The Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program and Caswell Beach Turtle Watch monitor and protect the sea turtle population that visits the beaches of Oak Island.
THE HOME TEAM
The remarkable first season of Oak Island Loggerheads baseball has come to a close.
FISH FACTORY
Coastal history meets culinary art in this new restaurant & bar in Southport.
WORDS ON THE WIND
A wind phone offers a place for grievers to send messages to loved ones who have passed away.
40
T HE HOME TEAM
The remarkable first season of Oak Island Loggerheads baseball has come to a close. Fans and players are left with a summer of great memories and riding a wave of excitement for what’s to come.
56
MIRACLES OF NATURE
The all-volunteer, nonprofit Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program and Caswell Beach Turtle Watch monitor and protect the sea turtle population that visits the beaches of Oak Island.
68 COASTAL HISTORY MEETS CULINARY ART
Inspired by the legacy of Fish Factory Road in Southport, Chef Ryan Duffy’s new Fish Factory Restaurant & Bar delivers imaginative, locally sourced fare and a familyrooted dining experience.
DEPARTMENTS
35
P EOPLE
Beloved artist Joseph Bardani’s legacy lives on at Southport Studio Artists in Southport.
47 COMMUNITY
Thanks to Oak Island resident Wendy Morris, a wind phone at May Moore Park offers a place for grievers to send messages to loved ones who have passed away.
51
MUSIC
The Southport community rallied around Erik Schonher, bass guitarist and vocalist for local band The Doorsmen, as he battled cancer.
63
BEHIND THE BUSINESS
Wild by Nature Florist in Southport blooms with the joy of nature and creativity.
75
A RT
Creative couple Kristia and Stephen Merriam create works of art inspired by their life on the coast.
#1 #1 #1 in Brunswick County in North Carolina in the Nation
We’ve been the area’s #1 real estate company for the past 25 years. Put the power of our proven performance to work for you.
We’d
Fall 2025 Issue — Volume 3, Issue 1
CEO/PUBLISHER: Justin Williams
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: Sandi Grigg
COPY EDITOR: Molly Harrison
CONTRIBUTING GRAPHICS:
Teresa Kramer S amantha Lowe
Cissy Russell
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Brian Wilner
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Bill Markowitz
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
E d Beckley L aura Cockfield
Megan Deitz K urt Epps
K atie D Photography Jo Ann Mathews
M att McGraw Bill Ritenour
Z eb Starnes James Stefiuk
Brenda Torrey
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Sandi Grigg Dennis Hetzel
B eth A. Klahre Jo Ann Mathews
David Putnam R andi Jo Rooks
Melissa Slaven Warren
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: KC Creative
SALES & MARKETING INTERNS:
Isla Murphy C aroline Thomas
PUBLISHED BY: CAROLINA MARKETING COMPANY, INC.
PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451 (910) 207-0156 • info@lifeinbrunswickcounty.com Reproduction or use of the contents in this magazine is prohibited.
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. SPT OKI — A Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. publication is published four times per year and is distributed to residents and businesses in the Southport Oak Island area, to subscribers and to select areas of Brunswick and New Hanover counties. Interested in back issues, subscriptions or advertising? Contact us at (910) 207-0156 or info@lifeinbrunswickcounty.com.
About the cover:
Photographer Brenda Torrey captured over cover photograph of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings making their way from nest to sea on Oak Island. See more of Torrey's photos and read about the volunteers who monitor and protect sea turtles on Oak Island and Caswell beaches starting on page 56.
The Art of Slowing Down
OOne of the best things about of living in southeastern North Carolina is when the busy summer season slips into the laidback days of fall.
Fall here feels like slowing down. The pace shifts, the light changes, the air clears. When we know the last of our warm-weather days are upon us, we savor them more. We rock a little while longer on the porch, eat dinner on the deck or on the beach, bike or walk instead of driving to our favorite haunts around town.
This slowing down is not about doing nothing or being lazy. We still do the things, we just don’t rush through them. We are here for it all, taking the time to catch up with friends and neighbors at community events and celebrating all the things we love about living on the coast.
And actually that’s what making a magazine is all about. Our job is to be on the lookout for good stories to tell about Southport and Oak Island, and that can’t be rushed. We have to slow down and look closely at our community, then report back on all the cool people to meet, places to go, things to do and foods to eat.
In this issue of SPT OKI Magazine, you’ll find stories that celebrate the beauty of living at a slower pace in Southport and Oak Island. You’ll meet numerous artists, those lucky people who seem to have mastered the art of slowing time, like the floral creatives led by Tammy Seaman at Wild by Nature Florist; painter Kristia Merriam and carver Stephen Merriam; the culinary team at The Fish Factory Restaurant & Bar; and the artist proteges of Joseph Bardani at Southport Studio Artists. You’ll learn what a “wind
phone” is and why Wendy Morris was inspired to install one at May Moore Park and meet the volunteers behind the Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program and Caswell Beach Turtle Watch — and learn how you can help the turtles too. Of course there’s much more, from fall events information to recipes.
I hope you find time to slow down and savor the fall of 2025. And while doing so, if you happen to be inspired by something or someone wonderful you notice around town, let us know so we can include all that local goodness on these pages. Drop us a line at publisher@lifeinbrunswickcounty.com
Justin Williams Owner/Publisher
publisher@lifeinbrunswickcounty.com
JustinW13
Don’t miss a single thing in SPT OKI
The Southport Oak Island areas have so much to see and do all year round, and if you’re like me, it’s hard to keep track of it all. That’s why we created Southport Oak Island Lifestyle — an e-Newsletter full of local events, places to see and people to meet.
Choosing to subscribe is probably the easiest thing you’ll do all day. Scanning the code below with your phone my be the second:
SCAN ME to subscribe to the enewsletter or have SPT OKI Magazine delivered to your door quarterly. Or visit Lifeinbrunswick county.com/subscribe
PHOTO BY MEGAN DEITZ
Lara Cockfield
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
I am a portrait and documentary photographer recently established in Southport. A native of the New Orleans area, I spent the last six years refining my artistic approach in Santa Fe, New Mexico. With more than two decades of professional experience, I have worked with a diverse clientele, capturing everything from professional headshots for actors, models and business professionals to fine art family and children’s portraits. My work has been published in a variety of magazines throughout Louisiana and New Mexico and in Boss Magazine online. Now proud to call Southport home, I look forward to contributing to the local community and building meaningful collaborations with residents and businesses.
Beth A. Klahre
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I retired from a Pennsylvania-headquartered chocolate manufacturer, where I held leadership positions in engineering, information technology and global business services in process optimization and HR operations. Now living in Southport, I spend time writing and have been published locally and nationally. A harp student at Brooklyn Arts Music Academy in Wilmington, I am president of the Coastal Carolina Chapter of the American Harp Society and a certified therapeutic musician for public medical environments. I love walking the beach with my dog, Betsy, while my husband, Jeff, plays golf.
Randi Jo Rooks
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A lifelong lover of words, people and stories, I am so grateful to share my writing with others. I have been homeschooling my three children for the last decade and it has been the greatest gift to have that time with them. My husband, Brandon, and I were UNCW sweethearts (one Yankee, one Southern Gentleman) and have called Brunswick County home for the last 16 years. We love enjoying God’s creation and encouraging others in their faith and family life.
More to Explore
47TH ANNUAL U.S. OPEN KING MACKEREL TOURNAMENT
Join the 47th Annual U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament in Brunswick County from October 2 to 4 for big prizes, live music and family fun.
The highly anticipated 47th Annual U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament returns to Brunswick County’s Dutchman Creek Park from October 2 to 4. Hosted by the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce, this premier fishing tournament is recognized as one of the largest king mackerel tournaments on the East Coast and is a key stop on the Southern Kingfish Association (SKA) Tournament Trail.
In 2024, the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament drew 565 boats and awarded more than $425,000 in cash prizes, making it a must-attend event for serious anglers. | CONTINUE READING ONLINE |
BCC RECEIVES SCULPTURE DONATION
The Foundation of Brunswick Community College recently received a wonderful gift — a vibrant sculpture by the late American artist Dorothy Gillespie.
A gift from Gillespie's son, Gary Israel, on behalf of the Dorothy M. Gillespie Foundation, the enamel-on-aluminum sculpture will be displayed in BCC's Southport Center for Heritage Arts.
Dorothy Gillespie (1920–2012) was an influential painter and sculptor, recognized for her dynamic, brightly colored works made from cut aluminum.
2025 NC 4TH JULY FESTIVAL
Parades, fireworks, art, food and family fun are all part of the tradition at the 2025 NC 4th of July Festival in Southport.
The festival dates back to 1795, when ship crews anchored in the harbor fired cannon salutes and celebrated the nation’s independence at the Festival of Free Men. Over the years, the festival evolved, and by the 1950s, it was known as the Live Oak Festival, featuring parades and balls. In the 1960s, it took on its current patriotic focus with parades, arts festivals and community events.
| CONTINUE READING ONLINE |
OKI PEER FISHIN’ FEST
Operation North State’s Peer Fishin’ Festival returns to Oak Island Pier October 20 to 24, offering free fishing, food and fellowship for wounded warriors and veterans.
Operation North State (ONS) is rallying North Carolina’s residents, businesses and community groups — especially those in Oak Island, Southport and the Brunswick County beach communities — to support the 10th Annual Peer Fishin’ Festival. This much-anticipated event for wounded warriors and veterans welcomes community volunteers and donations.
| CONTINUE READING ONLINE |
BRUNSWICK WINDS SUMMER MUSIC SERIES
The free Brunswick Winds Summer Concerts, featuring live music by local musicians, enriched Brunswick County all summer long.
Audiences enjoyed outdoor concerts with the vibrant sounds Brunswick Winds — a beloved musical tradition that brought the community together through the power of live instrumental music.
| CONTINUE
In Case You Missed It
BCC Southport Center for Heritage Arts Receives Gift of Windows
Brunswick Community College’s Southport Center for Heritage Arts has entered a new phase of growth and renovation, thanks to local supporter Allison Fox’s gift to the Foundation of Brunswick Community College. Fox’s donation funded the installation of two banks of commercial windows, which enhanced both the center’s natural light and its capacity to serve more than 500 enrolled arts and crafts students. Located at 701 N. Lord Street, the Southport Center expanded to meet high demand, recently opening a new Metal Studio and planning renovations for up to six additional classrooms or studios. The community was invited to experience the center’s vibrant atmosphere during the inaugural Southport Arts MAY-nia event on May 17, which featured live demonstrations, food trucks, music and tours.
