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captured our cover photo of Becca Ingle, founder of Ocean Isle Beachbased LainSnow swimwear, and her daughter, Lainey. See Ashley Daniels’ story about Ingle and her swimwear line on page 50. Now more than ever, personalized advice matters
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Bye Summer, Hello Fall
WWell, I had a heck of a summer, having fun near and far.
I took full advantage of all the goodness of southeastern North Carolina, from swimming in the ocean to catching sunsets and sunrises with my daughter, Ava. Even when I was working, going along on photoshoots for our magazines and attending events in all our local beach towns, I felt like I was soaking up the best of summer.
We also traveled quite a bit. We visited nearby Charleston, South Carolina; went to see the Rolling Stones in Orlando, Florida; and attempted a Stevie Nicks concert in Hershey, Pennsylvania — only to have it postponed while we were in line.
While the summer was a blast, I am stoked to return to a more normal schedule this fall. As the tourist season winds down, I always look forward to checking back in with each of our advertising clients, hearing about their summers and their goals for the upcoming year. I also look forward to catching up with the locals at all the great fall events, like the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament, Brunswick County Intercultural Festival, NC Oyster Festival and NC Festival By The Sea.
unpacking service, Zach Unpacks, at age 14; Tripp Hooks, a fisherman who is leading the next generation of recreational guides in Ocean Isle Beach; and Andrew Spaugh, founder of OIB Kahuna and now a documentary filmmaker. Plus you’ll learn about two women who offer selfless service to Brunswick County. As always, we tell you about upcoming events and offer some recipes for the fall season.
I hope you soaked up the best of summer too and that your fall is full of even more fun. Thanks for reading South Brunswick Magazine!
Our writers and photographers have been busy preparing stories for this issue, and we are excited to share them with you. On the following pages you’ll meet several local entrepreneurs, including Becca Ingle, who founded a swimwear line known as LainSnow; Zach Bailey, who founded his vacation
Justin Williams Owner/Publisher
Ashley Daniels
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Based in Myrtle Beach, I am a full-time freelance writer, wife and mother of three sons. My folio boasts nearly 20 years of regionally and nationally published work, including profiles on such South Carolina celebs as Darius Rucker, Dustin Johnson, Vanna White, Nancy O’Dell, the late author Mickey Spillane and more. I’ve also taken home two Best of Show ADDY awards and numerous silver ADDYs for my copywriting work that ranges from travel/tourism and hospitality campaigns to food and apparel retail, telecommunications and more. I received my BA in English writing from the University of Pittsburgh and my MA in writing from Coastal Carolina University. When I’m not in front of my laptop, I’m by the water on the beach or on the water on the boat with my family.
Jo Ann Mathews
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I was a freelance writer and English teacher before my husband, Steve, and I moved from Flossmoor, Illinois, to Ocean Isle Beach in 2000. Our son, Steven, lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with his wife, Meghan, and their three sons. Our son, Jeffrey, lives in San Francisco with his wife, Anne. I enjoy swimming, jazz, needlepoint and my Kindle, where my book Women and Adversity, Honoring 23 Black Women is available.
K jamathews.com
Matt McGraw
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
I started out in newspaper world, shooting the NBA, NCAA and MLB in the Midwest. Those were awesome experiences that paved the way for my style of photography today. I started shooting weddings in 2002, and now I average around 50 weddings a year, along with about 150 family photo sessions a year. With McGraw Photo Consulting, I am also a photo consultant, primarily in the dental business. I love traveling, and I love what I do for a living.
The Veteran’s Affairs Committee (VAC) of the Calabash Elks Lodge recently made a $1,000 donation to the American Legion Post 68 BE-THE-ONE Program. The mission of the BE-THE-ONE Program is destigmatize asking for mental health support; provide peer-to-peer support and resources in local communities; deploy FDA-approved therapeutics for veterans to identify issues and find resources for support; and educate everyone on how to address the number 1 issue facing the veteran community — suicide. Veterans are encouraged to Be-the-One to talk with others about how they are feeling; ask for help when you know you need it; know there are people ready to help them; remember family and friends’ care. Family, friends or associates are encouraged to Be-the-One to: ask veterans in your life how they are doing; listen when a veteran needs to talk; and reach out when a veteran is struggling. If you are a veteran who needs help or if you know a veteran who needs help, contact the VETERANS CRISIS LINE at 988, then press 1.
Ribbon Cutting for Two Hawk License Plate Agency
On June 25 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce announced held a grand-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Two Hawk License Plate Agency in Shallotte. This opening means no more long drives for license plate
services because now they are available in Shallotte. The new office is at 5300 Main Street in Shallotte.
Men’s Grilled Dinner Group Presents Donation to Ocean Ridge
Charities Association
John Santini from the Ocean Ridge Plantation’s Men’s Grilled Dinner Group recently presented a donation of $1,856 to Mary Perno, president of the Ocean Ridge Charities Association (ORCA). The donation will be split equally between the Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center and the Carousel Child Advocacy Center. The men raised the money by cooking hamburgers and hotdogs for Ocean Ridge residents during the community’s Social Activities Committee May and June Tunes at the Pool, the SAC Opportunity Rocks concert held in June and by member donations during their June dinner.
Ribbon Cutting for Port City Pest
On June 20 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce celebrated in style at Tap Time in OIB for a special After Hours and ribbon-cutting event for Port City Pest Control. Many came to join as Port City Pest Control was welcomed to the chamber with open arms and cheers. Locally owned and operated, they specialize in both commercial and residential pest management, offering a No Mosquito Guarantee. Attendees had the opportunity to network, celebrate and learn more about how Port City Pest Control can keep your spaces pest-free.
VFW Calabash Post 7288 Remembers the Fallen on Memorial
Day
A crowd of 150 veterans and their friends and families gathered in Calabash to commemorate Memorial Day. The West Brunswick High School JROTC color guard posted the National colors while those gathered rose for the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the National Anthem. Keynote speaker was Colonel Donald Whitfield. U. S. Army (ret.). Auxiliary president Wayne Weszka read a poem dedicated to Auxiliary members who have passed away. The VFW Auxiliary placed a wreath in remembrance of not only the fallen heroes, but also their auxiliary comrades who passed during the past year. Chaplain Jim Stueve read the roll of those veteran members who passed during the last year, while the Officer of the Day Jay Bertha tolled a bell in their honor. Outside, the rifle salute was fired in their honor, followed by the somber playing of “Taps.” Auxiliary Chaplain Julia Larsen closed the ceremony with a prayer and then led the members and guests in the singing of “America the Beautiful.” The VFW Auxiliary served hot dogs and cake to the crowd who mingled with the vets and each other before departing to enjoy the remainder of a beautiful Memorial Day.
Marine Corps League Detachment #1005 Donates More than $4,000 to Local Causes
Marine Corps League Paul Ray Purgason Detachment #1005 in Shallotte has contributed more than $4,000 to needy organizations in Brunswick County this year, including Brunswick Family Assistance, Warm Home Warm Hearts, the Keeping Every Youth Successful program, Hope Harbor Home, and many others. Yet many people are not familiar with the Marine Corps League. Incorporated by an act of Congress in 1937, the Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of all Marines and Navy FMF Corpsmen, who proudly wear or have worn the eagle, globe
and anchor of the Corps. The League is the only federally chartered Marine Corps-related veterans organization. Today, it boasts a membership of more than 60,000 and is one of the few veterans organizations that experiences an increase in its membership each year. There are more than 60 Marine Corps League Detachments in North Carolina, one of which is the Paul Ray Purgason Detachment #1005 located in Shallotte. Detachment #1005 takes pride in serving Marines and their families.
