South Brunswick Magazine - Winter 2018/19 Edition by Carolina Marketing Company

Winter 2018-19 Winter 2018-19 || SouthBrunswickMagazine.com SouthBrunswickMagazine.com

Brunswickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WYATT WALTER is making his mark in

HOLLYWOOD

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Coming Soon to The Villages at Brunswick Forest

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

D FEATURES

FEATURES

WINTER 2018-19 D VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2

PHOTO BY ED BECKLEY

58 42 SMOKE ON WHEELS

PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLINE

PHOTO BY TIME 2 REMEMBER

With owner Dennis Sansoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for spreading joy through food, the Simply Barbecue food truck feeds the Brunswick community. By Ashley Daniels

58 CHASING WHISPERS

Hidden in the Green Swamp, Crusoe Island evades its mysterious roots. By Ed Beckley

72 STARS IN HIS EYES

Brunswick County teenager Wyatt Walter is making his mark in Hollywood. By Lauren Krouse

South Brunswick Magazine

IT’S TIME. TRANSFER TO UNCW. Soar into academic excellence. Dive deep into research, internships, and applied learning. Discover a new community and a beautiful campus—while staying close to home and within your budget. Imagine yourself joining the Seahawk family: small classes, big ideas, and constant innovation. UNC Wilmington offers 55 undergraduate majors and accepts up to 64 hours of credit from two-year institutions. Contact Leigh Smith, the Transfer Student Success Advisor dedicated to Brunswick County students, with questions about how to take flight at UNCW. Leigh Smith smithml@uncw.edu 910-962-7200

601 South College Road | Wilmington, NC 28403-5904 tel 910.962.3243 | admissions@uncw.edu uncw.edu/admissions

UNCW is an EEO/AA institution. Questions regarding UNCW’s Title IX compliance should be directed to TitleIX@uncw.edu.

Winter 2018-19

TABLE OF CONTENTS

D IN EVERY ISSUE D DEPARTMENTS

IN EVERY ISSUE 16 PUBLISHER’S NOTE by Justin Williams

18 CONTRIBUTORS

Meet the contributors to South Brunswick Magazine.

22 WHAT’S HAPPENING

Upcoming events you won’t want to miss.

28 BUSINESS BUZZ

Keeping up with the local business scene.

89 BUSINESS PROFILES

38 DEPARTMENTS

96 FACES & PLACES

37 SPIRITS

Tri-Chamber Business After Hours at Brunswick Community College

Cranberry Mimosas By Sandi Grigg

99 WHAT’S HAPPENED

38 WHAT’S COOKIN’

What’s been going on around town.

Chicken Deluxe By Sandi Grigg

104 SHALLOTTE INLET TIDE CHART

41 UP NORTH

Tracking the highs and the lows at Shallotte Inlet from June to August

What you’ll find in the Winter 2018–19edition of North Brunswick Magazine.

105 ADVERTISERS INDEX

Our directory of advertisers

51 NONPROFIT

The nondenominational chaplaincy program at Novant Health completes a fully rounded, wholeperson medical approach. By Ed Beckley

106 CAPTURE THE MOMENT

A contest for SBM readers

Pinnacle Storage; Grey Outdoor, LLC; College H.U.N.K.S Hauling Junk and Moving; Riptide Builders; Wilmington Health; Body Edge Fitness Studio

66 AROUND TOWN

Three Building Brunsco Kids Expos in 2019 will give youngsters a chance to show off their entrepreneurial skills. By Melissa Slaven Warren

83 COMMUNITY

Brunswick County Schools staff offer a helping hand to their fellow employees left homeless by Hurricane Florence. By Jo Ann Mathews

South Brunswick Magazine

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

98 SNIPPET

Women of Impact Awards and Luncheon.

PHOTO BY JAMES STEFIUK

PHOTO BY ED BECKLEY

Winter 2018-19

South Brunswick Magazine – Winter 2018-19 Volume 10, Issue 2 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: Lee Ann Bolton George Jacob

SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR: Lensey Wilson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Ed Beckley Michael Cline Laura Glantz Jessica Johns James Stefiuk Time 2 Remember Bill Ritenour Christian Viera

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Ed Beckley Ashley Daniels Sandi Grigg Lauren Krouse Jo Ann Mathews Annesophia Richards Melissa Slaven Warren

PUBLISHED BY: CAROLINA MARKETING COMPANY, INC.

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

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.

About the cover: Winter 2018-19 | SouthBrunswickMagazine.com

Brunswick’s WYATT WALTER is making his mark in

HOLLYWOOD

CRUSOE ISLAND

W W W . R I D G E C A R E . C O M | ( 910 ) 7 5 4 - 8 0 8 0 12

South Brunswick Magazine

SIMPLY BBQ VOLUNTEER CHAPLAINS

Michael Cline captured this image of Brunswick County resident Wyatt Walter, who might look like an ordinary 15-year-old but is, in reality, a busy Hollywood actor. Writer Lauren Krouse met with Wyatt and wrote the story that appears on page 72, detailing his acting career from his first role in The Rack Pack to his current role on season 9 of Shameless.

A SIGN OF SUCCESS

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Winter 2018-19

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

Letters

IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL

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

What does it mean to be IN good hands?Ð It means you get my personal attention. Not just today, but as your coverage needs change over the years. Let me help you choose the right amount of protection with a free Personalized Insurance Proposal. Call or stop in today.

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.

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Marketing Services

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South Brunswick Magazine

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Specialized care where you need it most

With Novant Health’s physician specialists located throughout Brunswick County, you don’t have to travel far from home for the care you need. Our experts are board-certiﬁed in a wide range of specialties, which means they have the knowledge and experience to provide care customized for you at every stage of life. We’re the neighbor you can count on to get you better and keep you healthy.

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Michael Applegate, MD

Phillip Khan, MD

Novant Health Endocrinology Shallotte • 910-721-4230 NovantHealth.org/endocrinologycalabash Chip Whitesides, MD Virginia Czimber, FNP-C

Novant Health Gastroenterology Brunswick Supply • 910-754-5988 nhgastroenterologybrunswick.org Scott Itzkowitz, DO Jonathan Lamphier, MD Charles Douglas Rice Jr., MD Katie Campbell, PA-C Misgana Gebeyehu, PA-C

Novant Health OB/GYN Bolivia, Leland, Carolina Shores and Southport 910-721-4050 NovantHealthobgyn.org Nicholas Bodenheimer, DO Tabitha Delo, MD Tracey McCarthy, DO Richard Thompson, DO Lee Toler, DO Li Xu, MD Sara Brown, FNP

Matthew Benenati, DO A. Richard DeSandre, MD Richard Scallion, MD Joseph Andrew Smith, MD Mark Tillotson, MD

Novant Health Urology Partners Bolivia, Southport, Carolina Shores and Leland 910-721-4150 nhurologypartnersbrunswick.org Lydia Laboccetta, MD Steven Robbins, MD

Novant Health Psychiatric Medicine Brunswick Shallotte • 910-721-4200 Heather Stoume Ellis, LCSW, MSW, LCAS, ICAADC

Learn more and find a doctor near you at MyNovant.org.

Winter 2018-19

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Wrapping Up 2018

South Brunswick Magazine

PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLINE

Thank you for reading our winter edition of South Brunswick Magazine. We appreciate all of the loyal readers who engage in both our print and online content throughout the year. Since 2005, when we started publishing magazines in Brunswick County, we’ve established a rapport with the local community, and we always welcome your feedback and story ideas. It was an interesting fall season leading up to the release of this winter edition. September’s Hurricane Florence impacted every life in Brunswick County in some way, shape or form. Some of us were mildly inconvenienced, while others experienced utter devastation. Those of us who still have a home to live in are extremely lucky, so let us not forget those who weren’t so fortunate this holiday season; make a donation to a local nonprofit organization like Brunswick Family Assistance if you can. We have a lot of great stories in this issue, including a look at the enigmatic community known as Crusoe Island. Ed Beckley visited the “island” — really it’s a peninsula — that’s sequestered in Columbus County’s Green Swamp and reported back with photographs and a story about its history. We also introduce you to Wyatt Walter, a Brunswick County teenager who’s hitting it big in Hollywood, as well as a corps of dedicated chaplains who provide interdenominational services at Brunswick Medical Center. Melissa Slaven Warren reports back from the frontlines of the popular Brunsco Kids Expo and tells us about the three similar events planned for 2019. Don’t stop here with our print edition of

South Brunswick Magazine. Follow us on Facebook to view our online exclusive stories. And be sure to sign up for our new weekly e-newsletter that will hit your inbox each Thursday. Just by signing up you are automatically entered to win gift cards to local restaurants each month. Again, we appreciate that you’re reading this magazine. Please support the advertisers who make it possible for us to bring you four issues a year and so many online exclusives about the people and places of northern Brunswick County. It’s been a year full of ups and downs, and we’re looking forward to 2019 being a great year in Brunswick County!

Justin Williams Owner/Publisher Publisher@SouthBrunswickMagazine.com

Frank Walter, Wyatt Walter and South Brunswick Magazine Publisher Justin Williams at the photo shoot for the story on page 72.

Winter 2018-19

CONTRIBUTORS

Ed Beckley CONTRIBUTING WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER

I am an award-winning writer and photographer formerly of the Outer Banks and now residing in Ocean Isle Beach. After serving as a reporter then city editor of the Winsted Evening Citizen in Connecticut, I spent 26 years as a manager of public relations and marketing for Verizon Communications and former Bell System companies. I have worked as a freelance writer for several Outer Banks news services, including Outer Banks Voice. I am a lifetime accredited member of the International Association of Business Communicators, and my photography has been displayed in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Melissa Slaven Warren CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I am a freelance writer and live in Sunset Beach. I earned my BA in English from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and am currently pursuing my masters in liberal studies from UNCW. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked as a freelance business writer, feature article author, nonfiction essayist, technical editor, entrepreneur and product and brand manager. My work has appeared in Our State magazine and I am a regular contributor to local publications. In my spare time I enjoy water sports and coastal living with my husband, Bill, and 110-pound rescue dog, aptly named Bear. Visit my website at melissaslavenwarren.com.

Mike Spencer CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

I am a freelance photojournalist with more than 15 years of experience in the field of photojournalism, documenting the people and places of North Carolina for several prominent newspapers. I attended Randolph Community College in Asheboro, North Carolina, where I earned an associateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in photographic technology with an emphasis on photojournalism. As someone who is an ardent animal-rights supporter, I have a passion for photographing pets and capturing moments that will reveal their personalities and characters. I donate my time and skills to help raise funds for several animal-related organizations, including Canines For Service and the Wilmington Fur Ball, in addition to producing the monthly PawPrints Magazine cover photo. My work can be viewed at michaelclinephoto.com.

South Brunswick Magazine

Winter 2018-19

South Brunswick Magazine

Winter 2018-19

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Enchanted Airlie

December 7 to 22 Airlie Gardens in Wilmington presents Enchanted Airlie, giving families the opportunity to share in the joy of the season with a half-mile, self-guided stroll through the gardens. This twinkling experience features festive lights, holiday displays and Santa Claus, plus local food and beverage vendors with coffee, hot chocolate, popcorn, cookies and more. Tickets are $30 to $55 per carload and must be pre-purchased. There are two viewing options to choose from: 5 to 7 pm and 7 to 9 pm. Information: (910) 798-7700; airliegardens.org

The Moonlighters in Concert

December 14 The Leland Cultural Arts Center presents an evening of Big Band and swing music with The Moonlighters. From 7 to 9 pm you can enjoy the music and dancing for only $10. Information: (910) 371-3391; friendslcac.org

Holiday Treasures & Gifts

Through December 18 Come to Franklin Square Gallery from 10 am to 4 pm to

see what the artists have been making. An array of unique ornaments, ceramic jewelry, needlework, hand-painted glassware and other gift items will be offered for sale. Information: (910) 457-5450; franklinsquaregallery.com

Brunswick Civil War Round Table

January 9 Ed Bearss returns for the eighth consecutive time to the Civil War Round Table at the Hatch Auditorium at N.C. Baptist Assembly on Caswell Beach. This event starts at 6:15 pm, and Bearss will captivate his audience with his unique presentation style and incredible memory of facts, dates and events. The topic this event will be “Reflections on the Civil War.” Information: (910) 278-3545; brunswickcivilwarroundtable.com

Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Awards Gala

January 18 Join Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce at the 2018 Chairman’s Awards Gala honoring businesses and individuals. The theme for this year’s gala is Island Oasis, and the dress code is Island Happy. Tickets are $50 per

Holiday Treasures & Gifts

South Brunswick Magazine

WHAT’S HAPPENING

person. The event will take place at The Isles Restaurant on Ocean Isle Beach from 5:30 to 9 pm. Information: brunswickcountychamber.org/chairmansawards/

Ocean Isle Beach Bridge Run for Food

January 19 The Ocean Isle Beach Bridge Run for Food will be held in beautiful Ocean Isle Beach. Choose between the halfmarathon, a 10K run/walk or a 5K run/walk to get the distance that is just right for you. These races begin at 9 am and both challenge and inspire you while you enjoy the spectacular views from atop the Ocean Isle Beach Bridge. Entry fee is $35. Information: ncbrunswick.com

The Silver Coast Bridal Show

Club President back to the Leland Area Rotary Club (LARC). This event will be held at Planet Fun and will take place from 6 to 10:30 pm. Information: shallotterotaryclub.com

Livingston Taylor in Concert

January 25 Come to Odell Williams Auditorium on January 25 at 7 pm to enjoy the music of Livingston Taylor. Tickets for adults are $44.50. Taylor was born in Boston and was raised in North Carolina and recorded his first record at the age of 18. From top-40 hits “I Will Be in Love with You” and “I’ll Come Running,” Livingston’s creative output has continued unabated. Information: bccowa.com

Las Vegas Night

January 26 The 2019 Las Vegas Night is sponsored by the Shallotte Rotary Club and will benefit local charities and scholarships. Enjoy a night of Blackjack, Craps, Texas Hold ‘Em and more, with great prizes, food and entertainment. Tickets are $75 and the Shallotte Rotary Club has agreed to donate $25 for each ticket purchased from the Leland