Southport Health & Rehabilitation Center Reopens After Flood Damage
On May 8, the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Southport Health & Rehabilitation Center to mark the completion of extensive renovations following severe flood damage from Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight. The weather system, which developed off the Carolina coast on September 13, 2024, caused heavy rainfall and flash flooding that forced the evacuation of residents and staff. They were relocated to other facilities until February 2025 while the parent company, Liberty Health and Rehab, undertook a complete renovation of the center. The event celebrated the teamwork and dedication behind the project, with attendees including Facility Administrator Danielle Peters, Liberty Hospice Chaplain Annie Bryant, Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilson, owners Ronnie and Sandy McNeill, City of Southport Mayor Rich Alt, Police Chief Todd Coring, City Manager Noah Saldo and Chamber President Brooke Rudd as well as staff, family members and residents.
Southport Woman’s Club Awards Scholarship to SBHS Senior
On May 15 GFWC Southport Woman’s Club presented a scholarship at South Brunswick High School’s Senior Department Awards/ Scholarship Night. President Penny Tysinger and Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee Patricia Grecco presented the Sallie Southall Cotten Scholarship to Connor Joseph Walls. Connor will be attending East Carolina University with a major in engineering. He excelled in academic excellence, leadership, community service and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. His goal is to be an astronaut.
The Landings at Oak Island Hosted May Coffee with the Girls
The ladies of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce enjoyed breakfast and coffee at The Landings of Oak Island during May’s Coffee with the Girls event.
The meeting included a tour of the facility, where Bean, the therapy dog from River Road Animal Hospital, was a big hit with residents. The Landings of Oak Island, located at 2910 Pine Plantation Parkway, offers assisted living, memory care and respite care. The event provided a welcoming opportunity for members to connect and explore the facility.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church Ladies Guild Awards Scholarships
On May 18 at the 11 o’clock mass, the Ladies Guild of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church presented scholarships to high school graduates and continuing education students, followed by a round of applause by the congregation. Recipients were Molly Delair, UNC Wilmington, STEM Scholarship; Riley Kiniry, North Greenville University; Patrick Boldt, Pitt Community College; Hayden Delair, UNC Wilmington; Gannon Herring, Appalachian State University; and Cade Needham, Roanoke College.
Dosher Announces Aaliya Strohmeier as Triple E Recipient
Aaliya Strohmeier, an EVS Tech from Environmental Services, is the most recent recipient of the hospital’s Employees Exceeding Excellence, Triple E award. Aaliya was recognized for being courteous and respectful to both patients and staff and for going out of her way to give everyone personalized attention.
Thirteen Graduate from Leadership Brunswick County
Palmetto Creek Community Raises Money for Veterans
Leadership Brunswick County organizers celebrated the graduation of 13 individuals from the nine-month program during the 2024–25 ceremony. Sponsored by the Brunswick County, North Brunswick and Southport-Oak Island Area chambers of commerce, the program aims to develop informed and committed leaders by educating participants about local needs and the dynamics of social and economic change. The 2024–25 graduates are Laurie Griswell (Novant Health), Pam Hardy (Duke Energy), Anne Hewett (Lower Cape Fear LifeCare), Chrystal Jones (No Hassle Travel), Heather King-Semple (Novant Health), Jessie Labell (City of Southport), Anna LaRue (Patriot Roofing), Karen Martin (City of Southport), Will Mitchell (Corning Credit Union), Ashley Roberson (Cumulus Media), Noah Saldo (City of Southport), Jamie Vogler (Novant Health) and Hallie Willis (Town of Oak Island).
Southport Carriage House Inn Hosts May After Hours
Southport Carriage House Inn hosted the SouthportOak Island Area Chamber of Commerce’s May Business Networking After Hours, where members enjoyed a welcoming atmosphere in a beautiful setting. Innkeepers Amy Coggins and John Mann created a warm environment at their inn, which is the only pet-friendly bed and breakfast in Downtown Southport. Guests appreciated the inviting backyard, porches and parlor as well as the chance to tour the themed rooms that offer a relaxing retreat from the busy downtown area.
Over Memorial Day weekend, the Palmetto Creek community raised $1,600 to support Brunswick Community College’s Partnership for American Veterans Employment (PAVE) program. Organized by the Palmetto Creek Social and Recreation Activities Committee and resident Rick Sessa, the event featured a performance by Mike’s Garage Band and brought community members together in support of student veterans. Foundation Executive Director Teresa Nelson attended and accepted the donation, which will help provide essential resources for veterans pursuing academic and career success.
The Dosher Volunteers Organization recently announced the winners of its 2025 Health Service Education Grants. Each student receives a $5,000 scholarship toward tuition and supplies for the 2025-2026 school year. The recipients are:
Kelly Edens Harris, RN, a Dosher Memorial Hospital staff member pursuing further nursing education at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington
John Fanning, a 2025 graduate of North Brunswick High School. John will be attending East Carolina University as a member of the honors college, majoring in medicine.
Johnathan Chisholm-Brower, a 2025 graduate of South Brunswick High School. Johnathan will be attending LenoirRhyne University, majoring in physical therapy/sports medicine.
Brunswick County Schools Announces 2025 Brunswick Built Scholarship Recipients
Brunswick County Schools’ Brunswick Built Scholarship is prestigious scholarship that supports the pursuit of continuing education in teaching. 2025 recipients were Nathaniel Brown, Isabella Bullard, Liv Hobbs, Katie Del Key, Doug Manders, Amadis Levassa, Maisy Morse and Olivia Rogers. These recipients have committed to continuing to
teach or return and teach at Brunswick County Schools after earning their degrees, reinforcing the district’s dedication to building future educators from within and strengthening our community with homegrown talent.
Brunswick County Schools Announces Corning STEM Educator of the Year Award
Brunswick County Schools announced Cathie Poulin from West Brunswick High School as the 2025 recipient of the Corning STEM Educator of the Year (EOY) Award - High School Division. The Corning-Wilmington STEM EOY team extends their thanks for her outstanding application, recognizing the time and effort she invested in showcasing her work. Established in 2013 to honor local educators critical to the Cape Fear region’s future, this award celebrates Cathie’s impressive impact. Her innovative, hands-on STEM activities have expanded students’ views of math, inspired a love for the subject and opened doors to STEM career possibilities, as highlighted by glowing testimonials from the West Brunswick High School community. The selection process was highly competitive, with numerous dedicated educators applying.
Jazzercise Southport Recognized at Coastal Entrepreneur Awards
The Coastal Entrepreneur Awards honor both emerging ventures and established companies that continue to innovate in the region. Organized by UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in partnership with the Greater Wilmington Business Journal, the awards highlight outstanding entrepreneurs in the Cape Fear area. As part of the program, local chambers of commerce select and recognize their top businesses. At the May banquet, the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce recognized Angela Dover of Southport Jazzercise as its 2024/25 Small Business of the Year.
Extraordinary Nurse Benjamin Rorrer Recognized At Dosher Memorial Hospital
Benjamin Rorrer, B.A.ED., RN, a nurse in the Dosher Memorial Hospital Patient Care Unit, was recently honored with The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses. This national recognition celebrates nurses for exceptional care and compassion. Ben was nominated by the spouse of a patient who underwent a total knee replacement, praising
his professionalism, positive attitude and support during a difficult time. Ben transitioned from special needs education to nursing in 2013 and has since provided care in various hospital settings for both pediatric and adult patients. He joined Dosher’s Patient Care Unit in 2023 and continues to work in pediatric case management remotely. Ben is appreciated for his dedication to patient care and his commitment to the Southport community.
Chad Cumber Appointed as New Director of the Brunswick Interagency Program
Brunswick Community College (BCC) is proud to announce the appointment of Chad Cumber as the new director of the Brunswick Interagency Program (BIP), a nationally recognized initiative supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cumber brings more than 16 years of experience in the mental health field and a deep commitment to student success. A longtime resident of Leland, he has been part of the BIP team for the past 12 years, most recently serving as assistant director. In that role, he led the on-site implementation of the North Carolina Community College System’s IDD Pilot Program, which helped establish the now statewide Access to Achievement initiative. This program expands career pathway options and employment connections for students with intellectual disabilities throughout the state. Originally from Wilmington, Cumber earned his degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Dosher Food Drop Brings in 500+ Pounds of Donations
Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport recently hosted a drivethrough food donation event, collecting 514 pounds of food and $25 in cash through contributions from staff and the community. The donations were distributed to the Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc. (BSRI) food pantry, which supports local seniors in need. Dosher Memorial Hospital is a critical access facility offering a wide range of medical and surgical services, including primary care, a walkin clinic, general surgery, women’s health, wound care, cardiac rehabilitation and therapy services. The hospital also provides a 24-hour Emergency Department, a 25-bed inpatient unit and an advanced orthopedics and joint replacement program.
Southport Receives $70,000 Resiliency Grant
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality awarded The City of Southport a $70,000 grant from through the Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), a part of the North Carolina Resilient Communities Program established under the 2020 North Carolina Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan. Administered by the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management with support from the N.C. General Assembly and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the RCCP aims to help communities address coastal resilience challenges, conduct risk and vulnerability assessments, and prioritize resilience-focused projects. This grant fully funded Phases 1 and 2 for Southport, allowing the city to identify and prioritize local resilience needs such as stormwater improvements and infrastructure challenges.
Lil Bitty Donut Company Opens in Southport
On July 25 the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Lil Bitty Donut Company at 4961 Old Long Beach Road, #6 in Southport. Located behind Taco Bell in the Hobby Lobby Shopping Center, Lil Bitty Donut Company is known for its mini donuts, allowing customers to sample multiple flavors in one visit. Owner Megan Farmer emphasizes supporting local businesses and partners with other small businesses such as Southport Coffee Co. and Lil & John’s Sweetreat Homemade Ice Cream to offer coffee, shakes, and sundaes, including unique donut sundaes and donut shakes.
