South Brunswick Magazine - Summer 2024 by Carolina Marketing Company

SOCIAL

Last year, I faced the ba le of my life. A er months of su ering from debilitating headaches a rare cyst was found in my brain. The headaches were so bad I was losing my eyesight. The experts at Novant Health used an innovative technique, called “neuro navigation” to remove the cyst. Thank you, Novant Health, for truly life-saving care.

Jocelyn Harris

NEUROSURGERY PATIENT

“ Their expertise served me well.”

The locally curated Beaches of Brunswick County Facebook page gains traction to the tune of 61,000+ followers.

In returning the Town of Shallotte’s focus to its namesake river, the Shallotte Riverwalk Project provides a glimpse of the past while reshaping the future.

Our golf writer discovers why Crow Creek Golf Club is a such highly rated, well-loved Brunswick County course.

For Stuart Jones and his fellow members of the Sunset Sand Artists, gifting the community with beautiful sand sculptures is just another day at Sunset Beach.

55 Bistro at Sea Trail Resort serves delicious food and drinks in a fun and welcoming atmosphere.

76 HOW TO LIVE TO 100 Centenarian Nina Hewett Herring Browder lives the good life in Supply, right next to the house where she was born in 1923.

McLeod Health welcomes experienced urologists, Dr. Glenn Gangi, Dr. Timothy Gajewski, and Dr. Robert Ferraro to McLeod Urology Associates. With extensive expertise in urology, these providers specialize in conditions including kidney stone disease, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, kidney and bladder cancer, male and female incontinence issues, and general urological concerns.

These highly-skilled, board-certified urologists will continue to care for patients at our Loris, Little River, and Carolina Forest locations.

Leaves hello summer

Summer Art Market

Summer 2024 | Volume 15, Issue 4

CEO/PUBLISHER: Justin Williams

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: Sandi Grigg

COPY EDITOR: Molly Harrison

CONTRIBUTING GRAPHICS:

Samantha Lowe Elizabeth Dale Niemann

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Brian Wilner

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Scott Castico Mickey Cochran

Dan Dolak Robert Ermer

ilary Halliwell Kate Magill Walters Photography K atie D Photography

Judy Kistler Michael Ligett L ove It Snap Photography

Jo Ann Mathews Matt McGraw Mert Wray Photography

Linda Hansel Moore Gonzalo Pimentel Theresa Ravencraft

Bill Ritenour Tara Roberts James Stefiuk

Brenda Torrey Jessi Viox Wandermore Worryless

Timothy D Wood

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

A nna Beth Adcock Sandi Grigg Hilary Halliwell

L arry Hershoff Jo Ann Mathews Theresa Ravencraft

A nnesophia Richards Melissa Slaven Warren

MARKETING INTERN: Sophie Lesanek

PUBLISHED BY:

CAROLINA MARKETING COMPANY, INC. PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451 (910) 207-0156 • info@southbrunswickmagazine.com

Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. strives to bring correct, accurate information that is published in the magazine. However, Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. cannot be held responsible for any consequences resulting from errors or absences. Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. also cannot be held responsible for the services provided by any and all advertisers in our publications. All material in this magazine is property of Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. and may not be reproduced without authorization from the publisher. South Brunswick Magazine – A Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. publication is published four times per year and is distributed to residents and businesses in South Brunswick County, NC, to subscribers and to select areas of New Hanover County, NC and Horry County, SC.

About the cover:

Photographer Brenda Torrey captured this image on our beautiful Brunswick Islands. You can see this photo and many more stunning images of our coastal region in Anna Beth Adcock’s story about the Beaches of Brunswick County Facebook page starting on page 46.

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We welcome your letters and comments about SBM. Send your letters to PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451 or email them to info@SouthBrunswickMagazine.com. When sending your letters, keep in mind they may or may not be published in a future issue of SBM. 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 South Brunswick Magazine, Attn: Editor, PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451. Or email us at edit@SouthBrunswickMagazine.com.

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Marketing Services

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LifeinBrunswickCounty.com

Visit us online at the above website. With any additional questions, call us at (910) 207-0156.

15 Summers in Brunswick County

TThanks for picking up this magazine! If you’re a local who has been reading South Brunswick Magazine for a while now, we are so appreciative of you! This is our 15th year of publishing this magazine, and we have been overwhelmed by the continued positive response from our local readers and the business community who advertise with us. If you’re a visitor or new resident picking up our magazine for the first time, thank you for checking us out. In each issue we show you about coastal life in southern Brunswick County, introducing you to the culture, people, places and events in Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, Calabash and Shallotte.

In this issue, you’ll meet some fascinating people, from a 100-year-old Brunswick County native who remembers how life used to be here to a transplant who touts the beauty of Brunswick County on Facebook, much to the delight of more than 60,000 followers. You’ll also meet a group of sandcastle artists in Sunset Beach, learn about improvements at the Shallotte Riverwalk and discover why Crow Creek Golf Club in Calabash is such a popular golf course. We know there is a lot of content out there vying for your attention, but we believe in the power of a good print magazine. Our hope is that you take the time to read this the old-fashioned way, maybe on a shaded porch or patio, and pass it around to your friends to do the same. If you’re visiting and like what you see here, stay connected to this area by subscribing. I’ve placed

a QR code on this page for easy access to our subscription link. And as always, if you want more Brunswick County content between issues, connect with us at lifeinbrunswickcounty.com.

Have a great summer!

Justin Williams Owner/Publisher

BY MEGAN

PHOTO

DEITZ

Anna Beth Adcock

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A North Carolina native, I grew up in small-town Sanford before moving to Raleigh to attend N.C. State University. Last year, I lived overseas in Bangkok, Thailand, just recently returning to reside in the City of Oaks. From numerous nostalgic summers at the N.C. coast with my family growing up to spending tons of time in Wilmington visiting family and friends, I love our state’s coastal region! In addition to penning articles for Carolina Marketing Company, I work as an editorial assistant with Raleigh Magazine , teach fitness classes and work with a nonprofit ministry. When I’m not working, you can find me out for a run, grabbing coffee with a friend or seeking out my next travel or outdoor adventure. In short, I love writing, I love North Carolina and I love living life to the fullest!

Brenda Torrey

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

I am a professional photographer with more than 30 years experience. My photos have been on billboards, magazine and book covers, a National Park Service challenge coin and throughout a United States Navy ship.

For many years I dreamed of living in a town where I could walk to the beach, stores and restaurants, and I am now living that dream on Oak Island!

Brian Wilner

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Living in the Hickory, North Carolina, area since I was a kid, my parents brought us to the North Carolina coast every summer — usually to the Outer Banks — so the salt life has always been part of me. When my daughter graduated from high school and started college in Raleigh, I immediately began to realize it was the perfect opportunity for me to go coastal. This area fits perfectly with my many hobbies, which include fishing, tennis, pickleball and golf. It’s difficult to describe to others how amazing the lifestyle is in southeastern North Carolina until you experience it for yourself! I have already met a plethora of amazing people in my sales and marketing position at Carolina Marketing Company, and I can’t wait to meet you!

