world.

Spring 2021

South Brunswick Magazine – Spring 2021 Volume 12, Issue 3 OWNER/PUBLISHER: Justin Williams DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Sandi Grigg COPY EDITOR: Molly Harrison CONTRIBUTING GRAPHICS: Paula Knorr Teresa Kramer Eliza Dale Niemann

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Brian Wilner George Jacob

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Carolyn Bowers Brent Gallant Megan Deitz Genie Leigh Regina Lynn Jason Shanahan James Stefiuk USCG Station Oak Island

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Ed Beckley Carolyn Bowers Sandi Grigg Dennis Hetzel Beth A. Klahre Claire Lynch Michelle Macken Melissa Slaven Warren PUBLISHED BY:

CAROLINA MARKETING COMPANY, INC. PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451 (910) 207-0156 • info@northbrunswickmagazine.com Reproduction or use of the contents in this magazine is prohibited.

© 2020 Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. strives to bring correct, accurate information that is published in the magazine. However, Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. cannot be held responsible for any consequences resulting from errors or absences. Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. also cannot be held responsible for the services provided by any and all advertisers in our publications. All material in this magazine is property of Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. and may not be reproduced without authorization from the publisher. South Brunswick Magazine – A Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. publication is published four times per year and is distributed to residents and businesses in South Brunswick County, NC, to subscribers and to select areas of New Hanover County, NC and Horry County, SC.

Spring 2021 | SouthBrunswickMagazine.com

WITH THE UNDERDOGS Holden Beach’s Rasta Rocket holds its own on National Geographic Channel’s Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks. C O M PL IM E N TA RY

GROM BELLA FAIRCLOTH

South Brunswick Magazine

USCG STATION OAK ISLAND

THE ULTIMATE ALL-AGES SPORT

About the cover: Photographer Megan Deitz captured this image of Rasta Rocket Captain Zack Shackleton and lucky charm, Minnie. Along with their crew, the pair from Holden Beach are featured on National Geographic Channel’s Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks. See Dennis Hetzel’s story and more of Megan’s photos starting on page 42.

Dr. Michael Sperling Dr. Dr. Michael Michael Sperling Sperling Dr. Michael Sperling

Dr. Ashley Locklear-Batton Dr. Dr.Ashley AshleyLocklear-Batton Locklear-Batton Dr. Ashley Locklear-Batton

PRIMARY CARE PRIMARY CARE CARE PRIMARY CARE

Dr. Lyndsi Cress Dr. Dr. Lyndsi Lyndsi Cress Cress Dr. Lyndsi Cress

Having a high-quality primary care provider is the the key Specializing in: Having Having aa high-quality high-quality primary primarycare careprovider providerisisthe thethe thekey key to betterahealth. At McLeod Health, we have ismore thankey Specializing Specializingin: in: Having high-quality primary care provider the the • Well visits,in: physicals, immunizations to better better health. health. At At McLeod McLeodHealth, Health,we wehave havemore morethan than Specializing 100better primary careAtproviders located • •Well Wellvisits, visits,physicals, physicals,immunizations immunizations to health. McLeodconveniently Health, we have more than • Well Chronic conditions asthma, 100 primary primary care care providers providersconveniently convenientlylocated located visits, physicals,- diabetes, immunizations throughout we serve. Thlocated ese highly-skilled • •Chronic Chronic conditions conditions - diabetes, - diabetes, asthma, asthma, 100 primarythe carecommunities providers conveniently high cholesterol, heart disease throughout throughout the the communities communitieswe weserve. serve.Th These esehighly-skilled highly-skilled •high Chronic conditions - disease diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol, cholesterol, heart heart disease providers stand to care to andTh your family by throughout the ready communities weyou serve. ese highly-skilled • high Minor injuries and illnesses cholesterol, heart disease providers providers stand stand ready ready to tocare careto toyou youand andyour yourfamily familyby by • • Minor Minor injuries injuries and and illnesses illnesses focusing on your unique medical needs. For convenience, providers stand ready to care to you and your family by Eye, ear,injuries nose and care • Minor andthroat illnesses focusing focusing on on your your unique uniquemedical medicalneeds. needs.For Forconvenience, convenience, • •Eye, Eye,ear, ear,nose noseand andthroat throatcare care many of our providers offmedical er same needs. or nextFor dayconvenience, appointments focusing on your unique Boneear, andnose jointand carethroat care • Eye, many many of of our our providers providers off offerersame sameor ornext nextday dayappointments appointments • •Bone Boneand andjoint jointcare care and televisits. many of our providers offer same or next day appointments • Bone and joint care and televisits. televisits. and televisits.

To find a McLeod Primary Care provider, call 843-777-7000 To To find find aa McLeod McLeod Primary PrimaryCare Careprovider, provider,call call843-777-7000 843-777-7000 To find a McLeod Care provider, call 843-777-7000 orPrimary visit McLeodHealth.org. or orvisit visitMcLeodHealth.org. McLeodHealth.org. or visit McLeodHealth.org.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH • LITTLE RIVER • LORIS • CAROLINA FOREST NORTH NORTH MYRTLE MYRTLE BEACH BEACH •• LITTLE LITTLERIVER RIVER••LORIS LORIS••CAROLINA CAROLINAFOREST FOREST NORTH MYRTLE BEACH • LITTLE RIVER • LORIS • CAROLINA FOREST Spring 2021

Reader/Advertising Services Subscriptions Want to subscribe to SBM? Subscriptions are $15.99 per year and include 4 issues of SBM. Subscribe safely online using PayPal, credit or debit card at www. SouthBrunswickMagazine.com/subscribe. Call our office at (910) 207-0156 or email us at subscribe@SouthBrunswickMagazine.com to request a subscription.

Back Issues When available, back issues of SBM can be purchased for $5. Call or email us for information.

Letters We welcome your letters and comments about SBM. Send your letters to PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451 or email them to info@SouthBrunswickMagazine.com. When sending your letters, keep in mind they may or may not be published in a future issue of SBM. The publisher reserves the right to make the final decision.

Writing Opportunities We are always willing to consider freelance writers and article ideas. Please send suggestions or inquiries to South Brunswick Magazine, Attn: Editor, PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451. Or email us at edit@SouthBrunswickMagazine.com.

Change of Address If you move, please submit your new and old address to South Brunswick Magazine at info@SouthBrunswickMagazine.com.

Advertising Interested in advertising in SBM? Please contact us to set up a meeting with an Account Executive. Our main office number is (910) 207-0156, or you can email us at advertise@SouthBrunswickMagazine.com.

Marketing Services Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. provides a wide range of marketing services. This includes advertising design services, custom publications, mailing services and more. Contact our office for additional information or to set up a meeting with a Marketing Consultant.

SouthBrunswickMagazine.com Visit us online at the above website. With any additional questions, call us at (910) 207-0156. 14

South Brunswick Magazine

HOME Home Is Where The Heart Is. It's Where Love And Laughter Abound. It's Where Memories Are Made.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage understands the importance of home. We've been the firm that you’ve trusted for more than 30 years and we are committed to serving the real estate needs of Brunswick County.

South Brunswick (910) 754-6782 | Calabash (910) 579-8471 | Holden Beach (910) 842-1555 Oak Island (910) 278-3311 | Southport (910) 457-6713 Downtown Southport (910) 477-6118 | Leland (910) 371-1181

SeaCoastRealty.com

Spring 2021

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Thankful for Your Support

South Brunswick Magazine

I’d like to thank so many of you for your story idea submissions! We have received a ton, and I encourage you to keep them coming. Please know that we only have the capability to print about 10 to 12 stories per issue, so do not get frustrated with us if you haven’t seen your idea printed yet. We seriously consider every single idea submission, whether it be for our quarterly print editions or online at SouthBrunswickMagazine.com. In between print issues, please stay up to date with us by following us on Facebook and Instagram. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter — South Brunswick Lifestyle, which is delivered straight to your inbox. You can sign up at SouthBrunswickMagazine.com. Thank you for reading this issue, and happy spring!

Sincerely,

Justin Williams Owner/Publisher

Publisher@SouthBrunswickMagazine.com

PHOTO BY MEGAN DEITZ

It’s hard to believe that as I write this in early March, it’s been an entire year since all of our worlds were turned upside down and forever changed. I sincerely wish everyone reading this the best as we all continue to navigate these times. I am very thankful for the businesses in our community that have continued to support us over the past year. We simply could not bring you this magazine without the advertisers on these pages, and I encourage you to visit and support them. Please also support as many other local businesses as you can, and look for places to help with your attention, time and money. We are all in this together, and we must be there for one another. We have some great stories for you in this issue of South Brunswick Magazine. We have a fascinating look at the jobs at the Oak Island Coast Guard Station and delve into the pastime of disc golf in South Brunswick County. We introduce you to people who are making their dreams come true, like young surfer Bella Faircloth and the Wicked Tuna fishing team of Holden Beach’s Rasta Rocket, as well as several local entrepreneurs. Writer Ed Beckley gives us a fictional account of a historic event, the day in 1791 when President George Washington visited what is now Ocean Isle Beach. As always, we have delicious recipes for food and drink from our food editor, Sandi Grigg.

Spring 2021

CONTRIBUTORS

Ed Beckley CONTRIBUTING WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER

I am an award-winning writer and photographer residing in Ocean Isle Beach. I was a reporter then city editor of a Connecticut daily newspaper and retired after decades of managing public relations and marketing communications for Verizon and prior Bell companies. After 25 years my wife, Bobbie, and I are still deeply involved in fundraising and advocacy for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We spend many summer evenings as nest parents with the Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization. I was a runner most of my life and a scholastic coach, having run 40 marathons. Currently, I am a volunteer chaplain at the Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center and a Bible Study facilitator. For fun, pickleball’s the name of the game, and trying to maintain composure during Carolina Panthers football games.

Carolyn Bowers CONTRIBUTING WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER

After graduating from Duke University, my husband talked me into moving to New Jersey. I spent the next nearly 30 years working for Hoechst Celanese, and then we both retired and moved to Southport to enjoy golf and tennis — and never shovel snow again. I have been writing for SBM since its first edition when my photo was accepted for the “Capture the Moment” feature.

Dennis Hetzel CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I live in Holden Beach, where my firm, Fresh Angle Communications, provides writing, editing, marketing and government relations consulting. I am also the author of two novels, Killing the Curse and Season of Lies. My new novel, The Vanished, is set in Brunswick County. I began my career as a weekly newspaper sports editor and became an award-winning reporter, editor and newspaper publisher before retiring in 2019 as executive director of the Ohio News Media Association. I also taught journalism at Penn State and Temple universities and have a degree in political science from Western Illinois University.

South Brunswick Magazine

OUR TEAM

GET BACK TO THE ACTIVITIES YOU ENJOY TODAY

DEEP TISSUE LASER THERAPY LASER

CHIROPRACTOR - CLINIC DIRECTOR

DR. BRIAN S. LANK, D.C., C.S.C.S. LOCATION: LELAND & SHALLOTTE

DRUG FREE | SURGERY FREE | PAIN RELIEF CHIROPRACTOR

DR. PAUL M. HRVOL III, D.C. LOCATION: LELAND

CHIROPRACTOR

JAMES MOROSKY, D.C. LOCATION: SHALLOTTE

CHIROPRACTOR

DR. ALEX K. HUMBERT, D.C LOCATION: SHALLOTTE

LASER THERAPY RELIEVES PAIN AND INFLAMMATION ASSOCIATED WITH:          

SPRAINS & STRAINS LOW BACK PAIN DISC ISSUES SHOULDER & KNEE NECK PAIN PLANTAR FASCIITIS TENNIS ELBOW SOFT TISSUE INJURIES CARPAL TUNNEL AND MUCH MORE!

DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

DR. PATRICK MCCAULEY, D.P.T. LOCATION: LELAND & SHALLOTTE

GET OUT OF PAIN TODAY WITH DEEP TISSUE LASER THERAPY PHYSICAL THERAPIST

DR. OLIVIA JASINSKI, D.P.T. LOCATION: SHALLOTTE

PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

LYDIA SMITH, P.T.A.

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE AN

APPOINTMENT

CHIROPRACTIC  PHYSICAL THERAPY  MASSAGE THERAPY

LOCATION: LELAND & SHALLOTTE

COASTALHEALTHNC.COM 728 VILLAGE ROAD SW SHALLOTTE MASSAGE THERAPIST

JENNIFER C. JONES, L.M.B.T.

910.755.5400

South Brunswick Magazine

WHAT'S HAPPENED

McLeod Health Honors Employees for Years of Service

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.

Southport-Oak Island Golf Classic Announces Winners 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,

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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.

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. 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 Spring 2021

WHAT'S HAPPENED

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.

Dosher Volunteers Receive Governor’s Service Award 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, 22

South Brunswick Magazine

WHAT'S HAPPENED

the Dosher Volunteers have given more than $2 million as an organization to Dosher Hospital used for programs and equipment that enhance patient care.

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.

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.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Dosher Receives 2020 Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award®

Rivers Edge Veterans Association Provides Scholarship Support for Brunswick Community College Students

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.

Ocean Isle Museum Foundation Announces RAV4 Winner 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 Spring 2021

WHAT'S HAPPENED

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, formerly Dosher Urgent Care. Dr. Cahn resigned from Vein Clinics of America earlier this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic with the goal of 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, people who have contracted COVID-19 We are now offering are at higher risk of blood clots and a virtual consultations. potentially life-threatening condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Call to see if you

Dr. Dan Spagnoli and his experienced dental team offer state-of-the-art treatment for wisdom tooth discomfort at the Oral and Maxiliofacial Surgery Center in Supply, NC.

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

90 Medical Center Drive SW Supply, NC 28462 - brunswickoralsurgery.com 24

South Brunswick Magazine

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

910-269-2420

Dental Implants Tooth Extractions Deep IV sedation General Anesthesia Financing Options Intraoral Scanning New Technology to Prevent Dry Sockets Friendly and Caring Staff All Insurances Filed

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.

The future of knee replacement is here. Dosher Memorial Hospital is the first in the region to offer Mako SmartRobotics™ for total knee replacements. If you’ve been living with chronic knee pain, and living without the activities you enjoy, we have great news. Dosher now offers Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery. This technology allows our surgeons to perform a personalized procedure with unprecedented accuracy. For our patients, that can mean a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and greater satisfaction down the road.

924 N Howe Street | Southport, NC

Learn more about Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery at Dosher.org/Robot or call (910) 454-4671.

Spring 2021

South Brunswick Magazine

SPIRITS

Berry Tasty Making your own infused vodkas is easy and fun, and this berry-flavored vodka is a great place to start. BY SANDI GRIGG

A few years ago, I created a cocktail recipe called Chocolate Peppermint Martini. It calls for a few types of flavored vodka that are only available during the holiday season. This past Christmas I wanted to create it again, but the ABC store didn’t have the flavored vodkas I needed. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands by infusing the vodka myself. Making infused vodka is nothing more than adding fruit, spices, vegetables, herbs or even candy to vodka and letting it steep for a while. For the Chocolate Peppermint Martini, I made my own peppermint vodka using a candy cane. Since that successful attempt, I have been playing with all types of recipes. There are a few tips to keep in mind when making your own flavored vodka. Strong-flavored ingredients like pineapple take less time to infuse the vodka, while mild-flavored ingredients like pecans and almonds take longer. Give citrus up to three days and more if you are using zest. It only takes three or four days for fresh herbs and about a week for berries or other fruits with a mild flavor. As we come into warmer months, I wanted to create and offer a flavored vodka that will be refreshing in the spring months. What is more springlike than strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries? After infusing vodka with the berries, I strained it and poured it over ice with some soda water. The flavor was exceptional, and the vodka was not as strong as I had anticipated. If these berries are not your favorite, feel free to mix and match ingredients to create your signature infused vodka. Try adding mint or use melon for a unique option — you really can’t go wrong. Your only limit is your imagination.

VERY BERRY INFUSED VODKA

This recipe is for 750 ml of vodka. You can adjust or cut the recipe in half to make less, if desired. You can also split this into two jars if you don’t have a jar big enough to accommodate the recipe.

INGREDIENTS 1 cup strawberries, washed, stems removed and cut in half 1 cup ripe blueberries, washed and lightly smashed ½ cup raspberries, washed and lightly smashed ½ cup blackberries, washed and lightly smashed 1 750 ml bottle of vodka

METHOD Place all the berries in a large clean jar and fill with vodka. Seal the jar and place in a cool place away from direct sunlight for five to seven days. Give the jar a shake every day and taste to see how the infusion is coming along. Once the infused vodka has attained the desired flavor, strain the fruit from the vodka and rebottle. Keep refrigerated.

Spring 2021

WHAT’S COOKIN’

Breakfast Upgrade

Say no to boring breakfast with this fresh and filling take on avocado toast.

BY SANDI GRIGG |

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES STEFIUK

Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, but it’s easy to get stuck in a breakfast rut, especially if you’ve been working from home and the children are “going to school” from home. No longer picking up an office breakfast or depending the school cafeteria for a healthy breakfast for the kids, many of us are tired of boring breakfasts. You can only eat cereal, eggs, bacon and pancakes so many times in the morning before the redundancy kicks in and your taste buds cry out for something new. BLT Avocado Toast was an early morning creation I made using a few things I already had in the kitchen. It was instantly a hit with my family. Avocado toast has become more and more popular in recent years and is basically avocado on toast, but I suggest topping it with some type of protein, such as eggs, beans, meat or cheese. This combination of avocado, bacon, lettuce and tomato on toast can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner and doubles as the perfect snack. When preparing this recipe, you want to look for a bread that is hearty and can hold up to all the ingredients that go on top. Using a larger loaf is also beneficial so you have more surface area to work with. I used whole grain bread because 28

South Brunswick Magazine

that is what we had on hand, but any type of bread with sturdy slices will work. I used arugula for this recipe because I had it on hand, and it adds the perfect sharp pepperiness. You can certainly substitute butter lettuce, spring greens or spinach for a similar look and texture. I personally prefer cherry tomatoes to other tomato options, and I keep them as a staple in our home as they are good to toss on a salad or in a pasta dish for a sweet pop of f lavor. I halve them for this recipe so they don’t roll off and to make them easier to bite. If you prefer larger big boy or beefsteak tomatoes, you can use those, just be sure to slice them thin and drain off excess juices. Any kind of bacon will be tasty in this recipe but I prefer the thick-cut bacon. You can also use applewood or hickorysmoked bacon for a little added flavor. It takes a bit longer to fry the thick-cut bacon and it creates more grease, but that is great for the drizzle. The bacon grease mixed with mayo makes the most incredible flavor; it also thins out the mayo so it can be drizzled over the top. If you and your family are also looking for a new breakfast option, then try this BLT Avocado Toast. It is hearty and filling and will be a perfect way to kickstart your day.

WHAT’S COOKIN’

BLT Avocado Toast Serves 2

INGREDIENTS 4 slices of whole-grain bread 2 avocados 8 strips of bacon (reserve bacon grease) Arugula 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1 Tablespoon Duke’s mayonnaise Salt and pepper

METHOD Toast the bread until crispy. Meanwhile, fry the bacon until crisp and remove from heat. When cooled, crumble the bacon, reserving the bacon grease. Peel and mash the avocado to your desired level of creaminess; feel free to leave some larger chunks. Spread the avocado onto the bread; top with tomatoes halves, bacon crumbles and arugula. Combine the mayo and a little of the reserved bacon grease to desired consistency. Drizzle over the top of the topped toast. Season with salt and pepper.

Spring 2021

South Brunswick Magazine

Spring 2021

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

D EXTRAS YOU WILL ONLY FIND ONLINE D LIFEINBRUNSWICKCOUNTY.COM

LEARN ABOUT THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT The Great Backyard Bird Count occurs annually in February. You can learn more about participating at Museum of Coastal Carolina. Contributed content

Watching birds is a safe and enjoyable individual or family activity during the pandemic, and all levels of birders are welcome to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. A yearly citizen science project in which people can watch, learn about, count and celebrate birds, the Great Backyard Bird Count is open to anyone. Come learn what the Great Backyard Bird Count is, how you can participate and what local bird species you may see in the area by attending a workshop at the Museum of Coastal Carolina. | CONTINUE READING ONLINE

A VOICE FOR THE CHILDREN Guardian ad Litem advocates are needed in Brunswick, Columbus and Bladen counties. Story by Jo Ann Mathews

Daniel Murray of Southport begins to explain that after a meeting with an abused child, the child walked with him and his wife, Debra Sullivan, to their car and hugged them. Murray stops in midsentence, trying to stem his emotions. Sullivan completes the sentence. “He said he loved us,” she says. | CONTINUE READING ONLINE 32

South Brunswick Magazine

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

D EXTRAS YOU WILL ONLY FIND ONLINE D LIFEINBRUNSWICKCOUNTY.COM

ELEGANTLY COIFFED PETS Primp My Pooch in Little River is improving the looks of hundreds of Brunswick and Horry county cats and dogs. by Claire Lynch

When Joyce and Geoffrey Frank moved from Columbus, Ohio, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in 1991, it was perfect timing. Geoff was making a career change, and they both wanted to live in a warmer climate, so their favorite vacation spot became their permanent home. Working in construction, Geoff soon discovered there were more projects underway in North Carolina so they moved to Brunswick County.

BOOKS & MOORE Two brothers fulfill a dream with their new independent bookstore in Calabash.

| CONTINUE READING ONLINE

By Claire Lynch

A year ago, brothers Corey and Joseph “Joey” Moore were sitting around talking with their family at their parents’ home in Calabash when someone mentioned that Calabash had lots of shops but was missing a bookstore. Corey and Joey looked at each other and smiled as they both had the same thought — we should open a bookstore so people wouldn’t have to drive to North Myrtle Beach or Sunset Beach to pick up their favorite books. | CONTINUE READING ONLINE

BEMC CEO JOINS NATIONAL BOARD Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation CEO Josh Winslow is elected to National Information Solutions Cooperative Board of Directors.

A PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH Novant Health and New Hanover Regional Medical Center celebrate the beginning of a partnership that will benefit healthcare in southeastern North Carolina.

Contributed content

Josh Winslow, CEO and general manager of Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC), has been elected to the board of directors of a national information technology organization. Winslow will serve a three-year board term with National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), a memberowned cooperative providing leading-edge solutions to utilities at the forefront of industry change. | CONTINUE READING ONLINE

The two North Carolina not-for-profit health systems have come together after more than a year of public evaluation of how NHRMC could best meet the needs of the growing region. The sale of NHRMC from New Hanover County to Novant Health opens new opportunities for collaboration and growth as well as additional medical education and clinical capabilities. |

| CONTINUE READING ONLINE Spring 2021

| 33

Life is better with a healthy

Life-changing. Patient-centered. Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry.