The Silver Coast Bridal Show

January 27 Meet local caterers, photographers, officiates, bakers, DJs, entertainers, transportation services, venue representatives, event planners and florists all while discovering the beauty of the Brunswick Islands. Admission is free, and this event will take place at the Silver Coast Winery on Ocean Isle Beach. Information: (910) 287-2800

North Carolina Jazz Festival

January 31 to February 2 The 39th annual North Carolina Jazz Festival will take place at the Ballast Hotel in downtown Wilmington. It includes an opening night featuring Grenoldo Frazier, followed by Brazilian born vocalist Maucha Adnet and her husband, Duduka da Fonseca. Tickets range from $15 to $225, and each night will feature seven sets with six or seven musicians. Information: (910) 793-1111; ncjazzfestival.com

Winter 2018-19

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Bella Italia

February 2 Bella Italia is one of Brunswick Community College Foundation’s largest and most anticipated events of the year. It offers foodies and wine lovers a culinary adventure through the tastes and sips of fine Italian fare. Tickets, $100 per person, are required. This event takes place at 101 Stone Chimney Place in Supply. Information: (910) 755-6530

50th Anniversary of Holden Beach

February 14 to 16 Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Town of Holden Beach with the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. There will be a host of events that span from Thursday through Saturday. Information: (910) 842-6488; hbtownhall.com

The 5th Dimension in Concert

February 15 The 5th Dimension has released more than a dozen hit albums and received 14 gold records, six platinum records and six Grammy Awards. Their classics include hits such as “Up, Up and Away” and “One Less Bell To Answer.” Tickets are $44.50, and the show starts at 7 pm at the Odell Williamson Auditorium. Information: bccowa.com

Special Olympics Polar Plunge 24

South Brunswick Magazine

The 5th Dimension in Concert

Special Olympics Polar Plunge

February 23 Special Olympics Brunswick County is proud to announce its inaugural Polar Plunge fundraising event on February 23 at Middleton Park on Oak Island. Special Olympics Brunswick County supports hundreds of intellectually disabled local athletes in basketball, softball, bocce, golf, cycling, soccer, tennis, bowling, cycling, swimming and volleyball. Some of these athletes compete in the state competitions versus other counties to qualify for national and international competitions. Others compete in the annual local Spring Games or during school sports clinics. As the time gets closer

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Winter 2018-19

WHAT’S HAPPENING

there will be more details on the day’s activities. Be sure to save the date for Freezin’ For A Reason to benefit Special Olympics Brunswick County. Too chicken to plunge? There will be a way for you to participate as well. Information: (910) 253-2670

Coastal Consumer Showcase

March 7 Local businesses will display their goods and services at this event at the St. James Community Center from 4 to 7 pm. If you are new to the area or just want to know what’s new, the Coastal Consumer Showcase is a must attend event. The relationship you can develop by face to face interaction is extremely valuable. There will be free admission, free samples, giveaways, a $100 cash drawing and a pick-a-prize auction. Information: (910) 457-6964

Dr. Dan Spagnoli is pleased to announce the opening of his new coastally designed, state-of-the-art Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Center in Supply, NC. Come and see for yourself, meet the staff or schedule a visit!

Mardi Gras by the Sea People & Pet Parade & Festival

March 9 Oak Island Parks & Recreation will host its Mardi Gras by The Sea People & Pet Parade & Festival on Saturday, March 9. The parade will begin at 1 pm near the center of Oak Island and will end on Middleton Park soccer field. Following the parade, the festival will consist of games for kids, live entertainment, a Mardi Gras Pet Parade and costume contest. Information: (910) 278-5518; oakisland.recdesk.com

Brunswick County Intercultural Festival

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

90 Medical Center Drive SW Supply, NC 28462 - brunswickoralsurgery.com 26

South Brunswick Magazine

March 10 Celebrate the diversity of the world and the cultural history of Brunswick County at the Brunswick County Intercultural Festival. This free event will take place from 2 to 7 pm on the Odell Williamson Auditorium lawn. Festival goers will have the opportunity to learn more about different cultures that reside in and around our county while enjoying ethnic food, performing artists, children’s activities, dance demonstrations and a passport to culture. There will be an International Village featuring more than 20 countries and cultures from Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. Information: (910) 842-6566

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Winter 2018-19

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of these properties. The features and amenities described and depicted herein are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change without notice. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy real estate in any jurisdiction where registration or advance qualification is required but not completed. © Brunswick Forest Realty, LLC Licensed NC Real Estate Brokerage Firm

BUSINESS BUZZ

BEMC Offers Cooperative Youth Tour to Local Students

and emergency aid. Based in Denver, Co., CoBank is a cooperative bank that serves rural infrastructure providers and recently offered a matching grant program to CoBank customers designated for Hurricane Florence relief.

Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) will send two high school students, one from Brunswick County and one from Columbus County, on an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June of 2019 through the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. The students will join peers from North Carolina and across the United States for a week-long adventure in which they will meet their Congressional Representatives and Senators, tour historic sites and visit museums. They will also establish a mini-cooperative during the week, gaining valuable insight into the cooperative business model and how it works. While student groups are organized at the state level, they all gather for Youth Day to hear featured speakers who provide insight to the important roles electric cooperatives play in their communities. Nearly 50,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America have participated in this educational program. Applications are open to all high school juniors and seniors in BEMC’s service area and are available at the cooperative’s website, bemc.org. Students are required to submit an essay and a completed application by January 15, 2019. Winners will be notified by February 1, 2019.

Ribbon Cutting for Landmark Sotheby’s

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

On August 30 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome Landmark Sotheby’s International Realty to the chamber. They are located at 120 Causeway Drive, Suite 2, in Ocean Isle Beach.

Brunswick Electric Grants $100,000 to Local Storm Relief Efforts Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) has designated two local nonprofits as recipients of a matching grant opportunity through CoBank. BEMC presented checks totaling $100,000 to representatives from Columbus County Disaster Response, Inc. and Brunswick Family Assistance, each receiving $50,000 in funding for hurricane relief. BEMC General Manager and CEO Don Hughes presented a check for $50,000 to Brunswick Family Assistance executive director Stephanie Bowen for hurricane relief efforts. Brunswick Electric presented a check for $50,000 to representatives from Columbus County Disaster Response, Inc.

Ribbon Cutting for Brunswick Organizing Solutions

South Brunswick Magazine

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Pictured left to right are Doug Sasser, David Heller and BEMC General Manager and CEO Don Hughes. Both organizations operate at a capacity to serve thousands of people affected by the recent storm and whose work includes mid- to long-term relief

On August 1 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome Brunswick Organizing Solutions as a new chamber member. Brunswick Organizing Solutions can be reached by calling (630) 640-3821.

BUSINESS BUZZ

Communities In Schools of Brunswick County (CIS) Receives Grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to Support Youth Literacy

Dosher Cardiac Rehabilitation Earns National Certification

Bell’s Supply 30th Business Anniversary

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded CIS a $2,436 grant to support youth literacy. This grant is part of more than $3.4 million the organization awarded to 915 recipients on August 28, 2018. Awarded annually at the beginning of the academic school year, youth literacy grants help support teachers, schools and nonprofit organizations throughout the 44 states that Dollar General serves. Communities In Schools utilizes Success Coaches who work as embedded members of the school team at an assigned school, providing additional support outside of the classroom for students who struggle to keep pace in reading and other academic areas. Working with an individualized Student Support Plan, each student receives services to support his or her individual needs and goals. The Success Coach, along with community volunteers, works with students one-on-one and in small groups to help grow reading fluency and comprehension. Reading intervention is one element of support CIS provides as part of an overall intervention plan that can also address issues such as truancy, behavior and other coursework needs. To date, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $159 million in grants to schools, libraries and literacy organizations as part of its commitment to increase literacy skills for individuals of all ages.

with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure. All treatment plans include a combination of exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families. AACVPRcertified programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation because they offer the most advanced practices available. AACVPR Program Certification is valid for three years.

Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce members recently came out to support Bell’s Supply’s 30th Business Anniversary. For 30 years Bell’s Supply has been a family-owned and -operated business. In those 30 years they have installed more than 35,000 HVAC systems in the Southport-Oak Island area. Providing excellent customer service is their number one priority, with a “no job is too big or small” attitude. They are on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year. They are located at 4392 Long Beach Road in Southport. Contact them at (910) 278-3261 for more information.

Dosher Partners with NHRMC Group for Cardiology Services at Wellness Center CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) has certified the cardiac rehab program based at Dosher Wellness Center for its commitment to improving quality of life by enhancing standards of care. Dosher’s is the only cardiac rehabilitation program in Brunswick County to hold this distinction. Patients include those who have had heart attacks and coronary artery bypass or other surgeries as well as people

Dosher and NHRMC Physician Group - Cape Fear Heart Associates announced that the cardiology practice will lease about one-third of the second floor at Dosher Wellness Center. Boardcertified cardiologist Dr. James W. McCriskin with Cape Fear Heart Associates has been seeing patients at an office on the first floor of the Wellness Center since June 2017. Starting in September, the practice will occupy more than 4,000 square feet of space on the second floor that has been customized for this cardiology group. September marked the second anniversary of the Wellness Center that includes Dosher services for family medicine, cardiac rehabilitation and physical therapy services and NHRMC Physician Group - Atlantic Urology.

Winter 2018-19

BUSINESS BUZZ

Ribbon Cutting for Sherwin Williams

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

On August 10 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome The Sherwin Williams Company to the chamber. The Sherwin Williams Company is located at 3105 Holden Beach Road in Supply.

McLeod Loris Seacoast Names New Chief Medical Officer

South Brunswick Magazine

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Dr. Ross Taylor has been named Vice President of Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer at McLeod Loris Seacoast, the premier provider of medical care in Horry County. Prior to joining the senior leadership team at McLeod Loris Seacoast, Dr. Taylor served as chief medical officer at SOVAH Health in Danville, Virginia, for three years. Before his leadership roles in hospital administration, Taylor was in private practice as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgery in Conway, South Carolina. McLeod Loris and McLeod Seacoast hospitals are part of McLeod Health. Headquartered in Florence, South Carolina, the not-for-profit McLeod is the region’s leading healthcare provider and is recognized throughout the Carolinas for its dedication to improving the health of the communities it serves. McLeod’s modern facilities and state-of-the-art technology are supported by a staff known for considering their commitment to service a calling. Dr. Taylor earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Georgetown University. His fellowship in adult reconstructive foot and ankle surgery was done at the Center for Orthopedic Care at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Most recently, Dr. Taylor earned his master’s degree

BUSINESS BUZZ

t a c t s w f F t h

in business administration from Auburn University. He has numerous professional memberships, including the American College of Healthcare Executives and Medical Group Management Association. In addition to his leadership duties, Dr. Taylor will also join the McLeod Orthopaedics Seacoast team as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgery. He joins an outstanding team of surgeons including Dr. Eric Heimberger, Dr. Christopher Walsh, Dr. David Lukowski and Dr. Pete Lukowski. Dr. Taylor and his wife, Diana, have a 4-year-old son, Max. His personal interests include fly-fishing, open-water swimming and running.

Ribbon Cutting for McLeod Seacoast New Patient Tower

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

O h B t

On September 10 McLeod Seacoast opened its highly anticipated new patient bed tower. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on September 5, with an open invitation to the public to attend. The 108,000-square-foot expansion gives residents in Horry and Brunswick counties a new medical home. The first floor greets visitors with an expanded patient registration area and includes renovated outpatient testing areas and rehabilitation services as well as business offices, a gift shop and convenient concourse to access the new emergency department and cafeteria. The second and third floors will have spacious accommodations for 36 patient rooms on each floor with clinical services strategically located nearby. In 2014 the McLeod Health Board of Trustees approved expansion plans for McLeod Seacoast to grow to 50-bed community hospital into a 105-bed state-of-the-art medical facility to serve the community.

A p n t t i a w t v c F a m

New Provider Joins Novant Health Family & Internal Medicine South Brunswick Novant Health is pleased to welcome Dr. De Lora Cummings to Novant Health Family & Internal Medicine South Brunswick. Dr. Cummings has been serving patients on a part-time

South Brunswick Magazine

Winter 2018-19

BUSINESS BUZZ

funds, D.A.R.E. will be able to better remind students about the importance of “ just saying no.” BRUNSWICK COUNTY SCHOOLS EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN DEPARTMENT (RYANNE ZAVACKY) Through the EC Chromebook Check Out program, students will be able to check out Chromebooks to take home overnight. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

basis and joined the clinic fulltime in September. She’s accepting new patients. Dr. Cummings is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She completed her bachelor’s of science degree in biology from Union College in Schenectady, New York, and received her medical degree at Albany Medical College in Albany, New York. Most recently, she served as a primary care physician at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Dr. Cummings is also a U.S. Army veteran. Novant Health Family & Internal Medicine South Brunswick is located at 75 Emerson Bay Road SW, Suite 102, in Carolina Shores. The clinic is open Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.

JESSIE MAE MONROE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (VENICE PRICE) In the Chromebooks for Math program, students will be able to better excel in math class and become 21st-century-ready learners. LELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL (VERDALE DIAL-HARRISON) Via the Chromebooks & Headphones for LMS EC program, students who struggle with reading grade-level content, text comprehension and following along during read-alouds will be able to utilize Chromebooks and headphones to better assist them during instructional time. In addition, apps can be used to track progress and give immediate feedback for students. NAKINA MIDDLE SCHOOL (CARLA STEWART) Through the Teaching Typing for Career Readiness program, students will now be able to utilize an Edutyping Software that will better help them in their Career Readiness Program.

