Leland Magazine August 2019 by Southport Magazine

LELAND

AUGUST 2019 Vol 2 Issue 11

www.lelandmag.com

MAGA ZINE

Our Community - Our Art

Art League of Leland

Cover Photo by Alan Morris

Leland * Belville * Waterford * Magnolia Greens * Brunswick Forest * Compass Pointe

www.LelandMag.com /AUGUST 2019 / Leland Magazine 1

STAFF

ON THE COVER

EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ami Brown

Carla Edstrom

editor@lelandmag.com

Kass Fincher

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Lisa P. Stites

Lisa Stites

Jeffrey Stites

lisa@southportmag.com

Brian Tully, MS, EP-C

SALES MANAGER

Thomas Barnett

Alan Beasley Alan@lelandmag.com

PHOTOGRAPHER Jeffrey Stites

ALL is Good! The Art League of Leland (ALL) Board of Directors graces the cover of our Community Art Issue. ALL is a non-profit group whose mission is to encourage, guide, support, inform, and provide learning opportunities for area artists and advocates of the arts. ALL welcome artists and art lovers not only from Leland but also from neighboring communities. To learn more, go to www.artleagueofleland.org. COVER: Front row: Kari Feuer - Secretary, Barbara Hubbard - President, Claude M. Riley II - Member at Large Back row: Dick Hubbard - Member at Large, Candace Whitlock Member at Large, Katie Samsel - Vice President and Acting Treasurer, Marion Garber - Member at Large. Cover Photo by Alan Morris

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LEAD DESIGNER Liz Brinker

PUBLISHER & SALES Kris Beasley

INSIDE

kris@lelandmag.com

lcbgraphicdesign@gmail.com

TECHNICAL SUPPORT CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

Alan Beasley

art beat pg 12

Chuck and Sue Cothran

Leland Magazine is published once a month Leland Magazine PO Box 10175, Southport, NC 28461 phone: (910) 231-6204 www.lelandgmg.com

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by Southport Media. The opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of the staff. Annual Subscription: $45 email kris@lelandmag.com

biz q&a pg 15 music pg 16 cheers pg 18 fitness pg 21 history pg 22 savor pg 24 spottings pg 27 calendar pg 29 dining guide

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pg 31

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CURRENTS “I Heart Art” Exhibit The Art League of Leland plans huge exhibition for September STORY BY AMI BROWN

Heart Art will be an art show of epic proportions for the Art League of Leland. With over 60 artists’ work on display, this is going to be THE art event of the year! Mark your calendars now for this spectacular event and showcase of talent. September 21 - 22 are the dates to remember. The display exhibition will be hosted by the Brunswick Forest Wellness Center and will be full Elena Wright - Still Growing Purple of original artworks, prints, wood, glass, ceramics, fiber arts and a huge range of genres and media to inspire budding artists and Arts Center (FLCAC) to benefit scholarships for local youth at the Leland delight collectors as they will also be for sale.

ALL’s First Fine Art Exhibition & Sale Features 60 Regional Artists September 21 – 22, 2019 Leland, NC – The Art League of Leland (ALL) announces its “I Heart Art” Fine Art Exhibition & Sale at the Brunswick Forest Fitness & Wellness Center on Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22, 2019. The venue is located at 2701 Brunswick Forest Parkway, Leland, NC 28451. Event hours on Saturday are 9:30 a.m. – 3p.m. and 11a.m. – 3p.m. on Sunday. The event is free and open to the

public. ALL’s first exhibition and sale will include original artwork by over 60 artists. Artwork on display will consist of oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastel paintings, photography, mixed-media art, hand-thrown ceramics, as well as fiber, glass and wood artwork. Artists throughout the Cape Fear region were invited to submit their art for consideration. The event will include a variety of raffles, the proceeds of which will go to the Friends of the Leland Cultural

Cultural Arts Center (LCAC). Barbara Hubbard, President of ALL, commented, "We have a wonderful collection of original artwork from many talented artists for our first exhibition and sale. We are also excited to be raising funds for local youth scholarships to the LCAC with a raffle of an original oil painting and themed raffle baskets.” For more information about the “I Heart Art” exhibition and

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sale or the Art League of Leland, please contact Candace Whitlock at artleagueofleland@gmail.com or visit www.artleagueofleland.org. About the Art League of Leland (ALL): ALL, a 501(c)(3) organization, is currently made up of almost 140 members. ALL’s mission is to encourage, guide, support, inform and provide learning opportunities for its members. Any adult artist or lover of the arts living in southeastern North Carolina is welcome to become a member.

CURRENTS

Art Center Events Open House and Thalian preview STORY BY AMI BROWN

he Leland Cultural Art Center hosts their annual Open House on August 24 where you can meet and greet all the instructors for the Fall sessions. They are also showcasing a sneak preview of all the upcoming shows performing at Wilmingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thalian Hall on August 11.

OPEN HOUSE

On August 24 at 10 a.m. til 2 p.m. Bring the entire family to the fifth annual Open House! Get to know the instructors and participate in a variety of family-friendly activities. Learn about all the upcoming classes, courses, events and concerts hosted by the Leland Cultural Art Center. Those who come to Open House will receive special registration prices that day.

