December 2025 Southport Magazine

DQ Banana Split

FROM THE PUBLISHERS

We decided to do something a little different with this month’s magazines. We’re lighter on features and news and instead we’re sharing a series of columns by our wonderful writers about the holiday season. As the writers’ work came in to me, I just got happier and happier about this idea. We left it wide open really, not giving a topic or prompt, and what you’ll find is a wide variety of holiday cheer. You’ll read about a family’s Hanukkah traditions, a special Christmas toy, the importance of not seeking perfection, the birth of a new tradition for a family spread all over the country, children keeping the magic alive for their dad, and how we can rediscover the Spirit after suffering loss and grief. Lisa and I chime in with our Christmas reflections as well. I’m very happy to be able to share these with you and I hope you find something to make you smile, learn something new, and maybe even wipe away a tear. I know I did. — Jeffrey

STAFF

EDITOR

Jeffrey Stites

editor@southportmag.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Lisa P. Stites

lisa@southportmag.com

LEAD DESIGNER

Liz Brinker

lcbgraphicdesign@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

Chuck and Sue Cothran

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Carla Edstrom

Patty Langer

Loiuse Sheffield-Baccarny

Janet Fortney

Dana Jordan

Lisa P. Stites

Jeffrey Stites

PHOTOGRAPHER

Jeffrey Stites

PUBLISHER & SALES

Jeffrey Stites

jeff@southportmag.com 910-471-7741

CONSULTANT

Kris Beasley

PO Box 10175, Southport, NC 28461

Southport Magazine is published once a month by

Live Oak Media with an extra publication in July for the Southport Fourth of July Festival.

The opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of the staff.

Annual Subscription: $45 jeff@southportmag.com 910-471-7741

An Easy Bathroom Fix

Bath Fitter Remodels Without The Fuss

STORY BY JEFFREY STITES, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

We all spend a lot of time with family and friends in our living rooms and kitchens, we spend our nights in our bedrooms, but having an up-to-date, safe, and comfortable bathroom can really make your home. Bathrooms put up with a lot, really. It’s often wet or at least damp, and let’s face it, people don’t show off bathrooms with the pride they show off a new kitchen or living room remodel. But even if you and your family are the only ones who might appreciate it, fixing up the bathroom is important, too..

That’s where Bath Fitter comes in. We spoke to Barry Mastrodomenico, Bath Fitter’s local representative, about how they can help get you a new bathroom with minimal fuss.

Bath Fitters is focusing more on the Southport area, but the company is not new. Can you tell us about Bath Fitter and its service in our community?

Bath Fitter is not new. We’ve been around for 41 years, and we have been serving this area since 2004. We’re excited to have this opportunity with Southport Magazine to reach our customers in a more targeted area rather than taking a broad marketing approach.

What services does Bath Fitter offer, both private home and commercial?

We do one thing, and our focus is installing everything. We are not the company that does roofs, windows, and doors, and an occasional bath remodel. We have perfected the wet area remodel.

For residential and commercial customers, they benefit from little to no demolition. They get a permanent solution with very little disruption. In most cases an installation can be done in as little as one day. Whatever the case, they get to use their beautiful new shower or bathtub the next day.

What

sets Bath Fitter apart from other remodelers

That’s a great question. Customers deal with one singular company that’s been around for 41 years and is also the manufacturer. We provide a one-piece seamless wall with no grout, no leaking, and we offer a watertight solution. We partnered with an industry leader in commercial plumbing, Symmons, that matches our mission, vision and values. They have been in business for 85 years specializing in large commercial projects. Every installation includes a commercial grade solution. We also offer a lifetime warranty that is transferable.

How can you make a bathroom safer for people as they age and perhaps lose some mobility?

We offer a variety of safety products such as grab bars, seats, and lowto-no-barrier walk-in showers. All our remodels are customized to meet those needs. We work very closely with

the Veterans Administration to convert tubs for veterans to handicapped accessible walk-in showers, so they can continue to live in comfort in their own homes.

How long does a bathroom remodel take? How disruptive can it be?

This is where Bath Fitter is the game changer. With our PermaFit solution technology, we have little to no demolition and a non-disruptive remodeling

experience so that customers won’t even feel we’ve been there when completed, and this completion, in most cases, can be done in as little as one day.

What is your role with Bath Fitter? What’s your favorite part of the job, personally?

I am an in-home design consultant. My favorite part of the job is that I represent an amazing company and get to help people refresh, improve, and add value to their homes. Seeing their smiles afterwards is very rewarding.

What are your goals for Bath Fitter going forward?

Continue doing what I love and that’s helping people transform their bathrooms, one bathroom at a time.

Also to increase awareness in all we do as a company. We just completed dormitories at Davidson, William Peace, and Winston-Salem Universities. On the commercial front — along with the student housing, we have done large projects with multi-family units, hospitality, and senior living.

ALL WINTERFEST LONG SHOP, DINE & ENJOY LOCAL

Downtown • Spt-OKI Area Chamber

Holiday promotions, gift guide, and dining updates from local businesses. Info: www.shopsouthportoakisland.com

STOREFRONT SHOWCASE

Downtown • City of Southport

Vote for decorated storefronts in festive categories. Winners announced Dec. 15.

POP-UP ICE SKATING

Fort Johnston Tennis Courts • Admission: $15 Fri-Sun, Noon-8p | Mon-Thurs, 3p-8p

FRIDAY, DEC. 5

DOWNTOWN TREE LIGHTING

6 PM • Whittler’s Bench • City of Southport

The mayor lights the tree with Trinity UMC Children’s Choir, plus cocoa and cookies from the Beautification Committee.

SATURDAY, DEC. 6

WINTERFEST TEA

1 PM • Community Building • Holiday tea with entertainment. Tickets $50 at Ft. Johnston. Proceeds benefit local orgs.

SUNDAY, DEC. 7

PET PICTURES WITH SANTA

2–4 PM • Indian Trail Meeting Hall • APS & Police Dept.

Bring pets for photos with Santa, plus treats and activities. Donations accepted.

MONDAY, DEC. 8

SHOP-WITH-A-COP CONCERT

6–8 PM • Franklin Square Park • Police Dept.

Concert by Back Porch Rockers & golf cart decorating contest.

TUESDAY, DEC. 9

WINTERFEST-IVAL OF TREES

6–8 PM • Franklin Square Park •

Southport Garden Club

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10

COOKIE CONTEST

3:30–5 PM • Community Building •

The State Port Pilot

For more information, please visit cityofsouthport.com/winterfest cityofsouthport.com/winterfest

For more information, please visit cityofsouthport.com/winterfest

For more information, please visit

Decorated trees, crafts, games, Santa & Grinch, carols, and refreshments. Info: southportgardenclub.org

Taste and vote for your favorite cookies. Info: cookies@stateportpilot.com

SUPPER WITH SANTA’S ELVES

5–6:30 PM • 209 Atlantic Ave. • Parks & Rec

Kids enjoy pizza & a movie while parents shop. $5/child. Preregister at 910-457-7945.

THURSDAY, DEC. 11

POLAR EXPRESS MOVIE

Dusk • Ft. Johnston Lawn •

Parks & Rec & Intracoastal Realty

Free outdoor movie with cocoa and snacks. Bring chairs/blankets.

FRIDAY, DEC. 12

BOOKSTORE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

10 AM–4 PM • 727 N Howe St. •

Once More Bookstore & FOLSOI

Cider, cookies, books, and gifts. Proceeds support local libraries.

CHRISTMAS PARADE

6:30 PM (kids board at 5:30) •

Southport Fire Dept.

Parade along Moore & Howe Streets. Visit from Santa following the parade.

SATURDAY, DEC. 13

WINTER ARTS & CRAFT FESTIVAL

10 AM–4 PM • Bay Street • Community Relations

SANTA’S WORKSHOP

10–11 AM • 209 Atlantic Ave. • Parks & Rec

Kids make ornaments, cookies, and crafts.

PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM

11 AM–3 PM • Ft. Johnston Lawn • Up Your Arts Performances include a barbershop quartet.

OLD JAIL TOURS

11 AM–5 PM • Old Brunswick County Jail • Southport Historical Society Tour the 1904 jail decorated for the season.

HOLIDAY TOUR OF HOMES

11 AM–5 PM • Downtown • DSI & Southport Historical Society

Tickets $30 via Southport Historical Society website

TRAIN & TOY SHOW

12–5 PM • Indian Trail Meeting Hall • Grand Strand Model Railroaders

CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS PARTY

3–5 PM • Southport Community Building • Brunswick Arts Council

Play, characters, Santa, games, contests, photo booth, and more.

WINTERFEST FLOTILLA

6 PM • Southport Waterfront •

Cape Fear Yacht Club, DSI & City of Southport

Lighted boat parade from Old American Fish with student judges and live broadcast.

Happy Holidays November Christmas Changing Ideas About Early Holiday Prep

A CHRISTMAS COLUMN BY LISA STITES

Iused to be steadfast in not wanting to rush Christmas. We have my November birthday to celebrate, then Thanksgiving, and then we could have Christmas. But in the past few years, I have mellowed and I seem to get excited to decorate and shop and do all the things earlier and earlier every year. As I see others starting a bit early, I think, why not me?

I’m not ashamed to admit that while I am writing this in mid-November, I have already watched a Christmas movie and started listening to Mannheim Steamroller’s “Christmas Live” album. I have also already bought two presents. I’m 50-something right now (never mind what the rest of that number is) and I love that the joy of giving is something that continues to grow inside me. I still love to receive, of course, but I really love putting thought and consideration into finding something that the recipient will really appreciate.

The joy of giving is one of the important general sentiments of the season. Regardless if Christmas carries religious significance for you personally, these are sentiments that we would all do well to embrace

all year long, such as spreading good cheer, celebration, and also, quiet reflection and focusing on the really important things in life, like gratitude, family, and friends.

The rest of the trappings that accompany Christmas — the gifts, the front yard blowup decorations, the glitter and the sparkle — aren’t necessary of course, but they are fun and make people smile, and what could be wrong with something as simple as that?

Personally, I have always loved Christmas decor, and if I could, I’d have it up all year long. I actually do keep a few small things, like special ornaments, out in the house instead of packed away for only a brief annual display. I’m not a fan of covering the whole yard in decor, though I did buy a family gift one year and insisted Jeffrey and our son John open it on Christmas Eve. It was a blow-up jet pack Santa, and they were thrilled.

them. We have some that were on my parents’ tree when they married in 1966. We have some that Jeffrey’s grandmom and great aunt made. They are definitely from a different time and style (I did say tacky is forgiven, right?), but we lovingly put them on the tree, right next to John’s Sponge Bob Square Pants candy holder ornament or the clothespin toy soldier Jeffrey or I made in third grade. We were in the same class, and at this point, we’re not sure which one of our soldiers has survived this long. It’s great to reminisce, to remember loved ones far away or who aren’t with us anymore. It’s another great Christmas tradition, so why not feel those feelings for longer than a couple weeks in December?