Experience Coastal Living

1045 Woodsia Way Oak Island, NC 28461 (910) 807-7910

HawthorneAtPineForest.com

436 Hawthorne Loop Rd. Leland, NC 28451 (910) 807-7817

HawthorneAtLeland.com

7111 Rock Fish Lane SE Leland, NC 28451 (910) 400-0359

HawthorneWaterside.com

Hewett-Burton Rd SE Leland, NC 38401 (910) 665-7659

HawthorneCottagesAtLeland.com

Calabash Elks Lodge Donates to First Tee

On April 9 Calabash Elks Lodge presented a check for $2,350 to the First Tee organization. The First Tee accepted the donation at Sandpiper Bay Golf Course during their practice session with the children.

Sixteen Graduate from Leadership Brunswick County

Sixteen individuals recently graduated from the nine-monthlong Leadership Brunswick County program. Velva Jenkins, chief executive officer of the YWCA of the Lower Cape Fear, gave an inspiring keynote address during the 2023-24 Leadership Brunswick County Graduation Ceremony. In 1997, during her time as director of Brunswick Community College Small Business Center, Jenkins established the Leadership Brunswick County Program in partnership with local chambers of commerce. Her message focused on the significance of finding a mentor and the value of leaning on their mentor as the graduate grows into their leadership role.

She also emphasized the importance of giving back to the community through volunteerism. Brunswick County, North Brunswick and Southport-Oak Island Area chambers of commerce sponsor Leadership Brunswick County to develop a corps of informed, committed and qualified individuals capable of providing dynamic leadership. The program is designed to identify highly motivated, emerging leaders and educate them about the needs of our community as well as the dynamics of social and economic changes.

The 2023-24 Leadership Brunswick County graduates are: William A. Alford, ILH Group; Jennifer Beck, Comfort Keepers; Tori Deviney, City of Southport; Carrie Dunlap, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare; Latania Edge-McGee, Brunswick County Parks and Recreation; Kate Grinstead, Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity; Stan Gurganus, Sunset Beach Police Department; Sue M. Hodgin, NC State Board of Opticians; Tim Holloman, Lower Cape Fear Water & Sewer Authority; Hope John-French, Bald Head Island Club; ChyAnn M. Ketchum, City of Southport; Linda “Lin” Kovack, Coastal Conflict Resolutions; Shari Leone, Corning Credit Union; David Patterson, Freedom Boat Club; Brian Ross, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office; and Ronell Thompson, Everwell Financial Group.

Brunswick Community College Celebrates 45th Commencement Ceremony

On May 10 Brunswick Community College (BCC) held its 45th Commencement Ceremony at the Odell Williamson Auditorium. The event celebrated the achievements of 560 graduates who earned a combined total of 707 degrees, diplomas and certificates across a wide array of academic and vocational disciplines including Associate in Arts, Associate in Engineering, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science programs, as well as various diploma and certificate curricula. Among the graduating class were students from Brunswick County Early College High School and the Career & College Promise program, which enables high school students to dually enroll in college courses. In a series of smaller, focused ceremonies throughout the 2023-24 school year, BCC also awarded 967 industry-recognized credentials

to students in the Continuing Education and Workforce Development programs, underscoring the college’s commitment to trades education, lifelong learning and professional development. The ceremony also provided an opportunity to honor distinguished students and faculty members with prestigious awards, including the 2024 President’s Award (Alexandria N. Hallman), Distinguished Alumni (Julia Andrews), Academic Excellence Award (Dimitry Williamson), Dallas Herring Achievement Award (Chalwe Mwansa), Robert W. Scott Leadership Award (Benjamin Bias), Dinah E. Gore Excellence in Teaching Award (Sarah Simmons) and the Dinah E. Gore Adjunct Faculty of the Year Award (Peggy Salayi).

Coastal Pilates Celebrates Grand Opening

On May 9 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce held a grand-opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Coastal Pilates. The new studio is located at 1790 Queen Anne, Unit 1 in Sunset Beach. Coastal Pilates helps clients transform their body and mind and discover the power of Pilates to improve their health and wellbeing.

Vinofiore Wine Shop & Tasting Room Celebrates Expansion

To mark its expansion and reopening, Vinofiore Wine Shop & Tasting Room hosted a ribbon-cutting event organized by the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce on May 21. The event included a Prosecco Social as well as samples of Vinofiore’s gourmet foods. Owners Julia Steffen and Jenna

Knutsen and wine specialist Karina Conticello were on hand to toast the expansion with their customers, wine club members and chamber members. Originally established in March 2023 and the only wine shop in Shallotte, Vinofiore underwent extensive renovations and expansion in early 2024. The expansion doubled the shop’s footprint, allowing for expanded seating and hosting private events.

River Rock at Shingletree Celebrate Grand Opening

On April 23 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce held a grand-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for River Rock at Shingletree. Located at 31 Quaker Ridge Drive in Carolina Shores, River Rock at Shingletree is a community of luxury ranch-style rental homes designed for easy living, comfort and elegance. Designed for the 55+ community it boasts luxury amenities, expansive floor plans and a calendar packed with resident events.

Communities In Schools of Brunswick County Opens New CIS Thrift Shop in Shallotte

On April 11 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce held a grand-opening and ribbon-cutting celebration for CIS Thrift Shop at 4501 Main Street in Shallotte. The CIS Thrift Shops directly support the vital programs of Communities In Schools of Brunswick County, making a difference in the lives of students.

Lieutenant Les Goldstein Honored as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

Lieutenant Les Goldstein (retired) has been named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Calabash Post 7288. VFW Commander Mike Dichiara, a Navy veteran and retired police officer who served in Irvington, New York, presented Goldstein with a certificate. Each year the Department of North Carolina Veterans of Foreign Wars selects emergency medical technicians, law enforcement and firefighter personnel to receive VFW Public Servant Awards. Goldstein retired from the Clifton, New Jersey, Police Department where he served from 1977 to 2004. He bought property in Calabash in 2005, visiting the area for many years before permanently relocating here in 2013. Remaining active in law enforcement during retirement, he is currently the liaison with the Ocean Isle Beach Police Department, where he staffs the Ocean Isle Beach Patrol with retired police officers, freeing the department officers to focus on other community law enforcement duties. When he arrived in 2016, he joined a small group of six retired law enforcement officers. Through his leadership, the organization, known as the Carolina Border Shields, has grown to a membership 300 strong.

Chamber Holds After Hours & Ribbon Cutting at Tap Time

On April 10 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Tap Time’s new owners during the After Hours event at Tap Time. Glasses were raised to the new owners and the exciting future ahead for this fantastic establishment. The energy was buzzing with networking opportunities, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Tap Time is located at 1560 Market Place in Ocean Isle Beach.

Racing Legend Presents Sign for New Genealogy Research Room

Racing legend Danny “Chocolate” Myers recently paid a visit to Brunswick Community College (BCC) to present President Gene Smith with a sign to mark the new Genealogy Research Room.

Established in partnership with the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Research Room is a significant addition to North Carolina’s historical landscape. The same NASCAR shop that helped build and maintain cars driven by racing greats Dale Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd produced the sign in Myers’ honor. The Genealogy Research Room offered a family bible scanning event from May 13 to 16. These digitized records will be uploaded to a dedicated computer in the library where community members can conduct their own research using digitized records and the library’s collection.