Brunswick Community College Dolphins Play in National Championship
The Brunswick Community College Dolphins baseball team capped off a historic 2024 season by finishing as the National Runner-Up at the NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series in Enid, Oklahoma. The Dolphins advanced to the National Championship game before falling just short of the program’s first national title. The Dolphins set a new school record for wins with a 51-10 season. The 51 wins shattered the previous single-season school record of 40 set in 2018. The Dolphins entered the NJCAA Division II World Series as the #2 overall seed after claiming Region X Champions East Champions, Region X Tournament Champions and South WHAT’S HAPPENED
Atlantic District Champions titles. Key wins over the nation’s top competition highlighted BCC’s stellar tournament run in Enid before a narrow loss in the final game. In BCC’s fourth appearance at the World Series, this team is the first in program history to advance to the NJCAA Division II National Championship game. When the Dolphins returned to campus, they were welcomed back by BCC staff, family members and fans celebrating their incredible achievement of making it to the national championship game.
Sea Trail Garden Holds Charity Fashion Show
Sea Trail Golf Resort’s newly renovated Convention Center recently hosted the Sea Trail Garden Club’s annual fashion show. More than 350 people attended the event, raising $17,000 for charities in Brunswick County. Fashion for the event was provided by J. Huffman, a women’s boutique in Sunset Beach. The Sea Trail Garden Club is a social and philanthropic organization for newcomers, members and guests in the Sea Trail community.
Ribbon Cutting for The Pour House
On June 13 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Pour House. Many people came out to celebrate with The Pour House, a first of its kind in town with a full bar and endless
entertainment, from the best music to games like corn hole, ping pong, darts, skee ball and so much more. Find it at 4802 Main Street in Shallotte.
Grand-Opening Ribbon Cutting for Calabash Marina
On June 15 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce hosted a grand-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Calabash Marina. Attendees were able to tour the marina facility, which offers state-of-the-art boat storage, fuel docks, maintenance services and a ship’s store plus convenient ocean access. The marina is at 1207 Riverview Drive in Calabash.
Ribbon Cutting for Christian Recovery Center Thrift Store
On July 20 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new CRCI Thrift Store in Sunset Beach. The previous location of Sugar Kingdom was fully converted into a 10,000-square-foot CRCI Thrift Store at 1680 Seaside Road SW. The support of their already existing location in Shallotte continues to build and grow, and they are so grateful to now provide a way for them to reach into another community with this great service.
Calabash Elks Donate To Meals on Wheels
The Calabash Elks Lodge recently donated $1,500 to The Brunswick Center at Calabash for its Meals-on-Wheels program. This program currently provides daily meals to between 100 and 120 homebound clients, many of whom are veterans. Donations such as this significantly help improve the quality of food as well as the quantity of food they can deliver.
BCC Participates in Forty & Eight Annual Celebration
Brunswick Community College (BCC) representatives were honored to be among the special guests at the Forty & Eight (40 & 8) Voiture 245 Annual Banquet. BCC President Gene Smith, the Foundation of BCC Executive Director Teresa Nelson and Nursing student and scholarship recipient Chelsea Vassaur, accompanied by her mother Kathleen Vassaur, joined 40 & 8 members to celebrate the organization’s longtime support of nursing. The 40 & 8 was formed in 1920 by American Legionnaires. It got its name from the French railroad and its 40/8 boxcars. This independent, invitation-only honor society of American veterans and service members has contributed more than $10,000 in scholarships to BCC nursing students. Scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding students committed to bringing quality nursing skills to their patients.
Local Students Awarded National Scholarship through Foundation for Rural Service
Two local students living in the FOCUS Broadband service area were recently awarded scholarships through the Foundation for Rural Services (FRS), an organization that supports rural telecommunication companies and their members. This year, more than 1,300 students in rural communities across the nation applied, and only 55 students were selected. Alicia High and Bryce Harrelson are recipients of a $1,000 FRS Roger Alan Cox Scholarship. High, of Ash, attends NC State and majors in chemical engineering. Harrelson, of Whiteville, attends Campbell University and majors in engineering.
BCC Foundation Announces Support for Nursing and Military Students
The Foundation of Brunswick Community College (BCC) is proud to announce the continued support of the Sons of the American Legion Post 503, whose generous contributions have been instrumental in providing scholarship opportunities and support to active-duty military, veterans and their family members. Since 2013, the Sons of the American Legion have consistently supported BCC, and their contributions have significantly impacted the lives of
our students. Their support has provided a dedicated nursing student scholarship and played a vital role in supporting the PAVE Program. This institutional workstudy initiative has been a lifeline for veterans, helping them gain employment while pursuing their education. It has bridged the financial gap between what the GI Bill provides and the total cost of education, including living expenses, for many BCC students.
The Knights of Columbus 9039 Completes Adopt-A-Highway Project
The Knights of Columbus Council 9039 from St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church in Shallotte recently completed its second quarterly Adopt-A-Highway project on June 29. Seventeen Knights collected 28 bags of trash on the assigned route along Old Georgetown Road between Ocean Isle Beach Road SW and Hale Swamp Road SW, approximately 1.8 miles.
Sunset Vision Recognizes Sunset Beach Fire Department
Sunset Vision presented a certificate of appreciation to the Sunset Beach Fire Department for its continuing support of the Sunset Vision Community Blood Drive held each July. This year’s blood drive, held on July 24, yielded 31 units of blood for the Red Cross to help save the lives of those in need. The Fire Department has for the past few years allowed their training room to be used by the Red Cross for this annual event. There is currently a severe shortage of blood donations to meet the increased need for blood in hospitals in North Carolina.
Brunswick County Rotarians, Rotary Clubs Receive District Awards
Four Brunswick County Rotary Clubs and six individual Brunswick County Rotarians received awards at the Rotary District 7730 awards luncheon and district governor’s installation on June 29 at Waterline Brewing in Wilmington. The Leland Area Rotary Club, Shallotte Rotary Club, Southport Rotary Club and South Brunswick Island Rotary Club each received the District Governor’s Award, which recognizes broad-based activities and achievements across numerous areas, including service, planning, membership, Rotary Foundation giving, leadership and fun.
Individual Brunswick County Rotarians receiving district awards were:
• District Swiss Army Knife: LIN KELLY, South Brunswick Islands Rotary Club. According to Immediate Past District Governor Allen Quigley, Kelly earned this award because she “handles everything.” Quigley says that if you need a question answered, need a solution to a problem or need some district historical knowledge, you call Lin Kelly.
• Exemplary Service Award: KEN DRESSER, South Brunswick Islands Rotary Club. Quigley describes Dresser as a “behind-the-scenes guy” who is always available and credits his work with helping make this year’s district conference a success.
• #1 Draft Pick: BERNIE JENNINGS, Shallotte Rotary Club. Quigley describes Jennings as a number one pick who transferred in from another Rotary District. According to Quigley, “She led us through the district conference and is our district ‘Rotarizer.’ She became a trusted advisor and friend.”
• MVP: CHRIS STEVENSON , Leland resident and member of the District 7730 Passport virtual Rotary Club.
According to Quigley, Stevenson was invaluable in the planning process for district training, foundation events, Polio Plus events and “anywhere I needed expert advice.” Stevenson also took on the role of Assistant Governor for Area 5.
• Create Hope in the World Award: FRANK WILLIAMS of the Leland Area Rotary Club, presented in recognition of his efforts in organizing the Brunswick County Mental Health Summit.
• Rotarian of the Year: SHAWN BRASWELL of the Southport Rotary Club and the outgoing Assistant Governor for Area 4, which includes all of Brunswick County. According to Quigley, “this was a no-brainer for me.” Braswell served as the District Public Image Chair, revamped the district website, developed a social media strategy, designed graphics and materials for district announcements and much more. She also served as District Governor Nominee Designate for the past year and is now the District Governor Nominee, placing her in line to be the District Governor in 2026-27.