I know some people who are super organized for Christmas. They have cookies made and presents bought and wrapped in plenty of time so that they can relax and enjoy the holiday. Good for them. We are not those people. I did start keeping a list on my phone with Christmas gifts ideas so I won’t forget them throughout the year. The one time we packed something away far ahead of Christmas, though, we forgot we had it and found it mixed in with the wrapping paper and bows a few years later. It’s probably not

surprising that a couple of magazine people like us are deadline driven anyway. We can’t be the only people still wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve, right?

While my decorating style may look more chaotic than refined, I have no trouble organizing the transformation to Christmas decor. Jeffrey cheerfully, or at least without grumbling, pulls out the boxes and we put on some music and maybe grab a cup of cocoa as we decide what we want to put out and where it goes. Our son is coming home for Thanksgiving, and you can bet we’ll rope him into hauling out the boxes and decorating the house. We’ll fuss, with love of course, and talk, and best of all, we’ll laugh. A lot. That’s an opportunity I won’t pass up, no matter how far ahead of Christmas it comes.

One of my favorite things about decorating is the tree. Like many people, our family members, including the furry four-legged ones, get a new ornament for the tree every year. I absolutely adore pulling out the ornaments and telling and retelling the stories behind

Whether you want to stick to a more traditional holiday schedule or you already have wrapped presents under the tree, I hope you’ll make it a great holiday. Do what makes you happy and don’t stress over making everything perfect. It won’t be perfect, but it will be fabulous, no matter how early you start spreading good cheer and singing your fa la la la las. Merry Christmas everyone!

This ornament hung on my parent’s tree when they were first married

Jeffrey’s Grandmom hand-made this ornament

One of our newer favorites

Happy Holidays Little People Castle

Christmas Toy Unlocks Girl’s Imagination

A CHRISTMAS COLUMN BY CARLA EDSTROM

AsI sit here reminiscing about my childhood Christmases, I realize I have many favorite memories from my childhood in the 1970s. I grew up in a small town in Illinois that is surrounded by farmland. Life growing up was playing on quiet streets, swinging on hot days, and playing in the dirt, pretending to make farms with my neighbor boys. And I always hoped for snow on Christmas.

Some of my favorite memories involve waking up to crisp, new Christmas snow. I would love to make big snowmen and go sledding down the neighbor’s hill with all the neighborhood kids and all our new sleds from Christmas morning. I would always hope for a new, fancy metal-and-wood toboggan sled each Christmas, but I was still happy to get a new plastic blue roll-up sled.

It would take an hour, but putting on the snowmobile suit and wrapping

Wonder Bread wrappers around my feet to keep them warm was all part of the experience. In proper Gen X form, we were out there all day. And the lack of serious injuries in these complete lack of adult supervision sledding escapades remains a mystery.

My absolute favorite Santa present I remember getting was the Fisher-Price Little People Castle when I was maybe 4. This would be one of the first years it came out, in the early 70s. Little People toys were my very favorites, and I had a few, like the yellow house, the boat, and random extra little people. But the original Fisher-Price Castle was the best! None of my friends had it. It was more than just a toy. It was a gateway to a world of imagination and adventure!!

room, a bedroom with little beds, a drawbridge with a lever that opened it up and down, a knight in armor, and a

There was a trap door where you could drop prisoners (or pretend it’s your brother) from the top down into the water, and a cage door that opened where they landed. It had a mote with alligators, a staircase that opened to reveal a secret

king, queen, and a princess all with crowns. It had a horse-drawn carriage with seats for the king and queen. And the best thing — it had a pink dragon!

I don’t remember much from my childhood, but this is the one present I do remember. My nieces and nephews got to play with that for years after me, and I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that castle is still at mom’s house.

I have to give credit to my big sister Pat for taking pictures of me and still having them. I was the last of six kids, so I have a few images of my childhood.

Pizza Dough Made from Scratch Daily

Pasta! Pasta! Pasta!

Happy Holidays

Second Christmas Holiday Tradition For A Far-Flung Family

A CHRISTMAS COLUMN BY PATTY LANGER

Whenyou have a big family, it’s hard to get everyone together for Christmas, particularly as marriages and careers create geographic distance. For the first 14 years of my marriage, we were fortunate to live within an hour’s drive of my family and my husband’s family in Connecticut. Most of my eight siblings and their children lived in New England too, making the holidays one big, crazy blast.

Christmases involved a lot of time spent packing up kids, stuffing the car full of presents, and driving from one end of the state to the other. But it was worth it to join the big gathering at my Mom’s house on Christmas Day. That all changed when we moved to Pittsburgh in 2004.

Our first year as Pennsylvania transplants, we decided to stay home for Christmas. We wanted to enjoy the holiday in our new house, and we wanted to alleviate our kids’ fear that Santa might not find them. But having grown up as part of a large family, I had a harder time than I expected not being with them at Mom’s house on Christmas Day. I missed the noise and chaos. Our kids missed their cousins too.

The next year, Jeff and I agreed to spend Christmas Day at home in Pittsburgh, then drive to Connecticut on Dec. 26. What a good sport he was, agreeing to that 10-hour trek north, often on snowy highways. I sent an email to my siblings, asking them to come back to Mom’s house on Dec. 27 to celebrate Christmas a

second time, with us there. I offered to do all the cooking, and with that bit of bribery, they came happily!

Second Christmas quickly became an annual custom for our family. Over the years, as many of the younger generation married and moved away, it took on more significance. Distant family members could enjoy Christmas at home, then drive or fly to Connecticut the next day for the extended family celebration on Dec. 27. Second Christmas eliminated the conflicts about where to spend Christmas Day and allowed us all to be together for the holidays. It was a winwin arrangement (except for the long, snowy drive part!)

The first few years, I cooked big pasta dinners for Second Christmas, figuring everyone was tired of turkey and ham by then. As the years went on and our family continued to grow, others began to help with the food. We veered toward simplicity, things like pre-baked lasagnas, taco bars, or crock pot soups. A few years ago, we started ordering pizzas so that we could spend less time in the kitchen and more time being together. We even started using paper plates so that no one got stuck in the

kitchen washing dishes, giving us more time for catching up. Desserts for Second Christmas consist of cookies left over from everyone’s cookie exchanges and a giant box of Whitman’s Samplers – always a big hit!

Our family has grown and spread a lot since that first Second Christmas in 2005. My mom, still going strong at 95, looks forward to the day as much as the rest of us. There are now 20 grandkids and 15 great grandkids, with more on the way. About half of them go to Mom’s on Christmas Day, while the rest spend it with in-laws or at their own homes. But most years, we all make it to Mom’s for Second Christmas, and it feels just like the real thing. There are piles of mixed-up gifts, crumpled wrapping paper everywhere, overstimulated kids, mischievous cousins, sibling rivalries and fleeting dramas, barking dogs, cookies smooshed into the carpet, sticky fingerprints on everything, and almost always too many peppermint martinis. It’s also a day filled with joyful reunions, hugs and laughter, story-telling, reminiscing, and lots of love. I can’t imagine Christmas, or Second Christmas, any other way.

Happy Holidays Hanukkah Traditions

A HANUKKAH COLUMN BY JANET FORTNEY

Our family’s Hanukkah celebrations have changed over the years as our three children – Madeleine, Maxwell, and Juliette – grew from babies into young adults. Happily, though, most of our traditions have remained. For us, Hanukkahs have always included eight nights of glittery blue-and-silver-wrapped gifts, which began piling up on the desk in our den as the holiday approached; loads of freshly-fried potato latkes served with applesauce; dreidel playing; chocolate gelt (“money” in Hebrew and Yiddish) to eat; and jelly doughnuts for dessert.

Of course, no Hanukkah would be complete without eight nights of lighting our family’s menorahs, with one candle being added to each menorah every night. To multiply the fun, we were not a one-menorah family. We figured why limit ourselves to one when we could each have our own menorah! Madeleine’s menorah featured little colorful, clay animals and had been a gift from her aunt when she was born; Maxwell’s was one that he had made in preschool; Juliette, the ultimate dog-lover, was proud to light a menorah featuring a menagerie of dogs; and our main menorah was an elegant, silver tree-of-life design that had been a wedding gift from my brother. We still treasure

all of these menorahs today.

Some years, our Hanukkah festivities included a huge party with dozens of guests and hundreds of latkes. Some years, we gathered with only our closest family – grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins. Many Hanukkah evenings, it was just the five of us who kindled the lights, ate our latkes, and opened gifts together.

Homemade Hanukkah, we were naively ambitious: everyone was tasked with creating homemade gifts for the four others. This proved to be a lot of work! So, the following year, we made our lives easier by randomly choosing names and creating a gift for only one family member. The results of our endeavors included, among other items, one gigantic snickerdoodle cookie; a “Fifty Reasons Why I Love You” scrapbook; personalized book labels

For too many years to count, I was the designated “Hanukkah mom” in our three kids’ classrooms. Although it was labor intensive, it was a joy for me and a highlight for our children and their classmates. Every year I would lug into the schools at least two large bags that contained latkes, applesauce, disposable plates, napkins, and forks; a couple of children’s books about Hanukkah; a menorah and candles; and dreidels, gelt, and game-playing instructions. Some years, depending on the school, I fried up dozens of latkes on the spot on a portable burner under the excited gaze of 25 elementary school students; other years, I warmed my pre-cooked latkes in a microwave in the teachers’ break room. Never once did I go home with uneaten latkes. As many as I made, that was how many got eaten!

As our children got older, our festivities became less focused on our kids’ specific gift lists and Madeleine suggested that we institute a less retail-oriented and more creative and meaningful gifting tradition in our family. Thus began our beloved “Homemade Hanukkah”! The first year of

and bookmarks with fluffy yarn tassels; a realistic-looking faux layer cake made out of foam and caulk; a tiny 3-D printed schnauzer; a lovely blue-resin bird figure; hand-carved wooden paperweights; a trio of hand-drawn silhouettes of our kids; as well as a decoupaged heart-shaped, Harry Styles-themed box, flower petal and sprinkle candles, and tie-dyed t-shirts. Whew, I am so proud of our creativity!

This year, Hanukkah begins on Sunday, Dec. 14 and our family is once again looking forward to crispy, sizzling potato latkes and all of the joyous holiday traditions that the Jewish people have taken part in for more than 2,200 years. Happiest of Hanukkahs to those who celebrate! If you’d like to learn more about the origin and traditions of Hanukkah, check out https://kids. nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/hanukkah.

