February 2025 Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine
EDITOR
Jeffrey Stites
jeff@liveoakmediainc.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Lisa P. Stites
lisa@southportmag.com
LEAD DESIGNER
Liz Brinker
lcbgraphicdesign@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS
Chuck and Sue Cothran
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Louise Sheffield-Baccarny
Carla Edstrom
Patricia Langer
Jan Morgan-Swegle
Janet Fortney
Lisa P. Stites
Jeffrey Stites
PUBLISHER & SALES
Jeffrey Stites
jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741
Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine is published once a month by
Live Oak Media, Inc
The opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of the staff.
Annual Subscription: $45
email jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741
Light Up The Night
Well,
we’ve made it through January and into February. I’m not a fan of winter and not a fan of snow, but I have to admit last month’s snowfall was pretty for a bit. Here’s hoping we’re done with that silliness and that February gives us a little preview of Spring! One hopeful sign is the expanding Events Calendar pages. Things are slowly starting to wake up and looking into March, we’ll soon have plenty to keep us occupied and having fun! Among the returning events are a few at the Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson State Historic Site, which was closed for much of the end of last year due to that “unnamed storm” washing out their access road. Well, the road is fixed and they’re back with some living history, this time commemorating the fall of Fort Anderson. There’s a free daytime event with educational displays and re-enactors, and that is always fun and worthwhile, but the nighttime event is truly not to be missed. You’ll gather round one of the fort’s huge cannons and hear what it was like as the fort was overrun at night. You can really feel what it must have been like, how scary it was for the soldiers on both sides. Then comes the highlight, the firing of the huge cannon. These things are impressive during the day, but at night, with the fire leaping from the mouth of the gun and lighting up the night, it’s an experience you’ll not soon forget. So here’s hoping for some sunny days and not too cold temperatures so we can get out and enjoy all the fun our community has to offer before “The Season” begins and it gets crazy again. --Jeffrey
Community Pirates Are Coming
Pyrates Parlay To Raise Funds For Arts Council
STORY BY JEFFREY STITES, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Who says its too late to be born a pirate? Next month you can at least pretend to be one as you feast on food and drink, smoke cigars, gamble the night away, dance to live music, rub shoulders with a variety of scalawags and even spot a couple of mermaids at the Brunswick Arts Council’s Pyrates Parlay fundraiser.
Setting sail on Saturday, March 29, the evening runs from 5-9 pm at the Sea Trail Golf Resort and Convention Center, 75 Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach. Brunswick Arts describes the event as “an unforgettable evening of fun and excitement for adults! Embrace the pirate theme by donning your best pirate costume or your favorite evening attire. The night will be brimming with pirates, live music, a casino, a cash bar, dinner, dancing, a costume contest, and a cigar lounge. Plus, don’t miss the mesmerizing mermaids and siren performing gravity-defying aerial gymnastics!”
Some of the entertainment scheduled includes:
Pirates:
Captain Anthony from Black Sails Adventure
Randy Hall, the Cannon Pirate
Princess Pat the Pirate
Black Bart
Elizabeth Swain the Pirate
Captain Hammer Head
Captain Worley
Captain Adam Morrow Shipwrecked
Fire Spinning by Pirate Mate Jeremy Tim-
co Yellow Beard by Doug McKenna
Turtle The Pirate
Terrance Pirate Surgeon
Captain Jim’s Magic Show
The Flying Sirens: Alyscennne Vallelonga & Suzanne McElvy
Sorsha the Mermaid
Mike Mealey, The Pirate Instructor
Cape Fear Explorers
Parlay (Musical Entertainment)
Brookelyn Cigar Lounge
Casino Party Aces (Roulettes, Black Jack, Poker etc).
Tickets are on sale now for $100 per person and are available at brunswickartscouncil. org. This event is the Brunswick Arts Council’s largest fundraiser of the year, and this year they are also collaborating with the Veterans of Foreign Wars’s Veteran Creative Arts Program (VCAP). VCAP provides Veterans and First Responders in our area with art therapy classes to help manage stress and other mental health issues brought
about by their lines of work.
An event like this a huge undertaking, and the Brunswick Arts Council is also looking for community support in the form of sponsorships. The sponsorship deadline is March 15, and the sponsorship levels available are as follows:
$2,500 BLACKBEARD Sponsor
Benefits: Business logo on website and e-news, recognition banner at event, all benefits included with levels as shown below. Also, social media promotion, website presence, email blasts, event advertisement (PR & PSA), Recognized by MC at event, Red Carpet w/BAC & Platinum banner, logo on table toppers, 1st prize award level naming (runway show), 2 VIP Tables (8 seats each) at event, on-site Event banner includes logo. Post event recognition includes outgoing press release & PSA’s, social media & website images, thank you Email Blasts, Thank you Advertisement.
$1,000 STEDE BONNET Sponsor
Benefits: Business logo on website and e-news, recognition banner at event, all benefits included with levels as shown below. Also, social media promotion, website presence, email blasts, event advertisement (PR & PSA), Recognized by MC at event, logo on table toppers, 2nd prize award level naming (runway show), 1 VIP Table (seats 8) at event, on-site Event banner includes logo. Post event recognition includes outgoing press release & PSA’s, social media & website images, thank you Email Blasts, Thank you Advertisement.
$500 CAP’N KIDD Sponsor
Benefits: Business logo on website and e-news, recognition banner at event, all
benefits included with levels as shown below. Also, social media promotion, website presence, email blasts, event advertisement (PR & PSA), Recognized by MC at event, logo on table toppers, 3rd prize award level naming (runway show), 4 Entrance Tickets, on-site Event banner includes logo. Post event recognition includes outgoing press release & PSA’s, social media & website images, thank you Email Blasts, Thank you Advertisement.
$250 BLACK CESEAR Sponsor
Benefits: Business logo on website and e-news, recognition banner at event, all benefits included with levels as shown below. Also, social media promotion, website presence, email blasts, event advertisement (PR & PSA), Recognized by MC at event, logo on table toppers, on-site Event banner includes logo. 2 Entrance Tickets. Post event recognition includes outgoing press release & PSA’s, social media & website images, thank you Email Blasts, Thank you Advertisement.
$150 PO TSAI Sponsor
Benefits: Business logo on website and e-news, recognition banner at event, all benefits included with levels as shown below. Also, social media promotion, website presence, email blasts, event advertisement (PR & PSA), Recognized by MC at event, name on table toppers, on-site Event banner includes name. 1 Entrance Ticket. Post event recognition includes outgoing press release & PSA’s, name on social media & website, thank you Email Blasts, Thank you Advertisement.
Calabash Briar Patch
The Perfect Flowers For Valentine’s Day
STORY BY LOUISE SHEFFIELD-BACCARNY
Haveyou heard that there is something in the air at Calabash? It smells a little sweet, a little dreamy and a whole lot like the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day!
February 14 is popularly known as a day to show romantic love, but it’s also a day to celebrate friendship and admiration. At the Briar Patch Floral and Gifts in Calabash, Owner/Operator Gigi Smith and her designers look forward to making Valentine’s Day extra special for their customers.
At her shop on Main Street, Gigi offers fresh arrangements including flowers and plants. To ensure freshness and an assortment to choose from, a floral bucket truck comes by three days a week so Gigi can hand-
pick her flowers, and a fresh plant truck from Florida comes by weekly. This year, the Briar Patch will also offer balloons, plush animals and boxed chocolates by David Bradley, a family-owned business out of New Jersey. Last year they made more than 100 Valentine’s deliveries, so to help out their drivers they will be having a $5 off delivery special this year if you have your Valentine’s order delivered on any day other than Friday the 14th.
