Topsail Magazine Spring 2022

SPRING 2022

|

COMPLIMENTARY

HISTORIC FRYING PAN SHOALS LIGHT STATION IS IN NEED OF A

SEA SUPPORT of

THE SK ATE BARN

|

RE AL ESTATE RECAP

|

THE SE ARCH FOR BURIED TRE ASURE

New Name.

New Look.

New Remarkable.

New Hanover Regional Medical is now Novant Health. And you can expect a lot more than a new name.

New life-saving technologies, new locations for care, new physician specialists, and new ways to make our community healthier. Not just a new name, a new remarkable.

Novant Health. Expect Remarkable.

Learn more at NovantHealth.org/NHRMC.

Is Now

SERVING THE TOPSAIL ISLAND AREA

SANDY LEDBETTER 910-520-8683

STEVE SMITH 910-471-9889

PAUL FORNWALD 910-465-3109

ASHLEY RIGLEY 910-548-9757

LISA BRITT, BIC 910-200-4941

POWERED BY LEADING REAL ESTATE COMPANIES OF THE WORLD®

MAUREEN SIDBURY 757-270-2171

MARIAN GREEN 919-244-0931

LAUREN KNAPP 724-822-0605

MICHAEL FLUHARTY 240-500-4521

VICTOR MORGAN 410-271-5928

AMY BIBER 910-409-5088

MICHAEL BENTON 910-616-4598

B.J. KNOX 704-564-2991

At Intracoastal Realty, we have a high concentration of our market’s top performing agents whose local knowledge is unmatched.

We are excited to serve all of your real estate needs from our Topsail Island location!

Contact one of our island experts today!

1 0 4 T R I T O N L A N E | S U R F C I T Y, N C 2 8 4 4 5 | 9 1 0 - 3 2 8 - 3 0 0 0 | T O P S A I L . I N T R A C O A S T A L R E A L T Y. C O M

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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SPRING 2022

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VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2

32

COURTESY OF MISSILES AND MORE MUSEUM

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

PHOTO BY DARIA AMATO

26

71

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

IN EVERY ISSUE

26 EPICENTER OF THE SKATE SCENE

39 TOURISM

8

For more than 25 years The Skate Barn in Hampstead has been the go-to for skateboarders from near and far. By Annesophia Richards

32 TOPSAIL AREA 2021 REAL ESTATE RECAP

Take a look at the top home sales and builders in the Topsail area — including Sneads Ferry, Surf City, Holly Ridge, Topsail Beach, North Topsail Beach and Hampstead — from the last year. By Justin Williams

44 LIFE'S A PICNIC

49 LOCAL

Dave Longo shares the story behind the business he and his wife, Kara Longo, started in 2015 in Hampstead.

55 SPORTS

Howard Hess, known for bringing tennis to the Topsail area, is back at it with pickleball and the Belvedere Pickleball Center.

Picnic Haven and its founders LaRhea Burke and Cai Cee Murgo serve as a story of courage, community inspiration and the importance of relishing life’s special moments. By Kathryn

71 HISTORY

Green

77 PEOPLE

62 SAVING THE TREE HOUSE IN THE OCEAN

With a new nonprofit named FPTower Inc., the owner of Frying Pan Shoals Light Station seeks help with preserving the historic tower 32 miles offshore. By Melissa

Slaven Warren

4

RV travel is booming, and Topsailarea campgrounds are ready for the guests who are flocking to their facilities.

Topsail Magazine

Rumors of buried gold persist around Topsail Island, and the best documented story of a search for it occurred before World War II.

Meet the namesakes of the Earl G. & Inez Batts Recreation Complex in Surf City.

CONTRIBUTORS

10 PUBLISHER’S NOTE 12 TAGGED 17 SPIRITS

Spiked Raspberry Sweet Tea with Lemon

18 WHAT’S COOKIN’

Chicken Salad Stuffed Tomatoes

20 ONLINE EXCLUSIVES 23 WHAT’S HAPPENED 84 BUSINESS PROFILES 87 SNIPPETS 93 FACES & PLACES 94 NEED TO KNOW 96 TIDE CHART

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97 ADVERTISERS INDEX 98 CAPTURE THE MOMENT