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Mon-Sat 10:30am-5pm • 619 N. Howe • Southport, NC 910-363-6939 • www.MadRiverDesigns.com

Handmade Pieces Sure To Make Her Smile Jewelry Necklaces • Bracelets • Earrings • Rings Statement • Everyday • Must Haves

Mon-Sat 10:30am-5pm • 619 N. Howe • Southport, NC 910-363-6939 • www.MadRiverDesigns.com

Happy Holidays Setting Expectations A Close Enough To Perfect Christmas

A CHRISTMAS COLUMN BY DANA JORDAN

AsI sat down in front of the television on Halloween night to await the tricksters and treaters, merrily consuming most of the Snickers bars I planned to give them, a saccharine commercial featuring a family celebrating the Christmas holidays came on the television. It featured a perfect couple kissing under the mistletoe, a cheerful reunion as long-distance grandparents stepped through the door with presents in hand, and delightful children thrilled at their gifts, all of which interrupted my gluttony.

Just like that, the onset of holiday anxiety killed my chocolate buzz. Those sugarplum-filled commercials stress me out with their implications that if I could only decorate, prepare, cook, host, and shop just right, my Christmases would be less mayhem and more Norman Rockwell. But no matter how I try, my holidays never resemble those of the idyllic TV families rocking around their perfectly adorned Christmas trees in their perfectly bedecked homes, sitting down for a perfectly presented feast. Mine instead include panicky, last-minute shopping; bumper-tobumper traffic; an overdone, Clark Griswold-like turkey; an over-served eggnog drinker or two; not-always-tactful family members who inevitably say something cringe-worthy; presents that don’t hit the mark; an outrageous credit card balance; a number on the scale that rivals that of the national debt; and, when it’s time to tackle the clean up, the re-

alization that the living room has actually exploded.

I believe I’m going to have to accept the fact that my family is simply not a Norman Rockwell kind of bunch. We’re human, after all, and… well… sometimes our rowdy personalities create a bit of mayhem — the kind we all enjoy, the kind we wouldn’t miss for the world, but mayhem all the same.

This year, though, I’m ditching the commercial-induced stress and embracing my quite messy, not-so-elegant, at times frustrating (but always interesting), beautifully flawed Christmas just as it comes. No pressure, no second-guessing, no getting bent out of shape (all of which may require a bit of that eggnog to pull off).

Or maybe it won’t be all that difficult to let go of the ideal. It’s not the Christmas trappings I covet in the commercials that make Christmas special. The real gifts are what I already possess: a family, imperfect as it is, that gives and receives joy from one another on this holiest of days even if we don’t roast chestnuts around a fire or look like fashion models in our matching sweaters. Yes, the turkey will be mostly inedible, a tear or two will be shed over that lessthan-tactful comment, and a mess that requires a team from FEMA to clean it up will be generated, but I can still be grateful for the remarkable people who surround me. I won’t be able to present them with Rachel Ray’s Tuscan-inspired holiday banquet, but I can share an open heart with which to love them generously. I know that they’ll gladly

give the same back to me, my own imperfections notwithstanding, and the memories we make in the process will be cherished far longer than a Martha Stewart-esque table setting. It won’t be Norman Rockwell’s version of the holidays, but there will be unconditional acceptance for each other just as we are— because that’s what Jesus offers us, and that’s who we’re celebrating, after all. And while you might not find us in a Hallmark commercial, that is close enough to perfect for me.

Happy Holidays Recovering The Magic

Finding The Joy Of Christmas After Loss

A CHRISTMAS COLUMN BY LOUISE SHEFFILED-BACCARNY

Growing up, Christmas was celebrated in December. It was a month full of red, green, silver and gold, packed full of Santa Claus, snowmen, reindeer and elves. The smell of homemade goodies, fresh pine and all things cinnamon filled the air. It was 31 days of glitter and ribbon tossed onto everything inside and outside of your home.

Maybe it’s just me, but the older I get, the longer Christmas seems to last. Christmas has now absorbed all of November and commandeered at least half of January. With all the plays, parties, parades, ornament swaps, decorating, gingerbread house making, secret Santa, Chinese gift exchanges and light shows, it makes sense how Christmas has taken over the last few months of the calendar because we have simply run out time trying to fit everything into the twelfth month of the year.

For most people this is an exciting time. A time they plan for, look forward to and just can’t wait to celebrate. While the majority of people are wrapping presents and rocking around the tree, it can also be a time of sadness and solitude for many. Grief, financial stress and social pressures are painful reminders of the loneliness that still exists during what has been labeled as the “hap-happiest” season of all.

My Daddy passed away on Christmas morning, December 25, 2022. What was always a holiday full of family, food and festivities seemed like it was gone forever. The stockings at Mama’s house would never be hung again and the tree, well we thought about throwing it outside and burning it. My family went through a darkness that made us want to throw a snow

globe and break it versus shake it and admire the holiday beauty. The joy of Christmas was gone.

It was hard for me to see anything but sorrow at first, and maybe I didn’t want to see anything else because I felt

that everyone should loathe the holidays like I did. While going through a box of old pictures the following year, I found one taken on Eva’s sec-

ond Christmas. In that picture I found that Christmas joy did still exist and it lived inside my daughter. Joy radiated from her face from the excitement over our glowing tree and the giddy anticipation of unwrapping presents.

Now, at 8 years old, her joy is contagious and spreads every year when

she wakes up and finds that the Elf on the Shelf has made a mess in our living room, when she gets to wear Christmas PJ’s to school and watch “The Polar Express” and eat snacks with her classmates, and when we reread the story from long ago of a baby born in a manger.

Take a look around, because Christmas magic is still alive. Open your Bible, Jesus is still the reason for the season. The busy holiday gives us many, many opportunities to let go of the hurt and move forward. Put up the tree. String the lights. Choose comfy instead of glam. Break traditions and make new ones. Stay off social media. Buy yourself a present. Bake cookies for your neighbor. Mail a few cards. Give grace to those who need it.

Joy is everywhere for those who let it in.

Winterfest Skating

Outdoor Ice Rink Coming To Southport

STORY BY JEFFREY STITES

It may not qualify as a full-blown Christmas Miracle, but outdoor ice skating during Winterfest in Southport is still pretty amazing. Southport’s Fort Johnston tennis courts in front of of the community building on Moore Street will transform into an ice-skating rink from from Friday, Dec. 5 through Saturday, Dec. 13. Hours will be 12-8 pm Fridays-Sundays and 3-8 pm on Mondays through Thursdays. Admission is $15 and includes skate rentals.

The idea for this kind of fell into the lap of the City of Southport. “We were thrilled that Lauren and Mike Shockley, the owners of OutdorrIceRinks.com, reached out to our office directly to introduce themselves and offer their service at this or future Winterfests,” said Alayna Taylor, Director of Southport’s Department of Community relations.

“They recently moved to the area, heard about our event, and thought they could bring something awesome to the table – which they are!”

The rink will be 42’ by 88’ and accommodate up to 100 skaters at a time, according to Michael Shockley. There will not be a limit to the time you can skate, said Taylor. “It will work similarly to a

roller rink in that way,” she said. It takes a bit of work and some effort to turn part of Sunny Southport into a Winter Wonderland. “It takes approximately seven days to build and install the ice surface, and approximately five

days to dis-assemble, assuming the ice surface melts in a couple days after the cooling system is turned off,” said Shockely. He said approximately 5,000 gallons of water will be frozen.

“We use a 100ton Chiller system provided by Agrekko, capable of running coolant at 10 degrees,” Shockley said. We can’t wait to see people skating in southport, some brushing off old skills and many for the first time. Even after hearing how it works, it still feels like Christmas Magic to us!

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Wrap Up 2025 by Planning

Stidham

Earman

Saunders Katherine Wooten

Broussard Kim Moss

Pivarnik

Shea Williams

Andrea Milligan

Karen Hufham

Christian Stiller

Jason Hester

Happy Holidays Capturing Christmas

Trying To Get To All The Christmas Fun

A CHRISTMAS COLUMN BY JEFFREY STITES

One of my very favorite things about the festive holiday season is that it’s sort of my job to go out and see as much of the festivities as I possibly can. I need the photos to use to promote the following year’s events, and also we put them up on social media, where they tend to get a lot of love. So it’s technically “work.” But I absolutely love it.

Lisa and I both love community events and love the Christmas season, so we’ve been regular attendees and/or participants in Oak Island’s Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas by the Sea Parade for almost all of the 30 years we’ve lived here. And as our community has grown, the number of events has exploded. Add to that the fact that we now own three magazines covering the entire county, and the world of Christmas festivities has gotten huge for us.

Now my problem, if you want to call it

that, is getting around to as many events as I can. While a few, like Sunset Beach’s tree lighting and the Ocean Isle Holiday Flotilla, are the weekend after Thanksgiving, the vast majority of the holiday festivities are happening over the course of the first two weeks of December, and many of them are on one of those two weekends.

There are Christmas Tree Lightings in Leland, Belville, Southport, Oak Island, Varnantown, Shallotte and Sunset Beach. There are parades, both day and night, in Northwest, Bolivia, Southport, Oak Island, Shallotte and Calabash, and that doesn’t include the flotillas in both Ocean Isle and Southport.

sort of rotating around so I can visit different towns’ events in different years so I can have photos that are relatively fresh from as many events as possible.

spot to watch Santa get unloaded from the ladder on a fire truck.

The there are the movies on lawns, the Santa visits for both people and pets, two Festivals of Trees (Southport’s new one and the long-running even tat the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach), fundraisers and shops with cops, holiday markets, the State Port Pilot’s cookie contest, two Colonial Christmas events at Brunswick Town State Historic Site, and this year a real ice skating rink in Southport. And that isn’t even nearly all of it.

I’m not Santa Claus, sadly, so I can’t be everywhere all the time at once. I’ve started

This involves choices, some which are difficult. Last year, for the first time since moving here, we missed the Oak Island Christmas Tree Lighting. We’ve loved that event as it’s grown from a couple dozen people in the park next to town hall to hundreds of people in the newer Middleton Park nearer the beach. We both decided that we needed to see the Calabash Christmas Parade that happened the same night and time. We’d talked to the parade organizers for a story and really wanted to go support them, and also get some photos. On the drive down were excited, but also a bit sad at what we were missing in our hometown.

But once we got to Calabash, parked and made our way to the corner in front of Callahan’s, we got completely drawn into the town’s Christmas Spirit. The parade was terrific, the crowd was friendly and enthusiastic, and it had that small town charm that until you experience it in person, you might think only exists in Hallmark Christmas movies.