Calabash Elks Donate to Brunswick County Homeless Coalition

The Calabash Elks Golf Committee presented a check for $2,350 to the Brunswick County Homeless Coalition to assist families at risk of becoming homeless. Brunswick County Homeless Coalition provides direct assistance to about 20 to 30 at-risk individuals or families to help keep them from becoming homeless and provides about 7 to 14 nights of emergency shelter to individuals and families who are homeless. Because Brunswick County has no general permanent transitional shelter, many are referred to shelters in Horry and New Hanover counties. Brunswick County Homeless Coalition volunteers work six days a week to answer calls from people in need.

40 & 8 Champions BCC Nursing Students

Members of the Lower Cape Fear 40 & 8 joined The Foundation of Brunswick Community College in closing Season 30 of Odell Williamson Auditorium’s concert series with its annual fundraiser in support of BCC Nursing students. 40 & 8 was organized in 1920, founded by the American Legionnaires and named for the French railroad and its 40/8 boxcars. The organization has contributed more than $10,000 to BCC Nursing students, empowering them to deliver top-notch care to all patients. Pictured are Chef de Gare Passe Don Eisenman, Chef de Gare Passe Rick Sessa, BCC Nursing Student and scholarship recipient Chelsea Vasaur, Conducteur Jim Giroud and The Foundation of BCC Executive Director Teresa Nelson.

Patriot Roofing & Exteriors Holds Ribbon Cutting

On March 26 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce assisted Patriot Roofing & Exteriors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate their expansion to Shallotte. The proudly female-owned and -operated company has been serving southeastern North Carolina for 20 years from Brunswick and Columbus counties to Pender and New Hanover counties. The new location is at 5285 Main Street, Suite 19, in Shallotte. Experts in roof replacements and repairs, siding, gutters, windows and doors, they are also champions of historic preservation and active community members.

Calabash Elks Donate to Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area

The Veteran’s Affairs Committee (VAC) of the Calabash Elks Lodge made a $500 donation to the Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area (HFCFA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to transporting United States military veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials of the respective wars in which they fought. HFCFA is one of more than 130 Honor Flight hubs in 45 states. Honor Flight was founded in early 2020 as a 100% volunteer nonprofit with the mission of flying WWII, Korea and Vietnam-era veterans to Washington, D.C., for an all-expense paid day of recognition and remembrance. The trip is free to Veterans and is funded solely from donations. On April 20, HFCFA flew 75 veterans from the Cape Fear area, 75 guardians and a support team from ILM to D.C. for a day-long trip to tour many of the national memorials in Washington.

Calabash Elks Donate to Veterans Welcome Home Resource Center

The Calabash Elks Lodge Veteran’s Affairs Committee (VAC) made a $6,000 donation to the Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center (VWHRC) in Little River, South Carolina. With this donation, the Calabash Elks achieved their goal of funding $13,000 to sponsor a second Tiny Home as part of the campaign to build housing for homeless veterans in the area. The Resource Center is a private, all-volunteer, nonprofit South Carolina Corporation unaffiliated with any government agency, including the Veterans Administration. The center assists local veterans with transitioning back into civilian life, helping with benefits, job placement assistance, PTSD treatment, housing, financial counseling and general life adjustment issues.

FOCUS Broadband Awards Scholarships to High School Seniors

FOCUS Broadband has announced the recipients of its 2024 scholarships. Ten outstanding students were awarded $2,000 scholarships each. These scholarships are open to students residing in any of FOCUS Broadband’s service areas and are granted based on academic achievement, involvement in school and community activities, and interview skills. The 2024 recipients are Gracelyn Bryd, Lyla Bullard, Reece Anna

Cribb, Daijah Davis, Delanie Jackson, Josiah Johnson, La’Tonia Mason, Anderson Metty, Ella Moffitt and Lauren Sturdivant.

Five of the 10 scholarship recipients are seniors from Brunswick County high schools:

• Delanie Jackson , South Brunswick High School – Jackson is the daughter of Kaitlyn and Everett Jackson of Bolivia and plans to study biochemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill.

• Josiah Johnson , West Brunswick High School – Johnson, son of Aidrina and Jeffery Johnson of Leland, will study computer science at a university in the fall.

• Anderson Metty, North Brunswick High School – Metty is the son of Danielle and Brian Metty of Leland and will study business at North Carolina State University.

• Ella Moffitt, South Brunswick High School – Moffitt, daughter of Robin and Randy Moffitt of Oak Island, will study biochemistry at North Carolina State University after graduation.

• Lauren Sturdivant , West Brunswick High School –Sturdivant, daughter of Casyva and Albery Sturdivant of Supply, plans to attend a university in the fall.

Sunset Beach Summer Concert Series

Wednesdays through August 28

The Sunset Beach Concert Series will be held at Town Park, 206 Sunset Boulevard N., on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 pm. Town staff has secured a wide array of talented musicians to entertain everyone, and the shows are free. Bring your beach chairs and your dancing shoes because it’s going to be a party this summer at Sunset Beach.

Information: sunsetnc.com/sunset-beachnc-concerts/

Holden Beach Concert Series

Sundays through September 1

The Town of Holden Beach Concert Series will be held on Sundays from 6:30 to 8 pm. The free concerts will be held at the Pavilion under the Holden Beach bridge, or if work at the Pavilion is ongoing, just down the road at Bridgeview Park. The music ranges from beach music to jazz to oldies and some good old rock n’ roll.

Information: holdenbeachnc.com/holdenbeach-concert-schedule/

Calabash Summer Concert Series

Tuesdays June 4, 18, 25, July 2, 16, 23, 30, August 6

The Calabash Summer Concert Series is a highlight of the summer season, offering free, family-friendly entertainment on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8:30 pm at Calabash Town Park at 868 Persimmon Road. Bring your lawn chairs, gather your friends and family, and join them for an unforgettable summer of music under the stars.

Information: calabashtown.com/calabashconcert-series/

Ocean Isle Beach Concert Series

Fridays through August 30

The Town of Ocean Isle Beach’s Peggy Hughes Summer Concert Series will be held at Town Center, 11 E. 2nd Street, on Fridays from 6:30 to 8 pm. Chair set-up for the concerts begins at 5 pm and no smoking, vaping, glass or pets are allowed in the park during the concerts. A great lineup of shows is scheduled for the free summer series so bring your chairs and have some fun.

Information: oceanislebeach.com/summerconcert-series/

Art in the Park

Thursdays through August 15

Let kids explore their creative side with a free craft-making activity at Town Center Park at 11 E. Second Street in Ocean Isle Beach. This activity will be held on Thursdays from 10 to 11 am.

Information: oibgov.com/calendar

Bash at the Beach Football Jamboree

August 15 & 16

Farm Bureau Insurance and FOCUS Broadband will present the 2024 Bash at the Beach Football Jamboree, a two-night event at West Brunswick High School in Shallotte. Sixteen local high schools will compete, with games starting both days at 5 pm.

Information: bashatbeach.com

Calabash Oktoberfest

October 26

Calabash Oktoberfest is a one-day German food, beer and music festival celebrating the traditions of the inaugural Oktoberfest in Munich. Started as an avenue to raise funds for local charities, this year the primary charity will be Paws-Ability, a local nonprofit that works to improve animal welfare.