GENERAL DENTISTRY

David Vurnakes, DMD Chad Biggerstaff, DDS, PharmD

1300 S. Dickinson Drive In the Villages at Brunswick Forest Call and schedule your appointment today

910.383.2615

BlueWaveDentistry.com

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

SURGICAL PROCEDURES

“My entire family has been going to BlueWave Dentistry since 2013. The staff there is always warm and friendly and the quality of their dental care is always outstanding. We love Dr. Biggerstaff and the team there. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for dental care in the area.” - Josh London & the London Family Actual BlueWave Blue Dentistry Patients

UP NORTH

NORTH BRUNSWICK MAGAZINE WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR SISTER PUBLICATION

Pick up NBM at grocery stores in the Northern Brunswick County area. Or view stories online at LifeinBrunswickCounty.com/nbm | E 

BREAKFAST TREAT Wake up your morning routine with a healthy option that looks like a dessert. By Sandi Grigg

A banana split for breakfast? It sounds decadent, but don’t let it fool you: This is a healthy breakfast option that tastes just as good as it looks. Sometimes it’s all about the presentation, and changing things up a bit can make the same old thing feel new and special.

THE DREAM TEAM Sleepy Teepees creates slumber parties so fun the littles may never go to sleep. By Melissa Slaven Warren

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE COUNTRY STORE Brown’s Outdoor Headquarters is more than a store for fishing gear, ammunition and livestock feed; it’s also a social hub of the Delco community. By Teresa A. McLamb

By the time most of us get our first cup of coffee, Sue Pridgen has already waited on several customers in need of worms or crickets for fishing or a bag of food for a hungry dog. As the manager of Brown’s Outdoor Headquarters in Delco for the past five years, she has catered to the outdoor provision needs of much of western Brunswick County and eastern Columbus County. “We get all sorts of people. We laugh. We joke. They come in here to socialize. It’s like a family,” she says.

Call them slumber party stylists or sleepover CEOs. Haley Soles and Maggi Lave have turned their careers as nannies into a dream business. In April of 2019, after talking about the idea for two years, the young entrepreneurs finally took the plunge and went into business together, launching Sleepy Teepees, LLC. Sleepy Teepees is a party planning service that reimagines the standard pillow-and-blanket-on-the-floor slumber party.

CARE TO SHARE Carmen Schloner, founder of Caridad Inc., has a special place in her heart for single mothers. By Ashley Daniels

Caridad means charity, or helping others, in Spanish — and that’s exactly what the local nonprofit, Caridad Inc., is doing for single mothers in need in the area. First founded by Carmen Schloner in Maryland in 2000, the Caridad North Carolina chapter opened about a year and a half ago, when Schloner moved to Leland. “I retired, moved here and I was never going to do anything,” she says with a laugh. “My intention was to play golf and all that stuff. But, when I saw the need, with so many really poor people in this area, I knew I had to do this.” Spring 2021

Wine and craft beers by the flight, by the glass, bottles & fine cigars for sale in our retail shop and wine bar. Try our Tapas for superb small plate dining! Open year round, because it’s always wine season. Get the latest information on our tastings, pairings, specials & events at: CoastalWineRoom.com  @CoastalWineRoom 910.393.2125 20-B East 2nd Street | Ocean Isle Beach, NC

South Brunswick Magazine

SPORTS

The Ultimate All-Ages Sport Gaining in popularity in South Brunswick County, disc golf is a sport anyone can play. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLYN BOWERS

W Whether it is a movie, a book, a sport or a concert, if it is billed as “something the whole family will enjoy,” they rarely all do. That is especially true if the family members go from age 3 to 83. Disc golf, however, is a notable exception. It’s an activity that is becoming very popular, especially here in Brunswick County, for several reasons: It’s easy to learn; you don’t have to be an athlete to play it; the courses are always open; it only takes about an hour to play nine holes; the equipment cost is minimal; and it is

free to play on most courses. Best of all here locally, Sheila Crider and Kevin Kremler, both outstanding instructors in the Southport area, frequently offer free clinics. They, along with Jeff Pantoja, are responsible for starting and promoting disc golf in South Brunswick County through the St. James Disc Golf and Surrounding Area Facebook page and on Next Door. To date, this sport seems to have gained more traction with men than women, though Crider is determined to change that. She offers a free meet-up

Madi Jones tosses the disc while her babysitter, Mackenzie Laney, looks on at Cougar Country Disc Golf Park.

and clinic every Monday at 2 pm at the Cougar course in Boiling Spring Lakes. No reservation needed; just show up. Disc golf is a sophisticated version of Frisbee, the popular game from the 1950s. The discs look the same, but they are actually different in at least two ways. Disc golf discs are not constructed to be caught, and they are made of an impact resistant polymeric material that won’t crack or split when they hit trees, which they so often do because the game is played in the woods, as opposed to regular golf, Spring 2021

SPORTS

Above left: Pro disc golf Andrew Lamont winds up for a long-distance throw at Bill Smith Park. Right and below: Players at Cougar Country Disc Golf Park.

which is also often played in the woods but not by choice. In fact, the name disc golf is a bit of a misnomer in that the game’s relationship to golf is pretty much only in the terminology and scoring. Both games are typically played with a foursome; however, if fewer people show up, that works too. Instead of 13 clubs and a putter as in golf, in disc golf you need only three discs — a driver, a mid-range disc and a putter. To the uninitiated they all look pretty much the same, but each is configured a little differently and designed to go a different distance. Each hole in disc golf is somewhere between 120 and 500 feet, as opposed to regular golf with holes of 90 to 500 yards. Instead of an investment of several hundred dollars, your total equipment cost for three discs and a disc bag is less than $75. Cost to play regular golf: $50 to $200 a round. Cost to play disc golf: $0. The object of the game is to get the disc to the basket in as few throws as you can. Most courses are par threes, and the play goes like this. The players throw the first disc, the driver, from a tee pad. Then they use the mid-range disc to get closer to the basket, and finally the third disc, the putter, to throw the disc into the chain-metal basket, which stands about 4 feet high and is about 3 feet in diameter. 38

South Brunswick Magazine

DISC GOLF ETIQUETTE No dress code or country club rules here! Although, there are rules of etiquette you should know: R emain quiet while others are throwing. S tand behind the player who is throwing until the throw is complete.  Remove your disc from the basket after completing it.  Help new players learn the rules.  Allow faster groups to play through when possible.  Have fun!

That description makes disc throwing sound easier than it is. Here’s the problem: Unlike driving a golf ball toward a wide-open fairway, disc golf is played in the woods where there are trees that intercept your drive and send your disc flying off in the wrong direction. Depending upon the seriousness of the players, you can have do-overs, called mulligans, whenever you want, and you can claim a gimme when the disc is close to the basket. South Brunswick County has two disc golf courses. One is the Cougar Country Disc Golf Park, which is located in Boiling Spring Lakes on Leeds Road, and the other one is on Oak Island in Bill Smith Park off Fish

A T R U S S T- W O R T H Y B U I L D E R

of Fine Homes

Trusst Builder Group is a locally owned and operated builder and developer of quality homes and neighborhoods throughout New Hanover and Brunswick counties. Since 1992, we have built more than 3,000 homes in the Cape Fear region. Trusst is unique in our ability to build value-priced, custom-quality homes where premier finishes are standard. Our development, Whiskey Branch, is a gated community just outside the Wilmington city limits off of South College Road. Trusst is also now building in select neighborhoods in Brunswick Forest, Compass Pointe, Magnolia Greens, Palmetto Creek, Riverlights, RiverSea, St. James Plantation, The Bluffs on the Cape Fear, Waterford and Winding River.

To Learn More Visit

T R U S S T B U I L D E R G R O U P. C O M or Call 9 1 0 . 3 7 1 . 0 3 0 4 Spring 2021

SPORTS

Factory Road. The one in Boiling Spring Lakes (BSL) is 18 holes and is longer with fewer trees. The Oak Island course has nine holes and trees everywhere. Each course has one hole that presents a particular challenge. Basket number eight on the BSL course is so high up in a tree that you have to be more than 6 feet tall to get your disc out of it. Short people aim for the pole and count the throw good if it gets close to it. Basket number seven on the Oak Island course requires that you hurl the driver disc across a body of water. Some beginners, particularly women, usually skip that basket. Both courses are open from dawn to dusk with no reservation needed and are free to use. My introduction to this sport was at a free clinic taught by Kremler at the Cougar Course. I was one of 14

participants, ranging in age from 3 to 80-something and all ages in between. There were fathers with their sons, a grandfather with his grandson, two or three women, a couple of teenagers and a 12-year-old girl with her babysitter. Some had previous experience while others were new to the sport. Kremler began the clinic by having us do a series of exercises to warm up, and then he distributed the discs, explaining the differences in them and how to hold and throw each one. At the end of three holes, all of us could send the disc a decent distance, if not always in the hoped-for direction. The 3-year-old sank a putt from about 4 feet away, but this wasn’t his first time out either. The star of our session was 6-yearold Joe Truett, who started playing the game when he was 3. The son of local disc pro Kevin Truett, the young

Disc golf instructor Sheila Crider (left) shows Virginia Brown how to throw the disc at Cougar Country Disc Golf Park.

Want to play disc golf? Cougar Country Disc Golf Park, 1 Leeds Road, Boiling Spring Lakes, (910) 363-0018 Bill Smith Park, 4446 Fish Factory Road SE, Southport, (910) 278-5518 St. James Disc Golf and Surrounding Area Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1495484997282860/ 40

South Brunswick Magazine

Truett patiently explained to me that there are two sets of tee pads for every hole, one short and one longer. On the Cougar course, he said the yellow one is the shorter one and blue is longer. The 6-year-old’s wind-up and release is as professional as the pros; on an 18-hole course, he throws two or three over par on almost every hole. Last winter, Crider’s son, pro disc golfer Andrew Lamont, visited her and treated several of us to an exhibition. According to him, one can learn how to play disc golf “very quickly and after six to eight months you will be pretty good at it.” But, he admits, “To become really good takes years.” Having started at age 10, at 26 Lamont is now very good at it. He has approximately 100 discs (30 to 40 of which are different types), plays four or five times a week and has won several tournaments. Mark Wagaman is at the other end of the spectrum. He often stops at the course on Oak Island on his way home from Dosher Hospital, where he is the surgical services clinical nurse manager. He plays the course with only two discs, both of which are mid-range. “It’s fun, doesn’t take much skill, it’s outside, and it only takes 20 minutes,” he says. For a beginner, Kremler recommends the three-disc lightweight starter set made by Gateway Disc Sports and available from their website at gatewaydiscsports.com. But both he and Crider will let you borrow what you need when you take their clinic. To see their schedule, you can check out the St. James Disc Golf and Surrounding Area Facebook page to find out when and where they will hold the next one. You will almost definitely have a good time, and you may even decide to take up this new, truly family-oriented sport. 