Chamber Networking Event Held at Carolina Crab Brewing
On July 29 Carolina Crab Brewing Company and Up Your Arts sponsored the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce Business Networking After Hours at Carolina
Crab Brewing Company. The event drew a standing-roomonly crowd, with attendees enjoying craft beer and wines. Attendees also learned about Up Your Arts, the chamber’s Nonprofit of the Year, which is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the creative and performing arts in the greater Southport area.
Chamber Announces Spring 2025 Golden Pineapple Awards
The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce awarded the Spring 2025 Golden Pineapple Award to 27 local businesses at a ceremony held at the chamber offices. Winners were:
• Accommodations: Beach House Motel Inn & Suites; Better Beach Rentals & Sales; Captain’s Cove Motel; Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., Realtors; and Oak Island Accommodations
• Food & Beverage : Bald Head Coffee & Tea House; The Tiki Tavern
• Retail : Doodles; Oak Island Senior Center & Gift Shop; Southport Sass Boutique; Unleashed the Dog & Cat Store of Southport
• Professional : Hamilton Realty Group eXp Realty; Headwaters Engineering of the Cape Fear, PLLC; Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., Realtors; River Road Animal Hospital; Southern Realty Advantage
• Services: Cape Fear Solar Systems; Coach MKay Companies, LLC; Coastal Painting & Improvements; Cruise Planners — Lina DiCola; Mow & Blow OKI; Never Stumped Tree Service; Pinnacle Mortgage Corporation; River Run Pack & Ship; St. James Remodeling
Golden Pineapple Awards are given quarterly to those businesses nominated by their customers for providing consistent and exceptional customer service. The pineapple is the international symbol of hospitality, which is the reason the Chamber chose it for the award. If you would like to nominate a Chamber member business who has provided you with exceptional customer service, visit ChamberSmallBusinessAwards.com to complete a brief nomination form.
Mark Your Calendar
U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament
The U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament
October 2 – 4
A community staple for more than five decades, this renowned fishing tournament draws more than 400 boats and is a celebrated tradition among both the community and fishing enthusiasts. Tournament headquarters is Dutchman Creek Park. Online registration is available and closes on September 30. Fishing takes place on October 3 and 4, and there are plenty of family-friendly parties and side events held all three days.
Information: usopenkmt.com
Brunswick Little Theatre Presents Red Velvet
October 9 – 26
Inspired by true events, Red Velvet draws audiences into the charged backstage atmosphere of the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, revealing the remarkable but often overlooked story of Ira Aldridge, a Black actor. As the British Parliament wrestles with the question of abolishing slavery, Aldridge prepares for his landmark debut as Othello, a performance that shatters long-standing traditions of the British stage and leaves a lasting impact on everyone involved. Shows are held at 8068 River Road SE in Southport. Tickets are available online.
Information: brunswicklittletheatre.com
Brunswick County Intercultural Festival
October 11
The popular Brunswick County Intercultural Festival will take place on Saturday, October 11 at the Leland Cultural Arts Center. It’s a vibrant day filled with music, dance and the International Village, plus a variety of craft and food vendors. Volunteers, exhibitors, vendors and participants are needed; applications are available on the website.
Information: bcifestival.org
Brunswick County Intercultural Festival
Southport Wooden Boat Show
The
Oak Island Witches Ride
October 25
The Oak Island Witches Ride is a festive annual bike parade where participants dress up as witches and decorate their bikes for a fun Halloween ride through town. The event is family-friendly, raises money for local charities and ends with prizes for the best costumes and bike decorations. It’s a lively way to celebrate the season and enjoy the Oak Island community spirit. This year, the fifth anniversary of this fun event, the times are 12 to 5 pm.
Information: Facebook: 5th Annual Oak Island Witches Ride
Southport Wooden Boat Show
November 2
The 16th Annual Southport Wooden Boat Show will take place from 10 am to 4 pm and promises more boats, vendors and visitors than ever before. The event will feature live music, raffles and great food from award-winning Chef Craig Blanks of Frying Pan Restaurant. Highlights include a new collectors’ poster by a local artist, a special edition T-shirt and traditions like the boat pull contest in partnership with the Holly Days Festival and The Jack Helbig Foundation.
Information: southportwoodenboatshow.com
November 20
The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce will host a casual evening by the shore on Thursday, November 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lazy Turtle Oceanfront Bar & Grille, 601 Ocean Drive, Oak Island. Enjoy dinner, dancing to a live DJ, a taco bar, a beach bonfire and s’mores. All business people are welcome — chamber membership not required. Tickets must be purchased in advance: $30 for members, $40 for non-members and free for kids 12 and under with a paying adult (includes dinner, dancing, bonfire, s’mores and a raffle ticket). Sponsorships are available for $350 and include event recognition, ad placement and two tickets.
Greetings is about a colorful Catholic family, a son with intellectual disabilities and a son who brings home his Jewish atheist fiancée for Christmas Eve. It’s a holiday-themed story about shaking up family beliefs and healing old wounds. Shows are held at 8068 River Road SE in Southport. Tickets are available online. Information: brunswicklittletheatre.com
Oak Island’s Christmas By the Sea Parade
December 6
The Christmas By The Sea Parade takes place every year on the first Saturday in December, rain or shine, along E. Oak Island Drive. The parade is part of a full weekend of events, including the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday night and the Holiday Market on Sunday, both held at the Middleton Park Complex at 4610 E. Dolphin Drive. The Town of Oak Island sponsors the parade.
The Pirate’s Mate cocktail is the perfect foil for family-style shenanigans.
BY SANDI GRIGG
Last month I took my family to North Myrtle Beach for a short vacation, and since my son is currently obsessed with pirates, I booked a pirate-themed dinner and show. The theater was transformed into a full-sized indoor lagoon and included amazing acrobatics, live animals, sword fights and pyrotechnics, and we were served dinner and cocktails throughout the show. It was more entertaining than I had anticipated and turned out to be one of those simple adventures that make lasting memories.
My son was wide-eyed, completely absorbed in the antics. He even got to shout “Arrr!” with the crew, which might have been the highlight of his year. They offered to include him in the show and have him ride in one of the boats, but at only 5 years old, he slithered down in his seat and declined the invitation.
While he was busy cheering on the
pirates, I decided to treat myself to a themed drink from the bar: the Pirate’s Mate, a bold, flavorful blend that fit the spirit of the show perfectly. The drink combines rum and cognac for a rich, warming base, coffee syrup and fresh lime juice for brightness. After shaking those ingredients on ice, you pour the mix into a large, frosted mug of stout beer. I enjoyed shaking and pouring it myself; I guess it was all part of the show. The result is smooth, slightly sweet and full of depth — a grownup treat that feels right at home among tales of buried treasure and high-seas adventure.
As the show wrapped up, my son was still talking about pirates, and I was enjoying the mellow finish of my Pirate’s Mate. It was the perfect way to blend family fun with a little adult indulgence — an outing we will both remember.
PIRATE’S MATE
Makes 1 drink
INGREDIENTS
1 oz. Jamaican rum
1 oz. cognac
½ oz. rich coffee syrup (I use ¾ oz. lime juice
1 can stout beer (or porter if you prefer)
METHOD
Add the rum, cognac, syrup and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds. Pour the beer into a large, frosted mug. Pour the cocktail mixture right into the beer. Enjoy!
From Tablescape to Table
Turn decorative autumn squash into a healthy, comforting Golden Harvest Butternut Soup, packed with flavor and seasonal goodness.
BY SANDI GRIGG
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES STEFIUK
Every fall, my home is filled with the warm, golden glow of butternut, acorn and every squash in between. For years, I used these beautiful gourds as part of my autumn tablescapes — lining the dining table with their cheerful orange, yellow and green hues, never thinking much about what lay beneath their tough skins.
One chilly October, curiosity (and a desire to waste less) inspired me to transform my decorative squash into
something delicious. And that’s how Golden Harvest Butternut Soup became a seasonal staple in my kitchen.
This soup is as nourishing as it is comforting. Butternut squash is loaded with vitamins A and C, both powerful antioxidants that support immune health — perfect for the colder months. The addition of sweet onion and garlic brings anti-inflammatory benefits, while fresh ginger adds a zing and aids digestion. Cream cheese and
apple juice create a creamy, slightly sweet base, and the apple pie seasoning gives each spoonful a hint of cozy spice.
When my son was a baby, I made a version of this soup for him, hoping he’d like it. After his first taste, he gave me a big, gummy grin and eagerly reached for more. It quickly became a favorite.
The process is simple and rewarding: roast the squash, onion and garlic over fresh rosemary and sage until
WHAT’S COOKIN’ WITH SOUTHERN SANDI
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Not just another pretty fruit
Butternut squash, which is actually a fruit, is high in vitamins A, B and C; rich in potassium and magnesium; loaded with diet- and tummy-friendly fiber; and low in calories — all while looking gorgeous in a tablescape.
caramelized and fragrant. Blend with chicken stock, cream cheese, apple juice and spices until silky smooth. A swirl of heavy cream and a sprinkle of fresh sage finish each bowl. This is best served with crusty, buttered sourdough, ciabatta, focaccia or Italian bread.
Now, every fall, I look forward to using those once purely decorative squash for something far more satisfying — filling my home with the aroma of roasting squash and sharing bowls of golden soup with family and friends.
GOLDEN HARVEST BUTTERNUT SOUP
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS
1 large butternut squash
1 large sweet onion
1 garlic head
4 whole stems of fresh rosemary
4 whole stems of fresh sage
Salt and pepper
Vegetable oil for coating
3 cups chicken stock
METHOD
You will need an emulsifier
4 oz. cream cheese
1 cup apple juice
1 teaspoon apple pie seasoning
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
4 teaspoons heavy whipping cream
Fresh sage leaves for garnish
Crusty buttered bread (I prefer to use sourdough)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Scatter the rosemary stems around on a greased baking sheet.
Slice the butternut squash in half and rub both halves with vegetable oil. Lay the two halves, cut side down, on top of the herbs on the baking sheet.
Slice the onion in quarters, rub them with vegetable oil. Put the quarters on top of the rosemary on the baking sheet too.
Slice the garlic head in half, rub both halves with vegetable oil and lay the two halves, cut side down on top of the herbs, on the baking sheet alongside the squash and onions.
Sprinkle it all with salt and pepper, drizzle with a bit more vegetable oil and bake for 1½ hours.
Once complete, remove the baking sheet to cool.