Helping Your Family Smile For 25 Years zz

NEW STATEEOFFTHEEART FACILITY

VENEERS & SMILE MAKEOVERS

SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT

SURESMILE CLEAR ORTHO ALIGNERS

ZOOM WHITENING

IMPLANT SURGERY & RESTORATION

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About

Spring 2022 Issue — Volume 3, Issue 2 CEO/PUBLISHER: Justin Williams DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Sandi Grigg

Publishing Quarterly

COPY EDITOR: Molly Harrison

25,000 copies printed each issue

CONTRIBUTING GRAPHICS: Laura Glantz Paula Knorr Teresa Kramer Samantha Lowe Elizabeth Dale Niemann

14,000 copies directly mailed to area homes

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: George Jacob Brian Wilner Top sail

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Daria Amato Caroline Donovan Pat Fontana Laura Glantz Adam Hawley Rini Hermawan Vicky Oliver Shay Perna Bill Ritenour Eric Sills James Stefiuk Unique Media & Design Jeff Wenzel

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Kate M. Carey Ashley Daniels Pat Fontana Kathryn Green Sandi Grigg Michelle Macken Annesophia Richards Melissa Slaven Warren Justin Williams Brian Wilner Edward Wills

P TO

FOUNDER: B.J. Cothran

Want to advertise? ads@TopsailMag.com PUBLISHED BY: CAROLINA MARKETING COMPANY, INC.

Have a story idea? edit@TopsailMag.com Are you a writer or photographer? freelance@TopsailMag.com 910.207.0156 TopsailMag.com

PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451 (910) 207-0156 • info@TopsailMag.com Reproduction or use of the contents in this magazine is prohibited.

©2022 Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. 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. Topsail Magazine — A Carolina Marketing Company, Inc. publication is published four times per year and is distributed to residents and businesses in Pender & Onslow County, NC, to subscribers and to select areas of New Hanover County, NC. Interested in back issues, subscriptions or advertising?

Contact us at (910) 207-0156 or info@TopsailMag.com.

E Q SPRING 2022

A publication of Carolina Marketing Company, Inc.

|

COMPLIMENTARY

Spring 2022

HISTORIC FRYING PAN SHOALS LIGHT STATION IS IN NEED OF A

SEA of SUPPORT

THE SK ATE BARN

6

Topsail Magazine

|

RE AL ESTATE RECAP

|

THE SE ARCH FOR BURIED TRE ASURE

About the cover: Photographer Jeff Wenzel captured this image of Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower, which is located in the ocean 32 miles off the coast of Brunswick County. See the story about the decommissioned tower’s owner, Richard Neal, and his efforts to save it on page 62. See more of Wenzel’s images on his website, abovetopsail.com.

Spring 2022

7

CONTRIBUTORS

Daria Amato CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

I am a native New Yorker and graduate from the School of Visual Arts. Throughout my 30 years of experience, I have photographed for a wide range of editorial, advertising, company branding and corporate clients in addition to music, fashion, portraiture, weddings and still life. As a photographer, I have been recognized and awarded by the Society of Publication Designers and Graphic Design USA Magazine and have received the Optima Design Award for best cover photography. I am an enthusiastic storyteller of moving and still images within lifestyle, food and travel, along with being a health foodie, yearning traveler, forever student and beach lover.

Kathryn Greene CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As a lifelong Southerner (with the exception of five years living in New York City), I spent many summers enjoying North Carolina’s beautiful beaches and coastline.

Since receiving my bachelor’s degree from the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia, I have been a freelance lifestyle and travel writer. My work has been published by national and regional print and online publications including TripSavvy, Culture Trip, Southern Bride and Edible Manhattan. When I am not writing articles, I am either at work on my upcoming thriller novel, studying wine to become a Level 1 sommelier or my favorite activity of all — spending time at the beach with my feet in the sand and a drink in my hand.

Annesophia Richards CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After spending a decade as an English teacher in Florida, I moved to Wilmington three years ago to be closer to family. I now spend my time freelance writing and raising my two small, very energetic children. I love exploring all that makes North Carolina such a beautiful state, and I also enjoy travelling as much as my family and time allow. My writing appears in various parenting and local area publications. In my free time I tend to read or go for a run, and I also love to compete in creative writing contests. I have received awards for several pieces of flash fiction. My ability to tell a good tale is a talent that I use nightly when tucking my kids in with a bedtime story.

8

Topsail Magazine

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Low Tide Steakhouse and Sandbar is among the best of Surf City's Restaurants and the only Steak House!

