Garland’s Fresh Seafood, aka Honey’s Place, has been a local go-to for fresh shrimp and fish for 70 years
40 W EAVED WILDLY WITH LOVE
Barbara Donahue, owner of the beloved Blue Crab Blue in Southport, celebrates 25 years in business.
58
70 YEARS OF SEAFOOD
Garland’s Fresh Seafood, aka Honey’s Place, has been South Brunswick County’s go-to for fresh shrimp and fish since Wesley Garland “Honey” Varnam founded it in 1954.
DEPARTMENTS
35 P EOPLE
Oak Island-based Luke Bennett hikes the country’s longest trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail.
47 HISTORY
Brunswick County native and lifelong resident Gwen Clemmons Causey has devoted the last 40 years to preserving Brunswick County’s past for generations to come.
53 BEHIND
THE BUSINESS
Heather Dye, owner of Klassy Konsignment, runs her business with a lifelong connection to Southport.
65
EDUCATION
The G.I.F.T. School in Southport provides a fun and inclusive environment for young children.
70 COMMUNITY
Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris is passionate about protecting and serving the residents and visitors of Oak Island.
PHOTO BY CASEY LAUREN
PHOTO BY MATT MCGRAW
Spring 2025 Issue — Volume 2, Issue 3
CEO/PUBLISHER:
Justin Williams
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: Sandi Grigg
COPY EDITOR: Molly Harrison
CONTRIBUTING GRAPHICS:
Teresa Kramer S amantha Lowe
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Brian Wilner
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Megan Deitz E mily Flax
K atie D Photography Jo Ann Mathews
M att McGraw Bill Ritenour
Z eb Starnes James Stefiuk
Brenda Torrey C asey Lauren Townsend
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
K athy Blake Ruby Cline
Sandi Grigg B eth Klahre
M ichelle Macken Jo Ann Mathews
David Putnam R andi Jo Rooks
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 Casey Lauren Townsend captured our cover image of Nicky Varnam, second generation owner of Garland’s Fresh Seafood, aka Honey’s Place, in Varnamtown. Read Ruby Cline’s story about the 70-yearold business starting on page 58.
Bring on Spring
WWhat an interesting winter we had here on the coast of southeastern North Carolina. Who would have imagined we would get snow this year? Along with a wealth of 70-degree days, too, of course.
The rare snowstorm might have wrecked some January plans, but it was a welcome diversion for a lot of kids and families. Photographer Brenda Torrey captured photos of smiling faces at the impromptu “Oak Island Sled Fest” (see page 77), organized by Oak Island resident Carrie Weston Lenzen. Carrie is responsible for putting together fun community events like the Oak Island Witches Ride and the New Year’s Day Lantern Parade (see page 79), so it’s no surprise that she would gather people up for a little snow-day fun!
And then February went by with the snap of a finger. I am not complaining, though; bring on the longer days and sunsets after 8 pm!
Over the winter, the writers, photographers, staff and I were busy putting together this spring edition of SPT OKI Magazine for you. We have some really cool stories about people celebrating milestones in their lives and businesses. On the cover you saw Nicky Varnam, the secondgeneration owner of Garland’s Fresh Seafood, which is celebrating 70 years in business this year. We also have stories about Barbara Donahue of Blue Crab Blue, celebrating its 25th anniversary, and Heather Dye of Klassy Konsignment, which has been in business for 22 years. You will meet Gwen Clemmons Causey,
who has devoted the last 40 years of her life to preserving Brunswick County’s history, and Luke Bennett, who grew up on Oak Island and went on to mark milestones on his feet by hiking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.
As always, we are thankful for your readership. Please continue to support the business you see advertised on these pages. They give us the privilege to continue doing what we love to do — telling the stories of southeastern North Carolina!
Happy Spring!
Justin Williams Owner/Publisher
publisher@lifeinbrunswickcounty.com
JustinW13
PHOTO BY MEGAN DEITZ
Ruby Cline
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I am an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of experience writing, editing and proofreading for local, regional and global publications. A storyteller from early on, I’ve enjoyed covering a myriad of topics, from community influencers and fashion trends to cutting-edge medical advancements and treatments. All things artistic pique my interest, including writing and painting, gardening and floristry. In recent years, I’ve designed floral creations for more than 70 weddings and events and enjoy expressing my imaginative side whenever possible. I’m happiest and my truest self when I’m at the beach listening to the waves. An Indiana Heartland Hoosier native, I quickly fell in love with the Carolina coast long ago and am incredibly thankful to finally call Southport my forever home, along with my husband, two children, two cats and dog.
Katie Dorsett-Dye
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
I am an award-winning photographer based in Oak Island. Born and raised in North Carolina, I developed a passion for photography from a young age. My business, Katie D Photography, specializes in both landscape and family photography. I am deeply rooted in the Oak Island community and actively contribute my skills and services to local events, charities and fundraisers, using my art to make a positive impact. My dedication to my clients, love of my craft and deep connection to the natural beauty of Oak Island are the driving forces behind my continued success.
Casey Lauren Townsend
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
In addition to being a local photographer for the last 15 years and co-owner of Waterway Music and Education, I am a happy wife and homeschooling mother of two children. My husband, who is from Brunswick County, introduced me to “might could” and strawberry picking. Together, we have lived in every corner of Brunswick County, making friends who are like family along the way. My love of storytelling through photos was inspired by my late grandfather, who always had the video camera out and captured what was most important: friends and family. This candid style is what I hope to contribute to the magazine.
DOSHER ACHIEVES 5-STAR RATING
Dosher Memorial Hospital proudly earns a 5-star HCAHPS rating, surpassing state and national averages in patient care and hospital experience, reflecting their commitment to exceptional healthcare.
Dosher Memorial Hospital has proudly received a prestigious 5-star rating on their patient surveys, as reported by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). This top-tier rating, evaluated on a 0 – 5 scale, encompasses 22 critical questions related to patient care, including the responsiveness of hospital staff, communication with doctors and nurses, hospital cleanliness, and communication about medication.
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2025 SOUTHPORT CONCERT SERIES
Join the Southport Concert Series 2025 at Franklin Square Park for free Thursday evening concerts, featuring talented performers and food trucks, running from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
This summer, plan to gather with your friends and neighbors on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 pm (weather permitting) in Franklin Square Park. Bring blankets and chairs. Note: There is no concert during the week of the NC 4th of July Festival.
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RECORD $2.7B IN SALES FOR 2024
Explore the record-breaking $2.7 billion sales achievement of Brunswick County’s real estate market in 2024, showcasing impressive growth in the region.
Brunswick County’s real estate market has once again demonstrated its resilience and strength, closing out 2024 with a remarkable $2.7 billion in total sales volume. This achievement surpasses the previous record set in 2021, showcasing the area’s continued demand and robust market conditions.
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2025 LOVE IN BLOOM BRIDAL EXPO
Love was in the air at the Love in Bloom Bridal Expo on February 15 at the Southport Community Building. The expo offers a boutique-style wedding planning experience, featuring local vendors, exciting raffles and more.
Engaged couples looking for inspiration for their big day attended the free event and connected with the best local wedding professionals.
DOSHER’S DRUG DROP EVENT
Dosher Memorial Hospital is committed to helping the community safely dispose of unwanted medications with its Operation Medicine Cabinet events.
Dosher’s 27th semiannual Operation Medicine Cabinet event on December 3 saw an impressive turnout, with 250 households participating. Community members responsibly disposed of 5,696 expired or unwanted narcotic pills and 830.3 milliliters of narcotic liquids, ensuring these substances were safely incinerated.
ANNUAL BELLA ITALIA EVENT
Brunswick Community College Foundation held its 9th Annual Bella Italia Event on February 1. In addition to being a night of authentic Italian cuisine and wine tasting, this annual event has a philanthropic cause, supporting student scholarships at Brunswick Community College.
Held at St. James Community Center, the 2025 event delivered a delightful blend of wine tasting and authentic Italian cuisine from the renowned Angelo’s Bistro, including specialty hors d’oeuvres, a plated dinner and decadent desserts.
CONTINUE
Southport Resident Rings Bell on the New York Stock Exchange
On January 10 Jonathan Cressy, a Southport resident, had the honor of ringing the Closing Bell of The New York Stock Exchange. Cressy is a Partner and Head of Direct/RIA Sales at 3EDGE Asset Management. He recently relocated from California to Southport with his family. Cressy and the 3EDGE Team were welcomed by The New York Stock Exchange to celebrate the launch of 3EDGE Dynamic ETFs. To honor the occasion, Cressy and Steve Cucchiaro, CEO & Chief Investment Officer, along with the 3EDGE team joined Timothy Reilly, Head of Exchange Traded Solutions, NYSE, to ring the Closing Bell®.
Image courtesy of NYSE Group. NYSE does not recommend or endorse any investments, investment strategies, companies, products, or services.
Brunswick Community College Hosts Tri-Chamber Event
On November 14 Brunswick Community College (BCC) and the BCC Small Business Center hosted a wonderful evening of networking with businesspeople from across Brunswick County at the annual Tri-Chamber Business Networking After Hours. North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce and Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce participated in this networking opportunity. Gourmet to Go & Catered Affairs and Nothing Bundt Cakes provided the delicious food.
Chamber Announces Winter 2025 Golden Pineapple Awards
The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce awarded 32 local businesses a Golden Pineapple Award at a ceremony sponsored by Corning Credit Union held at the chamber office. 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.