When everything has cooled enough to touch, you will want to put the onions in a large deep pot, squeeze the garlic cloves into the pot (they should be soft enough to squeeze right out of the pods), and scoop the flesh out of the squash and put it into the pot. Discard the rosemary, but it’s ok if some pieces stick to the squash and onions.
Add the chicken stock, cream cheese, apple juice, apple pie seasoning and grated ginger to the pot.
Use the emulsifier to combine all the ingredients and create a silkysmooth texture.
Simmer the soup over medium/low heat for 10 minutes.
Serve in hearty soup bowls, drizzle the top with 1 teaspoon of heavy whipping cream, garnish with fresh sage leaves and serve alongside crusty buttered bread.
Remembered in Brushstrokes
Beloved artist Joseph Bardani’s legacy lives on at Southport Studio Artists in Southport.
BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA COCKFIELD
TTucked behind a modest storefront on Howe Street in the heart of Southport, a group of artists known as the Southport Studio Artists is keeping a meaningful legacy alive. In this space, formerly the Joseph Bardani Art Studio, creativity, learning and community thrive. Even after his unexpected passing, Joseph Bardani’s presence is still felt here — in the brushstrokes, the laughter and the quiet focus of those who gather to paint.
In 2021 award-winning artist and instructor Joseph Bardani was in search of something, well, different. He taught art classes at Brunswick Community College (BCC), but wanted to create a more personal, more empowering learning environment that academia did not offer. That’s when his partner and fellow artist, Cathe Thompson, encouraged him to talk to a friend about leasing space for his own school.
Top: The late Southport artist Joseph Bardani; Bottom, artists Cathy McKenzie, upper left; Gail Wilson, lower left: and Bob Quist, right
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“This used to be an antique store, and the owner, a fellow crazy Italian, was selling everything and moving back to Italy,” Thompson explains. “That’s when I suggested to Joseph maybe he could take over the lease and start his school here.”
And that’s how it happened. Bardani let his students at BCC know he was thinking about starting his own school and asked if any of them had any interest in following him. And they did.
In October of 2021 Bardani transformed the former antique shop into a light-filled workshop where artists of every level could gather, learn and grow. For the next three years, Bardani taught five mornings a week, and he always had a waitlist.
“He could only teach eight people at a time, but he made every minute count,” Anne McElroy recalls. “It didn’t matter if
you were a beginner with brushes still in plastic or someone with gallery experience, Joseph gave everyone his full attention.”
To hear these artists talk is to realize that Bardani was more than a teacher. He was a guide, a champion and often a gentle (or not-so-gentle) truth-teller.
“He’d look at a painting and say, ‘That’s a great start,’” Scotty Haire says. “That meant you’ve got a long way to go. He was honest but always encouraging.” His critiques were balanced by an educator’s heart.
“He put a lot of time into planning lessons,” Thompson says. “He’d talk about color mixing, canvas stretching, how to use mediums —
This page, clockwise from top right: artists Eileen Barbieri, Anne Reilly, Lisa Davisson and Christel Hoard
he wanted you to understand the craft.
Bardani’s sudden death from a heart attack on August 18, 2024, happened just days after he and a few of his students met at Grape & Ale to talk about an exhibit he was arranging for them there.
“We bought a bottle of wine, chatted with the owner, then, early Sunday morning, he was gone,” Gary Caljean says. “We were just getting ready to start our new semester.”
The artists, who had all become a creative family through Bardani’s classes, did not want to see their combined passion and camaraderie come to an end. That’s when they made a bold, quick decision.
“There were two weeks left before the end
Top, left to right, Pat Terwilliger, Laurie Elsea and JoAnn Franklin; middle left, Elizabeth Haraldsen; middle right, Gail Wilson; bottom left: Truda Weaver bottom right, Tammy Proctor with Gary Caljean
of the lease on the school,” McElroy says. “The 14 of us all met and talked about what we were going to do. We were all willing to commit to keeping the studio open.”
Through grief and chaos, the artists rallied. Bob Quist, one of the studio members, signed the lease. They formed a co-op model. It was no longer a teaching studio but a shared creative workspace.
“There are 12 of us now,” Lisa Davisson says. “We each rent space and hang our own work above our stations. It’s a working studio but also a gallery.”
The transition has not been without growing pains.
“We needed a year to find our footing,” Quist admits. “We’re not teachers, at least not in the way Joseph was. But we do critiques together, give each other feedback, and we’re always learning.”
Perhaps the most comforting feature of this space is its spirit.
“We still talk to him,” Davisson says. “Sometimes when I’m stuck, I grab one of his gnarly old brushes and ask, ‘Okay, Joseph, what now?’ He’s in every painting. You hear
WANT TO GO?
Southport Studio Artists 9 715 N. Howe Street #3, Southport
The doors are open Thursday through Saturday, with artists on hand and canvases in progress. Visitors are welcome to stop in, ask questions or simply watch works in progress.
K southportstudioartists.com
E SouthportStudioArtists
Top: left to right, Tammy Proctor, Cathy McKenzie, JoAnn Franklin, Laurie Wilson, Truda Weaver, Pat Terwilliger and Eileen Barbieri, Laurie Elsea and Anne Reilly in the Tuesday morning studio group. Bottom: back row, Gary Caljean, Anne McElroy, Christel Hoard, Bob Quist, Anne Viltoft, Maddy Halbach, Elizabeth Haraldsen; front row, JoAnn Franklin, Tammy Proctor, Lisa Davisson; Lower left: Anne Viltoft
his voice: ‘Use a bigger brush,’ or ‘Paint that boat out.’ And you remember.”
Today the studio and gallery is not just surviving, it’s thriving. The Southport Studio Artists are founding members of the Southport Art Galleries Guild (SAGG). The group collaborates with five local galleries to promote First Friday Gallery Walks, complete with a trolley that loops between participating venues.
“That trolley has made a big difference,” Karin Elias says. “People can now visit all five galleries in two hours.”
The community is responding in kind. Locals stop in to chat or watch artists at work. Tourists wander in from neighboring towns. Paintings find new homes. And local businesses like Grape & Ale and Port City Java now rotate artwork from studio members.
“It’s not just about art,” Elias says. “It’s about connection. It’s about being part of the community.”
And what a diverse community it is.
“When people come in, they’re struck by how different our work is,” Davisson says. “We all have our own style. You’re not going to see twelve coastal landscapes in a row.”
The gallery has also embraced family-friendly outreach, offering kids’ crafts during summer events and participating in block parties hosted by nearby shops.
Still, the question remains: Will they ever return to a teaching studio?
“We’re thinking about it,” Anne Vitloft says. “We get asked all the time. We just wanted to get through the first year. But workshops? Maybe.”
Joseph’s Italian Bistro
intracoastal waterway
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34 games
21 exciting wins
2,500 cheering fans in the stands
1 Coastal Division Championship
Home
The Team
The remarkable first season of Oak Island Loggerheads baseball has come to a close. fans and players are left with a summer of great memories and riding a wave of excitement for what’s to come.
BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MCGRAW
The charm of small-town baseball
made its debut in Southport and Oak Island.
The Oak Island Loggerheads, the area’s newly formed collegiate summer baseball team, geared up for their inaugural season — and with tickets going fast, locals rallied behind their hometown team.
Formed as part of the Old North State League’s recent expansion and restructuring, the Loggerheads were poised to become a staple of summer nights in Southport and Oak Island. The team is owned by the Allred family, including Alec Allred, a lifelong baseball player, former pro and co-founder of the Old North State League, which then included 24 teams across four divisions.
“My grandparents have owned a house here for 50 years and been residents for about 25,” Alec Allred says. “We always dreamed of bringing a team to this community, and with the growth in Brunswick County, the timing just felt right.”
That growth and increased summer population played a major role in the league’s decision to establish not one but two teams in the county. Alongside the Shallotte Shallywags, the Loggerheads represented the southern coast in the league’s Coastal Division, which also included Jacksonville, Sandhills, Hope Mills and Laurinburg.
College summer leagues like the Old North State offer more than just family-friendly entertainment. They give college athletes from across the country a chance to hone their skills during the off-season.
“These guys were here to work,” Allred says. “They were looking to improve their game and head back to campus even better. We had players go through this league who ended up playing professionally.”
While the league recruited talent nationwide, the Loggerheads’ roster included a few familiar faces. Local standouts like catcher Patrick Boldt from Pitt Community College and UNCW infielder Mason
Hughes gave the team some homegrown roots. The full roster was available on the team’s website.
“We had several guys on the roster who graduated from Brunswick County schools,” Allred says. “It was exciting to see local talent playing in front of their hometown crowd.”
Home games were played at the Loggerheads’ stadium at the newly upgraded Bill Smith Park in Southport. With 800 seats in the bleachers and room for another 2,500 fans in the grass
seating areas, the park was a vibrant hub for family fun, community spirit and, of course, top-tier baseball.
Opening day was Thursday, June 5, when the Loggerheads took on their Coastal Division rivals, the Shallotte Shallywags. Over the course of the season, the Loggerheads played 34 games and had 21 exciting wins.
But this team was about more than wins and losses. Allred envisioned the Oak Island Loggerheads as a miniature version of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, with in-game entertainment and fun for all ages.
“We were creating something that felt like a small-scale Minor League Baseball experience,” he says. “Between innings, there were games for the kids on the field, giveaways and lots of community involvement.”
That community involvement was central to the Oak Island Loggerheads’ mission. From local sponsors to host families for out-of-town players, there were plenty of ways for residents to get involved and make the team their own.
“We wanted this to feel like Oak Island and Southport’s team,” Allred says. “Not just a baseball team that played here, but something that belonged to the people.”
As Brunswick County continued to grow, the Oak Island Loggerheads arrived at just the right time to give the community something new to rally around. With a full summer schedule, exciting players and plenty of ways for locals to get involved, the team quickly became a fun and lasting part of life in Oak Island and Southport. Neighbors grabbed their chairs, came together and spent the summer cheering at the ballpark.
GO INSIDE THE DUGOUT
Oak Island Loggerheads
9 Bill Smith Park 4446 Fish Factory Road SE, Southport
For information on the summer 2026 season and how to get involved, visit K oakislandloggerheads.com E okiloggerheads
Thanks to Oak Island resident Wendy Morris, a wind phone at May Moore Park offers a place for grievers to send messages to loved ones who have passed away.