With harsh winter weather and having to heat your homes, Gigi offers a few tips to help keep your flowers looking fresh and live out their full potential. First, make sure the arrangement is not sitting directly under a heat vent. Second, change out the water every few days
using cold water and add plant food and lastly, using bottled water may be beneficial since our county water may have chemicals and well water may not be pure.
The Briar Patch offers fresh arrangements year round including hydrangeas, roses, daisies and snap dragons. Gigi and her designers are on hand and ready to assist you in selecting unique vases, baskets, containers, ribbons, bows, picks and even small animals such as birds, butterflies or turtles that will turn your ordinary flowers into extraordinary gifts. For 13 years, the Briar Patch has offered creative ways to express your feelings with florals and offers wedding services as well. Af-
ter a busy season and helping more than 50 couples with their weddings in 2024, a six to eight month “save the date” is now recommended to reserve your date.
Community Raising The Ruff
Casino Night To Benefit Paws Place Rescue
STORY BY JEFFREY STITES, DOG PHOTOS BY BRE BURGE, THE PHOTO DISTRICT
We have a soft spot for rescue dogs. All our dogs, and we’ve had few over the past 30 years, have been rescues. One of them, Belle the Hound Dog, came from Paws Place in Boiling Spring Lakes. We were looking for a hound and heard through our vet that Paws Place had a momma hound with more than a dozen puppies who all needed a home. We went up and plopped our son, then in second grade, in the kennel with all the pups to see what happened. One puppy, who we ended up naming Belle, ran right to him and began climbing an licking all over him. She chewed on his ear. It was a sign, and those two were friends up until we said goodbye to Belle many years later when our son was in high school. That’s the kind of magic that can happen when you rescue a dog, and we love to see that Paws Place is going strong and still bringing that joy to people and pups today.
Paws Place has moved since Belle’s adoption, now located at 242 George II Hwy still in Boiling Spring Lakes, and grown as well. It’s not easy or cheap operating a pet rescue, and Paws Place is hoping our community can help them at the Raise The Ruff casino night fundraiser at Wilmington’s Hotel Ballast on March 8. We spoke to Paws Place Signature Events Coordinator Lia Ballentine about the rescue’s history, needs, and what you can expect to enjoy at their fundraiser night.
Can you explain what Paws Place is, and a little about how it operates?
At Paws Place, our mission is life, and it’s one life at a time. Since 1999, we have res-
cued, rehabilitated, and adopted dogs. As a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization we rely completely on the generosity of individuals and businesses in our area who provide us with the much-needed financial support to run our organization.
How long has Paws Place been open?
Paws Place Dog Rescue was founded in 1999 by Nancy Janovetz as an outdoor only kennel operating in Boiling Spring Lakes on her personal property. With the money from a generous benefactor, we were able to purchase the 17 acres in Winnabow and build spacious, climate-controlled facility featuring 26 indoor/outdoor kennels, five quarantine kennels, two outdoor playpens and more than three acres of walkable-space kennels. We moved to the Winnabow location in Spring of 2017.
Money to operate our facility (annual budget of $500,000) and additional funds to build a new Auxiliary Building to allow us to shelter in place during severe storms. Our paid staff is small, so volunteers are the heart of our organization. In fact, our Board of Directors is 100 percent volunteer based and oversees payroll for kennel staff;
ented actor and model, appearing in a number of TV shows, such as “90210,” as well as numerous movies. Trevor also appeared on Season 31 of Dancing with the Stars in 2022.
This is our 10th annual Raise The Ruff. The first started back in 2014 when we were trying to raise funds to build our facility in Winnabow. We hold two “signature” fundraisers every year — Raise The Ruff in the springtime and our Golf Tournament in the fall.
It’s
Community
Just For The Birds
Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter Finds New Home
STORY BY JANET FORTNEY, PHOTOS BY SCOTT FORTNEY
On a recent day at Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter, founder Mary Ellen Rogers led a tour of the facility, which is housed in her Oak Island residence. She enthusiastically and fondly spoke to the hospital’s patients, which included pelicans, seagulls, barn owls, a turkey vulture, a cattle egret, screech owls, a scoter duck, a blue jay, a kestrel falcon, a dove, and a turtle, among others.
But Rogers’ mind was preoccupied by an extreme cold front expected in Brunswick County. “They’re all coming in!” she explained. “I’m going to have to bring [the turkey vulture] inside, but darn if I know where I’ll put her. I’m going to have to bring the seagulls and the owls upstairs in the bedroom and close the door. But the big birds will all come in here into this room. There just isn’t enough room for what we’ve got.”
Fortunately, the facility will soon enjoy a much-needed expansion when it relocates from Rogers’ basement and backyard on Oak Island to its new mainland location
at 4260 Long Beach Road. “I’m thrilled to death about the new facility,” she said. “One side is going to be small enclosures. And the other side is going to be a big enclosure for the pelicans and hawks and the roof is going to have skylights. On the outside, we’re going to have netted enclosures for the six small ones and three big enclosures for the hawks, owls, and pelicans. The pelicans will have a pool like they do here, but a lot more room. They’ll have 16 feet of flying-around space and 34 feet on the other side, so they’ll have 50 feet to fly in. The big guys are going to have overhead doors, so they can fly in and out and have the whole space wide
The path to the beloved operation’s new location was long and challenging. “Whenever we get more money, we’ve been socking it aside so we can buy [a new] building,” Rogers explained. “The original plan was to put it in Bill Smith Park,
which is a perfect location, but I couldn’t get water to the property. After four years of trying everything we could think of, it was going to be around $300,000, so I just couldn’t do it.”
Rogers and Kat Walker, a long-time wildlife caretaker and invaluable Sea Bis
Mary ellen Rogers introduces a duck friend. open.”
The colorful sign is already up at the new Long Beach Rd. site
Owl patients call the hospital home for now
Community
cuit volunteer since 2014, credited local realtor Francesca Slaughter for turning their luck around. “It was almost a miracle!” said Walker. “We had worked for close to five years with the various entities to get approval to go into Bill Smith Park and we were dealing with Southport, Oak Island, and Brunswick County, and, ultimately, we were unable to get water. So we had a meeting and within two weeks, Francesca found it! I mean, what are the odds? It was quite a wish list: we have to be close to water, we have to be close to all the volunteers, we have to have a big
stayed with us for all this time. Without him we would not have been as ready to get exactly what we want and what we’re getting. He has the equipment to show us what it’s going to look like in 3D, so it gets us really excited. You do not realize how many details are critical because you’ve got a bird this big with a wingspan this big and how are you going to get it in the door? The important thing is that we get it right.”
“The backyard is the biggest seller,” Rogers said. “And we’re so thrilled with it because we’ve got trees all the way around right smack in the middle of civilization! We’ve got birds all over the place back there and it’s very close to Bill Smith Park where we can release them when they’re ready to go.” Additional perks of the site include a large treatment room, sizable windows, and space for on-site educational programs, as well as a close by creek and plentiful wisteria and azaleas.
For now, Rogers, Walker, and the shelter’s supporters eagerly await the move. “I’m hoping to have the building three months from now,” Rogers said, “and then we’ll do all the stuff on the inside, build the walls, and put all the aviaries out
there, and there’s a lot of other stuff to consider.”
“Each week something else gets taken care of,” Walker said. “And this spring, photos by Scott fortney we will have a grand opening party when we get everything moved over there. It’ll be great because [our community] will get to see everything brand spankin’ new with everything being all clean and beautiful!”
Another benefit of the move for Rogers? The owls won‘t be waking her up in the middle of the night anymore.
Brunswick’s Coastal Birds Need YOU!
Thousands of injured, sick, and abandoned wild birds rely on Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter.