Information: facebook.com/calabashoktoberfest

Art in the Park

Bash at the Beach Football Jamboree

Ocean Isle Beach Concert Series

Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity Subdivision

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

by Kurt Epps, a.k.a. The PubScout

The PubScout scopes out the new House’s Patio Bar & Grill in Sunset Beach.

When I first settled in Brunswick County, I took a ride to Sunset Beach, mostly because I thought that its bridge to the island was neat as heck. And it is.

But I also noticed a few pub/restaurant businesses at the base of the bridge — mainland side — that intrigued me.

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KEEPING IT CLEAN

Brunswick County Association of REALTORS® members participate in Community Clean Up from Southport to Calabash.

Brunswick County Association of REALTORS® (BCAR) members recently participated in a Community Clean-Up Week with the National Association of REALTORS® Good Neighbor Week. Participating REALTORS®, affiliates and community partners split into teams to clean beaches and local parks.

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HELPING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

Brunswick County Association of Realtors teams up with N.C. Realtors Housing Foundation to donate to Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity.

Brunswick County Association of Realtors® (BCAR) recently teamed up with the N.C. Realtors® Housing Foundation (NCRHF) to donate $8,000 to Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity. The $8,000 donation was made possible by a grant-matching program offered by the NCRHF. BCAR raised $4,000 prior to submitting a request to NCRHF for a matching donation.

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PHOTO BY KURT EPPS,

DON’T PUT THIS OFF

by Kurt Epps, a.k.a. The PubScout

When it comes to home safety, dryer vent cleaning is an important service.

Consider yourself warned. This column is a departure from my usual sharing of great places to get great beer and food. It’s about an experience that left an impression on me.

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THE HUNT FOR A LOST SHARK TRACKER

by Ed Beckley

When a satellite tracker pops off a great white shark, OIB beachgoers find it, saving valuable scientific data.

When “Umi” the great white shark lost her satellite tracking tag at Ocean Isle Beach this spring, the search was on to find it so scientists could capture its important data. OCEARCH is an organization that helps scientists collect migration, behavior and habitat data on great white sharks using these satellite trackers. The one they affixed to Umi was pinging loud and clear on Ocean Isle Beach on May 4, somewhere next to the beach houses on the isle’s east end.

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PHOTO BY KURT EPPS,

PHOTO BY ED BECKLEY

The Best of Both Worlds

Why choose between beer and a cocktail when you can have both — at the same time.

BY THERESA RAVENCRAFT

WWhen cocktail lovers want a beer, do they have to settle for one or the other? No! A Frozen Modelorita offers the best of both worlds, the combination of a classic frozen margarita paired with a Modelo Especial beer to make a summer drink that is simply irresistible.

Did you know that Modelo became the best-selling beer in America last year? There has been an increase in demand over the past few years for imported beer, and Modelo, with its cool, crisp flavor, has met it. Beer served with a squeeze of lime has always been a favorite thirst-quencher on hot summer days. Pairing a beer with a classic frozen lime cocktail simply takes it over the top. The first time I tried a Frozen Modelorita, I was thrilled by the mix of bright, fresh flavors in this eye-catching cocktail.

For this drink, you make a frozen margarita with tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice and crushed ice. Rim the glass with some salt or sugar before sliding a bottle of beer into your frozen cocktail to make a showstopping Modelorita. It makes for a crisp and refreshing drink.

As you sip this concoction through a straw, the beer from the upside-down bottle is released slowly into the glass, making a deliciously balanced blend as you enjoy your cocktail. Serve the drink with extra wedges of lime. Summer never looked so fun or tasted so good!

FROZEN MODELORITA

Makes 2 cocktails

INGREDIENTS

3 ounces tequila

1 ounce Triple Sec (or Grand Marnier)

2 ounces fresh lime juice

2 cups ice

Kosher salt or rimming sugar

METHOD

Dip the rims of two margarita glasses in salt or sugar.

2 Modelo Especial beers

Place the first four ingredients in a blender and blend until frothy and smooth. Divide the mixture between the two margarita glasses.

Open each beer and invert each bottle into a glass while holding your finger over the mouth of the beer. Garnish with lime wedges.

Our grants can help!

Have a creative idea?

Our grants can help!

Have a creative idea? Our grants can help!

Teachers, you can apply for a grant for up to $2,000 for your classroom project that needs funding. Last year, Brunswick Electric distributed 34,145 to local teachers, and this year, you could be one of them.

Visit bemc.org/bright-ideas-grants to apply, now through September 15.

Teachers, you can apply for a grant for up to $2,000 for your classroom project that needs funding. Last year, Brunswick Electric distributed $34,145 to local teachers, and this year, you could be one of them.

Visit bemc.org/bright-ideas-grants to apply, now through September 15.

Something to Crow About

Our golf writer discovers why Crow Creek Golf Club is a such highly rated, well-loved Brunswick County course.

BY LARRY HERSHOFF | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MCGRAW

If you like well-conditioned courses and are not a fan of forced carries and other trickery, then you ought to come down and play Crow Creek in Calabash. Nestled between Highway 17 and Hickman Road, a mile north of the NC/SC border, is a Rick Robbins masterpiece that will test your skills without serving up endless double-bogeys. I spent some time on a blustery afternoon with Head Pro Tyler

Robinette and General Manager Joe Jamison over-viewing and touring this 18-hole gem. Jamison is more knowledgeable than most general managers, because he built the course as construction manager for Jerry McLamb back in 1999 and has overseen it since then.

Jamison’s family is a part-owner in the group that bought Crow Creek five years ago, and he talks about this course the way you would tell people about your kids. This is low-country, but Crow Creek is built to well-tolerate the heat and occasional torrents of rain that we

have all gotten used to. And lush is the only way I can describe the over-seed conditions on the fairways on my visit.

Jamison installed V-8 bentgrass on Crow Creek’s greens, which do not require over-seeding and make it through the hot summer with sustained Stimp speeds in the 10-11 range. The bunkers have a “chamber system” that draws off water much the way your septic field distributes the water away from where you do not want it. When other courses are cart path only and free drops out of bunker ponds, you would be amazed at how enjoyable Crow Creek is. It is no wonder that the N.C. Golf Panel has ranked it #19 in the entire state on places you can play.

This popular track handles well over 40,000 rounds a year and

Crow Creek Golf Club Head

Pro Tyler Robinette

Food and Beverage Manager

welcomes all locals and visitors, with no members. The closest Crow Creek gets to members is their Crow Creek Players Card program, which affords holders the best discounts on tee times, pro shop merchandise and food in the Crow Bar, their spacious pub.

Crow Creek participates in all the discount programs in this market, but this is not the cheapest place to play. However, you get a premium golf experience without the premium price. The carts have GPS to guide you with

hazards and distances (and that annoying disabling feature if you drive where you shouldn’t be!). The cart paths are smooth, and there are 5 sets of tees plus a combo white/ senior tee set to facilitate your enjoyment, whether you are scratch or trying to get out of the thirties. Slope/ratings range from 138/74.9 from the 7241 tips to 118/6.4 for seniors like me, to 118/67.2 for the 4760 yard forward tees. There is a generous driving range, too.

This is not an easy course — the undulating greens and omnipresent water

Kayla Mazalewski

Robinette

and Assistant

Pro Justin Lane

GREEN WITH ENVY?

