WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MELISSA OWEN, DDS IS THE NEW OWNER OF THE PRACTICE!
Dr. Owen is honored to continue the tradition of high-quality, patientcentered care our community knows and trusts. We’re also pleased to share that Dr. Jonathan Ludwig will remain with the practice as an associate dentist, continuing to care for patients with the same dedication and expertise. We look forward to this next chapter and welcoming you to the practice under Dr. Owen’s leadership.
Actor and parkour pioneer Jesse La Flair talks about film, free movement and his next project — a parkour gym in the Port City.
A curious contradiction between two neighborhood signs leads a Brunswick County prosecutor to discover the story of Revolutionary War hero and statesman Benjamin Smith and his personal visit from President George Washington.
What began with a handful of experienced rowers has grown into Belville Community Rowing, a nonprofit club centered on recreation, accessibility and time on the water.
Donna and Bruce Ruggiero turned a casual lunch conversation into the revamping of the community hub at Brunswick Beer Xchange.
At Haw Hill Raceway in Winnabow, rodeo nights reveal the strong inland traditions that shape southeastern North Carolina.
Under the leadership of Jennie Bryan, Brunswick County Schools' Teacher Scholar Academy is cultivating the county’s future educators right here at home.
The PubScout scopes out the scene at the eighth anniversary party for Local’s Tavern in Leland.
Created by a local actress in memory of her late fiancé, PTPT Studio is a place where artists teach
Working with our Intracoastal Realty agent was truly a wonderful experience from start to finish. She was knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely cared about her clients. She took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for and made the entire process smooth and stress-free. She was always available to answer questions, offer advice, and guide us through every step with confidence and patience. If you’re looking for someone who is reliable, kind, and incredibly good at what she does, we highly recommend her. We couldn’t have asked for a better realtor!
THANK YOU!!!!
~ A. Graham
A FRESH
North Brunswick Magazine – Spring 2026 Volume 20, Issue 3
CEO/PUBLISHER: Justin Williams
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: Sandi Grigg
COPY EDITOR: Molly Harrison
ART DIRECTOR: Teresa Kramer
CONTRIBUTING GRAPHICS: Samantha Lowe
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Brian Wilner
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Bill Markowitz
MULTIMEDIA CREATOR: Betsy Schlehuber
SALES & MARKETING COORDINATOR: Caroline Thomas
SALES & MARKETING INTERN: Sydney Yoch
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Bre Burge - The Photo District Megan Deitz
E mily Flax H ilary Halliwell
Jason Hudson K atie D Photography
Jo Ann Mathews M att McGraw
Bill Ritenour James Stefiuk
Brenda Torrey
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
A nna Beth Adcock Fritts Causby
Jon David K urt Epps, The Pubscout
S andi Grigg Jason Hudson
Melissa Slaven Warren
PUBLISHED BY:
CAROLINA MARKETING COMPANY, INC. PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451 (910) 207-0156 • info@northbrunswickmagazine.com
Photographer Megan Deitz captured our cover image of Belville Community Rowing club members rowing on the Brunswick River. See more photos and read Melissa Slaven Warren's story about the club on page 52.
Reader/Advertising Services
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Back Issues
When available, back issues of NBM can be purchased for $5. Call or email us for information.
Letters
We welcome your letters and comments about NBM. Send your letters to PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451 or email them to info@NorthBrunswickMagazine.com. When sending your letters, keep in mind they may or may not be published in a future issue of NBM. The publisher reserves the right to make the final decision.
Writing Opportunities
We are always willing to consider freelance writers and article ideas. Please send suggestions or inquiries to North Brunswick Magazine, Attn: Editor, PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451. Or email us at edit@NorthBrunswickMagazine.com.
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Marketing Services
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Sharing Stories
HHere at Carolina Marketing Company, we love our jobs of producing local lifestyle magazines for the southeastern North Carolina region. We are having fun, hitting milestones and telling great stories along the way. Our work is not always easy, but it is rewarding and exciting, and the time is certainly flying by. It feels unreal that we have been at this for more than 20 years now!
We all agree that the best part of our jobs is meeting and interacting with the people in the communities we cover. From advertisers who have supported us for 20+ years to those advertising with us for the first time, we appreciate everyone who has trusted us to get the word out about their products and services.
And, of course, we love telling the stories of the people in this community — because every story we tell is about people in some way. We love sourcing stories (and getting your suggestions!). Our writers and photographers love telling and showing those stories, and designers love packaging it all up to best catch your eye. And we all love the old-school feeling of getting the print magazines in hand, turning the pages to see these stories unfold, and getting them out for everyone to see.
In this spring edition of North Brunswick Magazine, we feature entrepreneurs who weave their skills and passions into businesses like Brunswick Beer Xchange and Local’s Tavern in Leland and PTPT Studio in Wilmington. We meet people doing what they love to do, from rowing on the Brunswick River to spending nights at the rodeo to leaping around urban settings parkour style. And in the spirit of this year’s America 250 celebrations, we have a
fascinating story by local District Attorney Jon David about George Washington’s visit to Brunswick County in 1791.
Do you have a story suggestion or feedback? Would you like to place an ad in our magazine, which is direct-mailed to 14,000 homes in addition to our grocery store distribution? Please contact me at the details below.
I am very appreciative of this community and the opportunity to produce this magazine for our area. Thank you for reading and be sure to support our
Justin Williams Owner/Publisher
Don’t miss a single thing in paradise.
North Brunswick County has so much to see and do all year round, and if you’re like me, it’s hard to keep track of it all. That’s why we created North Brunswick Lifestyle — an eNewsletter full of local events, places to see and people to meet.
Choosing to subscribe is probably the easiest decision you’ll make all day. Scanning the code below with your phone may be the second.
SCAN ME
or visit lifeinbrunswickcounty. com/subscribe
Want North Brunswick Magazine delivered to your door quarterly? lifeinbrunswickcounty. com/subscribe
PHOTO BY MEGAN DEITZ
Bre Burge - The Photo District
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
I am a Wilmington-based pet photographer whose work celebrates the joy, chaos and love your pet brings into your life. What began with photographing shelter animals to help them find homes grew into The Photo District, where I offer both studio and on-location sessions for pets and their families. I combine patience, skill and a playful approach to capture the personality of every pet, from lively dogs to shy cats. I continue to partner with local rescue organizations and shelters through my Seen & Saved initiative, helping highlight adoptable animals. To learn more or book a session, visit thephotodistrictnc.com.
Jon David
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The district attorney for Bladen, Brunswick and Columbus counties, I live with my wife, Ashley, in an enchanted neighborhood nestled along the Brunswick River, with our three children, Tyson, Zoey and Gia.
Jason Hudson
CONTRIBUTING WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER
I am a photographer, writer and educator who blends a sense of child-like curiosity with a strong professional ethos. Growing up in Jacksonville, near Topsail Beach, I learned to surf and sail along the same shores that have now become a treasured gem of the East Coast. Witnessing this community’s growth and transformation, I developed a deep appreciation for local stories and ocean conservation.
In my work, I combine the art of analog photography with thoughtful writing, giving each image a narrative voice. As an instructor at Cal Poly, I guide young journalists in ethical storytelling, helping them merge traditional craft with modern tools. Outside of my professional life, I am captivated by how individuals use their trades to find their place in the world, always eager to illuminate the vision behind every story.
In Case You Missed It
John Hacker Named Leland’s Citizen of the Year 2025
Leland Mayor Brenda Bozeman named John Hacker as the town’s 2025 Citizen of the Year during the December 18 Town Council meeting. A dedicated member of American Legion Post 68, Hacker has spent a lifetime advocating for veterans. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968, including a Vietnam deployment as an Infantry Squad Leader with the American Division’s 198th Light Infantry Brigade. After the military, he held leadership roles with the VFW and American Legion in California, including Post Commander and a state-level suicide prevention chair. Since moving to Leland five years ago, Hacker has helped strengthen veteran support efforts across Brunswick County and North Carolina, including Post 68’s work in suicide awareness. The town thanked him for his service, leadership and lasting impact.
Inspire
Brunswick Forest Supports American Legion Post 68 and the NBHS JROTC Program
Since opening in July 2023, Inspire Brunswick Forest, the 55+ active adult apartment community in Brunswick Forest, has worked to establish and expand its relationship with the John E. Jacobs American Legion Post 68 in Leland and the North Brunswick High School (NBHS) Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC). Post 68 is well-known for its support to area veterans and their families and is recognized statewide for its Be the One suicide awareness and prevention program. JROTC is recognized nationwide as one of the most impactful youth character development programs. NBHS’s program is one of the largest and most consistently successful JROTC units in southeast North Carolina. Post 68 is also an ardent supporter of NBHS and its JROTC.
Inspired to do something to recognize and honor veterans, earlier this year Inspire kicked off its Flags for Heroes Program with the goal of installing hundreds of small American flags on its property close to U.S. Highway 17 S. in Leland. Members of the public were able to purchase flags for $5 each, with proceeds earmarked for donation to Post 68 and the JROTC. On Veterans Day 2025, cadets from the NBHS, who had installed the flags, participated in Inspire’s Opening Ceremony to honor, support and remember veterans. Inspire Community Manager Lauren Andraka Cox and Inspire Lifestyle Coordinator Tracy Beinke donated proceeds from the Inspire flag sales to Post 68 for its Be the One program and presented a donation of $600 to the NBHS JROTC. Inspire was also a first-year Gold Sponsor ($1,100) for the Post 68 Tee It Up for Veterans golf tournament held at Magnolia Greens Golf Course on November 6. The tournament is Post 68’s largest fundraiser and continues to be its most successful fundraising event.
Belville Mayor Spreads Christmas Cheer
Belville Mayor Chuck Bost brought a little extra magic to Belville’s annual Christmas Festival at Riverwalk Park with a reading of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. Kids gathered close, listening wideeyed as the holiday classic set the scene for the season. After Storytime, the mayor capped it off by gifting each child a free toy, sending families home with smiles and Christmas cheer.