Please make a donation in support of the organization’s mission to provide medical care, safety, shelter, and food to local animals, by going to www.seabiscuitwildlifeshelter.org or calling 910-294-2555.
If you find a bird that needs help… Immediately call the shelter’s injured/sick bird line at 910-294-2555 to get help as quickly as possible.
enough backyard where we can put the birds, we have to have trees, and we have to have a [certain amount of] space in the building. Our fairy godmother Francesca, she waved her magic wand and turned it into something beautiful.
“And, Shawn Phelan, one of our volunteers, has been working with our architect Glenn Willis on the designs,” Walker continued. “Sean has been doing all the details and he and Glenn have been meeting 3-4 times a week. Glenn’s been with us since the original plan and has
Mary Ellen Rogers displays the plans for the shelter’s new home
A little blue jay is re-growing feathers under Rogers’ care
Community
Becoming Fit For Life
Reclaiming My Authentic Self: A Journey from Fear to Freedom; A Book By
Victor
Fernandes, Fitness and Motivational Coach
STORY BY JAN MORGAN-SWEGLE, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
We’ve all had tan “a-ha!” moment—those moments in time when it seems like the answer to your most difficult question comes to you in a flash of clarity and changes your life forever. But very few people have used their “A-ha moments” the way Victor Fernandes has.
Victor is the owner and operator of Fernandes Fit; he is also a published author as well as a fitness and motivational coach. His new book, “Reclaiming My Authentic Self: A Journey from Fear to Freedom,” will launch on Amazon on February 25 and is published by Smart Publishing, a small firm based in Dallas, Texas, owned by the husband-and-wife team of Jonathan and Renee Lautermilch.
“Digital sales for that day will be 99 cents,” Victor said. “I have two goals with this book—get it in as many hands as possible in the hopes of helping even one person become the best version of themselves that they can, and to earn bestseller status on Day One. I co-wrote a book titled, ‘Real Talk with Real Fit Pros,’ and it reached num-
ber One on Day One, and it was a great feeling. I want to feel that again.”
Victor’s story is about personal growth. “The early years were rooted in fear,” he said. “I was afraid to take risks, to take that next step in my life and really become the husband, father, friend, and the man I wanted to be. The later adult years (I’m 53 years old now) are about breaking those chains and finally living my life.”
Victor describes the book as, “an opportunity to help as many people as possible learn from my mistakes and avoid the pitfalls I had trouble navigating in my early adult life, simply because I didn’t want to come out of my comfort zone. It was too scary. It was too overwhelming.” So, as
many of us do, Victor said, “I grew comfortable with pain and disappointment because I didn’t have the inner strength and confidence to change and become who I wanted to be.”
Just 15 years ago, Victor described himself as “the unhealthiest I have ever been in my life. I weighed nearly 250 pounds. When my youngest son was born, and I looked in his eyes, it clicked. I immediately searched for a health and fitness coach, who helped me lose seventy-five pounds in 14 months and get into the best shape of my life.”
Speaking like a true motivational coach, Victor said, “In today’s society, sources of inspiration and motivation are hard to come by. If I’m able to inspire someone to take action in their lives—whether it’s to get healthy, write a book, start a business, be a better person—then it was well worth the year of struggle and challenges I encountered while writing this book.”
Victor’s fitness and motivational journey started in 2020 when COVID-19 shut down the fitness center where he had been working for over a year training others. At 47 years old, he was out of work for the first time in his adult life and had a family to support. He needed to find something positive where he could channel his energy, so he borrowed some equipment from the gym and turned his garage into a place where he could train and work out his fears and disappointment in a positive
way. His workouts got the attention of his sons, and soon they were creating videos to show people how to workout effectively at home with just a few basic pieces of equipment.
It was at this point that Victor had one of his “a-ha moments.”
“I realized the internet was COVID-proof. I started virtually training my active clients so they could keep moving in the right direction while the shutdown was in place. When the gym reopened, I went back to work full time, but I also began building my business,” he said. “A year and a half later, I felt confident enough, felt our family was in a good position financially to move out on my own.” The garage space was dubbed the “Vicnasium,” and clients still come there to work out.
Victor takes a different approach to training people than some other coaches who simply want to know your end goal. “I evaluate my client’s needs by first getting to know them personally,” he explained. “You have to know what’s going on in their lives, what’s going on in their heads and in their hearts. You have to know what makes peo
ple tick, and you have to get to the root of whatever problem they’re facing, whatever challenges they’re facing. It isn’t as simple as losing weight. I always say it may be called physical fitness, but it’s much more mental and emotional. If you can conquer what’s going on in somebody’s head and heart, you can affect positive change in so many ways.”
Victor’s clients include busy business professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners and career-driven people, many who have sacrificed more than just family time to build their careers and be successful. There is a mental, physical, and emotional toll on people who carry the load of working and creating an environment of stability and success for their loved ones; Victor’s methodology works to address all three issues.
While Victor can take some credit for getting his clients moving in the right direction in their workouts, he stressed it’s up to the person to achieve their own goals. “Success has to do with the individual. If someone is willing to do the work, willing to take ownership of the excuses that have
gotten in the way for far too long, they put themselves in a position to succeed. Whether you’re male, female, young, old, you have to be consistent, intentional and committed. If you do that, you’re going to get the results you want,” he said.
According to Victor, he wrote this book, in part, to honor his parents for the sacrifices they made for their family. He wrote the book for himself because he believes we all have a story to tell. But for the most part, he wrote the book for you and me. Learning about Victor’s journey was my “a-ha moment.” How often have I said, “If only I could lose 40 pounds and get back in shape, but I’m just too busy.” How often have you said it? How often have I looked in the mirror or of pictures where I see how out of shape I have become. How often have I been depressed over what I see. After hearing Victor’s story, I realized I don’t have to be this way and neither do you. If you and I don’t make Victor’s book number one on day one, it is we who will have lost something valuable.
“In the health and fitness profession, just
helping more and more people, continuing to work with the right people who truly believe in themselves, want to invest in themselves and want to be the best version of themselves they can be, are why I get up every morning excited to do this job. Every day, I have the honor and privilege of working with great people,” Victor said.
Community
Fall of Fort Anderson
Living History Events And The NC Rice Fest
The Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson State Historic Site on N.C. 133 is back open after the storm damage to its entrance road was repaired, and this month features two programs in commemoration of the fall of Fort Anderson. And save the date for the return of the NC Rice Festival to Brunswick Town on March 8.
Living History: The 160th Anniversary of the Fall of Fort Anderson
Free living history event from 10 am - 3 pm on Saturday, Feb. 15. Experience artillery firings and infantry demonstrations throughout the day.
Plunging Shot and Screaming Shell: A Nighttime Bombardment
Later on the evening of Feb. 15, from 6-7:15 pm, commemorate the 160th anniversary of the fall of Fort Anderson as the night sky will come alive with a realistic reenactment of the bombardment and evacuation of the Fort. This event will be a rare opportunity to witness a heavy artillery duel.
Admission for this event is $10 for ages 16 and up. Children 15 and under are admitted for free. Tickets purchased in advance online should be shown at the gate to be admitted for the program. Tickets can be purchased online in advance beginning January 18th at https://friends-of-brunswick-townfort-anderson.square.site/
North Carolina Rice Festival at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site
Join us at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site on Saturday, March 8 for the North Carolina Rice Festival! Activities will be located indoors and outdoors. The schedule of events will include; history/cultural presentations, tours, demonstrations, live entertainment, family fun, children’s stage, Gullah Geechee food vendors, and arts/crafts. Visit https://www.northcarolinaricefestival.org/ for more information.