Lin Kelly
Ken Dresser
Chris Stevenson
Frank Williams
Shawn Braswell
Bernie Jennings
U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament
October 3 to 5
Forty-five years ago a group of community leaders decided they needed an event to showcase the great fall fishing of the SouthportOak Island area. The prizes and expenses for the first tournament were guaranteed by those community leaders signing a promissory note at a local financial institution, and the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament was born. Now an annual event, it attracts more than 400 boats of all sizes and is held in high esteem by the community and anglers. This multiple-day fishing tournament is held at Dutchman Creek Park in Southport, and registration is open now.
Information: usopenkmt.com
Sunset at Sunset
October 5
Sunset at Sunset, a fall festival in the heart of Sunset Beach, features a wealth of vendors, an artisans market, kids’ games and activities and fantastic live music and food trucks. The 17th annual Sunset at Sunset festival will be held from 10 am to 5 pm in Sunset Beach Park, 200 Sunset Boulevard N. Shuttle buses will provide convenient, free transportation to the event site.
Information: sunsetbeachnc.gov
Brunswick County Intercultural Festival
October 12
A day of music, dance, food and art, Brunswick County Intercultural Festival brings the world to Brunswick County. All ages will enjoy learning about the world’s cultures in the International Village and enjoy crafts and food from around the world. The event is held at Brunswick Riverwalk Park in Belville on October 12 starting at 11 am.
Information: bcifestival.org
NC Oyster Festival
October 19 & 20
Celebrate everything oyster as the Town of Ocean Isle Beach transforms Town Center Park into a walking district offering a variety of foods, arts and crafts, contests and live musical performances. With the support of a dedicated committee of volunteers, the Town of Ocean Isle Beach, local businesses and the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce, the NC Oyster Festival a destination for two days of food, fun, music and art.
Information: ncoysterfestival.com
Run Ocean Isle Beach
October 26
Coastal Race Productions’ Run Ocean Isle Beach event features fast and flat courses for a Half-Marathon,10K, 5K and 1-Miler in a beautiful island location. The after party includes a DJ, Beer and BBQ. Registration is available online, and there is a virtual event as well.
Information: coastalraceproductions.com
NC Oyster Festival
Calabash Turkey Trot
Sunset at Sunset
Calabash Oktoberfest
Brunswick County Intercultural Festival
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Calabash Oktoberfest
October 26
Celebrate the 11th Annual Calabash Oktoberfest on October 26. Enjoy Bavarian food, Oktoberfest beer, vendors, a beer stein-holding contest (Masskrugstemmen), arm-wrestling contests, hammerschlagen contests and, new this year, a cornhole tournament! Enjoy the festivities in an unbeatable biergarten atmosphere featuring an all-day music performance by the Harbour Towne Fest band.
Information: facebook.com/ calabashoktoberfest/
NC Festival by the Sea
October 26 & 27
The NC Festival by the Sea is an annual coastal arts & crafts festival in the heart of Holden Beach. It features art by local craftsmen across a variety of media, live entertainment, contests, food vendors and children’s activities. There is plenty of fun for the whole family, and it’s the only day of the year you can walk across the Holden Beach bridge. Vendors are open 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 9 am to 4 pm on Sunday.
Registration is open for the 5th annual Calabash Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. You can sign up for the 10K, 5K or the Mashed Potato Miler or run all three, which is the Ultimate Feast Challenge. Prize categories include the top three overall female/male, top three masters female/male, the winners of several age groups and the best costume. Pumpkin pie will be served at the finish line, with awards to follow.
Information: coastalraceproductions.com
EVERYDAY HEROES
The public is invited to join Carousel Child Advocacy Center in recognizing Brunswick Sheriff’s Office at its first Everyday Heroes Award Luncheon on October 9.
Carousel Child Advocacy Center (CCAC), southeastern North Carolina’s only nationally accredited child advocacy center, has announced that the Brunswick Sheriff’s Office will be the first recipient of the Everyday Heroes Award at the Everyday Heroes Award Luncheon on October 9 at Brunswick Community College.
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HEALTHY HABITS
N.C. Cooperative Extension – Brunswick County Center
Nutrition Education Angie Lawrence teaches Smart Start programs how to be healthier.
Angie Lawrence, Brunswick County Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) nutrition educator, led a dynamic opening workshop for the SCAPNC in-service training in Red Springs, North Carolina, on August 19. This event brought together representatives from seven counties and 15 Head Start sites.
During the workshop, Lawrence introduced EFNEP and its role in supporting the health and well-being of Head Start staff, preschoolers and families health through the Head Start family partnership agreement.
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FRESH FISH AND FRIENDLINESS
by Kurt Epps, a.k.a.
The PubScout
The PubScout finds more than local, wild-caught seafood at the Fish Peddler seafood markets in Southport and Supply.
I don’t fish. Why should I?
Out riding my Harley, I came upon a neat little marina in Holden Beach at the end of Old Ferry Road. I stop, shut the bike off and begin to snap pictures.
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IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES
Brunswick County has been recognized for participating in a new child welfare program. On July 17 Brunswick County Social Services’ Child Welfare team received a Certificate of Recognition from the North Carolina Psychiatry Access Line (NC-PAL) for engaging in the 2023-2024 NC-PAL Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative for Child Welfare (PPC-CW) Pilot Program. Brunswick County is one of three counties that volunteered to participate.
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CLIMATE ACTION HEROES
by Jo Ann Mathews
A new exhibit at the Museum of Coastal Carolina uses familiar cartoon characters to help all ages learn ways to protect the environment. Children will recognize SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and PAW Patrol characters in the newest interactive exhibit at the Museum of Coastal Carolina. These cartoon figures have become Climate Action Heroes and encourage children to become Climate Action Heroes as well. Children can accomplish this by being aware of ways to protect our environment.
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NEW LEADER AT COLDWELL BANKER SEA COAST ADVANTAGE
Shelly Morrow has been named managing broker of the southern Brunswick County offices in Shallotte, Holden Beach and Calabash. Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage has named Shelly Morrow as managing broker of the firm’s southern Brunswick County offices.
Morrow began her career in real estate in 2016 and quickly grew her business to become a top producer with the firm in Brunswick County. | CONTINUE READING ONLINE |
PHOTO BY JO ANN MATHEWS
The Maple Old Fashioned, a twist on the classic, will have you falling in love with this whiskey cocktail all over again!
The OldFashioned Way
BY THERESA RAVENCRAFT
IIf there is a favorite among classic cocktails, the Old Fashioned would have to be at the top of the list. A simple yet satisfying mixture of whiskey, bitters, orange peel and sugar gets poured over a single, hefty ice cube that is large enough to fill a whiskey glass. It is crafted to be stirred often and sipped slowly.
How did this classic drink get its name? The blend dates to the late 1700s and quickly became popular. Shortly after, bartenders began to add garnishes and other liquors to the drink’s traditional mix of ingredients. Many patrons were not impressed by the changes being made to their favorite whiskey cocktail. As a way to show their dislike for these additions, they would order their drinks “the old-fashioned way.”
Knowing full well that it is not recommended to fix something
that certainly isn’t broken, I’ve kept my innovations to a minimum. But I could not resist making a fall version of this tasty, smooth whiskey libation. By adding two simple elements, you can create a flavorful Maple Old Fashioned, an autumnal version of the original.