ATMC Awards $35,000 in Education Grants to Local Schools

SHALLOTTE MIDDLE SCHOOL (BRICE HORTON) With the Greenhouse Growing program, students will be able to utilize problem-solving, innovation and collaboration skills by creating a greenhouse to learn about plants, including parts, adaptations and ecological interactions between plants and other organisms.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

ATMC recently awarded $35,000 in grant funds to 19 educators and organizations for programs that expand educational opportunities for Brunswick County and Columbus County students. The cooperative held a reception at its Shallotte location, where recipients shared information about their programs and how the grant funds will enhance the lives of the students and communities. This year’s grant recipients were: BELVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (TRIXIE DANCY) Through the Growing With Me program, students in each grade will be able to grow a garden and integrate it into science and math classes. BRUNSWICK COUNTY ACADEMY (SUSAN TIETJE) With the Principles of Business & Finance program, students will be able to utilize drones to create marketing materials for businesses and see the economic impact marketing has on organizations. BRUNSWICK COUNTY SCHOOLS D.A.R.E. PROGRAM (DEPT. JEREMY FERGUSON) Via educational supplies that can now be purchased by grant 32

South Brunswick Magazine

SHALLOTTE MIDDLE SCHOOL (JENNIFER MURPHY) Through the Media Center Makerspace program, students will now have whiteboard project tables in the school’s media center to encourage collaboration and brainstorming, in turn making learning more fun. SOUTH BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL (MICHELLE HINES) Through the More Empathetic Me! program, which is an extension of health science education classes, students will now be able to have first-hand exposure to careers in the healthcare industry. SOUTH BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL (BEKE LINDSAY) In the Rose By Any Other Name program, the school’s agriculture land lab will be able to provide various hand tools for its horticulture program. SOUTH BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL (DONNA MOONEYHAM) Through the Bouncing Off The Walls program, students will be able to utilize fitness balls in the school’s sensory room to help improve focus, attention and concentration for special needs classes. SOUTHPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (RENEE SCHROM) Through TouchMath and Reading Eggs programs, exceptional needs students will be able to improve their math skills through interactive, multi-sensory applications and also utilize internet reading tools to help track progress, all of which will help increase test scores.

M LEOD M MC C LEODORTHOPAEDICS ORTHOPAEDICS ORTHOPAEDICSSEACOAST SEACOAST SEACOAST M CCLEOD LEOD ORTHOPAEDICS SEACOAST

Provides Provides Excellence Excellence Provides

in Foot & Ankle Care. in Foot & Ankle Care. in Foot

McLeod Seacoast is Recognized as a 5-Star Facility McLeod McLeod Seacoast Seacoast Recognized Recognized asas asaaa5-Star 5-StarFacility Facility McLeod Seacoast Recognized 5-Star Facility for Overall Qualityisisisof Care in Orthopaedics by PRC*. for for Overall Overall Quality Quality of of Care Care in in Orthopaedics Orthopaedics PRC* . .. for Overall Quality of Care in Orthopaedicsbyby byPRC* PRC* Dr. Ross Taylor Dr. Dr. Ross Ross Taylor Taylor Dr. Ross Taylor

We Specialize In: We We Specialize Specialize In: In: • Foot & Ankle Surgery We Specialize In: ••• Foot •Joint Foot & & Ankle Ankle Surgery Replacement Foot & AnkleSurgery Surgery ••• Joint •Hand Joint Replacement Replacement & Upper Joint Replacement •• Hand •Extremity Hand Upper Surgery Hand &&&Upper Upper Extremity Extremity Surgery • Osteoarthritis Extremity Surgery Surgery ••• Osteoarthritis •Arthroscopy Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis ••• Arthroscopy • Arthroscopy Fracture Care Arthroscopy ••• Fracture •Shoulder, Fracture Care Hip Fracture Care Care ••&Shoulder, •Shoulder, Shoulder, Hip Hip Knee Surgery Hip & & Knee Knee Surgery Surgery •& Sports KneeMedicine Surgery •• Sports •Sports SportsMedicine Medicine Medicine

McLeod Orthopaedics Seacoast is pleased to announce the we have McLeod McLeodOrthopaedics OrthopaedicsSeacoast Seacoastisisispleased pleasedtoto toannounce announcethe the have have McLeod Orthopaedics Seacoast pleased announce thewewe we expanded our already extensive range of orthopaedic services to have include expanded expandedour ouralready alreadyextensive extensiverange rangeofof oforthopaedic orthopaedicservices servicestoto include include expanded our already extensive range orthopaedic services to include foot and ankle care and surgery. We also want to welcome Ross Taylor, MD, foot foot and and ankle ankle care care and and surgery. surgery. We We also also want want to to welcome welcome Ross Ross Taylor, Taylor, MD, MD, and ankle surgeon, care and surgery. We alsoHe want toalso welcome Ross afoot highly-skilled to our practice. will serve as theTaylor, Chief MD, aaahighly-skilled highly-skilledsurgeon, surgeon,toto toour ourpractice. practice.He Hewill willalso alsoserve serve asasthe theChief Chief highly-skilled surgeon, our practice. will also serve Medical Officer for McLeod Loris Seacoast.He Dr. Taylor joins as the Chief Medical MedicalOffi Offi cer cerfor forMcLeod McLeodLoris LorisSeacoast. Seacoast.Dr. Dr.Taylor Taylorjoins joins Medical Offi cer for McLeod Loris Seacoast. Dr. Taylor joins and Dr. Eric Heimberger, Dr. David Lukowski, Dr. Peter Lukowski Dr. Dr. Eric Eric Heimberger, Heimberger, Dr. Dr. David David Lukowski, Lukowski, Dr. Dr. Peter Peter Lukowski Lukowski and and Dr.Christopher Eric Heimberger, Dr.providing David Lukowski, Dr. care Peterusing Lukowski and Dr. Walsh in orthopaedic the latest Dr. Dr.Christopher ChristopherWalsh Walshinin inproviding providingorthopaedic orthopaediccare careusing using the the latest Dr. Christopher Walsh providing orthopaedic care using thelatest latest advancements in minimally-invasive techniques & surgical procedures. advancements advancements in in minimally-invasive minimally-invasive techniques techniques & & surgical surgical procedures. procedures. advancements in minimally-invasive techniques & surgical procedures. We welcome new patients. Some appointments may require a We Wewelcome welcomenew newpatients. patients.Some Someappointments appointmentsmay may require We welcome new patients. Some appointments mayrequire requirea aa physician referral. Call 843-390-0100 for more information. physician physicianreferral. referral.Call Call843-390-0100 843-390-0100for formore moreinformation. information. physician referral. Call 843-390-0100 for more information.

McLeod Orthopaedics Seacoast McLeod McLeod Orthopaedics Orthopaedics Seacoast Seacoast McLeod Seacoast 3980 Hwy 9 E,Orthopaedics Suite 200, Little River, SC 29566

3980 3980Hwy Hwy999E, Suite200, 200,Little LittleRiver, River,SC SC29566 29566 843-390-0100 3980 Hwy E,E,Suite Suite 200, Little River, SC 29566 843-390-0100 843-390-0100 843-390-0100

McLeodSeacoast.org McLeodSeacoast.org McLeodSeacoast.org A Campus of McLeod Loris McLeodSeacoast.org A Campus A Campus of McLeod of McLeod Loris Loris A Campus of McLeod Loris

* Professional Research Consultants, Inc. (PRC) is a research organization that conducts consumer, physician, and patient research for more than 2,000 hospitals nationwide. Winter 2018-19 33 Annually, PRC recognizes the nation’s top healthcare and physicians through PRC Excellence inand Healthcare Awards. * Professional * Professional Research Research Consultants, Consultants, Inc. Inc. (PRC) (PRC) is aisresearch a organizations research organization organization that that conducts conducts consumer, consumer, physician, physician, and patient patient research research forfor more more than than 2,000 2,000 hospitals hospitals nationwide. nationwide. * Professional Research Consultants, Inc. is a research organization that conducts consumer, physician, and patientAwards. research Annually, Annually, PRC PRC recognizes recognizes thethe nation’s nation’s top(PRC) top healthcare healthcare organizations organizations andand physicians physicians through through PRC PRC Excellence Excellence in in Healthcare Healthcare Awards.for more than 2,000 hospitals nationwide. Annually, PRC recognizes the nation’s top healthcare organizations and physicians through PRC Excellence in Healthcare Awards.

BUSINESS BUZZ

SUPPLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (JENNIFER HODGES) With the A WONDERful Way To Spread Kindness program, students will be able to use the book Wonder to learn about kindness, anti-bullying, social skills and character building.

early 2019. ATMC Board President Douglas H. Hawes spoke about the cooperative’s most recent capital credit allocation and thanked the employees for their work to restore services after Hurricane Florence. In total, more than 1,850 members registered for this year’s meeting.

TOWN CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (BRITTANY HOLDREN) Through iPads For Structured Behavior Support, students will be able to utilize iPads to improve their studies in the classroom.

Ribbon Cutting for Carolina Shirt Company

TOWN CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (JESSICA MORGAN) With the Accessibility & Adaptive Materials for Exceptional Learners program, students with physical impairments and hand/ eye coordination delays will be able to use Sportime Successball kits to gain greater access to sports activities.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (ALLISON HUNTER) Through the Learning Alive Studios program, special needs students will now have a curriculum that uses augmented reality to increase engagement, reading comprehension and sentence building. WACCAMAW SCHOOL (JANET CATE) Using the Traveling The World With Virtual Reality program, students will be able to travel to places they’ve only read about in books utilizing virtual reality kits for global field trip destinations. WACCAMAW SCHOOL (MARGARET ZENG) Through the Science Stations Using Technology program, students can now use Chromebooks to access technology programs and will be encouraged to participate in STEM initiatives such as the First Robotics Team and the Science Olympiad.

On October 15 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome Carolina Shirt Company to the chamber. Carolina Shirt Company is located at 262 KoolaBrew in Calabash.

ATMC began awarding community and education grants in 2006. Since then they have awarded $605,000 to 361 programs. ATMC will again begin accepting applications for its community and education grants in early 2019.

McLeod Loris Seacoast Names New Associate Vice President of Quality and Safety ATMC Holds 61st Annual Meeting of Members

South Brunswick Magazine

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Atlantic Telephone Membership Corporation (ATMC) held its 61st Annual Meeting of Members on October 5 at the Odell Williamson Auditorium on the campus of Brunswick Community College. Attendees enjoyed a barbecue dinner and special entertainment by the Duke Ladd Band. The Brunswick County Sheriff ’s Office Quartet performed the National Anthem. A total of $3,000 in cash prizes was given away, with Nancy Vereen claiming the $750 grand prize. Directors Albert H. “Al” Parker, Jr. (District 5), R. Gene Ward (District 7) and John W. “Buster” Dowless (Western Region) were each re-elected for three-year terms to the cooperative board. Keith Holden, ATMC CEO and general manager, spoke about the year’s successes, the progression of ATMC’s five-year expansion and upgrade plan, and also announced the return of a wireless product slated for availability in

McLeod Loris Seacoast is pleased to announce that Lisa Byrd, BSN, MPH, has been named Associate Vice President of Quality and Safety. Byrd joins the McLeod Loris Seacoast team from McLeod Dillon where she was Associate Vice President of Quality and Safety. She joined McLeod Health in 2016. Prior to joining McLeod Health, Byrd served in a variety of leadership roles such as Chief Nursing Officer and President of a 25-bed critical access hospital. Her knowledge of operational and clinical effectiveness will be critical to the continued quality work of McLeod Health. She looks forward to her new role and will strive to continuously improve the quality of care delivered by McLeod Loris Seacoast. Byrd and her husband, Jerry, reside in Orrum, North Carolina, and have three adult children and six grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys bicycling, reading, horseback riding, volunteer work for local missions and spending time with her grandchildren.

Winter 2018-19

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South Brunswick Magazine

TrusstBuilderGroup.com 910.371.0304

SPIRITS

Bubbly Good Cheer

It’s that time of year again – full of joy, family, friends and booze! BY SANDI GRIGG

If you choose to celebrate any part of your holiday season with a cocktail, you are going to absolutely love this easy and festive recipe for Cranberry Mimosas. The inspiration for this drink recipe was a rosemary plant a friend gave me a few years back. The plant is a wonder: It has since grown to three times its original size, and I am continually plucking sprigs for sachets around the house or as a unique substitution for a bow on a gift. I also use rosemary in as many recipes and cocktails as I can, and it looks so pretty protruding from this cheerful cocktail. Hint: If you want your rosemary plants to thrive, bring them inside during the winter. In this drink, the aroma from the rosemary mixed with the orange-infused sugar is subtle and adds to the delightful sensation of this sparkling drink. The beautiful red color lends to the holiday spirit, making you and your guests feel special. These mimosas are perfect for an evening holiday party or festive brunch. Cranberry juice is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, so it’s basically a healthy option! Here’s to the memories we will create with our families and friends as we pour some much needed holiday cheer!

Cranberry Mimosas Serves 2 INGREDIENTS Cranberry cocktail juice

Rim the champagne flute with an orange slice and twirl the rim in the sugar.

Orange slices

Fill champagne flutes 1/3 full with cranberry cocktail juice.

Triple Sec

Add a splash of Triple Sec liqueur.

Dry Champagne

Fill remaining 2/3 of glass with champagne.

Sugar Fresh rosemary sprig Frozen cranberries

Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig and drop in three frozen cranberries.

METHOD Sprinkle sugar on a plate.

Winter 2018-19

WHAT’S COOKIN’

Nostalgia for Dinner Remember the quick condensed-soup casseroles of the 1980s? Yeah, they’re still just as delicious as they were back then.