WINTER 2025 GOLDEN PINEAPPLE AWARD WINNERS
Accommodations:
Beach House Motel & Suites, Oak Island Accommodations, and Salt & Sand Realty
Activities & Attractions:
Cape Fear Yoga & Wellness Center, Cruise Planners -Lina DiCola, Game Changer Strength & Conditioning, and Yoga
Unlimited
Food & Drink:
Bald Head Coffee
Professionals:
Coach MKay Companies, LLC, Coastline Insurance
Associates of NC, Dosher Memorial Hospital Wellness & Walk-In Center, Hamilton Realty Group eXp Realty, Live Oak Med Spa, Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS, Pinnacle Mortgage Corp., Southern Realty Advantage, and The Positive Bridge
Retail:
Burnishop.com, Doodles Market & Convenience, Southport Ace Hardware, Southport Sass Boutique, Southport Village Shops, and Wade’s Jewelers
Services:
Akers Construction Gorup, Inc., Coastal Painting & Improvements, Katie D Photography, Mansfield Brothers Sales & Service, MNB Fencing, Pelican ProWash, St. James Remodeling, Thomas & Sons Electric, LLC, and Weikle’s Hometown Heating & Air, LLC.
CONTRIBUTED
Dosher Memorial Hospital Hosts Ribbon Cutting for Courtesy Shuttle
On November 11 members of the Dosher Board of Trustees, Dosher staff, Dosher volunteers and representatives from the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the arrival of the new Dosher Courtesy Shuttle. Operated and paid for by the Dosher Volunteers, the shuttle transports patients and visitors from parking lots to the hospital entrance and back to their vehicles. The Dosher Volunteer Organization is an independent group of women and men formed in 1972 with the goal to make the hospital experience as pleasant as possible for patients and their families. Driving the courtesy shuttle is one of many areas where Dosher volunteers donate their time to enhance patient care. They also serve in various administrative roles, such as assisting in registration and answering the switchboard. In addition, the Dosher volunteers operate the hospital gift shop and a resale store in downtown Southport, with proceeds benefitting the hospital through equipment and services.
Dosher Memorial Hospital Holds Ribbon Cutting at Newly Renovated Medical Clinic
On November 18 Dosher Memorial Hospital hosted a ribboncutting ceremony and open house at its newly renovated Oak Island Medical Clinic at 4700 E. Oak Island Drive in Oak Island. The renovations to the clinic were part of Phase 1 of Dosher’s seven-year Master Facility Plan, and the redesigned space has optimized provider workflow and includes additional exam rooms. These enhancements enable Dosher to expand access to primary care services for the
local community to accommodate the population growth of Dosher’s service area.
Coffee with the Girls Meetings Are a Success
Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce’s Coffee with the Girls group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 8 am at various locations. The November Coffee with the Girls meeting welcomed City of Southport Police Chief Todd Coring. Chief Coring spoke about the community outreach programs at the Southport Police Department, informing the audience about such options as daily wellness checks and a mobile app with safety notifications. He stressed the importance of having strong relationships and mutual trust between the officers and the community. December’s meeting was the Annual Cookie Exchange at Captain Newton’s Inn in Southport. The January meeting at Hampton Inn & Suites featured Jenna Spafford Cooley of Jenna Cooley Coaching, who offered organizing tips for the new year. Coffee with the Girls is a monthly opportunity for business-minded women to grow their network and benefit from other women in business who share helpful information and tips about business-related issues.
Dosher Memorial Hospital Appoints New Chief Financial Officer
Ed Tusa is the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Dosher Memorial Hospital. Tusa brings 30 years of operational finance leadership in the healthcare sector, including in-depth experience with Critical Access Hospitals and nonprofit healthcare across the care continuum. He has served in executive positions in a variety of organizations including Hopedale Medical Center in Hopedale, Illinois, Marshfield Clinic Health System in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and the Mayo Clinic Health System/Cannon Falls Medical Center in Minnesota. Throughout his career, Tusa’s areas of focus
have included strengthening financial viability, performance measurement and process improvement, business planning and development projects, facility planning and construction, improvements to reimbursement systems, overseeing implementation of information technology and EMP/ERP systems, and team building. He holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and is education focused. A native of the upper Midwest, his prior healthcare experience was in Minnesota and he has also held healthcare positions in Wisconsin, Illinois, Colorado, Texas and North Carolina. Tusa is excited to be Dosher’s CFO at this time of growth and change and looks forward to working with this governing board, the executive team, management and the employees of Dosher Memorial Hospital and Medical Clinics.
Brunswick County Commissioner Frank Williams Appointed to National Disaster Reform Task Force
Brunswick County Commissioner Frank Williams has been named to a newly formed National Association of Counties (NACo) Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force. NaCo President and Sonoma County, California, Supervisor James Gore appointed 28 county leaders to the group, which is tasked with modernizing federal disaster policies, strengthening intergovernmental partnerships geared towards disaster resiliency and enhancing local disaster mitigation, response and recovery capacities. When disasters strike, county officials and emergency responders play a critical role in the immediate response as well as in long-term recovery efforts. Given the robust county role in everything from emergency response to infrastructure to housing, counties occupy a central role that offers unique insight into issues of disaster management and resiliency. Williams says his experience serving as Chair of the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners during three hurricanes prepared him to serve on the disaster reform task force. Williams served as president of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) from August 2021 until August 2022. His NCACC Presidential Initiative, 100 Counties Prepared, was borne out of his experience serving as Chair of the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners during Hurricanes Florence, Dorian and Isaias, through which he observed a lack of emergency preparedness training suitable for elected officials. He appointed a task force, which focused on filling that void by creating an emergency preparedness training tailor-made for elected officials. Sixty-one county officials from across North Carolina completed the inaugural 100 Counties Prepared Emergency Preparedness Training for
County Commissioners, which was held in conjunction with the 115th Annual NCACC Conference in Cabarrus County on August 11, 2022. Three 100 Counties Prepared training sessions have now been conducted, and more are planned.
Hive Sweet Home Boutique Moves to New Location
On November 22 Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new location of Hive Sweet Home. The new location is at 412 N. Howe Street, Unit A in Southport. Friends, fellow businesspeople and chamber representatives joined owners Kim and Zach Sirkin at the event. Hive Sweet Home is a fun boutique carrying children’s clothing, books, plush animals, a nice selection of women’s clothing and accessories, holiday items, home collection and gifts. They also have an online shop.
Alps Mtn Affordable Hearing Aid Center Opens in Southport
In December Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce assisted in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Alps Mtn Affordable Hearing Aid Center Inc. in Southport. Alps Mtn provides affordable hearing solutions to individuals experiencing hearing loss and aims to improve the quality of life for its clients by providing accessible hearing aids and related services. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, they have six locations across North Carolina. The Southport location is at 4128 Vanessa Drive SE, Suite C.
Endless Summer Bonfire Beach Bash Wraps up the Season
Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the end of another successful season at its Endless Summer Bonfire Beach Bash on November 21. High winds prohibited the bonfire, but the members enjoyed the yummy taco bar, drinks, music by DJ Rodney and dancing at The Lazy Turtle Oceanfront Bar and Grill. Bonfire Committee Co-Chairs Gina DiSabato of Island Treasure Hunt and Jackie Del Prete of Dunes Mercantile Gifts & Guitars did a fabulous job organizing the event at its new location. The Lazy Turtle Oceanfront Bar & Grill made the chamber members feel welcomed, comfortable and well taken care of.
Dosher Holds Women’s Health Event
On January 29 Dosher Memorial Hospital held its third annual Chit Chat and Chocolate women’s health event at Indian Trail Meeting Hall in Downtown Southport. The speaker for this event was Maritza Manrique-Kiniry, MD, Board Certified gynecologist and gynecological surgeon who practices at Dosher MedicalWomen’s Health in Southport. Dr. Manrique-Kiniry shared information on a variety of issues impacting women’s health and allotted time for questions. Chef Joe Hill from the Dosher Café served light refreshments and health-friendly chocolate bark to attendees.
putting the patient first. Her nomination noted that she “sets the tone for the department which ensures that patients, staff and other personnel have a pleasant experience and work atmosphere.” Gaskins has been a registered nurse for 38 years and has spent most of her career in the operating room, oncology and endoscopy. She came to Dosher after relocating to Leland eight years ago to be closer to family. She and her husband of 40 years have two daughters and three grandchildren. Dosher Triple E’s are nominated by their peers on a quarterly basis.
Southport Barre Opens in Southport
On November 8 Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce held a grand-opening ribbon-cutting ceremony for Southport Barre. Abbey Heilmann, owner of Southport Barre, was joined by her husband, Ben Heilmann, family, friends and chamber representatives. Southport Barre, located at 801 N. Howe Street, offers a combination of low to no impact movements set to fun and upbeat music and emphasizes stretching and strengthening. Heilmann says the benefits of barre include increased muscle tone, balance, flexibility, core strength and joy because it is so much fun.
Hawthorne at Pine Forest Hosts February Chamber After Hours
Dosher Memorial Hospital Announces Triple E Recipient
Michele Gaskins, RN, BSN, a nurse in the Dosher Endoscopy Department, is the most recent recipient of the hospital’s Employees Exceeding Excellence “Triple E” award. Gaskins, who has been a member of the Dosher nursing staff for over eight years, was recognized for delivering extraordinary care and always
Hawthorne at Pine Forest Apartment Homes showed the members of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce excellent hospitality during February’s Business Networking After Hours. Hawthorne at Pine Forest is located at 1045 Woodsia Way (just off N.C. Highway 211 near Holiday Inn Express) in Oak Island.
FOCUS Broadband Employees Make Annual Donation to United Way of the Cape Fear Area
FOCUS Broadband’s board of directors and employees recently presented the United Way of the Cape Fear Area with a $14,868 donation to help fund community programs that will benefit residents in need. This employee-led fundraising campaign has been held at FOCUS Broadband for decades. In 2024 FOCUS Broadband was honored to receive the Cape Fear United Way’s Campaign Growth Award. Since launching its first United Way campaign, FOCUS Broadband and its employees have contributed more than $475,000 to support United Way’s mission.