We made the right choice going down there. We even had the perfect

This year we’re rotating back to Oak Island’s tree lighting, but there will also be some new events. We’ll go to see Leland’s first Christmas light display in its newly renovated park, I’ll be sure to capture photos of the fun at Southport’s ice rink, and we’re planning our first visit to Shallotte’s tree lighting.

It’s a busy season. We’ll put on a lot of miles and have some early mornings and late nights. And as soon as the holiday events wind up, we move right into our layout week for the January Pet Issues. But they’ll all be sent to press before the week of Christmas.

I look forward to that week too, the one with very little to do, because even for me, a little peace in this season means a lot.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to each and every one of you reading this. Even if you don’t run across the entire county for three weeks, I hope you see something new and enjoy your longtime traditions as well. There’s a good chance I’ll be there too, camera in hand. Don’t be afraid to say “hi!”

Community BLT’s 2026 Season

A Year Full Of Community Theatre Fun

STORY CONTRIBUTED

The Brunswick Little Theatre is excited to announce the 2026 season. In the coming year, we will be offering a mix of comedy, farce, and drama, and a musical. We know you will be delighted with our productions, which include some titles that will be familiar to many of our patrons.

Starting in February, we will present “One Slight Hitch” by comedian Lewis Black. This door-slamming farce with a heart takes place on the day of a suburban backyard wedding in 1981. The story centers on the highly organized and anxious mother of the bride, Delia Coleman, and her frantic husband, Doc, who are trying to ensure their eldest daughter, Courtney, has the perfect wedding they never had.

In April we present our musical “The Bikinis – A New Musical Beach Party,” by Ray Roderick and James Hindman. It’s a family-friendly jukebox musical about four women who reunite after 20 years to perform a concert to save their beloved Jersey Shore mobile home park, Sandy Shores. The show features over 30 hit songs from the 1960s and beyond as the group relives their past and navigates their current lives.

In early May we’ll feature “Aesop’s Oh So Slightly Updated Fables,” by Kim Esop Wiley. It’s a hilarious retelling of these familiar fables. This short play, performed for and with kids, weaves five of Aesop’s most famous fables into a show that’s fun, fastpaced, and full of surprises.

Later in May, just in time for Mother’s Day, we will present the 2026 version of “Listen to Your Mother,” by Ann Imig. This production has been a yearly favorite at BLT and will feature all new segments, some written by our local actors. It’s a live storytelling performance series featuring true stories about motherhood from diverse perspectives, including humor, grief, and celebration.

In June we will present the thought-provoking comedy “End Days,” by Deborah Zoe Laufer. Rachel Stein is 16 and is having a bad year. Her father hasn’t changed out of his pajamas since 9/11.  Her mother has begun a close, personal relationship with Jesus. Her new neighbor, a 16-year-old Elvis impersonator, has fallen for her hard and

befriended her parents.  And the Apocalypse is coming Wednesday. Her only hope is that Stephen Hawking will save them all.

Our August production is the stage version of the hit film “Same Time Next Year,” by Bernard Slade. The play is about a two-person affair between a man and a woman who meet at a California inn once a year for 25 years. They are both married to other people, have a one-night stand in 1951 and agree to meet again annually, charting their lives, their changing relationship, and 25 years of American social and cultural shifts over six scenes set five years apart.

In October we present another stage version of a beloved film “On Golden Pond,” by Ernest Thompson. The plot focuses on an aging couple, Ethel and Norman Thayer, who spend each summer at their home on a lake called Golden Pond. During the year the story takes place, they are visited by their daughter, her fiancé, and his son. The play explores father and daughter’s turbulent relationship, and the difficulties faced by a couple in the twilight years of a long marriage.

We end our season with perennial holiday favorite “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” by Jamie Gorski. This radio drama is set in New York City, in 1897. Christmas is almost here, but 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon suddenly is facing a crisis of belief: Is Santa Claus real or not? Famously, she writes a letter to a local paper to give her a definitive answer to that most crucial of questions.

So that is our exciting 2026 season. Tickets are available through our website at www.brunswicklittletheatre.com or at the Ricky Evans Gallery, at 211 North Howe St. in Southport. Thanks for your continued support and patronage!

Historic Christmas

Enjoy Two Holiday Brunswick Town Events

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES

Christmasat Brunswick Town State Historic Site is not to be missed. Two events allow visitors to experience the site at dusk turning to nighttime. If you’re familiar with Brunswick Town, you’ll know how special this can be, and if you’ve never visited our county’s very own State Historic Site, this is a perfect opportunity.

During A Light in the Darkest Night, visitors will get the chance to experience a peaceful evening amongst the ruins of St. Philips Church as it is decorated in its holiday finest, with candlelight and greenery.

This free program will be held Friday, Dec. 12 from 4-7 pm, and allows for self guided exploration and meditation. The Visitor Center and gift shop will remain open during the course of the evening to also allow a chance for a little holiday shopping.

An 18th Century Christmas allows visitors to explore how the American colonists celebrated Christmas. During the program, you can enjoy 18th century inspired refreshments in the Visitor Center, participate in traditional games, or try your hand at Moravian paper stars and other 18th-century crafts. The church ruins are decorated beautifully, but simply, with greenery and candles, which really add to the general peace and quiet and celebratory atmosphere.

The highlight of the evening will be an authentic period candlelit service in the ruins of St. Philips Anglican Church. The service will begin at 5 pm and will conclude by 5:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance online beginning on Nov. 15 through the site’s Square website at https://friends-of-brunswick-townfort-anderson.square.site/ upcoming-events.

Happy Holidays Finding Santa’s Bag

A CHRISTMAS COLUMN BY JAN MORGAN-SWEGLE

There is a moment of sadness when children suddenly realize who Santa Claus really is. I almost had that moment many years ago when we lived in Lakewood, Ohio, in a four-family home.

My parents made sure that my sisters and I went to a department store to see Santa every year. We all went together and sat in his lap at the same time, so that my little sister, Doni, wouldn’t be afraid. This year was no exception. We asked for dolls and Legos and slippers and promised that we had been good all year long.

As Christmas was drawing nearer and the weather off of Lake Erie was getting colder, my sisters and I played more inside than outside. My mother wouldn’t abide running in the house but hide and seek was okay. One day, we were playing hide and seek in my parents’ bedroom. After we had all been “found,” my 4-year-old little sister stood up and looked over the headboard of the bed and said, “Look! Toys!” Soon, we were all looking in this bag that was stuffed behind my parents’ bed, out of sight.

Apparently, we were too quiet, so my mother came looking for us. She found us looking in the bag and was very upset with us. She put everything back in the bag and seemed to have calmed down enough to tell us exactly what we had found.

She explained that Santa had left our Christmas presents with our parents early because he didn’t have time to wrap them.  She said, “Don’t you tell your father that you found this bag, he would be so disappointed.

And, as young as we were, we knew she

was right. My father loved Christmas. He would put a Santa hat on and sit under the tree, calling out our names as he handed out the presents. He would watch us open each gift and loudly exclaim that he was so glad Santa remembered what we asked for. One year we got Legos as a group gift. He sat on the floor with us, building red houses and tall towers.

The Christmas morning after we found Santa’s bag came and many of the presents in the bag were under the tree along with several others. Under the watchful eye of my mother, we were very excited to get each present that our father handed us, “From Santa Claus,” and acted like we had never seen the gift before. At the end of Christmas day, he would always ask, “Did you get everything you wanted?” And the smile on his face was happy and bright when we all said we did.

Years later, I thought of that day and laughed because for once, we children were the Santa Claus to my father, keeping secrets and the Santa Claus tradition alive, to his delight.

And, as adults, whenever my father gave us a gift or money, no matter what time of year it was, he would always say, “This is from Santa Claus,”….and so it was.

FISHING REPORT

December Fishing Report

Looking Forward To A Productive Cooler Month

BY CAPTAIN STEELE PARK

As winter settles over the Southport area, the fishing remains surprisingly strong—when the weather allows. If there’s been one theme for 2025, it’s been wind, wind, and more wind. November was no exception, with persistent northeast blows dominating most days. Yet when the seas have finally cooperated, the fishing has been excellent.

This fall brought a mix of unseasonably cold snaps followed by warm spells, leaving our overall water temps right where they typically sit for this time of year. With December now underway, anglers are hopeful for a break in the forecast and ready to take advantage of what can be one of the most productive winter months. Both the backwater and offshore grounds will be the focus as we close out the year.

Backwater: Drum & Trout in Winter Pattern

Winter in the creeks means concentrated schools of red drum and speckled trout— and when you find them, the action can be “fast and furious.” With water temperatures dropping into the low 60s and upper 50s, fish instinctively push into areas that offer protection from the cold and quick access to bait during the warmest parts of the day.

The backs of creeks, especially those with deep holes, are prime winter hotspots. Shrimp become the main forage this time of year, so live shrimp, fresh shrimp, or artificial shrimp lures are the go-to choices— fished under a popping cork or on a light jighead. Slow presentations are essential.

During mid-day warmups, red drum often slide onto mud flats to soak up heat and feed on the bait that gathers there. Trout, on the other hand, typically set up in secondary creeks where moving water funnels shrimp and small baitfish right to them.

Nearshore: Waiting on the Bluefin

As winter arrives, nearshore action thins out. Falling water temps push the Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and drum out of the immediate coastline, leaving anglers to wonder whether this will be a “bluefin year.”

Some seasons deliver memorable runs of bluefin tuna; others remain quiet. If they show, the usual zones—Bald Head Island’s East Beach, the Knuckle Buoy, the Fairway,

Captain Steele Park, a US Navy Veteran, has been fishing the oceans, rivers, and lakes of southeastern NC since he was 7 years old and knows these waters like the back of his hand. He calls Southport home and captains the Catherine Anne Sportfishing & Excursions fleet. For more information please call at 910-620-9919

and the shoals—are the places to scout. Gannets diving on surface-pushed bait are the clearest sign that bluefin are working underneath.

Offshore: Kings, Seabass, Wahoo & Blackfin

Offshore is where the December bite truly shines. Productive water stretches from 20–25 miles all the way out to 55 miles this month.

King Mackerel

Look for kings where water temps sit in the upper 60s. Schools are roaming widely, and when conditions align, action can be fast.

Black Seabass

Black seabass are stacked on structure from Lighthouse Rocks out to roughly 100 feet of water. Bigger fish are typically found on offshore ledges, rocks, and wrecks in deeper territory. A simple drop rig tipped with cut squid will fill a cooler in short order.

Gulf Stream—Wahoo & Blackfin Tuna

We’re entering one of the two prime windows of the year for quality wahoo and blackfin tuna fishing. Classic hotspots—

The Steeples, Blackjack, Same Ole, and The Nipple—are all worth a look.

While overall numbers of wahoo may not peak in December, the quality more than makes up for it. Many fish average 40–60 pounds and are commonly found along offshore ledges where water temps hover in the low 70s. High-speed trolling and rigged ballyhoo on wire leaders are the preferred methods.