BY SANDI GRIGG PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES STEFIUK

I have many fond food-related memories from my childhood in the 1980s. In the mornings my mother would frequently set a slow cooker or prepare a one-dish casserole, often including chicken and a can of mushroom soup. My mother worked long hours as a cosmetologist, my father worked tirelessly starting his own company and I was involved in many afterschool activities, yet we still managed to gather around the table for family dinner each night. If I close my eyes and imagine walking in the door from Girl Scouts as a young girl, I can smell the savory single-pot concoctions. Looking back, there were some ’80s food recipes that were popular at most family dinner tables, and many are still popular now. My mother served the nostalgic staples of that time, including the tuna and noodle casserole and the chicken and rice bake — even the hamburger and macaroni stroganoff made the occasional appearance. All of these had a common denominator, and that was a can of condensed soup. The condensed soup recipes were all the rage back then, and many cookbooks were published on this topic. The recipe I present to you today was one that stuck with me in my youth and I continue to create to this day. My mother created this one for their dinner club that consisted of about 10 other couples. They would trade off hosting, and each evening would include a theme that dictated the menu. One evening they met to share and feast on dishes that were themed to include canned condensed soup. I am sure there are many variations out there of this very recipe, but my mother created this dish with chicken, bacon and chipped beef swimming in a savory bath of creamy deliciousness. Feel free to mix it up to include or exclude your favorite ingredients too. Using prosciutto instead of chipped beef and adding tomatoes would create an Italian flair. Adding green chilies and substituting thinly sliced chorizo for the chipped beef would create a Mexican flavor. I have tweaked my mother’s recipe to include an extra few steps and ingredients, but I am sure it will bring back memories of a simpler time. I have served this very dish for breakfast over biscuits and I have served it along with rice or mashed potatoes. With a moo, an oink and a cluck, it’s really hard to go wrong. 38

South Brunswick Magazine

Chicken Deluxe Serves 6 INGREDIENTS 1 jar of chipped beef (4.5 oz) 6 medium chicken breasts (bone out) 12 pieces of bacon Toothpicks 1 can of cream of mushroom soup 1 cup of sour cream ¼ cup sherry wine Salt and Pepper Parsley for garnish

METHOD Lightly fry the bacon and set aside. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and wrap each breast with 2 pieces of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Blend together soup, sour cream and sherry. Layer a greased baking dish on the sides and on the bottom with the chipped beef. Place the chicken on top of the beef. Pour the soup mixture over the chicken. Bake uncovered at 325 degrees for 1½ hours. Sprinkle dish with parsley. This is best served over rice, biscuits or mashed potatoes. Be sure to remove the toothpick before consuming.

WHAT’S COOKIN’

Winter 2018-19

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Recognizing the growth and prosperity of North Brunswick County, many entrepreneurs see Leland area as the perfect place to build a new business or expand an established one. Check out 11 of the new businesses that have set up shop in Leland this year.

SPREADING THE SWEETNESS Sweet Treats by Felicia is feeding Leland’s appetite for fresh-baked desserts.

Pssst: Want to know the secret to making the best Southern grits? Cream cheese and chicken stock. Over the years I have been perfecting my recipe for shrimp and grits, and anyone who has stayed at my house within the last year has been one of my inadvertent tasting judges. And so, I bring to you the best shrimp and grits recipe this Southern girl can dish out.

Homemade fudge-topped brownies, German-inspired apple cream cheese cake, blueberry lemon pound cake — each of these desserts comes out of the oven on the morning that Felicia Rudisill shares her story about her home-based business, Sweet Treats by Felicia. As a young girl Rudisill would eat no other pie than her father’s apple pie, so it’s a bit ironic that now she makes a big variety of desserts for a living. A barely year-old business, Sweet Treats grew from a hobby into a successful venture for Rudisill to share all things sweet in the Leland and Brunswick areas.

By Sandi Grigg

By Olivia Bardella

THE FOSTER PANTRY

By providing personal items and necessities for foster children, this nonprofit organization helps families focus first and foremost on the emotional needs of the children.

By Amanda Lisk

DESTINATION: DOWNTOWN Thanks to the strategic planning of Wilmington Downtown Incorporated and significant business investment, downtown Wilmington is once again the heartbeat of the Cape Fear region. In the early 1970s historic downtown Wilmington was in dire economic straits. Construction of the area’s first mall and other shopping centers resulted in an exodus of downtown’s many longtime department stores and businesses. What was left was a humble mix of shops, restaurants and offices interspersed between neglected and abandoned buildings. In the wake of the cultural and economic shifts, city and community leaders quickly realized that something needed to be done to revitalize the downtown area. By Annesophia Richards

Winter 2018-19

South Brunswick Magazine

With owner Dennis Sansoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for spreading joy through food, the Simply Barbecue food truck feeds the Brunswick community. BY ASHLEY DANIELS PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIME 2 REMEMBER

Winter 2018-19

ure, Simply Barbecue likes to keep things simple, but that doesn’t mean this company lacks depth, flavor or quality. Pitmaster and owner Dennis Sansone and his partner, Barbara Paolucci, have a passion not only for bringing good barbecue to their coastal community, but also for bringing a real sense of community to Holden Beach. Before he retired and moved to southeastern North Carolina in 2011, Sansone lived and worked in New York and Vermont. When he left the Northeast, he also happily retired his snow shovel. What he brought with him to the South was a love for good food packed with good flavors — and his dream for many years to own a food truck. Sansone, 68, grew up working in kitchens. But when he married and started a family, the chef ’s life took away from family life, so he instead donned a UPS uniform for the next 21 years. However, his love for cooking still pulled on his apron strings. When he retired from UPS, he put his fire for cooking and smoking meats to good use first at The Horseshoe in Saratoga, New York, then in managing Tinney’s 44

South Brunswick Magazine

Introducing Lydia Smith, P. T. A . Physical Therapy Assistant • Graduated Associates of Science South University I have the privilege of being a possible ray of hope in a patient’s life in what could be a difﬁcult season for them. There is always potential to assist a person after a devastating injury to make drastic improvements in their quality of life. Physical therapy allows me the incredible opportunity for creativity in exercises and individual customized therapy, which in the end will allow me to forge a close relationship with my patient and become a part of their lives for years to come.

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Winter 2018-19

South Brunswick Magazine

Tavern in Lake Desolation, New York, where his fall-off-the-bone ribs were known to sell out most days. Sansone’s smoking talents were rekindled after he moved to southeastern North Carolina, where he’d smoke meats and prepare huge meals for his new neighbors at community get-togethers. And it didn’t take long for neighbors to encourage his culinary talents. “Friends and family always joked that I should open a barbecue

restaurant,” he says, “and bring my recipes to the public.” In 2017 a plot of land on Holden Beach Road, in between BB&T Bank and Harbor Island Mini Golf, became the location Sansone would park his Simply Barbecue food truck – the first food truck in the Holden Beach area. Friends Mariann Pata and Dwayne Wilson bought the mini golf course earlier in 2017 under the name of Simply Friends LLC, and now they also play the roles of business partners.

“The food truck is actually an old car-hauling trailer that was set up in South Carolina as a food truck,” says Sansone. “I totally gutted it out and the only thing I kept was the actual smoker.” Sansone says he makes everything in-house (or in-truck), including St. Louis-style pork ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket all rubbed in his own rub recipe and smoked with hickory in his six-rack smoker. He also makes his sauces (sweet and light-spicy vinegar)

Winter 2018-19

and sides, like coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans and corn bread. “One of the best sides is the apple crisp dessert, a recipe I came up with because I’m not a banana pudding kind of guy,” he says. “Families will fight over it!” Customers can choose to order Simply Barbecue’s smoked meats by the dinner, by the sandwich (half-pound of meat), or family meals to go in two, four or six portions. The food truck is usually open daily, but over the winter, Sansone cuts back his working hours to five days a week. During Hurricane Florence, Sansone was forced to take some time off to evacuate to Florida. When he found out that the island lost power, he knew the food truck’s fresh food needed to be 48

South Brunswick Magazine

given away or it would be thrown out and wasted. Chris and Nikki Hutchinson, two of the few neighbors who decided not to evacuate, helped him find an outlet for his food — and a way to give back to the community he loves to feed. “The Hutchinsons found out there was a municipal building in Holden Beach where all the first responders were staying and working out of,” says Sansone. “So they heated up and delivered enough food to feed about 50

people a good meal of pork, sauces and rolls.” But Sansone doesn’t want that act of giving to seem like a big deal — it’s just the way he does things. He likes to keep things simple and good and help the community when he can. “Folks enjoy our food,” he says. “We’ll just keep trying to improve our appearance and experience. I mean, we started with a barren trailer parked in a lot.” And, now, it’s simply a success. 

Hungry for barbecue? You can find the Simply Barbecue food truck at 3240 Holden Beach Road in Holden Beach. Find them online at simply-barbecue.com or on Facebook @simplybarbecue. Call them at (910) 712-4441.

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Winter 2018-19

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Care for the Spirit The nondenominational chaplaincy program at Novant Health completes a fully rounded, whole-person medical approach. BY ED BECKLEY

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever gone to a health fair, you likely brought home a bag of trinkets, including a foam-rubber ball with directions to squeeze and breathe, to alleviate stress. The benefits of tensing and releasing the muscles in sync with breathing are ancient secrets of Eastern and Western spiritualism. Yogis, Buddhists and even the early Christian monks extolled the benefits of these acts in meditation, not only to prevent illness, but also to encourage healing and union with the Creator. The idea is that for one to be physically well, one must also strive to be mentally and spiritually sound.

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Over the centuries, a strictly medical approach to healing has evolved into a more interdisciplinary avenue, which includes spiritual care. According to the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Clinical Pastoral Education was born in the United States in the mid-1920s, when the Rev. Anton T. Boisen became the hospital chaplain at Worcester State Hospital in Massachusetts. Today, the dividing walls between spirituality and medicine continue to crumble, and hospitals throughout the nation are creating chaplaincy programs for the benefit of their patients. Such is the case at all 15 Novant Health hospitals in North Carolina, including the Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, according to the hospital spokesperson, Amy Myers. CHAPLAINCY IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY “Whole person care” actually started at the old county-owned Brunswick Hospital some 40 years ago, says Fran Salone-Pelletier, the volunteer lead chaplain for today’s Brunswick Medical Center. It began with loosely knit visitations by local clergy, she says, and then her husband, Jean Pelletier, with other volunteers, began to formalize it in the mid-to-late 1980s. Salone-Pelletier says that around 1990 the hospital bolstered the program by putting a paid staff member in charge of it. Although the employee was not a chaplain and had no experience in pastoral care, a core of more than a dozen volunteer chaplains formed, and little by little, the group was able to develop bylaws and a

South Brunswick Magazine

GUIDING LIGHTS Lead Volunteer Chaplain Fran Salone-Pelletier, left, and Brunswick Medical Center Full-Time, BoardCertified Chaplain Deborah Lannon are an effective and inspiring team, educating and guiding 14 volunteer chaplains who meet the visitation and emergency needs of patients 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

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mutual understanding on how best to serve patients. The next step was to bring aboard a liaison for the hospital staff. Salone-Pelletier had two years of experience in pastoral counseling in a master’s degree program, so the group hired her, providing a small stipend. She became the lead volunteer chaplain and maintains that title to this day. There has been an essential change in the hospital staff position, though. Recognizing the importance of the program and the position, Novant hired Deborah Lannon, a full-time, board-certified chaplain for the Brunswick facility, in 2016. GOALS OF CHAPLAINCY Salone-Pelletier and Lannon say the goals of the chaplaincy program are essentially the same today as they were when it first organized. They are to provide pastoral care for patients, families and hospital staff. Presence and listening are important qualities volunteer chaplains must have, so they can provide spiritual and emotional support such as prayer, scripture and counseling for people of all faiths, for those who do not practice a particular faith and others who have doubts or do not believe in a higher power. Lannon is an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada, where she served in congregations across that nation for 30 years. Her portfolio includes pastoral spiritual care. Following her retirement in Canada, she returned to her native United States and undertook additional chaplaincy training in Burlington, North Carolina, and a residency at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. After 2,000 service hours beyond her residency, and demonstrated competencies over 31 years, she became a board-certified chaplain. That said, Lannon asserts that the Novant chaplaincy program is not clergy oriented and is opposed to evangelism and religious recruitment. It’s about serving the emotional and spiritual needs of people who are hurting, she says. In the midst of chaos, Lannon says, the chaplains provide a pleasingly peaceful and serene presence. She notes that a chaplaincy program is also not about religion, although the chaplains are sensitive to the particular religious needs people have. She says it’s about spiritual care, which she defines as “the

things that give our lives meaning.” In that sense, she believes even people who do not believe in the concept of a Creator are spiritual. The chaplains often delve into what gives their patients’ lives meaning. They help patients draw upon those elements, so they can employ their inner strength to carry on when they are sick, in pain, anxious or worried. “It’s about meeting the patients where they are,” Lannon says. “Sometimes just sitting in silence and being there for someone is more powerful than any advice.”

A DUTY FOR CARING There are currently 14 volunteer chaplains at Novant; some of them are ordained ministers or deacons, while others are simply committed to ministry and open to serving people of various faith traditions and backgrounds. They are men and women of various faiths who represent the hospital, and not their denominations, Lannon says. They are in it for the patients and not for themselves. “We select them through a double interview process, a background check and two levels of hospital training,” Lannon says. “They must have a duty for caring and understand we must do no harm. And in our situation, proselytizing can do harm.” Salone-Pelletier adds that it isn’t

Recognizing the importance of the program and the position, Novant hired a full-time, board-certified chaplain for the Brunswick facility in 2016.