We have the finest meats and the only salad bar in the area. With our full service bar and amazing bourbon selection, you’ll be sure to find something you'll love.

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 LOWTIDESTEAKHOUSE.COM  @LOWTIDESTEAKHoUSE  MOOOO@LOWTIDESTEAKHOUSE.COM Spring 2022

9

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Invigorating

O

One of the many surprises of the pandemic years has been the massive increase in tourism in coastal North Carolina. For the last two years, more people than ever have been flocking to our beaches, and who can blame them?

With more than 300 miles of stunningly beautiful beaches, combined with a long warm season, North Carolina is a magnet for beach lovers. The coast has seen not only an increase in year-round tourism, but also a rise in population as people ditch their city lives and move to the places they love.

The Topsail area is no exception.

Visitation is increasing, and newcomers are moving in. The real estate market is highly competitive, and new businesses are popping up.

There’s new energy in town, especially as winter transitions into spring.

Everyone is looking forward to a great upcoming season full of (mask-free) smiling faces and sunshine.

At Topsail Magazine, we have been busy trying to keep up with all of the changes while at the same time honoring the area’s rich history and dedicated long-term residents. And we hope this Spring 2022 issue reflects that balance.

We’ve got stories on Topsail-area icons like The Skate Barn, which has been welcoming skateboarders to the

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Topsail Magazine

area for more than 25 years, and the Herculean efforts to save the offshore Frying Pan Shoals Light Station. We have a story about the history of The Gold Hole, in which corporate treasure hunters spent years digging for treasure on the beach, and a story about Earl and Inez Batts, the namesakes of the new recreation complex in Surf City.

On the other hand, we introduce you a business called Picnic Haven, founded by newcomers who started new lives on Topsail Island. For all of those RVers wheeling into the area, we give a rundown of the local RV parks. We also give you an update of the sometimes-shocking local real estate market. Perhaps along both lines, we recognize Howard Hess for bringing tennis to Topsail many years ago and then for bringing in the modern sport of pickleball.

The Topsail area is such a special and wonderful place. I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy it this spring.

Meanwhile, we’ll be on the lookout for more great stories to bring you this summer.

Justin Williams Owner/Publisher

Publisher@TopsailMag.com

910-803-2440 |

petsuppliesplus.com |

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Keep showing us how you embrace the island spirit — share your moments, stories and snapshots by tagging @TopsailMagazine and adding #TopsailMagazine

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@marshculture  Surf City, Topsail Island

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Topsail Magazine

Our Intracoastal Realty agent was an excellent guide in selling our home. He provided excellent information and guidance in marketing our home and guiding us through negotiations, which culminated in a very satisfactory sale. Throughout the process, our agent was readily available for consultations and for recommendations on contractors who could help us prepare the property for viewing. We were particularly grateful for his knowledge and experience in home sales, and for his patient and thorough advice. He and Intracoastal Realty have our highest recommendation. ~ Eric and Linda C.

T O P S A I L B E A C H ’ S # 1 C H O I C E F O R R E A L E S TAT E 910-256-4503 | www.IntracoastalRealty.com Spring 2022

13

LOCAL EXPERTISE.

4730 23RD AVENUE SOLD | $2,570,000

813 A N NEW RIVER DRIVE ACTIVE

| $659,000

710 N ANDERSON BOULEVARD UNDER CONTRACT | $1,599,000

816 CAROLINA BOULEVARD ACTIVE

| $950,000

113 KATELYN DRIVE UNDER CONTRACT | $1,399,000

3724 ISLAND DRIVE

302 SEA STAR CIRCLE

SOLD | $860,000

UNDER CONTRACT | $824,900

103 McCLEOD AVENUE

102 A FAIRYTALE LANE

ACTIVE

| $1,260,000

SOLD | $880,000

GG LL OO BB AA L LE E XX PP OO SS UU RR EE . .