Add a taste of fall to the glass by stirring in real maple syrup instead of sugar and water. It adds a warm maple flavor to the mix and makes a perfectly sweetened cocktail. I also like to serve the cocktail with a cinnamon stick that can be used for stirring and infuses the glass with some subtle spicy notes. Burn the end of the cinnamon stick before stirring your cocktail to add a slightly smoky flavor. While the old-fashioned way of making a whiskey cocktail may be the standard, this seasonal spin creates an inviting blend that highlights the flavors of fall.
MAPLE OLD FASHIONED
Makes 1 cocktail
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
3 or 4 dashes of Angostura Bitters
1 tablespoon real maple syrup
orange peel
cinnamon stick for garnish
METHOD
Add a large ice cube to a whiskey glass. Pour the bourbon over the ice and stir to chill the bourbon. Add the bitters and the maple syrup. Twist an orange peel over the drink to release the oil, then drop the peel into the glass. Serve the drink with a cinnamon stick on the rim of the glass for stirring.
WHAT’S COOKIN’ WITH SOUTHERN SANDI
Blue Crab Bliss
Better than takeout, these homemade crab rangoons are stuffed with local crab meat and baked to crispy perfection.
BY SANDI GRIGG PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES STEFIUK
IIn my household we order takeout Chinese food every few months. Our typical order includes wonton soup, sweet ‘n sour chicken with white rice, pork mei fun, shrimp fried rice and crab rangoons, which we like to dip in sweet ‘n sour sauce. Also referred to as crab puffs, cream cheese wontons or crab pillows, crab rangoons are one of my favorite items on a Chinese-American restaurant menu, so I have eaten my fair share of them. The contrast between the crispy wonton exterior and the smooth, rich crab filling dipped into a sweet pool of sauce is divine. While most are super tasty, I have had some that were too runny, lacking in flavor or just tasted like I just licked a FryDaddy.
I thought it would be fun to perfect crab rangoons with sweet ‘n sour sauce in my own kitchen. Crab rangoons are typically fried, but my recipe is oven-baked to perfection with all the creamy goodness yet fewer calories thanks to oven baking. My version also makes for an easier clean-up by omitting the components and mess of deep frying. These turned out well. I have developed what I think is the perfect balance of creamy and flavorful filling and shatteringly crispy outside. Most crab rangoon recipes call for imitation crab meat, but why use imitation when we have fresh blue crab meat available to us? Blue crabs are one of North Carolina’s most valuable commercial fisheries. Blue crab meat is sweet and flavorful delicacy — so let’s take advantage.
While these baked crab rangoons take a bit of time to make, I assure you that you can make these and devour them before you can order Chinese and have it delivered. Plus, they will taste better!
Have a recipe request for Southern Sandi? Shoot a message to Sandi@CarolinaMarketingCompany.com
Baked Blue Crab Rangoons with Sweet ‘n and Sour Sauce
INGREDIENTS
For the rangoons
12 oz. package of wonton wrappers
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
3 oz. blue crab meat
2 green onions, chopped
1½ teaspoons minced garlic
½ teaspoon
Worcestershire sauce
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 egg
splash of water
For the Sauce
1 cup pineapple juice
¾ cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup rice vinegar
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons soy sauce
Cornstarch thickener (1½ tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water)
¼ cup maraschino cherry syrup (from the jar)
METHOD
For the rangoons
Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, crab meat, green onions, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, soy sauce and sugar.
In a small dish whisk the egg and a splash of water.
Lay one wonton wrapper on a dry clean work surface and place one tablespoon of crab mixture in the center of the wonton.
Dip your finger into the dish of egg wash and run it along the entire edge of the wonton wrapper. Gather the four corners of the wrapper and bring them up to the center, pressing the edges in and down removing the air from inside and creating a sealed, closed wonton.
Repeat until all the wontons are filled.
Line the rangoons on a greased baking sheet and place in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the tops are golden.
For the sauce
Put all the ingredients, except the cornstarch thickener and food coloring, in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer until thickened (about 1 minute) stirring constantly.
Add in the cherry syrup.
Let the sauce cool and serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
IT IN
CAPTAIN TRIPP HOOKS, OWNER OF CAPT’N HOOK OUTDOORS, IS A DRIVING FORCE AMONG THE NEXT GENERATION OF FISHERMEN AT OCEAN ISLE BEACH.
BY THERESA RAVENCRAFT
Captain Tripp Hooks reaches into the live well for a shrimp and carefully threads it onto a hook. With a sharp snap of his arm, he casts the line into the still morning waters, effortlessly dropping it in the perfect spot. As he hands it to me, he says “When you get a bite, reel it in!”
Two minutes later, after watching the line like a hawk spying its prey, I feel a tug and reel.
“You’ve got a speckled trout, it’s good size,” Hooks says.
“But how do you know that?” I ask. “I can’t even see a fish yet.
“I just know,” he says with a smile.
PHOTO BY
THERESA RAVENCRAFT
Hooks, owner of Capt’n Hook Outdoors, was born and raised in Ocean Isle Beach and has been fishing in the surrounding area for most of his life. After securing his captain’s license at age 18, he began running inshore fishing charters along the Intracoastal Waterway.
“My dad was a charter captain,” he says. “He always did offshore charters. We were lucky if we actually got to do 50% of the charters he booked, due to weather conditions. So when I started my business, we thought it would be best to do inshore charters.”
Hooks’ father, David Hooks, Jr., has been his biggest inspiration.
“He was a captain for at least 20 years,” Hooks says. “When I was born, he began commercial fishing and did that until I was 14 years old. He was always busy. I went on fishing charters with him, and he taught me so much. He works mostly on boat mechanics now and occasionally works with me.”
There are clear advantages to booking a charter with an experienced captain.
“On a charter, it’s nice because we know the waters like
CONTRIBUTED
PHOTO
PHOTO BY THERESA RAVENCRAFT
Fishing in the Speckled Studs Trout Tournament out of Murrells Inlet.
the back of our hand,” Hooks says. “A lot of people who come out on their own don’t know where to fish and how to navigate the area like we do.”
Hooks says the growth in tourism and the increase in the number of charter fishing companies has impacted his business.
“It’s tougher now to catch fish than it used to be,” he says. “It was easier when I was a kid fishing with my grandpa. Now there are more people on the water and more charter businesses fishing throughout the ICW.”
While Hooks excels at commercial and recreational fishing, he has also made a name for himself in the world of competitive sportfishing along the coast. His team, Orange Crush, placed near the top in the Kingfish Cup Championship in November 2023.
“We got second place and the most money we have ever won,” he says.
...WE KNOW THE WATERS LIKE THE BACK OF OUR HAND. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME OUT ON
THEIR OWN DON’T KNOW WHERE TO FISH AND HOW TO NAVIGATE THE AREA LIKE WE DO
Hunter Williams, John Cooke and Cole Clemmons compete with Hooks on the Orange Crush.
“I met Cole playing baseball when I was younger,” Hooks says. “We became close friends when we both went to Brunswick Community College.”
Clemmons is a fourth-generation farmer who works with his father on their family farm in Supply.
“My father and granddad had a boat called Orange Crush that they used for fishing tournaments,” Clemmons says. “But the farm always kept them busy. So, Tripp and I began using the boat for king mackerel tournaments in 2021, and we’ve been fishing together ever since.”
Qualifying teams for the Kingfish Cup Championship leave the dock at 7 am and must return with their two best fish by 4 pm. Fish are weighed later that evening, and the winners are awarded a trophy and cash prizes.
Clockwise from top: Hunter Williams, Jimmy Dever, Tim Disano and Tripp Hooks fishing in a redfish tournament; passing Sharky’s along the commercial canal in Ocean Isle Beach; story author Theresa Ravencraft catching a redfish on Hooks’ boat.