North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce Hosts Power Connections at Brunswick Beer and Cider
The North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce gathered at Brunswick Beer and Cider for their first Power Connections of 2026. Their featured presenter, John Hacker, shared more about American Legion Post 68 and its work to support veterans in the Leland area. Hacker, named the 2025 Leland Citizen of the Year, has dedicated his life to advocating for veterans.
Leland Highlights Fire Lane Safety as Citation Enforcement Begins
The Town of Leland reminds drivers to keep fire lanes clear at all times following recent updates to fire lane markings and signage at businesses throughout Leland. The Leland Police Department began issuing citations to vehicles parked or occupied while idling in marked fire lanes to ensure emergency responders had unobstructed access. Violators are subject to Leland civil citations of $25 and/or state citations that include court costs. Over the past several months, town staff worked with local businesses to repaint fire lanes and update signage, making the red zones more visible and easier to identify. These designated areas serve as critical access points, helping fire crews, ambulances and other emergency vehicles reach buildings faster when seconds matter. Blocked fire lanes slow emergency response, increase risk during life-safety incidents and violate local fire codes. Keeping lanes clear ensures firefighters can position equipment, connect to hydrants and other fire department connections, reach all sides of a building with hose lines, and carry out essential fire-safety operations.
Leland Enhances Pedestrian Safety with New Rapid Flashing Beacons
The Town of Leland has installed four rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at two crosswalks on Town Hall Drive. The project was funded by a $15,000 AARP Community Challenge Demonstration Grant, with support from Toyota Motor North America, to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity between
the Leland Library, the Brunswick Center at Leland, Founders Park and Town Hall. When activated, the RRFBs flash in a rapid alternating pattern and include audible alerts to support pedestrians of differing abilities, day or night. The upgrades align with the Town’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and Integrated Mobility Plan. AARP awarded Demonstration Grants to just 60 organizations nationwide, out of 383 recipients overall. The project location was shifted to Town Hall Drive so it could be funded primarily through the grant while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Leland Police Department Earns NCLEA Accreditation
The Leland Police Department earned full accreditation through the North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation program (NCLEA), recognizing its commitment to professionalism, accountability and community-focused policing. After a comprehensive review, the department met 116 standards covering areas such as training, use-of-force policies, records management, emergency response and community engagement. The process took nearly two years and included file reviews, onsite inspections and interviews with staff, community members and local officials. NCLEA accreditation is voluntary and confirms that the department’s policies and procedures align with high state and national standards. The Leland Police Department is one of only 14 agencies in North Carolina to receive this accreditation.
Jared Speight Named Top Five NC Farm Bureau Life Agent
In December, Brunswick County Farm Bureau Insurance agent Jared Speight was recognized at the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting in Greensboro. Speight qualified as a Top Five agent statewide in Life Premium Credit during the contest period and was honored during the Presidents’ and Agents’ Luncheon, where top performers received special awards.
Josh London State Farm Agency Donates $9,000 to NourishNC to Support Local Hunger Relief
Josh London State Farm Agency donated $4,500 to NourishNC, with the gift matched dollar-for-dollar through State Farm’s matching program for a total of $9,000. NourishNC fights child hunger in North Carolina through four programs: the Backpack Program (weekends and school breaks for pre-K through grade 5), Market on Market (a grocery store for pre-K through grade 12 students and families), Mobile MoM (a mobile market serving neighborhoods where families live and learn) and Food Farmacy (fresh and nonperishable food distributed through partner organizations such as schools and pediatric offices). London and his wife, Jen, presented the donation to NourishNC representatives.
BCC Dolphins Compete in NJCAA National Championship Run
Brunswick Community College’s men’s basketball team, the Dolphins (28–5), qualified for the 2026 NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas. BCC earned the No. 19 seed in the 24-team field and played No. 14 Gulf Coast State in the opening round. The berth followed BCC’s Region 10 Division I Atlantic District Championship, capped by a 90–76 win over No. 1 Gaston College. Head Coach Walter Shaw (26th season, 524 career wins) led the program to its second straight Atlantic District title, third since 2021, fifth Region 10 tournament title and fourth trip to Hutchinson — all under Shaw. BCC also became the first Region 10 program since 2019 to win back-to-back championships and earn consecutive automatic national bids.
Postseason honors included Darius Kane (First Team All-Region 10) and Alius “Junior” Bowser and Linwood Rowe (Second Team). Kane and Bowser committed to North Carolina Central University, and Rowe — BCC’s leading scorer — was named a Top 100 junior college player.
Habitat for Humanity Hosts Leland GroundBreaking Ceremony
On January 15 Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity held its fifth groundbreaking ceremony in a Leland subdivision, celebrating the beginning of a new chapter for one of its Habitat partner families. This is an exciting milestone for the community and the Vedeslina family.
Brunswick Electric and ECE Partner to Invest $5,000 in Local Lineworker Scholarships
Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) and ECE donated $5,000 to support regional community college lineworker programs, providing scholarships for students at Brunswick Community College (BCC) and Southeastern Community College (SCC). The donation was split evenly — $2,500 to BCC and $2,500 to SCC — to help cover costs such as tuition, gear and required training for careers in the electric utility industry. The partnership aims to reduce financial barriers as demand grows for skilled infrastructure workers. Lineworker programs at BCC and SCC provide hands-on training to prepare students to safely maintain power lines that support North Carolina’s electric grid.
LIVE WITH THE RHYTHM OF THE COAST
WELCOME TO WATERWAY: A WALKABLE COASTAL COMMUNITY ON THE NC COAST
Moments from the beach in the charming city of Southport, North Carolina, Waterway is a remarkable place designed for how you want to live at every stage of life: active, connected, and balanced. Whether you prefer a waterfront condo, a townhome, or to build on a custom site with one of our local builders, at Waterway, you’ll find a community that’s rooted in nature and surrounded by historic charm. Here, elegance feels effortless, and each day brings new opportunities—with everything you need just a short walk or golf cart ride away.
POOL | MARINA
POCKET PARKS
Leland’s Founders Park Amphitheater Rebuild to Open in Late Spring
Work continues on the reconstruction of the Town of Leland’s Founders Park amphitheater. Demolition has been completed, and crews are rebuilding the structure. The project remains on schedule, with completion expected in late spring 2026.
Leland Police Department Completes Second NCLM Law Enforcement Risk Review
Leland Police Department successfully completed the North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) Law Enforcement Risk Review process for the second time, meeting 40 rigorous standards focused on high-risk operations and law enforcement best practices. The NCLM program evaluates the department’s alignment with best practices, relevant court decisions and policies tied to high-liability activities. The review was designed to reduce liability exposure, strengthen officer safety and ensure training and operational procedures meet professional standards.
North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Lisa Ayscue as New Executive Assistant
The North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce has hired Lisa Ayscue as its new part-time executive assistant. Ayscue brings experience as a hotel sales manager, assistant to a CPA and office manager for Parker’s Collision and Carolina Carbide.
She also served as an ambassador for the Raleigh and Durham chambers of commerce, supporting business connections and community engagement. In her new role, Ayscue will support administrative operations and assist the chamber’s work serving businesses across northern Brunswick County.
Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program at Jackeys Creek Completed
Phase two of the StRAP project in Jackeys Creek has been completed. Fully funded by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, the project included the removal of vegetative debris along more than 20,000 linear feet of Jackeys Creek between U.S. Highway 17 and N.C. Highway 133. The goal of this project was to restore streamflow in areas impacted by heavy accumulation of vegetative debris and to reduce flood risk.
Belville Opens New Multi-Use Path Along Highway 133
On January 29 the Town of Belville opened its new multi-use path along N.C. Highway 133 in front of Belville Elementary. Local officials, including Navassa Mayor Rose Terry and Leland Mayor Brenda Bozeman, joined Cape Fear Cyclists, residents and other community leaders for the celebration. The multimodal greenway promotes physical activity and is part of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, with plans to eventually extend to more than a mile of safe greenway.
Mark Your Calendar
In Bloom Festival
May 16
Celebrate nature and art coming together at Leland's newest festival at Founders Park from 10 am to 2 pm. This family-friendly event invites the community to gather for a day filled with color, creativity and connection. Stroll through a vibrant outdoor market featuring native plants from local farms and eco-friendly, handcrafted goods from local artists. Environmental educators and local nonprofits will be on hand as well. Hands-on activities like sun printing, tie-dyeing and reuse art will be available to try. Live music by Dear Maribella & The Pigkickers will set the tone, while dance lessons from Wilmington Latin Dance will get your feet moving. Mimi and Papa’s Popcorn & Sweet Shop, Island Squeeze Lemonade, Seaview Crab Company, Glizzies on the Go and Gustu Peruano will serve a variety of delicious bites and refreshing treats. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, a casual plant lover or simply looking for a fun way to spend a spring afternoon, the In Bloom Festival offers something for everyone.
The Town of Belville, in partnership with Leland VFW Post 12196, will host a Memorial Day Program at Belville Riverwalk Park to honor U.S. military personnel who died in the line of duty. The event will take place from 9 am to noon.
Information: townofbelville.com
Belville Youth Fishing Day
June 13 (rain date June 20)
Belville Youth Fishing Day is a family-friendly community event at Belville Riverwalk Park that gives kids a chance to fish in a relaxed, supportive setting, usually with help from local volunteers. It’s geared toward introducing young anglers to the sport, building confidence outdoors and making it easy for families who may not have gear or experience. This event will take place from 7 am to noon.
Information: townofbelville.com
Town of Belville Memorial Day Program
Belville Youth Fishing Day
In Bloom Festival
Hurricane Expo
June 13
Held from 9 am to noon at Leland Cultural Arts Center, the Hurricane Expo is a one-stop event that helps residents get ready for hurricane season with trusted preparedness info, answers from local experts and connections to key partner agencies. Attendees can pick up the Town of Leland’s official Hurricane Guide (available in English and Spanish) and enter for a chance to win a rain barrel. State and county emergency preparedness agencies will be on hand, as will the Red Cross, Trillium Resources, the National Weather Service and more.