Banana Split
COMMUNITY
Waterway Clean-Up
NC Coastal Federation Seeks Fishermen
CONTRIBUTED BY NC COASTAL FEDERATION
The North Carolina Coastal Federation has kicked off the 11th year of the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project, enlisting 17 commercial fishers along the northern and central coasts. Now the Federation needs the help of commercial watermen and women on the southern coast to work with us to locate and collect lost crab pots there.
Every year, crab pots and other fishing gear are lost in our sounds in a variety of ways. Lost gear can get hung up or drift into channels, creating serious hazards for boaters, wildlife, and fishermen. Since 2014, the Federation has led the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project, in cooperation with the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to remove lost crab pots from North Carolina sounds and waterways.
Recruitment for applications is now underway for crab pot removal in DMF Marine Patrol District 3, which covers the southeast region of the coast during the closure from March 1 to 15. Those interested in taking part in helping to remove the lost fishing gear in the southeast region of the coast can apply on the Federation’s website, nccoast.org/crabpotproject/. Applications are being accepted through Feb. 17. Applicants must have a valid North Carolina standard commercial fishing license.
In 2024, commercial watermen and women in partnership with N.C. DMF
Marine Patrol removed 2,463 pots from select areas within three Marine Patrol Districts. During the current January closure, the 2025 project is in progress within DMF Marine Patrol District 1, which covers the northern region of the coast, and District 2, which covers the central region of the coast. Once the pots are collected, they are recycled or returned to their owners to the best extent possible.
ment Areas (DTMA) one encompassing the Masonboro Island Coastal Reserve and the other extending from the Zeke’s Island Coastal Reserve to Bald Head Island. Crab pots in these areas are required to have terrapin excluder devices. These measures will help protect diamondback terrapins, which the state lists as a species of special concern in North Carolina. Ted Wilgis, the Coastal Federation’s Marine Debris Program Director stated that he, “appreciates DMF’s Marine Patrol partnership in the project and enabling this effort to continue in the southern region.”
This project is funded by the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund Grant Program. It is intended to improve habitat and water quality and support coastal economies.
The southern district hosts two Diamondback Terrapin Manage-
“Having been a part of the project for so long, I’ve been able to see how vital it is to our waters over the course of nearly a decade,” said Matthew Littleton, a longtime project participant whose homeport is in Swansboro.
“Working on the water every day, it means a lot to me to keep our resources cleaned up, so we can all keep enjoying it, and pre-
serve the resource for future generations like my son. The Coastal Federation has done an incredible job of creating a project that benefits everyone the whole way around; the fishers, the fishery, recreational boaters and other wildlife.”
This project is part of the Federation’s effort to ensure the North Carolina coast is free of marine debris. Establishing an annual paid program for marine debris removal — including crab pots — is a key objective of the N.C. Marine Debris Strategic Plan. Through field surveys, marine debris cleanup crews reported that over 85 percent of the debris removed from North Carolina’s estuaries in recent years resulted from damaged and/or lost docks, piers, boat houses, and similar structures. The Federation will be working on preventative strategies in the coming year as part of a major goal to create a coastal environment free of marine debris.
Canadian folk-pop artist with a huge songwriting talent
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025
7:30 PM
Ireland’s Most Exciting Young Tenor with a golden voice
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025
SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2025
6:00 PM
One of the most dynamic modern dance ensembles of our time
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025 7:30 PM
Main Attractions Season Tickets On Sale Now. www.Th alianHall.org
Art Beat Music Photography
Saloon Owner Turned Photographer
STORY BY CARLA EDSTROM, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Ifyou have been out and about in Southport listening to live music, you have probably seen Peter Riekstins taking photos of the bands and the crowd. A resident of St. James for more than five years, Peter has been posting his work on social media to promote the local bands and the venues that hire them.
Being the owner of PETE’S Saloon & Restaurant in NY for 43 years, Peter knows how to promote and advertise events. “Naturally, the restaurant also held many events and celebrated all of the calendar holidays. Someone had to record these,” said Peter. “PETE’S had some sort of live entertainment five nights a week. Taking photographs of bands and entertainers gave me a bank of images I could use for advertising and share with the customers and players. The bands seemed to like it, too. I think it also brought us closer together. Not just the old stereotype of club owner versus musician,” he said. “Once upon a time, I played a musical instrument. Now when I hear music, my instrument has become a camera. With that, photographing live entertainment makes me feel as if I’m part of the band!”
The era of digital cameras changed Peter’s photography a lot. His creativity es-
calated with the advancement of digital photography and the instant gratification of seeing the photo immediately. “My music photography started a little over 25 years ago with the advancement of digital. Digital was such a novelty back then. Most of the early cameras were relegated to point-and-shoot status. In 2001, I bought my first (DSLR) a digital Nikon D1X. This was fantastic — an SLR converted to a DSLR. In other words, it could control light like any film camera. The great plus was Instant Gratification! The image was visible right then and there. The downside? Now you worked as the Photo Processor!”
photos led to topside photography.”
The artistry of photography involves catching the
emotion in the image and the technical aspects of the shoot. “I have been engaged in photography for about 35 years as a hobby that went astray! I was lucky enough to have first worked with film and now digital. Those early experiences were so valid in learning how a camera sees light and how you learn to control it,” he said. “Many times, I look at the ordinary and try to find a certain special quality within. I Look-I See-I Feel-I Shoot. I can shoot hundreds of good-looking shots. But then, without the image having that certain feeling you wish to convey, it’s just another pic. Unfortunately, these goodies come far and few in between! Then again, there’s nothing wrong with shooting and recording nice photographs of what we do daily.”
Peter and his wife Denise were introduced to the area by scuba diving in the wrecks outside Morehead City and Atlantic Beach. “Both my wife and daughter were avid divers. Later, my daughter Samantha went to Duke to get her MBA. After searching for different areas to retire to, my barkeep John, who has a house on Oak Island, told us to check out the Southport area, and we were immediately sold,” he said. “I always had an interest in photography as a way of recording life’s daily goings on. I got my first real camera in 1979, a Minolta x-700 that I used for the next 11 years,” he said. “It wasn’t until about 1989, when we really started to travel, and I was introduced to underwater photography in the Cayman Islands. After that, underwater
Inspiration comes to Peter in other ways as well. “Sitting in a café, bar, diner, or street corner, just watching the world go by. I love watching people. I enjoy seeing one person’s reactions to another’s. Simple communication. The results of different emotions. Being alone. Being alone in a crowd,” he said. “There are times that this may regard me as an ambush photographer, a candid photographer, or a street photographer. Trying to catch the emotion that can never be displayed in a setup shot.”
“I’d like to give a shoutout to the various photo clubs in our area that have helped to inspire me: St James Photo Club, Southport Camera Arts, Coastal Carolina Camera Club, and Up Your Arts.”
If you want to contact Peter, Email him at saloon@aol.com, call him at 914-282-7082 or find him on Facebook.
“No, don’t do weddings!”
FISHING REPORT
February Fishing Report
Fish Out There If You Know Where To Look
BY CAPTAIN STEELE PARK
Thecold winter continues to hold on. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve spent more time in the Bahamas or South Florida during this season in past years, or if we’re truly experiencing an exceptionally long winter — but the latter seems to be the case! We’ve had plenty of very cold days, with not many mild ones mixed in. February is traditionally the toughest month of the year for fishing in our area, as the water typically reaches its coldest point. The silver lining? It’s all uphill from here to spring, bringing with it warmer air and water!
Backwater Fishing
The fish are in full winter mode. With water temperatures hovering in the mid-to-high 40s, fish are clinging to survival. Unfortunately, with these temperatures, we might expect a potential trout kill. However, speckled trout that have found deep holes or mud flats to stage on during the warmer parts of the day should fare well. Red drum are employing a similar strategy, schooling in the backs of creeks where the water can warm a few degrees throughout the day.