Wicker and More of Shallotte Opens New Southport Location
On February 10 Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of Wicker & More of Shallotte’s Southport location at 5030 Southport-Supply Road. Owners Will Andrews and Lisa and Robin Andrews were joined by Brunswick County Sheriff Brian M. Chism, Chamber Senior Vice President Felicia Sexton, family, friends, customers and chamber members. Wicker & More is a one-stop shopping experience for all indoor and outdoor furniture and home
to name brands such as Braxton Culler, Cape May Wicker, Coastline Art, Lauren Galleries and Steinworld. They stock rattan, resin wicker, upholstered furniture, accessories, artwork, cushions, lamps, premium outdoor furnishings and more.
Yoga Unlimited OKI Celebrates Second Anniversary
Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce held a business anniversary ceremony commemorating Yoga Unlimited’s second anniversary in business on Oak Island. Stacy Smith, owner of Yoga Unlimited, is a registered yoga teacher ERYT500 and YACEP with Yoga Alliance. The yoga studio is located at 8809 E. Oak Island Drive (on the second floor of Island Healing & Chiropractic Center) and has a full schedule of classes.
Benefit YOU Discusses Chamber Benefits
February 7 Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce held Benefit YOU (Your Opportunities Unfolded) a semiannual meeting where members of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce meet to discuss in depth the benefits and programs of the chamber. The next Benefit YOU is scheduled for Wednesday, August 6 at 5 pm in the chamber’s Conference Room.
North Carolina Azalea Festival
April 2 – 6
A tradition since 1948, North Carolina Azalea Festival celebrates Wilmington’s exceptional artwork, gardens, history and culture during its five days of pageantry. Celebrate spring Southern style with colorful parades, bustling street fairs, charming home and garden tours, art shows, spectacular fireworks, nationally known entertainment and the crowning of the Azalea Festival Queen and Princess. For community pride and springtime pageantry, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has no equal.
Information: ncazaleafestival.org
Brunswick County Gator Senior Games & SilverArts
April 2 – May 16
Brunswick County Gator Senior Games & SilverArts is a friendly competition in athletics and arts and more. People ages 50 and older can participate, stay active, renew old skills, learn new ones and exercise a positive outlook on life. It is a fun and healthy approach to keeping the body, mind and spirit fit while enjoying the company of friends, family, spectators and volunteers. Participants can choose from more than 80 events such as golf, bowling, swimming, bocce, table tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, walking and pickleball. There are more than 70 athletic and artistic events. Register online by March 19
Information: ncseniorgames.org/brunswick
This is Our Town Cleanup
April 5, May 3, June 7
Make Southport more beautiful by joining volunteers for weeding, pruning and other gardening tasks on the first Saturday of each month. Volunteers help beautify the parks, waterfront and other areas of the community. Meet at the Old Jail Annex at Nash and Rhett streets at 9 am.
Information: (301) 741-6698; cityofsouthport.com
Easter Egg Hunt
April 12
Hop on over to Bill Smith Park with the kids on April 12 beginning at 10 am to find an assortment of colored Easter Eggs. This event is hosted by the Town of Oak Island Recreation Department and is free to attend.
Information: oakislandnc.gov/events
Doggie Egg-Stravaganza
April 12
Join Oak Island Recreation Department for the 8th Annual Doggie EGG-Stravaganza at the Salty Dog Park inside Bill Smith Park. This event will take place from 11: 30 am to 1:30 pm. There will be many special prizes and yummy treats hidden inside eggs around the dog park. There will be separate hunts provided for dogs over and under 20 lbs. Pets must be up to date on their vaccinations to participate.
Information: oakislandnc.gov/events
Fashion with Friends
Southport Springfest
April 19
After a year-long hiatus, Southport Springfest is returning in 2025. Held from 10 am to 6 pm in the heart of Downtown Southport, this beloved festival offers something for everyone, featuring musical entertainment, children’s activities and even plants for sale. A variety of food vendors will ensure you enjoy delicious local eats throughout the day. Springfest will also highlight a vibrant marketplace showcasing local artisans, craft vendors, small businesses and retailers. Families will enjoy a variety of kid-friendly activities sponsored by Southport Parks and Recreation, while attendees of all ages can watch live whittling demonstrations, groove to live music and enjoy even more exciting activities.
Information: cityofsouthport.com/springfest
Fashion with Friends
May 1
Fashion with Friends returns to the Town of St. James Homer E. Wright Event Center at 4136 Southport-Supply Road on May 1. The fashion show includes resort wear fashions from local boutiques along with door prizes, raffles, swag bags, dinner and drinks. Doors open at 4:45 pm. Tickets are sure to sell out, so buy yours early.
At the Southport Plein Air Festival, artists paint outside all over Southport. More than 70 artists have registered, and the event culminates in a full day of fun events for the whole family and the highly anticipated Wet Paint Sale on Saturday, May 3. As you stroll the streets of Southport enjoying the festival, take time to stop and watch the creative process of the painters in real-time. Live music performances and arts demonstrations are available throughout the festival. Kids can create their own masterpiece at the Kids Plein Air (art supplies provided).
Oak Island Recreation Department will host the 2025 Oak Island Seafood Festival on May 3 from 12 to 5 pm. This exciting new festival will feature the Peel & Eat Shrimp Competition, a cooking demonstration, education events, a craft & artisan market, food trucks and live music by The Ford Project. The festival will be held in the Middleton Park Complex at 4610 E. Dolphin Drive. This is a townsponsored event, so parking will be free during the festival.
Information: oakislandnc.gov/events
Southport Summer Market
Wednesdays, May 7 – August 27
The Southport Summer Market, sponsored by the City of Southport, is a place for local growers and crafters to sell their goods directly to consumers, fostering community engagement and interaction. The Southport Summer Market will run every Wednesday from the first Wednesday in May until the last Wednesday in August, excluding the week of the Fourth of July, and will be open from 10 am to 4 pm. The market operates rain or shine unless there are hazardous weather conditions.
Bands by the Beach Oak Island Summer Concert Series
Fridays, May 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 1 1, 18, 25, August 1, 8, 15, 22, 30; Tuesday July 1
The Bands by the Beach Summer Concert Series will once again provide the soundtrack of a perfect summer. From May through August, the free concerts will be held in Middleton Park at 4610 E. Dolphin Drive in Oak Island from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The concerts are held on Friday nights except for the July 4th week, when the concert will be held on Tuesday. Lawn chairs and coolers are welcome, but no glass is allowed.
Information: oakislandnc.gov/events
Southport Concert Series
Thursdays, May 29 through August 28
The City of Southport, in collaboration with Downtown Southport, Inc., Up Your Arts and Cape Fear Radio, once again offers the Southport Concert Series for the 2025 season. This year’s series promises an outstanding lineup of musical performances, bringing the community together in the beautiful setting of Franklin Square Park. Concerts are held Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 pm, running from Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting. There will be no event during the week of the NC 4th of July Festival. The concerts are free and open to the public, welcoming attendees of all ages. Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets, chairs and dancing shoes.
Enjoy local fresh produce, homemade jams, cakes and a variety of homemade goods including jewelry, furniture, rugs, potholders and much more at the Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market in Oak Island. This annual market takes place from 8 am to 1 pm at Middleton Park, 4610 E. Dolphin Drive in Oak Island.
Take your Tajín obsession to the next level with a nontraditional spin on the traditional margarita.
BY SANDI GRIGG
Recently, I have been on a Tajín kick. If you are not familiar with it, Tajín is a very popular sweet and spicy seasoning powder featuring dehydrated lime, a blend of ground chile peppers and sea salt. To me it tastes of heavy lime flavors mixed with brown sugar, red pepper and cayenne.
Tajín is excellent on fruits like watermelon, pineapple and apples. I also enjoy shaking a bit on corn, salad and black beans and on meats such as steak kabobs, grilled chicken and chorizo tacos. It’s very unique and distinctive and, in my mind, also perfect for a margarita rim.
I got the idea to incorporate Tajín into a margarita when I visited a local smoothie and juice bar. On the menu they offered a mango lime smoothie with Tajín seasoning. Of course I had to try it. As the smoothie began to melt, the Tajín stuck to the sides of the cup. I literally began to lick the sides and thought to myself, this would be a
great rim to a glass. Poof! Passion fruit margarita with Tajín rim was born. The mango smoothie with Tajín was really good, but in my opinion the passion fruit-Tajín combination is better.
For this recipe you can use fresh passion fruit juice or bottled passion fruit nectar. By using bottled passion fruit, you can make this cocktail all year long. While passion fruit is typically available year-round in grocery stores, peak seasons are from February to June. And, by the way, fresh passion fruit is healthy, containing vitamins A and C, fiber, potassium and antioxidants.
Use blanco (white) tequila that is unaged or slightly aged. Some distillers call this tequila “the essence of tequila” and it is great for mixing into cocktails.
While this cocktail recipe includes alcohol, it can easily be made as mocktail. Swapping coconut water for the tequila makes it easy to turn these passion fruit margaritas into a delicious nonalcoholic option.
Fill the rimmed glass with ice.
To a cocktail shaker, add passion fruit cocktail, tequila, lime and lemon juices, agave syrup and orange bitters. Fill to the top with ice. Shake for about 30 seconds.
Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass and enjoy.
Patio Perfection
Return to grilling season with steak and vegetable kabobs and a drizzle of spring-green chimichurri.