Feast your way around Belville Riverwalk Park and visit with your friends and neighbors at the 4th annual Belville Food Truck Rodeo. This family-friendly event is held from 4 to 9 pm and will include kids’ activities and music in addition to the food and drink.
Information: townofbelville.com
North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce
Annual Awards Banquet
June 23
North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Awards Banquet brings together local business and community leaders to celebrate the people and organizations helping North Brunswick County thrive. Held at Leland Cultural Arts Center, the banquet features networking and the presentation of annual honors recognizing standout businesses, professionals and community champions. This event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Information: northbrunswickchamber.com
LPGA Amateur Golf Association
Cape Fear/Wilmington NC Summer Events
Various dates and locations
Women golfers have a full slate of upcoming events this summer, with tee times at Crow Creek (June 7, 9 am, $64), Carolina National (June 18, 8:15 am, $73), Lockwood Folly (June 27, 8 am, $63), The Links at Brick Landing (July 18, 8 am, $47), Sandpiper Bay (July 21, 8:50 am, $50), The Vineyard at White Lake (Aug. 1, 8:30 am, $50), Oyster Bay II (Aug. 15, 9 am, $49), Brunswick Plantation (Aug. 29, 8:36 am, $50), Oyster Bay Golf Links (Sept. 1, 9 am, $51), and River’s Edge (Sept. 12, 10:50 am, $67). Weekly play is also available every Thursday at Beau Rivage Golf in Carolina Beach (11:30 am for 18 holes or 4:30 pm for 9 holes, with an option to dine afterward), plus Mondays on the 2nd and 4th of each month at Ironclad Golf in Hampstead (10 am, 9 holes for $20 or 18 holes for $39). New members are welcome to play twice before joining to see if the group is the right fit.
Information: lpgaamateurswilmingtonnc.com
Hurricane Expo
Belville Food Truck Rodeo
LPGA Amateur Golf Association Cape Fear/ Wilmington NC Summer Events
LOCAL ROOTS. NATIONAL SCALE.
Horizon Realty Group is your local partner in the Cape Fear region. Anchored by Robin Hackney and Deans Hackney III, who have served this market for over 30 years, we combine deep local roots with the professional scale of Howard Hanna Allen Tate, the Carolinas’ #1 firm. Our team brings decades of homebuilding and development expertise to buyers and sellers across southeastern North Carolina.
Online Exclusives
LET’S TALK LELAND FORUM
The Town of Leland held its first Let’s Talk Leland forum on April 29 at the Leland Cultural Arts Center. Participants were invited to interact with town leaders, ask questions and share feedback.
The Leland Town Council rolled out the new community engagement initiative to make it easier for residents to connect directly with local leaders. Let’s Talk Leland features town hallstyle forums that focus on open, informal community conversations.
| CONTINUE READING ONLINE |
BATAAN DEATH MARCH MEMORIAL 5K
Leland VFW Post 12196 and its Auxiliary, in partnership with the Veterans Creative Arts Program, were honored to sponsor the Bataan Death March Memorial 5K.
To compete in the Bataan Death March Memorial 5K, participants completed 63 miles virtually, then joined the final 5K on April 25. The event is both a tribute and a challenge, created to remember the sacrifices of those who endured the Bataan Death March in the Philippines during World War II and to support today’s veterans here at home. All proceeds benefit veteran programs across the Cape Fear region. | CONTINUE READING ONLINE |
A VALUED CULTURAL INSTITUTION
The 12th Annual Wilmington Jewish Film Festival was held from April 27 to May 6 at Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Wilmington.
Film buffs in Wilmington and around the region were treated to six internationally acclaimed feature films about Jewish history and culture and contemporary topics related to Jewish life. These exceptional cinematic experiences made the audience laugh, cry, contemplate and appreciate the art of filmmaking. Look for the return of the festival in April 2027.
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LANVALE ANIMAL HOSPITAL WELCOMES TWO NEW VETS
Lanvale Animal Hospital in Leland welcomes Dr. Ashley Anderson and Dr. Marc Friedericks, expanding personalized care for dogs and cats.
Drs. Anderson and Friedericks join Dr. Scott Pett in providing personalized, gold-standard veterinary for dogs and cats across the Leland area.
HEALING THROUGH CREATIVITY
Veterans, active military and first responders find connection, expression and relief in Brunswick County’s Veterans Creative Arts Program.
By Jo Ann Mathews
As a former Navy Quartermaster 2nd Class with four tours of duty in Vietnam and founder of Leland VFW Post 12196, Gerald Decker understands the need veterans have to develop creative outlets. At the suggestion of State Senator Bill Rabon in 2024, he created the Veterans Creative Arts Program, a Brunswick County initiative designed to assist military members and first responders living with the effects of job-related stress, including PTSD.
NOVANT HEALTH WINS APPROVAL FOR LELAND HOSPITAL
Novant Health wins state approval for a new Leland hospital and a new South Brunswick emergency department.
Novant Health has received approval from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to build a new 20bed hospital in Leland and a separate freestanding emergency department in Carolina Shores.
PHOTO BY JO ANN MATHEWS
Made to Mingle
Champagne bubbles, classic margarita flavors and tart lemonade play well with spicy spring meals on the porch or patio.
IBY SANDI GRIGG
In my mind, the quintessential spring drink will always be lemonade. It’s light and nostalgic and instantly makes the world feel a little brighter, like the first day you can finally crack a window and let the fresh air roll in. After being stuck inside through those cold winter months, I am officially ready for patio season: sunshine, clinking glasses and a lineup of cocktails and margaritas that are basically made for sipping outdoors.
When I started thinking about the best patio sipper to kick off spring, I wanted something that felt familiar but still a little celebratory. That’s where this delicious Pink Champagne Margarita comes in. It has the classic margarita backbone, but the pink lemonade brings a soft sweetness and the Champagne adds a delicate sparkle that makes it feel like a special occasion even if it is just a random Tuesday on the porch.
Like the classic margarita, this creation pairs beautifully with just about any Mexican dish, but it's much more festive. It’s crisp and refreshing, light on its feet and just delicate enough to keep you reaching for another sip without overpowering the food. Tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, nachos — this cocktail plays well with all of it.
The first time I made it, we had neighbors over for a casual get-together. Nothing fancy, just good company and a table full of snacks. I put together a few Mexican dips to enjoy (the kind that disappear fast when everyone gathers around), and then I decided to make a pitcher of these Pink
Pink Champagne Margaritas
Serves 2 to 4, depending on serving size
INGREDIENTS
1 cup Champagne
2 cups pink lemonade
½ cup clear tequila
½ cup triple sec
½ cup fresh lime juice
Lime wedge for garnish
Salt for rim Ice
METHOD
In a large pitcher stir together Champagne, pink lemonade, tequila, triple sec and lemon juice. Rub the rims of two to four cocktail glasses with a lime wedge. Fill a plate with the salt and dip the rims in the salt.
Fill the glasses with ice and pour the cocktail mixture into the rimmed glasses.
Champagne Margaritas to go with the spread. The moment I set the pitcher down, it turned into the star of the patio.
The color alone feels like spring. Add a salted rim, plenty of ice and that citrusy pop from fresh lime juice, and everyone will want a refill.
If you want a new twist on the generic margarita, give this one a try.
Dip into Dinner
A colorful Mexican grazing board can be a shareworthy dinner spread.
BY SANDI GRIGG PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES STEFIUK
EEveryone loves a good dip. There is just something about a table full of bowls, chips and bold flavors that turns any meal into a party.
In my house, dips are basically a love language, especially for my son, whose favorite food is cheese. If he gets to pick the restaurant, we are headed straight to a Mexican spot where he will happily eat his weight in chips, queso, salsa and guacamole. And I get it. Dip is fun, shareable and feels like a treat.
That’s why so many Friday nights in our household end up being a shared “snack dinner” where everyone grazes, laughs and goes back for one more scoop. This Mexican Dip Board is a prime example of one of those meals. It is easy to throw together, colorful on the table and guaranteed to make people linger.
It is also a great option to prep for a day by the pool, a casual gathering with friends for Cinco de Mayo or a game-day crowd pleaser. You can scale it up, keep it simple or add extras depending on who’s coming.
One quick note: These recipes are not authentic or culturally traditional. They are simply my way of pulling together the flavors we love in a quick, approachable format. The best part is that they use ingredients you likely already have in your pantry — mayo, sour cream, canned green chilies, evaporated milk, spices — with only a few fresh items to grab, like avocados, tomatoes, limes and cilantro. Not only does this board offer something for everyone
(creamy, spicy, fresh, tangy), but also it creates a bright, eyepleasing spread with yellow corn chips, purple tortilla chips, green guacamole, red pico de gallo and and warm white queso all in one place.
Whether it’s a laid-back Friday night with the family or a celebration with a crowd, this Mexican Dip Board is one of those spreads that makes everyone happy. It’s easy to pull together, fun to share and guaranteed to disappear fast.
Mexican Dip Board
INGREDIENTS
For the Corn Dip:
2¼ cups corn
¼ cup Duke's mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
½ tablespoon Sriracha
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon sugar
½ cup cotija cheese, broken into chunks
1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
Dash of Tajín seasoning
For the Pico de Gallo:
3 Roma tomatoes, diced
½ medium white onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced
½ cup cilantro, chopped
1 lime, juiced
½ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
For the Guacamole:
2 ripe avocados
Juice and grated ride of 1 lemon
3 garlic cloves chopped fine
¼ cup onion chopped
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
½ teaspoon sea salt
For the Queso Dip:
½ lb. white American cheese, shredded
½ lb. pepper jack cheese, shredded
4 ½ ounce chopped green chilies, drained
12 ounces evaporated milk
1 teaspoon ground cumin
For the Board:
Yellow Corn Chips
Scoops Chips
Purple Tortilla Chips
Flamin Hot Fritos
Sliced Limes
Sliced Mango
METHOD
For Corn Dip:
Sear the corn in a pan over medium/high heat, just enough so that some of the kernels char.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, hot sauce, lime juice, salt, pepper and sugar.