Spring 2021

WITH THE UNDERDOGS Holden Beach’s Rasta Rocket holds its own on National Geographic Channel’s Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks. BY DENNIS HETZEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGAN DEITZ 42

South Brunswick Magazine

Spring 2021

Spend some time with Zack Shackleton and you quickly conclude two things. First, he loves to fish. He REALLY loves to fish. Second, he’s proud he grew up in Brunswick County and wants to set a positive example. That describes a lot of people in these parts, but Shackleton has a big stage to be that guy. Only in his wildest dreams at West Brunswick High School a decade earlier could he have imagined being a boat captain on a reality television show aired internationally on the National Geographic Channel in more than 100 countries and multiple languages. Shackleton and his partner, Daniel Blank, are part of a four-man crew, along with Shackleton’s dog, Minnie, that recently completed their second season competing on Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks. Their boat, the 28-foot Rasta Rocket, is aptly

named after the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team’s sled in the movie Cool Runnings. “It’s an underdog story,” Shackleton says. “If you look at the movie, that’s pretty much our story. I don’t mind being the underdog. We hang in there with the top guns.” Originally from Sanford, North Carolina, Shackleton has called Brunswick County home for most of his life. It’s a regular get-together for Shackleton’s and Blank’s family and friends whenever new episodes air on Sunday nights in the fall. Shackleton appreciates the many fans that the Rocket, its crew and Minnie have, but the occasional celebrity status that comes from being on television and social media interests him a lot less than showing the world that the Rocket crew knows where they’re from and what they’re doing.

Zack Shackleton, Daniel Blanks and Shane Britt on the Rasta Rocket, a 28’ Contender and the smallest vessel in the Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks fleet.

South Brunswick Magazine

Expanding orthopedic care right here in Brunswick Ted Parcel, DO, and Benjamin Browning, MD, are accepting new patients Joint, bone and muscle pain can interrupt your life. Are you ready to get back to doing what you love? Like walking, tennis or golf? Then it’s time to meet our experts at Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Supply. Board-certified surgeon Ted Parcel, DO, is fellowship-trained in adult joint replacements. Benjamin Browning, MD, is fellowship-trained in sports medicine and arthroscopy. Both are experienced in providing high-level care for sports injuries and orthopedic conditions.

Ted Parcel, DO, FAAOS

Services include: • Hip and knee joint replacements

• Total hip and knee revisions

• Fracture repairs • Tendon repairs

• Knee arthroscopy • Shoulder surgery

Our experts provide the specialty care you need, closer to home, so you can concentrate on what counts most — getting better and staying healthy. Benjamin Browning, MD

We are taking extra steps in our clinics to keep you healthy, including masking, social distancing, screenings and increased disinfecting of surfaces.

Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine - Brunswick 6 Doctors Circle, Suite 5, Supply, NC 28462

Call 910-721-4370 or visit NovantHealth.org/orthosportsmedbrunswick to make a same-day or next-day appointment. © Novant Health, Inc. 2020 9/20 • ECA-627232

Spring 2021

“We wanted to make a good name for Brunswick County and Holden Beach,” he says. “We just want to be the best that we can be. We want people to be proud of us, and I think we’ve done that.” Shackleton and Blank first met at mackerel tournaments. They started fishing together about eight years ago in a relationship that led to a deep friendship, fishing partnership and eventual purchase of the Rasta Rocket, a well-traveled 1999 vessel that they’ve upgraded, repaired and rewired. “We really don’t talk a lot,” Blank says, “because we already know everything there is to know about each other.” The connection with the TV program started when Blank’s

South Brunswick Magazine

girlfriend sent an application to the Wicked Tuna producers. “She saw they were looking for boats,” Blank recalls. “We didn’t think they would talk to us, but she sent it anyway.” The underdog angle appealed to the producers, and Rasta Rocket was selected for the 2019 season and then invited back for 2020. The Rocket’s relatively small size creates lots of rooting interest from fans, but it puts them at a definite disadvantage. Shackleton says that winds over 25 mph and seas higher than 5 or 6 feet mean they have to return to port before the larger boats, or they may miss several days when others can compete. Without an enclosed cabin, the Rocket also lacks creature comforts the others enjoy. When they stay overnight on the rolling water, they’re sleeping and shivering on the deck – including the National Geographic videographer who travels with them. The premise of the show is this: The competing vessels, including top commercial boats from Massachusetts and New Hampshire who fish in the New England waters of the original Wicked Tuna show, go about 40 miles out from the Outer Banks into the Gulf Stream in search of the best, biggest bluefin tuna they can find in the chilly months of January through March. Why do it at such a chilly time of year? “That’s when the tuna are there,” Shackleton says with a laugh. By rule, they can catch no more than one fish a day with a 73-inch minimum length. At the dock, the bluefin tuna gets weighed and assessed. For example, a 375-pound bluefin tuna would bring $3,750 at $10 per pound. Top-flight fish can earn thousands more. At season’s end, the winning boat is the one that earns the most money. Shackleton’s easy-going demeanor masks a strong work ethic and competitive streak. One of his favorite sayings, as viewers know, is “you have to grind” to succeed. The crew is serious about commercial fishing. It’s demanding, expensive and their fulltime livelihood. And, as Shackleton points out on the show, there are mouths to feed back home. If it means sleeping in his aging Silverado

Shane Britt

Zack Shackleton

Daniel Blanks

“

A good crew, the water, the fish and Minnie — that just might be all he needs.

pickup or the boat itself to get an edge, he’ll do it. If it means looking for oysters when the seas are too rough to seek tuna, grouper, snapper or mackerel, they’ll do it. Unlike much of reality television, Shackleton says that Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks isn’t scripted. What you see is what happened. Show producers spend the summer editing thousands of hours of video to craft a new season that airs in the fall, capturing the most dramatic moments but also showing the long hours and challenges of successful commercial fishing. The Rasta Rocket crew sees episodes at the same time as the public. At the time of this magazine’s publication, Rasta Rocket had just finished filming its third season, again making their

regular six-hour drive to the Outer Banks from their home base in Holden Beach. So, what happens when the Wicked Tuna experience is over? “We’re a well-oiled machine now,” Shackleton says. “We love being on the show, but we’re going to fish either way.” He’d like the resources for a bigger, better boat. But, then again, it wouldn’t be the Rasta Rocket. He sees an opportunity to get into charter fishing. “A lot of people would like to fish on the Rocket after seeing the program,” he says. Shackleton pauses on that thought and notes that he doesn’t believe chartering is what he’s meant to do. A good crew, the water, the fish and Minnie — that just might be all he needs. 

Minnie

Spring 2021

COLDWELL BANKER SLOANE REALTY --------------------------

YOUR KEY TO THE COAST

trusted real estate advisor since 1955 Ocean Isle Beach | Sunset Beach | Sunset Beach Island

877-979-2424

THE BEST SUNSET DINING ON OCEAN ISLE BEACH OP E N FOR DIN N E R • O UTDO O R PATI O • O P EN I N G DATE M ARC H 16

16 CAUSEWAY DR. OCEAN ISLE BEACH • 910-579-9997 48

South Brunswick Magazine

HISTORY

The Day President George Washington Met Local War Hero William Gause, Jr. A fictional account of an actual meeting that took place in what is now Ocean Isle Beach in 1791. STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY ED BECKLEY

The mosquitoes were already making themselves pests on the Gause rice and turpentine plantation in late April 1791. William Gause Jr. spent the day checking the crops in his empire along the ocean, thousands of acres on the barrier island and mainland, at the southern-most coast of North Carolina. At age 46 and missing a leg from a battle in the American Revolution, it’s a wonder Gause could mount his horse and stay saddled all those hours. Finally returning to his magnificent manor house on Gause Landing Road, he plopped sweaty and heavy into his favorite porch rocker,

Spring 2021

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PHOTO

HISTORY

The site of the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge in Pender County, in which William Gause Jr. fought on February 27, 1776.

unstrapped his wooden peg-leg and rubbed his soreness with a sigh. Then swigging a pint of tepid sweet tea, he melted into a deep afternoon nap. Gause’s thoughts before rolling into sleep always turned to the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge, 15 years earlier, up in Currie, Pender County. The Tories in Fayetteville had marched toward Wilmington to rendezvous with loyalists and an expeditionary force led by British General Lord Cornwallis. They intended to steal and hold the port of Brunswick for Great Britain and restore royal control over the colony. The Patriots found out about it and surprised about 1,600 Scottish Highlanders at the bridge, at least 150 of whom were broad swordsmen. Patriot Col. John Ashe Sr. led the Volunteer Independent Rangers into the fray. It was the last-ever Highland Broadsword charge anywhere in the world, as the separatists sent them running and surrendering, notching the first victory of the Revolutionary War. It was a day for great celebration, but Private Gause was in no condition for it. When he regained consciousness, he was missing part of his leg. From then on, he could never get to sleep without recalling the surgeon’s knife, the mind-bending pain and 50

South Brunswick Magazine

blood loss, endless pus, infection and fever. Most soldiers died of amputation though, so he was grateful to God to have survived. Being a religious man, Gause also appreciated that God works in mysterious ways. Doctors sometimes used turpentine to stop bleeding wounds back then, and Gause was a purveyor of the substance. The product of his labor may have ultimately saved his life. There was one other, incredibly special thought Gause had before drifting off that day. He was extremely excited to think about what would happen tomorrow morning. The first President of the United States, George Washington, would be visiting him at the manor, and he and his wife would be hosting the commander-in-chief for breakfast. Washington was almost two years into his term as president and committed to visiting all 13 of the original colonies. Having started in the nation’s capital, Philadelphia, he was already several weeks into his southern tour, making his way on horseback and carriage. He felt he could be a better president if he met with the American people and understood the will of them. He was also on a mission to “sell” the new government and fledgling U.S. Constitution. He wanted some feedback on how well the citizens were

HISTORY

accepting them. He had never been to the Carolinas and Georgia and was probably as excited to be received as his hosts were to welcome him. He captured each day’s events in a diary. On April 24 Washington wrote that the road from Newbern to Wilmington passed through the most barren country he ever beheld. Wilmington gave him a huge reception, and he breakfasted on April 26 at Col. Ben Smith’s Belvedere Plantation — his first of three stops in Brunswick County. Smith had been an aide-de-camp for Washington in New York, so it must have been a grand reunion. He would later serve as North Carolina’s governor. The president had an itinerary, but he couldn’t follow it very well because the roads were rough, bumpy and sometimes muddy. And there weren’t maps containing many of the country roads down south. As for provisions, they were

always sketchy for his eight-man and 11-horse entourage. Washington had to rely on the locals to recommend directions and places to eat and sleep. Certainly, Smith would have recommended to his friend that he must stop at the Gause residence down the road — but not just for the hospitality he’d receive. Gause wasn’t just a wounded war hero and major county businessman. He also was a statesman who stood loud and proud for the colony’s independence from Britain. Washington must have beamed with pride upon learning of Gause’s leadership and credentials. After spending the night of the 26th at the Russ Plantation a bit south of Belvedere, the president arose hours before sun-up to accommodate a 14-mile detour to visit Gause at the coastline. He decided he would veer off the King’s Highway and find the country road Gause had carved around the swamps and long-leaf pine forests to move his products to and from Brick Landing and the state’s interior. At last, Washington arrived at Gause Landing Road, lined with massive, towering, centuries-old live oaks, adorned with waterfalls of Spanish moss. From atop his steed, Prescott, his heart must have leaped at the sight of the two-story heartwood manor, pitched on a bluff overlooking Gause’s saltwater channel and the crashing waves of the Atlantic beyond. With a late breakfast served, the Gause family and the president and his associates may have sat down to the president’s favorite morning meal: corncake, honey and tea, perhaps with a rack of roasted rockfish to remember the Gauses by. Or maybe just a hard-boiled egg and a shot of good whiskey. Bellies satisfied, Gause directed his guest through the salt marsh, mushy but passable on foot at low tide, to Gause’s beach. This would be the president’s first opportunity to see the southern Atlantic Ocean, and he must have been thrilled about a refreshing dip in the fragrant salt surf. Washington unfastened his breeches and leaped headlong into the waves, retaining his calves-length white underwear shirt (and his modesty), Janelle Gore, who lives on Gause Landing Road along the Intracoastal Waterway, points to the place near the tree where Washington likely walked to the ocean to swim.