The clear water this time of year is a unique feature. Sight fishing is absolutely possible — but keep in mind,
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 910620-9919
the cold water has slowed the fish down, and they’re searching for an easy meal, not chasing aggressively. For those targeting sheepshead, fiddler crabs remain available. Sheepshead can be found around bridges, docks, or any structure with barnacles or oysters. Unlike trout and red drum, sheepshead are much more aggressive feeders this time of year.
Nearshore Fishing
if you can see the fish, they can also see you! Look for fish tailing in shallow water or along marsh lines. Artificial shrimp or soft plastic paddle tails on light jig heads work well. Fish these baits as slowly as possible;
With water temperatures ranging from 45–55°F out to 30 miles offshore, the options are limited right now. However, on a calm weather day, fishing for jumbo black sea bass is a great choice. Look for live bottom or ledges in 55-70 feet of water. There might still be a wayward bluefin tuna in the area, but for the most part, they’ve moved up to Hatteras and Oregon Inlet, feeding on massive schools of bluefish.
Offshore Fishing
When weather permits and you can head offshore to the break, finding 70–73°F water will be key. There are still some wahoos around, along with plenty of blackfin tuna. For wahoo, troll the ledges in 140–250 feet of water. Blackfin tuna are likely stacked up on rock
FISHING REPORT
piles. Small cedar plugs, tuna feathers, and smaller trolling baits are effective for tuna.
Late in the day, blackfin tuna often feed on the surface, providing an exciting opportunity. Casting larger poppers on spinning tackle can be incredibly fun, as the surface strikes are explosive and thrilling to watch. If you make it out to the Gulf Stream and encounter cold water, high-speed jigging can turn your trip around. You can catch everything from triggerfish and vermilion snapper to massive amberjacks. I recommend using a Bluewater Candy Roscoe jig when deep-dropping on the break.
Looking Ahead
We’re all eagerly awaiting spring and the return of prime fishing along the southeastern coast of North Carolina. Next month, I’ll be reporting from sunny Marsh Harbour, in the Bahamas, which I’m absolutely looking forward to. To ensure you have the most accurate local fishing updates, I’ll collaborate with some of our local guides. Stay tuned, and tight lines!
Community Love In Bloom Expo Plan The Perfect Wedding In Southport
STORY BY LISA STITES, PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES
It was the perfect moment for a proposal. Everything was planned out and it all went just how it was supposed to. You’re getting married! But where do you start in planning the wedding of your dreams? At Southport’s “Love In Bloom” Bridal Expo, brides and grooms to be, or those hoping to be one soon, can see what a variety of local businesses can offer to make their special day perfect. The Expo is Saturday Feb. 15, from 2-6 pm at the Southport Community Building, 221 E. Bay St.
It’s no coincidence that the event is happening the day after a romantic holiday.
“Love is in the air, and I am sure that there will be a number of proposals the day before,” Expo organizer Karen Martin said. “I thought that was a perfect time…a Saturday after Valentine’s — that’s perfect.”
More than 30 vendors are already signed up for the Expo, including musicians playing live at the event, florists, wedding planners, caterers, beauty and wellness experts, travel agents and hotels, and more. Caterers and other vendors will also have samples on hand.
“We’ll even have a little fashion show
from a boutique in Southport,” Matin said. The fashion shows are scheduled for 3 and 5 pm.
Martin is happy to show off the beautiful Southport Community Building as a potential venue, but said this event is also meant to support our local, small businesses trying to get their name out. It is not strictly a sales event though.
“We wanted to show the support and intimacy of this venue — everyone will be relaxed and connecting. It’s that more intimate party cocktail event rather than a large convention with people just trying to sell you something,” she said. She added that she hopes people will come meet the local vendors who put their heart and soul
into what they do.
Martin said she knows of brides who have already booked their wedding at the Community Building but who plan to attend the Expo anyway to see it beautifully decorated for an event.
“When I am doing a walkthrough with an empty building its one thing, but it’s good to see it in action too,” Martin said. In fact, Martin said one of the vendors is recently engaged herself, so she plans to pick up a few ideas while she’s helping other brides with their own plans.
The Expo also features 19 raffle items. Entry to the Expo is free, and each attendee will receive one free raffle ticket; additional tickets will be available for purchase (cash only).
The first 50 attendees will also receive a free wedding journal they can use in their planning.
“I’m so excited to meet the brides there and have them in the Community Building. I’m grateful for all the support we’re seeing,” Martin said.
Keeping Fit
Self-Care Is Essential
How To Be There For Your Loved Ones
BY VICTOR FERNANDES
Victor Fernandes is owner of Fernandez Fit, helpjng clients achieve personal and professional success through health and fitness
This month’s article comes with a homework assignment right off the bat. I want you to consider everything you do for everyone else in your life, and all the times you have gone above and beyond for others that matter most to you.
Do you give yourself the same consideration?
If your answer is no, trust me, you’re not alone. And if your answer is yes, read on, because you may just reconsider that answer before you finish this article.
It’s really easy to get caught up in the sacrifices we make for those we love and care about — so much so that we fail to show love and care to ourselves.
We work so hard at work, then we head home to work so hard some more before crawling into bed for a few hours of restless sleep knowing full well we will do it all over again tomorrow.
We think looking out for number one is a selfish way to live. We grow guilty that we even consider taking time for ourselves, because we are convinced that sacrificing our own health and well-being is the inevitable price we pay to take care of the people we care about the most.
This all may sound very familiar to you. It sure does to me. I was last in my own life, without any hope of being close to number one, for many years in my earlier adult life. Those that mattered most needed me, I told myself, and I needed to do everything in my power to be there for them at all times. Subconsciously, if that meant running myself into the ground, then so be it.
But self-care is essential, not selfish — because if the ultimate goal is to be at our best in life for those who count on us the most, we need to be at our best in our own life.
We can’t do that if we’re struggling with our health. When simply getting out of bed is a major challenge, and getting into it isn’t any easier because you often feel like you’ve been run over by a bus, that’s when it’s time to start thinking about our well-being for a change.
For the entrepreneurs, business owners and career-driven people reading this, imagine if you or members of your team were constantly out of work because of illness or going to one medical appointment after another. Imagine the impact that would have on your
finances.
The best abilities people in the business world need to showcase are availability and reliability. If you or your team struggled with both, and business suffered because of it, I imagine that would capture your attention, and you would be focused on finding and implementing solutions.
Why doesn’t our personal struggles with health and well-being demand the same approach?
If you have traveled by air in your lifetime, you have heard the instructions for operating masks that fall from above the seats in case the airplane depressurizes. Put your mask on first before placing a mask on someone else. Why? Because you can’t help anyone while unconscious.
Still, back on land, the vicious cycle continues for many of us. It took me the better part of two decades to get
that valuable lesson through my head — and it was a life-changer. And the mindset transformation began soon after my physical transformation — losing 75 pounds, to be precise — began taking place nearly 15 years ago.
Now, if I showed you the calendar on my phone, you would see times blocked off for workouts, healthy meals, walking our dogs, Tulip and Scarlett, alongside scheduled client calls and training sessions, and playing chauffeur for my youngest son, Zach, to and from school and the farm where he works. If it’s on my calendar, it’s set in stone because it’s important to me.
It takes being committed, being intentional and being consistent to break the chains of the guilt that bind us. Take time for yourself. You’re important too. You will wonder why it took so long to take control of your health and well-being. And when you’re truly at your best for the people you love, when you truly can take care of them in the manner they deserve, they will thank you for it.