The Art center is located at 1212 Magnolia Way in Leland.

LIGHTS, CURTAIN, ACTION

Thalian Sneak Preview If you have ever been to Thalian Hall in Wilmington, you know they always do a great job with professional caliber actors, singers and dancers. Here is your

one chance to see a snippet of all the upcoming shows slated for their spectacular 2019-2020 season. This sneak preview will be hosted by Jeff Rivenbark and all the scenes directed by Chandler Davis. Tickets are $25 and will sell out quick. The preview includes selected scenes and mucical numbers from Matlida, Elf the

Musical, Guys and Dolls, Aida and The Producers. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think of a more exciting way to spend an evening with the whole family. These award winning musicals will delight and entertain everyone. This one of a kind preview is August 11 at 3 p.m. Go to www.thalian.org or call 910-251-1788 for more information.

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Game On Guys!

Leland end of Summer party is the place to be on Saturday August 17 STORY BY AMI BROWN

he Town of Leland never ceases to amaze me with all the creative activities and community events happening. This UnBirthday Party sounds like a blast for family and kids alike. What could be more fun than tie-dyeing t-shirts, playing games and eating ice cream on a hot Saturday afternoon in August?

Whether you are 10 or 50, I encourage you to come to Leland on August 17 and take part in the community party, fun and games. Kids will be tie-dyeing t-shirts to take home, there will be activities planned, games to play and plenty of yummy treats to eat.

You must register or RSVP online or on their Facebook event page. Resident - $8, non-Residents $12. Don’t miss out on this end of season Summer fun in the sun. Leland Municipal Park, Aug 17, from 3 - 5 p.m. www.townofleland.com for more information.

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The Art of Magic

Ken Norris blends comedy and magic for the perfect fun night out STORY CONTRIBUTED BY KEN NORRIS

ne of the best ways to enjoy the summer is to spend time with family and friends, and what better way to do that than to catch a comedy magic show at the Leland Cultural Art Center. Ken Norris performs his fun magic show on August 9 at 7 p.m.

Ken performed magic professionally in the Washington DC area beginning in 1979 and recently relocated to the Wilmington area. As one of the DC area’s most prestigious performers, Ken has been seen on the stage at the National Theatre, a live radio station promotion entertaining over 5,000 gathered at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California and multiple appearances at the White House for the annual Easter Egg Roll. Since arriving in Wilmington, the Ken Norris magic and mentalism show has been featured to a sold-out audience at the Leland Cultural Arts Center. He has also appeared at the Dead Crow Comedy Club in Wilmington and featured in a local TV commercials. Magic has fascinated Ken from an early age. Starting out as an amateur at the age of nine, he moved on to part-time professional the summer of 1979, and later full-time. That’s 40 years of entertaining professionally, in case you’re counting. It all began with a series of summer kid shows in 1979 for the string of Maryland Public Libraries. He was so clever as to talk them into the rate of $35 a show. But you have to start somewhere. Ken says, “I learned the ropes (figuratively and literally) and never looked back…except to write this article. From that one set of shows I developed an act that has many elements that are still in my show today.” He’s now refined and honed, of

course, and the heart of his kid’s show was conceived that year and the Steve Martin-esque presentation style came to life to work for laughs. “That’s still a part of me and, and from my perspective, was there even before Steve Martin came on the scene. My legal efforts to have him cease the imitation of my style failed to hold up in court, so I had to let it go. I still say he stole my act.” Ken elaborates. A few years later he felt the need to expand into adult parties. After all, he was now one of them. So he began working out material suitable for an adult show. Ken quickly realized that adding blue material to his existing kid show wasn’t working and he began the task of putting together a show that would fool adults. Seriously speaking (for just a sentence or two) the kid show WAS fooling adults and turning some of those effects into grown-up tricks was not so difficult. In any case, his magic repertoire now included kid stuff and some advanced tricks, he said, “I had a show for any group, any size and almost anywhere. I still draw the line at parties for any group staged in bowling alleys, swimming pools, roller rinks, basketball courts and fast-food places; yuck!” While always keeping magic as a side profession, he also managed a 14 year career as a professional radio DJ and later taught radio and TV broadcasting. He later worked as the TV studio manager at AARP in Washington and following that worked for Larry King at the Mutual Broadcast System

network. He was a co-founder of a video production company and still archive many hours of now rare and high demand footage. One segment of his footage appeared on “To Tell the Truth” where our video subject was the guest along with his incredible collection of rare magic. “All these past magical adventures are still a part of who I am today. I perform all types of shows (so hire me already!) and occasionally pop up with a camera to help my fellow magicians get a top-notch recording of their act or lecture. “ Retiring from his government Video Producer job in early 2016 set him free to start working more venues including on cruise ships. And as if his plate is not full enough, he is developing a hypnosis act that should be ready by next year.