535535 SIDBURY SIDBURY AVENUE AVENUE

911911 OCEAN BOULEVARD OCEAN BOULEVARD

1032 CAROLINA BOULEVARD 1032 CAROLINA BOULEVARD

UNDER UNDER CONTRACT CONTRACT | $1,375,000 | $1,375,000

UNDER CONTRACT | $985,000 UNDER CONTRACT | $985,000

UNDER CONTRACT | $1,700,000 UNDER CONTRACT | $1,700,000

329329 OCEANAIRE LANE OCEANAIRE LANE

203203 BRIDGERS AVENUE BRIDGERS AVENUE

114114 N PERMUDA WYND DRIVE N PERMUDA WYND DRIVE

SOLD | $839,000 SOLD | $839,000

SOLD | $849,900 SOLD | $849,900

UNDER CONTRACT | $899,900 UNDER CONTRACT | $899,900

105105 WHITE HILLS LANE WHITE HILLS LANE

24 SANDY LANE 24 SANDY LANE

2044 WASHINGTON ACRES ROAD 2044 WASHINGTON ACRES ROAD

SOLD | $879,000 SOLD | $879,000

| $1,279,000 ACTIVE ACTIVE| $1,279,000

SOLD | $1,949,000 SOLD | $1,949,000

Surf City NORTH CAROLINA

ATHLETICS • CHILDREN & ADULT PROGRAMS • WELLNESS PARKS • FACILITY & SHELTER RENTALS

SURFCITYNC.GOV @SURFCITYNC 16

Topsail Magazine

SPIRITS

A Taste of the

South Spike your sweet tea for a truly refreshing cocktail to serve at your upcoming spring cookouts.

I

BY SANDI GRIGG

f there was an official drink of the South, it would be sweet tea. I, like most true Southerners, know that a glass of iced sweet tea is like liquid gold.

We traveled to Pennsylvania for spring break to visit friends who recently moved up there. It has been a few years since we have seen each other due to COVID and travel restrictions, and we have both had kids during that time. Their son is only a year older than ours, and we wanted to get them together for the first time to play, plus we missed each other dearly.

We stayed with them for three nights, and during that time we played games, watched the kids play and grilled out in the backyard. One evening, while our wonderful hosts were grilling chicken and creating colorful side dishes, my spouse and I whipped up some spiked raspberry sweet tea with lemon. This cocktail is a spin on Southern staple with a flair of raspberry and a kick of alcohol. It was our way of bringing a little Southern flavor back to these newly transplanted Northerners.

Sitting at the wooden picnic table we all enjoyed the grilled barbecue chicken, grilled corn on the cob, tomato salad, Hawaiian rolls and a big ol’ glass of adult raspberry sweet tea.

Don’t worry — the kids just had milk in their cups. It was so great to be with friends enjoying the warmer weather, a homemade meal and clinking glasses full of Southern liquid gold.

This is a cocktail to serve at your next cookout or grilling party, and it can be enjoyed all spring and summer long. Cheers!

SPIKED RASPBERRY SWEET TEA WITH LEMON Makes 1 pitcher – 6 to 8 servings

INGREDIENTS 8 cups water 2 family-sized tea bags (I prefer Luzianne) ½ cup granulated sugar 1 can Dasani Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade 1½ cups Chambord liqueur ½ cup Tito’s vodka Raspberries and lemons for garnish

METHOD Bring water to a boil, add the tea bags and remove from heat. Cover and let it steep (1 hour).

Remove the tea bags and add the sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves.

Pour sweet tea into a large pitcher and add the sparkling water, Chambord and vodka.

Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with raspberries and lemon slices.

Spring 2022

17

WHAT’S COOKIN’

The Perfect Picnic

L

Tomatoes stuffed with fresh-made chicken salad make a light and tasty outdoor lunch.

BY SANDI GRIGG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES STEFIUK

Last spring we celebrated my spouse’s birthday with friends in Surf City. We rented an Airbnb on the waterway and thoroughly enjoyed fishing, beachcombing and visiting the various shops on the island.

One particularly warm day we decided to have a lunch picnic on the beach and spend the day enjoying the sun, sand and surf. I decided to make chicken salad stuffed tomatoes and packed them in a cooler for a light lunch on the beach. They were delicious, filling, fresh and easy to make.

As an easy shortcut, I created this recipe using a storebought rotisserie chicken, which is so easy because all you have to do is pull off the meat and shred it with a fork. I love the ease and flavor of using a rotisserie chicken from the

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Topsail Magazine

grocery store, but if you want to cook your own chicken breasts and shred them for this recipe, go for it — it will probably take two large breasts.