Spring 2021

HISTORY

accompanied by his faithful greyhound, Cornwallis, bobbing and frolicking at his side. Mixing business with pleasure, Washington wasted no time. “William, I want to thank you and ask for your help,” he declared. “I honor you, sir, for your strength, hardiness, courage and fortitude in the face of the enemy. Your war-wound is a marker of your patriotic service. “But even more-so, I commend you for your representation in the North Carolina House of Commons, the Provincial Congress and the Safety Committee. In addition, your judicial prowess as a justice is well regarded and has been made known to me. “I am grateful always, as well, for your vote in the legislature representing Brunswick County in favor of adopting the United States Constitution.” Back at the manor, Washington propped his wet underwear on the old live oak nearest the house, where the main trunk split into two, and continued his accolades. Gause’s turpentine, tar and pitch were urgently needed by the new nation to build and maintain ships for the nation’s military needs. The tar and pitch sealed the sails, wood and seams and

kept the ships afloat. The president knew Gause stopped exporting those items to England during the war, and the family sacrificed a great amount of revenue. But Washington assured him the new American navy would count on Gause for those products now and in the future, and he encouraged him to continue his patriotic good work. Gause humbly accepted the president’s praise and committed the rest of his life to serving the nation in this manner. And at that, Washington rounded up his associates, mounted Prescott and continued southbound. Gause and his family waved goodbye to President George Washington and stood watch as his cream-white carriage, embellished with the Washington family coat of arms, made it up the hill on Gause Landing Road and out of sight. Gause kept his promise to his dying day in 1801. And to this day, the hundreds-of-years-old “George Washington Tree” still stands where the heartwood manor once did, on the bluff overlooking the saltwater creek and majestic sea. One can still envision the long white shirt of the president of the United States, tucked in its crook, waiting to dry. 

Author’s notes: The preceding article is a fictitious re-creation of the actual breakfast visit of President George Washington with William Gause Jr. in Ocean Isle Beach. Gause’s credentials in the story are factual, and his war wound is a matter of record. There is no note of Gause losing his leg at Moore’s Creek Bridge. However, a park historian said records are scant for the battle, and they only know about ten percent of what happened there. Overlaying Revolutionary War reports about Gause and his commanding officer Col. John Ashe Sr., it does not seem likely Gause could have lost his leg in battle anywhere else. Deeper research may find a different result. The old King’s Highway is today’s Highway 17. Gause Landing Road today is still a corridor of moss-covered live oaks, leading to what is now the Intracoastal Waterway. Wooden prosthetics existed in those days, and Revolutionary War veterans of means used them, but we do not know for sure if Gause did. It is family lore that the president took a swim that day. Washington did know how to swim, and it saved his life in the French & Indian War. Washington’s laudatory comments in the story are plausible but completely fictitious. Any paintings or illustrations of Gause’s likeness may have gone up in flames when the house burned down — reportedly in the 1900s or when a Union gunboat opened fire on it in the War Between the States. I hope you enjoyed the re-creation. 52

South Brunswick Magazine

Custom Built Homes... Fr o m O u r F a m i l y To Yo u r s .

1780-5 Qu een Anne St . Su n s et Beach , NC info@SeaCoastBuildingCompany.com 910-880-3639

SeacoastBuild.com

love at

First bite Ocean Isle Beach’s Artisinal Pizzeria full bar | Catering & Special events

Spring 2021

iddle ME THIS Bluegrass pioneer and fiddle champion Curtis Lee, a resident of Carolina Shores with his wife, Ruth, is still heating up crowds with his fast fiddling. BY ASHLEY DANIELS

South Brunswick Magazine

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Spring 2021

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

ive-time national fiddle champion Curtis Lee hasn’t slowed down his handiwork on the strings – even in his late 80s.

South Brunswick Magazine

I recently stopped him long enough to talk to him, along with his wife, Ruth, over the phone from their home in Carolina Shores to find out what first sparked the song in his heart and tune from his bow. Born and raised in Carson, Virginia, Lee first picked up a guitar from a local music store when he was 6 years old. “Then, when his brother went into the service, he took over his brother’s fiddle and started messing around with it and playing it,” says

Ruth, who Lee humbly insisted on answering my questions because she has a “better phone voice.” Lee’s Uncle Alan, who was in a band at the time, took him under his wing and taught him how to play the guitar and fiddle. He’d go on to also play mandolin, banjo and steel guitar. Lee entered his first fiddle competition in Richmond, Virginia, at 16 years old, won it over 50 to 100 fiddlers, and just kept playing on. He played on the road with the legendary

Curtis Lee plays at the North Carolina State Fair Folk Festival each year and awards the Curtis Lee Trophy to up-and-coming musicians. Opposite page: Lee has performed with notable acts like Mac Wiseman Band (top right) and banjo player J. D. Crowe on the banjo (bottom right).

bluegrass singer Mac Wiseman up and down the East Coast and into Canada. He remembers traveling in a Mercury station wagon in the 1960s with the band inside and the upright bass strapped onto the roof. When he wasn’t on the road, he’d work day jobs and, by night, play a

variety of venues. “He considers his musical talent a gift from God; he does not read music,” Ruth says. “He plays everything by ear. … He’s very versatile, as far as playing music.” Lee and the band would also play

package shows with the likes of Jimmy Dickens and Grandpa Jones and many more — and he shared the stage with country star Patsy Cline, backing her up. “One of the highlights, he says, is that she sat on his lap,” Ruth says. Ruth, originally from Decatur,

“

He considers his musical talent a gift from God; he does not read music. He plays everything by ear.

Spring 2021

Indiana, came into Lee’s life in the 1980s, she says, ironically (or suitably) at the North Carolina State Fair, where she happened to be one of the judges for the dancers in competition. Turns out he made quite the impression on and off-stage. “Well, I did tell him that first year that his fiddle squeaked too much,” Ruth says with a laugh. Lee continues to play at the North Carolina State Fair Folk Festival each year. About five years ago, he began awarding the Curtis Lee Trophy to “individual instrumentalists to recognize the talent of up-and-coming musicians.” He has been honored by the International Bluegrass Association Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky, where his name is on a plaque listing Bluegrass Music’s First Generation. The museum also recognizes Lee as 58

South Brunswick Magazine

one of the Pioneers of Bluegrass. He is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame, earning the state fiddling competition there four times, and the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Trophy at the North Carolina Folk Festival at the annual state fair. Ruth also took home the same trophy. The Lees began performing as a duo 25 years ago. Ruth plays the keyboard, while Curtis takes over on the fiddle, but she also has an impressive dance background. She is a former president of the National Clogging and Hoedown Council, and has danced, taught and judged clogging classes and clogging competitions across the United States and England. The two play locally at The Courtyard at Duplin Winery in Rose Hill and North Myrtle Beach, covering a blend of popular songs in a number of genres, from Johnny Cash’s “Orange Blossom Special” (his personal

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Lee plays multiple instrument and Ruth plays the keyboard, and they’ve been performing together for 25 years.

favorite) to “Faded Love,” to classic rock tunes by CCR to gospel songs to “The Fifty Year Ago Waltz” by Hank Thompson. “That’s a very pretty song,” Ruth says. “He does a beautiful job on it.” His advice for future fiddlers? “He says that it’s probably a good idea to start with classical training when you’re young,” says Ruth, “to go through some kind of learning method first, where you learn your violin positions and everything. And then if you become interested in bluegrass or country, then you can go from there.” 

Sound like music to your ears? To check on potential upcoming gigs at either Duplin Winery location, where the Lees often play, visit duplinwinery.com.

Everything you need to get the job done.

Yes! We accept that insurance. Unlike most practices, Carolinas Oral & Facial Surgery Center is in network for an extensive number of insurance plans. Find your insurer on our website, carolina-surgery.com, and call 910.762.2618 for an appointment with one of our specialty-trained surgeons.

I N

N E T W O R K

Ameritas • BCBS • Federal Employee Plan • State Employee Plan • Cigna Dental • Delta Dental • Military Retiree Plan • Guardian •

Mark E. Bufalini, DMD, MD Michael S. Booth, DDS

218153 cofsc insurance ad-nbm/sbm.indd 1

D E N TA L

Southport

P L A N S :

•

Medicaid

•

Medicare

•

MetLife

•

TriCare (active duty)

•

United Concordia Participating Dental Networks:

•

DenteMax

•

Connection Dental

Mon - Fri 7:30-6 | Sat - 8-4 | Sun 10-3

Wilmington, Jacksonville & Whiteville 910.762.2618 www.carolina-surgery.com

8848 River Rd. S.E Southport, NC 28461

(910) 477-6444

6/5/18 4:51 PM

Spring 2021

At Never Ever Boards in Oak Island, selling skateboards, paddleboards and surfboards helps owner Matt Troetti give back to the community. BY KATHY BLAKE PHOTOGRAPHY BY REGINA LYNN

South Brunswick Magazine

Spring 2021

ear the east end of Oak Island Drive, a block before the road angles toward Caswell Beach and the sea, a small, unpretentious store has become the go-to for skateboarders, paddleboarders and surfers. Never Ever Boards, a 1,000-square-foot stockpile of equipment, attire and accessories, draws its name from Peter Pan’s Never Toretto Land, and surf and skate enthusiasts’ condition of being, well, never ever bored. The young entrepreneur who owns the place, Matt Troetti, says his largest skating customer cluster is in the 13 to 17 age range. Or adults who gift-shop for that age range.

“Our biggest customer is entry-level, where people are starting out skating, so we show them what kind of wheels work best, and ask if they’re looking for the street or to skate at the (skate) park, so we help educate them,” Troetti says. “We have parents and grandparents who come in looking for birthday gifts, and we just have to take them where 62

South Brunswick Magazine

they’re at. It’s kind of an experience that can be a little overwhelming at first. We help with their decisions and show them the best options.” Troetti, 27, isn’t a pro skateboarder. He won’t be seen flying up ramps to back flip in the stratosphere before landing upright on an 8-inch-wide sliver of polyurethane-coated maple

plywood. “I can cruise pretty well, though,” he says. “When I first started, I got a Walmart board, and that discouraged me. So I got a longboard, and when it comes to tricks, I’m kind of forced to get better at it. I’ve done a ton of research, and I know what I’m talking about. We’ll probably have workshops in the future, with someone

far better than I am, who can teach foundational steps.” Running a skateboard, surfboard and paddleboard shop wasn’t Troetti’s first career choice. After graduation from South Brunswick High School in 2011, he attended Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte to pursue a culinary career in hospitality and business management.

But, he says, “The beach was calling my name.” His family has been on Oak Island since he was a third-grader. He’d learned a bit in college about running a company and says he knew he could run an online business from anywhere. “I had some experience working from home and working independently, so I thought why not just do it myself?” he says.