For blackfin tuna, make sure to run a small tuna feather or cedar plug way back in the spread.

A Final Word: Winter Fishing Safety

Winter fishing can be a blast, but December demands respect. Offshore runs mean long stretches over water in the low 50s, where hypothermia becomes a very real threat. Pick calm weather windows, dress in layers topped with a waterproof shell, and ensure all safety gear is properly stocked and functioning.

If you’re hesitant to make the run yourself, plenty of local charters are equipped for winter conditions and have openings this month. December offers some of the most rewarding fishing of the year—and with the right preparation, it’s a season well worth getting out on the water.

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Keeping Fit

Food For Thought Healthy Eating Is Always Within Our Control

BY VICTOR FERNANDES

Victor Fernandes is owner of Fernandez Fit, helpjng clients achieve personal and professional success through health and fitness

It’s hard to believe six months have passed since our family went to our homeland of Portugal for the month of June. And as much as I miss it all, I miss the food the most, and not simply because I ate like I was headed to the electric chair upon my return to the United States. The quality of food, even food we can classify as “unhealthy,” is so far ahead of what we have available to us in this country.

Foods are as all natural as they can be, specifically because it’s required by law by the European Union, which includes Portugal, among other nations. Far fewer additives are allowed in foods in those countries in comparison to the United States. The European Union, according to published reports, requires additives to be proven safe before being used, while in this country, additives are often allowed until (if and when) they are proven to be harmful.

But laws or no laws, natural foods are

what people in Portugal and other nations choose to eat to most benefit the healthy lifestyle they choose to live. Portuguese people focus on a healthy nutritional plan I have known my whole life – the Mediterranean diet, which includes fish, vegetables, salad, olive oil (and if you are of legal age, a glass of port wine with dinner), among other foods.

Portuguese people live active lifestyles. They often walk and ride bicycles. They take rest and recovery seriously, such as two-hour lunches when stores across the country close for that period of time, and nationwide vacation for the entire month of August. Good luck getting renovations done at your home at that time.

Meanwhile, the foods they eat provide the fuel they need to complete the healthy overall plan they naturally follow.

Overweight people? I can tell you there aren’t many, if any, there because the lifestyle they follow isn’t suitable for gaining weight. I recall one day while there, when I was going for a walk on the hilly roads near our family home. I came across a young man returning to his nearby home with bags of groceries. It made me think of that popular social media challenge pertaining to carrying all of our grocery bags from our car in the driveway into our home

That young man was carrying all of his grocery bags home from a store roughly a mile away. Then a short time later, I saw him running on those same hilly roads in our neighborhood. Apparently, that trip to and from the store was simply the warmup before his workout. I grew tired just thinking about all of that effort.

So, why was I overweight in my 20s and into my 30s, which saw me balloon to nearly 250 pounds as recently as 15 years ago? As I wrote earlier, I grew up on the Mediterranean diet many years before it was fashionable to call it that.

That’s because I made poor choices – day after day, month after month and year after year for two decades – and I blamed the life I led and the schedule I kept as a sports journalist for 26 years

for being unhealthy and overweight.

Once I affected change in my life for the better, especially with my nutrition, my health began changing for the better. That control is well within all of our hands.

Whether we choose to do something about it is totally up to us.

And if you look at the alarming statistics, too many of us in this country are choosing to take risks with our health because we’re not willing to take the steps needed to develop a healthier lifestyle for ourselves and our families.

More than 40 percent of the country is deemed obese, while more than 70 percent are considered overweight. There is one common thread that ties those numbers together – the lack of desire and dedication to taking care of ourselves.

As a health and fitness coach, I hear so many excuses from people who need help to take control of their health and well-being but don’t follow through on it.

“I don’t have time” and “I can’t afford it” are the two most used, followed closely by “I’m too old” and “It’s too late for me.” And each time,

at one time.

Keeping Fit

I ask them to reframe their excuse of choice into one eye-opening stHeatement—“My health isn’t a priority to me.”

If we’re going to provide “reasons” why we won’t take care of ourselves, they may as well be the truth and nothing but the truth. We as human beings will do whatever it takes to accomplish something we find truly important.

Why isn’t the most precious commodity we have – our health – one of them?

It’s mind-boggling to consider. But I know this to also be true…

If we don’t choose to take of ourselves, life will one day make that decision for us, and we won’t always like the outcome.

If you need help laying out the best plan of action to take control of your health and well-being, I’m here to help. Contact me at 814-504-7774 or

Golf Tips Understanding Wedges The First In A Series Explaining Golf Clubs

BY NICOLE WELLER, LPGA / PGA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL

For a new golfer, having 14 different clubs can be confusing with all the options. Most sports have one piece of equipment at a time, like tennis, soccer, cricket and lacrosse, to name a few. Imagining a tennis player needing to get a different racquet for each different type of shot like a serve, lob shot, soft cut shot over the next, hard forehand from the baseline and so on. Keeping it simple for new golfers is good!

Way back there wasn’t a limit on the number of clubs a golfer could have. In fact some caddies were lugging 26 clubs (or more!) in their players’ bags, like Lawson Little, who won back-to-back U.S. and British Amateur Championships in 1934-1935. In modern days, sets usually have a putter, several wedges, 9 iron, 8 iron, 7 iron (clubs were actually made of forged iron!), several hybrids, several fairway woods or fairway metals and a driver.

Wedges tend to be the higher lofted clubs in the set. Here are some ideas to help new golfers understand the Wedge World, as it can be confusing with how they’re labeled. We chip with a pitching wedge and pitch with a sand wedge. How does THAT make sense?!?

The lofts on a club dictate how high the club can launch the ball into the air. Traditionally the ‘Lob’ Wedge has 60-64

degrees of loft, a ‘Sand’ Wedge 55-59 degrees of loft, a ‘Gap’ Wedge 50-54 degrees of loft and a ‘Pitching’ Wedge 4549 degrees of loft, roughly. Companies have labeled the wedges but it’s nice to see that manufacturers are putting the degrees on the clubs now instead of the labels like P, W, S, L, A, D , U… degrees are changing to lower lofts so instead of a pitching wedge being 46 degrees, some are now 39 degrees. Maybe they want us to think we’re hitting them farther, but essentially we’re really hitting a former 8 iron…tricky marketing! Whatever the label is, find the right lofts that help your yardage. Most new golfers do better with just five clubs and then add from there as they learn how to use the clubs better and see more need for extra clubs and distances.

I actually call my S wedge not my Sand Wedge but my Stop Wedge, since I use it mostly out of the grass and other lies and not strictly out of the sand. I want that high lofted club to launch high and then stop on the green from all kinds of surfaces. The ‘sand’ wedge is not just for the sand.

Fun Tips to Learn Your Wedges:

• Pitching Wedge would be roughly your 10 Iron

• Gap Wedge (or Approach, Dual, Utility with other companies) would be roughly your 11 Iron

• Sand (or Stop) Wedge would be roughly your 12 iron

• Lob Wedge would be roughly your 13 iron.

The higher the number, the higher the shot in golf. I also have students think of it this way, if the image helps…S

Wedge lands and flies Super Short while a P Wedge lands and flies Pretty Short, it runs more than an S Wedge.

I hope that helps some with fun imagery and words. If starting out with just one wedge, I’d recommend a Pitching Wedge (some have a P or W or PW on it…and that doesn’t stand for Putter, which often newbies mistake that letter for). If you want two wedges, I’d recommend a Pitching Wedge and a Stop/ Sand Wedge. Those will give you different lofts.

Check with your local LPGA/PGA Professional or nearby club fitter/seller to help guide you through your clubs!

Nicole Weller is an award-winning LPGA & PGA Instructor who instructs local area golfers at Compass Pointe Golf Club in Leland. For more information on Nicole and her tips / videos, visit www.nicoleweller.com.

Restaurant Week 2026 will be Monday, April 27 through Saturday May 2 RegisterbyJanuary15,2026

It’s Back!

Full Service Restaurants, On The Go Eateries, and Sweet Shops are invited to join the SouthportOak Island Chamber of Commerce for 2026 Restaurant Week! This six-day event is dedicated to showcasing the exceptional and varied culinary options in our area. Restaurant Weeks are popular to draw visitors to the area and encourage residents to try different local meal options. They are an opportunity for chefs to be creative and try new dishes only available during Restaurant Week.

MEDIA CAMPAIGN: Restaurant week will be promoted through an aggressive publicity campaign using social media, local media, and direct email to over 2,700 people. In addition, each participant will be featured on our designated websiteSPTOKIRestaurantWeek.com

The Chamber will supply each participating business with a yard sign, poster, and social media marketing materials.

WHAT DOES THE CONSUMER GET? Restaurant Week

Passport: Guests print a Restaurant Week Passport

off the website. Each time they dine at a participating restaurant, they receive a stamp. Returned passports eligible for gift certificate drawings from participating businesses.

PARTICIPATION FEE:

• Chamber member restaurants $100 plus Gift Certificate (equaltoamealfortwo)

• Non-Chamber Members $350 plus Gift Certificate (feeincludesEssentialMembership)

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Fresh Ingredients and • Tailormade Special Drinks just for You!

Art Beat

Sharon Petteway Debut Book, “Heidi Hippo Doesn’t Hula”

STORY BY CARLA EDSTROM

Hippo Doesn’t Hula” is a children’s book published in July by local author Sharon Petteway. This creative story explores themes of self-discovery and the awareness of one’s unique talents, encouraging children and adults to embrace who they are rather than always fitting in with others.

In this delightful narrative, Heidi attempts to hula like her friends but soon realizes that she just doesn’t enjoy it. She learns that it’s okay not to have the same interests and skills as others. Instead, she discovers her own special talents, which convey a message of self-acceptance and joy in following your own path, no matter the obstacles.

With 29 years of experience in healthcare, Sharon didn’t initially set out to write a children’s book. But instead, she had this cute story idea, and it just grew from that. “I had a story that I wrote for fun, and one

day I decided to explore the idea of making a little book, even if it was only for myself and my nieces.

“As the process went on, the possibility of where Heidi could go was an exciting concept,” she said. “The story of Heidi Hippo had been tucked away in my desk drawer for at least 15 years. The idea of Heidi came from my experience of taking ukulele lessons. When I started in 2008, it wasn’t as popular as it is now. The friends I talked to looked puzzled and didn’t realize what a ukulele was, much less realize there was (is) a ukulele school in town. No one wanted to do it with me, so I just went on my own. Some would ask, “Why not just play guitar? Why the ukulele?” My answer was easy: happiness! You can’t be sad listening to ukulele music. The reactions did hurt my feelings. I wanted others to be excited about my new venture, too.”

months later. Once the illustrations began to take shape, I had the idea of creating a plush Heidi to accompany the book. This has been a very long process. I am so excited to see the book and the doll together. I expect a large box of Heidi stuffies to arrive any day now!”

ron. “I love painting. I’m currently exploring watercolors. Give me an old piece of furniture and I’ll give it a new life,” she said. “I have many story ideas. I’ve never considered myself a writer, even though I enjoy stories and have a love of poetry and words in general. I have always considered myself an artist. It was a dream I never thought I could fulfill until now.”