Crow Creek Golf Club

240 Hickman Road, Calabash

m (910) 287-3081

K crowcreekgolf.com

provide plenty of challenges. But it is a very fair course, where you can create your own trouble.

You slide under Hickman Road to get to #1, where everyone should make par or bogey, a la Donald Ross.

Number two also appears fairly benign (again in the mid-300s for white tee players, and near 300 for us seniors) but when you get to the sloping green, you’ll know why this is the #1 stroke hole. The fun starts on Robinette’s favorite hole, #3, a dogleg left par 5 where big hitters will get there in two and maybe three putts. You will need a tight drive and a deft pitch onto #4 to stay dry. The next big challenge is the only real forced carry: on the par 3 eighth. Head back under Hickman Road after the tough ninth green and you are ready to make birdie on number 10! The par 5 12th is 470 for the seniors and might be tough to

reach in three, especially if you don’t respect the water on the right-no wonder it’s the number two stroker! I think you will find holes 13 to 16 pretty straightforward, but I know you will be challenged by the traps and green on #17. The 18th hole is a solid finishing par 5, where even short-hitters like me can get there in three as long as you avoid the bunkers left.

Walk off the green, drop off your clubs and reminisce over a cold beverage in the Crow Bar — I know you will have had a very nice day! 

Head Pro Tyler

(left)

SHORELY SOCIAL

The locally curated Beaches of Brunswick County Facebook page gains traction to the tune of 61,000+ followers.

BY ANNA BETH ADCOCK

Clockwise from opposite left: Fall in Varnamtown by Jessi Viox, Casting by Brenda Torrey, Butterfly at Old Baldy by Katie D Photography, Kindred Spirit by Beth D. Turner Photography, Blowin’ in the Wind by Judy Kistler, Beautiful Neighhh bors by Jessi Viox, The Buoys are Back in Town by Kate Magill Walters Photography, Carolina Girl by Robert Ermer

OOne thing is for certain: The natural beauty of Brunswick County serves as a restful oasis and respite for visitors, longtime locals and new residents. One such resident is Toby Bronstein, who spent her childhood in Los Angeles (a place to which she credits her love of the beach) and spent her working years calling San Francisco and Boston home before settling in Brunswick County for her retirement circa 2007.

“I haven’t looked back since,” Bronstein says of her move to Caswell Beach. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 17 years — and I’m really happy here.”

In 2012 the beach-loving Brunswick County inhabitant took to Facebook to share her love for the area, creating a page titled Beaches of Brunswick County. When it comes to the content, picture breathtaking images of the water, sunsets, piers, tropical plants, tranquil picnic perches, boats sailing along the Intracoastal Waterway and more.

“There’s so much talent here in Brunswick County,” she says. “One of my goals [with the Facebook page] was to support local artists — from photographers to painters. Most of them are amateur and do it for the love of it, so I started sharing their work. It was a real win-win for everybody.”

On the daily for the last 12-plus years, sans a two-year hiatus where she had some help to hold down the fort, Bronstein spends hours sleuthing

Beaches of Brunswick County Facebook page creator and curator Toby Bronstein. Photo by Katie D Photography.

Clockwise from top: Old Boat House on BHI by Michael Ligett, Oak Island Light by Dan Dolak, Mama Mia! by Linda Hansel Moore, Pileated Woodpecker by Wandermore Worryless

around the web each morning for the works of amateur local artists and photographers to showcase and credit on her site. Beyond two to three daily posts, the mastermind behind the uber-successful Facebook page also does a monthly top 10 posts roundup and a yearly top 10 roundup, both of which are big hits with her followers. Plus she sprinkles in a few quotes and

chuckles to keep things interesting. “Every day I spend a lot of time searching for content,” Bronstein explains. “Sometimes people will send me photographs, but the vast amount of artists I feature are ones I seek out.”

Now touting more followers than the official NC Brunswick County Beaches Facebook page, Beaches of Brunswick County flaunts more than 61,000

followers — and Bronstein has a goal to keep on growing it (fingers crossed for 100,000!).

“I never in my wildest dreams imagined this much traction,” she says. “When I hit 500 fans, I was ecstatic — and now I have over 61,000. I had no idea how much this page would be loved, embraced and responded to on an emotional level.”

When she started the page to celebrate Bald Head Island, Caswell Beach, Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle, Sunset Beach and other beaches dotted in between,

Clockwise from top left: SB Storm by Scott Castico, Homeward Bound by Robert Ermer, House With Silo by Love It Snap Photography, Flip Flops by Gonzalo Pimentel

from top left:

& Baby

Mama and Her Kit by

Bronstein could never have predicted what it would mean to people.

And people are invested, indeed. Likening the comments she reads online to the digital version of the Kindred Spirit Mailbox on Bird Island, Bronstein says lovers of Brunswick County’s beaches will leave touching and deeply personal stories below photos that speak to them.

“People love the nostalgia,” Bronstein says. “Everybody has memories, and I love reading the comments because Brunswick County means so much to people.” She adds, “I love it here. And I’m proud to be able to promote it and to share the love I have — and the contributors have — for the area.” 

FOLLOW ALONG

Want to peruse these personally curated artistic works of the beauty of Brunswick County? Take in the site for yourself: E @Beaches of Brunswick County

Clockwise

Mama

by WandermoreWorryless, Ocean Isle Beach by Mickey Cochran, Indian Blankets by Judy Kistler, Marina Sunset by Timothy D. Wood, Sea Treasure by Judy Kistler

Mert Wray Photography

Sand Shapers

For Stuart Jones and his fellow members of the Sunset Sand Artists, gifting the community with beautiful sand sculptures is just another day at Sunset Beach.

BY ANNESOPHIA RICHARDS

hether on the beach or in a sandbox, most of us have attempted to build the perfect sandcastle, only to discover that it’s not as easy as it seems.

Mastering the skill requires a great deal of persistence, a little imagination, a gentle touch and the perfect mix of sand and water — which is exactly what Stuart Jones and his fellow sand artists have figured out.

Up until five years ago, the majority of Stuart’s sand-sculpting experience came about when his children were little and he and his wife, Kathy, would take them on yearly summer vacations.

“We’re from Raleigh, and we’d always done sand castles as a family on our beach trips,” Stuart says. “It was a big part of our vacation every year, and we’d talk about what we wanted to make, but we were only doing small stuff and didn’t understand how to go vertical or do carvings.”

Neighbors, friends and artists (back to front) Neal Harm, Leslie Schalkoff, Robin Ilardi, Jane Zerwick, Kathy Jones and Stuart Jones

PHOTO BY HILARY HALLIWELL

After Stuart retired in 2018 from a longtime career in civil engineering, he and Kathy purchased a home on Sunset Beach, and soon after they met a couple from Maryland who had spent decades visiting the beach and building intricate, eye-catching works of sand art.

“They were willing to give us a lesson and show us the basics,” Stuart says. “I spent the following year getting my gear, practicing and trying new things, and when they returned a

year later, we sculpted together every day for two weeks. After that, I started coming up with my own techniques, my own forms, and things just got bigger from there.”

As people began taking notice of Stuart’s work, he and Kathy started meeting more residents of the community. This increased even more at the start of the pandemic, something Kathy says prompted a now-beloved neighborly tradition and the official beginning of the Sunset Sand Artists.