He started Never Ever Boards online and will mark three years in business in May 2021. The retail store, in a former produce mart, is like a studio that guides customers’ attention through the displays. “It’s not cluttered, which is good,” Troetti says. “Things are placed in a pretty good arrangement. It’s like Spring 2021

Registration for Summer 2021 is NOW Open!

Here’s the deal, home + auto = savings.

Kristin W Dowdy, Agent 5011 Northside Drive Shallotte, NC 28470 Bus: 910-754-9923 kristin.dowdy.uyio@statefarm.com Se habla Español

*Average annual per household savings based on a 2020 national survey by State Farm® of new policyholders who reported savings by switching to State Farm.

Combine home and auto and save an average of $965*. I’m ready to help you get the right coverage at the right price. Call me for a quote. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

June 7-August 6 | 9:00AM — 4:00PM | Ages 4-17 $160/Week FULL Day | $85/Week HALF Day

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Indemnity Company State Farm Fire and Casualty Company State Farm General Insurance Company Bloomington, IL State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas State Farm Lloyds Richardson, TX State Farm Florida Insurance Company Winter Haven, FL

Community Arts Center Downtown, 120 S 2ND Street—910-341-7860

2001299

Leland, look no further - Wilmington Health at Leland is

Since 1971, Wilmington Health has been committed to the care and health of Southeastern North Carolina, providing reliable experts, innovative solutions and the best value for our patients. Our specialties include: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Radiology, Specialties, and Today’s Care.

9101 OCEAN HIGHWAY EAST, LELAND, NC 28451 | 910-371-0404 | WILMINGTONHEALTH.COM 64

South Brunswick Magazine

walking into an art gallery. All of the boards are on full display. The design someone picks is a reflection of their personality, so I wanted to make sure they could really see the designs.” Troetti’s main brand, his favorite, is Element. “It’s the brand I grew up with,” he says. “It’s an outdoorsy brand that doesn’t scream ‘skate’ but it’s rugged, and a little classy,” he says. He sells their t-shirts and other products as well. Troetti likes to do good in the community and give back where he can. He is coordinating with the Town of Oak Island to rebuild the town’s Kevin

Bell Skatepark on SE 49th Street, which was damaged in August 2020 when a 9.5-foot storm surge during a lunar high tide flattened dunes, damaged homes and pushed piles of sand and debris three blocks inland. As many as 50 skaters a day skated at the park before the damage. Troetti is raising money through donations, raffles and auctions to help rebuild. He donates to the Oak Island Beach Preservation Society, contributes to a cause that brings clean drinking water to developing countries and promotes companies that do good for the planet. At Never Ever Boards he sells a

product called Sand Straw, a reusable drinking straw, whose manufacturer donates 10 percent of proceeds to help endangered wildlife. In summer, when the island’s population increases significantly, paddleboards are Never Ever Boards’ biggest seller. In 2020 he noticed a customer shift, with more visitors working here remotely during COVID-19 and many considering moving here as a permanent option. “In the last six months, the majority of people in the store have said, ‘Hey, we came down here during the pandemic, and rented for several months, and now we’re going to move here.’ And some have actually moved,” he says. “So, I’m thinking we’re soon going to have our busiest season.” He also sees the potential for skateboarding to become more popular, now that skateboarding is an Olympic sport. Troetti hasn’t forsaken his culinary training, however. He’s already planning a side gig, thanks to his time at Johnson & Wales. “It’s funny, because my senior project was on how to open a successful restaurant and still have a passion for cooking, so I plan to open a food truck here soon,” he says. “A lot of food trucks want to bounce, but if people see you in the same place a few times, and you market it on social media, they’re going to come. So I’ll do my own.” In the meantime, Troetti is thankful for his customers and his success in selling boards. “I’ve done well at my business, and I can only thank God for that,” he says. 

Want to go? Never Ever Boards 8813 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island (910) 933-6111 nevereverboards.com

Spring 2021

For investment opportunities, call Leesa Snyder at 910.777.1785

THE RIVER IS CALLING

On the shores of the captivating Cape Fear River, experience our beautifully appointed rooms, all with a galley kitchen. Relax on your terrace with its mesmerizing views, or sit poolside overlooking our sandy coastal shore. Unforgettable. OUR TEAM IS WAITING YOUR ARRIVAL

704 E. Moore Street • Southport, NC 28461 | 910.294.6070 | riverhotelsouthport.com

Proudly serving Brunswick County for 13 years.

www.Hwy55.com 4501 Main St, Shallotte, NC, 910.754.7571 Fresh, never frozen burgers, shrimp, chicken, sandwiches, salads, frozen custards & more! 66

South Brunswick Magazine

ART & CULTURE

Fired Up for Glass At Mystical Reflections in Calabash, Judy Rodriguez, Lisa Bason and Felecia Blair practice the art of stained glass and share their passion with others. BY BETH A. KLAHRE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENT GALLANT

Felecia Blair and mother-daughter pair Judy Rodriguez and Lisa Bason are as vibrant and artistic as the stained-glass artwork they produce at Mystical Reflections, their stained-glass shop in Calabash. Originally just a hobby for the three glass enthusiasts, Mystical Reflections has grown into a professional stained-glass art studio, glasssupplies shop and artist gallery named Gallery 17. Blair, Bason and Rodriguez have all become crazily obsessed with stained glass in the six

Felicia Blair, left, and Lisa Bason are co-owners of Mystical Reflections along with Judy Rodriguez.

Spring 2021

ART & CULTURE

years they have owned the Calabash location. Artists of all ages and all skill levels come here to learn and practice the intricate process of creating traditional stained glass and trendy fused-glass art. Rodriguez is the first person you meet when entering the shop. She started experimenting with stained glass in 2004 as a retirement hobby. “My first project was an angel,” she says. “After taking that class I was hooked. It’s amazing to me that I could take a pattern and glass and turn it into something so beautiful. Each of my projects is special to me.”

IT’S A SELLER’S MARKET! Buyer demand continues to outpace the amount of homes for sale, making it a great time to sell. All price points are needed! If you have any interest in selling, contact the Living Coastal Team today! FlexMLS Data updated January 2021

BRUNSWICK COUNTY REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT SINGLE FAMILY MEDIAN SALE PRICE CHANGE - YEAR TO DATE

INVENTORTY ABSORPTION RATE CHANGE - YEAR TO DATE

MEDIAN DAYS ON MARKET CHANGE - YEAR TO DATE

HOME VALUES UP

LOW COMPETITION

FASTER CLOSE

+20.83%

-55.02%

-43.90%

EDWINA ST. PIERRE BROKER/REALTOR®

MELONY RICE BROKER/REALTOR®

KAREN MESKILL BROKER/REALTOR®

910-616-8588 (call or text) Edwina@intracoastalrealty.com FREE Home Search APP: App.intracoastalrealty.com/Edwina

910-712-3515 (call or text) Melony@intracoastalrealty.com FREE Home Search APP: App.intracoastalrealty.com/Melony

910-448-4156 (call or text) KMeskill@intracoastalrealty.com FREE Home Search APP: App.intracoastalrealty.com/KMeskill

Living Coastal

T E A M

L I V I N G C O A S TA LT E A M . C O M 68

South Brunswick Magazine

Bason, who originally had absolutely no interest in stained glass, is the resident creative design artist. She attended Alamance Community College in Graham, North Carolina, learning commercial art design. Now she admits she’s caught the stainedglass bug, too. “I get such joy out of creating a piece of stained-glass art,” Bason says. “It’s my Zen. When I’m busy on a project, I become lost in the process and lose all track of time.” At the studio, Bason helps customers transform their ideas into art.

ART & CULTURE

Lisa Bason is the resident creative design artist.

“I am inspired by my clients’ visions,” she says. “Sometimes they know exactly what they want and sometimes they only have an idea. It can be an abstract piece or something more specific.” Since the piece of art will eventually hang in the client’s home, Bason ensures that it makes the client happy. Blair is responsible for marketing and public relations. She too has become obsessed with the artform and uses stainedglass projects as a way to relax from her full-time corporate job. Stained glass refers to colored glass and the art created from it. Blair explains it in simple terms: “It’s the glass seen in church windows and in sun catchers.” There is considerable symbolism behind the colors and patterns in stained glass. Blair adds, “Stained glass is a very old, almost lost art. It’s

magical watching a piece of square glass change into something like a delightful hummingbird. The multiple pieces eventually fit together, just like a puzzle.” There are multiple steps to creating stained glass art. It starts with choosing a pattern, picking colored or iridescent glass, tracing the pattern onto the glass and cutting out the pieces. Next comes grinding the rough edges so the pieces fit tightly together, wrapping in copper foil and covering with flux, soldering, polishing with patina and then final polishing. “It takes a lot of practice to make a beautiful bead of solder,” Blair says. “And polishing can sometimes take an hour to achieve polished perfection.” Fused glass, while similar to stained glass, does not require as much cutting of the glass and is more versatile. Blair says, Spring 2021

ART & CULTURE

Mystical Reflections has a full line of stained and fused glass supplies and offers instructional classes for those that wish to learn to make these artforms.

“A round disk can end up as a truly functional piece like a plate or a bowl.” Blair is currently experimenting with enamel painting, a combination of glass and paint that requires kiln firing. The shop has two kilns that reach more than 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit. Blair is designing sea life pendants. “Giving these pendants as gifts is immortality,” she says. “They can be handed down many times. I get a good, deep feeling from doing this type of piece.” In January 2020 the artists moved to a new location, growing their studio from 1,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet. “We started to get calls from people at the beach on vacation who wanted to take a stained-glass class,” Blair says. “But our space was too small. We were actually turning down business. Classes became a way to expand our business.” The new location accommodates beginner, intermediate and advanced workshops in stained glass, lead glass, fused glass and mosaics. Beginners start with a project with three to five pieces. After two beginner classes, students are ready for intermediate work with either more curves or a larger piece. The larger space also accommodates a supply store that carries all the tools necessary to get started, including grinders, glasscutters and soldering irons. And glass, of course, which comes in freight shipments of 50 pieces weighing an astonishing 500 to 700 pounds. The store offers art supplies and gift cards, both in-store and online. Gallery 17 sells stained- and fused-glass art, jewelry, baskets, 70

South Brunswick Magazine

ART & CULTURE

poured acrylic art, photography, folk art and pottery from more than 20 artists as well as pieces from each of the three owners. “If you want a unique, locally crafted gift, we are the hidden gem,” Blair says. She adds that the gallery has a small-town feel and is the place for artists to meet other artists and for customers to interact with artists. “We greet everyone,” she says. “Our customers are not just customers. We treat everyone like family.” It’s easy to understand why Blair becomes emotional when she talks about Mystical Reflections during COVID-19. “We appreciate the community’s business,” she says. “Without it, we would not be here. The generosity of strangers as well as our repeat customers is overwhelming.” Smaller classes with social distancing, masks and cleaning protocols throughout the spacious facility have enabled workshops, Gallery 17 and the supply shop to continue to operate during the pandemic. Blair concludes, “Come visit us. Take a class. Come see what it’s all about. You just might get fired up for glass.” 