Add the sauce to the corn and saute over medium/low heat until warm.
Pour into a bowl, garnish with cilantro, cotija cheese and sprinkle with Tajian seasoning.
For the Pico de Gallo:
In a serving bowl mix all the ingredients.
For the Guacamole:
Remove the avocados from the flesh and discard the pits. Smash the avocado in a bowl with a fork.
Add the lemon juice and grated lemon rind, garlic, onion, cilantro and salt.
For the Queso Dip:
Add the evaporated milk to a saucepan over low heat and slowly drop in the cheese, stirring continuously until all the cheese is melted into the milk and the mixture is smooth.
Add the drained green chilies (reserve a few to garnish on top) and sprinkle in the cumin and stir to combine. Serve warm in a dish.
Board Prep:
Arrange the bowls of Corn Dip, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo and Queso on a board. Place the sliced limes, mango (sprinkled with Tajian) and chips around them on the board and serve.
AA Hidden Chapter in Our History
A curious contradiction between two neighborhood signs leads a Brunswick County prosecutor to discover the story of Revolutionary War hero and statesman Benjamin Smith and his personal visit from President George Washington.
As District Attorney of Brunswick County, I’ve spent my career investigating facts, connecting dots and creating compelling narratives from evidence. This skill set has served me well in the courtroom, but recently it led me on an unexpected expedition through our community’s forgotten history. It was a journey that began with two contradictory signs located near my home.
The first sign greets visitors at Leland’s entrance: “Incorporated 1989.” It suggests we are a young community without deep historical roots. But the second sign, at my neighborhood entrance, tells a different story: “Belvedere Heights Community, Established 1760.” That date predates the Revolutionary War by sixteen years, pointing to colonial America and our nation’s founding. How could both be true?
As a prosecutor, I’ve learned to investigate inconsistencies and follow evidence wherever it leads. What I discovered astonished me: Leland sits on ground that played a significant role in American history, and on April 26, 1791, President George Washington himself walked where my neighborhood now stands. To understand why Washington chose to visit the Belvedere Community as a stop on his travels, we must first understand a man who lived there.
BY JON DAVID
This area was once Belvedere plantation, home to Benjamin Smith, a man whose
The sign welcoming all to Leland reads "Incorporated 1989" while the Belvedere Heights sign points to a much longer history reading "Established 1760." Top: Painting of Benjamin Smith from State Archives of North Carolina Raleigh, NC.
story reads like a founding father’s biography. Born in Charleston in 1756, Smith was the grandson of “King Roger” Moore, who established the magnificent Orton Plantation along the Cape Fear River in Brunswick County. Smith would later inherit Orton, and that stunning estate, still standing today, gives us insight into what plantations of that era looked like. Brunswick Town, which developed alongside Orton, shows us how communities emerged around these grand estates. Belvedere, I imagine, was similarly impressive.
Washington “breakfasted” with his former aidede-camp, the man who had served beside him during the Revolution’s darkest hours.
But Benjamin Smith was far more than a wealthy rice planter. At age 21, he served as aide-de-camp to General George Washington during the harrowing retreat from Long Island on August 29-30, 1776. Alexander Hamilton, the same age as Smith, also served as Washington’s aide-de-camp, making both soldiers part of an elite fraternity of young men who served at the general’s side during the Revolution. Before the war, Smith had studied law at London’s prestigious Middle Temple, but he returned home to answer the call to fight for American independence alongside Washington.
By 1791, Smith had become one of Brunswick County’s most influential citizens. A committed Federalist, he attended the North Carolina constitutional conventions of 1788 and 1789, where he served as an important voice in securing ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Recognizing our shared interest in a strong United States and the importance of sea transportation to our nation’s growth and protection, Smith donated land on “Smith Island” to the newly established federal government.
REPRESENTING THE ARRIVAL OF GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON AT THE BATTERY, NEW YORK, APRIL 23, 1789. , ENGRAVED BY JOHN C. MCRAE, 1867. GIFT OF MR. AND MRS. ROBERT B. GIBBY, 1984. (MVLA)
North Carolina’s oldest still-standing lighthouse, “Old Baldy,” sits on what is now Bald Head Island, commissioned by Thomas Jefferson.
Benjamin Smith’s legacy in public service extends far beyond his contributions to the establishment of our federal government. Smith was also laser-focused on providing a firm foundation and strong leadership to the Tar Heel State. He would go on to serve as Speaker of the North Carolina Senate for five terms, donate 20,000 acres to the University of North Carolina, and become the state’s 16th governor from 1810-1811. The original law school building at UNC Chapel Hill bears his name.
When President Washington embarked on his Southern Tour in March 1791, he traveled over 1,700 miles to unify the country and allow citizens to see their president. Washington understood that unifying our country could not be achieved by sitting behind a desk in the nation’s capital. He recognized the importance of engaging with crowds of
people in all 13 of the original colonies in their hometowns. But Washington had a deeper mission: He wanted to honor the men who had served alongside him in the Revolutionary War. These weren’t just diplomatic visits. They were personal pilgrimages to recognize those who had stood with him in America’s founding and who would shape the nation’s future. All of this historical context connects our quiet town to its own date with destiny.
On April 26, 1791, Washington came specifically to Benjamin Smith’s Belvedere plantation. This wasn’t a required stop on his tour route, it was a deliberate choice. Away from crowds and ceremonies, Washington “breakfasted” with his former aide-de-camp, the man who had served beside him during the Revolution’s darkest hours. In 1792, just one year after Washington’s visit, a town was established in his honor: Smithville, which nearly a century later would be renamed Southport to reflect its identity as a port city.
This isn’t folklore or local legend. We know this happened because the father of our country kept a meticulous travel diary, now preserved in the official Papers of George Washington. Even more remarkable, Benjamin Smith wrote Washington a heartfelt letter on May 1, 1791, now held at Mount Vernon Museum. In it, Smith expressed profound gratitude for Washington “softening in my favour, the rigour of a Rule,” referring to Washington breaking his own policy against accepting
...for
one memorable morning on April 26, 1791, she hosted President George Washington on his historic march through our new nation. As we approach America’s 250th birthday this is a fact worth celebrating.
private hospitality. Smith wrote that “a longer visit would have afforded me the most heartfelt Gratification” and professed the deep attachment inspired by their Revolutionary War service together.
This breakfast meeting between George Washington and Benjamin Smith was a crucible moment in the history of our town. During his Southern Tour, Washington received elaborate public welcomes. In Wilmington, for example, four guns fired three rounds of 15 shots in his honor. But his quiet breakfast at Belvedere was deeply personal, honoring a friendship forged in war and recognizing Smith’s importance to North Carolina’s future. Washington’s instincts proved prophetic: the man he honored would become governor and have a town named for him.
Leland has long been regarded as merely a bedroom community for Wilmington. While Wilmington rightfully enjoys its reputation as a historic port city, Brunswick County has its own rich cultural history that deserves recognition. With respect to our nation’s founding, it was Brunswick County that served the prominent role. When our founding fathers sailed up the Cape Fear River, they settled on the left bank, what is now Brunswick County, not the right bank, which is now New Hanover County. Brunswick Town, in the shadows of Orton Plantation, was North Carolina’s first colonial community.
The motto for North Carolina hangs on the state seal beside every jury I address in the courtroom: Esse Quam Videri . It means “to be
rather than to seem.” Leland might appear to be a new community, a suburb that leapt over the river as Wilmington sprawled westward. But the truth is much richer. Leland is a place that evolved from Brunswick Town, North Carolina’s first colonial community. Notably, for one memorable morning on April 26, 1791, she hosted President George Washington on his historic march through our new nation. As we approach America’s 250th birthday this is a fact worth celebrating.
Two signs tell two truths: Leland is both young and deeply historic. I have the privilege of living in this area, and I am reminded when I walk in my neighborhood that this is sacred ground where the father of our country once walked himself. Our community’s story deserves to be known.
GEORGE WASHINGTON DAY IS OFFICIAL
On November 20, 2025, Leland Mayor Brenda Bozeman — in partnership with the Leland Town Council — officially proclaimed April 26 as George Washington Day in commemoration of Washington's historic visit to Benjamin Smith at Belvedere plantation on that day in 1791.
“I call upon the citizens of Leland to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor our shared heritage and the values of friendship, service, and unity that brought the father of our country to our community,” Bozeman wrote.
The Art of the
Actor and parkour pioneer
about film, free movement and his next project — a parkour gym in the Port City.
BY FRITTS CAUSBY
Jesse La Flair talks
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MCGRAW
Athlete, stuntman, actor, author and dad are just a few of the titles held by Jesse La Flair, who moved to Wilmington recently with his wife of 16 years. A pioneer in parkour and free-running, La Flair broke into the Hollywood scene by performing stunts in major productions such as Divergent, 300: Rise of an Empire and multiple X-Men films, where he doubled as Nightcrawler. This led to guest star roles on Magnum P.I., Lethal Weapon and Hawaii Five-0, a social media following of more than 2.3 million, and an air of self-confidence that made him stand out from the crowd at Social Coffee, where we spoke on a cold winter morning. We talked about his career as well as his plans to open a parkour gym in Wilmington.
Q: Why do you think the Wilmington film scene is blowing up?
A : Part of it is that there’s a new 25 percent rebate program for filmmakers. Also, it’s just easy to work here. We’ve got two empty sound stages, and everyone here is excited about film, unlike LA where shooting outside a café can cost thousands.
Q: What makes parkour so special for you?