“Before the pandemic, nobody around us knew each other, but once all the renters were gone, only the owners were left so we began to discover one another,” Kathy says. “We formed this little group on our street that met up on Friday nights in different driveways, and people started talking about Stuart’s sculptures. A few of them were really interested in learning how to do them themselves.”

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Under Stuart’s guidance and after a few lessons, a new group of six sand sculptors began spreading joy along Sunset Beach. In addition to Stuart, Sunset Sand Artists is made up of members Robin Ilardi, Leslie Schalkoff, Neal Harm, Amy Brozena and Jane Zerwick, with support from spouses Bob Schalkoff, Chris Ilardi and, of course, Kathy. The group builds together at least once a month all year long, and in the warmer months sometimes weekly. From elaborate castles to whimsical creatures to holiday-themed effigies, the artists collaborate on inspirations and constantly strive to challenge themselves.

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“We try to push the envelope on how high we can go or how big of an arch we can create,” Stuart says. “We like to experiment and find out what the sand will let us do.”

As for the process itself, Stuart says every sculpture begins by making a “volcano” of sand. As water is poured through a crater dug out on top, the sand compacts and creates a starting base to be molded into a block for carving. Stuart brings a cart filled with his sculpting gear to every building site,

Beach Dr. Ocean Isle Beach, NC

6741 Beach Dr. Ocean Isle Beach, NC

including water buckets, plastic tubs and buckets for molds, a shovel and his toolbox.

“I have clay tools and also a set of palette knives for painting that are really thin and offset,” Stuart says. “I also have a 50 cent kitchen knife that I cut the tip off of and use as my go-to weapon, because it lets me cut stairs. The only thing in my box that’s actually made for sand is my sand shapers, which let me make spheres of different sizes, so I can make all kinds of shapes.”

Water — and lots of it — is the key ingredient in sand sculpting. Using 5-gallon buckets and with the help of the

AROUND TOWN

The artists build their creations above the high tide line so they will last longer. The longest one stood was a whole month, but most last a couple of weeks.

Sunset Sand Artists’ water boy, Bob Schalkoff, up to 1,500 pounds of water are transported from the ocean to the building site for each sculpture created.

“I was stunned at how much physical effort all this takes,” Stuart says. “The sand-to-water ratio is about one-to-one, so if we move about 1,500 pounds of water, we also move about 1,500 pounds of sand. It can definitely be a workout.”

The average build takes the artists roughly six hours to

PHOTO BY

complete, and anywhere from days to weeks to be knocked down. “We build above the tide line so the sculptures can last quite a while, and last year we set a new record and had one last a whole month,” Stuart says. “Some have been destroyed within hours, especially during tourist season, but they typically last a

to gather at will and create based on their moods and imaginations that day.

“We’re not professionals, we’re just a group of friends who do this as a hobby,” Stuart says. “We’d rather do our own thing and see if we can make people happy.”

Stuart’s favorite part of sand sculpting is being able to combine his experience as an engineer and his creativity while enjoying a day at the beach. For Kathy, however, the Sunset Sand Artists represents something more collective.

“The sense of community this group inspires is really wonderful,” Kathy says. “It’s

couple of weeks if people just leave them alone.”

Although the group often gets requests for custom designs and occasionally takes on a specific project, they do not accept payment, but instead ask that a donation be made to a local charity. However, the artists much prefer

awesome how even spouses like me who aren’t artistic are still involved, because we hang out on the beach together and get to talk to the people who come up to ask questions. We’re all absolutely blown away and amazed by what these six artists can do with sand — it’s simply fascinating.” 

THE POWER a RIVER of

In returning the Town of Shallotte’s focus to its namesake river, the Shallotte Riverwalk Project provides a glimpse of the past while reshaping the future.

STORY & PHOTOS BY THERESA RAVENCRAFT

The Shallotte River, previously known as the Charlotte River, was a busy waterway in the 1800s, carrying barges and their cargo to and from the Atlantic Ocean. Back then, the area was primarily home to farmers and fishermen. The Town of Shallotte was incorporated on March 6, 1899, taking its name from the river.

Today the Shallotte River is not used the way it once was. The land along the river at the south end of Wall Street has a recreational purpose now, used for fishing and tourism, which became popular in the region after World War II.

The waterfront property had fallen into disrepair over the years and had become overgrown with brush and trees. The Town of Shallotte has had a plan to implement major improvements and restore the area to its former luster since 2008.

“Over the years we acquired the individual parcels,” says Shallotte Mayor Walter Eccard. “We took down the machine shop that was on site and cleared much of

Shallotte Mayor Walter Eccard on the Shallotte Riverwalk, a quarter-mile riverfront walkway with a gazebo at each end.

a builder and had the Riverwalk built. We have 16 acres at the Riverwalk and 9 acres for further development at Mulberry Park.”

After more than a decade of town planning and development, the Shallotte Riverwalk was completed and opened to visitors in September 2021.

“This was a milestone,” Eccard says. “Since we’ve opened it, it has been well received.”

Top, Shallotte’s existing Mulberry Park will be expanded into the Price Landing area with another kayak launch, an ability garden, a picnic area, a small child playground, an outdoor classroom and walking trails. Left, Two kayak launches will be coming to Riverwalk soon.

The Shallotte Riverwalk consists of two gazebos, benches along the water and a quarter-mile boardwalk that connects both ends of the park. Ample parking is available. More additions, including two kayak launches, are planned this year.

“When we put in kayak launches it will improve the recreational purpose of the area,” Eccard says. “Construction is taking place off-site, and we hope to have them installed this year.”

Improvements to infrastructure are also included in the planned development near the Riverwalk. New facilities for emergency services are part of the plan, along with dining and shopping experiences that are intended to attract people to the area.

“The next thing we are working on is to build a new town hall and police station next to the fire station,” Eccard says. “We also want a quality restaurant and some retail opportunities near the Riverwalk. The plans for construction of town hall should receive approval this year and should be completed within two to three years.”

Significant growth in and around

Shallotte has encouraged Shallotte’s mayor and town council to move forward with these improvements.

“We’re adding several new communities to the town and that requires us to provide support services and infrastructure where needed,” Eccard says.

Improvements planned for the Town of Shallotte are not limited to the

Riverwalk area on Wall Street. Mulberry Park has already seen a number of expansions and is slated for more upgrades this year as well.

“We plan to do an extension to the river side of Mulberry Park,” Eccard says. “We will put in another kayak launch, an ability garden, a picnic area, a small child playground as well as an outdoor classroom for teachers. We hope

Mulberry Park

The amphitheater at Mulberry Park is the site of Shallotte’s Sounds of Summer Concert Series on Thursday nights. Further additions are coming to Mulberry Park by the end of 2024.

it will be completed by the end of 2024. Further additions to walking trails may take longer.”

While growth is a necessity, the environment and preservation are also playing a vital role in planned development. Eccard says the town is working to strengthen its tree ordinance to preserve local historic trees in the community, to preserve green space for its citizens to enjoy and to bring the river back to the forefront of town.

Community funding for the Shallotte Riverwalk project and other town improvements have come from a variety of sources. Most notably, the town received a $2 million grant from Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation along with funding from the state level.