BY SANDI GRIGG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES STEFIUK
Have a recipe request for Southern Sandi? Shoot a message to sandi@lifeinbrunswickcounty.com
After the cold winter we had, I am so ready for spring. Aside from the warmer weather and all the blooming flowers, my favorite part of spring is grilling out on the patio and eating outside.
Grilled steak and vegetable kabobs over spring mix lettuce with chimichurri is my quintessential patio meal. These grilled skewers combine three of my favorite things about grilling season: smoky grilled steak, tender grilled vegetables and a vibrant, herbaceous sauce. It’s a light and fresh meal, yet it also satisfies those who fiend for meat and taters.
GRILLED CHIMICHURRI STEAK KABOBS
Serves 4
You will need 8 bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 20 minutes prior to assembly)
INGREDIENTS
For the Chimichurri
METHOD
This meal is easy to cook, and it only takes about 20 minutes to prep so it can certainly be made ahead of time if you are hosting friends or family. For the kabobs, simply boil the potatoes, cut the meat and vegetables, thread the kabobs and cover them while they rest in the refrigerator.
For the chimichurri, you can mix all the ingredients together and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Every Friday afternoon my parents come over to our house to have a few adult beverages and catch up on life. We typically sit on the patio while my son rides his Big Wheel around, drenching us with his water gun and bubbles. Sometimes we order out, but typically I will cook a meal for us. Having something prepared ahead of time that my spouse can just throw on the grill is my preferred method for dinner. That gives me uninterrupted time to chat and watch my son play with his grandparents.
The biggest decision we can never seem to agree on is what meat cut to use for the steak portion of the kabobs. My mother and I prefer a sirloin because it is relatively affordable, tender and flavorful for such a lean cut. My father and my spouse prefer ribeye, which is obviously a more premium cut and offers a more robust flavor. Personally, I don’t like the all the fat of the ribeye, plus I prefer the chimichurri be the star of the plate.
Chimichurri is made with loads of bright, fresh herbs, spicy seasonings, zesty vinegar and citric juice. Originating in Argentina and Uruguay, chimichurri is like basil pesto but with more punch from the zippiness of the vinegar and citric acid. It is traditionally used as a topping for grilled meats, which those countries are well known for.
For this recipe, the chimichurri works as both a marinade and a sauce. You could absolutely use a food processor to make it, but I prefer the rustic look and love that goes into chopping it myself.
Try this, and I think you will agree that it makes an exemplary patio meal for the warm spring days ahead.
16 ounce top sirloin (or steak of choice) diced into 1-inch cubes
18 to 24 baby potatoes
1 medium red or yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
8 ounces whole button mushrooms
1 small sweet onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
Spring mix salad lettuce
Start by partially cooking the potatoes. Place them in a pot, cover with 1 to 2 inches of water, season with salt and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 to 7 minutes and drain. Set aside.
As the potatoes boil, combine all the chimichurri ingredients in a serving bowl and set aside (or store in the refrigerator).
Preheat the grill for mediumhigh direct heat (500 to 550 degrees).
After the potatoes are cool enough to touch, assemble the kabobs by threading each skewer equally, alternating as you go, with the steak, potatoes, onion, mushrooms and pepper.
Pour half the chimichurri over the kabobs and roll to coat each kabob with the sauce. Reserve the remaining chimichurri for serving.
Grill kabobs perpendicular to the grill grates for 4 minutes per side for medium doneness. Add or subtract a minute for cooking time if you prefer more/less doneness.
Remove the kabobs from the grill. Place them on a serving platter and let them rest for 2 to 3 minutes.
Serve over spring mix lettuce with drizzles of chimichurri.
THE Call of the Wild
Oak Island-based Luke Bennett hikes the country’s longest trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail.
BY KATHY BLAKE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA TORREY
WWhat inspires someone to hike thousands of miles?
Luke Bennett, 25, who completed hiking the Pacific Crest Trail on November 4, 2024, tries to explain it — the night songs of great horned owls; the way flowers tilt in a breeze; that an abandoned picnic table holds more beauty than you know; and peanut butter slathered on a tortilla is five-star cuisine.
He tries to explain that it is OK to be alone for days, to wear the earth in dirt-tinted extra layers of clothing, to stare in captive solitude at zillions of midnight stars and feel vulnerable to a higher power.
He tries to explain it in terms that people surrounded by pavement might conceive, but without them experiencing wilderness trails and untouched
Luke Bennett runs on his hometown turf by the Ocean Crest Fishing Pier on Oak Island.
“
You don’t have walk thousands of miles to appreciate the outdoors. There’s no right or wrong way to be outside. Take a five-minute walk after work; do whatever works for you.
nature for months at a time firsthand, it is just word pictures for an imagination.
Bennett backpacked the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), from Canada’s border town of Manning Park, British Columbia, to Campo, an unincorporated map dot on the CaliforniaMexico line — a distance of 2,650 miles. He started the PCT hike on July 3, 2024, expecting the journey to take about four to five months. His first blog entry for the adventure stated, “Join me as I walk the Pacific Crest Trail. ... Canada to Mexico. One giant size 14-foot step at a time … for the love of walking and the joy of uninterrupted space to contemplate what’s for dinner.”
Trying to explain the allure of backpacking, Bennett has written, “[it] cracks my shell. Breaks me open. Forces me to spend hours and hours and hours looking inward. … I’m asking questions without knowing the answer. Talking, laughing and crying out loud to the wind. … I’m stuck with myself. … It’s a gift but it can drive a man crazy. All that is to say, I find peace in the fact that there’s value in reflection. There’s value in uninterrupted space to take a look inward as your brain exhales. The discomfort has meaning. It has something to say and something to teach. I just need to have the strength to listen.”
The PCT adventure out West was not Bennett’s first long hike, and he is not always encased in solitude. He hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2021 after graduating from Appalachian State University, then mastered North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a 1,175-mile highlight reel of dunes and lighthouses,
wilted tobacco barns, mountain streams and pine forests, from the Outer Banks to the Great Smoky Mountains.
Along the way, he meets people, other hikers and instant friends.
“There are plenty of people out here doing the same thing,” he says, adding that the Pacific Crest Trail attracts visitors from across the United States, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and beyond.
“The generosity of people he meets,” says Bennett’s dad, Chris, “makes you feel really good about how, in times of political unrest and division, there’s a unity in
taking care of your fellow man.”
Bennett’s blog is both introspective — “The first night was difficult. I felt isolated, uprooted and disconnected. Creating catastrophes in my head …” — and unreserved — “If I develop a nut allergy … I’m screwed.”
His inspiration for hiking is rooted in passion for the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) efforts to protect, conserve and restore North Carolina wildife and habitat. NCWF states, “Outdoor experiences in backyards, fields,
TRAIL LIFE
• “I enjoy being able to eat my dinner while looking at a mountain and not feeling like there’s a million things going on.”
• “I’ve seen six or seven black bears, but they run off into the woods and it’s no problem.”
• “There are mountain lions out here. The news does a great job of reporting an isolated incident, but not the stories of people who hike every day. You just need to be smart and aware.”
• “I got charged by a grouse the other day. Most close encounters are birds.”
• “I feel like myself when I’m outside. I like the freedom and open space and time to think. I think about my mom and my sisters and my community. I want to think when I get home, my work — whatever that may be — will get people outside to enjoy nature.”
Bennett staring off into the Atlantic on a warm fall morning on Oak Island.
creeks, forests and lakes provide a real sense of being connected to the land. These early life experiences resonate with us the rest of our lives.”
“What I’d like to emphasize,” Bennett says, “is that you don’t have walk thousands of miles to appreciate the outdoors. There’s no right or wrong way to be outside. Take a five-minute walk after work; do whatever works for you.”
FOLLOW LUKE
Check out Luke Bennett’s blog at K outdooroatmeal.blog
Bennett enjoying one of his favorite spots on Oak Island, a short public trail near the
In mid-September 2024, Bennett was in Burney, California, at a church gymnasium that opens its doors to trail hikers; it’s a place to spend the night, stock up on food, charge the phone and socialize. Many spots along the trail display kindness with a roof and
running water.
“I’m out here, but I’m never alone,” he says. “There are people who give food, give of their time, and at the end of the day, it’s not about me. I want to make sure that whatever I do in my life, I do something that’s a service to others. It makes me want to pay it forward.”
Bennett is 6 feet, 5 inches, slender and a former scholarship cross-country athlete. He easily hikes 25 miles or so a day.
Bennett’s mom, Kelly, says, “I’ve learned not to worry about him. He’s sensible, and he calls every few days. Even so, I pray over him constantly.”
Meanwhile, Bennett says, “There are
Oak Island Recreation Center.
TIPS FOR HIKERS
• Trail shoes last about 500 miles. Luke’s dad ships replacements for pickup at post offices.
• The Appalachian Trail has privies. But out here [on the PCT], not really. “You dig a hole, 6 inches deep.”
• Luke carries a debit card, ID and proof of health insurance “in case I ever need to go to Urgent Care.”
• He carries lightweight, nutritious food. A delicacy is a Butterfinger and peanut butter wrapped in a tortilla.
challenges to being in the woods every day. But it’s glamorous, too. A life-long dream. I try not to take for granted that I’ve been able to do these incredible things.”
After finishing the PCT, Bennett headed home to Oak Island to see family and indulge his food fantasies of crab cakes, shrimp, fries and beer at Provision Company in Southport.
He then landed a job with the NCWF as their conservation coordinator based in Asheville. He encourages everyone to learn more about NCWF and their work throughout the state at ncwf.org.
Weaved Wildly WITH Love
Barbara Donahue, owner of the beloved Blue Crab Blue in Southport, celebrates 25 years in business.
Blue Crab Blue on Long Beach Road in Southport is more than a gift shop.