Feel free to make this recipe your own. I enjoy the crunch from the celery and sweetness from the apples in this dish, but you could swap in almond slivers and/or grapes if you don't like celery or apples. And if you follow my What's Cookin' recipes, you know I only use Duke’s mayonnaise, but of course you could use your preferred brand. I chose to use beefsteak tomatoes because they are large and hold the most amount of chicken salad. They are also sturdy when hollowed out. You could certainly stuff cherry tomatoes for an appetizer option or Roma tomatoes for a small side dish.

Another option is to melt the parmesan cheese by baking

WHAT’S COOKIN’

Chicken Salad Stuffed Tomatoes Makes 4 stuffed tomatoes

INGREDIENTS 1 rotisserie chicken, meat pulled off and shredded 1 large stalk of celery, diced 1 apple, peeled and diced ½ cup Duke's mayonnaise 5.3 ounces of plain Greek yogurt (1 single serving container) ½ teaspoon dill ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon paprika 4 beefsteak tomatoes, tops removed and hollowed out ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley Balsamic reduction (I used a bottle of store bought but you can easily make it by simmering 2 cups balsamic vinegar and ½ cup brown sugar until thick) your stuffed tomatoes but I personally do not like warm tomatoes. You can also make your own balsamic reduction (see recipe), but in this case I just bought a bottled balsamic reduction for ease and quickness.

For the picnic I packed each stuffed tomato in an individual travel bowl with a lid. I first placed a piece of lettuce in the bottom of each bowl to keep the stuffed tomato from rolling around inside the travel container. The fresh parsley, parmesan cheese and balsamic glaze were the perfect finishing touches to this beautiful and tasty recipe. My spouse and our friends were delightfully impressed with this lunch on the beach.

Spring into the season with light and tasty recipe!

METHOD In a large bowl mix mayonnaise, yogurt, dill, salt, pepper, garlic powder, lemon juice and paprika.

Fold in the chicken, celery and apple until well combined.

Stuff each tomato with the chicken salad mixture.

Sprinkle parmesan cheese and parsley evenly over each stuffed tomato.

Drizzle each with balsamic reduction.

Note: If you wish to melt your cheese and serve the stuffed tomatoes warm, bake at 350 degrees F for 4 to 5 minutes then drizzle with balsamic reduction and serve.

Spring 2022

19

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

EMERGENT: IS WELLNESS A WORTHWHILE PURSUIT?

TOPSAIL ISLAND VACATION NANNY

by Mike Johnson

As this series on wellness exploration comes to an end, let’s look at what I didn’t cover and use the momentum from what I learned.

The final installment in a monthly series about positivity, wellness and reconnection.

This is the last Emergent post of the series. Am I fixed? Nope. Did I cover everything? Not even close.

There are plenty more wellness options to explore. | CONTINUE READING ONLINE 20

Topsail Magazine

D EXTRAS YOU WILL ONLY FIND ONLINE D TOPSAILMAG.COM

by Kate Carey

Wendy Russo offers a break for local and visiting parents.

Parents who want to add a bit more pizzazz into their vacation by spending a few hours alone or enjoying a date night will find the Topsail Island Vacation Nanny Service just what they need and what their children will enjoy.

“I love being able to meet and care for children at various stages of their development,” says owner Wendy Russo. “Each family is unique, and I ask parents questions about their parenting styles so I can mimic their style while their children are in my care.”

|

| CONTINUE READING ONLINE

|

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

D EXTRAS YOU WILL ONLY FIND ONLINE D TOPSAILMAG.COM

GROW YOUR OWN FOOD ACADEMY

by Kate Carey

Kyle Stenersen of Humble Roots Farm offers an online course in home-grown food.

Before you plant that first seed in your garden, Kyle Stenersen of Humble Roots Farm has some advice for you. Right on time for spring, his Grow Your Own Food Academy stems from his farming knowledge and horticulture degree from NC State but was inspired by his own experiences with online learning.

BUILDING BETTER COACHES

“I had taken online courses and saw how valuable it was,” he says. “It’s a powerful learning environment, more powerful than a classroom. You can watch the videos over and over and there are supplemental materials.”

by Topsail Magazine Contributor

Pender High School coaches are nationally recognized for earning Level 3 Status through the NFHS Learning Center.

|

| CONTINUE READING ONLINE

Through a wealth of continuing education and training, the coaches at Pender High School in Burgaw have earned national recognition for their dedication to their students and athletes.