Wordson the Wind
WSTORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY JO AN N M ATHEWS
Wendy Morris of Oak Island had a vision after her husband, Michael Morris, passed away January 4, 2023, at age 62. She saw Michael’s hand reach down to his best friend, Lon E. “Bert” Maggart, and pull him to heaven. Morris consulted artist Joanna Frye of Wilmington, who drew a rendition of the image.
“I was hesitant at first but honored to be part of such a meaningful piece of work,” Frye says. “Anything that can help us stay connected to our loved ones and process our grief is wonderful.”
The picture Frye drew touched Morris’s heart, so she made copies and distributed them to friends as a symbol of friendship and love.
“Michael was my life,” Morris says. “My mission is to talk about grief. Nobody talks about grief.”
The door opened in September 2024 for her to fulfill her mission when a friend from Massachusetts told her about the concept of a wind phone and sent her a picture of one.
A wind phone is not connected to any network, wires or cables. Its purpose is for people to call a loved one who has passed on, leave a message or just talk,
Wendy Morris at the Oak Island wind phone holding the picture of her vision painted by artist Joanna Frye.
because the wind will carry the message to the departed. Itaru Sasaki of Japan created the original wind phone in 2010 to have contact to his cousin, who died of cancer.
Amy Dawson, who grieved the loss of her daughter, created mywindphone.com when she heard of the phenomenon. She documents the number of wind phones around the world and updates the numbers. As of August 19, 2025, the United States had 315, and the rest of the world, 136.
“I was fascinated by it,” Morris says.
A co-founder and member of Tree Peace OKI, Morris shared with other members her wish to install a wind phone. She hoped it would be in her front yard, but people convinced her to consider a different location. She contacted the Oak Island Recreation Department and presented her idea to its members. They recommended May Moore Park and asked for specific information, such as how she was going to display the phone.
build a structure for the phone. She knew his talent from other items he had made for her.
When dog groomer and woodworker enthusiast Albert Hardison came to groom Addie, Morris’s 7-year-old dachshund, she shared her wind phone idea and asked him if he would
“I thought [the wind phone] is a really good idea, plus I enjoy working with wood,” Hardison says. He went home, inspected the supply of wood he had handy and constructed a model for the phone from treated lumber and cedar. He sent a picture of it to Morris with the note saying she didn’t have to accept it. “Use it if you want,” he wrote.
The wind phone at May Moore Park on Oak Island was built in honor of Michael Morris, pictured below, May 1, 1960January 4, 2024.
the Recreation Department voted unanimously to accept the wind phone, but she had to present her idea to the Oak Island Town Council.
Hardison brought the structure he built to Morris’s home, and the pair attached the old phone that Morris had retrieved from her mother’s house in Greensboro. She printed a welcome message and a picture of the hands. She then prepared a PowerPoint presentation and asked Hardison to go with her to the town council meeting. Not all council members favored her idea, and a vote was set for the next meeting.
Morris recalls Councilman Bob Ciullo coming to her defense at that meeting.
“He said he lost his son to suicide, and people need a quiet reflection spot,” she recalls. “That park is the perfect spot.”
Ciullo confirms those words.
“I approved of it,” Morris says. In the meantime, she received a call saying
“Reflection is so important in life,” he says. “It’s just to slow down and reflect on all the blessings we do have and how to turn a terrible, terrible loss into
The windphone is there to give peace. I want it to lift people’s hearts and be a rel i ef.
something positive.”
Ciullo has used the phone and says, “It’s the perfect place for it because it’s off the beaten trail.”
The town council required conditions for the wind phone, and Morris signed an agreement to maintain the display and fix any repairs.
Michael Morris was a beloved English as a Second Language teacher in Brunswick County Schools from
represents the type of teacher who is caring and gives everything to his students. He really, truly loved to teach and see the students be successful. His passion for teaching English as a Second Language was truly an asset to our schools.”
Morris contacted her friend Katie Brobst to illustrate the eulogy and had it published. She plans to have all proceeds go to scholarships for students whose first language is not English.
Ciullo says rather than a village to get a project completed, “In this case, it took one person. It’s an amazing success story. Wendy persevered. I was able to help her out in the votes and make it happen. I was able to share my story.”
Morris and Hardison installed the wind phone on December 14, 2024.
“The wind phone is there to give peace,” Morris says. “I want it to lift people’s hearts and be a relief. People
WAITING IN THE WIND
Oak Island Wind Phone May Moore Park 820 Elizabeth Drive Oak Island
For more information: K mywindphone.com
If you’re grieving a loved one, these two websites can help compassionatefriends.org and grief.com.
2016 to 2023, and fellow teacher Elsa Armijos wrote a 10-page eulogy titled “The King of Kabut.” It tells of Morris’ pleasant disposition, his dedication to reading stories to his students and the game of “Kabut” that he developed so children could learn to use the computer.
“I wrote it because I wanted to honor Mr. Morris’ legacy,” Armijos says. “It
Lincoln Elementary School in Leland instituted a Michael Morris Day every January 4, the anniversary of his death, in the teacher’s honor.
“People with different backgrounds can come together and make anything happen,” Hardison says. “I’m a dog groomer, and Wendy is a client of mine. She had an idea, and we put it together.”
are finding their way there. I don’t want Michael to be forgotten.”
It was the first wind phone installed in Brunswick County. Jeanine and Jimmy Blumenfeld of Ocean Isle Beach installed the second one in February 2025 at the Sunset Beach Fishing Pier in honor of their son Tyler, who passed away on September 20, 2021.
The Beat Goes On
The Southport community rallied around Erik Schonher, bass guitarist and vocalist for local band The Doorsmen, as he battled cancer.
CBY DENNIS HETZEL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA COCKFIELD
Consider this a story about the power of chocolate milkshakes, music and friendship. And about how loving a community can stir your soul.
That makes this the story of Erik Schonher’s life since the summer of 2024, because his cancer battle is only part of the story, maybe not even the most important part.
Instead, Erik and Karen Scarborough, his longtime partner and fiercest advocate, want to send a love letter to the greater
Southport community and so many other supporters who helped them stay positive and resolved as he battled pancreatic cancer.
“I think what happened for us is something of a showcase for the community that surrounded me and Karen,” Erik says. “The only way to understand how powerful it got is to understand how bad it got. Not just for me. And how it translated to Karen.”
So, it was a chilly but lovely day last February when a gaunt-but-happy Erik could do what he loves best — play bass guitar and sing with the popular local band The Doorsmen. He didn’t hide the tears or the crack in his voice at the Haven of Southport when he thanked a full house of friends, supporters and band fans at his coming-out party following “Whipple surgery” at Duke Cancer Institute in Durham.
The Whipple is named after Allen Whipple, the brilliant surgeon who developed it in the 1930s and pioneered other breakthroughs in pancreatic surgery procedures until his death in 1963. It’s a complex medical procedure, available only to a minority of patients with pancreatic cancer. Surgeons rearrange your organs. They remove the gall bladder, about half of the pancreas and parts of the stomach and intestines, then reconnect the blood vessels that serve them. The body must learn how to digest and process food again.
This all began in July 2024. What Erik thought was simple fatigue resulted in a Stage 3 cancer diagnosis.
“All I knew was that I was tired,” Erik says. “People were saying, ‘You don’t look good, Erik.’ Come July Fourth we play a gig. I had to sit down for 10 minutes because I was that tired. The next day, I went to see my doctor because I had had a stomachache for three weeks.
“The doctor wasn’t around, but there was a nurse practitioner,” he continues. “She looks at me and says, ‘You’re yellow. You need to go to the ER. You have to go right now.’“
Karen’s postings at CaringBridge.com, which she started writing in July 2024 to keep family and friends updated, chronicles tough times that tested their will to stay positive.
That included concerns that chemotherapy would not shrink the tumor enough (it did) and that the cancer had spread into Erik’s lungs (it had not), which would have made him ineligible for the surgery that might save his life. Karen wrote how she worried that once they opened Erik up, they’d
Left, Karen Scarborough and Erik Schonher; top, The Doorsmen, left to right, Mark Barca, Erik Schonher, David Condon and David Pope; bottom, Erik as bassist, securing the bottom end for the band
“We’re always so concerned about intruding. You’re not,” Erik says, describing what the outreach meant to him, even when he didn’t or couldn’t reply. “
find the cancer spread, meaning they’d close the incision and stop.
With relief, she wrote about receiving a text message that the surgery was proceeding.
On the eve of the surgery, Karen had been deeply touched when their friend Mary Fragale gave her holy water from Knock Shrine in Ireland.
For all the challenges, Karen’s posts stayed positive as she told tales of thankfulness for the talented team of doctors and support staff in Wilmington and at Duke and especially for the outpouring of community support that steeled their resolve to never give up.
“I was getting phone calls literally every day from people,” Erik says.
By late November 2024, back-and-forth trips to Durham had become a regular occurrence. Karen titled her November 22 post “Chocolate milkshakes.” She recounted how Erik was battling major side effects with chemotherapy and pain. The chemo caused sore spots in his mouth, so he relied on chocolate shakes.
“As we go into Thanksgiving week,” she wrote, “we are thankful for our children, for Southport sunsets, for our little dog, Annie, and WE are thankful we came here to build a life. WE are thankful for the Doorsmen band family … On Thanksgiving Day, I’ll raise my martini glass and Erik will raise his milkshake and we will think of all of you.”
Once friends like David Truglio and Bev Hammond, owners of The Haven, heard about the milkshakes, Erik said
Left side top and bottom, The Doorsmen performing at Rusty Hooks Dockside Grill in Southport; right side top, the band performing at Haven of Southport; right bottom, Erik Schonher with David Truglio and Bev Hammond, owners of Haven
he received a steady supply.
Many other friends stepped up as well, offering help with yard work, bringing meals and anything else they needed.
“We’re always so concerned about intruding. You’re not,” Erik says, describing what the outreach meant to him, even when he didn’t or couldn’t reply. “When you’re sick, you don’t always have the energy to reach out. But you’re empowering someone.”
He had told his Doorsmen bandmates at Southport’s American Fish Company a few days after his diagnosis. One of the darkest moments came shortly after that. “The cancer had progressed into the nerve,” Erik recalls. “It was that bad plus ten. I laid on the floor yelling in pain.”
one in the church but the Popes knew Erik and Karen, but each knot in the quilt represented a congregant who prayed for him.