Winter 2018-19

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so much how many courses one has taken or how many CPE units one has, but their level of openness, communication and desire to help others. Salone-Pelletier recalls past emergencies to which the volunteer chaplains had responded, such as a house fire that killed a number of college students during spring break. It’s still fresh in her mind how she sped behind the emergency vehicles with hazard lights blinking to arrive at the hospital at the same time as the patients. Her point is that there is much more to chaplaincy than visitations and emergencies, and she credits Lannon with bringing the local chaplaincy program to a much higher level. “Deb has the background and abilities we were lacking,” Salone-Pelletier says, citing helping people with advance directives, an understanding of medical ethics, dealing with very sensitive issues such as end-of-life and palliative care, goals for post-hospital medical care, complex family dynamics (including who should speak for the patient), pediatric fatalities, mass casualties and more. “One of my goals is to continue to educate staff here to call me right away when they are confronted with complex issues and when there are opportunities for spiritual care to provide support,” Lannon says. “We are evolving to the point where hospital staff and volunteers are referring patients to the spiritual care office when they spot a need.” She also instructs the volunteer chaplains how to handle sensitive issues and tells them to contact her when they become too complicated for them to handle. The volunteer chaplains also meet monthly for ongoing training. Myers says Brunswick Medical Center was the final Novant hospital to bring a professional chaplain aboard, but the local hospital had evolved to the point where it was important. The state’s joint hospital commission has recognized that every patient should have access to spiritual care if they request it, and Lannon was able to come aboard an already existing and robust volunteer program to guide it toward the future. “We need both volunteer and professional,” she says, and of her staff she says “you couldn’t ask for better.” She says if a patient is in the hospital two days or more, they likely have a chance to meet

MORAL SUPPORT Patient Jonathan Horne survived a bad car accident in 2005 and has had multiple surgeries and inpatient visits at Brunswick Medical Center over the past 13 years. “I’m spiritual. I’m in church. I believe in prayer,” he says. “When my pastor is unable to visit, the chaplains here have filled that hole. They talk to me, and relate to me. They comfort my worries and anxiety. I always get 110 percent from them — always a kind, respectful word. They have been able to do that for me through prayer, reading scripture and just providing one-on-one moral support.”

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Studies show that chaplain involvement reduces the cost of the stay for patients because it aids their healing process, enabling them to go home earlier.

with a chaplain. The chaplains knock on doors every day and ask patients if they would like a visit. People also can proactively sign up to see a chaplain when they are admitted as inpatients. Salone-Pelletier adds that very few patients refuse a request to meet with a chaplain.

departments, but ask for an overall sense of patients’ experiences, Myers says. The clinical realm includes medical, case management, chaplain services, environmental services, dietary and the other legs of the hospital stool. Patients need them all. If you take one away, it affects the others, and the patients’ attitudes. “We need them all to do what is right and remarkable for our patients,” Myers says. But Lannon says studies show that chaplain involvement reduces the cost of the stay for patients because it aids their healing process, enabling them to go home earlier. “Our goal in spiritual care is to provide a safe space for patients to reflect,” she says. “When a patient is in a hospital room, many emotions and feelings can arise, and we want to be there to help support them in that vulnerability. It’s important for us to realize that their physical well-being is connected to their spiritual well-being, and that’s where we, as chaplains, can play a vital role.”

CHAPLAINCY MEASURED Is a spiritual care program really necessary? Novant’s patient satisfaction and quality surveys do not specify

PHOTO BY ED BECKLEY

GRATEFUL HEART Volunteer Chaplain David Morris says, “I find it very humbling listening to folks who are in pain, and just hearing the courage that comes through their brokenness. I go away with a more grateful heart than I walked in with and more appreciative of the little moments that make up a day.”

South Brunswick Magazine

THE FUTURE What is next for spiritual care at Brunswick Medical Center? Lannon says that while there is some diversity among the volunteer chaplains today, she would like the program to mirror the diversity of our nation. She also says the hospital chapel tries to embrace the major organized religions, but there are so many of them. Currently, she decorates the chapel for Christian and Jewish holidays and for Kwanzaa. It is a safe and quiet place to sit and meditate on a regular basis, and it includes a prayer request book, pertinent literature, a piano and comfortable seating. Some patients ask to be married while in the hospital, and some of the chaplains may legally perform a ceremony. 

Are You Called to Serve? Lannon encourages others in the community who feel a calling to become part of the hospital chaplaincy program to contact her. She can be reached by calling the hospital at (910) 7211000 and asking to speak with her. Most chaplains serve one or two days monthly. They spend two to four hours visiting patients and are then on call for the remainder of their 24-hour shift, in case of emergency.

Winter 2018-19

CHASING

South Brunswick Magazine

Whispers Hidden in the Green Swamp, Crusoe Island evades its mysterious roots. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED BECKLEY

Winter 2018-19

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UNCOVERING THE MIND-JARRING TRUTH ABOUT CRUSOE ISLAND, and just trying to get there by guided GPS, is like chasing whispers. The community is just a few miles up Highway 130 from the bustling South Brunswick Islands, but it feels like the end of the Earth. The truth is, there is no visitors bureau or welcome sign for Crusoe Island. It’s a tucked-away place that has done a good job of staying that way for centuries. Surrounded by the low country of the Green Swamp and the Waccamaw River, it’s just a small tract of higher swampland enjoyed by the bugs, bears, gators and snakes — and descendants of people who had one thing in common. They also did not want to be found.

Newspaper reporters from at least as far back as the early 1800s have written about Crusoe Island because of its mysterious beginnings, which are a mix of probable truth entwined with colorful, vivid and enduring lore. Who would choose to live in a swamp? How about a 16th-century “lost colonist” of Sir Walter Raleigh fame? Or river pirates, perhaps? Some say French Acadians on their way to Louisiana decided to stay. Many are enamored of the Romantic tale of French loyalists who escaped Napoleon’s terror and found their way to the area as refugees. Just a few miles south of Lake Waccamaw, Crusoe isn’t really an island at all, but a peninsula. You can drive through it in a few minutes. Its distinctions are some charming old cabins, corn fields, grazing horses, a couple of churches and a two-garage fire substation. Startling is the main road, which suddenly dead-ends into blockades of dense thickets. The lower swamp is in there somewhere, with its biting, stinging and snapping creatures. Evident also are the many gravestones chiseled with the surnames of present-day residents whose families have remained on Crusoe Island for centuries — names such as Long,

Clewis, Cumbee and Register. Other longtime family names are FormyDuvall (or now just Duvall), Dubois, Dupree, Etheridge, Godwin, Spivey, Sasser (formerly DeSaucierre or DeScoucers) and Hewitt or Hewett (from the original Hewet). Strangely missing is the name Crusoe, which does not appear in census records, though one local resident wrote in recent years she had visited where he was “sleeping.” And also disturbing is the row after row of houses devoid of activity, which

fosters a dreamy aura of quiet mystery. The exciting thing about Crusoe Island is its baffling beginnings. Years ago, it was reported by a local news writer that evidence existed of people having lived in the Crusoe Island area in the 16th century. Although there were Native Americans, the reference may have related to Sir Walter Raleigh’s colonial expeditions from England to Roanoke Island near the Outer Banks in the 1580s. One of the colonists was Thomas Hewet. The

Drive to the end of Crusoe Island and it abruptly dead ends in thickets that serve as entry (or barrier!) into the lower Green Swamp, with all its swamp critters. Winter 2018-19

Above: The Green Swamp is North Carolina low country, and Crusoe Island rises up out of the lowland to serve as some of the rare higher ground in the swamp. Crusoe Island is surrounded by the Waccamaw River and the swamp. Below: Two old family names that go back generations on Crusoe Island are Long and Clewis.

Brunswick County census of 1790 includes several people with the name Hewet or Hewit. (Crusoe Island was part of Brunswick County until 1811, when Columbus County annexed it at the request of the residents there.) There are legends that “Roe Noakers” lived in the Green Swamp of Brunswick and Columbus counties and they had English accents. Recent findings by archaeologists on

South Brunswick Magazine

the Outer Banks have led to a conclusion that at least some of the colonists likely intermarried with the Native Americans who lived in the area and moved inland. There are Hewetts or Hewitts in the Crusoe Island area even today, but none of them have come forward to claim they are descendants of the original English colonists. It does not mean they aren’t descendants. Perhaps they are and just do not know

it! Also, the Waccamaw Native American community is just across the lake from Crusoe Island, in Bolton. The tribe may be ethnically related to the natives who lived on the Outer Banks so long ago. A reporter for the New York Herald Tribune wrote in 1931 that a French colony that escaped death in Haiti during the Slaves’ Rebellion of 1804 “has been found living in the Carolina Swamps.” In a visit to Crusoe Island, reporter Ben Dixon MacNeill interviewed locals and wrote that more than 20 men, women and children crowded into a small boat without provisions and shoved off into the sea, escaping the butchery of the French by the blacks in Haiti in 1804. MacNeill wrote a barque headed for Wilmington picked up the passengers, but when the ship’s captain heard their story, he feared for his boat and crew should they be followed by the Haitians. He also did not want to jeopardize his frequent trading location in Haiti. Declining to take them as far as Wilmington, he put in at the mouth of the Waccamaw River, 30 miles below Cape Fear (other reports say at Southport), and set them ashore. He warned them never to disclose how they had come there and suggested they disappear into the swamp for the time being. “Making their way up the river, the band of refugees found the swamp not without inhabitants. Other fugitives, over past decades, had found refuge there. Nearly a hundred years before, a band of Portuguese pirates, pursued by Spanish ships, had run their craft ashore near the mouth of the river, wrecking it. The Spanish landed and pursued them into the swamp. They were in the third generation when the refugees from Haiti made their way into the swamp in 1804,” MacNeill

Hunting, fishing and farming in the Green Swamp sustained the population of Crusoe Island for centuries, and a number of the residents today keep that tradition alive, although the area has its share of folks with professional careers.

wrote. He said there were some 1,500 people scattered over the occasional high ground; an amalgamation of races and families but with the small mannerisms of a French strain definitely apparent. In 1939 the Raleigh News and Observer reported more of the story. Originally the property had been granted to American Patriot Patrick

were in sympathy with the prisoners, and among these officers was a young French surgeon by the name of Jean Formy-Duvall. A conspiracy was carried out whereby the guns of the firing squad were leaded with blanks. According to the plan, when the squad fired, the prisoners fell to the ground and a pseudo-death report was turned in by Formy-Duvall. The prisoners made

“He warned them never to disclose how they had come there and suggested they disappear into the swamp.” Henry, who was a prolific land owner. But the refugee story was even more fleshed out, even if the dates didn’t exactly match. “The story goes that in 1805, during the days of Napoleon’s rule, a number of men were arrested for treason and sentenced to death. A few of the officers who had charge of them

their escape. Unfortunately, one of the supposedly dead men was captured and identified, whereupon suspicion fell on the surgeon who had signed the death report. With a number of others concerned in the affair, the young men left France for Haiti, at that time occupied by the French. Not long after

their arrival, the island was thrown into a panic by the activities of Jean Jacques Dessalines, whose ambition was to expel the French and reign as emperor. Massacres were taking place daily. Formy-Duvall and his family with three other French families, the DeScoucers (or DeSoucierre), the Jeurittes and the Hewitts (Anglicized form), fled the island. “Without papers and feeling that they might be sent back to France or Haiti, the party was put ashore in a small boat. For a time they lived not far from Smithville (now Southport) near old Fort Caswell, but learning of the isolated section in the Green Swamp, they moved into the interior.” Several other theories of the origin of the Crusoe Island population abounded. The News and Observer said another widely accepted theory was that during the beginning of the War Between the States, many of the poor class of whites fled there to avoid being drafted for military service. A twist on that is they were Yankee deserters who fled there Winter 2018-19

for sanctuary. Another version is the people were descendants of a band of pirates who fled to the back country to avoid capture after an unsuccessful raid on the river settlements. Way back in 1885, The Daily Review of Wilmington gave a nice report about how productive the island was, and livable. “The soil is extremely fertile, producing exuberant crops of corn, cotton and sweet potatoes. On this island is Hudson’s Bay, which only a few years ago was an almost impenetrable swamp; but now, under successful cultivation by Mr. Jas. A. Thompson, produces as high as 70 bushels corn per acre. This farm, in crop season, is a perfect wilderness of corn. Here, too, is the residence of the far-famed trapper, Willis Hudson, who, according to his own statements, has captured 49 bears — true specimens of the black and brown bear of the Great Green Swamp.” The writer lauded the inhabitants for the “progressive spirit at work among them.” In 1946 the Tabor City Tribune said the folks on Crusoe Island “became a new world in the new world, and their very existence was unknown to the state and the government.” The community continued to grow in number, the report said, and the people hewed their own boats (unique sleek dugout canoes), made their own laws, ran their own informal government and distilled their own liquor. The newspaper, and others, noted the people’s amusing dialect and sing-song type French accent and applauded them for maintaining impeccably clean homes and being sturdy and hard-working. It told a story about how the game laws of the county were never strictly adhered to by the Crusoe peoples and how they bamboozled the game warden. The story goes that a warden was investigating some alleged 64

South Brunswick Magazine

Visitors to Crusoe Island know they have found it by the sign on the two-garage fire department substation.

out-of-season hunting there. He could get nowhere with the islanders and came back to Whiteville in disgust only to get the ragging of his life. On the bumper of his car were tied four doe feet and six squirrel tails, put there by someone on the island while the lawman was making his investigation. Another story is one from the Asheville Citizen-Times in 1983, quoting resident DoDo Clewis, who insisted one of the dugout log boats he had made sliced the swamp water with barely a ripple, and the bow was so sharp it split an alligator “clean through to the tail.” Farming, hunting and fishing sustained these pioneers, and several news reports gave them credit as being people “who did it themselves or did without.” As much a mystery as the origins of the “island” are, so is the name of Crusoe Island itself. A 1949 News and Observer article noted, the “origin of the name is unknown, too. Lewis Clewis said he had heard that a man named Ben Crusoe had come up the river and was among the original settlers.” Another resident mildly corrected Clewis saying, “I think his name was Robinson Crusoe,” referring to the

novel by Daniel Defoe, about a shipwrecked man who lived alone for 28 years on an uninhabited island. Some reports offered that outsiders named the place to deride the islanders as country bumpkins, or because of its isolation and unique customs. This boiled over in 1961, when State Representative Arthur Williamson of Columbus County asked the General Assembly to rename the village the River View Community, at the request of the residents. Reports say the name change took place but it never stuck and nobody uses it. The tales of Crusoe Island may always be a mystery we will never understand. But the reality is that the families who have called it home for generations still love it and still remain. “Nobody moves out,” a resident once told a reporter back in 1955. And the same family names as were there so long ago are the same names today. It is obvious that some folks there still hunt, fish and farm, but records show that Crusoe Island also has had its share of folks with professional careers. But if you go there, you may soon get the sense they are a people who still value their peaceful and solitary life in the swamp. 