“It was a lot of joy and a lot of nerves,” Clemmons says. “We ended up catching a 36-pound fish first. The second fish was a little over 30 pounds. Our aggregate total put us in second place. It was surreal. That’s the best we’ve ever done.”
Only teams that place in the top 25 for the series qualify for the Kingfish Cup Championship.
“We hope to be in the cup again this year,” Hooks says. “After only two tournaments, it has been a terrible season so far. The weather has been rough. It hasn’t allowed boats to go
PHOTO
where they need to be and that keeps us close to shore.”
The next two tournaments in the King Mackerel series are Rumble in the Jungle in midOctober and the Fall Brawl King Classic held in early November at Ocean Isle Fishing Center. After competing in all four events, the top 25 teams are invited to participate in the Kingfish Cup Championship beginning on November 15.
Hooks also competes in the Redfish Inshore Tournament with a team of local commercial fishermen including Jimmy Dever, Tim Disano and Hunter Williams. Together they are known as Kook Tacos. They have won several tournaments this season and in August 2024 ranked first in The Fisherman’s Post Inshore Trail standings.
Whether competing in a tournament or taking charter guests on an adventure along the Intracoastal Waterway, fishing has become a way of life for Hooks. He enjoys many aspects of his work, but finds the most joy in helping others reel in a good fish.
“I definitely like showing people the area where I grew up,” he says. “And it’s always fun to watch little kids catch a great big fish.”
Compassionate Canine
Caren Distel’s Labrador, Skyler, has become a star therapy dog and a comfort for the residents at Arbor Landing.
STORY & PHOTOS BY JO ANN MATHEWS
AA yellow Labrador retriever that helps with the laundry, uses a computer and sings? Is this from an animated Disney film? Not at all.
“I taught her tricks when she was a few weeks old,” says Caren Distel of Ocean Isle Beach, owner of nine-yearold Skyler. “The vet said she never saw a dog so smart.”
At 18-months, Skyler was certified with Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc. The purpose of a therapy dog is to make people happy, Distel says.
Skyler’s silky fur has a variety of shades from ivory to deep caramel, and she welcomes everyone to run their
fingers through it. She maneuvers her 75 pounds to get more pats, especially on her hind quarters. Every Friday Skyler visits residents of Arbor Landing and occasionally performs her tricks for them.
“It’s wonderful for our residents,” says Kathy D’Ambrosia, memory care unit activities director. “It’s a warm, fuzzy experience. They just love the dogs.”
“I like the interaction with the dogs and the residents,” says Amy Mullins, independent living activities director.
The women assist Distel in having Skyler in a position to have her picture taken with residents.
Distel says of the four Labs she and her husband, Bob, have owned, Skyler is the most receptive to learning. She breezed through “sit,” “shake hands” and “bye, bye,” but Distel had ideas for advanced activities. The laundry is one of them.
When Skyler sees the basket of dirty clothes in front of the washer, she’s ready to help. She picks one item, hands it to Distel, who drops it in the washer, then picks up another.
“She talks to me during this process by going ‘Ar, Ar, Ar,’ and I say, ‘I don’t like doing it either,’” Distel says. “If she loses interest, I give her one Cheerio [from the cereal box], and she starts again.”
Another child wanted her to learn the song “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” so Distel sang the song, waved her hand like a conductor and urged Skyler to sing along. Skyler’s woofs fulfilled the request.
Distel consulted 101 Dog Tricks by Kyra Sundance and Chalcy and How to be Your
The couple doesn’t know what changed Skyler’s demeanor, but at 11 months old she turned charming. “
Distel says she trained Skyler on Cheerios and contacted General Mills with the story. She later received several coupons to buy more.
Another advanced trick is using the computer. Distel says when she worked with special needs children, they would give Skyler assignments. One was to send an email. Distel put the keyboard on the floor and taught Skyler to push the “send” button. “It was a piece of cake,” she says.
Dog’s Best Friend by Monks of New Skete to increase Skyler’s range of tricks. One trick she avoided teaching was “how to open the fridge and bring me a beer.”
Skyler’s persona wasn’t always agreeable. The runt of a 12-puppy litter, she was eight weeks old and a mere five pounds when she joined the Distel family.
“We called her destructo-muttco demon dog,” Distel says.
“Of all the dogs we’ve had, she was the worst puppy. She was a nightmare.”
“She ate everything — my wallet, my socks,” Bob says.
“A pair of binoculars,” Distel adds.
The couple doesn’t know what changed Skyler’s demeanor,
but at 11 months old she turned charming.
“It was like someone flipped a switch or she grew a brain,” Distel says. “She was a pure joy.”
Life has not always been full of tricks for Skyler. When she was four, Distel felt a pea-sized lump on her groin. An oncologist diagnosed it as an aggressive form of cancer. After surgery and eight rounds of chemotherapy, Skyler was declared a survivor. Every six months veterinarians at Blue Pearl Specialty Hospital in Raleigh give her a thorough physical.
“We have dog insurance, thank God,” Distel says.
The bout with cancer instigated the Skyler Fan Club. “We send a picture of Skyler to friends every week,” Distel says.
Distel’s desire to own a therapy dog began while living in Farmington, Connecticut. A friend dying from brain cancer told her the best part of the day was with the therapy dog. Distel decided, “I’m going to do that.” She saw positive results many times and relates how an autistic child with uncontrollable arm movements became calm when he saw Skyler.
Before moving south, Distel was a certified fitness specialist at the YMCA in Plainville, Connecticut. She knew cardiopulmonary resuscitation and saved a student’s life by administering it for 15 minutes before an ambulance arrived. She continued two-person CPR until they reached the hospital. A certificate of merit from President Ronald Reagan signed hangs in a hallway at her home. With this notoriety, the Red Cross hired her as a workplace training instructor then an instructor trainer, which she did for 15 years. Overall, she worked for the Red Cross for 38 years.
“It was rewarding to teach people who came back to tell me they saved a life,” she says.
Distel is also known as the Flower Lady. By experimenting with varieties of plants, she has nearly three dozen plants and flowers from orchids to philodendrons to camellias and cactuses in her kitchen area.
“I call myself the Accidental Gardener because years ago I killed everything,” she says. She brings an
arrangement to almost every place she goes, including doctors’ and dentists’ appointments.
When she approached retirement, Distel wondered about a meaningful way to give back and have fun doing it.
“In my wildest dreams I never could have believed how rewarding it is to be doing pet therapy work,” she says.
Thinking of Buying or Selling?
AWARD WINNER
LainSnow swimwear owner Becca Ingle shares her secrets to making a splash online.
BY ASHLEY DANIELS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGAN DEITZ
A SISTERHOOD OF
swim
Becca Ingle has made a name for herself (and her daughter) in all the right ways.
The seasoned travel blogger and mom of two founded LainSnow, a swimwear line based in Ocean Isle Beach, that practically became an overnight success.
“We started thinking about the idea in 2020
that summer right after COVID hit,” Ingle says. “That’s when I started putting things in motion. My family was always on the go at Beaches Resorts highlighting them and wearing everyone else’s brands. The next thought I had was to do a collab with a swimwear line, but then COVID hit and everything kind of fell through.”
It turned out to be a minor setback, however, as Ingle determinedly decided to pivot and start a swimwear line herself. She hired a business consultant through her network of friends, invested $20,000 and began working on her first swimsuit design, a mommy-and-me concept. LainSnow, named after her
daughter, Lainey Snow, was officially launched in April 2021.
“I could never find anything that was flattering for me and also matched the kids,” says the North Carolina native. “I wanted to create a swimsuit that fit me and had support to run around and do water activities, like a sport suit.”
