Coastal Carolina Family & Parenting

FAMILY& PARENTING Coastal Carolina

October-November 2018

FALL FUN

A Look at Area Festivals

PICKLEBALL Enjoy Leisurely Competition

VOLUNTEER

Families can give back together

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FAMILY& PARENTING Coastal Carolina

ADVERTISING

4

Sales Manager

6

Bobby Stone

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Ken Buday

Contributing Writers

OKTOBERFEST

MULLET FESTIVAL

An Onslow County fall tradition

It’s more than just fish

10

7

Christopher Dewitt Matthew Sokol

PICKLE BALL

ON THE COVER

VOLUNTEER

Photograph by Meghan Parker-Marak Couture Expressions Photography coutureexpressionsphotography.com

OCTOBER Sport offers fun and competition

Tips on how to help as a family

EVENTS CALENDAR

BEIRUT MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE OCT. 23, 10:30 A.M.

Oct. 23, 2018 marks 35 years since the Peace Mission to Beirut Lebanon. The Beirut Memorial at Lejeune Memorial Gardens was a gift from the citizens of Onslow County to honor those 273 Marines who gave the last full measure of devotion in Lebanon and Grenada on Oct. 23, 1983.

The names of each man are engraved in granite along with the words “They Came In Peace.” For more information, call 938-5200 or visit www. visitjacksonvillenc.com/166/ Beirut-Memorial.

AUTUMN IN TOPSAIL

OCT. 20, 7:30 A.M.; OCT. 21, 8 A.M.

Featuring food, beer and wine, live music, and arts and crafts, the event is scheduled for the grounds of the Historical Society of

Coastal Carolina Family & Parenting is published six times a year. Circulation: 10,000. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services. For distribution inquiries, call 910-939-0704. For advertising, call 910939-0700.

Topsail Island and the Assembly Building which houses the Missiles & More Museum in Topsail Beach. The festival features a juried Artists’ and Crafts Court with more than 100 regional artists displaying and selling their work. Inflatables and crafts for children are also included. Free shuttle service will be provided from various parking areas in Topsail Beach to the festival grounds. No pets unless they are licensed service dogs. For more information, call 910-312-5244 or visit www. missilesandmoremuseum.org

HAMMOCKS BEACH STATE PARK THROUGH NOV. 21, 1 P.M.

Fall is here and it is one of the most beautiful times of the year at the coast. Come see for yourself on a Friends of Hammocks Beach and Bear Island Cruise (FHBI). These twohour trips depart every Wednesday and

Saturday at 1 p.m. from Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro. A $15 donation reserves your spot. For more information, call 910-326-4881 or visit www.fhbi.org.

HAVELOCK CHILI FESTIVAL

OCT. 20, 5 P.M.- OCT. 21, 10 A.M.

The two-day festival features the chicken wing competition on Oct. 20, and the chili competition on Oct. 21. Live music, entertainment, various vendor boths and activities are scheduled for each day of the event. For more information, call 252-671-7970 or visit www.chilifestival.org

ONSLOW OKTOBERFEST OCT. 25-OCT. 27.

Don your lederhosen and bring the family to Jacksonville’s Riverwalk Crossing Park for Onslow Oktoberfest. It’s a weekend full of sights and sounds celebrating German culture. Enjoy authentic German food, beverages, and music. It includes a Last Man Standing contest, the Foothills Oompah Band, a beer garden, and more. For more information, visit www.OnslowOktoberfest. org For more events taking place in October, visit www.camplejeuneglobe.com.

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O nslow Oktoberfest

Onslow Oktoberfest culminates a week’s worth of activities on Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Park in downtown Jacksonville.

Photos courtesy of Onslow Community Outreach

Music, food, fun part of week-long celebration

STORY BY CHRIS DEWITT Put on your lederhosen and fry up some bratwurst, the Onslow Oktoberfest is coming your way at the Riverwalk Park in downtown Jacksonville, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The event raises money for Onslow Community Outreach, which serves those struggling with homelessness and economic difficulties.

While the actual festival is Oct. 27, the celebration is a week-long extravaganza from Oct. 19 to 27.

“The festival is critical to maintaining charitable services, especially the soup kitchen and homeless shelter,” said Theo McClammy, executive director of Onslow Community Outreach.

“Oktoberfest proceeds fill in our resource gap

and ensure we have adequate funds to provide services to the community. Our basic needs charitable programs help approximately 9,000 of our neighbors.”

McClammy highlighted that many of those in need are veterans and their families, further adding to the dedication members of the Onslow County community have to the cause. The dedication can be seen in the work that goes into Oktoberfest.