The Ken Norris Magic Show Leland Cultural Art Center August 9 7 p.m. Get your tickets today! www.eventbrite.com or townofleland.com

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Local Author Spotlight

Tyler Wittkofsky takes on sensitive subject in his inspiring first novel STORY BY TYLER WITTKOFSKY

ocal writer tells his inspirational story - “(Not) Alone” is the story of Henry Hovishky, a recent college graduate who is exploring life one step at a time. Already in his young career, he is the winner of multiple awards and recognitions. He is soon-to-be married to the woman of his dreams. His best friends are more than friends, they’re family.

His family supports him and raises him ly has everything be so alone? Everyup. And yet, he can’t help but to feel thing seems to be great in his life on alone. How can someone who seeming- the outside, but this story highlights

Tyler Wittkofsky

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currents the gripping reality of Henry’s life with mental illness. “(Not) Alone” is the first novel from local author Tyler Wittkofsky. The novel’s main character, Henry Hovishky, is loosely based on Wittkofsky. “I wanted to shed light on a difficult topic for many people to discuss. When I started the novel, I wasn’t sure if I was even going to publish it because mental illness is so stigmatized,” says Wittkofsky. The story highlights Wittkofsky’s struggles with living with Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression as well as spreading a light on various other mental illnesses throughout the novel, including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Childhood Trauma. Throughout the novel, different members of Wittkofsky’s family and friends are depicted and detailed on how they helped him realize he is not alone. “I want to help people realize they are truly not alone,” says Wittkofsky. “For me, it was hard after the initial diagnosis to understand that I wasn’t alone in life. Having my friends and family helping me through my roughest times was what helped me survive.” The main goal of the novel was to help start a conversation about mental health and mental illness. Wittkofsky holds book signings throughout the Cape Fear Region with a portion of proceeds from every book signing going to help the National Association of Mental Illness in Wilmington. Wittkofsky was born and raised in Leland and is a graduate of South Brunswick High School and went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Growing up, his grandmother was a high school English teacher, assistant principal, principal, and later his elementary school principal. She encouraged his creative writing style and helped him to grow into the writer he is today. He spends much of his time volunteering for nonprofits and giving his

time back to the youth in his community. He was named one of Brunswick County’s Future 10 in 2017 and the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professional of the Year in 2018 for his passion for helping others discover the jewel that is Northern Brunswick County. He currently resides in Leland, North Carolina with his fiancé Grace and dog Dutch. Wittkofsky is an avid mental health advocate, helping to shed a light and speak on the subject via his Facebook page (NotAloneNovel, Instagram (T_ WithCoffee), Twitter (t_withcoffee), and Youtube Channel (Tyler Wittkofsky). His goal is to continue to help raise awareness for mental health and help others struggling with their mental health.

You can purchase the novel on Amazon by searching Tyler Wittkofsky, or reach out to Wittkofsky directly via one of his social media outlets or his email 8wittkofsky8@gmail.com www.LelandMag.com /AUGUST 2019 / Leland Magazine 11

ART BEAT Colorful & Vibrant

Barton Hatcher to speak at A.L.L. and inspire with use of color STORY BY AMI BROWN

he Art League of Leland is back in session and starts off the fall with a unique and vibrant artist as their special guest speaker. Barton Hatcher creates amazing works of art full of life and energy. Don’t miss his presentation September 12 with the A.L.L.

Artist Barton Hatcher to Speak to the Art League of Leland The Art League of Leland (ALL) invites artists and art enthusiasts to its Thursday, September 12, meeting with artist Barton Hatcher as its featured guest speaker. Hatcher will discuss his

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eclectic, bold and colorful paintings and mixed-media sculptures. The meeting, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland.

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Take the A Train Painting - Barton Hatcher

Self-taught artist Barton Hatcher describes his distinctive paintings as contemporary abstracts. His sculptures, created from found objects, may include wood, metal, and glass. An avid gardener and fly fisherman, Hartman draws inspiration for many of his eclectic artistic designs from nature itself. His work has been showcased in several North Carolina galleries and may be found in private art collections. Hatcher also owns and operates Gardens by Barton, a landscape design business in Wilmington, NC, where he uses his artistic talents to create customized garden designs. Go to www.bartonhatcherfineart.com/ to view Hatcher’s artwork.

MEET THE ARTIST – BARTON HATCHER Growing up on his grandfather’s farm in Bladen County, North Carolina, Barton Hatcher discovered his special artistic and creative gifts early in his life. A self-taught artist and mixed media sculptor, Barton’s eclectic style is admired by many. His work has been showcased in several North Carolina galleries alongside prominent artists such as Ivey Hayes. On several occasions he has been commissioned to do customized art designs for clients to fit their individual taste and desires.