Pender High School in Burgaw is the seventh high school in the nation and the third in North Carolina to earn Level 3 status in the School Honor Roll program initiated by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Jones Senior High School in Trenton and Rocky Mount High School in Rocky Mount are the other North Carolina schools to earn Level 3 status. | CONTINUE READING ONLINE

|

NOTABLE NEIGHBORS: ISLAND KIDS

by Kate Carey

Meet a few of the teens who live the beach life as Topsail Island residents.

Some folks were born in our gorgeous coastal area, while others discovered its magic and made a beeline to the ocean. Over the next few months, Topsail Magazine is sharing stories of coastal life. Here’s a look at some teens who love living in a coastal community.

Surf City is a day trip for some beach lovers and a summer destination for others, but it’s home to this group of island teens who love surfing and the laid-back vibe. John Utt, Preston Walker, Will and Anna Bigham, and sisters Caroline and Aubrey Solomon can’t imagine living anywhere else. | CONTINUE READING ONLINE Spring 2022

| 21

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Learn more at emergeortho.com/joint-experts or call 910.332.3800.

Emerge Stronger. Healthier. Better.

22

Topsail Magazine

2022

WHAT’S HAPPENED

Exotic Hemp Co. Opens in Surf City

Share the Table Feeds the Hungry

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

On December 16 Exotic Hemp Co. held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in conjunction with Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce. Exotic Hemp Co., located at 100 Charlie Medlin Drive, Suite E in Surf City, sells full and broad spectrum CBD products including tinctures, salves and creams, bath products and pet products.

In 2021 Share the Table distributed 560,903 pounds of food equaling 472,340 meals to our neighbors in need. Share the Table is currently seeking monetary donations for their capital campaign/ building fund. They are also in need of food and household staples donations, including canned fruit, cereal, condiments, flour, sugar, salt & pepper, coffee, diapers, baby wipes and pet food. To help, visit sharethetablenc.com.

The Blueberry Drop Is Back

Bella + James Children's Boutique Opens in Surf City

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

On December 21 Bella + James Children's Boutique held its official ribbon-cutting ceremony in conjunction with Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce. Special deals and holiday mimosas were offered in celebration. Visit them at 104 Charlie Medlin Drive, Unit C in Surf City for adorable children’s wear, toys and gifts.

The Town of Burgaw, Pender County Tourism, Pender County Parks and Recreation and the North Carolina Blueberry Festival welcomed the return of the annual New Year’s Eve Blueberry Drop powered by W. O. Grubb Crane Rental. A crowd turned out for the celebration, which included live music, food trucks and the lighted Blueberry Drop at 7 pm. Look for the annual event again on New Year’s Eve 2022.

Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island Area Awards Grants to Teachers Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island Area awarded $6,000 in grants to teachers at Surf City Elementary and Surf City Middle school on January 7. On January 19 they awarded more than $5,000 in grants to teachers in Onslow County Schools. The grant money was awarded to teachers who had previously

Spring 2022

23

WHAT’S HAPPENED

Pender County Library Presents Black History Month Local History Program

applied, and it will allow students a chance for deeper understanding in areas of learning that may have not otherwise happened inside of the classroom. Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island Area is proud to support innovative programs to educate the students in Pender and Onslow counties, with just more than $18,000 awarded so far this year.

Coastal Window Fashions Opens in Hampstead CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Together with Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce, Coastal Window Fashions held a grand-opening and ribboncutting ceremony on January 6. Coastal Window Fashions offers custom window treatments and upholstery services.

You’ll find them at 16406 U.S. Highway 17, Unit 8, in Hampstead.

On February 18 at the Main Library in Burgaw, Pender County Library hosted a local history program about the legacy of Rev. Richard Keaton and the Black Missionary Movement in the Middle Cape Fear region. This program, entitled Unsung Heroes and presented by local historian Earnestine Keaton, was offered both in person at the Main Library in Burgaw and online via Zoom. During this hourlong program, Keaton explored the economic and cultural development of several rural majority Black faith-based communities in Columbus and Pender counties. Keaton began to research her family history in 1998. In doing so, she discovered the rich and interesting history of the Cape Fear region. Her primary focus is the cultural traditions and economic development of the communities that grew out of the area’s plantations, particularly Lloyd Plantation.