Open for 25 years and weaved wildly with the love of owner Barbara Donahue, it is an experience carved deep into its customers’ memories.
Two sisters recently made a special trip to the shop all the way from Winter Park, Florida, just to relive all their treasured memories of shopping there with their mom. They had called the store
ahead of time and made the drive to honor their mother’s recent passing, purchasing some pieces they knew she would have loved.
Donahue is the creative mastermind behind the beloved gift shop. Her 25 years of success, she says, are due in part to the trove of more than 100 artisans she wholeheartedly supports. From potters and crafters to gemologists and metalsmiths, Donahue is loyal to her artists and is constantly searching for new collaborations.
BY RUBY CLINE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT MCGRAW
“I’m extremely particular with what I buy,” Donahue says. “I support my artists and truly care about them and value them.”
Her keen eye for the unique and unusual and her dedication to finding new pieces keep her customers coming back again and again to explore her outstanding collection.
When Donahue, a Pennsylvania native, first came to southeastern North Carolina in the late ’90s to care for her aging parents, she had a degree in geology and had worked with environmental and cultural resource conservation. She was not sure how her job skills would transfer to gift shop ownership. Instead of triaging sites to determine if they are salvageable and helping with excavations,
I support my artists and truly care about them and value them.
she began scouring the area for the most mysterious and eccentric goods to add to her ever-expanding collection.
“Now, I help support so many artisans I can never retire,” Donahue says with a laugh.
The artwork at Blue Crab Blue is not on consignment. Donahue’s artists create specifically for her, and she buys everything outright, allowing them to continue creating rather than waiting on a payday. Not only that, she is also a road warrior collector. She drives to pick up everything she
can — locally, all around the state and in South Carolina.
“I try to get things that are special, local and U.S.-made,” she says.
While Donahue is well aware of the plethora of goods offered at far cheaper prices that she could easily mark up, she’s adamant about supporting artists and their livelihoods.
Some of the newest items in the shop are the most stunning Live Oak Legacy bowls and Bradford pear tree bowls, made locally by an Oak Islander. Donahue seeks out
artists who work with recycled materials, and there is no more gorgeous way to honor one of these amazing trees and, indeed, keep their legacy alive.
A wall of intricately designed metal sea creatures usher you in the gallery, greeting you with a Welcome to the Beach sign. From that vantage point, you will find beautiful stainedglass pieces, mermaids of all sizes and mediums, incredible beach and sand creations, sea glass art and wood carvings as well as books to go along with it all.
Operating with the same attention to detail and priority on customer service for 25 years... she is
the true gem behind the business.
The next room boasts a kids’ corner with fun books, stuffed animals and activity kits; ornate wind chimes and garden signs; and exceptionally designed pottery featuring dragonflies, sea turtles and other sea notes and local life forms and gorgeously glazed mugs, dishes, plates, trinket bowls and more.
There is also a room with artistic recycled glass pieces local to North Carolina, including Oak Island glassware, plus an assortment of animal and coastal-themed puzzles. Ornament collectors will find sand ornaments to commemorate their visit or symbolize their local surroundings. In the hall are countless cool specimens like septarian nodule dragon eggs from ancient sea beds in Utah, artwork made with real copper
from the Copper Hill mine in North Carolina and an incredibly realistic recast of a dinosaur skull. In this room Donahue shows off her vast assortment of minerals, including stunning bumblebee jasper, which gets its amazing yellow color from sulfur and decomposition, plus moonstone, shungite, moldavite and adventurine, which brings comfort and soothing
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING BLUE?
Blue Crab Blue 4310 Long Beach Rd SE, Southport m (910) 454-8888
energy — the same vibes as her store.
“I like to carry the strange and unusual,” Donahue says, which includes many items from the metaphysical realm. She works with an in-state artist who creates metaphysical healing wands.
The back room houses Blue Crab Blue’s bling. Donahue stocks the most gorgeous jewelry, each piece handmade and one of a kind. A girl could lose all track of time looking at the pieces — rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and pendants, some featuring the most beautiful blue opals as well as onyx with inlaid opal. The shimmery Ethiopian opal pieces are heavenly, as are the larimar pieces.
“I was the first person to bring true larimar to the East Coast when it first became available,” Donahue says. “It
was roughly two years after I opened the shop, and it’s been a big seller ever since.”
Next to the stunning white buffalo turquoise and unmistakable orange spiny oyster shell jewelry, the butterfly pieces immediately stand out, most notably the Helena butterfly pendant. Though it is not sourced locally, Donahue works very closely with a special conservation project in the Amazon, where all proceeds go back to fund the repopulation of the butterflies.
Whether you are looking for a gift or something for yourself, Donahue makes it easy by carrying something for everyone at affordable prices. To sweeten
the deal, everything is packaged and ready for giving or travel. She crafts every handmade jewelry bag herself.
Operating with the same attention to detail and priority on customer service for 25 years, Donahue has curated the most distinctive assortment of goods, but she is the true gem behind the business.
FIVE-STAR EXPERIENCES
At Dosher Memorial Hospital, that is exactly what you can expect. As one of only eight hospitals in North Carolina to earn a 5-star rating for patient experience from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, we know that care is about more than the high quality, high tech services we provide. It’s also about making patients feel valued, respected and supported from the moment they walk through our doors.
We are your community hospital, and we will always work to provide you with extraordinary care, close to home.
Choose Dosher. We Welcome Your Visit.
Deep Roots
Brunswick County native and lifelong resident Gwen Clemmons Causey has devoted the last 40 years to preserving Brunswick County’s past for generations to come.
BY RANDI JO ROOKS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASEY LAUREN TOWNSEND
EEvery family and every county should have a story keeper like Gwen Clemmons Causey in their mix, someone working diligently to preserve, protect and honor the history around them.
Calling herself a Brunswick County “original native,” 83-year-old Causey can trace her lineage on both her mother’s and father’s sides back to even before Brunswick County originated in 1764. Glancing at the huge oak and pecan trees across the acreage of the Clemmons family homestead in Supply, as I listened to Causey share some of her family’s stories and heritage, I kept thinking about what a special blessing it is to have such deep roots in a place.
With so many Brunswick County residents being newly transplanted to the area, a historian like Causey is a gift to help others appreciate the place they now call home. Working voluntarily for the last four decades, she has done extensive and meticulous research for the Brunswick County Historical Society and has compiled a genealogy file of more than 48,000 names. If you have been here any length of time you are already familiar with some of Brunswick County’s original
families: the Clemmons, Lancasters, Holdens, Hewetts, Sellers and Simmons, all of whom are kin to Causey.
I appreciated her helping me step back in time and imagine what life was like for her growing up in Brunswick County. I felt like a little girl again, sitting at my grandmother’s feet as she reminisced about a simpler way of life, untouched land, dirt roads and abundant wildlife. I could picture Causey as a young teenager taking care of her baby sister and helping her mother cook, clean and fill up the clothesline. Family was central to everything back then, from Sunday dinners to daily chores and working side by side in the grueling summer sun to harvest tobacco.
Family stories and appreciating the past have always been important to Causey, but she credits America’s Bicentennial and her grandmother’s passion for history for energizing her to get to work. She started by working with her mother to take inventory of every cemetery in Brunswick County (outside of Southport since those were already accounted for).
“Daddy worked for the county, and I remember him laying out this big map and we would split it into little sections,” she says. “Every weekend we would load up the kids and take off in Daddy’s little red pickup truck to see what we could find. After three years, we had eventually gone down every single road in the county and recorded every grave we found.”
Causey found more than 400 cemeteries and some important historical and genealogical information. Around that time, she became a member of the Brunswick County Historical Society, of which she is now the vice president. Since achieving Brunswick County Teacher of the Year and retiring after 31 years of service to Brunswick County Schools, she has been able to devote more time to preserving history. Her efforts also provide her opportunities to
Clockwise from top left, a portrait of Causey’s husband, who served in the Air Force; a Clemmons family portrait; keys to Causey’s greatgrandfather’s store; a portrait of Causey’s maternal grandmother; Causey and her sister Elaine Wright reviewing history; Causey’s Spirit of 1812 Award.
continue to educate others, whether it is teaching family members about their roots or sharing as a guest speaker for the Brunswick County Historical Society and other interest groups. Her presentation on “Bear Stories of the Green Swamp” is one of her most requested topics.
Among other honors, Causey was awarded a Lifetime of Leadership Preservation Award from the Historic Wilmington Foundation and the Spirit of 1812 Award from the Daughters of 1812. She has served as president of the Friends of Brunswick Town and state president of the United States Daughters of 1812. She assisted in organizing the Fort Caswell Rifle Range, founded in 2011, whose efforts preserved the World War I era rifle pit set up for training soldiers preparing to be sent overseas. Adjacent to Fort Caswell, that pit is now marked as a historical site with information about the locals who served in World War I, including Causey’s grandfather. In addition, she was a leader for the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812, which was highly attended at Fort Johnson in Southport.
“
Preserving history is an obligation that I have to the future generations … to see that their family history is preserved for them and to teach them respect for people and for their property.
“It really is very rewarding to honor the past by protecting and preserving it for the present and future generations,” Causey says. “I am grateful when people take an interest in the history of our area. I encourage everybody to find out more about our area. Visit the Brunswick County Historical Society and Southport Historical Society websites and make sure to visit Brunswick Town.”
Another favorite work she has put together is, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” a spiral-bound directory of each Brunswick County Baptist church with history, pictures and information about each church. She compiled this for the 100th anniversary of the Brunswick Baptist Association.