Erik’s situation also delivered painful memories that required discussion and reflection; the kind of irony that would make anyone say, “Life isn’t fair.” Both Erik and Karen are widowers, and Erik’s late wife had died of cancer. They met when Karen saw Erik play in Frederick, Maryland, where they
Left, Friends and supporters of the band celebrating Erik's return to the stage; below, Erik and Karen feeling joyful in Southport, the community they love so much.
The band had a full schedule for the coming months. They vowed to keep playing and involve Erik every time he could rehearse and perform. Local bassist Bo Pittman stepped up to complete gigs that Erik could not finish or to sub when Erik could not be there.
In a CaringBridge post, Karen described how Pittman presented them with an original painting titled “Hold My Beer.” Why the offbeat title? “It represents Erik riding out this storm at sea while you and I hold his beer ‘til he makes it safely to shore,” she wrote.
Erik and Karen recount how bandmate David Pope, the group’s keyboard player, and his wife, Stacey, gave them a prayer quilt produced by their former congregation at Celebration Community Church in Celebration, Florida. No
lived before moving to Southport. Karen was a staff development teacher while Erik was a consultant and administrator for trade associations and other organizations.
Like many musicians, Erik can’t remember a time when music wasn’t a passion. In his case that included a music degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a stint as a music therapist, but he had disengaged from performing before landing in Southport in 2017. He started going to open mic jam sessions and immediately discovered Southport was a special, welcoming place.
“Music introduced our community to us,” he said.
For that, they will always be grateful. And now the beat goes on.
Miracles OF NATURE
The all-volunteer, nonprofit Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program and Caswell Beach Turtle Watch monitor and protect the sea turtle population that visits the beaches of Oak Island.
BY BETH A. KLAHRE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA TORREY
rom May to November, little miracles happen all across the 13.5 miles of beachfront on Oak Island and Caswell Beach.
In the wee hours of the morning, a mother sea turtle makes her way to shore, swimming hundreds, maybe thousands of miles, navigating inclement weather, high tides and dangerous predators. Once on shore, she heads to the dunes to a spot well above the high tide line.
Now her real work begins. Using her back flippers, the sea turtle digs a hole in the sand to lay 110 to 120 eggs, a process that takes from one to three hours. Then she crawls back to the ocean, leaving the eggs and eventual hatchlings to fend for themselves. The distinct tracks she has left in the sand are the only hint of what just happened.
Monitoring all this activity and working to protect the sea turtles along the entire Oak Island strand is the Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program, a 36-year-old 501(c)(3) organization guided by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). The coordinators and state permit holders for the program are Suzan and Greg Bell, who have been involved with the sea turtle organization for more than 24 years.
“Our main role is to care for and protect the sea turtles that visit our beach,” Suzan says.
Similarly, on Caswell Beach, Jamie Lloyd and Teresa Putnam have been volunteers since 2015, NCWRC permit holders and Turtle Watch coordinators since 2021. This is the 44th year for the Caswell Beach program. Like the Bells, Jamie and Teresa train volunteers, patrol
Top, A loggerhead sea turtle returning to the sea after laying her nest; middle, Jamie Lloyd and Teresa Putnam (Caswell Beach coordinators) and Suzan and Greg Bell (Oak Island coordinators); bottom, Visitors observing a sea turtle nest excavation
the beach, monitor nests, report data to the state and to the worldwide seaturtle.org database, respond to stranded or injured sea turtles, organize educational events and update social media.
During last year’s nesting season, Jamie and Teresa volunteered nearly 800 hours. Suzan clocked in at 1,274 hours, and Greg at 850. More than 300 active volunteers help them on Oak Island and Caswell Beach.
The types of sea turtles that most commonly nest on Oak Island are loggerheads, but Kemp's Ridley, green and leatherbacks are also occasionally found.
Locating nests is the first step in protecting sea turtles. Early in the morning, Turtle Patrol volunteers, like Joy Hosier, patrol the beach for signs of tracks leading to a nest. Hosier has been a volunteer since 2002 and became a member of the patrol a few years later
At first, the patrols are looking for signs of a mother sea turtle’s crawl.
“When we see tracks, we determine if the turtle laid eggs or had a false crawl — coming ashore and returning to the ocean without depositing eggs,” Hosier explains. “If we think a nest was laid, we gently remove the sand with gloved hands to find the nest cavity.”
The patrols take one egg for DNA analysis and then cordon off a fourfoot square area with stakes and colored twine, placing a Do Not Disturb sign to tag the nest. After
A loggerhead sea turtle after laying her nest on the Oak Island beach; below, Suzan Bell watching a washbacked hatchling
noting the GPS location, the patrols move on, looking for more tracks and checking the status of the previously laid nests.
“As the season progresses, we are looking for signs that the sea turtles are about to emerge,” Hosier says.
Baby sea turtles are just as miraculous as their courageous mothers. Around 50 days after eggs are laid, volunteer Nest Parents begin nightly nest vigils. Arriving around 7 in the evening, Nest Parents set up runways that will eventually guide the 2-inch, 1-ounce hatchlings to the ocean. Then the Nest Parents wait, monitoring nests for the emergence of baby sea turtles, some evenings until well past midnight. Nest Parents monitor the nests nightly until the sea turtles emerge and an excavation of the nest is completed. Incubation time ranges from 48 to 70 or more days.
Grace Pia has been involved with the Oak Island program for five years.
“Walking the beach one evening in 2021, I saw a runway,” she says. “A volunteer explained the sea turtle protection program to me. My interest immediately peaked, and I became a groupie.”
Pia began to sit nightly with the volunteers at a couple of nests that summer. In 2022 she became a trainee, and in 2023 she became an official Nest Parent.
Clockwise from top left, a loggerhead sea turtle covering her nest; Teresa Putnam holding a sea turtle egg at an excavation; Suzan Bell educating visitors at an excavation; Putnam relocating a nest; bottom, a loggerhead hatchling emerging from its nest
Far left, Suzan Bell collecting a DNA sample; Jamie Lloyd at a marked nest, bottom, NCWRC permit holders Greg Bell, Suzan Bell, Teresa Putnam and Jamie Lloyd
BEACH ETIQUETTE for TURTLE SEASON
To help protect sea turtles, please keep the beaches:
DARK: Never shine a light on a sea turtle, hatchling or nest. Turn off porch lights on oceanfront houses.
FLAT: Fill in holes and knock down large sandcastles.
CLEAN: Take in your belongings each night and pick up trash.
A depression, the dent in the sand over a nest, signals the turtles are soon to emerge.
“There is nothing like the thrill of seeing these little hatchlings emerge and make their way to the ocean,” Pia says.
One night, an hour after the depression, Pia witnessed tiny sea turtles emerge and make the journey down the runway to the ocean.
“We were very quiet so we could listen to the chirping sound the hatchlings made, like they were talking to each other as they left the nest,” Pia says, recalling her first boil, the term that perfectly describes the baby sea turtles emerging like water boiling over in a pot. “It was the thrill of a lifetime, one I will never forget.”
Since that first boil, she has witnessed 15 boils. “It never gets old,” she says.
Hosier has also witnessed the magic. “I saw my first boil the summer of
2002,” she says. “All of a sudden the sand came alive. Dozens of tiny loggerhead hatchlings burst from the nest scrambling over one another in a wild instinctive dash toward the sea. It was a magical moment filled with joy and wonder, a lifetime experience I will never forget.”
Mother sea turtles typically lay eggs every two or three years, usually three or four times each season. Some can lay up to seven times.
“Due to many factors, the number of nests and hatchlings are never predictable. But we like to look at data from the previous seasons and guess,” Suzan says.
In 2019 there were 172 nests on Oak Island, the largest number of nests on record, with 17,522 estimated eggs and 10,951 hatchlings. In 2024 there were an estimated 6,892 eggs on Caswell Beach.
Of the hatchlings that make it safely to the ocean, only one in 1,000 survive to adulthood due to predators and human-related threats. Nest locations are not shared with the public due to NCWRC regulations. But if you know where a nest is, you can come out and try to witness a boil.
“We do invite everyone to come and sit with us if you see a nest to learn about these amazing sea creatures,” Suzan says. “We love to educate. We want everyone to have a positive experience that imparts magical memories.”
Pia adds, “It’s an honor and privilege to be part of this organization and do my part in saving these endangered turtles.”
Hosier concludes, “If you are fortunate enough to see a momma sea turtle lay eggs or see baby sea turtles hatch, you have experienced an event of a lifetime.”
WANT TO HELP?
Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program K okiseaturtle.org Caswell Beach Turtle Watch K caswellturtlewatch.org k caswellbeachturtle@gmail.com
SEE TURTLE ACTIVITY?
If you see any sea turtle activity on Oak Island, call (910) 945-8888 anytime 24/7. For Caswell Beach, call (910) 638-6323.
VOLUNTEERS WELCOME To volunteer, go to okiseaturtle.org/volunteers and fill out an application.
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Petal Pushers
Wild by Nature Florist in Southport blooms with the joy of nature and creativity.
BY BETH A. KLAHRE | PHOTOGRAPHY
BY BRENDA TORREY BEHIND
WWild by Nature, the picturesque floral shop on Howe Street in Southport, is inspired by nature and built on charm. The building’s bright yellow siding and grass-green trim, the striped yellow awnings and hand-painted floral wall invite a peek inside. A seemingly unending array of flowers bursting with color and plants with a flair for tropical drama create a welcome sense of tranquility inspired by Mother Nature herself.
Tammy Seaman, naturally creative even as a child, is the owner of Wild by Nature.
Drawing, painting and making things were a regular part of her life. Both of her parents were artistic and encouraged her to express herself through the exploration of many forms of art. When she was 19, Seaman stepped into the world of floral design by taking an adult education class, where she learned the basics.
Creating makes me happy. It’s when I feel most like myself. Each piece is a reflection of my love for detail, nostalgia and the joy of crafting something by hand. “
Wild by Nature owner Tammy Seaman
Wild by Nature owner Tammy Seaman
“That one small step sparked a lifelong passion,” Seaman says.
Flowers quickly became another medium of creativity that she added to her long list that already included needle felting, crocheting, painting and designing greeting cards, sewing teddy bears and creating with all things vintage.
Last November Seaman and her husband, Brian, jumped at the chance to purchase Wild by Nature when the former owner decided to retire.