Want to go? Mystical Reflections 225 Koolabrew Drive NW, Calabash (910) 575-3503 firedup4glass.com

Spring 2021

ALL NEW BUICK ENVISION

BUICK ENCORE GX SPORT

bellandbell.com • 843-399-8300 • Toll-Free 1-800-635-1693 Hwy 57 & Hwy 9 • Little River/N. Myrtle Beach

PIZZAS, PASTAS & GOURMET ITALIAN DISHES

VOTED BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT of Brunswick County ~ 2014, 2015, 2017 Open 7 days a week for Lunch & Dinner

Catering & Special Events

@angelosbistronc

910-754-2334 | AB. 110 Shallotte Crossing Suite D-3, Shallotte (across from Belk) 72

South Brunswick Magazine

 WD W  ∕ off Select Boles of Wine

 $10 S P T 

BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Milkshake, Anyone? At The Daily Scoop on Main in Shallotte, Theresa Langley makes delicious treats and shares her blessings with the people of her hometown.

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Shallotte native Theresa Langley has always loved working with children. After graduating from West Brunswick High School in 1983 and receiving her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, she spent 22 years working in the Pender County School System as well as being the youth director for the Boys & Girls Club in Pender and New Hanover counties. “My passion has always been working with and helping children,” she says, “so those jobs were perfect for me. To teach a child something new and see their reaction is so rewarding.” But after more than two decades in Pender and New Hanover counties, she was ready to return home to Shallotte to start a new life with the love of her life, Jeff Williamson. “It’s the place I love best, it’s home!” she says. She and Williamson opened The Daily Scoop on Main on Memorial Day weekend in 2017. While she’s not working directly with children any longer, she still gets to see young faces light up when she hands them a cool, tasty treat. At The Daily Scoop on Main, they have something for everyone. There’s frozen

The Daily Scoop on Main offers every frozen treat you can imagine: frozen yogurt, toppings bar, hand-dipped ice cream, soft serve, gelato, ice cream cakes, smoothies, milkshakes, sundaes, banana splits and more. Spring 2021

BEHIND THE BUSINESS

yogurt, a 60-plus item topping bar, 32 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream, old-fashioned banana splits, all-natural smoothies, sundaes, gourmet coffees, homemade ice cream cakes, pastries and much more. They also offer gluten-free, dairy-free, no sugar added, low-fat and non-fat products. Their items are the

real stuff made with real, wholesome products. Their latest rollout is Shake Ems — real milkshakes with yummy goodies that are served in Mason jars as keepsakes for the customers to take home. The Shake Ems milkshakes aren’t just plain old milkshakes — each is an

individual piece of artwork, and no two are exactly the same. Toppings vary from whipped cream to sprinkles, cookies, gummies, fruits, brownies, mini candy bars and more. “Something new and different is always happening at The Daily Scoop on Main,” Langley says, adding that they have a private room for birthday parties. The location in the heart of downtown in Shallotte Plaza on Main Street is perfect, Langley notes. “We are three doors down from Duffer’s Restaurant,” she says. “After lunch or dinner folks can come enjoy one of our many scrumptious treats.” When the shop opened Langley had three priorities to maintain daily: friendliness, cleanliness and offering an awesome product. By the reviews they receive, they have accomplished those goals. When a customer walks in, they are always welcomed. When Langley is working, they are going to hear, “Hey y’all, welcome to The Daily Scoop on Main, everyone.” An easy icebreaker to start a

PHOTO BY CLAIRE LYNCH CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

South Brunswick Magazine

BEHIND THE BUSINESS

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Theresa Langley’s grandson and sidekick, Chayton.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

conversation is asking the customer if they’re local and a member of the Local Reward Program. Langley assures everyone that even with the COVID-19 challenges, customers can still come and dine in at the tables and comfortable couches and spend time with family and friends as they enjoy their tasty treats and still feel safe. The shop has been very strict with abiding by the CDC guidelines and following the three Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash. They have taken extra steps to ensure the safest atmosphere possible. Carryout, curbside and delivery services are also available. Along with Langley, there are several part-time employees working in the

shop, including high school students, college students and one employee who is about the same age as Langley. “From all of the feedback we get, customers say that having one or two scoops of the Hershey’s hand-dipped ice cream we carry or getting to build their own masterpiece with our frozen yogurt and toppings makes their day,” Langley says. “It’s their happy place, it’s a break from their everyday routines where they can relax. They like coming here knowing they will be greeted with a smiling face and a warm welcome. We want them to immediately feel like they are part of The Daily Scoop family because our motto is ‘The Daily Scoop on Main, Spring 2021

BEHIND THE BUSINESS

“ where you are FAMILY not a customer!’” In Langley’s free time she loves to go fishing with her father, Milton Williams, or Williamson. “My parents have five daughters, and whenever Daddy wanted to go fishing, I was always by his side,” she says. “He taught me everything I know from baiting the hook and casting the line to, most importantly, how to wait patiently to reel in the big one, praying for a flounder, trout or redfish. Yes, he even taught me how to clean them!” Langley loves traveling with Williamson and looks forward to going to a new destination each spring. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, Lauren, as well as with her son, Christopher, his wife, Wendy, and their two sons, Preston and Chayton. Chayton likes being his Nanny’s sidekick at The Daily Scoop on Main. One of Langley’s priorities is giving back to the community. “Helping others was instilled in us as children by our parents,” she says. “There are people in need, and it’s the right thing to do.” The Daily Scoop on Main is involved with the community 76

South Brunswick Magazine

in many ways, from sponsoring a Dixie Youth Baseball team to running Dixie Youth Baseball concessions to partnering with WINGS Ministries in Ocean Isle Beach and their Backpack Full of Blessings Program. They also have percentnight fundraisers for nonprofit organizations and partner with the Shallotte Lions Club and Toys for Tots at Christmas. Langley loves being a part of a supportive community like Shallotte. “I got to see that during Hurricane Florence in 2018 and even more recently,” she says. “It’s a caring community, and customers showed their support by supporting small businesses.” 

Want to go? The Daily Scoop on Main 4924-5 Main Street, Shallotte (910) 755-3899 thedailyscooponmain@gmail.com Daily updates are posted on Facebook Hours are Sunday from 1 to 9 pm, Monday to Thursday from 12 to 9 pm and Friday and Saturday from 12 to 10 pm.

PHOTO BY CLAIRE LYNCH

It’s their happy place, it’s a break from their everyday routines where they can relax. They like coming here knowing they will be greeted with a smiling face and a warm welcome.

From Concept to Completion From home decor to furniture and ﬂooring, Island Classic Interiors is a trusted name in the design world. We host a bold selection of beautiful and contemporary home furnishings sure to bring color and style to any home.

Our Family of Publications — rooted in

COASTAL NORTH CAROLINA Summer 2020 | SouthBrunswickMagazine.com

Winter 2019-20

Monkeying Around

No place like home Marine veteran and local photographer Jason Shanahan finds his way to a career and place he loves.

BUSTER — A LOVING, SMART CAPUCHIN MONKEY — IS AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF THE SMITH FAMILY. C O M PL IM E N TA RY

LELAND’S NEW BUSINESSES

C O M PL IM E N TA RY

DR. OATES, BCS SUPERINTENDENT

NBHS MARCHING SCORPIONS

CARS4THECOUNTY

SHEAD’S BRITISH COTTAGE GARDEN

MODEL RAILROAD CLUB

 SCAN ME

View all of our publications online here or at CarolinaMarketingCompany.com

IslandClassics.now.site | 910.579.8477

115 CAUSEWAY DR. OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC

HORIZONS MEMORY CARE

We mii you! But we are all healthy and we’ll see you soon!

Our Horizons neighborhood offers a secure environment for seniors with Alzheimer's or a related dementia, who need extra care and attention to be able to thrive in spite of their cognitive impairments.







Horizons caregivers receive special training to understand and meet the changing needs of residents who struggle with memory loss.

Horizons residents benefit from higher caregiver-to-resident ratios.

Our full-time Horizons social director plans activities that are appropriate, engaging, and promote social involvement.

910-754-8080 schedule a tour today

ridgecare.com Spring 2021

Holden Beach grom Bella Faircloth rides a wave of success. BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN

South Brunswick Magazine

PHOTO BY JASON SHANAHAN

Spring 2021

“

It was pretty easy. I got on my first board, the Green Machine. It was stable and sturdy.

welve-year-old Bella Faircloth made waves in 2020 — or rather, rode them. She won Female Performer of the Year and placed second in the Open Women’s Shortboard category at the South Carolina Surf Dreams Tour. In the East Coast Wahine Classic Surfing Competition, she was named Iron Woman Champion of the Year and beat a competition record for the most heats in one day — 13. Now she has her sights set on qualifying for the world tour “as soon as possible!” A sixth grader at Southeastern Christian Academy in Holden Beach, Faircloth has already participated in more than 20 surf competitions, from Garden City, South Carolina, to the Outer Banks and everywhere in between. From the time she was 3, Faircloth was already on a board, being pushed in the water by her family. Then she took to the boogie board. From there, it was a natural progression to full-on surfing by age 7. 80

South Brunswick Magazine

“It took me one day to learn how to surf,” she says. “It was pretty easy. I got on my first board, the Green Machine. It was stable and sturdy.” She began competing on a serious level within the last year and a half. Surfing comes naturally for this third-generation surfer. She is inspired by her dad, Cane Faircloth, and his own surfing talent and love for the water. A Holden Beach native, Cane spent 16 years working in sales and marketing for the surf industry. He’s also a captain and owns Ollie Raja Charters, running inshore and offshore fishing charters in Holden Beach and Ocean Isle Beach. Her mom, Brea, doesn’t surf but is her daughter’s biggest cheerleader. “I pack the coolers for them when they go out,” she says. “I’m there to support her in whatever she decides to do; whatever she puts her mind to. She’s got a God-given talent, and I think she should go for it.”

PHOTO BY JASON SHANAHAN

It took me one day to learn how to surf.

PHOTO BY GENIE LEIGH

Faircloth and her dad, and often her friends, try to surf every day — “sometimes twice a day when the waves are good for us,” she says. Her favorite time of the day to surf is just before the sun comes up so she can watch the sunrise. What excites Faircloth about the sport is trying new maneuvers. She admits she can do some pretty good turns and is currently learning how to do airs (getting airborne and launching out of the water) and ride the barrel (riding inside the curve or barrel of a breaking wave). She is also excited to experience new adventures away from the East Coast. Faircloth wants to travel to California to visit some iconic surfing locations like Lower Trestles, a surfing spot at the San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County, and The Wedge, a spot located at the extreme southeast end of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California. “It has a huge, gnarly shore break — I want to go watch other people get pounded,” she says with a laugh. The family had tickets to go to California at the end of December, but due to rising COVID cases, they canceled the trip. Faircloth’s favorite type of surfing is shortboarding, which allows her to ride larger waves, ride faster and perform bigger turns. “What can I say? She’s young and wild,” Cane says. To date, Faircloth owns seven shortboards, many of which are custom shaped by Kelly Richards at Perfection Surfboards in Garden City. “He is good at shaping kids’ boards,” she says. “He designs them based on my weight and height. He makes the perfect surfboard just for you.” Local and national brands have embraced Faircloth as an ambassador with sponsorships. “I’m very thankful to have them,” she says. “Buell provides me with wetsuits, booties and gloves. Surf City Surf Shop helps me with board bags, pads, leashes and fins. And Sanuk helps me with my sandals.”