Art Beat His work is in the private art collections of North Carolina residents Linda MacRae, Rick and Marilyn Davis, and Mike and Kathy Allen, as well as New Jersey residents Charlie and Liz McCluskey, to name only a few. Barton owns and operates Gardens by Barton, a landscape design business in Wilmington, NC, where he uses his artistic talents to create customized garden designs, including building hardscapes such as arbors, trellises and garden sheds. Before starting his own business, Barton was employed for 25 years by Cape Craftsmen of Elizabethtown, NC, where he was an art buyer and designed and built prototypes for furniture. An avid gardener and fly fisherman, Barton draws inspiration for his artistic designs from nature itself. He is single and lives in Wilmington. ALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to encourage, guide,

s , l s d e n a s l d r d

Barton Hatcher

Bird Songs - Barton Hatcher

This is Dave (Dave voted for us to win the MAGGIES ... AND WE DID!)

support, inform, and provide learning opportunities for area artists and advocates of the arts. ALL welcome artists and art lovers not only from Leland but also from neighboring communities. To learn more, go to www.artleagueofleland.org.

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BIZ Q&A Long Arm Quilting Local Business thrives on stitching STORY BY KASS FINCHER

oyalty Stitches provides expert stitches when it comes to quilting, sewing, upholstery or practically anything that needs a stitch or two. From indoor to outdoor, specialty dresses, custom home decor, Bill and Regina Shannon handle it all with state of the art stitching machines.

How would you describe your business?

Bill does the business part; Regina does the sewing part. It’s a little bit of everything. Alterations, upholstery, quilting – anything with a sewing machine we can do. Cushions – indoor and outdoor – seem to be the most popular item we do. Everybody has outdoor furniture; they bring the cushions, we tell them how much fabric to buy, then we put it on as they wish. In that way, they get exactly what they want. We also reupholster furniture – chairs, couches, even little rocking chairs for kids – they’re so cute. Grandmas love us!

What’s your background; how long have you been in business here?

We moved here from Chicago; we’ve lived here only a year and a half and just started our business over a year ago. As for background, I’ve been sewing since I was 16 years old. I made my graduation dress and the next day I was maid of honor in my sister’s wedding and I made that too. If it can be done with a needle and thread, I can do it. We do alterations – everything from dresses to pants to suits – it’s a good customer base that’s growing. I actually altered a dog collar – I can even do leather. We probably did 65 alteration jobs in the first year; they are definitely repeat customers. I’m their sewing lady!

Tell me about the quilting – what is long arm quilting?

It is literally putting together what we call the quilting sandwich. There are three pieces – the top, the batting in the middle and the back. You mount the three pieces on a fixed frame; the sewing machine is on a transom that moves over the frame. Many long-arm quilters do what’s called free-motion or guided quilting. The difference with us is that we do computerized quilting; the computer literally runs the pattern. The computer tells the sewing machine what pattern to make on a row by row basis. You can pick from a library of

1000+ patterns – or combine several patterns to make your own. Also, because of the computerization, you could actually take a quilt that’s damaged and tell the computer to go to a particular spot to repair it. You can even sew patches on top of the quilt.

So the customer brings you the top and back pieces and you put it together with the stitch design?

Yes. Those beautiful quilting ladies in their clubs love to put the top together; then they select the backing they want, and we stitch the finished product. Quilters are often obsessed with the art – it’s relaxing. Sometimes you want the quilting to stand out, sometimes you want the stitch design to stand out. It’s an art form; you can create something with just two pieces of fabric and batting. The quilting world is organized in guilds; we are in the process of reaching out to those locally. Many of the guilds do volunteer work – providing quilts for disabled vets and hospitals. In Brunswick County, for example, the guild in the Shallotte area provides a quilt to every baby born in the hospital there. I was told one child who got one as a baby is now four years old and is still tied to that blankie! You can be an important part of someone’s life and they don’t even know who you are.

Regina Shannon

How did you find the machine you use for long arm quilting?

We talked to a lot of people in the industry to determine if the business was viable. They said once people know you’re here, you’ll have more work than you know what to do with. We visited a number of quilt shops and they all had the machines to handle the work but were backlogged with several dozen quilts waiting to be done! We volunteer with a local long-arming quilter who also represents the company from whom we bought the machine. The manufacturer is a privately held company that has been in business for over 50 years and offers excellent training and support. That’s why we selected them.

What plans do you have as you grow your business and reach out to the community?

As we grow our business with our current services, we both love to think about other products for the future. For example, we’re both very passionate about the idea of developing disability-related products that are quality produced and more affordable – like the proper carrying case for an oxygen tank, or mastectomy apparel such as custom-fitted bathing suits. We’ve even come up with a name for it – “Disability Duds!” The most important thing for me is to make a connection, to be able to help someone improve their appearance. For example, when someone is overweight or doesn’t like the way they look, and I make suggestions on alterations, to help something fit just right, they get excited about it. It makes me happy too; I feel like I’ve helped them feel good about themselves. As for the community, we’re interested in supporting our local small businesses; that’s very important to us. We just look

forward to growing our business as the area continues to grow.

Royalty Stitches NC Long Arm Quilting Bill and Regina Shannon 1643 Pine Harbor Way Leland 910.228.7557

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Town of Leland

SUMMER MUSIC and Entertainment

Summer concert, 113 Town Hall Dr. July 12 — On the Border, an Eagles tribute band, plays from 7-9 p.m.