A : Parkour is more than an action sport; it’s a spectacle that anyone can relate to. My mom can understand the concept of her body moving through air without any sort of device, like a skateboard, BMX bike or a snowboard. It’s just pure movement. When people watch someone flip off a roof, they’re like, ‘Yeah, I get that.’
Q : I read that parkour originated from the French military in response to a volcanic eruption in Martinique, sort of as a means of escape. Since then, it has transitioned from functionality more toward acrobatics and creativity. Where do you see it going in the future?
A : Parkour is one of the fastestgrowing action sports, and that’s partially why parkour clips are breaking records on Instagram. When I started, I had to really dig through YouTube to find tutorials … there just wasn’t much out there. After I learned how to do some things, I started making my own. I learned a lot about filming and ended up getting millions of views. Then people started asking me to coach.
Q: Is that why you’re starting your own gym?
A : Yeah, people are always asking if I know where to do parkour in Wilmington. I had already done lots of videos at the Tempest Free Running Academy in both LA and Dallas, where I’m a partial owner. They’re beautiful, million-dollar facilities that are a spectacle all their own. They’re painted by set decorators, and the one in Dallas looks like you’re on a rooftop.
AQ:
But there was nothing like that here?
: No, and since I had so much experience running the curriculum and I helped design it from the early days, it seemed like the perfect setup for Wilmington. Tempest Academy East will be a unique mix of fitness, functionality and film. I love bringing people together, and this will give me a space to do that. One thing I’m really excited about is that it will create a social venue for Wilmington. Lots of gyms don’t really have a place for people to socialize. Tempest has always done a good job creating spaces where people can hang even if they’re not training, so I think we will end up creating a culture and community here.
Q: And you already have a proven model.
A : Yes, exactly. And since the overhead is lower here, the profit margins are higher, so we’re currently seeking investors to help us make it happen. The model we have is based on the profit and loss from Tempest, and the projections for the return on investment are really strong.
Q : Sounds awesome! I bet your son is excited.
A : Definitely. We even took him to a competition in Italy this year. He will literally try to do a back flip off the couch.
Q : When I was his age, I was trying to walk around the whole room without ever touching the floor.
A : That’s the beauty of parkour — everyone did it when they were younger (laughs). As we become adults, it turns into an excuse to understand movement better and continue to play. I even know of an 80-year-old who has a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course in his front yard.
Q : That is impressive, and maybe it’s proof that confidence is important. I would imagine you need a lot of that to consider parkour. Do you think that has helped as you have transitioned to acting?
A : What parkour teaches you is life through progression. Everything you want in life involves some kind of progressive step. I’ve been lucky to find parkour because it has given me the confidence to figure out the steps I need to take to get there. So much in parkour is filming. I understand the industry from the filmmaking side, so then the question is, can I act? Well, I thought I should practice more, so I am in class at this incredible school here in Wilmington called Actors Arsenal. It’s so important to grow and learn and
take what you do seriously. I’ve probably shot over 250 self-tapes. Anytime I get a scene, I just drill it, work it, try different things. That’s partially the athlete and perfectionist in me.
Q : How will the gym support Wilmington’s film industry?
A : With a dedicated space for stunt training and rehearsals, the gym will nurture local talent and make Wilmington even more attractive for productions. It’s so exciting to think about connecting the next generation to the sport. I love coaching it and helping kids learn it. This is also about breaking the myth that talent only comes from LA and building a “film family” here in Wilmington.
Q : So, you’re looking to plant some roots here and build up the community?
A: Definitely, I can see how much the kids are in need of something like this and how much they will love having it here. We’re looking to have birthday parties, summer camps, you name it, everything to support the kids. I want to make it as cool or better as the other Tempests, and my wife is going to be managing it. She managed one of our other gyms.
FLIPPING OUT?
For more information about Tempest Academy East or investing in La Flair’s new venture:
k Wilmingtonparkourgym @gmail.com
Q tmpstacademyeast K tempestacademy.com
Coastal Cowboys
At Haw Hill Raceway in Winnabow, rodeo nights reveal the strong inland traditions that shape southeastern North Carolina.
STORY & PHOTOS BY JASON HUDSON
AAs I park in the grass lot, I hear The Georgia Satellites’ Keep Your Hands to Yourself drifting through the trees. The tempting opening guitar riff dares me to shuffle my boots a little in the dust. This is one of those early spring evenings in southeastern North Carolina where the pollen has begun to coat everything you see, a pastel yellow dust floating in a haze above it all. The warmth of the day hasn’t quite
let go, but the air has turned just enough to make you reach for a jacket, the kind of night that lives somewhere between seasons, where denim feels like the right decision and staying out feels easier than heading home.
The place carries a mix of smells, a wildly inviting perfume you can’t place all at once, until you begin to separate them one by one. The livestock breathe and hack against the
dirt and dust that mingle with the pollen. Diesel fumes drift on the sweetness of funnel cake. Fresh-cut grass and loblolly pine intertwine with tobacco smoke in the breeze.
Just off to one side, an excavator idles with a stack of speakers strapped to its bucket. A couple of gruff guys guide it into place with the kind of casual precision that comes from doing this sort of thing your whole life.
Brad Hammet and his team at WC Rodeo are no strangers to this type of work. One might even say it’s not their first time.
“Last year we put on 36 rodeos,” Brad tells me. “That’s what we do for a living.”
It’s a never-ending but joyful slog of beast and burden. And that scale carries its own demands. Every stop has to function. There has to be space for trucks, room for livestock, access for vendors and enough ground to hold a crowd without it breaking apart.
“You’ve got to have somewhere to park your people, space for vendors, space for contestants,” he says. “The overall deal.”
Haw Hill already had that infrastructure in place.
For more than three decades, the property has hosted races, drawing crowds built around speed and machinery. The shift to rodeo was not a rebuild. It was an adaptation. As owner Al Potter, who rides horses along with his
wife, Colleen Potter, tells me, “My dad gave me this place. I’ve had it now for 37 years … we wanted to try something different.” The audience, it turns out, does too.
So far, it’s working.
As the night settles in, the structure of the event becomes more visible, but it never feels rigid. Riders move in and out of the arena with purpose, but without ceremony. There’s not much to be done but ride.
Announcements carry across the grounds, crisp and rehearsed. A well-oiled performance is part entertainment and part sports exhibition, all coated by the levity and antics of the clowns who tempt fate for fun. Each bull rider seems to have his own pre-ride routine, while barrel racers warm up horses on the grounds. This dance feels fluid and zoetropic, a backdrop to the activity at its center. It’s all a giant machine, poetic and fluid.
Standing on the first rung of
fence to get a better view of the bulls, broncos and riders converging, Brad nods toward the younger riders waiting their turn.
“This is the future of our sport,” he says.
The young men stand nearby, quietly focused, clad in T-shirts, jeans and cowboy hats. There’s a rhythm to it that only really makes sense once you’re inside it.
“It’s been a very good turnout for this community,” Brad says. “They don’t get to see rodeo that much. They come to these no matter where you have them.”
This is great for the Brunswick community, Al Potter tells me.
“There’s a lot of horse people in this area,” he says. “It’s getting more popular all the time.”
The difference between racing and rodeo is real, but the distance between them is not as wide as it might seem.
“You can’t combine the two,” he says. “So we’re gonna do this.”
“We’re family-friendly entertainment,” he continues. “We just want everybody to be safe and have a good time.”
That focus is clear. This is a dry event, and that fact is evident in the family-focused atmosphere. There’s a petting zoo, numerous vendor trucks offering varying options and a rodeo grandstand at the center of it all. It’s clear that while rodeo is the entertainment, its carnival-like atmosphere serves as a community hub for shared values.
This rodeo sits in an interesting place along the coast. From the outside, southeastern North Carolina is often defined by water, by tourism, by the steady movement of people in and out with the seasons. But just a short
SADDLE
drive inland, the landscape changes. The land opens up. Work shifts. Horses appear in pastures where you might not expect them if you only know the beaches.
The gap between those identities is not as wide as it seems.
Spending time at Haw Hill makes that clear. The same people who know how to run heavy equipment, who work the land, who fix what breaks instead of replacing it, are the same people filling the stands, walking the fence line, watching closely as riders take their turn in the arena.
It does not announce itself as culture. It just exists.
The night opens with prayer and patriotism, not as performance but as routine. For some, that might feel unfamiliar. Here, it feels integrated, part of the structure of the event in the same way the fencing, the lighting and the sound system are.
No one stops to explain it. No one needs to.
By the time things begin to wind down, the temperature has dropped enough that most people have settled fully into jackets, hands tucked away, conversations softening as trucks start to line up along the exit. The band goes quiet. The dust settles back into the ground. What was an arena only a few hours earlier begins to look like a track again.
There will be another rodeo in November.
Another cold night, likely the same kind of air, the same mix of light and sound and movement settling back into place as if it had never left. Another crowd, some returning, some new, finding their way into something that feels both unfamiliar and immediately understood. For a place that often presents itself as coastal, the rodeo offers a different kind of reflection, one that runs just beneath the surface, steady and persistent, waiting for the right moment to show itself.
And when it does, it doesn’t feel out of place. It feels like it’s been there the whole time.
What began with a handful of experienced rowers has grown into Belville Community Rowing, a nonprofit club centered on recreation, accessibility and time on the water.
BY MELISSA
Rhythm on the Brunswick RIVER Finding
SLAVEN WARREN PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGAN DEITZ
n 2019 a small group of experienced rowers, then dubbed Eagles Island Community Rowing, was looking for a calm, scenic and peaceful environment to row together, and the Brunswick River provided the right conditions.
What started with five founding members has grown into Belville Community Rowing, a nonprofit organization with more than 20 members on its roster.
Mary Wooten and Marisa Scott, co-chairpersons of the organization, say the club was created to make rowing accessible in an area where opportunities are limited. Many of the founding members came from rowing backgrounds in other places and wanted a local option that focused on recreation and community rather than competition. But they also needed a home base and a place to properly store their boats.
Because rowing shells are long, lightweight and require careful handling, storage was essential.