Fancy Flamingo Opens in Hampstead

Pender County Schools Receive Purple Star Award

“Pender County has long been home to a large number of service members,” says Pender County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Hill. “Many of our students have parents or siblings who are either active, reserve or veteran armed service members. We strive to do our best to serve the families of those who serve our country.”

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Topsail Magazine

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Nineteen Pender County schools have received the 2021-22 Purple Star Award, given by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to schools that demonstrate militaryfriendly practices and show commitment to military students and families. Additionally, as a district Pender County Schools will receive the State Superintendent’s Purple Star District Award. The schools that received the award will be honored at a ceremony in the spring.

Fancy Flamingo hosted a grand-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony in conjunction with Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce on February 3. The new boutique, which sells clothing, home décor, jewelry and gifts, is located at 17230 N.C. Highway 17, Suite 100 (in the Lowe’s Foods shopping center) in Hampstead.

EPICENTER OF THE SKATE SCENE For more than 25 years The Skate Barn in Hampstead has been the go-to for skateboarders from near and far.

BY ANNESOPHIA RICHARDS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARIA AMATO

Jimmy Ellington, owner of The Skate Barn 26

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A

lthough it may not look like much from the outside, it’s what goes on inside an old warehouse tucked off Highway 17 that has been drawing people to Hampstead for decades. Once used as a paper mill shed, this no-frills structure welcomes a daily crowd of young and old from near and far who all share one thing in common: a passion for skateboarding.

For more than 25 years, The Skate Barn has quietly established itself both within the local community and far beyond as a mecca for skaters looking for a spot to drop in, get some air and have some gnarly fun.

Wilmington native Jimmy Ellington founded The Skate Barn in 1996. At 24 years old, Ellington purchased the park as a way of showing his love for the sport and the culture surrounding it.

“My cousin owned the park back when it was called The Middle School, and my

buddies and I would skate there, especially in the winter when we couldn’t surf,” Ellington says. “After three years he was ready to step down, and I was right there to buy it from him. At the time, we had local pros like Kenny Hughes and Chet Childress, who were pretty well known nationally in skate culture, skating the park so it was a good scene to step into.”

With the help of fellow skater and skatepark builder Jim Rees, Ellington designed and revamped the space. The men incorporated wooden ramps taken from Carolina Beach’s Ramp House, which Rees had built in 1989. As one of the only skate parks in the area at that time, The Skate Barn’s reputation soon grew, and Ellington remembers the joy that came with his business.

“Owning a skateboard park in my mid-twenties was really fun,” Ellington says. “I had a great

time riding, meeting new people, nurturing the park and catering to the local skateboarding community, which has always been healthy here in southeast North Carolina. I have to tip my hat to the patrons and the community for being super motivating. We went along for those early years with just a blind ambition to have fun.”

Spring 2022

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Serving Topsail Island for Over 25 Years!

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Topsail Magazine

Clockwise from top left, Roman Evans (white shirt) and Justin Droddy rippin' indoors.

Bottom left, owner Jimmy Ellington with his children, Heath and Adelai.

Although the park originally sat entirely underneath The Skate Barn’s roof, as business developed and demand increased, Ellington and his team began adding outdoor elements, including a half-pipe, a connectable street course and even a mock California swimming pool in the back. Known as The Egg, the pool’s sharp transitions, steps and filter boxes (aka death boxes in the skating world) offer The Skate Barn’s more daring visitors a unique challenge. This variety of options in elements makes The Skate Barn accessible to all levels and abilities.

“People love all the wooden elements on the inside, and the sound of the ramps has a certain appeal,” Ellington says.

“There’s a feel to an inside ride that you don’t get on concrete. Outside we do have the concrete, and kids love it out there

too — it just depends on what kind of skateboarder they are and what they’re looking for. Typically, I’d say most people skate a little bit of everything when they’re here.”

Ellington acknowledges that the past decade has seen a large increase in the demand for outdoor concrete skateparks, something he refers to as the “concrete revolution” of skateboarding. Outdoor parks can now be found throughout the Cape Fear area, from Carolina Beach to Greenfield Lake to Ogden, and another is planned soon for Surf City. Even with so many free choices for local skateboard enthusiasts, Ellington believes The Skate Barn offers the community something unmatched.