Wilson Center

Aug 5 — Brit Floyd, a Pick Floyd tribute band, presents a 40-year retrospective of “The Wall,” at 7:30 p.m. Aug 9 — DeRay Davis and Friends comedy night at 8 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Lillie Anne Heggins Scholarship Foundation. Aug 17 — The Fllingsworth Festival, 6 p.m. This student-produced event includes musical performances and presentations from visual artists. Aug 30 — The Isley Brothers, 7:30 p.m. The iconic R&B/soul band performs classic favorites such as “Shout” and “This Old Heart of Mine.” Sept 7 — Gipsy Kings, 7:30 p.m. The pop flamenco group performs lively, joyful music. Visit https://cfcc.edu/capefearstage/ for more information or to purchase tickets.

The Joyce

Aug 9 — Fishin’ Musicians at 6 p.m.

Aug 17 — Dust Parade Trio at 6 p.m. Aug 30 — Johnny & The Flipside at 7 p.m.

GREENFIELD LAKE

Aug 2 — Stephen Marley, 7 p.m. Aug 8 — Dawes, 6 p.m. Aug 9 — Soja, 6 p.m. Aug 10 — Soja, 6 p.m. Aug 11 — Steep Canyon Rangers, 6 p.m. Aug 18 — Umphrys mcGee, 6 p.m. Aug 20 — Common, 7 p.m. Aug 24 — Shake the Lake Outdoor Music festival, 4:20 p.m. Aug 25 — Brian McKnight, 5 p.m. Sept 6 — St. Paul and the Broken Bones, 6 p.m. Sept 7 — Jenny Lewis, 7 p.m. Sept 9 — Shakey Graves Sept 10 — Steel Pulse Sept 11 — JJ Grey Check https://www.greenfieldlakeamphitheater.com/about/ for ticket information.

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Downtown Sundown

August 2 — Suggesting Rhythm (Grateful Dead Tribute) August 9 — 42 (Coldplay Tribute band) Aug 9 — 42 (Coldplay tribute band)] Aug 16 — ZZ’s Best (ZZ Top tribute band) Aug 23 — Breakfast Club (80’s music) Aug 30 — Departure (Journey tribute band)

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July 20 — The Fossil Rockers 8:30 p.m.

Shuckin’ Shack

1175 Turlington Ave, Suite 101 Aug 30 — John Toppings, 7-10 p.m.

Painted Man

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4888 Coastal Dr. SE • Southport • (910) 477-6681 • southportwatersports@gmail.com www.LelandMag.com /AUGUST 2019 / Leland Magazine 17

CHEERS Uncovering an Ancient Tavern

Brunswick Town dig discovers long lost tavern STORY BY JEFFREY STITES

met an old friend at a local tavern after work on a recent Friday afternoon. That wouldn’t normally be worthy of even this column, but this tavern was special, despite -no because- it was lacking the basics. No one knows its name, it doesn’t have any drinks or food…….or walls or a roof for that matter. In fact it’s just a spot in the grass marked by four PVC pipes sticking out of the ground and a square of string.

My friend is local historian Jim McKee, Site Director of the Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson State Historic Site off Rt 133 and the tavern was just unearthed there this summer by the students of East Carolina University’s

Bistro

Discover the World on Your Plate

Photos Courtesy: Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site

Archaeology Field School. Standing in what was once, more than 250 years ago, the tavern’s doorway, McKee showed me what the

building would have looked like. It was a 15 foot by 25 foot rectangle with a brick foundation. The door would have been in the center of a short side

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116 North Howe Street- Historic Downtown Southport • portsofcallbistro.com 18 Leland Magazine /AUGUST 2019 / www.LelandMag.com

112 E Moore St. • 910-363-4275

• O P E N E V E RY D AY •

facing the street and opposite the doorway would have been a fireplace. It’s not difficult to imagine the scene, really. The river is easily visible just a couple hundred yards away and at the time would have featured docks and wharves, as Brunswick Town was a major port. Walking up the street from the wharf, a sailor would have found this tavern waiting. “They certainly would have had a bar,” Mckee said. “There would have been tables and chairs. It would’ve been full of people.” If the tavern offered sleeping space to travelers, it would have been upstairs, probably in an open room. “You wouldn’t have rented a bed, you’d have rented sleeping space, maybe sharing with two or three strangers. It would have been cozy in the winter.” s This site was first thought to be a a house, but the artifacts told a differd ent story. “We found a lot of tankards e and pipe stems,” said McKee. They did not find other household goods, so it wasn’t like any of the dwellings in town. McKee said if the tavern served food, it would have been served on pewter plates that would not have survived the fire that destroyed it, so the lack of plates isn’t telling. The dig site has been re-buried to protect the bricks, but the excavation will resume next summer. They hope

Jim McKee, Site Director

CHEERS to uncover all the walls and see if there may have been a second doorway, which would suggest an outside kitchen. “I would have had an outside kitchen,” McKee said. He showed me where he believes the tavern’s well was located and said that ground-penetrating radar has suggested a lot of activity behind the tavern, perhaps including a detached kitchen. Besides the tavern-related artifacts, other evidence both supports the tavern identification and helps place the building in time, also revealing why it doesn’t appear on any maps of Brunswick Town. The land the tavern sits on was part of a parcel including the home closer to the river. McKee said deeds show the parcel being purchased and resold a few years later for almost twice the price. “Something added value to the land,” he said. “This tavern would have done that.” Also, the deed for the Lord-Wright House on the other side of the tavern lists the occupation of the owner, Mr. Wright, as “tavern keeper”. “People have this misconception about archaeology,” said McKee. “They think that the digging reveals everything. But for every hour spent digging on a site, days are spent in archives or a lab.”