“You really need a launch point that has calm water, and you need to be able to safely store the equipment and the boats,” Scott explains.
After approaching town officials, members were granted permission to construct a boatyard at Belville Riverwalk Park. The members funded the building of the boatyard, and that’s when the organization changed its name to Belville Community Rowing.
The community practices sculling, a form of rowing that differs from traditional sweep rowing because each rower handles two oars instead of one.
Members row in sliding-seat boats known as sculls. The fleet includes singles, doubles and four-person boats called quads. The design is different from a traditional rowboat, where rowers use their legs to generate power.
“That is, the legs that do the work rather than the arms,” Wooten says, describing what often surprises beginners.
The organization places a strong emphasis on teaching new rowers through its Learn to Row program, which Wooten leads. Designed for beginners as well as people returning to the sport, the program starts with an on-land orientation that introduces the parts of the boat and basic rowing technique. Participants then practice strokes on
an “oar master,” a dock-based setup that allows them to feel the movement before entering the water. By the second day, learners move into a stable four-person boat with experienced rowers.
“We only take one to three learn-to-row students at a time,” Wooten says, explaining that the small groups allow for individual attention.
For Scott, part of the appeal of the sport is the coordination required when rowing with others. In multi-person boats, rowers face backward, relying on a teammate to steer and set direction.
“The boat goes backwards, so you don’t see where you’re going,” she says. “I’ve got to trust Mary, the coach, that she’s steering and going in the right place and we’re not going to hit anything.”
Members must be at least 18 years old, able to lift about 40 pounds and with enough mobility to safely enter and exit the boat from the dock. While the sport requires physical effort, rowing is approachable for a wide range of ages. The member roster includes rowers from their thirties into their seventies.
Safety is a consistent focus for the community. Weather conditions, wind, water temperature and tides are all considered before heading out. The group follows what rowers call the “rule of a hundred,” combining air and water temperatures to evaluate safe conditions. Members are required to row with at least one other person on the water, and all participants must maintain membership with US Rowing for liability coverage and insurance purposes.
Rowing schedules are coordinated through a shared
Members of Belville Community Rowing practice sculling, a form of rowing that differs from traditional sweep rowing because each rower handles two oars instead of one. Members row in sliding-seat boats known as sculls.
app, allowing members to plan outings around changing conditions. Most rows take place in the mornings or afternoons, depending on the season. While many rowing clubs focus on short training sessions, Belville Community Rowing often chooses longer recreational rows. Members regularly cover three to five miles and occasionally much more.
“We just did a nine-and-a-half-mile row,” Scott says. “We’ve also completed a 13-mile route around nearby islands.”
For many members, those longer rows are part of what makes the experience different. The Brunswick River offers changing scenery, wildlife and opportunities to see local history from the water.
“One of our members is a retired archaeologist, and he’ll point out cypress trees and the rice fields and tell us the history,” Scott says.
JOIN THE CREW
Belville Community Rowing
The culture of the group reflects a mix of backgrounds and shared interests. Members include educators, nurses, retirees and professionals from different fields who are drawn together by an interest in outdoor activity and time on the water. The community also holds social gatherings, including holiday parties and summer barbecues, which help maintain a community-focused atmosphere.
For more information on the Belville Community Rowing or becoming a member: K belivillecommunityrowing.com
Affordability is another priority. Rowing equipment can be expensive, but membership gives participants access to the boats, oars and other gear without purchasing their own.
“The fact that that’s all provided for a low membership fee
is just really unfounded,” Wooten says, noting that the arrangement makes the sport available to people who might not otherwise be able to participate.
As Belville Community Rowing continues to grow, current members hope to reach more residents who may not know rowing is available locally. Learn to Row programs are planned throughout the year, offering newcomers a structured introduction and a chance to explore the sport in a supportive setting.
For the members already on the water, the attraction remains simple. Rowing provides exercise, teamwork and time outdoors. As Scott puts it, “Being on the river allows rowers to really enjoy the water and the nature, and it becomes your Zen.”
Below, Belville Community Rowing members, left to right, Marisa Scott, Mike Kolodkin, Jackie Solomon, Gayle Bordeaux, Mike Martin, Mark Wilde-Ramsing, Amy Schaeffer, Mary Wooten, Rick Hartman, Sheila Cooper, Matt Tait, Neil Kirschner and Elizabeth Bell.
Running the show at Brunswick Beer Xchange are, left to right, Catherine Corrigan, bar manager and resident cicerone, along with owner Donna Ruggiero and her husband, Bruce Ruggiero.
Good Timing A TOAST TO
Donna and Bruce Ruggiero turned a casual lunch conversation into the revamping of the community hub at Brunswick Beer Xchange.
BY KURT EPPS, THE PUBSCOUT PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGAN DEITZ
Donna Ruggiero, who owns Leland’s Brunswick Beer Xchange, knows the importance of good timing.
Back when she was just a customer of the place known as BBX, Donna was out to lunch with the former owner when that owner casually mentioned that she and her husband were thinking of selling the business they started in 2021.
And it was at that moment that Donna, the former New York attorney for The Estée Lauder Companies, had a light bulb come on. She and her husband, Bruce, discussed all the reasons why they could not and should not buy the business — and then they did it anyway.
Which, if you know the story of how they came to be Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Ruggiero, should surprise no one.
Donna walked into a Long Island bar with friends and saw the handsome Air Force serviceman. He did not use any of the standard pick up lines.
Not “Do you come here often?” Not “Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?”
Just, “Say, do you want to go to a wedding?”
“Whose?” she answered.
“Ours,” Mr. Smoothie replied.
"The building is the same on the outside as it always was. The inside has changed a bit, and the vibe is distinctly different."
And the rest is history, as the happy couple, married 39 years now, awaits their first grandbaby in September. And that baby will come into the family fully associated with a thriving, successful business.
My trusty sidekick, Father Dave, and I recently headed up Highway 17 to see what changes have been wrought at Brunswick Beer Xchange since the Ruggieros took over operations.
The building is the same on the outside as it always was. The inside has changed a bit, and the vibe is distinctly different.
Catherine Corrigan, who has a level one cicerone rating. Her husband, Mike Corrigan, is a carpenter who made much of the furniture in the place.
There are still 40 beers on tap, but while NC and SC beers are still proudly represented, the taps have gone international as well as interstate, thanks to Beer Manager
Customers will now find Warsteiner Pilsener and Cherry Chouffe as well as Harp and Pacifico. Father Dave enjoyed a few 8.9% Honey Pie IPAs from Bird Song (it’s OK, I was driving), and I knew he’d be in Catherine’s capable hands. But the selection is sure to please most beer nuts, and there are four coolers of cans to choose from, too. A nice wine selection is also available.
Yours truly enjoyed a few Tropicalias out of Creature Comforts Brewing in Athens, Georgia, which Catherine suggested. Trust me. Trust her.
The beers are not served in Mason jars as they used to be, but in standard pint glasses. Bruce has even changed
the light fixtures, which also used to be Mason jars. And he’s obsessive about cleaning the beer lines after a keg kicks.
The artwork on the walls has changed as well. Upon entering BBX, patrons are greeted by a bright mural that simply says "Cheers!" painted by local Leland artist Lauren George of Nouveau Creative.
The back wall is now covered with the work of local artists, and one of them, Robert Parks, was there during our visit
donating his newest work to Donna and Bruce. Patrons can buy any artwork they fancy right off the walls.
Charitable giving is a driving force with the new owners, and community involvement permeates their business. Donna finds many causes important enough to support, and she encourages her customers to come along for the ride. Sometimes she even goes door-to-door to solicit participation from other businesses. Plentiful activities at the business satisfy even the most entertainment-hungry patron, from wildly successful Poker Nights to Chili Cook Offs to Dart Leagues and a constant array of food trucks. There’s even a sharing library on the premises where those quiet types can take a book, leave a book or plop down in a plush chair in the
“parlor” for some private time.
The bar seating is smallish but cozy and comfortable, and the outside area is sprawling with plenty of room for enjoying the spring weather. The interior offers sufficient seating for large groups and privacy as well.
BOTTOMS UP
Brunswick Beer Xchange 113 Village Road NE, Leland m (910) 408-1877
K bbxchange.net
E brunswickbeerxchange
Bruce’s unique and memorable pickup line that gave him his bride could still be used today.
“Excuse me. Want to go to a bar?”
“Whose?”
“Ours.”
And the smart answer — as it was when Bruce asked and Donna answered — would be “Yes!”
A Class Act
Under the leadership of Jennie Bryan, Brunswick County Schools' Teacher Scholar Academy is cultivating the county’s future educators right here at home.
BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN
FFor Jennie Bryan, teaching has never been just a career. It is, in her words, “a vocation in life where our greatest passion meets the world’s deepest need.”
That conviction has guided her through 15 years in education, from her days as a high school social studies teacher to being named Brunswick County Teacher of the Year in 2020, Southeastern Regional Teacher of the Year in 2021 and COAST Teacher of the Year in 2026. Today, it drives her in a new role, leading Brunswick County Schools’ Teacher Scholar Academy and coordinating a scholarship program designed to inspire and support the next generation of local educators.
The Teacher Scholar Academy, launched in August of 2023, is part of the district’s Grow Your Own initiative, a forward-thinking strategy to cultivate talent from within the community. Housed at the Center of Applied Sciences and Technology (COAST), the program welcomes students from all four Brunswick County high schools. They spend half of their day on the COAST
campus, exploring the art and science of teaching while earning honors and articulated college credit.
Bryan sees the academy as a way to solve a longstanding problem in teacher preparation.
“We hear stories of students going to college thinking they want to be teachers, but they don’t get enough exposure to classrooms until the very end of their degree,” she explains. “By then, some realize it isn’t what they expected. This program flips that script by giving students real classroom experiences early on.”
The coursework blends theory with practice. In the first year, students study the history and philosophy of education, learning theories and the challenges of working with diverse learners. They also visit schools across the county, observing teachers, counselors, nurses and specialists who make a school function.