Keep your eyes out for more Heidi Hippo in the future. “‘Heidi Hippo Doesn’t Hula’ is my first book, and I hope she isn’t my last,” she said. “I’d love to make Heidi a series. I think she is a character that can have many adventures. An alphabet series would be fun. I am trying to get a literary agent so I can take Heidi to new heights. There is more out there for her. I just need the right company to help her get there.”

The journey in self-publishing is a testament to the power of determination and the joy of seeing a dream come to life. “I started noticing more opportunities for self-publishing books. I began to wonder if that was a possibility for my little story. I began researching the process last spring. I decided on a company that could help me create illustrations and guide me through the process. I learned a lot and made some mistakes along the way. There were many highs and lows, but I’m happy I did it,” she said. “The book was ready for the world about four or five

The illustrations from the book publisher make the story come to life on the pages. The colorful pages and designs pay homage to Sharon’s friends, family, and beloved pets, as well as to Hawaiian culture. “The ideas came from a description of what I think Heidi should look like, what colors I wanted on the pages, themes of the story to depict, etc. I gave them the story pages, and in return, I’d receive an illustration. As each page unfolded, the characters began to take shape. I shared with the illustrator what expressions I wanted on Heidi at each stage. I wanted diversity in her friends, and I also wanted her friends to represent my friends and me! One hippo with glasses is me, the alligator is my ukulele teacher wearing his company t-shirt. I represented my parents in the little duck and fox, and I also included my two standard poodles, Koa and Johnny, in the final page.”

A self-declared serial hobbyist, Sharon has always been creative, but never as a writer. “I’ve always challenged my own emotions through writing. Whether it is journaling, jotting down random thoughts, writing poetry, or putting it into a character,” said Sha-

Heidi Hippo Doesn’t Hula is available wherever you buy books online —Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Amazon. Sharon also sells the books and the doll through her website, www.authorsharonpetteway. com. “I have contact information on my website, and you can sign up for future information on all things Heidi.”.

History High Seas Adventure

November Brunswick Civil War Roundtable

STORY AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Blockade running, whether on the high seas or steaming up the Cape Fear River toward Wilmington, is a curious subject for most folks. In fact, blockade runners played a major role in the eventual outcome of the Civil War. For some answers, and for those eager to learn more, the Brunswick Civil War Round Table turned to one of the most knowledgeable area historians on this subject, Jim McKee. Jim will be the featured guest speaker at the Tuesday, Dec. 2 meeting. His program is appropriately entitled, “Runners and Raiders,” and everyone is invited to come aboard!

During the Civil War, right here in Wilmington, which was considered a blockade- running hub, runners thrived, using this port to supply the Confederates with weapons, ammunition, medicine, and food by making risky trips through the Union blockade. Wilmington’s location was ideal because it was up the Cape Fear River, safe from direct naval bom-

bardment, and protected by Fort Fisher. These vessels were shallow draft, slim, sleek ships designed to slip through these blockades, outrun Union warships, and make it upriver successfully to Wilmington until the fall of Fort Fisher in January, 1865. In fact, many blockade runners that didn’t succeed are the sunken shipwrecks off the Carolina coast. Blockade runners relied on darkness and bad weather to make their runs, ideally on moonless nights. They would have to assess blockade positions to decide which of the two inlets, separated by Smith’s Island and the Frying Pan Shoals, determining which was less guarded. Each trip was an exciting adventure, with threats of peril, but worth it for the incredible profits that could be realized. These were exciting times, and the way Jim shares his vast knowledge with such enthusiasm you would think he was there watching events unfold first hand! Jim is a life-long student of history, and is

currently Site Manager at Brunswick Town/Ft. Anderson Historic Site. Being located on the banks of the Cape Fear River broadened his interest about what took place along that river about 160plus years ago. So blockade running became one of his prime interests. While his incredible four-page life story is too lengthy to share here, it’s important to know his passion has always been American history. He has worked for the National Park Service in Fredericksburg &

Spotsylvania National Military Park, where he helped operate two visitor

centers, researched, and conducted many guided tours. Years later, his career led him to the NC Maritime Museum at Southport. In addition, Jim has been an Advisor to this Round Table since its inception 15 years ago, always eager to share this

thoughts and ideas which has had an impact on the organization’s success. With his extreme enthusiasm for delivering history presentations, and his personable style of captivating his audiences, Jim is always a crowd pleaser.

This Dec. 2 meeting will be held at Hatch Auditorium on Caswell Beach (at the east end of Caswell Beach Road). Registration begins at 6:15 and the program starts at 7 pm. The visitor fee remains at $10, and may be applied toward the

$25 annual membership dues, which importantly can include a spouse. Incidentally, about one-third of our audiences are female!

For more information about the meeting or the Round Table, please contact president John Butler at

Brunswickcwrt@gmail.com, or call him directly at 404-229-9425. Or, visit their website at Brunswickcivilwarroundtable.com for background and current information, news, and updates, or their Facebook page.

OFFICE SPACE

Beautiful office space for rent entering downtown Southport area. Up to 800 sq. ft. or smaller options, newly renovated and has file area, 2 large office, built in shelving, kitchen nook, restroom, reception/meeting area, private entrance. Includes internet, parking, utilities. Contact David Truglio 860.729.8276

HOMES/LAND FOR SALE

4705 SOUTHPORT SUPPLY ROAD SE, SUITE 105, SOUTHPORT. Prime Commercial Opportunity in Sentry Business Park. 1,128 SF | Zoned CLD | $210,000. Ideally located along Southport-Supply Road, this 1,128-SF commercial unit offers unmatched convenience and a spacious layout with multiple professionally-finished office spaces, functional breakroom, storage areas and restroom. Schedule your viewing today! Listed at $210,000 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Contact Jonathan McLaughlin at 910-2698200 for details.

8708 E OAK ISLAND DRIVE, LOTS 1-5, OAK ISLAND. Unique Commercial Opportunity: 2 Parcels = 5 Lots. 0.14 Acres | Zoned OK-CB |

MARKETPLACE

$1,250,000. 2 parcels with a total of 5 lots! This unique commercial opportunity finds itself in the high-traffic Yaupon Beach area of Oak Island, along E Oak Island Drive. Check out this listing today! Listed at $1,250,000 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Call Pat Proctor at 910-523-0087 for more information.

142 NE 17TH STREET, LOT 48, OAK ISLAND. Beautiful Lot in X Flood Zone. 0.15 Acres | Zoned Ok-R-6 | $244,900. Located just 3 streets from the 20th Street crossover to the beach, this beautiful wooded lot is in a fantastic spot and only 15 minutes from historical Southport. Take a look and contact us with any questions! Listed at $244,900 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Call Kathy MacNishs at 919-352-2809 for more information.

16+/- Acres Mixed Use Development Opportunity. Signlized Access on NC 133/Long Beach Road. 16+/- Acres | Zoned R-6000/CLD | $700,000. Seize this rare opportunity to develop approximately 16 acres in one of North Carolina’s fastest growing areas! With signalized access, this prime location is perfect for builders, developers, and investors. Listed at $700,000 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Reach out to Jonathan McLaughlin at 910-2698200 for information or to discuss the possibilities!

4164

CAMBRIDGE COVE CIRCLE,

UNIT 1. 3 BED | 3 BATH | $437,000. Low-Maintenance Living at Its Best — You Deserve It! Spend less time on upkeep and more time enjoying life! Soak up the sun on Oak Island’s beautiful beaches, stroll the charming streets of historic Southport, or head out on the water with nearby marina access and public boat ramps. This spacious end-unit townhome features a 2-car garage, 3 bedrooms + office/4th bedroom & screened porch with peaceful pond views. Enjoy resort-style amenities just across the footbridge—clubhouse, pool, and tennis courts all included! Call Lee Ann Walker, Southport Realty, Inc., for more information, (919) 795-7386.

3212 WEXFORD WAY.

3 BED | 2.5 BATH | $550,000. Discover charm and comfort in this beautifully maintained home nestled in the sought-after St. James Plantation community. Offering 2,445 sq. ft. of thoughtfully designed living space, the home features a spacious 1stfloor owner’s suite with a large walk-in closet and en-suite bath, plus a bright sunroom overlooking a tranquil wooded backdrop. The open-concept layout is perfect for entertaining, while the tree-lined backyard provides privacy and serenity. Recent updates include a new roof and tankless water heater (2023), fresh interior paint (2019), and painted Hardi plank siding (2019). With a dehumidifier in the crawlspace and abundant storage, this home offers worry-free living— ideal as a full-time residence or coastal retreat. Call Karen Saunders, Southport Realty Inc., for more information, (910) 713-0021.

1524 PLEASANT HOLLOW COURT

4 BED | 3 BATH | $362,000. 2.75%

VA Assumable Rate! Incredible opportunity for qualified buyers - ask the listing agent for details! Priced Below Tax Value! This beautiful home sits on a corner lot with no side neighbor and a fully fenced backyard with two gates! Inside you’ll love the open-concept layout, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a main-floor bedroom + full bath - perfect for guests or multi-gen living. Avalon offers resort style amenities: pool, fitness center, pickleball, dog park, firepit, cornhole, bocce ball, horseshoe pit & a 15-acre lake for kayaking and fishing! Call Katherine Wooten, Southport Realty, Inc., (910) 6208962 for more information.

4537 FLEETWOOD DRIVE. 3

BED | 2 BATH | $279,000. PRICE REDUCTION-MOTIVATED SELLER!

Enjoy single level living in this 1,259 square foot cottage on a spacious .34 acre cul-de-sac lot in Carolina Place. Great location, just minutes to the bridge to Oak Island and easy access to Southport as well. AND NO City Taxes! Brand New fortified roof which translates to lower HomeOwners insurance rates. And the HVAC is just two years old. Spacious great room with cathedral ceilings and gas fireplace. Sellers installed LVP flooring throughout living areas two years ago. Neighborhood pool and crabbing dock (RV and Boat storage available on a first come first serve basis). Storage building in rear yard for all your yard tools and beach toys. What’s not to love! Call Sherol Lappala, Southport Realty, Inc., (910) 363-7422 for more information.