The fire that destroyed the tavern is easier to date thanks to an Irish half-penny minted in 1766 found in the rubble. McKee said it likely took a year or so for the coin to circulate across the Atlantic, so the tavern was almost certainly still standing as late as 1767. It doesn’t appear on a 1769 map of Brunswick Town, so the fire can be fairly reliably placed between 1767 and 1769. But let’s get back to what this place was like before the fire. What did one drink in a late 18th century tavern? Rum. Mostly, one drank rum. There was probably hard cider, maybe wine and beer, but according to surviving records of taverns in the late 1700s, almost 80 percent of drink sales were rum, and most of that straight up rather than mixed with anything. According to Wayne Curtis’ excellent book “And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails” the average American over the age of 15 in the 1760s was consuming the equivalent of 5 shots of rum per day. That kind of makes it easier to understand why the colonists thought facing down the biggest superpower in the world with a volunteer army of farmers with hunting muskets was a fine idea. In fact, Brunswick Town itself was a hotbed of anti-government activity. The Stamp Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1765, set off protests all over the colonies including in Brunswick Town, where the customs house was seized by angry colonials in 1766. We know the tavern existed then and it would have been a common meet-

ing place for the people of Brunswick Town, perhaps even being used as a courthouse, according to McKee. A small jewel found at the site positively places revolutionary activity in this very tavern. It is etched with the words “Wilkes and Liberty 45,” a sort of secret code rallying cry among anti-crown colonists. Displaying these jewels would have allowed revolutionary-minded colonists to identify each other without advertising their leanings to everyone. People who brought these little jewels with them into Brunswick Town’s tavern were looking for like-minded folks, and judging from the armed take-over of the customs house, it’s not unreasonable to guess that this is where they found them. So right there, where Jim and I were standing happily chatting away on a sunny, quiet summer afternoon, the seeds of freedom were being sown two and a half centuries ago. A big, hearty CHEERS to that.

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www.LelandMag.com /AUGUST 2019 / Leland Magazine 19

Summer Clearance Sale! 50% off on select items! Better hurry before it’s all gone!

724 N. Howe Street, Southport

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We Are Blooming & Moving. We’re at 724 N Howe til the end of 2019. Our new location on the corner of Howe St & Stuart Ave & will open in Spring 2020!

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Ask Karen Simmons

SCORE is the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, offering Free and Confidential one-on-one mentoring to the small business community. We can help you write a business plan, optimize your cash flow, boost your sales and marketing, and provide assistance in obtaining small business loans.

Q: Q: Do I Need a Disaster Recovery Plan? —Elaine B. from Leland

A: No business, no matter its size nor the industry it’s in, is immune to the risk of a disaster. FEMA estimates that over 25% of small businesses facing a disaster never reopen their doors. That’s why it’s critical to have a disaster recovery plan in place before the unthinkable strikes.

From the SCORE website, you can download a free Small Business Disaster Planning Guide that discusses what you should consider including in your disaster recovery plan. And ready.gov/ business has excellent disaster plan toolkits and checklists to help you plan for the worst.

Call SCORE Cape Fear at 910-452-5395 for more information and to set up a free mentoring session.

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20 Leland Magazine /AUGUST 2019 / www.LelandMag.com

FITNESS Sticking to Your Weight Loss Plan

Are you one of the many pursuing the elusive goal of permanent weight loss? STORY BY BRIAN TULLY, MS, EP-C

countless number of individuals are currently on the quest to lose weight; some need or desire to lose more than others, either for aesthetic reasons or health reasons, or both. You may be one of them. Most will fall off the path and struggle to stick to it. One of my favorite tips is to focus on the process not the outcome. Below are 7 tried and true techniques to help you stick with the process and help you achieve success.

KEEP A FOOD JOURNAL Before you start down your path to lose weight, it is a good idea to understand where you are starting from with your current eating habits. To accomplish this, track 3-4 typical days of eating. Try to include 2 weekdays and 1-2 weekend days. You will then want to use a reliable online source to determine what your typical calorie and macronutrient intake looks like. This will be a helpful starting point if you are going to be working with a coach. You can also use your journal (or app) to review your daily eating habits and start cleaning things up. Numerous studies have shown that the simple act of writing down everything you eat forces individuals to make better choices. BE REALISTIC Set a weight loss goal that seems realistically attainable. For instance, a goal of 20 lbs lost in a month is drastic and extreme

for most. But 20 lbs in 6 months, works out to a little more than 3 lbs per month and less than 1 lb per week. Which do you think you will be more likely to achieve and sustain?