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Whiz Kids

Three Building Brunsco Kids Expos in 2019 will give youngsters a chance to show off their entrepreneurial talents. BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN

It’s inspiring to learn about entrepreneurs who create the next big thing — a can’t-live-without product or service that is sure to solve all of our problems. It’s even more inspiring when those mastermind innovators turn out to be kids. Nearly 40 local youngsters are their own CEOs, and they’re taking part in the 2019 Building Brunsco Kids Expos.

South Brunswick Magazine

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South Brunswick Magazine

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This tri-Chamber of Commerce collaboration is the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only series of business fairs created just for kids. The pop-up shop format offers kids ages 7 to 18 an opportunity to design, develop and market a product or service that they are passionate about. These kidpreneurs are responsible for the setup, sales, marketing and interacting with customers. No adults are allowed to help sell or market the product or service. In 2018 Brunswick County Chamber piloted the Building Brunsco Kids Expo on August 25 in Calabash. Nearly 300 people attended the event to support these local young entrepreneurs. Thirty-three children participated, getting an early opportunity to

â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have to handle every aspect of the business by themselves, from customer service to the monetary part. It gives kids an opportunity to think about

skills they need in their futures.â&#x20AC;?

learn what it takes to own a business, including developing marketing plans, managing money and communicating with customers to increase their sales. This next generation of go-getters showcased their homemade natural beauty and skin-care products, original artworks, baked goods, pet creations, toys, jewelry and many other fine products and services. And, of course, as many young entrepreneurs start out, there was a fresh-squeezed, homemade lemonade stand. Some of these pint-sized moguls even donated part or all of the purchases to local charities and people in need. With the success and interest of the inaugural Expo, Brunswick County Chamber President Shannon Viera, North Brunswick Chamber President Dana Fisher and Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber President Karen Sphar have come together to provide multi-location opportunities for even more children to participate in 2019. Each chamber

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will host the Kids Expo in their central area of the county — North Brunswick in the spring, Brunswick County Chamber continuing in summer and Southport-Oak Island Area in late fall with a tie in to Shop Local Saturday in November. Viera considers Building Brunsco Kids Expo one of the most impactful projects she’s been a part of. “It’s great to see these kids express themselves, without any parental help,” she says. “They have to handle every aspect of the business by themselves, from customer service to the monetary part. It gives kids an opportunity to think about skills they need in their futures.”

Got a Young Entrepreneur in the Family? Applications for the 2019 Building Brunsco Kids Expo series will begin in March. Visit the website for information: childrensbusinessfair.org/brunswick-county 70

South Brunswick Magazine

The Expos equip children with essential business knowledge that they can take with them no matter what future career field they choose. From a marketing perspective, participants learn how creative displays, company slogans and features and benefits not only help them sell their products and services, but also teach confidence and the importance of credibility. From the customer service side, they learn what it means to serve others fairly. Money management is a big part of the learning experience as well. Participants take money, make change and understand about profit after expenses. And then there is learning to deal with rejection and the valuable skill of emotional intelligence that goes along with it. Building Brunsco Kids Expo not only provides a forum for children who are already enterprising, but also serves as inspiration for children who are looking to discover that side of themselves and wondering where to start. Those kids who fall into the second category should look to what they’re passionate about, what they can make with their own hands

and minds, and imagine how they might creatively market and sell it. The Expo can provide a way for every child who participates to be successful, well past the economics. Prizes will be awarded, and winners will have the opportunity to promote their business through the Brunswick County chambers of commerce. Viera is excited about the tri-chamber partnership. “Ensuring this opportunity is available to all the youth in our

county is a vision that we share,” she says. “Providing a place for the next generation of our county’s workforce to develop their professional skills while supporting their dreams is not just a goal, but a passion.” Each chamber will be responsible for one Expo, but the chambers will work together to market and promote each location, share resources and take a collective approach on continued development of the Expo and cultivation of future young leadership programs. 

Winter 2018-19

W Wyatt Walter

STARS 

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in His Eyes

Brunswick County teenager Wyatt Walter is making his mark in Hollywood. BY LAUREN KROUSE

For 15-year-old Wyatt Walter, life in Bolivia looks like it would for any other Brunswick County boy: fishing in the backyard pond he and his grandfather dug together, skateboarding with friends, an hour (or few!) of Fortnite. But then, there’s his other life. When Wyatt isn’t taking a breather in Bolivia, he’s on the other side of the United States, leaping from role to role as an actor in Los Angeles, California. Currently, he is juggling four different roles on three different networks: Hulu, Showtime and Disney. And, of course, he’s always looking for more.

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PHOTO BY MIKE SPENCER

Winter 2018-19

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Like most young stars, Wyatt wasn’t expecting this. Six years ago, he showed up to an open casting call in Wilmington for a low-budget independent film called The Rack Pack, based on local writer Daryl Rackley’s adventurous childhood. “I went, and I didn’t really think anything of it,” Wyatt says. “But the writer was right there, and he looked at me and said, ‘You look just like this part.’” That spark of connection led to a slow-moving, four-year film production, but by day five of shooting, Wyatt had caught the director’s eye, too. “He said he had another film he’d like me to be in,” Wyatt remembers. “He said, ‘Okay, cool. We’ll fly you out to L.A. and we can go ahead and do it.’ I was shocked. California?!” One flight later, Walter took on the role of Thomas in the motorcycle gang film Nation’s Fire, which is in post-production now. Hollywood brought even more opportunity for Wyatt, though it took two years of “pushing the rock up the hill,” as he and his mom, Stacie Walter, like to say. After more than 80 auditions and countless hours of training, Wyatt snagged four roles within three months.

Right photos: On the sets of Nation’s Fire, top, in Florida with Steve Zeh; middle, in California; bottom, with Thomas J. Churchill, Quinton Cook, Krista Grotte and Kristen Renton.

Winter 2018-19

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

South Brunswick Magazine

D E N TA L

P L A N S :

•

Medicaid

•

Medicare

•

MetLife

•

TriCare (active duty)

•

United Concordia Participating Dental Networks:

•

DenteMax

•

Connection Dental

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

910.762.2618

6/5/18 4:51 PM

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

In June 2018 Wyatt took on a small role in the second season of Future Man, a futuristic comedy series on Hulu; it follows an underachieving janitor-turned-world savior. “They dressed me up in this outfit from the year 2169 and ended up putting as much product as they could in my hair, and it stood straight up!” Wyatt remembers with a laugh. “I looked like one of the troll dolls!” The next month he earned a role in the middle school comedy pilot PEN15, which airs in February on Hulu. Next, he snagged the role of Chet, a new character on Shameless, Showtime’s award-winning and longestrunning comedy-drama series. Wyatt will enter the show in Season 9 as one of Liam (Christian Isaiah)’s friends. If that wasn’t enough, Wyatt then won a role on Sydney to the Max, a pilot that will air on Disney next year. He plays Riccoli, the leader of a clique that rules the skateboarding park the main character frequents. Wyatt admits his character is “kind of a jerk” who refuses to let the girls skate there “because there’s one girl I know 



Right: Wyatt walking the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard.

Winter 2018-19

would kick my butt.” Wyatt is excited for Sydney to the Max as it “breaks out of the Disney box” and appeals to the whole family, kids and adults alike. This shift is reflected in the show’s ratings, which teeter back and forth between PG and PG-13. For Wyatt, the wonder of his young acting career struck him the moment he entered Disney’s soundstage — the first he’d ever seen. “I was like, ‘Whoa! This is legit!’ You could look to your right, and there would be a bedroom. Look to your left, a football field. Look to your other left, and you see a different house, and a house from the ’80s. It was just crazy!” he raves. Stacie jokes, “I don’t know what they’re going to do to him in Hollywood. His heart’s just so Brunswick County sweet!” Life in California is a little different from back home. On a typical California day, Wyatt wakes up at 5:30 am for online schooling (based in North Carolina) until 9 or 11 am. After a quick lunch break and walk around the neighborhood, he then goes to auditions, callbacks or scheduled dance, vocal and acting classes. And then there’s the three-hour improv class on Sundays. While this may sound like a lot for a teenager to balance, Wyatt is surrounded by support. Thanks to Katrina Herlong, Danita Florance and JoCinda Benjamin, his manager, theatrical agent and commercial agent, he is able to juggle an ever-shifting schedule. “He’s got a dream team of women behind him! And his daddy!” Stacie says. “As long as he’s willing to work hard for it, his dad and I are very supportive parents. And we’re artistic, artsy-fartsy parents anyway!” Wyatt comes from a family of artists. His parents are professional photographers (his father, Frank, grows out his beard all year long to play Santa for custom portraits) and his sister, Madi, has a budding music career and her first album on the way as almostmadi. 

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Wyatt using a little of his star power to help sell a car (it sold on the very first day).

South Brunswick Magazine

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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Winter 2018-19

Top left, Getting direction from director Thomas J. Churchill; top right, In the green room in North Carolina with Cece Kelly and Hunter Manning; bottom left, At an after party with Paul Logan; bottom right: On the set of The Rack Pack.

While Wyatt oozes enthusiasm for every bit of life in L.A., he’s also full of thanks for those in Brunswick County who helped him get where he is today. He provides a long list of mentors, including Jenna Hinson, his seventh and eighth grade music teacher who helped him sharpen his singing transitions, and CC Martin, a country music singer and songwriter who taught him “literally everything on guitar.” “I am so grateful for all of this, for everything that’s happened,” Wyatt says. “I’m just so happy. Hopefully one day I can bring it back and help Brunswick County.” Beyond the silver screen, Wyatt hopes to someday join the Air Force, get his pilot’s license, go to college for a mechanical engineering degree and join the International Space Station team. Then again, he wouldn’t mind winning an Oscar someday. No matter the path he chooses, one thing is clear: This boy’s got stars in his eyes. 

Instagram (@wyattraywalter) Facebook (ActorWyattWalter) 80

South Brunswick Magazine

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Follow Wyatt Walter’s journey

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Winter 2018-19

South Brunswick Magazine

COMMUNITY

Tales from the Hurricane Brunswick County Schools staff offer a helping hand to their fellow employees left homeless by Hurricane Florence. BY JO ANN MATHEWS

Winter 2018-19

COMMUNITY

Hurricane Florence left many Brunswick County residents homeless, including more than two dozen employees of Brunswick County Schools (BCS). Compelled by compassion and in an effort to assist their co-workers, an all-volunteer committee of BCS employees and community members formed the BCS Employee Disaster Relief Fund. “The committee made sure 100 percent of the funds go to those currently displaced from their homes,” says Daniel Seamans, BCS public information officer. “We’re one big family here. This [GoFundMe] is designed to get that money to people. It’s a gift from people who want to help out.” Of the 1,800 BCS employees, 30 requested assistance and completed the short survey, which asked for a description of the hurricane’s damages and the estimated cost for repairs. “This was based on good faith,” Seamans says. The deadline for submitting a survey and for donating funds was October 84

South Brunswick Magazine

31. The goal of the GoFundMe account was $25,000, and the amount raised was around $15,000. The committee was not equipped to accept food, furniture or other physical supplies. “We did not reach our goal, but enough money was raised to provide cash to the displaced employees,” Seaman says. He stresses that all the money raised goes straight from the fundraiser to BCS employees. No strings are attached, and it’s not attached to the pay check. [The recipients] can spend it on anything they want. Seaman’s own damages involved a fence and the roof and siding on his home, nowhere near what the homeless employees experienced, he says. “I’m one of the fortune ones, so I’m one of the folks giving to the fundraiser instead of receiving from it,” he says. Jessica Johns of Winnabow, publications manager in the

COMMUNITY

operations department of BCS, answered questions via email and wrote that she evacuated three times. “The first night of the storm, I woke up at 2 a.m. to water pouring on my head,” she wrote. “I looked up and saw that the sheet rock was about to fall from the ceiling.” One piece landed on her son, Drake, 5, and Johns realized she couldn’t clean everything up so led Drake to her grandmother’s house nearby. By 8 a.m. water was ankle deep in her grandmother’s house, so the trio went next door to Johns’ sister’s house, but again, they had to evacuate. Another relative owns a house not far away on Rices Creek Boat Landing. “Luckily, the

water never got close to her house,” Johns wrote. “That’s where we rode out the rest of the storm.” It took five days before Johns could come back to her home and assess the damage. “When I opened the door, I just fell to my knees and cried,” she wrote. “This is the worst thing I’ve ever experienced in my 37 years on Earth.” She and Drake are now living in a camper she is renting and has parked on her property until repairs to her home are completed. Her son is too young to understand the tragedy, and she is grateful that his room and the dining room are the only ones that were not affected by the hurricane.

Jessica Johns and her son, Drake, were displaced by Hurricane Florence and are working to get back in their home. Winter 2018-19

COMMUNITY

Several days passed before FEMA arrived and explained that since Johns had insurance, she had to speak with insurance adjusters first, which took more days. In the meantime, mold and water had accumulated. “The smell was horrible and a lot of my furniture was ruined,” she wrote. “Every bowl [in the cabinets] was filled with yucky insulation, water, etc.” She hired a restoration company to clean out her home, which took a team of six to eight people five days working 12 hours a day. “All the cabinets, tubs, sinks, walls, ceilings, carpet, EVERYTHING was removed,” she wrote. Besides, the insulation under the house had water damage. “Basically, all that is left in my house are the 2x4 studs.” More complications surfaced when Johns’ grandmother, who helped get Drake on and off the school bus, left to live with her daughter in the mountains because her own home is uninhabitable. “This storm has totally changed everything in our lives,” Johns says. “Luckily, Brunswick County Schools as an employer is very understanding.” The storm also added additional expenses for Johns. “I now have a monthly storage fee for the belongings I could save,” Johns says. She plans to use the money she receives from the fundraiser to buy furniture and needed belongings. Yet Johns doesn’t feel sorry for herself. She expressed compassion for her widowed mail carrier whose house was underwater. The woman has a preschooler whose birthday followed shortly after the hurricane hit, and as a Good Samaritan, Johns gave her a gift card and cash donation she received totaling $100. Without those facts being known, other Good Samaritans gave Johns gift cards totaling $100. “So basically, I got back exactly what I gave out to someone else in need,” she says. “I am a survivor and will eventually get back to normal.” Jessica finally received an insurance check two months after the storm. However, because it was more than $20,000

in damages, the mortgage company has to get the check and she had to hire a general contractor to do the work in three phases. At the end of each phase, 33% of the money will be paid out. Because all of the local contractors are so busy, it will probably be another six months to a year until her house will be back to livable conditions. Some good news is that at the October special legislative session in Raleigh, legislators approved $95 million to repair and upgrade school property damaged from Hurricane Florence. They also approved $6.5 million to pay school employees for their time out of work. “All BCS employees were paid as if they worked during the days we were closed,” Seamans says. 