If you would like to learn more about making self-care a priority in your life, or if you would like to learn more about me and Fernandes Fit, call 814504-7774, send an email to info@fernandesfit.com, or head to fernandesfit. com for more information.
History
Battle of Manassas
February Brunswick Civil War Round Table
STORY CONTRIBUTED
The Second Battle of Manassas, also known as the Second Battle of Bull Run, was a brutal and bloody affair that shattered the early optimism of the Union and emboldened the Confederacy. The battle allowed Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia to cross the Potomac into the North for the first time, becoming a turning point in the Civil War. Chaos and confusion, destructive power, and determined courage only begin to explain what guest historian Kevin Pawlak will share during his presentation entitled, “Never Such A Campaign: The Battle of Second Manassas,” at the Tuesday, Feb. 4 meeting of the Brunswick Civil War Round Table. The group mets at Hatch Auditorium at Fort Caswell Retreat and Conference Center in Caswell Beach.
This second battle was fought Aug. 28-30, 1862, a battle of much larger scale and numbers than the first. Despite heavy Confederate casualties (9,000), it was a decisive victory for the rebels as Lee managed a strategic offensive against Union forces under Maj. Gen. John Pope’s Army of
Virginia, an enemy force twice the size of his own. The armies who met at this second battle were more experienced, battle scarred and hardened than their peers in the first battle in 1861. The forces were larger, the troops better
trained, the officers more prepared, and the tactics more ruthless and proficient.
New developments in weaponry made warfare more dangerous, as rifles and artillery could be fired with greater precision. The human toll was greater, especially among the North with more than 14,000 casualties. The exhausted Confederate troops showed little remorse toward the enemy. They were numbed by the atrocities they had witnessed.
To briefly summarize the incredible trauma during this period must include Confed-
erate Maj. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s surprise attack on the Union supply depot propelling the Union army into disarray, forcing a desperate retreat. A fierce stand by Union troops near Groveton crossroads which bought time for the rest of the army to withdraw, but at a heavy cost. And the fighting continued for days, with soldiers exhausted and desperate. By the end of the third day, the Union lines faltered, retreating across Bull Run under the cover of darkness. This second
loss for the Union at Bull Run resulted in the Lincoln administration’s dismissal of Pope from command as Lee continued his march northward.
Guest presenter Kevin Pawlak’s credentials are noteworthy. He is an Historic Site Manager for the Prince William Preservation Division, a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Antietam National
Battlefield, and a Board member of the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association, and the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. In addition, he has worked and completed internships at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, the Papers of Abraham Lincoln at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and the Missouri Civil War Museum. Kevin is also the author of Shepherdstown in the Civil War:
One Vast Confederate Hospital; The Heaviest Blow Yet Given the Confederacy, and, The Emancipation Proclamation Changes the Civil War in the forthcoming Turning Points of the Civil War, part of Emerging Civil War’s “Engaging the Civil War Series.”
Registration for the meeting begins at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. Everyone is welcome. The visitor fee is $10, and can be applied toward the $25 annual membership dues. For
more information about the meeting, the easy online program registration process, how to attend meetings remotely, or how to become a member, email president John Butler at Brunswickcwrt@gmail.com. Or, call him directly at (404) 229-9425. Also, you can visit their website at Brunswickcivilwarroundtable.com, or their Facebook page for additional information, news, and updates.
SPOTTINGS
Brunswick Community College (BCC) is celebrating a historic milestone with a record-breaking Fall 2024 enrollment of 2,069 curriculum students, the highest in its history. This marks an impressive 81 percent growth since 2006, when curriculum enrollment stood at 1,142 students. Between 2019 and 2024, BCC has experienced significant growth, with enrollment increasing by 28 percent, showcasing the college’s continued momentum and commitment to serving its students and the community.
Enrollment Trends on the Rise
BCC’s growth in recent years has been especially remarkable. In 2023, the college welcomed 1,886 students, reflecting a 9.3% increase over the previous year. This positive trend continued into 2024, with enrollment rising another 9.7 percent to reach its record-setting total. The consistent growth highlights Brunswick Community College’s role as a cornerstone of education in the region.
Expansive Program Offerings
Brunswick Community College offers a robust selection of programs, including 34 degrees, 12 diplomas, 28 certificates, and 29 high school pathways. These programs equip students with the education and skills needed to pursue meaningful careers in high-demand fields. Many also offer a seamless pathway for transfer to four-year institutions, supporting continued academic success.
Leadership and Innovation
“Brunswick Community College is proud to deliver quality education that empowers our students and strengthens our community,” said Dr. Gene Smith, President of BCC. “This record-breaking enrollment is a testament to our dedicated faculty, staff, and the growing trust placed in us by students seeking life-changing opportunities.”
The college attributes this success to its forward-thinking approach to education. By expanding programs that align with regional and local workforce demands, BCC equips students with skills for in-demand fields such as healthcare, skilled trades, business, and technology. Strong partnerships with industry leaders and four-year universities also ensure students have pathways to employment and advanced education.
Support for Student Success
To accommodate its growing student population, BCC continues to enhance student services. Personalized advising, accessible financial aid, and a focus on inclusivity create a supportive environment where every student can thrive and achieve their goals.
“We remain committed to creating a welcoming, innovative learning environment where students can excel,” Dr. Smith added.
The Foundation of Brunswick Community College (BCC) is proud to announce the establishment of a $25,000 endowment in support of its Nursing programs, generously funded by Wilmington, NC’s Locale 40 & 8, Voiture 245. This milestone demonstrates the organization’s unwavering commitment to supporting the next generation of nurses.
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, representatives of Voiture 245 visited Brunswick Community College to present a $25,000 check to President Gene Smith and Foundation Executive Director Teresa Nelson. This endowment will bolster nursing education at BCC, providing critical support for students pursuing careers in healthcare.
This new endowment builds upon Voiture 245’s long tradition of supporting nursing training through scholarships and endowments at local colleges. Under the leadership of Voyager Don Eisenman, the organization expanded its efforts to include Brunswick Community College. Eight years in the making, members raised funds for this endowment through various grassroots initiatives, including selling Discount Books, charity neighborhood concerts, comedy shows, flag distributions, and individual donations from the local community.
Dr. Gene Smith, President of Brunswick Community College, expressed his gratitude for the endowment. “This generous gift from Voiture 245 will have a lasting impact on our students and the healthcare community. We are honored to partner with an organization so deeply committed to supporting nursing education.”
Voiture 245’s contribution reflects the broader mission of 40 & 8 Nationale, which has prioritized nursing training as a vital component of its philanthropic efforts. This endowment will ensure that BCC nursing students receive the financial assistance they need to excel in their studies and enter a field that is essential to the health and well-being of the region.
For more information about the Foundation of Brunswick Community College and how you can support its mission, please visit https://brunswickcc.edu/foundation/ or contact Teresa Nelson at nelsont@brunswickcc.edu or 910)-755-6530.
Golf Tips
Nicole’s Golf Notes
Putting Pointers Part 2: Putter Face
BY NICOLE WELLER LPGA/PGA GOLF TEACHING PROFESSIONAL
Nicole Weller instructs local area golfers at Compass Pointe Golf Club in Leland. Feel free to submit your question or topic for the Nicole’s Notes column via her website ‘Contact Nicole’ page. For more information on Nicole and her tips / videos, visit www.nicoleweller.com.
Whatis putting other than rolling a ball into a hole across an uneven surface…seems simple, right? It can be simpler if we let it, and there is always a mix of both luck and skill that produces result. Some keys are an effective putter face, path and centeredness of contact through impact after a good green read. In this article, we’ll focus a bit on putter face through impact.