6856 CAMPBELLS RIDGE DRIVE. 4 BED | 3 BATH | $554,000 This feature-rich residence blends modern style with thoughtful upgrades throughout. Set on an impressive .65-acre lot, the expansive backyard is a blank canvas waiting for your dream outdoor space! Inside, you’ll find over 2,570 heated square feet, including 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths on the main level, plus a 4th bedroom, 3rd full bath, and large bonus room upstairs - perfect for guests, hobbies, or a home office. Prime location - 3 mins to Leland shops, 10 mins to downtown Wilmington. Call Andrea Milligan, Southport Realty, Inc., (910) 2796671 for more information. Want

CALENDAR

Our Calendar is full of information from all of Brunswick County. We publish three magazines — Leland Magazine, Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine, and Southport Magazine. We love collecting details about all the of the fun events from all across our county and we think that everyone in the county, no matter which magazine they read, should be able to see all of the opportunities our community offers. We hope you’ll find something unexpected in this month’s Calendar and we really encourage you to hop in the car and go to something you’ve never experienced before.

December

THROUGH DEC 31

Festival of Trees — Museum of Coastal Carolina

From Van Gogh to Wicked, from a country Christmas to enchantment under the sea, the Museum has been transformed into a magical Christmas wonderland with 20 spectacularly and artfully-decorated trees. It’s the 6th Annual Festival of Trees, and decorated trees are offered in a silent auction; guests are encouraged to bid and the highest bidders will take possession of decorated trees once the festival concludes. The winner of the favorite tree contest will be announced Dec. 29.

NOV 28

Tree Lighting — Sunset Beach

Enjoy s’mores, hot chocolate and festive music at the Town’s tree lighting. The event starts at 5 pm at Sunset Beach Town Park, 206 Sunset Blvd. North. Donations of dog and cat food for Pawsability will be accepted.

NOV 28

Tree Lighting and Letters to Santa — Ocean Isle Beach

This jolly celebration includes visiting with Santa, lighting of the Christmas tree and even some festive surprises. The event is 6-8 pm at Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St.

NOV 29

Holiday Market in the Park — Sunset Beach

Local artisans offer unique works for purchase at this special holiday market, 10 am to 2 pm at Sunset Beach Town Park, 206 Sunset Blvd. North. Donations of dog and cat food for Pawsability will

be accepted.

NOV

29

Ocean Isle Beach Christmas Flotilla

Boaters come out in a big way to celebrate the season and to raise money for Brunswick Family Assistance while they’re at it. Boats are transformed into all kinds of Christmas decor — one entry last year was a huge floating snow globe! The flotilla starts from Inlet View Marina at dusk-ish and turns at the bridge and turns at the canal.

DEC

1

Christmas Tree Lighting in Shallotte

It’s time to light the tree, and Santa Claus will be on site to lend a hand. Join the evening festivities at Mulberry Park, 123 Mulberry St.

DEC

2

Brunswick Civil War Round Table

“Runners and Raiders.” Consider exciting adventure, imminent peril, and boring quarantine…all for unbelievable profit. That is what blockade runners realized running in and out of the Cape Fear River during the Civil War. Popular local historian Jim McKee, site manager at Brunswick Town/Ft. Anderson State Historic Site, will focus his audience on a rare adventure into these ironclad vessels, and the critical Confederate roles they played within North Carolina, as well as fierce localized battles off the Carolina coast. The group meets at Hatch Auditorium at Fort Caswell, 100 Caswell Beach Road. Doors open at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. Annual memberships (for two) are just $25; the cost for visitors is $10.

DEC 2

Santa Paws — Oak Island

Take your furry friends to Middleton Park Complex, 4610 E. Dolphin Drive (at the amphitheater) from 4-8 pm for photos with Santa.

DEC 4

Christmas Tree Lighting — Holden Beach

More details to come, but plan on lighting the tree at the park, 125 Davis St.; entertainment starts at 5:30 pm.

DEC 5

Tree Lighting — Oak Island

This annual event includes train rides, craft stations, live entertainment, letters to Santa, a vendors market and a visit from Santa Claus. The program is 5-7 at the Middleton park Complex, 4610 Dolphin Drive.

DEC 5

Tree Lighting - Southport

Gather at 6 p.m. at the Whittler’s Bench (the foot of Howe Street and enjoy carols with the Trinity UMC Children’s Choir, hot cocoa and cookies, and the official lighting of the Christmas

DEC 5

Tree Lighting — Boiling Spring Lakes Town Hall

The tree will be lit, and ornaments will be provided for children to hang on the tree (or they can bring their own). The event is 5:30-7 pm, and includes cookies and cocoa, and a visit with Santa following a parade at the new Fire Department Headquarters, 3172 George II Highway.

DEC 5-13

Ice Skating in Southport

Yes, you read that right. Enjoy this pop-up skating experience on the tennis court at Fort Johnston (East Moore Street)

The rink is open Friday to Sunday noon to 8 pm, and 3-8 pm Monday to Thursday. The cost is $15 and includes skate rental.

DEC

6

Breakfast with Santa — Oak Island

Enjoy breakfast with Santa Claus before his big appearance in the parade later that day. Breakfast is 8-10 am at

Oak Island’s Christmas By The Sea Parade kicks off at 2 pm Dec 6 from NE 46th Street

CALENDAR

the Community Center, 102 SE 47th St.; preregistration is required and the cost is $10 for residents/$12 for non-residents.

DEC 6

Winterfest Tea — Southport

You and your favorite ladies, or gentlemen, can help support local community organizations with this elegant event at the Southport Community Center, 223 E. Bay St. Tickets are $50; visit http://cityofsouthport.com/winterfest.

DEC 6

Christmas By The Sea Parade — Oak Island

Festive crowds line Oak Island Drive for this annual parade. The parade steps off at 2 pm at NE 46th Street and travels east, ending at McGlamery Street.

DEC 6

Christmas Parade and Festival — Northwest

This festival has it all — a parade, music, shopping with local vendors, food trucks, and a chance to visit with Santa! Parade lineup starts at 9 am, and the festival starts at 10 am, 4440 Blue Banks Loop Road.

DEC 6

Christmas in the Village — Southport Stroll amongst the Southport Village Shops (1102 N. Howe St., behind the Smokehouse) and shop in the stores and with vendors, enjoy samples and coca, and pictures with Santa!

DEC 6

Holiday Market — Leland

Shop for unique gifts and maybe treat yourself at this annual market, 10 am to 3 pm at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way.

DEC 6

Grand Illumination — Leland

Leland’s Mayor will welcome everyone to the Town Hall complex (Town Hall Drive) and give Santa his cue to light up the park, officially bringing back Leland in Lights! After the park lights up, visitors can stop in Santa’s Workshop and visit with Santa, and the Leland Express kids train will be chugging around the park. The event is 6-8 pm.

DEC 6

Tree Lighting — Varnamtown

Help Varnamtown light the tree at Town Hall (100 Varnamtown Road), with Christmas music and caroling, hot cocoa, and cookies. The fun starts at 5:30 pm, and the lighting is at 6 pm.

DEC 6

Calabash Christmas

Small town family fun at its best — a parade with loads of entries, a tree lighting, live music and caroling, an appearance from Santa Claus, and hot cocoa. There will also be a mailbox with direct service to the North Pole and a reindeer food station. The festivities start at 6 pm at Callahan’s, 9973 Beach Drive in Calabash.

DEC 6

Christmas Parade — Shallotte

Join neighbors and friends new and old for this annual parade on Main Street in SHallotte. The parade starts marching at 10 am.

DEC 6-7

Sea Notes Concert

Start your holiday celebrations early with the Sea Notes holiday concert, “We Wish You the Merriest.” The concert is at 3 pm at Odell Williamson Auditorium, Brunswick Community College (150 College Road NE, Bolivia). Tickets are free, but are usually snapped up quickly.

Tickets are available at the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach Road;

Ricky Evans Gallery in Southport; The Shoe Center in the Villages at Brunswick Forest, Leland;

Port City Java, Olde Waterford Way, Leland; Scott’s Farm and Family, Main Street, Shallotte and Lanvale Road, Leland.

DEC 7

Pet Pictures with Santa — Southport

From 2-4 pm, your furry family members can get their picture with Santa! The photo op is at Indian Trail Meeting Hall, 113 W. Moore St.

DEC 7

Holiday Market — Oak Island

The fields at Middleton Park Complex (4610 E. Dolphin Dr.) will be filled with vendors and lots of goodies to buy. The Market is noon to 4 pm, and keep an eye out for your favorite magazine publishers (us, of course!) who will have photos and crafts for sale.

DEC 8

Shop With a Cop Concert

This concert with the Back Porch Rockers helps support the Southport

Police Department’s program to help provide gifts for families in need. The concert is 6-8 pm at Franklin Square Park on Howe Street; this year’s event also includes a contest for decorated golf carts.

DEC 9

Cookies With Santa — Leland

Enjoy a break from the chaos of the season with some milk and cookies and a visit with Santa. Children can also make a holiday craft. Preregistration is required.

DEC 9

Winterfest-ival of Trees — Southport

Franklin Square Park on Howe Street hosts this new event, with trees decorated by area groups, businesses and individuals. Walk through the Park from 6-8 pm and enjoy children’s crafts and games, visits with Santa and The Grinch, children’s and adults’ caroling, holiday items for a sale and silent auction items. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information and to register a tree for the Park, visit www.southportgardenclub.org.

DEC 9

Sandbar Lecture — Museum of Coastal Carolina

This monthly program features “A Colonial Apparition,” a Cape Fear holiday ghost story. Hunter Ingram, assistant museum director for the Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens will tell the tale. The lecture is free with Museum admission; the Museum opens at 4:30 pm and the lecture is 5:30-6:30 pm. The Museum is at 21 E. Second St.

DEC 12

A Light in the Darkest of Night

Experience the quiet and peacefulness of Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson at night, with the site open 4-7 pm. Admission is free, and the gift shop will be open. The ruins at St. Philips Church will be decorated in period style greenery and candlelight. The site is at 8884 Saint Phillips Rd SE, Winnabow (off N.C. 133).

DEC 12

Light Up the Night Christmas Parade — Southport

Children can ride in the parade on fire trucks; loading begins at 5:30 pm at the Station and the parade starts at 6:30 pm (along Moore Street and back to Howe).

DEC 12

Open House at Once More Bookstore

Friends of the Library - Southport & Oak Island’s used bookstore is open for holiday shopping, 10 am to 4 pm. The store is in the back of Southport Realty, 727 N. Howe St. in Southport, and the day includes hot cider, cookies, and books under the outdoor tent, with treasures like books, puzzles, signed pottery, and whimsical baubles inside.