As they advance, students dive deeper into curriculum planning, classroom management and supporting students with special needs or English as a Second Language. Perhaps the most transformative element is the field experience requirement of 120 hours working side by side with classroom teachers.
“They get to see what it’s really like,” Bryan says. “It’s not just theory. They’re part of the classroom community, and that gives them confidence about whether this is the path they want to pursue.”
Bryan’s enthusiasm for the program is rooted in her own journey. In college she was leaning toward a career in research and public history, and it wasn't until she was
Left to right: School Board Vice Chair Vickie Smith, Superintendent Dale Cole, School Board Chair Steve Gainey and Jennie Bryan
almost finished her history degree that she seriously began considering teaching. She discovered her passion was not in archives but in the classroom, guiding young minds, making history come alive and being a mentor. That decision has shaped her life. Along the way, she earned her master’s degree and a teaching license, steadily building a reputation as an educator who not only excels in the classroom but also lifts others up. Her regional recognition opened doors to broader conversations about teacher recruitment and retention in North Carolina.
Above, longtime educator Jennie Bryan (above) leads Brunswick County Schools’ Teacher Scholar Academy and Brunswick Built Teachers Scholarship program designed to inspire and support the next generation of local educators. The other photos on this page are of students participating in the program.
PHOTO BY MATT MCGRAW
CONTRIBUTED
PHOTO
“At that point, I knew I was ready for a new challenge,” she recalls. “When the opportunity came to lead this program, I knew it was the right step.”
Bryan also understands the skepticism that sometimes surrounds a teaching career.
“There’s a lot of negative talk about going into education, mostly about funding challenges, and burnout,” she says. “But I’ve always felt supported in Brunswick County. My mission is to show students what’s possible, to encourage them to see teaching as a calling and a way to serve their community.”
That same mission fuels her efforts with a locally funded scholarship program created to ease the financial burden for aspiring teachers and encourage them to return home after college. By the time the program concludes its 2026 Brunswick Built Teachers Scholarship selection cycle, Brunswick County Schools will have pledged support to 23 future teachers for a total of $150,000. For every $2,500 in scholarship support, a recipient commits to teaching in Brunswick County for one year.
The approach mirrors the state’s Teaching Fellows Program but is tailored to local needs. Importantly, eligibility is not limited to academy graduates. Teacher assistants and residency-licensed teachers completing their coursework can also apply.
The program is also in its first semester of offering the Early Childhood Education I course. Students who successfully complete the course will have completed over 120 internship hours in a local childcare or PreK program and qualify for the N.C. Early Childhood Credential, which
is required for all lead teachers in N.C. childcare centers.
“It’s about creating multiple pathways,” Bryan explains. “We want to support anyone in our community who feels called to education and is willing to invest their career here.”
The Teaching Academy is still in its early years, but Bryan has her sights set on expansion. A second pathway is already underway, focused on early childhood education. This is a critical need given the shortage of childcare providers across the county. Students in that track gain hands-on experience in local childcare centers, preparing them to serve children from birth through kindergarten.
Bryan believes this layered approach, high school academies, scholarships and early childhood pipelines, will position Brunswick County to face the future with confidence.
“We’re not just filling classrooms,” she says. “We’re building a legacy of educators who know this community, love this community and want to give back to it.”
In classrooms today, a handful of high school students are already practicing their future roles, reading aloud to elementary children, assisting teachers with lesson plans or managing small group activities. They may not fully realize it yet, but thanks to Bryan’s leadership, they are part of a homegrown movement to ensure that Brunswick County’s children will always have dedicated, passionate teachers to guide them.
For more information about Brunswick County Schools' Teacher Scholar Academy, contact Bryan directly via email at jebryan@bcswan.net.
Everybody’s Living Room
The PubScout scopes out the scene at the eighth anniversary party for Local’s Tavern in Leland.
BY KURT EPPS, THE PUBSCOUT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MCGRAW
TThe smoke alarm in my living room chirped its last chirp the other day. And it was put in just eight years ago, about the same time Sharon Evans was opening up her new “living room” in Leland.
The living rooms most of us live in can’t accommodate 100-plus people, bustling food and drink servers and a full band. But the one owned by Sharon Evans can.
And it had to be gratifying for Evans to watch her creation — Local’s Tavern and Stage Right — fill up with revelers to celebrate her eighth year in business on January 30.
The vehicle for that celebration was a party for her customers with a hot dog and hamburger theme (this year) and a favorite band, Code Red, to perform.
The logistics, however, required the youthful-looking proprietress with a bubbly personality to do some fancy footwork as a pending snowstorm with freezing temps loomed for her original date. But she made the necessary
arrangements and her eighth anniversary party saw a packed and satisfied house.
The Stage Right space began as a dry cleaner adjacent to Local’s Tavern and now serves as the performance room for the many quality entertainers Evans brings in for her customers. She knocked down a wall to create that space and hinted that there may be more walls to fall as she grows her business.
Evans’ customers all seem to know her. The line of patrons, friends and family (and she considers all her employees in that category) who stopped to say hello and chat was never ending. The good Father Dave, who is known throughout Brunswick, Pender and New Hanover counties, and I also got to hobnob with them all.
Take Brenda Bozeman, Leland’s mayor for 16 years, who had a seat between yours truly and Evans. A charming, down-home, old school gal from my Boomer Generation,
Bozeman is as friendly and as Southern as can be with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. We hit it off wonderfully — she with her red wine and me with a Flytrap Beer from one of the 16 taps — as we lamented that today’s young folks would likely not know the joys of having grown up when we did.
WANT TO GO?
Stage Right at Local's Tavern 1107 New Pointe Boulevard, Suite 9, Leland m (910) 769-1289
Then there was the peripatetic North Brunswick Magazine Publisher, Justin Williams, sprung from a recent hibernation, to visit Evans, who he has known for perhaps 20 years. Then again, he has known most everyone in Leland for 20 years, including Mayor Bozeman, who bought his first advert when his magazine publishing career was a-borning.
Even many of Evans’ regular patrons were on hand to celebrate. Take Gordon Nagle, who allegedly stops in two-to-three times A DAY. When Evans introduced me to Nagle, the affection between them was real. And Nagle was the craftsman who built the impressive cabinets behind the bar — gratis. Friends like that should generate real affection.
Evans’ staff, some of whom, like Corey and Amber, have been with her almost from day one. Amber was hard at work, but Corey was at the bar with us on her day off. That speaks volumes about her connection to Evans, especially
since it’s not just reserved for celebrations.
That’s because Evans takes care of her “family,” especially on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The particulars of that care will remain shrouded in mystery, but it’s enough to generate great loyalty to the woman who works seven days a week in Everybody’s Living Room.
The only downside to the visit — which did not deter us or the many who came for the party in any way — was the line of traffic exiting the area where
Local’s and Stage Right are situated. Seems that some construction on Ocean Gate forces everyone to use West Gate to exit onto Highway 17.
I inquired of Mayor Bozeman and Evans if they knew of a “back way” to avoid that traffic. The look they shared told me I would probably be enjoying a longer stay in The Living Room.
Local’s and Stage Right are hopping places. Here’s hoping Evans will be celebrating her “living room” at least as long as my new smoke alarm lasts, which is projected to be 10 years.
I’d be delighted to go to that celebration.
And, if I’m honest, just to be able to buy another 10-year smoke detector.
Sharon Evans
The Show Must Go On
Created by a local actress in memory of her late fiancé, PTPT Studio is a place where artists teach artists.
BY ANNA BETH ADCOCK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRE BURGE - THE PHOTO DISTRICT
HAIR, MAKEUP & STYLING BY ESSENTIA WITH CARLI
Emilia Torello’s love affair with the theater began as a 3-yearold girl toddling up the steps of Thalian Hall. That Downtown Wilmington stage is where the actress experienced multiple professional and personal milestones, from starring as Annie in Annie and playing Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird the following year to rites of passage like having her first real kiss — and her first real breakup backstage. Most meaningfully, the Thalian Hall stage is where Torello was swept off her feet by her late fiancé, Paul Teal, during a 2022 production of Newsies.
“My whole life has been a dream to accomplish, and it’s all come true at the Thalian Hall stage,” muses Torello.
Left, Emilia Torello, founder of Professional Theatrical Performance Training Studio (PTPT); below, Torello looking at PTPT's community wall, which includes pictures of their teaching artists, posters of favorite productions and photos of Paul Teal, who inspired the studio.
After graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in musical theater, Torello briefly returned to her hometown to star in the Newsies production. After the show wrapped, she made her way to Atlanta with Teal to pursue acting opportunities there.
“I truly believe Paul is my soulmate,” Torello says. “We were meant to find each other, and we did so much together in the short time we had.”
While the couple was in Atlanta, Teal learned he had stage IV neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer.
“Paul was given a seemingly impossible diagnosis, but never once did he treat it like it was impossible,” Torello says.
Shortly after learning he was sick, Teal told Torello he could not wait for people to know his story and that he hoped to inspire others to challenge what the world deems impossible.
“He never gave up, and he never stopped fighting,” Torello says. “For months after he passed, I was utterly devastated. I was left to grapple with all the love we shared and the things we built our future on that felt gone. But love itself is powerful and doesn’t go away — that’s what ended up bringing me out of it.”
Enter PTPT Studio.
Founded by Torello as a “living love letter” to her late fiancé, the Professional Theatrical Performance Training Studio is an elite performing arts school with classes taught by local artists for local artists and based in Thalian Hall, the place where Torello found her two true loves: with Teal and with the art of acting.
“I wanted to create a teaching theatre,” Torello says. “It felt like a sign from Paul and it hit me in the middle of the night — even the name. I was up until 4 am that morning typing things up.”