The LainSnow line, a seamless blend of cuteness and function, originally began with one silhouette in three different shades for moms plus a
long-sleeved rash guard and lining-free swim trunks for the kiddos. The first suit color Ingle sampled was a bright sea blue trimmed in white in honor of her late mother’s favorite color. It sold out in 30 minutes.
“I started getting messages and tags from people being saying, ‘I’ve never felt better in this swimsuit,’ and ‘I haven’t put a swimsuit on in five years since I had kids,’ and ‘My husband thinks I look good.’ It was just crazy,” Ingle says with
a laugh. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, people really actually like the suit!”
Ingle continues: “A girl came out on the canal Memorial Day weekend on her boat and she was wearing the bright, sea blue suit. She was passing right in front of us, and I remember grabbing my phone, shaking … and I screamed, ‘Who are you wearing?’ And she shouted back, ‘LainSnow!’ The canal cheered, and it was the most epic moment ever. I posted
Above: LainSnow founder Becca Ingle with her husband, Yeirdon Ingle, and their two children, Lainey, 10, and Roman, 8.
The LainSnow brand has a huge social media following, which has helped put Ocean Isle Beach on the map for a lot of new people.
that on TikTok and it got 3 million views, so within a month, the demand of my swimwear skyrocketed.”
Ingle admits that she first thought that the American-made LainSnow line would just be a fun side hustle — something to do with her family and have new swimsuits available in her wardrobe. But buyer demand would decide otherwise.
The process began as a threemonth wait for the small manufacturer to produce the suits and Ingle’s dad and her sister to package and ship them — and the
SHOP LAINSNOW
Look for a new brick-andmortar LainSnow store to open at One Causeway Drive in Ocean Isle Beach (right across from the park) by the fall 2024.
To shop online, visit lainsnow.com.
You can see Ingle’s Instagram posts at Instagram.com/lainsnow/ or Instagram.com/beccaingle.
suits would sell out in seconds. That has evolved into today’s pre-order system that drops on the website every few weeks for a designated period.
Ingle leverages her Instagram followers to name the prints and suggest patterns or color combinations. She has a strong community of followers — 116K on her personal page and 91.8K on the LainSnow page. Whoever submits the winning name gets that suit gifted to them.
“Honestly, I feel like social media is running my business for me,” Ingle says. “It’s taking the pressure off of me, too. They call it ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Swimsuit.’ For color and shade names, a lot of people suggest a throwback to Candie’s, like old school. I feel like the community is very much an age group in their thirties and forties, and we’re all having nostalgia.”
When LainSnow launched its neon swimwear collection, for
example, the “Miami Vice,” a fan-named piece, was worn by Katie Austin on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway during Miami Swim Week. Cameran Eubanks of Southern Charm fame has also posted selfies in LainSnow suits in the past on social media.
“The first year was so crazy because I would get tagged in like these [posts] and I wouldn’t know if they had ordered or their assistant ordered it,” Ingle says. “I remember when Vanessa Bryant posted a swimsuit, a black swimsuit, and everybody sent it to me and I was 99 percent sure that was my suit. That was probably the biggest first moment.”
LainSnow’s online presence has been electric — and that’s without ever paying for an online ad. Instead, Ingle and her daughter, Lainey, keep it authentic by starring in the brand’s Instagram marketing campaigns themselves.
“Some brands, you’ll see them say that they’ve worked on this for a year or shot this over a year, and I’m like, ‘God, the second I see a print I’m in love with, I want to post about it,’” she says. “And I have never once paid for an ad online because I just feel when you see that as a consumer on the other side, you’re like, ‘Ugh, this is an ad, this is a sponsor.’ So why would I even want to pay for someone to feel like that?”
As for Ingle’s resort blogging era, she says that has come full circle to become life-changing.
“We have been partnering with resorts over the last two years, where I’ll come down, I’ll do a LainSnow popup and I’ll also do my blog, where I highlight the resort and take all the pictures,” Ingle says. “It’s a win-win a double marketing! I mean, I’m doing a launch while I’m also being hosted, so it’s hitting every single angle.”
She adds that the team also started doing custom design prints to coordinate with the aesthetics of the resorts she visits and blogs about. For instance, there are designs for the Seven Stars Resort & Spa in Turks and Caicos
and the Bitter End Yacht Club in the Virgin Islands with fun, vintage prints to complement their resort colors. In November, they plan to do the same for a resort in Puerto Rico.
Ingle reveals that, at one point, she envisioned the LainSnow label becoming the next Billabong, Roxy or Quicksilver in reminiscence of her days competing in pipeline and surf contests while attending the University of
Hawaii, but she’s just enjoying the moment and having fun vacationing for free.
“I feel like the kids are at such a good age [daughter, Lainey Snow, is 10, and son, Roman, is 8],” Ingle says. “We’re just hanging out. Today we went kayaking in our backyard. We just recently moved into a new house that took three years to build, so we’re just enjoying every moment.”
KING COMPANIES
Why Choose Us
From Humble Beginnings to
Mary Willetts Earp used her life to make a difference in Brunswick County.
BY JO ANN MATHEWS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MCGRAW
Mary Willetts Earp (pronounced Arp) relaxes at the table and chairs on the back porch of her Winnabow home with oak trees, shrubs and a variety of flowers surrounding it. Her vivid blue eyes are alert to indicate she is ready to talk.
Without any prompting she says, “I’m 87 years old and proud of it.”
This Brunswick County native has reason to be pleased with her accomplishments. She was the youngest of five on a subsistence farm.
“Growing up on a farm, you learn that life was easier somewhere else,” she says.
In the ’50s when most women chose marriage and children, Earp accepted a scholarship to East Carolina University after graduating from the former Bolivia High School.
“I got an education so if I had to look after myself I could,” she says.
With a major in home economics, she taught two years at Grifton High School in Pitt County before marrying Wilbur Earp, who also graduated from Bolivia High School. He earned his degree in animal industry from
North Carolina State University and operated the Earps’ family farm, known as Funston Farm.
“I always said I wasn’t going to marry a farmer, but I did,” Earp says.
Wilbur raised cattle and crops and developed innovative ways to raise the pigs on the farm. He increased the farm’s acreage by purchasing Willetts and Swain farmland lost during the Great Depression. To earn extra income, Earp taught home economics and earth science in New Hanover County. When Brunswick County wanted to hire two social workers, Earp was chosen to be one of them. Two years later she became a North Carolina Extension Service home agent.
The couple were a perfect fit to instill the importance of farming in the younger generation so they sponsored Agriculture
Eighty-seven-year-old Brunswick County native Mary Earp on her family farm in Winnabow.
Days on the Farm for local third graders.
“We had stations set up under the trees,” Earp says. One station was for farm equipment, another for recycling, another for crops, another emphasized the cost of farming. The fifth was a wagon with hay that drove the children around the farm. The program lasted 45 years until COVID hit.
Earp’s expertise became well known, and in the ’80s she became the first woman selected for the N.C. Agribusiness Council. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture chose her to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmer-to-Farmer tours, and she was one of 15 people selected to travel to Europe and South America as a representative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The one wish Earp has not fulfilled is to visit Switzerland. She recalls the vivid pictures of the Alps in her fifth-grade geography book and envisioned seeing them in person. “I still want to see the Alps,” she says. “I might. You never know.”