Perhaps most treasured of all her efforts, though, is the extensive work she continues to do for her family, which includes her two sons and granddaughter (her husband, Buster Causey, passed away in 2008). She started creating binders for each of her 12 Clemmons siblings in her grandmother’s generation. She gathers pictures and genealogical information and in a labor of love, meticulously scrolls through old newspaper articles looking for any family news and records.
It is fascinating to flip through the collections and see what used to make the newspaper. For example: “Ms. Gwen Clemmons
returned to campus at Campbell College for her second year.” And another, “Mr. and Mrs. R.W. McKeithan are visiting relatives in Wilmington this week.” Here is one about Causey’s grandparents that touched her heart when she stumbled upon it in the archives: “Not being content with a single life, Mr. John Lancaster and Miss Berlin Sellers bade their Sunday School mates goodbye at the church last Sunday and drove speedily away to J.W. Lancaster where they requested him to unite them in matrimony, which he cheerily did. We wish for the couple a happy and prosperous life. “
DIG DEEPER
Did you know General George Washington’s aide-de-camp was from right here in Brunswick County?
To find out more about this and other interesting tidbits about local history, visit the Brunswick County Historical Society and Southport Historical Society websites:
Brunswick County Historical Society meets quarterly, on the second Monday of February, May, August and November at 7:30 pm at Brunswick Electric Membership Corp., 795 Ocean Highway W. in Supply. Annual dues are $15
Local newspaper archives are full of treasures and a peek into what feels like a completely different world. Causey is a thorough researcher and has spent countless hours in the
archives as she works on her various projects.
“Having these stories down on paper really builds connection between members of my extended family,” she says. “It makes a connection to my ancestors and encourages me to see … what life was like for my ancestors. The community store they ran. How hard they worked. How the church was central to their lives. The farms. The rhythm of life and all those Sunday dinners and family memories. It really gives you an appreciation of what those who have gone before us endured. Where and how they lived. Why they made the choices they did. And how it shaped the family’s future.”
After finishing the 12 binders for the 12 Clemmons siblings, Causey moved on to the other sides of her family and also started making binders for each of the annual reunions. She helps host three reunions every year for three of her family lines. To date, she has finished 50 binders, each a treasure for that particular branch.
“Preserving history is an obligation that I have to the future generations … to see that their family history is preserved for them and to teach them respect for people and for their property. It’s my honor to protect and preserve,” Causey says.
As Brunswick County continues to be one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, Causey, a lifelong Brunswick County native, hopes to encourage new residents to appreciate the soil they are just beginning to plant their roots in. And she has inspired me to make sure I keep slowing down enough to listen to elderly family members and be a history keeper too, recording stories from my tree to pass on to the next generations.
Gwen Clemmons Causey (right) and her sister Elaine Wright at the Clemmons Homeplace in Supply.
A Different Kind of Klassy
Heather Dye, owner of Klassy Konsignment, runs her business with a lifelong connection to Southport.
BY BETH A. KLAHRE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA TORREY
HHeather Dye, owner of Klassy Konsignment in Southport, came to Southport from Huntington, West Virginia, when she was one year old. Her father, a radiologist, took a higher-paying job with Brown & Root to help build the CP&L (Carolina Power and Light) nuclear power plant.
The family’s first home was in a trailer park on Highway 133 with many other families who came for the same job. The town has certainly changed over the years. Dye’s grandfather constructed and managed a laundromat in the building where Mad River is located today.
“A lot has been added since it was just a cinder block building,” she says.
Dye recalls riding her bike around Southport, past the hardware store, stopping for ice cream at Lil and John’s and ending at the laundromat where she helped her grandfather count quarters. She rode a mini dirt bike around her house on Fodale Avenue, built forts and played stick guns. Many an afternoon was spent smushing flies in the pages of her school books with a fifth grade classmate who she eventually married and had a son.
Her fourth grade teacher lived just across the chain link fence between properties.
“She was a direct line to my mom. Mom knew what I was up to before I knew what I was doing,” she says with a laugh.
In later years, Dye spent lots of time in Old Yacht Basin on her parents’ boat named Why Don’t We. “I would go there and cast for hours,” she says.
Growing up without much money meant shopping for clothes in a consignment shop in Wilmington. “It always intrigued me,” she says. “And I knew someday I wanted to run a shop like that.”
In fifth grade her parents divorced, and Dye moved to Kernersville, North Carolina. Here she experienced the dichotomy of the ballet, NASCAR and semi-pro ice hockey, but she returned to her roots every summer at her grandparents’ Oak Island beach house.
Dye had many jobs before her dream of owning a consignment shop became a reality. Her very first job was at Hardees.
Above, Heather Dye as a little girl in Southport with her grandfather at his laundromat (top).
“I was in the window, lasted three days,” she says, laughing. Back in Southport, she sold auto parts at the NAPA Auto Parts when it was in the spot that Cafe Koa occupies today. She also worked at the Howie Franklin Airport, now Cape Fear Regional Jetport. She pulled airplanes to the fuel dock, climbed the ladders and refueled the planes.
“She had great customer service skills. Everyone liked her. She was a delight and a pleasure to be around,” Howie Franklin says.
In 2003 Dye realized her dream despite raised eyebrows from family and friends. As a single parent, she took her divorce settlement and opened Klassy Konsignment where the Tiki Bar stands to day. Naming the shop was easy. A friend told Dye that she was not just “regular classy,” she was “Southern classy.” And quirky. “So the Cs became Ks,” explains Heather, holding the dollar bill signed by her very first customer, who still comes around on occasion to shop.
Seven years later, Dye relocated the shop to the spot where Southern Vibe Marketplace stands today. And two years after that she moved to her current location on Long Beach Road in Southport. This time she was able to design the space and select her own decor. In her store she offers a huge selection of mint-condition used designer women’s clothing, accessories, shoes and jewelry.
In 2010, when a friend suggested she round up a team to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Dye jumped at the chance to celebrate her mom, a breast cancer survivor. Not much money was raised, but the Klassy Divas team won the award for the most spirited team. The following year, the Klassy Divas held a fundraising fashion show with clothing from Klassy Konsignment, pulling in a local makeup artist, several beauticians, a chef and a DJ who hosted live and silent auctions. It was such a success that for the next eight years, the Klassy Divas held fashion shows with support from nearly every local business (gift certificates, dinners and vacations) and well-known masters of ceremonies. In all, the Klassy Divas raised more than $110,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Dye says running her own business has not always been easy.
It’s taken determination and guts. I have sat on the floor of the store and cried thinking ‘What have I done?’ “
WANT TO GO?
Klassy Konsignment
4105 Long Beach Road SE Southport m (910) 457-0402
E @klassykonsignment
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday,11 am to 3 pm
“It’s taken determination and guts,” she says. Recalling the hard times, she adds, “I have sat on the floor of the store and cried thinking ‘What have I done?’”
She slept in the shop with her three dogs for five nights after Hurricane Florence and then closed for eight weeks for repairs. She survived the closure of the Barbee Bridge and COVID. To keep busy on days with no customers, she roller skated inside her shop. “So I wouldn’t lose my mind,” she explains. “That was rough.”
Dye credits her success to God’s grace; her son, Tyler, who she calls her “one contant in life;” her friends who gave her
encouragement and guidance; and all her loyal customers.
“I appreciate every single one of them,” she says. Dye’s mom passed from cancer in 2020. “Mom was my biggest cheerleader. I think she would be proud,” she concludes.
The Klassy Divas at Relay for Life events in 2017 (top), 2015 (middle) and 2016.
GARLAND’S FRESH SEAFOOD, aka HONEY’S PLACE , has been South Brunswick County’s go-to for fresh shrimp and fish since Wesley Garland “Honey” Varnam founded it in 1954.
70 OF Seafood
BY RUBY CLINE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASEY LAUREN TOWNSEND
ello, honey, we’ve got impressive news. In October 2024 Garland’s Fresh Seafood celebrated an epic milestone: 70 years in the seafood business. That’s 70 years of success with zero advertising, 70 years of some of the best customer service around and 70 years with the sole source of business being word of mouth. That’s a lot of people talking. The success of the business continues thanks to several generations of loyal customers.
The late Wesley Garland “Honey” Varnam, a Brunswick County native and son of a lighthouse keeper, founded Garland’s Fresh Seafood, which he always called Honey's Place. Garland spent his early years growing up along the East Coast, in accordance to his father’s stationing. In his early teen years, the family moved to North Carolina when his father was stationed at Bald Head Island. While his dad kept watch at Old Baldy, Garland would spend his summers playing around on the island. During the school year, he rowed himself and siblings to Southport and back to attend school.
Garland’s son, Nicky Varnam, and his wife, Jackie, took over the business in 1984, a year before Garland’s passing, and have run it now for more than 40 years.
Garland met his wife, Beatrice Holden Varnam, and the mother of his four children, Barbara, Ronald, Donald and Nicky, in 1941. For work he was something of a jack-of-all-trades. He tried tobacco farming, then worked as a welder with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers building Liberty Ships.
After WWII, Garland opened a grocery store in Varnamtown. A few years after opening the store, he closed it and decided to sell seafood instead. After purchasing land from his cousin
on the Lockwood Folly River, he was ready to try his hand at the seafood business. Unfortunately, shortly after he opened in 1954, Hurricane Hazel came through with a vengeance, and the business was quickly destroyed.
After Mother Nature wiped out his dream, Garland went to work at Sunny Point Army Depot as a stevedore. As the months went by, he just could not let go of the idea of his seafood business and knew he had to get back to it. Soon after, Garland brought his
glowing vision back to life, working tirelessly to rebuild his seafood business, and his children, grandchildren and other family members have helped run it over the years.