WANT TO GO?

Shallotte Riverwalk 9 Access via Cheers Street or Wall Street Mulberry Park 9 123 Mulberry Street

Mulberry Park Extension at Price Landing 9 120 Mulberry Street

m (910) 754-4032 K townofshallotte.org

Shallotte Riverwalk is open from dawn to dusk and is handicap accessible.

“No tax increases have been needed for the improvements,” Eccard says. “We have built up money in our reserve to cover costs. The state recommends to keep 76% of the operating budget. We try to keep a 90% reserve due to hurricane destruction.”

The vision for a revitalized area along the Shallotte River may have been 16 years in the making, but all the improvements have been and will be worth the wait.

“We’ve come a long way,” says Mayor Eccard. “The citizens of Shallotte seem to be very pleased.” 

910.256.7714 shannon.devita@ml.com

New in the Neighborhood

55 Bistro at Sea Trail Resort serves delicious food and drinks in a fun and welcoming atmosphere. STORY &

ea Trail Resort’s 55 Bistro restaurant and bar recently opened to rave reviews and much enthusiasm from the community. This hip new eatery with an upscale sports-bar vibe is inside the newly renovated Sea Trail Convention Center.

PHOTOS BY HILARY HALLIWELL

Server Brie Donna

Chef Mike Michaud

55 Bistro offers extensive casual menu selections, signature cocktails, craft beers, wines and an impressive list of bourbons. Delectable appetizers, sandwiches, wraps and salads are made with locally sourced ingredients, including olive oils and balsamic vinegars from The Olive Press in Sunset Beach. The French dip is out of this world; it is served on a French baguette and piled high with juicy, thin-sliced prime rib, topped with melted Swiss and finished with an au jus dipping sauce. The Steak and Blue Cheese Wrap is also an excellent choice; it features shaved prime rib and creamy blue cheese with crisp greens in a cilantro balsamic

55 Bistro offers extensive casual menu selections, signature cocktails, craft beers, wines and an impressive list of bourbons. “

dressing and served in a tomato-flavored wrap. Appetizers such as Crab Hushpuppies and Seasoned Mozzarella Logs with homemade marinara sauce have become local favorites.

Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage Operations Daniel Hill recommends trying the Fig and Goat Cheese Appetizer, made with goat cheese supplied by The Goat Lady Dairy in Climax, North Carolina. Also popular are the Sunset Slice pizzas and flatbreads available with an array of toppings as well as a build-your-own option. Patrons can choose one of the healthier choices such as the cauliflower crust pizza or indulge in one of the more decadent

options such as The Carnivore, a natural choice for meat lovers.

Providing a great overall experience is a top priority at 55 Bistro. The team of servers and bartenders is 30 members strong and growing. Staff receive rigorous training in order to provide great service.

“New hires take a five-day course and must pass a test demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the menus, wines and beverages before they begin serving customers,” Hill says.

In addition to offering local craft brews and domestic and imported beers, 55 Bistro recently partnered with Makai

“Se habla español” I love to help you save. Combine Home & Auto.

Images of the newly renovated Sea Trail Resort and Convention Center and its newly opened 55 Bistro in Sunset Beach

Bar Manager Mike Green

WHAT’S NEW

Brewing Company in Ocean Isle Beach to bring patrons several new draft options. Bartenders whip up a variety of specialty and seasonally themed cocktails, such as the Azalea Cocktail in honor of the 2024 Masters Tournament as well as Mint Juleps, Old Fashioneds and Manhattans to celebrate the Kentucky Derby. Even classic cocktails are served with flair, such as a Bloody Mary with a slice of crisp bacon.

Just beyond the bar, sports fans can get their game on in 55 Bistro’s large game room, which boasts more than 20 televisions with Direct TV, Golden Tee golf arcade games, a pool table and BullShooter electronic dart boards.

Renovations to the Convention Center include significant interior design changes and landscaping. The convention center recently hosted a local high school prom, and several weddings and business events are planned for the summer and fall. The Convention Center is approximately 40,000 square feet boasting a seating capacity of 1,580.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT AT SEA TRAIL

Sea Trail Resort is also renovating the Jones/Byrd Clubhouse, located next door to 55 Bistro. When completed, it will house Sunset Prime, a new restaurant that will accommodate up to 300 guests and feature an interior bar with views of the golf course as well as an outdoor bar and dining space overlooking the golf course.

“The menu will be something this area doesn’t have right now,” says Sunset Prime Executive Chef Joe Rayola, who received his

Coastal Living Coastal Expertise

HAPPY TRAILS

55 Bistro

Sea Trail Resort, 75 A Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach

m (800) 764-6070

K seatrail.com

55 Bistro is open to the public.

Sunday to Wednesday, food is served from 7 am to 8 pm, and the bar is open from 7 am to 9 pm.

Thursday to Saturday, food is served from 7 am to 9 pm, and the bar is open from 7 am to 10 pm.

An array of delicious food at Sunset Prime including Lobster Mac and Cheese, Antipasto Salad, homemade pastries and dry-aged beef cooked to perfection.

culinary training in Florence, Italy. “We will offer a diverse menu including Tomahawk steaks, dry aged beef, Italian cuisine and traditional coastal favorites such as crab cakes and shrimp and grits.”

The restaurant will have an in-house pastry chef and offer homemade desserts and ice creams.

“There will be a little bit of everything for everyone,” Hill says.

Golfers can stop in 55 Bistro for a burger or sandwich and a cold draft beer in a casual setting, or patrons can make a reservation at Sunset Prime to have an upscale dining experience in a more formal setting.

Other food and drink options on the horizon include Sunset Cove Turnhouse, a stationary building that will serve the same items available on the beverage carts along with additional items such as chili dogs, pulled pork sandwiches and more.

The Village Activity Center (VAC) poolside bar is currently under renovation and will be rebranded as Sunset Tiki. Offerings will include casual and light-fare menu options as well as frozen drinks and cocktails.

Additional planned offerings include live music featuring local area bands, karaoke nights, and wine and bourbon tasting classes. 

Sunset Prime Executive Chef Joe Rayola and Director of Food & Beverage Daniel Hill.

Centenarian N ina Hewett Herring Browder lives the good life in Supply, right next to the house where she was born in 1923.

HOW TO LIVE TO 100

BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA TORREY

Have you ever heard of a Blue Zone? It is an area known for its rare population of centenarians — people who live past 100 years of age. There are only five such locations across the globe, including Icaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan; Ogliastra Region; Sardinia; Loma Linda, California; and the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. But Brunswick County might just have its own Blue Zone in Supply.

One-hundred-year-old Nina Browder celebrated her milestone birthday on September 13, 2023. Helping her commemorate the milestone were 80 guests including her baby brother, James, 94, whom she nicknamed Sonny Boy when he was just a baby.

“We had to find a big space to fit everyone,” says Rebecca Justice, Browder’s niece. “We rented the Lockwood Folly Clubhouse that overlooks the water. It was a very nice party, and Nina got everything she asked for, which was chocolate.”

Browder says, “My whole table was covered in chocolate candy. I still have some.”