Want to help? The Brunswick County Schools fundraiser has ended, but if you’d like to help people affected by Hurricane Florence, a good place to donate is Brunswick Family Assistance. Go to brunswickfamily.org/hurricane-florence-relief 86

South Brunswick Magazine

Winter 2018-19

South Brunswick Magazine

Business Profile BY LAUREN KROUSE

PHOTOS BY LAURA GLANTZ

Pinnacle Storage

oastal Mini Storage had a problem: It was so successful and expanding so quickly that its name no longer fit the company. With 10 locations across eastern North Carolina, Coastal Mini Storage had a large footprint, and it was quickly becoming the pinnacle of easyaccess storage facilities. As Robert High, owner of Robert High Development, explains, “We feel like we provide the cleanest facilities and the most helpful staff, and we take great pride in that, so we decided that the word ‘Pinnacle’ best fit our business.” The company rebranded, and Pinnacle Storage was born. “We’re in the process of transitioning, and we’ve already converted several of our facilities,” High says. One such location is Pinnacle Storage on 2011 Enterprise Drive in Leland, which opened in April 2018. The facility provides multiple types of units, including climate-controlled storage units that range in size from a small closet (5’ x 5’) to a sizeable garage (10’ x 25’) and non-climate-controlled units that are even larger (up to 20’ x 40’). Units are well-lit, fenced in and protected with keypad entry and 24-hour

surveillance. On-site storage specialists are available seven days a week. Beyond storage for personal belongings, Pinnacle also provides completely enclosed boat and RV storage, as well as everything you could possibly need for a move, from the packing supplies to the truck. “We try to be a one-stop shop with moving supplies, trucks and storage in one location, and we also offer insurance for tenants,” High says. Hurricane Florence affected Pinnacle Storage in a huge way. While the storage facilities experienced only minimal damage, many Pinnacle employees lost their homes, and community members in the same situation were in dire need of storage space. “It was a very emotional time for people moving in,” High says. “We had times where we had customers in there shoulder to shoulder. For a while, many facilities were without power, phone or internet.” Because demand was so high, employees worked “far more than regular hours” to help serve the community. Unfortunately, even with so many locations, Pinnacle Storage could not handle the total demand. “We rented

unit after unit for day after day,” High says. “Right now, we are basically full from Morehead to Swansboro to Hampstead and Jacksonville. And as soon as a customer moves out, we have a customer ready to move in.” Thankfully, Pinnacle Storage is continuing to grow and will soon be able to offer even more storage units to Brunswick County residents in need. “We have a facility in South Brunswick that we have plans to expand in 2019. We’re in the process of getting permits now,” High says. Beyond this, the company plans to build a new facility on Third Street in Wilmington, as well as another just north of Wilmington in Scotts Hill. The Gordon Road facility, too, is expanding. In the next couple of months, High expects “continued, steady rentals.” Ideally, ongoing expansion will allow the company to meet more of the demand in the near future. Pinnacle Storage 8110 Ocean Highway N., Sunset Beach (910) 408-1394; pinnaclestorage.net

Winter 2018-19

Business Profile

Grey Outdoor, LLC

BY SANDI GRIGG

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

here has been a lot of chatter about the digital billboards going up on Highway 17, and we have the scoop. Grey Vick, owner of Grey Outdoor, LLC, is the promotional mastermind behind many stationary billboards across North Carolina and South Carolina as well as the new digital billboards here in Brunswick County. “Grey Outdoor, LLC has about 185 structures with roughly 410 faces throughout the Carolinas, mostly concentrated on I-95,” Vick says. Currently six of those are digital with roughly eight second ads with seven to eight rotations. “Digital billboards are trouble-free because you can easily change them out,” Vick says. Vick was born in Wilmington but grew up in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He always knew he would come back to Wilmington and made it come to fruition when he started college at UNCW. Armed with an accounting degree and a masters in accounting, in 2007 he partnered in Waterway Outdoor Company owning and managing billboards. In 2014 he decided to go out on his own by starting Grey Outdoor, LLC. “I pretty much started over, which was really hard to do because I had put all my energy into Waterway Outdoor Company and I felt I had come so far, but now I am glad I did it,” Vick says. He hopes to keep growing the business by finding other innovative ways to promote his clients. “With technology always changing I want to be able to provide the best for the most value.” Vick and his wife, Sarah, are new parents to a son named Mason, and they enjoy surfing, boating and watching their son explore. “The coolest thing about what I do is that everyone wins — the advertisers benefit, landowners profit, local jurisdictions get taxes and I take home a paycheck; it’s a win, win,” Vick says. “We just want to be able to raise our son to grow up to be humble and a fine person — instilling good quality values in him.”

Grey Outdoor, LLC (910) 620-5168 greyoutdoor.com

South Brunswick Magazine

College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving Business Profile

PHOTOS BY LAURA GLANTZ

BY ANNESOPHIA RICHARDS

eff Moss has spent much of his adult life developing leaders. From his time as an officer in the U.S. Army to 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, he has continuously encouraged those around him to grow, develop and achieve their dreams. So when the opportunity to open the Wilmington-area franchise of College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving presented itself earlier this year, Moss was certain it was the right path for him. “A friend who owns the franchise in Atlanta commented that I would love this business due to my consistent theme of developing leaders,” Moss says. “We have a special needs adult daughter who we care for, and I wanted to own a business that would give me the flexibility to involve her where I can,” he adds. “She helps me with marketing and is our biggest cheerleader.” College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving is comprised of professional movers, college students and college graduates. The H.U.N.K.S. acronym stands for Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable Service, and that’s exactly what Moss and his team strive to provide to every customer every day. The company prides itself in its four core values: Building Leaders; Creating a Fun, Enthusiastic Team Environment; Listen, Fulfill and Delight; and Always Branding.

“We actually live those values and bring them to customers every day,” Moss says. “This is more than a junk removal and moving company, it’s much bigger than that. We’re here to move people’s worlds, one customer at a time.” A fully licensed, bonded and insured junk removal and moving company, College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving offers a variety of services ranging from full-service moving, packing and junk removal to loading and unloading help or even furnituremoving assistance. The company strives to keep its operations environmentally friendly when removing unwanted items from any location. “With everything we remove, we decide if it can be donated or recycled, or as a final resort, go to the landfill,” Moss says.

He says that one of the best things about his company is getting to work with the many different individuals on his team. He’s proud to be a mentor to young people and have the opportunity to make a difference. “They call me ‘Papa Hunk,’” Moss says. “It’s a big responsibility to have so many guys from different backgrounds working for you, but together they form an incredible team because they’re all learning from one another.” In its first few months, College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving has been extremely busy. So busy, in fact, they set a new franchise record in their first full month of operation. The feedback that the business has received from customers in the area has been overwhelmingly positive. “I want people in the Wilmington area to know that there’s more to College H.U.N.K.S. than just strapping young men coming to move your furniture or haul away your junk,” Moss says. “We’re having an incredible time helping people solve problems in a stress-free way, and that’s what College H.U.N.K.S. is really all about.” College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving (910) 473-5163; collegeH.U.N.K.S.haulingjunk.com/ locations/nc/wilmington/

Winter 2018-19

Business Profile

Riptide Builders

BY MICHELLE MACKEN

hen Riptide Builders began building luxury custom homes in southern Brunswick County and Horry County, South Carolina, in 2009, they were focused on giving their clients everything they wanted in a beautifully finished, craft-built home. Nine years later they have expanded beyond custom homes, but they still bring that same experience — first-class materials, leading-edge design, outstanding finish details, high-end standard features and exceptional quality — to every home they construct. These builders know it can be very frustrating to tour a bunch of homes only to be disappointed because you can’t seem to find the perfect house in the ideal location. Riptide offers the solution with three unique build programs to suit every client’s needs: 1.) The Inventory Home Program is ideal for those looking for a quick move-in and no decision-making stress; 2) The Semi Custom Home Program allows clients many customization options built with the speed of the Inventory Home Program; 3) The classic Traditional Custom Home Program gives clients unlimited choice restricted only by their budget, the zoning and the home site.

Why Riptide? Cutting Edge: One of Riptide Builders’ main attributes is anticipating leading trends in new home construction and being the first to offer these to potential buyers in the highly desired communities of Sea Trail Plantation in Sunset Beach,

South Brunswick Magazine

Ocean Ridge Plantation in Ocean Isle Beach and Waterbridge in Myrtle Beach. Money Smart: New Riptide homes are money smart. They often have lower utility bills and insurance premiums and higher resale potential due to their luxury finishes and high-quality materials. Plus, a 2 to 10 Home Buyer’s Warranty is free with every Riptide home, which includes 1-Year Workmanship, 2-Year Systems and 10-Year Structural coverages. Energy Efficient: The difference between a resale home and an energy efficient Riptide home is easily seen in the utility bill. These homes meet far tougher national code standards for energy efficiency than just a few years ago. Riptide Builders includes programmable thermostats, highefficiency toilets, tankless water heaters and many other energy-efficient features standard on every home. Plus, their homes are HERS rated by RESNET certified technicians. Design Your Dream: Practical and beautiful are standard features. At Riptide Builder’s Design Center, you can personalize the look and feel of your home by choosing from a wide variety of standard and upgrade options. They use brand-name materials from leaders in the industry such as James Hardie, Navien, Mohawk, Moen, Delta, Florida Tile, Eudora Cabinets, Taexx, Sentricon and more. This means that you get

the best home, made from the best products. The Riptide team ensures the entire selection process is a stress-free experience. Designing your dream is easy and fun with their convenient Sunset Beach location. Technology Forward: With a technology forward approach, Riptide Builders puts information at your fingertips whether you’re at home, at work, on the road or on vacation. They use CoConstruct, a leading provider of web-based builder software. This powerful application allows them to better coordinate each job, communicate with you and the staff. CoConstruct provides each of their clients with access to a secure website with all the details of their new Riptide home. They also use the electronic signature service Docusign, an attorney-approved application that allows them to quickly and securely get important paperwork to you no matter where you live. Riptide’s programs make it easy to get into the home you’ve been dreaming about. Stop by their Sunset Beach Design Center and see why Riptide Builders is one of the leading local builders in coastal North Carolina and South Carolina. Riptide Builders (910) 816-4167 790-6 Sunset Boulevard N. Sunset Beach

Business Profile BY MICHELLE MACKEN

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Wilmington Health

ilmington Health’s new Leland office brings primary care and a number of specialties to Brunswick County residents so they don’t have to travel across the river for those services. Conveniently located at 9101 Ocean Highway East in front of Magnolia Greens, Wilmington Health can meet your family’s complete healthcare needs with family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, endocrinology, foot & ankle, gastroenterology, orthopaedic surgery, radiology, urology and an after-hours and Saturday walk-in clinic. Primary and Walk-In Care Wilmington Health’s primary care services can keep your entire family healthy with annual and sports/school physicals, immunizations, flu shots and chronic care management. And when someone in the family just isn’t feeling well, the walk-in clinic is available for non-emergency conditions like allergies and infections, abrasions and bruises, colds and flu, as well as

sprains and pains. The walk-in clinic is open Monday to Friday from 12 to 8 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm., and no appointment is necessary. Specialty Care If your primary care doctor needs to refer you to a specialist, many of them are right in the Wilmington Health office, eliminating the need to head into Wilmington for additional healthcare. The endocrinology team treats conditions including diabetes, thyroid disease, menopause and metabolic disorders. Patients of all ages see the foot & ankle specialists for treatment of foot, ankle and conditions below the knee such as arthritis, bunions, nail problems and plantar fasciitis. For disorders of the digestive system, including the stomach, colon, small bowel, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder, as well as colonoscopy screenings, patients are referred to the gastroenterology specialists.

Orthopaedic surgery provides surgical and non-surgical options to treat fractures or injuries of the bones, muscles, joints or tendons. Radiology offers imaging services including X-ray, ultrasound and 3D mammography. The urology team treats diseases and malfunctions of the bladder, prostate and kidney in adults. Accepting New Patients If you’re looking for a primary care provider or specialist, Wilmington Health has a number of doctors ready to help you or a family member with any of your healthcare needs. Call (910) 3710404 to find a provider or schedule an appointment at their new Leland office. Wilmington Health 9101 Ocean Highway E., Leland (910) 371-0404 wilmingtonhealth.com

Winter 2018-19

Body Edge Fitness Studio

if she would ever consider expanding her massage practice. She replied back with a yes and lots of explanation points,” Black says. Bingaman calls the timing of the union “serendipity.” The approach to bodywork is unique for every therapist. Bingaman focuses on attachment sites and trigger point work, “which is how the central nervous system talks to the muscles and body,” she says. Each massage session can be completely different in how she starts or ends, depending on the client’s needs or requests. She offers hot and cold therapies including clay packs and stones for inflammation of joints and muscles.

BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN

In addition to massage, Bingaman offers 30-minute Biomat sessions on an infrared mat that can de-stagnate the blood and raise the body temperature by releasing needed enzymes, opening sluggish areas and calming excessive areas. According to Bingaman, it can help relieve osteoarthritis pain, joint pain, muscle pain, insomnia and depression. And through December 31, clients receive a complimentary Biomat session for every hour-long massage appointment scheduled or gift card purchased. Of course, Body Edge also specializes in a fully equipped gym, a multitude of group class options, expert personal

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

hen it comes to your health and fitness, Body Edge Fitness Studio in Ocean Isle Beach wants you to think outside the gym by embracing a balanced approach between nutrition, body and mind. The studio already offers wellness coaching with Certified Holistic Health Coach Beth Mincher, who helps clients achieve optimal wellness through diet, physical activity and natural therapies. Now Body Edge has added massage therapy to further improve its clients’ quality of life. Sunn Bingaman, a practicing massage therapist for 23 years, offers personalized therapeutic bodywork. She specializes in rehabilitative and neuromuscular therapies, which she also taught for 12 years at White River School of Massage in northwest Arkansas. Her experience makes it easy for her to choose the appropriate therapy or therapies that a client needs. “When they explain to me where they are for that day, I will try my best to make them feel more pain-free, restful, healthy and happy,” Bingaman says. “And everybody’s favorite color is happy!” Therapeutic massage is a restorative therapy that goes beyond relaxation to provide health benefits, and it’s just the thing that Cindy Black, owner of Body Edge Fitness Studio, wanted her clients to have access to. Bingaman contacted Black about teaching a class once she permanently relocated to the area. But Black had other ideas as well. She knew Bingaman was a massage therapist. “Sunn had initially emailed me about teaching a class at the studio, and asked if we could meet. I replied yes, and asked

Business Profile

training, health coaching, above-board customer service and a safe, clean, inspiring environment. Celebrating 15 years in business in Brunswick County, Black has continually expanded her studio to better accommodate her clients. Massage at Body Edge is just the next, natural step in the evolution of her success. To help promote a healthy lifestyle in Brunswick County, Body Edge suggests the gift of health for loved ones this holiday season. Body Edge Fitness Studio 6741 Beach Drive SW, Suite B Ocean Isle Beach (910) 575-0975; cme2bfit.com

South Brunswick Magazine

Shop Local Saturday, February 9, 2019 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

All your business, home & service needs in one place!

Free to attend!

Shallotte Middle School 225 Village Rd. Shallotte

For more info go to: https://brunswickcountychamber.org/businessexpo/

Wine, Women & Chocolate

is getting a makeover....

with the additional of a FASHION SHOW Join us on Monday, March 18th 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Entry fee $50 price includes entry, SWAG BAG full of goodies glass of wine, raffle ticket, food and shoppingÂ For more information and to purchase entry go to: https://brunswickcountychamber.org/winewomenchocolate/

Lockwood Folly Country Club 19 Clubhouse Drive SW, Supply

Winter 2018-19

FACES & PLACES

Tri-Chamber Business After Hours

Elizabeth Wassum

Dana Fisher, Nick Leger, Nancy Ashmore

April Scott

Robin Beliveau, George & BJ Jacob, Heather Buehl

Keith Harris, Elizabeth Wassum, Ben Frazier

Greg Bland, David E. Randolph, Elina DiCostanzo

PHOTOGRAPHY: BILL RITENOUR

South Brunswick Magazine

Reshea Harrison and Sharon Herring

Todd Beane and Mitzi Swing

FACES & PLACES

Tri-Chamber Business After Hours

Nick Leger and Dana Fisher

Arlene Diaz-Carrero and Ly Eldridge

Tara Gannon and Brad Graham

Paul Gawron and Eric Holloman

Beth Beane, Billy Hardee, Susan Eggert

Tammie Hand and Sadee Gulick

Carolyn and Ken Scott

Ly Eldridge and Ken Scott

Winter 2018-19

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

SNIPPET

Women of Impact Awards & Luncheon Brunswick County Chamber Women in Business Committee held its inaugural Women of Impact Awards on November 5 at Brick Landing in Ocean Isle Beach. Following lunch, Denise Ryan of Firestar Speaking presented the keynote address. The awards are intended to draw women from diverse backgrounds and industries to ensure their achievements become part of the fabric of the community. Individuals were encouraged to nominate members of the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce to win in the various categories. Awards were presented to: D.U.D.E. (Developing Understanding Driving and Empowering Women): Shelbourn Stevens, Novant Health Educator of the Year: Donna Michaux, Southport Elementary Emerging Entrepreneur: Kerri Allen, The Flying Locksmiths Established Businesswoman: Desiree Dunston, Novant Health Hidden Gem: Tracie Horn, ATMC Volunteer of the Year: Mari-Lou Wong-Chong, Brunswick County Intercultural Festival Woman of the Year: Lynn Carlson, Hope Harbor Home

| READ MORE OF THIS STORY ONLINE AT LIFEINBRUNSWICKCOUNTY.COM | 98

South Brunswick Magazine

WHAT’S HAPPENED

Oktoberfest in Calabash

Student Ambassador Spotlight

Brunswick Community College 2018–19 Student Ambassador Nick Dinnall spoke at the BCC Legacy Committee Reception on November 7. Dinnall, a West Brunswick High School graduate, is a first-year student pursuing his associate in arts degree with an interest in a future career as a graphic designer. He chose BCC as a way to ease the often-stressful transition from high school to college and to prepare him to transfer to a four-year university to continue his studies.

American Legion News American Legion Department Commander Evan Thomson recently congratulated newly elected Department Vice Commander Tom Cerniglia. At the recent convention of the American Legion in North Carolina in Raleigh, Tom Cerniglia was elected Department Vice Commander for Division II, Southeastern North Carolina. Commander Cerniglia will oversee 75 Posts in the region with five districts of the 25 in the state. At a post division meeting at Arbor Creek Clubhouse in Southport, American Legion Department Commander Evan

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

On October 27 many gathered in Calabash for the fifth annual Oktoberfest. The festival offered beer, food, wiener dog races, arm wrestling, Bierstein holding contests, polka dancing and horse-drawn carriage rides, all to benefit Paws-Ability of Brunswick County. Look for the festival to take place again in October 2019.

Thompson recently delivered permanent charter status to members of the newly formed Post 551 in Southport.

Legionnaires from the Richard H. Stewart, Jr., American Legion Post 543, Inc. joined with the Southport Walmart store to offer free meals and ice-cold water to members of the community at Walmart on September 27 and 29. When a planned vendor did not arrive with promised supplies, Southport Walmart Manager Jennifer Slick donated food and supplies, including hot dogs, chicken breast sandwiches, chips and all the fixings. The purpose of the event was to not only provide a hot meal to those suffering from damage to their homes caused by Hurricane Florence, but also for community residents at large to give them a brief respite from cleaning up and restocking after the storm. Comments about the event and the meals themselves were very positive. Legionnaires who participated remarked that the event made them proud to serve the community. The Richard H. Stewart, Jr., American Legion Post 543 serves St. James, Arbor Creek, Winding River, Palmetto Creek and other nearby communities. By sponsoring a variety of activities, the post demonstrates the unwavering commitment by its members to the Four Pillars on which the American Legion was founded in 1919: Americanism, National Security, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation and Children and Youth. American Legion Post 543 meets at 7 pm every fourth Monday of the month (with some exceptions announced on our website in advance) at the St. James Community Center, 4136 Southport-Supply Road S.E., in Southport, directly across Southport-Supply Road from the St. James main gate.

Women in Philanthropy & Leadership Annual Membership Meeting WPLB’s Annual Membership Meeting on October 25th was a great success. Members and guests shared a lovely evening celebrating the volunteer success from the previous year and making plans for the future. They heard the personal success stories from five scholarship recipients are receiving financial support for tuition and fees thanks to donations and WPLB membership dues. Awarding the scholarships to these deserving students is one of Winter 2018-19

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difference in their community, so they passed this windfall on to the Building Hope Ministries / Streetreach’s Vehicle Fund. Whether it’s starting a project that helps one person or working on one that benefits a whole community, every contribution makes a difference. Ocean Ridge Charities Association Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation established within the community of Ocean Ridge Plantation to identify charitable needs within Brunswick County and to support them through increased fundraising and volunteer participation.

Jean Burdick Miller, RN Nursing Scholarship Reaches $25,000 Endowment at BCC

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Streetreach/Building Hope Ministries Receives Its First Large Donation from ORCA

It started in October 2017 with the Ocean Ridge Charities Association’s (ORCA) hands-on Make A Difference Day activity, Ocean Ridge Goes M.A.D.D. Chipping in for Charity, and ended 10 months later when ORCA surprised Reverend Donna and Gary Phelps of Building Hope Ministries / Streetreach with a check for $10,000. Reverend Donna’s look of astonishment was a gift to all the ORCA board members, who were a part of making the donation possible. The funding for the donation was the result of ORCA’s community-wide endeavor, which was selected from nearly 800 projects that took place on October 28, 2017. Make A Difference Day partners Arby’s Foundation and Points of Light honored Ocean Ridge as one of the 13 National award winners to receive a $10,000 grant from Arby’s Foundation. And the ORCA board members wanted to continue to make a

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the intrinsic rewards that comes with the $100 membership fee. Since 2011 the WPLB membership fee has funded $37,248 in scholarships, helping 36 students achieve their dreams. While all the students had different stories, a common theme prevailed: building a better future for themselves and their families.

August 28 was a day of great celebration for Jean Burdick Miller and the Brunswick Community College (BCC) Foundation. With a $755 donation from Jean’s State Farm Insurance Agent, Will Rogers, the Jean Burdick Miller, RN Nursing Scholarship became fully endowed through the BCC Foundation at the $25,000 level. Fully endowing the scholarship at that level will allow students to benefit from her legacy in perpetuity. The scholarship itself is an initiative of Jean’s close friends, John and Carolyn Jones, and began as an effort to honor Jean’s life and career. The scholarship fund grew over time through the loving support of Jean’s family and friends. An avid quilter, Jean raised funds herself by selling raffle tickets for a beautiful handmade quilt that was raffled off in support of her scholarship. She gladly shared her story and appreciation with her dear friends and family over the course of the last two and a half years as donations poured in from sources all over the country. With a final push this summer to complete her endowment in time for her August birthday, Jean took to Facebook to share with friends how close she was to meeting her goal. Her call was heard, and she promptly received a text from long-time friend and insurance agent, Will Rogers. Rogers committed to giving the final $755 needed to meet the $25,000 goal in support of Jean’s scholarship. Rogers, along with his wife, Celeste, and their children, Buddy and Stella, came to Brunswick Community College on August 28 to present Jean and the Foundation staff with the check. John and Carolyn Jones were also present to share in the celebration of completing an incredible goal and Winter 2018-19

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supporting a legacy worth sharing for years to come.

Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians representing 320 Southport local households recently dropped off 9,600 expired or unwanted narcotic pills at Dosher Memorial Hospital’s semiannual Operation Medicine Cabinet. The number of participants is more than double the amount from April 2018. Area residents also dropped off more than 2,400 milliliters of narcotic liquids. Total weight of the discarded medications was 197 pounds. One dozen Dosher employees, a Dosher board trustee and staff from New Hanover County Health Department, Brunswick County Sheriff ’s Office and volunteers from the sheriff ’s office collected the medications. The next collection of unwanted prescription medications at Dosher is planned for Thursday, April 4, 2019.

Beeracuda for their 36.05-pound king. Third place honors and $46,115 went to Captain Patrick Overstreet IV aboard Service Call from Tarboro for their 35.45-pound king. Anglers could add to their winnings by entering additional prize categories, hence the difference in the posted prizes and the actual checks. This was the first major event held in Southport since Hurricane Florence. The U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament also supported Brunswick Family Assistance Hurricane Relief efforts with a $1,500 donation. An event of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce, the tournament is held annually the first week in October at the Southport Marina.

Sessoms Earns Best in Show at Farm to Table Art Show

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More Than 300 Households Participate at Dosher Drug Drop

40th Anniversary U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament Awards Over $273,000 in Cash The 40th annual U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament, held October 4 to 6 at Southport Marina, attracted 432 boats and more than 1,400 anglers competing for more than $273,000 in cash prizes. Top honors for their 37.20-pound king mackerel went to Captain Dieter Cardwell from Winston-Salem aboard Tide Line. For their efforts they received $108,216. Second place and $38,055 went to Captain Timothy Gray from Wilmington on the

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Janet B. Sessoms won the Best in Show Award at the Farm to Table art show held at Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash. The show included more than 80 paintings and more than 100 three-dimensional pieces in wood, glass and clay, all which support or depict the Farm to Table theme. Sessoms’ winning entry was Island Tractor, an 11- x 14-inch (unframed size) oil

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painting. Sessoms received her Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education at University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She is a member of Wilmington Art Association and Women Painters of the Southeast. Her work has been featured on the cover of Art Guide magazine, Wrightsville Beach magazine and Cape Fear Living magazine, among others. The Farm to Table exhibit opened November 2 and ran through December 1. Sunset River Marketplace showcases work by approximately 150 North and South Carolina artists and houses some 10,000 square feet of oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, mixed media, art glass, fabric art, pottery, sculpture, turned and carved wood and artisan-created jewelry.

in the It’s Worth the Drive Go Local Passport drawing held on November 1. Cassidy won $100 for entering the drawing by showing support of local businesses during the temporary closing of the G.V. Barbee Bridge by stopping in the chamber’s office and presenting 10 receipts from different SouthportOak Island area businesses. Play along and win cash with the It’s Worth the Drive Go Local Passport. The passport may be picked up at the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce or at numerous local businesses that will detail the entry process.

Beer & Brats Fundraiser at the Museum of Coastal Carolina Museum of Coastal Carolina held its annual Beer & Brats fundraiser at the museum on November 23 with live music provided by Opportunity Rocks. Proceeds from the event helped the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach and Ingram Planetarium in Sunset Beach meet their educational mission. The Museum of Coastal Carolina is located at 21 East Second Street, Ocean Isle Beach.

Museum of Coastal Carolina Announces the Winner of the Golf Cart Raffle Lillie West of Ocean Isle was the winner of the Museum of Coastal Carolina golf cart raffle. Lillie won the sporty road-ready golf cart when the winning raffle ticket was drawn on October 26 at the Museum of Coastal Carolina. The Ocean Isle Museum Foundation Inc. would like to thank everyone who bought a raffle ticket for this fundraising event.

It’s Worth the Drive Go Local Passport Winner Congratulations to Dwight Cassidy of Oak Island for being the first winner

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