A wish Earp did fulfill in 2007 was to found Brunswick Pink Angels. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, her physician provided her with a tote bag filled with comfort items. She learned that not every Brunswick County resident with breast cancer received such a bag, so she formed the group to do just that. The program no longer exists, but she
LEADERSHIP ROLES & AWARDS
LEADERSHIP ROLES
Board of Directors for the N.C. Agribusiness Council, the first woman on the board
Member of the Governor’s Agriculture, Forestry and Seafood Advisory Committee
Brunswick County Cooperative Extension Advisory Board
NCSU State Cooperative Extension Advisory Board
Brunswick Community College Advisory Board for Small Business Center
Brunswick Community College Aquiculture program
Brunswick County Voluntary District Board of Director
Member of Brunswick County Swine Producers Association
Member of Southeastern Swine Producers Associations
Elected member for 17 years of the Brunswick County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors
Chair of Area 6, District Supervisors of the Soil and Water Conservation District
Brunswick County Board of Health
Board of directors for Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc., one of the first chosen when established in 2002, elected chair for two terms
Founded Brunswick Pink Angels in 2007, a group that presents a comfort bag to women diagnosed with breast cancer
AWARDS
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service chose her as an Outstanding Woman in Agriculture
Outstanding Woman Leader in Brunswick County
Brunswick County Governor’s Distinguished Volunteer Award
N.C. Pork Council Hall of Fame with Wilbur. “The only hands-on farmers elected,” Mary says.
Order of the Long Leaf Pine, presented by the governor to a person with extraordinary service to the state
USDA Secretary of Agriculture chose her twice to participate in the USDA Farmer to Farmer Tours: 1983 tour to the European Common Market countries; 1990 tour to Argentina and Brazil. Only 15 people across the United States were chosen for these tours.
In 2022 chosen Incredible East Carolina University Woman, after the field was narrowed to 12 women
In 2023 chosen East Carolina University Alumna of the Year by unanimous choice
“Brunswick County has prospered because of her. She is a to the residents...”
says, “I’m very grateful to have had the energy and the time to do it.”
Earp’s bout with cancer returned in 2022 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer, five weeks after Wilbur passed away. The couple had been married 61 years.
“I had a hard time, and I’m not embarrassed to say so,” she says. “I’m in good health now.”
Brunswick County residents can thank Earp for being instrumental in having senior centers open in 2002 and the ECU School of Dental Medicine open in Supply in 2016.
“If it hadn’t been for her, we wouldn’t have the Brunswick Senior Resources,” says Phillip Ricks, retired director of Brunswick County Cooperative Extension. “She helped establish the East Carolina University
dental school in Supply. Brunswick County has prospered because of her. She is a valuable asset to the residents of Brunswick County.”
Aside from these achievements, Earp is most proud of her two sons, Dennis, 63, retired from Duke Energy; Jeff, 60, onsite manager at Brunswick Forest; her daughters-in-law, five grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.
She’s also proud of the farm.
“It was not always easy, but we made it a success,” she says.
The Earps have a contract with Smithfield Foods to raise the hundreds of pigs on the farm, which also consists of 300 cows and acreage in Brunswick and Columbus counties.
Family members live nearby, and
great-niece Luray Carroll of Riegelwood credits Earp for helping her with her plants.
“She’s given me advice on many things and wonderful advice on how to grow my plants,” Carroll says. “She has a green thumb.”
“I always had a garden of my own,” Earp adds. Her vegetable garden includes collards, turnips, broccoli, green beans, tomatoes, okra, peppers and basil.
Mary says that helping people is just part of her legacy.
“People helped me, and I’ve tried to help people along the way,” she says. “I haven’t done all these things for glory. I wanted to make this a better place for people to live, and North Carolina a better place for people to come to.”
A Lot to Unpack
With Zach Unpacks, teen entrepreneur Zach Bailey helps Ocean Isle Beach vacationers unload and reload their vehicles.
BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTIN GETTLEMAN
IIn 2022, when he was 14 years old, Zach Bailey started his own business, Zach Unpacks in Ocean Isle Beach. He offers an unpacking service that caters to Ocean Isle Beach vacationers who need help unloading luggage from their vehicles.
Bailey hatched the business idea when he recognized a need for assistance among vacationers, some of whom struggle with unloading their heavy luggage. “Navigating stairs is especially challenging for people who are a bit older,” he says
Bailey’s unpacking service helps visitors start their vacation season stress-free. He
Zach Bailey, 16, started his own business that helps vacationers unload their vehicles in 2022.
charges $25 for cars, $30 for pickup trucks, $35 for SUVs and minivans and $10 for roof racks.
Bailey’s first year in business quickly took off. Though he had just one client the first week, by the Fourth of July holiday, demand picked up significantly. He finished the season off with between 55 and 65 clients. In 2023 his client base grew to 85, and 2024 held about the same.
Amazingly, Bailey has never had to spend money on
advertising. He promotes his services through a few local Facebook groups and eventually, with the help of his parents, Brian and Kristin Bailey, created his own business Facebook page, Zach Unpacks. He has also had conversations with real estate companies that rent vacation homes to help further expand his reach.
Depending on the size of the vehicle, on average Bailey spends anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes unpacking. He’s gotten very good at scheduling his clients based on their arrival times. He schedules clients well in advance, often up to nine months ahead, and meticulously keeps track of contact information, arrival times and vehicle details through spreadsheets and can communicate with customers via Facebook Messenger, email or phone if things change — which does occasionally happen.
Travel adjustments logistically are the most challenging for Bailey.
“I may have a 3:30 that is now coming in at 5:00. Or the 4:00 customer is now coming in at 2:30. It keeps the job interesting, but usually I can slide people around, so it’s not really an inconvenience,” he says.
For the first two seasons, Bailey had to rely on his parents to drive him to his clients’ homes. But now he has his driver’s license and a vehicle he purchased from his earnings.
“I saved up and bought a red 2020 RAV 4 with a little over 60 thousand miles,” he says. “It was a helpful exercise for me as I worked diligently and saved, knowing I could do something helpful and useful with that money.”
As time has gone on, Bailey has learned more about business and customer service and making the business his own. One of his favorite parts of the business is building relationships with his clients. One particularly heartwarming aspect of his job is the kindness of his clients. Seeing the same customers for the third year in a row and finding out how their family is doing, or their pets, is something he
looks forward to.
“One couple made snack bags for their grandchildren, and they made one for me too. I’m very grateful for that,” Bailey says.
Though Bailey currently operates Zach Unpacks solo, he is exploring options to expand and possibly hire help.
“I’m definitely looking for other alternatives. I think this is a model that could succeed in other areas,” he says.
A sophomore, Bailey is dedicated to his academic goals as well. He enjoys literature, composition and U.S. history. He’s also involved in debate and takes a personal finance class that has been instrumental in helping him manage his business finances.
Also, Bailey has a creative side.
...I worked diligently and saved, knowing I could do something helpful and useful with that money. “
He enjoys weaving. Lately, he’s been weaving coasters and distributing them to residents at local senior centers. He also loves playing disc golf.
Looking to the future, Bailey’s entrepreneurial experience has him thinking about his professional goals. He’s considering a future in small business consulting, aiming to help others navigate the challenges he has successfully overcome.
His advice to other young entrepreneurs is both practical and encouraging: “Figure out what your limitations are and your strengths,” he says. “If your idea is a good fit with those, you should absolutely go for it.”
Zach Unpacks E ZachUnpacks
LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE
The Story of
ABY JO ANN MATHEWS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HILARY HALLIWELL
Andrew Spaugh is on a mission to tell the story of Ocean Isle Beach.
A combination of extrovert, savant and free spirit, he has an insatiable enthusiasm for Ocean Isle Beach. Its sand and surf riveted his attention while growing up in the ’80s and ’90s when his family drove from Trinity, North Carolina, and rented a house on OIB for a week every year.
“I remember so vividly getting the stuff out of the car, the house smelling like the beach and going to the beach,” he says. “I loved seeing the surfers.”