HELPFUL HOME ENVIRONMENT Allow your home environment to help as much as possible. Create a path of least resistance. Set out your workout clothes and sneakers the night before. Clear out the junk foods and any other foods that are not part of your plan. Place the healthy foods in plain sight. Make it as inconvenient as possible to cheat.

FEASIBLE EXERCISE PROGRAM While exercise is an important component of any weight loss program, don’t set your self up to fail. If you currently don’t do any physical exercise, you should not decide to kick off your weight loss program with a plan to work out for an hour every day. Start slow with the approach of taking on what you absolutely know you can do. Then build from there. Even if it is only a 10 minute walk every other day to start. You should have the focus of building toward the minimum recommendation given by the American College of Sports Medicine, which is 150-250 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity. This breaks down to about three 10-minute bouts of activity per day. One other tip, try to pick activities you actually enjoy.

GET SUPPORT Seek out others on the same journey. Surrounding yourself with friends, family, and co-workers on a similar mission will help keep you in check and on track. Your social circle is a strong predictor of your success.

TRACK YOUR WEIGHT This one can be a double edged sword. Weighing yourself is obviously the best way to ensure you are actually making progress, but your weigh-in needs to be taken as part of the big picture. If you choose to weigh yourself daily, don’t look at that individual weigh-in as your weight. I recommend taking an average of all 7 weight measures for the week to give you your current progress marker. Then use this progress marker to determine what kind of adjustments, if any, need to be made to your plan.

GET A COACH Having a coach can help you stay on the right track. Not only will they provide accountability, but they can help create a plan that is right for you; from both an exercise and nutrition perspective. They can then continue to work with you to make modifications as needed. And of course, celebrate all your successes along the way! Remember to focus on your adherence to the process and the outcome will take care of itself. And be patient, you are building a lifestyle that works specifically for you; one that allows you to achieve your weight loss goal and actually keep it off.

As always, if you have additional questions regarding this month’s article or have a topic you would like to see covered in future articles; please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via email. BrianTully@BetterTogetherFitness.com

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www.southportfuntours.com www.LelandMag.com /AUGUST 2019 / Leland Magazine 21

HISTORY American Samplers Finding the lost art of needlework STORY BY KASS FINCHER

or young schoolgirls in the 18th and 19th centuries, a genteel education included the artistry of needlework. American “samplers,” as they were called, were educational tools to develop the young girls’ stitchery skills, for both practical and decorative purposes in running the household. The students’ first efforts were usually just to learn to sew letters, numbers and simple designs. As they progressed, they learned to sew verses, flowers, poems and tracts concerning life and death. Their teachers conflated these more elaborate design skills with the hope that those verses would “foster virtue” in the young girls’ lives.

Though it was acknowledged that what the girl learned was directly related to the skills of her teacher, it was also clear that no matter the girl’s socioeconomic status, the sampler was a common tool for edu-

cation. In their exhibit called “The ABCs of Schoolgirl Samplers,” the Milwaukee Public Museum describes this environment. “Whether made in elite academies, boarding schools, formal or informal day

schools, orphanages, charity schools, or in an apprenticed or indentured work situation, the overwhelming majority of learning

situations for girls, up until the mid-nineteenth century, utilized the sampler as a teaching tool. While some sampler’s style

Florence is behind us. Are you prepared for 2019? 910-294-9142

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can be traced to a specific school, teacher, region, country, or particular learning environment, many samplers are anonymous. What we can know of each one that has survived is that these beloved textiles today were valued when they were made and were often framed and displayed on walls, many kept within families as cherished heirlooms. “For well-educated girls of high social class, samplers confirmed their genteel standing; for the middling sort, samplers established their family’s place in an emerging American middle class. Samplers also benefited the poor or orphaned girl by teaching her a trade in practical, marketable sewing skills for future self-employment. Sampler making was also seen as laying the groundwork for religious piety, family responsibility, and civic virtue. Through its completion the young girl established, in a most public way, her educational accomplishments and the importance her family and community placed on that education.” - By the middle of the 19th century, how-

SHOWCASE ever, the rise of public education among all classes of people saw the art of sampler-making move from the classroom to a pastime at home. Better inks to mark textiles became available. In addition, the use of papers, pencils, slates and blackboards to practice lettering grew, and so the necessity for stitchery education declined. But the insights these samplers continue to give us into the education of young girls in early America is valuable. With 137 samplers in its collection, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History describes it this way: “In recent years, samplers have become important in museum collections as representations of early American female education. Many are signed, and some are inscribed with locations and the names of teachers and schools. The emergence of large numbers of these samplers has resulted in much research in diaries, account books, letters, newspaper ads, local histories, and published commentary that is helping to illuminate the lives of women in early America.”