Did you know that 85 percent of the initial ball direction is based on the direction in which the putter face is pointing at the moment of impact? There’s a lot of information and data out there…I found a fun article by Modern Golf Staff (2015) that showed a putter face two degrees open at impact will miss a ball 1.85 inches to the right (righties and left for lefties) at 4-feet from the hole and 3.75 inches to the right and left, respectively, at 8-feet, assuming center contact.
Putter style, shaft insert, weight, posture, alignment, loft and lie are some of the putter characteristics that affect initial directions…seems like there’s just more than grabbing a putter off the shelf or from a stock set of clubs if you’re really interested in improving your putting stats and having less putts! Putters are the most used and
least-fitted club in the bag…consider doing that if you want to shave strokes off your game with a club that works for you instead of you constantly tweaking the putter to fit you.
There is no one exact method for face and path, it’s a mix of being able to find what is most consistently repeatable for a person to reproduce, so a perfectly square (straight) putter face matched with a perfectly on-path stroke the moment of impact is difficult. Even the best players still miss putts slightly left and right despite the best training and equipment. Some might do best with a slightly open club face but have made adjustments to their set-up and path that allow for a consistent result. Find what works best for you that is repeatable and gives you confidence.
Some of my favorite drills for putter face practice are as follows:
6-foot putt. If the putter head returns fairly square, the balls will travel within roughly 12 inches of each other. If the putter face closes and the putter toe hits the outside ball first, the outside ball travels much further than the inside ball. If the putter face opens and the putter heel hits the inside ball first, the inside ball travels much further than the outside ball. Get better at having the putter face impact through both balls more closely at the same time.
2)
Chest & Arm Tension
Awareness Drill: The putting motion occurs mostly from the chest and torso, the big muscles, not the small hand and forearm muscles. There have been players who can make a consistent wrist motion through the putting swing but it’s very unreliable for most. Place your putter against the ground or your body (won’t need it at the start of this drill), bend forward from the hips into
your putting posture and let the arms hang with the inside of the wrists touching and fingers pointing away from each other. Rock the chest/shoulders back and through. This is the main putting motion. The fingers and hands do not flip flop past each other, those forearm muscles should be passive. Now repeat the same motion with the putter in your hands. Be aware of what tension level you like in your big muscles (chest, shoulders, back). Be aware of any jumps or changes in tension with your forearms, hands and fingers…you should start and finish with the same tension level. These pressure changes, especially under ‘perceived’ pressure, are what create a lot of unnecessary putter face rotation through impact.
Let that putter swing through with a square/straight putter head at impact…it’s Hip to be Square!
1)
Two-Ball
Drill: Place two balls next to each other, just touching. Address both golf balls with your putter head, they should both fit within the width of the putter face. Make a stroke for a
CALENDAR
February
We’ve included events here that are listed as scheduled, but please remember that all events, dates and times are subject to change.
FEB 4
Brunswick Civil War Round Table
Licensed battlefield guide and historic site manager Kevin Pawlak discuss a major turning point in the Civil War entitled, “Never Such a Campaign: The Battle of Second Manassas.” The group meets at Hatch Auditorium at Fort Caswell; doors open at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. Anyone can attend; the cost is $10 but can be applied to $25 annual membership dues.
FEB 15
Living History: The 160th Anniversary of the Fall of Fort Anderson
Enjoy artillery firings and infantry demonstrations during this anniversary celebration. The living history event is free, 10 am to 3 pm at the site, 8884 Saint Philips Road SE, Winnabow (off NC 133). Tickets for an evening celebration are $10 for those ages 16 and older. (See next entry).
FEB 15
Plunging Shot and Screaming Shell: A Nighttime Bombardment
Fortunately this is just a reenactment at the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site. It’s a chance to experience an artillery duel. The bombardment is 6-7 at the site, 8884 Saint Philips Road SE, Winnabow (off NC 133). Tickets are $10 for those 16 and older, those 15 and younger are admitted free.
FEB 22
Mardi Gras By the Sea
— Oak Island
The Town celebrates Mardi Gras with a parade that starts at 11 am at Keziah Street. The parade route ends at the Middleton park fields, 46th Street and Dolphin Drive, and there will be food vendors, a craft market, children’s activities and live music from local bands. The event runs until 4 pm.
FEB 22
Ozzie’s Oyster Roast
Join the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce from 2-6 pm at the Calabash Marina with an Oyster Roast and Low Country Boil. Makai Brewery will be onsite serving your favorite craft beverages. Wine will be served for our wine lovers. Enjoy a S’mores Experience and sit by a firepit and roast marshmallows for s’mores. Tickets available on the Chamber website, brunswickcountychamber.org
FEB 22
Chefs of Brunswick
The Southport Rotary Club hosts this annual event, which features samples and tastings from chefs, restaurants and wine sellers in the county. Tickets are $30. The event is 5:30-9 pm at the St. James Community Center, 4140 Southport-Supply Road.
FEB 23
NC QSO Party — Battleship North Carolina
Ham radio operators try to make contact with all 100 counties in North
Carolina in a 9-hour period. The Battleship is NI4BK, and HAM operators may contact the ship via Voice, Digital, and Morse Code. This event is free with admission, 9 am to 4 pm, and you can find the battleship at 1 Battleship Road, Wilmington (west side of the Cape Fear River).
FEB 26
Mobile Mammogram
If it’s time for your annual mammogram, or if it’s been a while since your last one and you need to get back on schedule, Novant Health’s Mobile Mammogram will be in Ocean Isle Beach. Appointments are recommended, and you must be under the care of a PCP
or OBGYN to schedule your mammogram. To schedule, please call 910-7211485. The mobile unit will be at Town Hall, 111 Causeway Drive, from 9 am to 3 pm.
MARCH 4
Brunswick Civil War Round Table
Appalachian State University Judkin Browning and Timothy Silver, will lead a session on “Weaponizing Food: From Antietam to Vicksburg.” They recognize that the Civil War was much more than a military conflict. It was also a time when environmental issues came into play; e.g., like food supplies, weather, topography, animals, disease, etc., all impacting the outcome of key
Ozzie’s Oyster Roast returns on Feb 22
The NC Rice Festival returns to the Brunswick Town State Historic Site on March 8
CALENDAR
battles from Antietam and Vicksburg. The group meets at Hatch Auditorium at Fort Caswell; doors open at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. Anyone can attend; the cost is $10 but can be applied to $25 annual membership dues.
MARCH 5
Wine, Women and Chocolate
Join the Brunswick County Chamber at the beautiful Sea Trail Convention Centerfrom 5:30-8 pm for the Ultimate Girls Night Out at Wine, Women & Chocolate!! Your ticket is $50 and includes admission to the event, 1 drink ticket, 1 raffle ticket, shopping and food (including chocolate)!
MARCH 8
NC Rice Festival — Brunswick Town/ Fort Anderson
Tour the state historic site and enjoy history/cultural presentations, demonstrations, live entertainment, family fun, children’s stage, Gullah Geechee food vendors, and arts/crafts. The festival is 10 am to 5 pm at the site, 8884 Saint Philips Road SE, Winnabow (off NC 133).
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Odell Williamson Auditorium
150 College Road NW, Bolivia (Brunswick Community College)
Feb 9 — Can’t Get Next To You - A Temptations Concert Experience
March 1 — The Brothers Doobie - A Tribute to the Doobie Brothers
March 31 — The U.S. Navy Band Tour ONGOING EVENTS
Museum of Coastal Carolina
21 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach
The Museum is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. The Museum will be open Feb 17 for President’s Day. .