DEC 13

Christmas Craft Festival — Belville

Shop for all things Christmas at this festival, 10 am to 3 pm at Riverwalk Park, 580 River Rd SE. Stop back by that night for the annual tree lighting, 5-7 pm.

DEC 13

Father Daughter Snowball Dance

Fathers and daughters can spend some time together with dancing and light refreshments. The dance is 5:307:30 pm at the Oak Island Recreation Center, 3003 E. Oak Island Drive. The cost is $20 per father/daughter combo for residents.

DEC 13

Christmas Parade and Holiday Market — Bolivia

Vendors will offer unique finds at the market, 3848 Old Ocean Highway (U.S. 17 Business), before and after the Christmas parade, which steps off at 11 am.

DEC 13

Southport Winterfest

Check the ad in this month’s magazine or visit https://cityofsouthport. com/winterfest/ for details. Events today include the Winter Craft Festival, Santa’s Workshop, Winterfest Performing Arts, old Brunswick Jail Tours, the Southport Toy and Train Show, a Charlie Brown Christmas party for the kids, and the annual Holiday Tour of Homes (tickets required, and they sell out fast).

DEC 13

Southport Winterfest Flotilla

Cape Fear Yacht Club, Downtown Southport, Inc. (DSI), and the City of Southport, will illuminate the waterfront with the annual flotilla. Bring chairs and blankets to enjoy the beauty of Christmas lights bouncing off the water along Southport’s Waterfront, starting at 6 pm. The Flotilla route will showcase vessels from Old American Fish to Marker 19 near The Landings, then return to continue down the ICW. This year, Cape Fear Radio will broadcast live, and students from the Southport Elementary School Art Program will be judging the sail and power boats of the Flotilla. The Judges’ Artwork will be on display at the NC Maritime Museum at Southport during the month of December.

DEC 14

An 18th Century Christmas — Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson

Enjoy 18th century inspired refreshments in the Visitor Center, participate in traditional games, or try your hand at Moravian paper stars and other 18th century crafts. The highlight of the evening will be an authentic period candlelit service in the ruins of St. Philips Anglican Church. The service will begin at 5 pm and will conclude by 5:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the gate upon arrival. The site is at 8884 Saint Phillips Rd SE, Winnabow (off N.C. 133).

DEC 16

Storytime by the Sea — Oak Island Children 12 and younger and their families can enjoy Christmas storytime at Oak Island’s 801 Ocean Event Center, 10-11 am. Children will also be able to make a craft to take home. This event is free, but pre-registration is required.

DEC 31

Noon Year’s Eve — Ocean Isle Beach

This family-friendly event lets you ring in the new year and still go to bed at a decent hour. Gather at Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St., from 11 am to 12:30 pm for music, dancing, crafts, and the countdown to noon..

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Hatch Auditorium

NC Baptist Assembly - Fort Caswell (end of Caswell Beach Road)

Celebrate North Carolina Oysters at the NC Oysterfest in Ocean Isle Beach’s Town Center Park

Take a ride down to the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach for the Festival of Trees

CALENDAR

Dec 13-14 — Brunswick Bands will perform a Holiday Extravaganza at 3 pm each day, sharing plenty of great holiday tunes to put you in a festive mood. Donations of canned goods are requested.

The Historic Amuzu Theatre

111 N. Howe St.

Dec 5-7 and 12-14 — Christmas at The Amuzu (tickets available at Ricky Evans Gallery in Southport and Crossroads Gathering Place on Oak Islandz0

Leland Cultural Arts Center

1212 Magnolia Village Way

Dec 12 — The Wilmington Big Band will perform classic holiday and big band tunes, 6-8 pm

Odell WIlliamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community College

150 College Road NE, Bolivia

Dec 6-7 — Sea Notes (at 3 pm)

Dec 13 — Barracuda, America’s Heart tribute

Visit https://bccowa.com/ for tickets.

Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

701 N. Third St., Wilmington

Dec 3 — Wilmington Choral Society presents Season of Celebration

Dec 6-7 — City Ballet performs “The Nutcracker”

Dec 11 — The North Carolina Symphony presents Holiday Pops

Dec 13-14 — “The Nutcracker,” performed by The Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts

Dec 16 — La Nueva Generación (mariachi)

Dec 18 — Michael Feinstein in Coming Home, The Holiday Celebration

Dec 20 — The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra plays the score along with “The Muppets Christmas Carol” movie

Visit https://wilsoncentertickets.com for more information.

Thalian Hall

310 Chestnut St., Wilmington

Dec 1 — “A Christmas Carol”

Dec 4 — Sean Heely’s A Celtic Christmas

Dec 5-6 — Ballet for Young Audiences: The Nutcracker

Dec 11-21 — Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, from Big Dawg Productions

Dec 12-21 — The Thalian Association Community Theater presents “Ebenezer: A Musical Christmas Carol”

Check https://www.thalianhall.org/ calendar for more information.

OPEN AIR MARKETS

Belville Riverwalk Farmers Market

Riverwalk Park, 580 River Road, Belville

Shop for produce, ice cream, and fresh seafood, seasonings and all things related to seafood, with the beautiful backdrop of the Brunswick River. Hours are Fridays 10 am to 6 pm; and Sundays 11 am to 3 pm, except ice cream is available every day.

4th Friday Art Market

Shop among 30-plus vendors, eat, dance and enjoy spending time with friends and neighbors at this monthly market next to Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar (1175 Turlington Avenue, in Brunswick Forest). The market is open from 4-8 pm.!

Market on Mulberry

Shop for unique items from among local artisans, crafters and farmers, and enjoy live music too. The Market is Nov 15 and Dec 13, 1 am to 2 pm at the Riverwalk, 158 Mulberry St.

One Love Market

Christmas Festival & Holiday Market

Sunday, Dec 7, 10 am - 4 pm at Sea Trail Convention Center, 75 Clubhouse Dr., Sunset Beach.

Shop unique gifts, get your photo with Santa, create your own keepsake atb the craft table. Benefits A Second Helping-3G Food Recovery and Distribution.

ONGOING EVENTS

Friends of the Library Southport & Oak Island

The Libraries are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 6 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am - 6 pm; and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. The Once More used bookstore, at Southport Realty (727 N. Howe St.), with new-to-you books, is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturdays 10 am to noon. Donations accepted Tuesdays and Saturdays 10 am - noon.Visit https://folsoi.org/blog/ for information on summer youth pro-

grams.

Barbee Library, 8200 E. Oak Island Drive: Call 910-278-4283 for details on children’s story time and other programs. The Lifelong Learners Group meets at 10 am on Thursdays. Other programs offered at the library include chair yoga, one-on-one tech support on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm, and more.

Harper Library, 109 W. Moore St., Southport: Call 910-457-6237 to register for programs. the Southport Historical Society’s Tuesday Talk is Nov 4 with Old Baldy Foundation’s Jake Grossman presenting “Digging for the FutureDiscovering and Reconstructing Old Baldy’s Glasis Wall.” The program is at 10 am at the library. One-on-one tech support is offered on Thursdays, 1-3 pm.

Boiling Spring Lakes VFW Post

10400

3161 George II Hwy (N.C. 87)

Taco Tuesdays are 3-7 pm (or until sold out!); Trivia Nights are the second and fourth Fridays for teams of four with registration starting at 6 pm; and bingo is on the first and third Thursdays with door opening at 5 pm and games starting at 6 pm.

NC Maritime Museums - Southport

204 E. Moore St.

Hours are 10 am to 4 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Sensory Saturdays (low light and quiet time in the museum) are the first Saturday of the month, 10 am to noon. Visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.com to register for special programs.

Oak Island Recreation Department

Join the Striders Club at various locations and dates/times to get out and about with a group or try your hand at art with the Paintbrush Academy. There are book clubs, kayak tours in the Davis Canal, surf fishing lessons, and much more. Visit https://parksrec.egov. basgov.com/oakislandnc for details on programs.

Franklin Square Art Gallery

The Gallery is open 10 am to 4 pm Monday through Saturday and can be found at 130 E. West St., next to Franklin Square Park. Works in the 2025 Maritime Art Show will be on display through Nov. 15..

Catch Southports’ Light Up The Night Parade on Dec 12

CALENDAR

First Friday Gallery Walk — Southport

The First Friday Gallery Walk is 5-7 pm in Southport at participating galleries, such as Lantana’s, The Rickey Evans Gallery, the Franklin Square Art Gallery, Artisans on Howe and the Intracoastal Realty Downtown Southport Office. Stroll along and browse in the shops to see what local artists have to offer.

Bingo at the Elks Lodge — Oak Island

Bingo games are on the second and fourth Tuesdays at the Lodge, 106 E. Dolphin Drive, Oak Island. Games are open to the public; no one under 16 and no outside food or drinks allowed. Doors open to the public at 5:45 pm with games starting at 6:30 pm. Snacks and drinks available for purchase (cash or checks only). Progressive Jackpot and winner take all coverall.

Battleship North Carolina — near Leland

Tour the USS NORTH CAROLINA and participate in group programs and special programming throughout the year. Visit https://battleshipnc.com/. The battleship site is at 1 Battleship Road NE, Wilmington (west side of the Cape Fear River).

Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site

8884 St. Philips Rd. SE, Winnabow

There is plenty to do and see, with a museum, historic ruins, great information on the site’s history, and some of the most beautiful riverfront property in the County. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

.Museum of Coastal Carolina

21 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach

The Museum is open Thursday-Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm and Sundays from noon until 4 pm. Also open Dec 29-31. Sandbar lectures are every Tuesday at 6 pm.

.Ingram Planetarium

7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach

The Planetarium is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm; dome shows start on the hour from 11 am to 3 pm. Laser shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 6 pm and 7 pm. Visit https://museumplanetarium.org/

ingram-planetarium/ to see the show schedule.

Leland Library

487 Village Road NE

Baby storytime is at 10 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Pre-K and older storytime is at 11 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Town of Leland/Parks & Recreation

Check out https://www.townofleland. com/parks-recreation-and-cultural-resources for more information on classes and programs, including starting an art journal, pottery, gardening, writing creative nonfiction, acting, dance and more.

Wilmington

River Tours

212 S. Water St., Wilmington

Tour the beautiful Cape Fear River and learn more about the area’s history and ecology. Sunset cruises include acoustic music Thursdays through Sundays! Tours are offered daily, to the north along historic downtown Wilmington, the USS North Carolina Battleship and Eagles Island on the even hours, and to the south under the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and past the shipyard on the odd hours; visit https://wilmingtonwatertours.net/ for schedules and to purchase tickets.

Art League of Leland (ALL) at the Leland Cultural Arts Center

The group welcomes artists of all kinds and meets monthly (except in summer months) 4-6 pm at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way. M-F 7:30am-6:00pm Saturday 8:00am-4:00pm Sunday 10:00am-3:00pm

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