Torello’s vision for the school encompasses everything that a high-caliber performing arts institution should provide, starting with paying teachers fairly while making class prices accessible for students. They offer classes to educate the arts community in every subject from directing, acting 101 and improv to stage managing and choreography. While most courses and workshops at PTPT Studio are geared for those ages 16 and older, the studio’s dossier also includes a pre-professional program designed for younger performing artists ages 12 to 18.
Once inspiration struck Torello that September night, things moved quickly. She signed a lease at Thalian Hall for PTPT Studio by early December 2025.
“This is something for me and Paul to do together,” Torello says. “We are employing artists to practice their craft and teach others who are just as passionate.”
PTPT Studio is poised to elevate the
Founded by Torello as a “living love letter” to her late fiancé, the Professional Theatrical Performance Training Studio is an elite performing arts school with classes taught by local artists for local artists and based in Thalian Hall.
standard of theater overall, “creating a brave and safe space for artists,” as Torello puts it.
The first resident commercial renter at Thalian Hall, PTPT Studio also works to keep qualified arts professionals in the Wilmington area.
“I know people who have traveled as far as the United Kingdom to learn acting techniques,” Torello says.
“These highly qualified people with crazy credentials to teach [performing arts] are working at Starbucks or as bartenders. There are so many qualified people, and they are going to other places to teach. But why not here in Wilmington?”
When it comes to the courses, learning is set up using a classroom model with the classes mirroring what you might find at a BFA program.
“Our goal is not just to create another theatre company but to create a training center and make Wilmington more present as an arts scene,” Torello says.
What’s more, her hope is to enable all people, regardless of means or circumstance, to pursue the arts. Beyond offering reasonable class
prices to all students from the jump, PTPT Studio also offers Paul Teal Legacy Funding applications to provide full or partial assistance for those who need it — no proof required.
As for the future of the program, Torello’s vision is for her model to span beyond the Port City.
“I would love for PTPT Studio to be at the point where people are moving to Wilmington for the arts scene,” she says. “And I would love for it to be so well-formed that we can take this model to other cities and help them set it up too.”
As she continues to pursue a better future for performing artists, Torello brings it back to the person who once dreamed alongside her to achieve the impossible.
“Who Paul was is so infused in this studio,” Torello says. “Everything about him and the way he loved me influences how I run this community. Even though he’s not physically here, we are accomplishing our shared dream to inspire and change people’s lives for the better through PTPT Studio. I think that’s how I’m able to find some semblance of peace.”
THE NEXT STAGE
PTPT Studio K ptptstudio.com
Grab your tickets now for PTPT’s inaugural show, Dear Evan Hansen, running from May 21 to 31 at the North Front Theatre, in partnership with And Seen Theater.
The studio’s full season is slated to include Carrie the Musical, The Wolves and The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Stretch Zone
If you are looking to expand the boundaries of your physical health, Stretch Zone, a practitioner-assisted stretching studio, offers a life-changing experience to help you move efficiently and effortlessly.
“This is different from doing your stretching at home,” says Dr. Brian Heer, owner of Stretch Zone’s locations in Landfall and Midtown and its satellite studio in Leland. “Our method is designed to isolate and target specific muscles in a systematic way.”
All the work is done for you: You simply lie back and receive the full benefit.
“The results are leaps and bounds beyond what most people can accomplish on their own," Dr. Heer says.
Stretch Zone’s practitioners are knowledgeable professionals when it comes to anatomy, biomechanics and body positioning. Their expertise benefits everyone from former professional athletes to longtime desk workers to retirees looking to upkeep active recreational pursuits throughout their golden years.
With customizable sessions to target each individual client’s needs and goals, Stretch Zone operates with the MO that “no two bodies are the same, so neither should two stretching routines.” The sessions consist of a series of dynamic stretches that increase mobility, muscle function and active range-of-motion with the studios’ patented strapping system and proprietary tables that properly position, stabilize and isolate muscles.
“It’s something that doesn’t exist in many peoples’ healthcare routine,” Dr. Heer says. “But when used as a primary strategy, practitioner-assisted stretching is
a good preemptive strategy to avoid being in the orthopedic office.”
LEARN MORE
STRETCH ZONE
stretchzone.com
Landfall: 1705 Eastwood Road, Suite 5-1E, Wilmington, (910) 239-9333
Midtown: 3501 Oleander Drive, Suite 4C, Wilmington, (910) 660-8038
Don’t just take his word for it. The first-ever peer-reviewed research study on the benefits of the brand’s stretching, The Stretch Zone Effect, just released results showing that scientific evidence supports Stretch Zone’s approach and outcomes for overall quality of life.
Results showed that 85 percent of participants saw an improved range of motion, 78 percent self-reported reduced discomfort and 61 percent noticed greater ease in their daily activities. More than half reported better sleep at night.
When it comes to stretching that positively impacts your health and lifestyle, Dr. Heer says it is best to leave it to the experts.
“We know what we’re doing,” he says. “We know your anatomy and we know the sequence for results that are lasting, rather than winging it at home.”
For the stretch-curious, Stretch Zone offers memberships ranging from twice a month to 12 times a month and everything in between.
“We want to give people the power to decide how they do it,” Dr. Heer says. “We put the choice in the hands of our clients.”
Amelia Aesthetics Wilmington
Confidence is found at Amelia Aesthetics Wilmington, a fullservice plastic surgery practice specializing in aesthetic breast, body and facial rejuvenations along with med spa treatments and injectable services.
The practice’s flagship location is in Raleigh, but with many clients flocking in from Wilmington over the years, the team recognized an opportunity to open a Port City location. Amelia Aesthetics celebrated its Wilmington debut in the fall of 2025.
With a mission for every patient to be empowered to make informed decisions, the education-focused practice points its potential clients toward The Bustmob Facebook group, a global community of more than 115,000 women interested in aesthetics. There, they can ask questions and learn more about the procedures they are considering. To boot, Amelia Aesthetics has a dossier of free educational videos and materials to uplift and support patients throughout every stage of their aesthetic journey. With a small but mighty team of professionals who take joy and pride in their work, Amelia Aesthetics understands each client has one-of-a-kind needs and goals. With that in mind, the practice intentionally aims
to meet each person where they are, listen intently and exceed expectations through every one of its personalized aesthetic rejuvenations.
LEARN MORE
AMELIA AESTHETICS
1911 S. 17th Street, Suite 100, Wilmington (910) 225-4842
askamelia.com dr.azzolini.amelia
“I love what I do because I don’t just change appearances, I help people reclaim confidence and agency over their body,” says Dr. Anthony Azzolini.
“It is a privilege that I don’t take lightly. I love taking someone’s goals and bringing them to life. Most of all, I love seeing those first few Instagram photos posted by happy patients, because there is a visible change. It’s a mindset and a confidence that has been unleashed, often for the first time in a long time.”
As an added convenience and safety perk for patients, Amelia Aesthetics performs its surgical procedures on-site in its state-of-the-art surgical suite. With the understanding that an aesthetic journey is both exciting and unfamiliar for patients, the team at Amelia is intentional to curate a top-tier and investmentworthy experience for each client, which leaves them feeling seen, cared for and valued.
As a newer business to the Wilmington area, Amelia Aesthetics looks forward to collaborating with like-minded businesses and getting involved with community events and causes.
Interested in aesthetic surgery or med spa services?
To learn more join @thebustmob Facebook group and follow them @ dr.azzolini.amelia on Instagram
Ready to take the next step?
Book your complimentary surgical consultation with Dr. Azzolini at askamelia.com or a med spa treatment with Anastasia (@anastasia.at.amelia) at the Amelia Wilmington office.
Live Oak Dental Ribbon Cutting & Business
After Hours
February 26 at The Villages at Compass Pointe
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL RITENOUR
On February 26, Live Oak Dental celebrated its new Leland location at The Villages at Compass Pointe with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Business After Hours event. Dr. Dan Duffy and his staff were joined by fellow chamber members as they officially cut the ribbon and welcomed guests to the new office.
Learn more at northbrunswickchamber.com
Carolina Marketing Co. 20-Year Celebration
December 10 at End of Days Distillery
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MCGRAW
Carolina Marketing Company, publishers of North Brunswick Magazine, South Brunswick Magazine, SPTOKI Magazine, Topsail Magazine and Wrightsville Beach Magazine, celebrated 20 years of publishing in southeastern North Carolina during its annual Christmas party on December 10 at End of Days Distillery. Staff and contributors gathered to mark the occasion.
Learn more at carolinamarketingcompany.com
Live Oak Dental team members Jolei Richardson, Katlyn Curry, Dr. Dan Duffy, Dr. Holly Goodreau, Maddie Lewis
North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce members
Lisa Ayscue, Thom Kelly, Shari Leone, Brittany Reinert
North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce Business Expo
March 18 at Leland Cultural Arts Center
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL RITENOUR
The North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce hosted one of its most anticipated events of the year, with more than 60 vendors participating in the free community-wide Business Expo. Local businesses, families and professionals from across northern Brunswick County attended the event, which featured networking, food trucks, raffles and prize drawings.
Learn more at northbrunswickchamber.com/business-expo
Raise the Ruff Casino Night
March 7 at Hotel Ballast in Wilmington
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL RITENOUR
Paws Place Dog Rescue’s Raise the Ruff Casino Night drew nearly 300 guests to Hotel Ballast for an evening of fun and fundraising in support of rescue dogs. With help from more than 50 sponsors, including PMG Carolinas as the presenting sponsor, the sold-out event raised just over $91,000 to provide food, shelter, medical care and rehabilitation services for dogs in need. Guests enjoyed casino-style gaming, a silent auction, raffles and other festivities.
Learn more at pawsplace.org
Circle the Wagens Car Show
March 7 at Waterline Brewing Company in Wilmington
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
BILL RITENOUR
Waterline Brewing Company hosted its 6th annual Circle the Wagens Volkswagen Car Show, bringing vintage Volkswagens, local vendors and community members together for a day under the bridge in support of NourishNC. The event featured classic cars, giveaways, awards and a food drive, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting NourishNC.