Though not required of young girls today, the sewing arts still remain a popular pastime for many. Donna Bennett, the owner of Angelwing Needle Arts here in Southport, says cross stitch, knitting and quilting are the most popular sewing arts

at her shop. Opening in 1999, Angelwing has lovely yarns for knitting and crochet, a unique selection of quilting fabrics, and a large selection of threads, charts and fabrics for cross stitch. The shop also offers a free knit and crochet help group and a stitching help group. Having sewn since she was young, Bennett enjoys knitting, weaving and sewing clothes and items for her home. When asked if the sewing arts still benefit young people's development, Bennett readily agreed. “I think it is beneficial for all children to learn crafts of any kind,” she says. “The process of making things can be very calming and educational. Children get a real sense of pride and accomplishment when they have made something themselves. Plus, it's fun, relaxing and studies show it is really good for your brain!” That makes sense. The American sampler-making tradition was educational as well as creative; it's an art that still can be enjoyed by the young or old.

www.LelandMag.com /AUGUST 2019 / Leland Magazine 23

SAVOR Divine Wine

Bridgewater Wine owners bring experience and passion to Leland STORY BY KASS FINCHER

hough the store has only been open since November 2018, Bridgewater Wines owners Susan and Doug Zucker bring much experience to the business. Doug was director of operations for nine wine stores in the New York and New Jersey area for 30 years; Susan taught culinary classes at the high school and college level.

“We just moved here a couple of years ago,” says Doug. “We wanted to come down, enjoy the coastal climate and do a wine business for ourselves.” Located in the newest building at the Leland Walmart Supercenter, the couple designed their upscale space to allow for a large selection of wines as well as an open, easy flow for patrons to interact. “We’re sort of a unique hybrid for the area,” Doug explains. “We have the full retail store of 600 wines from all over the world, and we have wine by the glass at the wine bar. We not only have probably the biggest selection of wines in the area; we also cover all the price points, from a $10 bottle all the way up to one in the hundreds. We’re very competitive with Walmart, Harris Teeter and Costco. We also offer food – small plates to sample as you enjoy your wine.” Most people come for the wine, but for beer aficionados there are also six local Wilmington-brewed beers on tap. Susan and Doug are joined in the business by son Cam, 23, and daughter Courtney, 26. Cam runs the kitchen and Courtney works the front of the store. Susan enthusiastically describes the menu. “We’re known for our meat and cheese boards,” she says. “Some are your traditional Italian selections, some are uniquely hand crafted – we only use the best products.” Each charcuterie board is accompanied by fig spread, dried fruit and nuts, honey, caperberries, cornichons, specialty olives and the excellent Tom Cat Bakery crusty bread imported from New York City. The cheeses originate from around the world – Switzerland, Italy,

England – and from places closer to home like the Goat Lady Dairy in Snow Camp, North Carolina. In addition to the meat and cheese boards, Bridgewater offers a selection of “small bites” like hummus, potato knish and piggies in a tub. Most popular are the pulled pork nachos with queso sauce and the maple walnut baked brie, both served in a cast iron skillet. For those with a sweet tooth, there is a chocolate chunk cookie served warm in a skillet, topped with vanilla bean ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. And not to be outdone, the Bridgewater Wines Doughnut Flight is a delight – gourmet cider doughnuts each drizzled with different sauces described as Wild Blueberry Purple Haze, Cinnamon Sugar with caramel apple and Red Velvet Sparkle Sugar. It’s obvious the Zuckers have brought their creative talents to the shop’s offerings. Susan also makes it fun by offering specials each day of the week and special events tied to holidays. The first Monday of each month is bingo; every Tuesday is

trivia night; Wednesdays offer live music. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday are free wine tastings, with five bottles open for tasting. The wine tastings are very popular. They are often themed to an event or a region, and always open many customers’ typical wine preferences to new possibilities. Sunday brunch offers bloody

24 Leland Magazine /AUGUST 2019 / www.LelandMag.com

Susan and Doug Zucker

Mary’s and small plates. Bridgewater also has what they call “grand tastings” tied to holidays or special occasions. For Mother’s Day this year, they had a grand tasting of twelve rosè wines from around the world. The store also hosts private events on Sunday evenings when they are normally closed. A recent example was a fun party for a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. The store has a wine club of 100 members who sign up for a year to receive two wines each month for $35. It’s a good way to try new wines; something the Zuckers like to promote. “We want to explore the world, one wine at a time,” says Susan. “We enjoy educating our patrons about wines and helping them expand their appreciation.” On their business cards, Susan and Doug are identified as owner/wine explorer. That perfectly describes their approach and their hope for others to join them in that exploration. “We just want to say thank you to the community for their support,” Susan says. “We have people coming not just from the Leland area, but also from Wilmington, Hampstead, Topsail, Southport, Sunset Beach. The sense of community that goes on here is really special. People come in not knowing anyone and then they leave as friends. We’re like the Cheers bar, where everyone comes in as a guest but walks out as family, and they keep coming back. Especially because of the events, they get to know each other

and enjoy coming regularly to see new friends.”

Bridgewater Wines

1132-5 New Pointe Blvd. Leland 910.408.1900 Mon – Thur 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Fri – Sat 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

August 8

Dennis Walton Band (Blues Rock)