Now at 46 years old, after maintaining his sobriety for a dozen years and opening OIB Kahuna, his beachwear shop sporting his own designs, he plans to captivate OIB’s magic in a full-length,
two-hour documentary.
In his OIB Kahuna office, his head shaven, shoeless, wearing shorts that show the octopus tattoo on his left leg and an OIB Kahuna T-shirt revealing his arm tattoos, Spaugh is in his element. He is eager to explain his plan for the film and says the town’s origins, its founding fathers and initial businesses will begin the documentary.
“Then we get into geography and Hurricane Hazel and how hurricanes and storms have
Self-taught artist, photographer and videographer Andrew Spaugh moved to Ocean Isle Beach permanently in 2012.
changed the land and brought the community together,” he says. “We have a big sense of community here.”
What the future holds for OIB, especially with its expanding
Andrew Spaugh, founder of OIB Kahuna, is seeking supporters for his full-length documentary about Ocean Isle Beach.
population, will conclude the film.
“I’d like to keep it as unbiased as possible,” he says.
He welcomes anyone with OIB stories to contact him through his website, where he explains the project and rewards for those who contribute to it.
“He wants to keep it positive and show things in the best light,” says Spaugh’s wife, Sara. “He doesn’t want it to be negative.”
“I won’t airbrush stuff,” he says. “I won’t be overly positive, but is [OIB] overdeveloping? Are we being responsible with infrastructure? Our job in the documentary is to capture all of this. I have footage, and it’s up to me to tell a story from this footage. For me, that is the most fun.”
A self-taught photographer
“Our job in the documentary is to capture all of this. I have footage, and it’s up to me to tell a story from this footage.”
and videographer, Spaugh earned money by taking photos of houses for real estate firms when he moved permanently to OIB in 2012. He also filmed surfers, visitors and beachgoers then posted them on YouTube and enjoyed telling their stories.
“He’s better self-taught than having someone teach him,” Sara says.
Spaugh was not always this focused. The yearly excursions to the beach ended when he graduated from East Davidson High School in Thomasville and realized he had not given much thought to his future. Drawing comic book characters during
Spaugh is the founder of OIB Kahuna, a lifestyle brand of apparel on Ocean Isle Beach.
classes had been his primary concern. He never considered art as a career or gave much thought to any career.
Earning money was important, though, so he took a job at a furniture store. Within two years he entered the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and joined a fraternity. This is when he foundered.
“My irresponsible drinking was not beneficial,” he says. “I missed classes.”
His behavior plummeted, resulting in several DUIs and finally incarceration.
“It freaked me out that my freedom was so restricted,” he says. “You’re inside a building where you can’t see daylight a lot of times, and you’re on lockdown. I
did a lot of my designs in there to keep me occupied.”
Spaugh believes he was fortunate that his parents allowed him to live with them in OIB when he was released 21 months later. He told himself, “I cannot blow this. I have an opportunity here.”
His father encouraged him to play tennis again, and that is how he met Sara, who was a school counselor at West Brunswick High School. The couple married in 2018 and have two daughters, Ronni, 4, and Izzy, 2. Two Great Danes complete the family picture.
“I love the storytelling part of the documentary,” Spaugh says, adding that he writes his ideas in journals. He plans to make a DVD and a coffee table book with pictures he takes and captions he writes.
For those who contribute to his project, Spaugh has a rewards package with behindthe-scenes access on his website. “They’ll be watching what it takes to make the documentary,” he says.
“He needed to have a purpose and a passion,” Sara says. “When he got to the beach, he had that singular focus. He asked himself, ‘How am I going to make my life better? How am I going to change and make other people’s lives better from now on?’”
She explains that Spaugh wants to create stories so people can feel like they are at the beach even when they are not.
“I want people to know the documentary is told with passion,” he says. “It will be respectful because I love this place.”
Isle Beach: A Journey Through Time and Tide
(910) 547-6544
The website offers options to pre-order a DVD or help fund the project.
Spaugh began filming his OIB documentary in September 2024. The film’s supporters enjoy behind-the-scenes access to the filming process on the website.
Chamber Ribbon Cutting Extravaganza
June 18 at the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce office in Shallotte
More than 100 people showed up for the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce’s joint ribbon-cutting ceremony for 12 home-based entrepreneurs and chamber members that do not have a brick-and-mortar location. This was an opportunity for the businesses to mingle with fellow business owners and community members, expand their network and discover new ways to support each other.
The red carpet was rolled out for 12 businesses as they cut their ribbons. Attendees enjoyed hot dogs grilled by SERVPRO of Brunswick & South Columbus Counties, cool and delicious shaved ice from Kona Ice of South Brunswick County, sweet treats from Norwex (Jackie Headman) and Sunny Day Roofing, and more delicious bites from the chamber.
The chamber was proud to welcome Isaac Wetherill from Congressman David Rouzer’s office, who elevated the occasion by presenting each business with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition. This gesture not only honored each business, but also underscored the importance of small businesses to our community. The chamber also welcomed four new members that day.
Businesses recognized at the ribbon-cutting event were:
RLS Focused Solutions
Coastal Home Watch and Concierge
Peace of Mind Insurance Consulting LLC / Wave Medicare
A benefit event for Sunset Beach Turtle Watch, the Sunset Beach Sit A Thon is a fun and funny way to raise money for the protection of sea turtles. More than 500 participants raised over $4,000 for Sunset Beach Turtle Watch at the 2024 event. Prizes were awarded to the three participants who sat upright the longest as the tide washed in.
U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament
October 3 to 5
The 46th Annual U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament, one of the largest king mackerel tournaments on the East Coast and part of the SKA (Southern Kingfish Association) Tournament Trail, is a big deal in Brunswick County. In 2023 the tournament attracted 558 boats and paid out more than $410,000.
The tournament has an all-cash guaranteed prize structure that is not based on participation numbers. It pays 55 places in its primary prize category including $25,000 for the largest king mackerel. There are also 40 sponsors who add supplementary cash prizes to the event.
An event of Southport Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, it’s
Beach Bash
July 3 at Town Center Park in Ocean Isle Beach
STORY & PHOTOS BY JO ANN MATHEWS
Games, crafts and fun activities attracted visitors and residents to Beach Bash at Town Center Park in Ocean Isle Beach on July 3. The Town of Ocean Isle Beach partnered with the Museum of Coastal Carolina for the inaugural event.
“It’s a great community event for everybody here at Ocean Isle Beach,” said Hayley Burgess, recreation director at OIB.
Trunk or Treat at Ocean Isle Beach
October 25 at OIB Town Center Park
Dress up the kids and don’t forget the candy buckets! Ocean Isle Beach town staff and residents will be passing out treats and sweets at the Trunk or Treat event from 5 to 6:30 pm (or until the goodies are gone). This event is open to the public, and anyone wishing to participate in passing out candy should contact the Town of Ocean Isle Beach Recreation Department.
Women in Philanthropy & Leadership of Brunswick Annual Membership Dinner
September 10 at Brunswick Community College’s Odell Williamson Auditorium
The Foundation of Brunswick Community College (BCC) hosted the Women in Philanthropy & Leadership of Brunswick (WPLB) for their Annual Membership Dinner with a welcome from BCC Foundation Executive Director Teresa Nelson and remarks from BCC President Gene Smith, BCC Board of Trustees Chair Alan Holden and BCC Foundation Board President Representative Mike Forte. The evening was dedicated to celebrating student success. Student Ambassadors and scholarship recipients shared inspiring stories, and the highlights of the evening were speeches from two exceptional students, Erin Howdershelt and Kylea Dowler, who shared personal challenges and triumphs and expressed their appreciation to the WPLB and the many other donors for making their college education at BCC a reality.
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