Spring 2021

PHOTOS BY JASON SHANAHAN

Smith Optics and Sun Bum Sunscreens are also sponsors. It should come as no surprise that Faircloth’s favorite subject in school is P.E. because she “gets to be outside and active.” When she isn’t surfing, she loves playing soccer. “She spent her spring and summer last year traveling for soccer contests, but when soccer was shut down due to COVID, surfing was full on,” Cane says. “That’s when she competed in the Surf Dreams Tour. It was the only contest in the country at the time.” If that’s not enough to keep Faircloth busy when the 82

South Brunswick Magazine

waves aren’t cooperating, she loves to skateboard, skimboard and snowboard. The outdoors also inspires her to fish and duck hunt. When she and her dad hunt, her 6-year-old Labrador retriever, Fin, loves to go along and retrieve the birds. Having been raised on the water around her dad’s charter business, Faircloth is no stranger to a fishing pole. She’s been known to hook a a few king mackerel and 100-pound sharks that are bigger than she is. “Some of them were so big, we had to tie her to the boat while she reeled them in,” Brea says.

in Full Bleum

Vintage Wares | Women’s Apparel | Wonderful Goods | Boutique Clothing Labels

Faircloth envisions that her future will include surfing. Her parents would love to see her attend the University of North Carolina Wilmington or a school in California where she can join the surf club or team. “I want to see her enjoying surfing and get a good education along the way,” Cane says. For now, Faircloth is enjoying being able to catch waves with her dad at Holden Beach, looking for an opportunity to practice her barrels and waiting patiently for the contest season to resume. 

WE CAN HELP! YOUR Wellness is OUR Passion. Seaside Wellness of Shallotte 4748 Main Street

Text "iPELLET" to 72000

910-754-2273 SeasideWellnessofShallotte.com Spring 2021

Picture Perfect

In Any Season

F avorite

We’re Southport’s For a Reason.

Best Italian Restaurant Most Romantic Restaurant Best Service & Best Meatballs Best Bistro

Waterfront Dining | Seafood | Pasta | Chops | Wine & Spirits

Saturday, May 8, 2021 10:00am-3:00pm Middleton Park Extension, Oak Island Admission is FREE CoastalHomeandLifestyleShow.com Meet local business people who specialize in maintaining your home and outdoor living space & supporting your healthy and active lifestyle. Sponsored by:

Delivering Business Opportunities...

Southport-Oak Island Area

Chamber of Commerce southport-oakisland.com 910.457.6964

South Brunswick Magazine

AROUND TOWN

Guardians of the River and Sea The only U.S. Coast Guard Station in Brunswick County, Station Oak Island works to coordinate the safe passage of maritime traffic and protect North Carolina’s southeastern coast. BY RICH O’DONNELL

PHOTOS COURTESY OF USCG STATION OAK ISLAND

Brunswick County is big in boating. According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, more than 10,000 recreational boats are registered here. Brunswick County is also home to a large fleet of commercial fishing and work vessels. The Cape Fear River is North Carolina’s busiest river — it’s the passageway from the Atlantic Ocean to the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina’s busiest seaport, and it also leads mariners to the Military

USCG patrols from Station Oak Island working on the Cape Fear River.

Spring 2021

AROUND TOWN

Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point, America’s largest munitions port. Hundreds of ocean-going vessels, including some of the largest vessels in the world, some carrying hazardous cargo, pass through the region’s waterways every year. All of these vessels navigate through challenging shoals and crowded channels to reach their destinations. Some vessels will experience emergencies at sea; they’ll be involved in collisions, run aground or catch fire. Some vessels may contain contraband like drugs or have persons onboard who are prohibited from entering the country. Coordinating the safe passage of all this marine traffic and assisting the mariners aboard these vessels are the United States Coast Guard personnel assigned to the only

TAILGATE SPECIAL

$31.99

INCLUDES:

8 – Piece Chicken, 2 – Dozen Hushpuppies, 1 – Pt. Bar-B-Q, 1 – Pt. Potato Salad 1 – Pt. Coleslaw, 1 – Gallon Tea

ASK ABOUT OUR BAR-B-Q CHICKEN

Daily Specials 2 Pints of Brunswick Stew only

$8.99

2 Thighs & Fry only

Leland

910.371.6900

Shallotte 910.754.5522

www.scnbnc.com 86

South Brunswick Magazine

$4.99

Coast Guard station in Brunswick County: Station Oak Island. Station Oak Island is easy to find. Located at the base of the Oak Island Lighthouse, the station is a hive of activity around the clock. It actually is home to three distinct units: first,

AROUND TOWN

“

Anybody who has been on the water knows that things happen, and you never know when you might need help. It is comforting to see the Coast Guard boats on patrol.

A view of the USCG Station Oak Island and Oak Island Lighhouse at sunrise.

the small boat station, a Coast Guard descriptor for a station that operates smaller vessels intended for search and rescue missions, law enforcement operations and coastal and maritime protection missions; second, the Coast Guard Cutter Bayberry; and third, the Aids to Navigation Team. Each of the units has a particular set of missions, but all the units work together when needed.

Station Oak Island is strategically located at a major maritime crossroads. The ocean, the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway intersect close by. In this unique location, snowbirds transiting south to Florida pass 1,200foot container ships and king mackerel fishermen returning from offshore trips navigate alongside commercial shrimpers heading out to sea. Spring 2021

Transforming Your Home

is an Art. .

Betsy Braddock | 910.754.9635 betsy@braddockbuilt.com | braddockbuilt.com

Wild Caught Seafd

Open for Lunch & Dinner

Fu Service Bar  InletView.com

 @shallottepoint  ThePoint@atmc.net

South Brunswick Magazine

AROUND TOWN

The station has served southeastern North Carolina for many years. Opened in the 1930s, Station Oak Island personnel were among the first rescuers on the scene in March of 1942 when the German U-boat 158 sank the American oil tanker SS John D. Gill just off Southport. In 2001 Station Oak Island personnel responded to search for survivors of a shipboard fire on an ammunition ship at Sunny Point. Every year they respond to Mayday calls from Wilmington to Myrtle Beach, often during the most severe weather. Senior Chief Petty Officer Josh R. Meyer, USCG, serves as the Officer-In-Charge of Station Oak Island. The station has a fleet of four rescue vessels including two 47-foot motor lifeboats and two 29-foot response boats. These vessels are multi-mission boats that serve as rescue vessels capable of serving in rough seas in offshore waters as well

Right: Machinist Technician Michael Moseley, USCG, a crew member on a USCG patrol from Station Oak Island, signals to the vessel operator. Below: Crew members of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Bayberry repositioning a buoy.

Spring 2021

AROUND TOWN

North Carolina, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and spend days at sea while traveling to assignments. Chief Thompson, a resident of Brunswick County, says, “Our primary mission is keeping the shallow-water inlets and crossings safe.” The Aids to Navigation Team is a specialized unit that manages and repairs all the aids to navigation between Little River, South Carolina, and the Onslow Swing Bridge near Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The Aids to Navigation Team is commanded by Petty Officer Christopher Fuentes, USCG, and is responsible for the management of more than 800 aids to navigation as well as 55 range light systems. One of their most visible aids to navigation is the Oak Island Lighthouse. The team is currently doing a major repair of the lighthouse. Petty Officer Fuentes described his team’s job as “keeping the buoys, beacons and light systems operating so that mariners can find safe water.” According to Petty Officer Fuentes, the greatest challenge is shifting shoals and keeping buoys where they need to be to guide vessel operators. Scott Aldridge is the co-president of the Cape Fear River Pilot’s Association. Local pilots guide the largest vessels from the ocean to the Port of Wilmington and Sunny Point. According to Aldridge, the job done by Coast Guard personnel from Station Oak Island is “highly valuable work and they do a job second to none.” He is particularly impressed by the work of the Aids to Navigation Team. “I can’t say enough about them,” Aldridge says. “Even with today’s technology, there is no substitute for an aid to navigation.” Recreational boaters also appreciate the presence of Coast Guard patrols on local waterways. Mike Bearden operates his 19-foot Carolina Skiff in search of fish and crabs and occasional sunsets. “Anybody who has been on the water knows that things happen, and you never know when you might need help,” Bearden says. “It is comforting to see the Coast Guard boats on patrol.” If you work or recreate on the waters of Brunswick County, know that the men and women of Coast Guard Station Oak Island stand ready to assist you. 

Station Oak Island’s 47-foot response boats prepare for heavy weather operations.

as law enforcement and maritime security vessels. According to Senior Chief Meyer, “Station Oak Island provides critical rescue, law enforcement and maritime security services to all the different types of mariners in our area: recreational boaters, commercial fishermen, ocean going vessels, two ferry services, military vessels and more. I am very proud of the work done by our personnel, who train and work hard to provide the best possible service while partnering with other government agencies.” Senior Chief Meyer also notes that the Cape Fear maritime and coastal communities are safeguarded every day due to working relationships with law enforcement and rescue partners. These partners include the North Carolina Marine Patrol, the Brunswick County and New Hanover County sheriff ’s offices, Wilmington Police Department and the local fire department marine units, including Oak Island Water Rescue, a valuable and efficient volunteer organization. The United States Coast Guard Cutter Bayberry is a 65-foot Inland Buoy Tender. Bayberry is commanded by Chief Petty Officer Christopher Thompson, USCG, who describes the ship as: “a unique platform designed specifically to work in the types of waterways we have.” Bayberry and her crew members repair and reposition buoys from Morehead City, 90

South Brunswick Magazine

Life is short.

Buy the beach house.

Sonya Blackmon Broker | REALTOR®

910.840.2370

Sonya@carolinaoneproperties.com

Spring 2021

South Brunswick Magazine

Business Profile

Wades Jewelers

BY MICHELLE MACKEN

ades Jewelers is a family-owned and -operated business that has been serving the Gibsonville, North Carolina, community since 1947. Three years ago, they expanded and are now providing the same great products and service that everyone has come to expect from them in Southport. At Wades they help customers celebrate and preserve special moments with fine jewelry. “There is no such thing as unimportant jewelry,” they always say. “It is always bought with love.” The full-service fine jewelry store specializes in custom design, repairs, appraisals, trade-ins, gold buy and anything else jewelry related. Setting them apart from their competitors is their commitment to quality and making sure that every single person leaves not only with the perfect piece of jewelry, but also knowing that they got the most for their money and made some new friends as well. Their team at the store is like family, and they operate with the sole purpose of making every single person feel welcomed and finding something for anyone and everyone. One of their favorite sayings is that “the most important person in the room is the one in front of us.” Wades Jewelers is an active member of the Southport/ Oak Island Chamber of Commerce and participates in as many community events as possible. COVID has slowed that aspect of the business down some, but they are planning on ramping that up as places reopen and events resume.

“We are so happy to be in Southport!” the owners say. “When we opened here three years ago we had no idea of the warm welcome we would receive and we can’t imagine being anywhere else! This town is beautiful and the people are amazing!” Wades Jewelers 701 N. Howe Street, Southport (910) 457-5800; wadesjewelers.net

Spring 2021

South Brunswick Magazine

SHALLOTTE INLET TIDE CHART

Apr il D a t e

High Tide AM Time (EST)

May Low Tide

PM Height Time (ft) (EST)

Height Time Height Time Height (ft) (EST) (ft) (EST) (ft)

D a t e

High Tide AM Time (EST)

June Low Tide

PM Height Time (ft) (EST)

Height Time Height Time Height (ft) (EST) (ft) (EST) (ft)

D a t e

High Tide AM Time (EST)

Low Tide PM

Height Time (ft) (EST)

Height Time Height Time Height (ft) (EST) (ft) (EST) (ft)