“After working for a Wilmington florist and then at Wild by Nature for seven years, I realized just how much I missed running my own shop like I had in Ohio,” says Seaman, who has a total of 40 years of experience in the floral industry.
Wild by Nature’s arrangements are everything but ordinary. Seaman brings a passion for flowers that is beyond routine.
“I especially love creating arrangements that feel natural and wild, like the flowers are growing in their own little setting,” Seaman says. “I use a mix of different
greens and foliage because, to me, the leaves and textures are just as beautiful and important as the blooms. It’s all about capturing that effortless beauty you find in nature.”
Seaman curates every piece with care and intention, blending natural textures with timeless style. She is passionate about helping customers find beauty and inspiration in everyday surroundings. She chooses the color palette and style for her designs based on who is receiving the arrangement. After creating a foundation with a variety of greens to set the mood — muted tones, soft greens, whites and gentle shades that offer a quiet sense of peace and comfort for sympathy arrangements and bright, joyful colors that feel celebratory for birthdays and anniversaries — she carefully adds flowers, building the arrangement layer by layer.
Over the years, Seaman has continued to grow and refine her floral skills through on-the-job training and industry seminars. She stays current with the latest
products, techniques and trends and by wandering through magazines, Pinterest and YouTube videos.
“Creating makes me happy,” she says. “It’s when I feel most like myself. Each piece is a reflection of my love for detail, nostalgia and the joy of crafting something by hand.”
Inspiration for Seaman’s arrangements often come from the beach and the tropics.
“The tropics bring a sense of adventure and vibrant life to my creations,” she says.
Seaman uses lotus pods, sticks and curly willow, tropical plants, green orchids, white bird of paradise and split-leaf philodendron — her personal favorite — to capture the lush feel of the tropics.
“My love for plants is unmatched, and my team is always sourcing unique and rare varieties you won’t find anywhere else,” she says.
Elaborating on her team, Seaman
proudly says, “The best thing about my team of four is that we love each other like family. We work incredibly well together, and we truly love this place and what we do. Countless customers tell us that it shows in our work.”
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
by
411 N. Howe Street, Southport
m (910) 363-5032
K wildbynatureflorist.com
Ruby Cline is Wild by Nature’s wedding specialist and social media manager. With a background in journalism, she brings a creative mind and a keen eye for storytelling to everything she does.
“Brides absolutely love Ruby, and she loves making their flowers as special and unique as they are,” Seaman says. “Ruby
The always-smiling staff at Wild by Nature, clockwise from top left, Ruby Cline, Ann Korsen, Linda Sullivan and Linda Szakelyhidi
Wild
Nature Florist
is obsessed with every detail, ensuring each arrangement is perfect down to the last petal.”
Linda Szakelyhidi, designer and versatile member of Wild by Nature’s creative family, has a background in customer service. She brings her friendly, helpful attitude to both the team and the customers every day.
“She’s an amazing worker and a valuable part of our creative family,” Seaman says.
Linda Sullivan orders supplies, handles payroll and ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
“With many years of experience in retail management, she’s amazing with customers and a true pillar of our team. She is the one who keeps us all on track,” Seaman says.
Anne Korsen is the newest member of Wild by Nature. Korsen says she has the best job of all delivering flowers because she gets to see the smiles on the faces of the recipients when they open the front door. Seaman says, “Anne is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet.”
Seaman is excited to continue the legacy of the previous owner of Wild by Nature yet make the shop her own.
“There’s always something new to explore,” she says. “I believe people need a connection to nature to feel truly content. Being surrounded by plants and flowers brings me peace and inspiration and makes me feel grounded and joyful. Nature has a quiet magic, and I try to bring a little of that into everything we create.”
MEETS COASTA L HISTORY Culinary Art
Inspired by the legacy of Fish Factory Road in Southport, Chef Ryan Duffy’s new Fish Factory Restaurant & Bar delivers imaginative, locally sourced fare and a family-rooted dining experience.
BY DAVID PUTNAM | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE D PHOTOGRAPHY
FFish Factory Restaurant & Bar, one of Southport’s newest eateries, takes its name from the historic Fish Factory Road that runs alongside it. Now a tranquil two-lane road dotted with businesses, restaurants and stately homes, Fish Factory Road was once the primary means of accessing the Brunswick Navigation Menhaden Processing Plant. The plant stood at the end of the road, which was traveled daily by workers who processed boatloads of the small, oily fish.
The road was also once an impromptu runway from which spotters took to the air, flying their small Piper Cubs out over the ocean looking for schools of menhaden and guiding the massive fishing vessels toward them.
The unique and charming Fish Factory Restaurant & Bar sits at the corner of this historic road. Since opening on May 23, 2025, it has enjoyed consistently glowing customer reviews thanks to owner/chef Ryan Duffy, his wife, Morgan, and their on-site pastry chef, Ben Poole.
Upon acquiring the aging building, extensive renovation and a completely new kitchen were required, but fortunately, Morgan’s parents, Jim and Camille Moses, and the Duffy’s three-year-old daughter, were there to help. Jim and Camille, both experienced interior designers, transformed the restaurant into a beautiful, modern space that feels welcoming, cozy and intimate.
Both Duffy and Poole began their culinary journeys at Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro, but after moving to Boiling Spring Lakes, Duffy completed his training at Cape Fear Community College. Since then, his culinary
artistry has placed him in some of the finest restaurants on Bald Head Island and in Southport. His talent also afforded him the opportunity to meet and work with Food Network’s Bobby Flay at the Landfall Country Club in Wilmington as they worked together to raise money for the GLOW Foundation.
Duffy later served as head chef for Shagger Jack’s on Oak Island before launching The Boat Landing at Sunset Beach, but after operating it for six seasons, he decided to open Fish Factory Restaurant & Bar.
Honed by time and experience, Duffy’s personal style as a “freestyle” chef has gradually evolved, and this recent transition offers him the creative space to curate dishes that
From left, Jim and Camille Moses and Morgan and Ryan Duffy
I consider North Carolina a culinary haven. There are hundreds of farms in the area that provide me an unlimited supply of produce, grains, pork, beef and poultry.
Above, Bartender Rhian mixing drinks at the bar; right, Pastry Chef Poole delivering food
showcase his vivid culinary imagination.
“I consider North Carolina a culinary haven,” he says, noting that in addition to an abundant supply of fresh seafood, “there are hundreds of farms in the area that provide me an unlimited supply of produce, grains, pork, beef and poultry.”
On that note, he says, “If you can’t find it fresh in North Carolina, you’re not looking hard enough!”
Duffy’s singular style and vision are reflected in the scope of his menu and his stunning presentations, but despite his formal training, he says that most of what he has learned has been
through experience.
Originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, Duffy mentions that his boyhood was spent “exploring the neighborhood with friends” and making lunches of “fresh oranges, mangos, and starfruit foraged from our neighbors’ trees.” These early experiences planted seeds that germinated into a lifelong love of fresh fruits and vegetables, and he has many favorites. Of those that are native to North Carolina, he loves Cherokee Purple tomatoes, morel and brown beech mushrooms, and “candy cane”
beets. Many of Duffy’s favorite foods are even tattooed on his arm.
As an older boy, Duffy moved to the small town of Mayodan, North Carolina, where his love of food evolved into cooking, a passion inspired and nurtured by watching and helping his mother and grandmother in the kitchen. They taught him that “food makes us stronger,” not just physically but “as a
family (and) a community.”
When Duffy talks about food, it is like listening to an artist discuss his craft. In fact, he mentions that “it is the only form of art that is purposely destroyed immediately after its creation.” He is also quick to add, though, that he loves to witness the destruction of his art, adding that
FEELING HUNGRY?
Fish Factory Restaurant & Bar 4346 Long Beach Road, Southport m (910) 363-4129
E @Fish Factory Restaurant & Bar
Reservations are not accepted. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
nothing makes a chef happier “than seeing empty plates/canvasses” returned from customers.
Although classically trained in French and Italian cooking, Duffy’s culinary creations are mostly drawn
experiences.
“I cook what I want to eat myself,” he says, and because of that, patrons will find a menu that offers an eclectic mix ranging from Asian to Cajun. For example, friends from Louisiana taught him the art of making jambalaya, and their influence inspired him to try French-Creole cooking. Culinary artist that he is, Duffy put his own spin on the bayou favorite and added it to his menu. Now one of his most popular dishes, it incorporates both andouille sausage and fresh, local shrimp.
Patrons appreciate that Duffy’s food sources are referenced on the menu. Seafood arrives daily from Haag & Sons on Oak Island, but customers have come to expect that the menu will vary slightly depending upon what is fresh and available. For example, locally sourced blue crabs might not always be on the menu because Duffy watches the lunar cycles carefully and offers softshell crabs after the full moon when blue crabs have molted and are in the process of growing new shells. He also prefers to make substitutions that feature native species whenever
possible, so instead of the traditional Pacific cod, he uses flounder for his fish and chips.
Daily specials are very popular with Fish Factory’s loyal customers. They rotate based upon the catch of the day and may include swordfish, mahi mahi, golden tilefish, lionfish, wahoo, black and bluefin tuna, grouper or red snapper (sourced from the Gulf).
Duffy’s signature dish, shrimp and grits, features Tasso ham (a spicy Louisiana Cajun staple made of smoked and cured pork shoulder) and is topped with an over-easy egg and toast.
Pastry Chef Ben Poole’s creations feature an array of delectable desserts including strawberry angel food cake, crème brûlée, and gluten-free cheesecake (lemon meringue, blueberry meringue, chocolate or key lime).
The full-service bar offers craft cocktails, wine and local craft beers. The bar and restaurant receive high marks for outstanding service and attention to detail. Diners are treated to a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere where casual attire is appropriate. That said, it has the feel of an upscale restaurant, wowing guests with beautiful culinary creations and professional plate-ups. Fish Factory is also kid-friendly with a special menu for Little Minnows.
Duffy loves cooking, and he wants others to savor his food. Each dish on his menu has a story behind it.
“It’s not always about the destination,” he says, “but the journey you take to create the dish.” It’s more about “spending time together” to plan and create with a loved one or coworker while “hearing their story and learning to take pride in your work.”
“Some of the best lessons in life are learned standing over a pot, stirring with a wooden spoon,” Duffy says.