Garland carried over his welding skills from Wilmington to the fish house, welding battered and beaten shrimp boats for commercial fishermen after hours. He was never one to complain or quit working. The business gave him such fulfillment
that he had no set work hours and he rarely was off the clock.
When you first enter the door of Garland’s Fresh Seafood, you notice the wood plank flooring, red brick counters and artwork and paintings scattered about. This art collection is the work of Garland himself. He absolutely loved painting pictures of shrimp boats and shrimp, and no medium was off limits. He would paint on a piece of wood, a shell, the wall or just a regular piece of paper when he had it. Pieces of his art can be seen on the outside of the fish house as well as on the inside.
If you feel a sense of déjà vu when you’re here, know
from around
Right: The wedding photo of Garland Varnam and his wife, Beatrice Holden Varnam, used in the movie Safe Haven
Scenes
Garland’s Fresh Seafood along the Lockwood Folly River in Varnamtown.
that multiple pieces of Garland’s artwork as well as an assortment of other items from the fish house were used as props in 2013 Nicholas Sparks movie Safe Haven, which was filmed in Southport. Garland's picnic tables by the water also made an appearance in the 2021 movie Breakwater.
Garland was a people person with a great personality and he certainly never met a stranger. He loved taking
care of each customer as they came in.
During the 30 years he was manning the fish house, he would greet each and every customer with, “Hello, honey,” so much so that today Garland’s Seafood is often referred to as “Honey’s Place.”
After battling cancer, Garland passed away in 1985. A year before his passing, his son, Nicky Varnam, and his wife, Jackie, took over the
business and have been working incredibly hard to bring the community fresh, local seafood for the last four decades. The second and third generations of Varnams continue to stand by Garland’s mission, “to have the freshest, locally caught seafood available and ensure that boats come in daily or two times a week with the freshest offerings,” says Chandee Varnam,
granddaughter of Garland and daughter of Nicky and Jackie.
“We’re known for our hard work and quality product,” adds Dana Varnam, daughter of Nicky and Jackie, who is also involved at the market. Other family members providing a warm welcome here include Nicky and Jackie's grandchildren, Wesley Champion, Holden Champion, Garland Gonzalez and stepgranddaughter Elizabeth Gonzalez. And one day, likely the newest generation, little miss Oakley Champion, will do the same.
While getting some of the area’s finest seafood, customers find enjoyment in experiencing the setting and the view and eating at Garland’s. Situated at the end of Fisherman
Road and Ebbtide Lane, they’ve got a big covered outdoor area with picnic tables overlooking the marsh and Lockwood Folly River, a much-loved setting that has been a staple at Garland’s since 1964. While getting their fresh catch seafood, “local and visiting customers enjoy watching the unloading of the shrimp boats as well as watching the heading of the shrimp,” Chandee adds.
People feel at home here, and Garland would very much approve. He always had a way of making each customer feel as if they were family, and that’s a big part of what has kept them coming back all these years.
The next time you’re in the Holden Beach area craving fresh seafood and looking for service with a smile and a
friendly atmosphere, look for the salmon-colored fish house that is Garland’s Fresh Seafood in Varnamtown. With a passion for customer service and offering the freshest products around, Garland’s successful legacy carries on with the next generations.
WANT TO GO?
2 Fisherman Road, Varnamtown m (910) 842-6492
Garland’s Fresh Seafood
Artwork depicting shrimp boats and life around the seafood house at Garland's. Brian Varnam painted the painting of Nicky Varnam fixing a net.
A School for Everyone
The G.I.F.T. School in Southport provides a fun and inclusive environment for young children.
BY JO ANN MATHEWS PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE D PHOTOGRAPHY
AAmy Condon, executive director of The G.I.F.T. School, says not all preschools are able to meet the needs of children with different learning abilities. As an occupational therapist for 28 years, she has observed how difficult it is for some families to have educational needs met, specifically in Brunswick County. In September 2024 Condon opened The G.I.F.T. School and Education Center of Brunswick County in Southport to provide an integrated learning environment for the community.
Kristin Olivieri works with a student at The G.I.F.T. School.
“G.I.F.T stands for Gifted, Intelligent, Free Thinkers,” Condon says. “Our tagline is ‘Where all children are able.’ We believe every child is able to learn, play and communicate. My vision for education includes children of all abilities developing skills with hands-on learning, play and no false developmental guidelines.”
Condon chose to offer two classes at her private nonprofit school and limits the class size to 10. One class is for 2 year olds who meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to noon at a cost of $200 a month. The other class is for 3 to 5 year olds who meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 1 pm for $300 per month. The school plans to offer kindergarten in September 2025 and will increase preschool to five days.
“Fifty percent of our children have different learning needs,” Condon says. “Every school system is short-handed for special needs instruction. If we can give 10 families per class some peace, support and hope, we’re doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing.”
Condon is quick to add that not every child in The G.I.F.T. School has special needs, but she believes all children can work together and learn from each other.
“At this time, only half the students have special needs,” she says. “We are completely integrated. We have children of all different levels, but they are all equal.”
Condon explains that unlike public schools, a child’s behavioral, occupational, speech or other therapy is allowed to accompany the child in the classroom.
“A medically fragile child may need a nurse, and that nurse can be with the child during the class,” she says.
Children are not required to be potty trained. All functional goals are developed with the teachers and families with the individual child in mind. The schedule is set up to meet the children’s needs from the time they enter the classroom.
The G.I.F.T. School Founder and Executive Director
and Educator
The children’s day starts with quiet play and tabletop activities, such as puzzles and sensory play. They have “circle time” where they discuss topics important to them, like family and their upcoming events. The school’s theme in January was arctic animals, so all classes learned about cold weather, animals and geography. The theme in February was about the farm, which included a visit from Zen Hooves petting zoo. Snack time, stories and free play both inside and out are also part of the students’ daily activities.
“Two-year-olds are exploratory in their play so offering a variety of sensory activities is important to them,” Condon says. “The three-and five-year-olds are more creative and like to pretend and have interactive play.”
Both the indoor and outdoor play spaces offer a variety of gross and fine motor play and sensory experiences. Condon has personal experience with children who have
different learning styles. She homeschooled her own children due to difficulties accessing curriculum in public schools.
“When I saw my own children struggling in school, it
Amy Condon (left)
Kirstin Olivieri
made me more compassionate and aware of children’s needs,” she says.
That led her to research and find the best teachers for The G.I.F.T. School’s mission and vision.
Kristin Olivieri has more than 30 years of experience working with individuals with special needs and teaches the 3 to 5 year-olds. “She is outstanding,” Condon says. “We are really a team. I had a vision, and she jumped on board with all her experience and expertise.”
Meeting students’ needs is a major goal.
“Kristin is aware of how each student learns and adjusts activities to meet those needs,” Condon says. “She communicates well with parents and therapists to improve student outcomes. She goes above and beyond what is expected.”
Erin Broadwell teaches the 2 year olds.
“She has Montessori experience, which allows children to learn through hands-on work,” Condon says. “She brings creativity and patience, both of
LEARN MORE
The G.I.F.T. School Executive Director Amy Condon
4928 Southport-Supply Road, Southport
K thegiftschoolofbroco.com info@giftschool.org
which are required in abundance for 2 year olds.”
Condon adds that her biggest challenge is having the community learn about her school.
“I want them to know about our vision and what we want to do and what programs we offer,” she says. More than that, “I want children in Brunswick County to have the opportunity to fully develop into who they are created to be.”
Safety First
Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris is passionate about protecting and serving the residents and visitors of Oak Island.
BY DAVID PUTNAM | PHOTOGRAPHY BRENDA TORREY
KKeeping Oak Island safe is a priority that Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris takes very seriously. I recently sat down with him for over an hour as he shared from his heart what it is like to oversee a department responsible for keeping the island’s residents and visitors safe. The man I found was very kind, respectful and dedicated in his determination to protect and serve.
Chief Morris supervises 27 officers and two administrative staff along with several part-time reserve officers, volunteers and a Summer Beach Services Unit of up to 11 members. The
Oak Island Police Department (OKIPD) currently has several vacant positions, and recruitment is a constant challenge for law enforcement here as it is nationwide, but Chief Morris is very appreciative to the town council and manager for their consistent support and competitive compensation.
Morris spent much of his life near his Burke County hometown of Morganton, North Carolina, where he completed basic law enforcement training at Western Piedmont Community College and his undergraduate studies at Lees-McCrae College in Banner Elk. He later
“
I am very proud of the officers and staff and their daily commitment to treating everyone with the utmost respect and professionalism.
earned a graduate degree in justice administration from Methodist University. He attended the FBI National Academy in 2004 and regards that experience as one of the highlights of his training. He also received criminal investigative training from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation’s Special Agent Academy, enabling him to serve with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) as both a special agent and a supervising special agent before retiring in 2019.
Morris began his career in law enforcement at the age of 22 and has spent 32 years working in a variety of roles within
the profession. Seventeen of those years were spent serving local municipalities, and 14 were with state law enforcement agencies. He has served as a detention officer, a patrol deputy, a narcotics officer and an investigations supervisor. He has also worked for the SBI and later as a deputy chief of police, a position he left three years ago to become the police chief at Oak Island.
When I asked Chief Morris what led him to Oak Island, he was quick to mention that it is a very special community due to its many endearing qualities such as a low crime rate, a
Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris around town, clockwise from top left: with his wife, Tracy, at a community event at Oak Island Pier; with a teenager at a police-sponsored event called Chop with a Cop; with staff from the police department and members of First Baptist Church for a Thanksgiving food drive; with seniors at the Oak Island Community Center.
mild climate, minimal commercialization and a familyfriendly environment where most people know each other.