.Ingram Planetarium
7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach
The Planetarium is open Thursdays through Saturdays; dome shows start
on the hour from 11 am to 3 pm. Laser shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 6 pm and 7 pm. The Planetarium will be open Feb 17-17 for President’s Day. Visit https://museumplanetarium.org/ ingram-planetarium/ to see the show schedule, including special holiday shows.
Old Bridge Historical Society
Check out the old swing bridge at Sunset Beach and visit the museum too (ask to push the yellow button and make the siren sound)! The museum is open 10 am to 2 pm Wednesdays through Saturdays. Visit http://www. theoldbridge.org/ for more information.
Rourk Branch Library
5068 Main St., Shallotte
Family movie night all summer on Tuesdays, starting at 4:30 pm. Snacks are provided.
NC Maritime MuseumsSouthport
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.
Battleship North Carolina
Tour the USS NORTH CAROLINA and participate in group programs and special programming throughout the year, such as Memorial Day observances, Battleship 101 (Oct 12 this month) and more. 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. Philip’s 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.
Pelican Bookstore Book Signings
The Pelican Bookstore is hosting a series of book signings this spring, givings us plenty of time to line up our summer reading schedules. Book signings are held at the Silver Coast Winery, 6680 Barbeque Road, Ocean Isle Beach (mainland). The festivities start at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $45 and include a glass of wine, light hors d’oeuvres, a copy of the book, and a meet and greet with the author. For more details and a longer synopsis of the book selections, visit www.pelicanbookstore.com.
Feb 20 — Pam Jenoff, author of “Last Twilight in Paris” London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe — and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war.
March 6 — Sandra Brown, author of “Blood Moon” Detective John Bowie is one misstep away from being fired from the Auclair Police Department in coastal Louisiana. Recently divorced and slightly heavy-handed with his liquor, Bowie does all that he can to cope with the actions taken (or not taken) during the investigation of Crissy Mellin, a teenage girl who disappeared more than three years prior. But now, Crisis Point, a long-running true crime television series, is soon to air an episode documenting the unsolved Mellin case.
March 24 — Patti Callahan Henry, author of “The Story She Left Behind”
In 1927, eight-year-old Clara Harrington’s magical childhood shatters when her mother, renowned author, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappears off the coast of South Carolina. Bronwyn stunned the world with a book written in an invented language that became a national sensation when she was just twelve years old. Her departure leaves behind not only a devoted husband and heartbroken daughter, but also the hope of ever translating the sequel to her landmark work.
April 3 — colleen Oakley, author of “Jane and Dan at the End of the World”
Date night goes off the rails in this hilariously insightful take on midlife and marriage when one unhappy couple find themselves at the heart of a crime in progress, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise.
Looking for something to do besides going to the beach? Here you’ll find lots of fun for the entire family. Be sure to check before you go as hours may change and some attractions may be seasonal
Attractions
INGRAM PLANETARIUM
7625 High Market Street Sunset Beach (mainland) https://museumplanetarium.org/ingram-planetarium/
Enjoy musical laser shows and learn more about the night sky; check website for schedule and tickets. Hands-on activities and interactive displays are available in the Paul Dennis Science Center, and admission to the Center is free.
MUSEUM OF COASTAL CAROLINA
21 E. 2nd St. Ocean Isle Beach https://museumplanetarium.org/
Learn more about our coastal environment, with a live touch tank, saltwater aquariums, interactive exhibits, lectures and family programs. The Mu-
Attractions Guide
seum is open 10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Saturday, and 5-7 pm on the second Tuesday for sandbar lectures.
This adventure park features zip line tours, an aerial park, guided ATV tours and eco-tours on a swamp boat.
PLANET FUN/STARZ GRILL
349 Whiteville Road
Shallotte https://planetfuncenter.com/
This family entertainment center offers arcade games, laser tag, and bowling (including cosmic bowling on weekends), many TVs for watching all the games, and a restaurant.
SHALLOTTE RIVERWALK
Gazebos at 159 Cheers St. and 146 Wall St.
The Riverwalk is open from dawn to dusk, and features a quarter mile boardwalk, gazebos at each end and beautiful views of the Shallotte River.
OLD BRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
109 Shoreline Drive West Sunset Beach (mainland) http://www.theoldbridge.org/
The old swing bridge that used to connect Sunset Beach to the mainland has been preserved as a museum. The Museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 am to 2 pm, with stories about the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge tender house, local history, and more.
STUMP HILL FARMS
2030 Ash-Little River Road NW Ash
https://www.stumphillfarms.com/
The farm is open on Saturdays in April and October, and by appointment or for special events other times of year, with hay rides, games for children, and educational opportunities covering bee pollination and local crops.
GRAYCE WYNDS FARM AND THE WILD HORSE RESERVE AT GRAYCE WYNDS
2450 Grayce Wynds Drive Supply, NC 28462
Visit the farm, take a guided tour, or participate in special events. Check https://www.graycewyndsfarm.com/ for tours available and events.
SILVERY COAST WINERY
6680 Barbeque Road
Ocean Isle Beach
https://silvercoastwinery.com/
Winery tours, tastings, and shop for wine accessories and gifts; event rental space also available.
OCEAN ISLE MINI GOLF
6391 Beach Drive SW
Ocean Isle Beach http://oceanisleminigolf.com
TREASURE ISLAND MINIATURE GOLF
3445 Holden Beach Rd.
Holden Beach (910) 842-4878
Parks
There are so many great spots to get out and enjoy this beautiful county. We’ve listed a few of the main parks here, but keep an eye out for smaller pocket parks and water access areas.
HOLDEN
BEACH PAVILION AND BRIDGEVIEW PARK
The Pavilion is tucked in next to the west side of the bridge on the island, and Bridgeview Park is a couple blocks down the Intracoastal Waterway, at Davis Street.
TOWN CENTER PARK
11 E. Second St.
Ocean Isle Beach
This town park has an amphitheater, interactive fountain, bocce ball court, playground, and plenty of bike parking.
SHALLOTTE PARK
5550 Main St.
Ball fields, tennis courts, basketball court, a playground, picnic shelters and a dog park.
MULBERRY STREET PARK
123 Mulberry Street
Shallotte
Picnic shelters, an amphitheater, and home to Shallotte’s outdoor markets
SUNSET BEACH TOWN PARK
Sunset Boulevard North (mainland)
Stroll through five acres of live oaks along the Intracoastal Waterway, sit a spell on a bench, do some fishing or visit the Veterans Memorial.
Go Under The Sea at the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach
OCEAN ISLE BEACH PARK
6483 Old Georgetown Road
The Park features 2 playgrounds, eight tennis courts, four pickleball courts, baseball and softball fields, a dog park, basketball courts, an amphitheater, picnic shelter and a multipurpose field for soccer/football with walking trail and fitness stations.
WACCAMAW PARK
5855 Waccamaw School Road NW, Ash
This park features ball fields, basketball court, tennis courts, playground, bocce ball and a nine-hole disc golf course.
Fishing Piers
SUNSET BEACH FISHING PIER
101 W. Main St. Sunset Beach http://sunsetbeachpier.com/
OCEAN ISLE BEACH PIER
1 W. First St. Ocean Isle Beach https://oibpier.com/
3238 Pompano St. SW Holden Beach/Oak Island https://holdenbeachfishingcharters. com/
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
Dosher is proud of the emergency care that we are able to provide today. Wait times are short, our Emergency Department physicians and nurses are highly trained, and our patient experience ratings are extraordinary. That care will be further enhanced when our new 8,000 square foot Emergency Department (ED) is completed by the end of 2025. The new ED is a testament to our dedication to Brunswick County’s growth and to our support for the health and wellbeing of our residents and visitors for years to come.