Pastry Chef Ben Poole
Sculpting Beauty, Sharing Light
Creative couple Kristia and Stephen Merriam create works of art inspired by their life on the coast.
BY RANDI JO ROOKS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA TORREY
AAs soon as Stephen and Kristia Merriam visited North Carolina, they knew they had found their home. Drawn by the beauty of the coast and a longing to build a life rooted in peace and purpose, the couple — along with their two teenage daughters — sold most of their belongings, packed what remained into a small trailer
and flew south. Leaving Maine on their daughter’s 13th birthday, they took a leap of faith and nested in Southport, where four years later, their faith and love for art continue to flourish.
Stephen and Kristia first met while living in California, at a worship gathering of Christian artists that Stephen had organized called The Breakfast Club. It was a group of creatives
(singers, dancers, painters) who believed their gifts were from the Creator and wanted to inspire one another to give those gifts back to Him. In true storybook fashion, Kristia noticed Stephen immediately and prayed she would marry someone just like him. Eleven months later, she did.
Though they have worn many hats over the years — including those of AmeriCorps member, flight attendant, mechanical engineer, teacher, mom, dad — art has remained central. Kristia also currently serves as the program manager for Samara’s Village, a local nonprofit that “educates, equips and empowers pregnant and parenting adolescents and their families to raise healthy babies.”
Both Stephen and Kristia were raised in households that encouraged creativity and connection with nature. Stephen grew up surrounded by a family of talented artists, and Kristia vividly recalls the thrill of “cooking something up” in her room as her mom would describe it. She would go into the room with foraged, natural items she had discovered and emerge with a finished creation.
“We really believe everyone is made to create in some way — we’re made in the image of the Creator,” Kristia says.
While watercolors were their shared starting point as artists, their paths have since diverged in medium but not in mission. Kristia paints stunning oil landscapes that capture the light and beauty of the coastal region, while Stephen now focuses on driftwood pieces and intricately carved, beautiful sculptures, most of which are birds.
The bird carvings, now one of Stephen’s artistic signatures, began as a simple act of love.
“For Christmas, we always made ornaments to swap instead of buying gifts,” Kristia recalls. “Stephen carved his first bird for that swap — and when I saw it, I immediately asked if I could keep it and have him make another.”
That humble beginning sparked what is now a beloved body of work that blends driftwood, hand-carved birds and Scripture.
The Merriams bring out the best in each other, and they
have even mastered how to critique one another’s work in love — an artform in itself!
The first collaboration says it all: Stephen painted a sky and, somewhat reluctantly, passed it to Kristia to finish. She flipped it upside down and transformed it into a reflection, completing it just as it was meant to be.
“That’s when I knew I could trust her!” Stephen says. And they have been collaborating and helping each other ever since.
Stephen’s gift for perspective — sharpened through years of mechanical engineering work designing bridges and boardwalks and various projects — pairs perfectly with Kristia’s passion for capturing light. Their creative strengths complement each other, both in the studio and in life.
Over time, they have learned not only how to critique one another, but also how to release their art with peace — knowing that creativity is subjective and
they simply give their best and entrust their gift to be
“We want to create from the heart and then release the art to let it be what it is,” Stephen
You can often tell when art is from the heart. One of Kristia’s most meaningful series — a cloud collection — resonated deeply with the community.
“Storms moving in, but always light behind,” she says. “That series was really my life on canvas. I think people connected with it because it was so deeply personal.” Art has the power to move, inspire and to heal, and the Merriams understand this
“We pray over the pieces” Stephen says.
“Even though we don’t know who they are going to. We pray blessing into each one. And on each of our birds we write the verse Matthew 6:26 — a reminder of how God cares for even the birds. There are so many people suffering with heavy loads and anxiety, and we want people to know they are cared for and that they can give their worries
Whether talent is inherited or nurtured or both is hard to say, but Kristia and Stephen have clearly passed their love for art down to their daughters, both of whom are gifted creatives as well.
This summer, one of Stephen’s most intricate carvings — Jonah, a whale sculpted from aged Douglas fir over Cape Fear driftwood — was featured for sale at Barn & Beach Too. Hanging next to it was Hubert, a striking original driftwood painting by their daughter Avella. With a natural eye for detail and movement, Avella’s piece (which quickly sold) marked a meaningful moment for the Merriams: three artists, two generations, one booth, a shared gift and calling.
Collaboration is a family affair these days. Stephen shapes his birds, but the whole family helps with the finishing touch: deciding exactly where the birds should perch. Most would see this as a minor detail, but to the Merriams, bird placement matters immensely.
The family also enjoys kayaking together to gather driftwood — a special part of the process as they enjoy the world around them.
“Nature is God’s art to us, and so the driftwood is like a scripture already started by God and I just get to finish it,” Stephen says. “I love the rhythm of walking the shore with the Lord, picking up pieces and imagining what they’ll become.”
Perhaps one of the best gifts that local artists can give us is this: They don’t let the familiar become ordinary. Time
and again, artists remind us to see the beauty we have often stopped noticing.
“We don’t take this place for granted,” Kristia says. “Every morning, we wake up grateful for the sun, the birds, the color. We have a true palette of color all year round. And the light! It’s remarkable.”
So what’s next for Merriam Art? Maybe Tuscany. A dream of painting, creating and sharing meals with other artists in beautiful places abroad is on Kristia’s heart. Meanwhile, Stephen hopes to start working on a larger scale — with dreams of breaking out the chainsaws and diving into sculpture on a grander level.
WANT TO SEE MORE?
Check out the Merriams' art at Barn & Beach Too a gallery and shop at 4880 Old Long Beach Road SE in Southport.
E facebook.com/ MerriamArt
Wherever their art takes flight, one thing is certain: Stephen and Kristia Merriam were made to create. And in following that calling, they invite their community to open its eyes to the beauty around them — and to the Creator who even watches over the birds with care.
17th Annual Labor Day Surf Off
August 30 on Oak Island
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE D PHOTOGRAPHY
The Oak Island Labor Day Surf Off, always held on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, is an annual competition featuring surfing, bodyboarding and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) events for all ages and skill levels. From kids to adults, the contest offered fun and excitement for both participants and spectators alike.
Sunset On Summer Music Festival
September 6 at Middleton Park Complex
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA
TORREY
The Sunset On Summer Music Festival wrapped up another season of fun on September 6 at the Middleton Park Complex on Oak Island. From noon to 8 pm, festivalgoers enjoyed a lively day filled with music, food and community spirit.
The festival featured a variety of food trucks and showcased multiple bands across two stages, keeping the energy high throughout the day. Performers included Hoods Creek, North Tower, Departure (a Journey tribute band) and Deep Creek Soul.
The festivities concluded with a spectacular fireworks show, providing a perfect sendoff to summer and leaving everyone looking forward to next year’s celebration.
3rd Annual Oak Island Tide Sit-In
July 13 on Oak Island
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL RITENOUR
The 3rd Annual Oak Island Tide Sit-In brought out more than 350 residents and visitors for a unique community gathering along the shoreline. Participants joined in a peaceful, collective “sit-in” at the water’s edge, celebrating Oak Island’s coastal beauty and offering donations to the Oak Island and Caswell Beach Sea Turtle programs. JT Marriotte, known as UR Coastal Country and celebrated for painting the iconic “Turtle Guitar,” was among the standout attendees. Oak Island’s own Kailey Boomsa earned second place honors, while Katie Dorsett-Dye, founder of the Tide Sit-In, took home first place. Rounding out the winners was LT Christensen from Myrtle Beach.
Southport Fire Department
Citizen’s Academy
May 1 through June 5 at the Southport Fire Department Headquarters
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZEB STARNES
The Citizens Fire Academy gave participants an exciting, behind-the-scenes look at the Southport Fire Department. Highlights included touring fire headquarters, riding high in the 101-foot aerial platform and getting hands-on with the Jaws of Life, breathing apparatus and fire extinguishers. Attendees even had the unique opportunity to drive both a fire engine and an ambulance through an obstacle course, guided by Battalion Chief Ralph Treadway. It was an unforgettable experience that brought the community closer to its local heroes.
NC 4th of July Festival
July 4 in Southport
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZEB STARNES
Southport came alive for the North Carolina 4th of July Festival, drawing crowds from across the region for a multiday celebration of patriotism and community spirit. The festival featured the beloved parade through downtown, a variety of live music performances, arts and crafts vendors, and classic festival foods. Families enjoyed games, contests and children’s activities throughout the day, while fireworks over the waterfront capped off the festivities with a spectacular display. The event brought together residents and visitors alike, all celebrating Independence Day in true Southport style.
Chamber Marks 50 Years at Annual Meeting
June 18 at the Southport Community Building
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZEB STARNES
The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 50th Annual Membership Meeting on June 18, 2025, at the Southport Community Building. Members gathered for a morning of networking, reflection and planning, enjoying breakfast treats from Bald Head Coffee & Tea House and Burney’s Bakery.
North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall delivered the keynote, highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing local entrepreneurs and introducing the Rural RISE NC resource platform. Secretary Marshall also presented a
Capitol Citation, honoring the chamber’s five decades of service to Brunswick County’s business community.
The meeting included the ceremonial passing of the gavel from outgoing President Brooke Rudd to incoming President Felicia Sexton as well as recognition of outstanding members and retiring board members. The chamber welcomed new board members and thanked the event’s generous sponsors for their support.
Here’s to another year of growth and collaboration for the business community!
44th Annual NC Oyster Festival
October 18 & 19 at Town Center Park in Ocean Isle Beach
Celebrate everything oyster as the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce transforms Ocean Isle Beach’s Town Center Park into a walking district offering a variety of foods, crafts, contests and musical performances. With the support of dedicated volunteers, the Town of Ocean Isle Beach, many local businesses and the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce, the NC Oyster Festival is your destination for fun. Visit ncoysterfestival.com for more.
Dosher Memorial Hospital Celebrates 95
Years
June 2 at Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZEB
STARNES
Dosher Memorial Hospital marked its 95th birthday with a festive community cookout on June 2, continuing a four-year tradition. Residents gathered to enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs and a special anniversary cake. Southport Mayor Rich Alt, Board of Trustees Chair Robert Howard and Dosher CEO Lynda Stanley joined the celebration, sharing stories of the hospital’s founding in 1930, its growth over the decades and a hopeful vision for the future.