“Preparations for the next year’s Oktoberfest start almost immediately after the current festival is over,” said McClammy. “The festival committee has a post-event evaluation meeting in November to identify ‘What worked well,’ ‘What did not’ and ‘What changes to make next year.’ We’ll have a strategy meeting in April to reconnect

with key organizers, set the schedule and confirm major goals and activities. From the beginning of August through the week of the festival, we meet every two weeks to validate that we are dotting I’s and crossing T’s.”

There is a plethora of actives set for this year’s festival. Some of these include the Miss Oktoberfest pageant, live music, a kid’s corner and a wide variety of food vendors.

Below is a tentative schedule: • 10 a.m.: Opening Ceremony • 12-4 p.m.: The Foothills Oompah Band • 4-6 p.m.: Last Man Standing Contest • 4-6 p.m.: Miss Oktoberfest Pageant • 6-8 p.m.: Gary Lowder ‘N Smokin’ Hot For more information, visit www.onslowoktoberfest.org.

NOVEMBER

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EVENTS CALENDAR

VETERANS DAY PARADE NOV. 3, 10 A.M.

The two-mile long parade begins at Coastal Community College on Western Boulevard in Jacksonville, providing a way for residents to honor veterans for their service to the country. The event follows the Freedom Fountain Observance scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1 in Jacksonville.

SWANSBORO BY CANDLELIGHT NOV. 3, 5-9 P.M.

Historic Downtown Merchants host their Annual Swansboro by Candlelight. Luminaries line the streets, shop windows display whimsical scenes, and ribbons and bows put the finishing touches on a journey back to the days of yesteryear. It includes live entertainment in the Olde Towne Square, wine tasting at Bake Bottle & Brew, and The

Gray Dolphin, and downtown merchants offering refreshments. For more information, call 910-326-1174 or visit visitswansboro.org/.

HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS PARADE NOV. 17, 10:45 A.M.

This is an annual tradition in the Jacksonville community to start the holiday season.

About 15,000 people line Western Boulevard every year to watch the parade, which will feature about 200 entries. For more information, call 910-347-3141 or visit www. jacksonvilleonline.org/project/christmasholiday-parade/.

FESTIVAL OF TREES

NOV. 18, 10 A.M., NOV. 19, 11 A.M.

This winter wonderland at the American Legion, 146 Broadhurst Road, Jacksonville,

Coastal Carolina FAMILY & PARENTING | 5 will feature creatively decorated Christmas trees, holiday displays showcasing community spirit, a special military display, entertainment, silent auction, display of handmade quilts, homemade breads, jams and honey, Santa, childrens activities, a gift shop, sweets shop, crafts and gingerbread house contest. For more information, call 910324-1444 or visit www.hospiceonslownc.org/ events.html.

SWANSBORO CHRISTMAS FLOTILLA NOV. 24, 5:30 P.M.

The Swansboro Christmas Flotilla is a time-honored tradition and fun for the whole family. At dusk, on the Friday after Thanksgiving, gather along Swansboro’s waterfront and watch the parade of lights down the White Oak River. Music will fill the air and attendees can enjoy treats such as funnel cakes, cider and hot cocoa as the lights from the various boats glimmers off the river. Santa Claus is expected to make an appearance at well. For more information, call 910-326-2600 or visit www. swansborofestivals.com/festivals.

For more events taking place in October, visit www.camplejeuneglobe.com.

MulletFestival

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It’s more than just fish STORY BY KEN BUDAY

The annual Mullet Festival in Swansboro isn’t just about fish.

What started as an event to feed workers building the White Oak River Bridge more than 60 years ago has blossomed into a two-day festival with plenty of live entertainment and family activities.

This year’s festival is scheduled for Nov. 10 and 11 in downtown Swansboro. The event had been originally planned for Oct. 13 and 14, but the impacts from Hurricane Florence prompted the postponement.

According to Brittany Shipp, the director of the Swansboro Parks and Recreation Department, the festival features plenty of children’s activities, including a kids area with inflatables in the parking lot of First Citizens Bank.

There will also be face-painting, arts and crafts, demonstrations from Unity Athletics Gymnastics, and animals from the Eastern Aquatics Wildlife Foundation.

Lady Swan boat cruises of the

White Oak River will be available for $5.

The street festival also features various business and informational booths.

“All of our vendor spaces are filled, so we’ll have a wide variety of vendors available,” Shipp said.

The Jacksonville Rotary Club will be cooking mullet, but they’ll also be a food court featuring other types of fare for hungry attendees.

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. Nov. 10 with a parade along N.C. 24 in Swansboro. Vendor booths are open until 6 p.m., and live music continues into the night at the Harry C. Pugliese Pavilion.