Despite his many achievements over a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, Chief Morris believes that investing in his family is more important than any accomplishment. His wife, Tracy, a registered nurse, is employed by the State of North Carolina as a nurse consultant/surveyor. Married for 27 years, they have one daughter, Serena, who lives in Raleigh. Morris’ parents, half-brother and sister still reside in western North Carolina.
In addition to spending free time with family, which is his favorite activity, Morris enjoys pickleball, fishing and the outdoors. Few people know of his love for dirt bikes and street bikes, and even fewer might be aware that he once raced outboard motorboats. Inspired by his grandmother’s love for 4H, he has also been an active participant in that organization.
Morris says that one of the challenges of policing Oak Island is the widely varying population swell, from 10,000 in the off season to more than 50,000 per week in the summer. Compounding that challenge, he notes, is that the tourist season has grown past the traditional window of Memorial Day to Labor Day and now extends from March through December, with January and February being the only two off-season months. Consequently, he must lead his officers “to find a balance between policing a small-town coastal community and a medium-to-large tourist destination.”
constant challenge. One of the best ways he says citizens can assist local law enforcement is by staying informed. Morris wants people to know that they are always welcome to call if they have questions.
While law enforcement can be an exhausting and challenging profession, Morris says that he has found Oak Island to have a low crime rate, almost devoid of violent crime. Law enforcement here, he says, embodies an entirely different style from his earlier experiences working narcotics and homicide investigations in urban, high-crime environments.
“Those are two very different dynamics,” he says, but is quick to applaud his officers for their flexibility in adapting to the community’s seasonal needs.
“Oak Island has become a town that welcomes people from all over the country and even the world on a daily basis,” Morris says.
And that diversity makes communication a priority and a
“It is an honor and a great privilege to serve the community as police chief,” he says. “I am very proud of the officers and staff and their daily commitment to treating everyone with the utmost respect and professionalism.”
The Oak Island Police Department embraces community policing, which heavily emphasizes a strong relationship with those they serve, so they are always seeking out events or activities where they can connect with people. As a result, citizens will often see them in attendance and building bridges with the community at most local gatherings.
A man of humility and quiet strength, Chief Morris is quick to give any credit for his success to his officers and staff, but he especially wants to acknowledge Tracy.
“She has been with me through my entire career and supported ne through all the job changes,” he says. “I wouldn’t be here except for her; she loves this area and encouraged me to pursue this job.”
Oak Island owes a debt of gratitude to Chief Charlie Morris whose passion for the safety and well-being of the community, love for family and respect for the officers of the Oak Island Police Department are unmatched. His commitment to welcome and serve both residents and visitors is to be admired.
Southport Realty, Inc. Business
BY MICHELLE MACKEN
Southport’s historic charm, stunning coastal scenery and tight-knit community make it one of the most desirable places to live and work, and Southport Realty loves helping others discover all that this beautiful area has to offer.
Founded in 2001, Southport Realty has become a cornerstone of the coastal North Carolina real estate market. A full-service brokerage, they offer residential sales, commercial real estate, property management, vacation rentals, longterm rentals and relocation services.
With deep roots in Southport, Oak Island, Boiling Spring Lakes and the surrounding communities, the real estate firm has built a reputation for its exceptional service, market expertise, commitment to client success and strong community ties. Over the years, they have helped thousands of families and businesses find their perfect home or investment property, all while maintaining a strong local presence.
It all comes down to its simple core mission: Real Estate with a Personal Touch.
“Helping people find a place to call home isn’t just a job — it’s our passion,” says Broker-inCharge Myles Williams. “There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a client’s face light up when they find ‘the one.’”
The team at Southport Realty believes in going beyond transactions to build relationships with their clients. Whether buying, selling or investing, their goal is to provide expert guidance with integrity, professionalism and a deep appreciation for the community and its members.
More than just a group of real estate professionals, the team is like a family, and they extend that same warm welcome to their clients.
“We prioritize collaboration, knowledge-sharing and a clientfirst approach in everything we do,” Williams says. “Our agents are passionate about Southport and Brunswick County, and we bring that enthusiasm to every client interaction. We believe in fostering a culture of honesty, dedication and continuous learning, ensuring that each client receives top-tier service.”
Quick Tips from Southport Realty
For Buyers: Get pre-approved before starting your search, and do not be afraid to ask questions.
For Sellers: First impressions matter. Staging and curb appeal can make a huge difference.
For Investors: Southport is a growing market with excellent opportunities. Let’s find the right property for your goals!
Southport Realty is also deeply committed to giving back to the community. They actively participate in local events, support nonprofits and sponsor initiatives that enhance the quality of life for residents. The team is involved in chamber of commerce activities, charity fundraisers and local housing initiatives to ensure that Southport continues to thrive.
“Southport is more than just a place to do business, it’s a community that we care deeply about,” Williams says. “We’re honored to play a role in helping it grow while preserving its unique charm.”
Whether you are buying, selling, renting or investing, if you are looking for a trusted partner in your Southport real estate journey, Southport Realty will provide expert guidance with a local touch.
Southport Realty, Inc. 727 N. Howe Street, Southport (910) 457-7676 southport-realty.com
Business Networking After Hours
February 6 at Made New Interiors and Decor
Members of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce gathered on February 6 at Made New Interiors and Decor in Southport for a Business Networking After Hours sponsored by Coastal Painting & Improvements.
Carl Ward, Billy Coleman (back), Debbie Ward, Donna Coleman
Carysa Overcash & Steve Lewis
Michel Hunt & Julia Arnold
Joann Kimball & Amy Kormanek
Melissa Goff, Reggie & Jessica Fuller
Katherine Wooten, Jack Hamilton, Jordan Carter, Blakely Huntley, Jeremy Hinson, Dana Hamilton
Lucinda Arnold, Julie Popichak, Dina Carden, Jen Cooke
Gisella Brosche, Cynthia Marino, Fabina Santucci
Brandon & Nicole Harding, Karen Collins
Southport Black History Symposium
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZEB STARNES
Held from February 7 to 9, the Southport Black History Symposium was a three-day event presented by the Brunswick County Black History Symposium Committee, Brunswick Arts Council, North Carolina Arts Council and Southport Historical
Society. The event included Gospel Fest, held on February 9.
A highlight of the symposium was Tyanna Parker-West portraying Celia Lee Galloway, a private and the first Black woman in the Buffalo Soldiers colored troops.
2025 Coastal Consumer Showcase
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZEB STARNES
The 2025 Coastal Consumer Showcase was a resounding success, drawing an estimated 350 attendees to the annual event held at the St. James Homer E. Wright Event Center. With
representatives from 66 local businesses present, residents and visitors of the Southport-Oak Island area had the opportunity to learn about a wide range of products and services.
Attendees were encouraged to participate in the Pick-A-Prize Auction for a chance to win $100 in cash and various prizes. Colleen Parker of Oak Island emerged as the lucky winner of the $100 prize.
“Another successful event with tons of attendees and great interaction with the exhibitors. We look forward to next year!” said Will Mitchell, chair of the Chamber’s 2025 Coastal Consumer Showcase Committee.
The Coastal Consumer Showcase is organized by the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce and is sponsored by Dosher Memorial Hospital, Grey Outdoor, LLC, Fulford Heating & Cooling, Novant Health, The State Port Pilot, Southport Magazine and SPT OKI Magazine
Visit coastalconsumershow.com or call (910) 457-6964 for more information about the 2026 Coastal Consumer Showcase.
Oak Island Sled Fest
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA TORREY
Carrie Weston Lenzen organized the inaugural Oak Island Sled Fest, inviting the community to gather at the 46th St Beach Access on Oak Island for a unique snow sledding event. Held on January 22 from 11 am to 1 pm, the event attracted a lively crowd. The beach access was perfectly steep, and the track was just icy enough to provide a thrilling ride with a challenging finish. Despite a few close calls, no one ended up in the ocean. The short and easy walk back up the hill allowed for multiple runs, maximizing the fun. Attendees brought a variety of sliding gear, including boogie boards, sleds and storage bin tops. The first Oak Island Sled Fest was a resounding success, offering many the rare adventure of sledding on the beach.
Oak Island’s Annual Polar Plunge
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA TORREY
Burrrrr!
How cold was it? The water temperature on New Year’s Day in Oak Island was close to a very chilly 60 degrees.
On January 1, 2025, residents and visitors participated in the exhilarating Oak Island Polar Plunge at noon, continuing a day of tradition and unity.
The Oak Island Polar Plunge has become a thrilling tradition for those seeking an unforgettable start to the year. Brave individuals of all ages gathered at 64th Street Beach, dressed in colorful attire, ready to plunge into the refreshing Atlantic Ocean. The atmosphere buzzed
with anticipation and camaraderie as participants embraced the icy waters, kicking off the year with a sense of adventure.
The Polar Plunge was not just a test of resilience; it was a joyous celebration of the human spirit and a symbol of fearlessness. Whether it was the thrill of the chilly waters or the laughter shared among friends, the event embodied the spirit of seizing the moment.
New Year’s Day Lantern Parade
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA TORREY
The third Oak Island unofficial Beach Lantern Parade took place as a delightful community gathering on New Year’s Day. The lantern parade is a gathering at dusk where attendees display decorative paper lanterns lit by battery-operated lights (no open flames allowed). Participants meet and organize at the beach near the Oak Island Pier. As darkness falls, the group walks east from the pier to just past the McGlamery Street access and back. This area of the island offers plenty of beach for the walk.
Before the event, attendees had time to research how to make a paper lantern or purchase a pre-made one. Many added a bamboo stick or something similar to carry it and included lights inside to illuminate it. Participants were encouraged to wear dark clothing so their lanterns would stand out.
Oak Island was lit up with community spirit, welcoming 2025 with family fun!
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