Browder grew up on a farm and still lives next door to the house where she was born and raised by her parents, Ben and Ada Hewett, on Mount Pisgah Road in Supply. Browder is the oldest of the family’s three children. James, the youngest, lives across the street from her. They also had a middle sister, Margaret, who passed away at the age of 96 in 2022. Longevity obviously runs in the family. Ada passed away when she was just two days shy of her 100th birthday.

Top, Nina Hewett Herring Browder at age 20; middle (left to right), members of the Hewett family: Margaret Hewett Shaw, Ben Hewett, Ada McCall Hewett, Nina Hewett Herring and James Hewett.

At age five Browder enjoyed helping her parents work on their farm, though she says with a chuckle that her “daddy wouldn’t call it working.” Her chore was feeding the animals, which

included chickens, pigs and mules. “We had two mules,” she says. “Back then, one mule cost a little more than a car.” She also helped her family make lye soap.

Browder attended what was then Hog Bay School. After graduating, she married her first husband, James Herring, in 1940, when she was 19 and he was 21. Herring was in the army during World War II, so Browder moved “to the big city of Wilmington” to live across the street from his parents.

Once in Wilmington, Browder got a job with Nationwide Insurance Company while her husband was fighting in Normandy. He was part of the D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, in Normandy, France, and earned a bronze star.

At one point, Herring was missing in action. “I got a telegram from the Western Union,” Browder says. “The guy from Western Union came in person to tell us. Fortunately, he had been found after four days.

After Herring came home from the war, he and

Top, Browder credits gardening and homegrown food for keeping her healthy; bottom, the family celebrating with their matriarch Nina Browder (at center)

Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Awards Gala

April 18 at The Isles Restaurant in Ocean Isle Beach

 Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board David Hutnik led the annual Chairman’s Awards Gala to showcase businesses that exemplify their services in their select categories. The 2023 winners are:

Deputy Malcolm Walcott

First Responder of the Year Award

(sponsored by Comfort Keepers)

Regina Lowry Ambassador of the Year Award (sponsored by CTC Supply)

Ronell Thompson Volunteer of the Year Award aka Ozzy Award (sponsored by APR Restoration)

Samara’s Village

Community Impact Award (sponsored by Fernandes Fit LLC)

Brunswick County Association of Realtors

Community Outreach Award (sponsored by Monarch Roofing)

Sunset Porch and Patio

Rising Star Award (sponsored by Saltwater Medspa)

Brunswick Organizing Solutions Excellence in Small Business Award

(sponsored by Saltwater Agency – Debra Cornwell)

Jerome’s Steak and Seafood / Coastline Catering Excellence in Business Award (sponsored by Living Coastal Team –Intracoastal Realty)

Elvis Service Company Outstanding Customer Service Award

(sponsored by River Rock at Shingle Tree)

Coastal Carolina Outreach Leadership in Diversity Award (sponsored by Patriot Roofing Company LLC)

Joe Stanley and Moe Stanley Lifetime Achievement Award

(sponsored by Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce)

2023 FUTURE 10 RECIPIENTS

(sponsored by South Brunswick Magazine)

Lauren Borowski –

Blondies Boutique

Christina Fulford –Fulford Construction Group

Lauren & Jason Gore –Huckleberry Farm

Zachary Hewett –

Village of Bald Head Island

Ryan Hill – Focus Broadband

Shanta Johnson –Southeastern Christian Academy

Kourtney Saavedra –West Brunswick High School

Heather Maddox –

National Property Inspectors

Ross Lippard –

Novant Health – South Brunswick Internal Family Medicine

Bill McHugh –

Councilman, Town of Leland

BRUNSCO Biz Forum and Expo

March 19 at Sea Trail Convention Center in Sunset Beach

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TARA

ROBERTS

 The Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 BRUNSCO Biz Forum and Expo presented a full day of insights, networking and growth opportunities. The Forum included a keynote breakfast with Jennie Harrist from the North Carolina Department of Commerce and lunch sessions with local business icons Joe Stanley and Moe Stanley. The Expo was open from 8:30 am to 3 pm, allowing attendees to discover solutions for business, home and services from more than 50 Brunswick County businesses.

Grand Opening of Christian Recovery Centers Inc.’s Shallotte Campus

March 23 in Shallotte

 More than 400 people celebrated with Christian Recovery Centers Inc. at the grand opening and ribbon cutting of their new 102-bed facility in Shallotte. The attendees were amazed by the beauty and functionality of Christian Recovery Centers’ Shallotte campus and were astonished to hear that it is already serving 88 male residents seeking recovery from substance use. Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce assisted with the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility at 520 Mulberry Street in Shallotte.

Ocean Isle Museum Foundation’s Beach Ball

April 18 at the Isles Restaurant and Beach Club in Ocean Isle Beach

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MCGRAW

 A celebration of Ingram Planetarium and Museum of Coastal Carolina programs, the Beach Ball included dinner, drinks, socializing and speakers who inspire curiosity across generations including EarthEcho Youth Engagement Coordinator Tori Hunt and Brunswick County Schools Career Ready Coordinator Dr. Daniel Richardson.

Ocean Isle Museum Foundation (OIMF) also presented its 2024 Louise Ingram Coastal Caretaker Award to Deb and Jim Boyce. OIMF presents Coastal Caretaker Awards to people who notably contribute to preserving the coastal environment, heritage and culture through education, conservation and preservation. The Boyces served as volunteers and leaders of the Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization for more than 20 years, and Deb worked for the Museum of Coastal Carolina for 14 years.

Wine, Women & Chocolate

March 6 at Sea Trail Convention Center in Sunset Beach

 It was a full house for the Ultimate Girls Night Out at Wine, Women & Chocolate on March 6. Participants enjoyed drinks, raffles, shopping and food (including chocolate) tastings. An annual event of Brunswick County

Chamber of Commerce, the 2024 Wine, Women & Chocolate event was sponsored by Novant Health, Arbor Landing at Ocean Isle, River Rock, Sea Trail Golf Resort, First Citizens Banks and South Brunswick Magazine

July

10:17 0.8

16 3:51 3.4 4:41 4.7 10:07 0.2 11:11 0.6 17 4:40 3.4 5:30 4.9 10:57 0.1

18 5:33 3.5 6:20 5.0 12:02 0.5 11:47 AM 0.0

19 6:27 3.6 7:09 5.2 12:52 0.3 12:39 -0.1

20 7:19 3.7 7:57 5.4 1:42 0.1 1:31 -0.2

21 8:10 3.9 8:44 5.4 2:32 -0.1 2:25 -0.2

22 9:02 4.1 9:33 5.4 3:22 -0.3 3:20 -0.2

23 9:55 4.2 10:24 5.3 4:10 -0.4 4:15 -0.2

24 10:51 4.4 11:16 5.1 4:56 -0.6 5:09 -0.2

25 11:49 4.6 5:42 -0.6 6:05 0.0

26 12:12 4.8 12:49 4.8 6:29 -0.6 7:05 0.1

27 1:09 4.5 1:48 5.1 7:20 -0.5 8:09 0.3

28 2:05 4.3 2:44 5.2 8:13 -0.5 9:15 0.3

29 2:59 4.1 3:37 5.3 9:09 -0.4 10:17 0.3

30 3:52 4.0 4:31 5.3 10:04 -0.4 11:14 0.3 31 4:46 3.9 5:25 5.3 10:59 -0.3

August September

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