The festival is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 11, with live music and activities planned throughout.

Admission to the festival area is free. Parking is available at Ward Farm and Park facilities with shuttle services to the downtown area provided.

Pets are prohibited.

For more information on the festival, call 910-326-2600 or go online to www.swansborofestivals.com.

GateHouse Media file photos

The 64th annual Swansboro Mullet Festival is scheduled for Nov. 10 and 11 along the waterfront in downtown Swansboro. The event will feature plenty of vendor and craft booths, children’s activities, music and a parade along N.C. 24.

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PICKLE

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Get in a

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in Swansboro

Sport that is part badminton, part ping pong, part tennis is quite a hit STORY BY MATT SOKOL If you enjoy badminton, ping pong or tennis, you may want to give pickleball a try. This fall, residents who live in or near the town of Swansboro are back into the full swing of playing pickleball.

The sport of pickleball was invented in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, but is starting to gain a growing base of players in the area, as it can be played indoors or outdoors and does not require a huge

financial investment for equipment.

“Any participant can learn how to play the game of pickleball,” said Cher Bedford, Swansboro Parks and Recreation pickleball volunteer. “(Participants) learn about the history of the sport and determine whether they would like to become more competitive through getting rated and signing up for competitions that are located all over the state of North Carolina and the United States.”

The sport — which involves

hitting a plastic ball with a racket across a net in a court much smaller than a tennis court — is open for anyone who wants to have a fun time with family and friends.

“Pickleball is geared towards anyone who has the desire to socialize, increase their mental and physical health,” said Bedford. “(People) can participate in an organized sport that involves people of varying ages.”

Pickleball provides multiple benefits, Bedford said.

“Socializing and exercise has been proven to decrease stress and increase endorphins,” said Bedford. “Socializing and exercise has been known to improve upon and promote a person’s quality of life, creating a healthier lifestyle.”

Bedford said pickleball can be competitive but is mainly a leisurely recreational activity that can be played through the Town of Swansboro parks and recreation program.

For more information, call 3264428.

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Families have opportunities to help others in their communities

VOLUNTEER TOGETHER

Story By Ken Buday Hurricane Florence left many residents of eastern North Carolina in need and volunteers played an integral and invaluable role in helping local and national charities assist victims.

Without volunteers, many charities wouldn’t be able to meet their missions and some might even cease to exist, said Shelley Kieweg, director of community impact for the United Way in Onslow County.

“We love all our volunteers and appreciate them for what they do,” said Kieweg. “Honestly, a lot of nonprofits wouldn’t be able to function without their volunteers.”

Volunteers often note that helping others is its own reward and research backs that up. Researchers at the London School of Economics found that the more people volunteered, the happier they were. Published in the Journal of Social Science and Medicine, the study found that the odds of being “very happy” rose by 12 percent among people who volunteered every two to four weeks compared to people who did not volunteer.

With such benefits, it’s no wonder many families look to volunteer together.

“The younger you start children volunteering, the more active they will be in the community,” said Kieweg.

She said some nonprofit groups have age restrictions for volunteers, but at the United Way, families can come out to pack meals for children who otherwise would go hungry on the weekends when they are out of school.

Those wishing to volunteer in Onslow County can go online to getconnected.volunteeronslow. org where information is available from various nonprofit organizations seeking volunteers.

Those who want to volunteer as a family but may be uncertain about where to start can consider the following tips.

Find a fun activity Kids like to mimic their parents, so parents who already volunteer may find their children are excited about following the leads of mom or dad.

That excitement level will only increase if parents find an activity their kids are interested in. For example, many kids love animals, so volunteering with a local animal shelter can be a great opportunity for families to give back together.

Speak with your child’s school Teachers and school administrators can be great resources, sharing information about local

To learn about volunteer opportunities in Onslow County, go online to getconnected. volunteeronslow.org.

volunteering opportunities or making age-appropriate suggestions. Parents shouldn’t hesitate to ask for recommendations from teachers, who may be in the best position to suggest opportunities that children can handle and enjoy. And who knows? The school may need some help itself.

Start slow When starting out, families may be best served by choosing activities that do not require lengthy time commitments. Children may not be ready to volunteer for hours on end, so start with something simple. As kids acclimate to volunteering and their attention spans grow, parents can commit to volunteering more of their family time.

Think outside the box Parents of toddlers or grade school-aged children may be surprised to learn that some volunteering opportunities have minimum age requirements. If such requirements are making it difficult to volunteer together as a family, parents and children can work together to come up with their own opportunities. Kids can organize a book drive to supply books to schools with depleted libraries or organize a fundraiser for a

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