“The sport has grown tremendously in terrain, and there’re a lot of free parks out there, yet we’ve maintained as a

privately owned pay-to-skate park,” Ellington says. “For 25 years it’s almost been like not even having a business, but instead having a community outlet that self-governs through the sport. We have rules and certain expectations and we uphold those, and the kids who come here know those expectations.”

As Ellington further explains, “We play music, we have a daily attendant and we keep an order that some public parks may or may not have. I think there’s always a need for that. We support the free parks because it benefits everyone to have more terrain, and we’re surviving within that concept.”

In addition to offering daily drop-in rates and yearly membership plans for open skate, The Skate Barn also runs live music events, contests, lessons and numerous camps throughout the year Spring 2022

29

The Skate Barn attracts all ages of skaters from around eastern North Carolina.

designed to support the next generation of skaters. Now a father of three, Ellington says that providing young riders with an opportunity to learn and grow in the sport they’re passionate about is a large part of the park’s mission.

“There’s always a new season of kids every three to five years who come through and just live, eat and breathe the sport of skateboarding within The Skate Barn walls and on the property, and it’s a beautiful thing,” Ellington says. “Older skaters from our early days are now coming back with their own kids to skate, and even guys who can’t ride as much anymore like coming out and watching the younger kids just to be around the sport and reminisce.”

The Skate Barn’s concealed location makes it possible to drive 30

Topsail Magazine

past it on Highway 17 and not even know the park exists.

However, its name and reputation stand strong both within the local skateboarding community and way beyond county lines.

Patrons from cities as far away as New Bern and Apex come every weekend to skate, regularly driving past five or six other skate parks along the way.

“Being off the beaten path, there’s a certain atmosphere we have back here,” Ellington says. “Through social media everyone knows where we are. The military helps too, because there are guys who’ve served at Lejeune and then went on to other places in the world, and they’ll tell me they ran into someone in Okinawa who skated here. If you skateboard, you know about The Skate Barn.”

Although Ellington still finds time to skate, his main focus these days is on his family. He is also busy with several other business ventures and recently finished creating an Airbnb space located on 10 acres behind The Skate Barn. It’s built beside the property’s century-old cypress pond, and Ellington is excited to offer the community a space to come and enjoy Hampstead’s natural beauty and even get some skateboard runs in if so inclined.

With such a rich history behind it, Ellington says The Skate Barn is ready to serve the community for another 25 years and beyond. As the Hampstead area grows and the world around it changes, the one thing he believes will stay the same is how passionate skateboarders are for their sport.

“We hope to continue to be a positive force in the community by giving kids somewhere to go,” Ellington says. “They need a place, just like we all need a place.

Skateboarding is an awesome sport for everyone, and our goal at The Skate Barn is to remain a harmonious and inviting place for anyone who wants to come skateboard and experience it.” 

WANT TO GO? The Skate Barn 55 Pansy Lane, Hampstead (910) 270-3497 theskatebarn.com

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TOPSAIL AREA

2021 REAL ESTATE

Recap

Take a look at the top home sales and builders in the Topsail area — including Sneads Ferry, Surf City, Holly Ridge, Topsail Beach, North Topsail Beach and Hampstead — from the last year.

306-A N. ANDERSON BOULEVARD, TOPSAIL BEACH

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

BY JUSTIN WILLIAMS

TOPSAIL AREA

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R E A L E S TAT E R E C A P

/

2021

TOPSAIL AREA TOP SALES

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

45 N. KING FISHER LANE, HAMPSTEAD

Address

Selling Date

Listed Price

Selling Price

DOM

Price per sq. ft.

Selling Agent

Listing Agent

Selling Company

Listing Company

MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES SOLD IN TOPSAIL BEACH 306-A N. Anderson Boulevard, Topsail Beach

11/18/2021

$2,200,000

$2,150,000

7

$846.79

Frank Sherron

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

Michael L. Nelson

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

1016 Carolina Boulevard, Topsail Beach

8/16/2021

$1,650,000

$1,700,000

3

$471.57

David L. Cummings

Intracoastal Realty Corp

Michael L. Nelson

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

1144 N. Anderson Boulevard, Topsail Beach

8/25/2021

$1,750,000

$1,700,000

1

$498.53

Frank Sherron

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

Frank Sherron

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

914 Bumble Bee Lane, Topsail Beach

9/8/2021

$1,600,000

$1,600,000

1

$516.63

Lincoln Scott

Scott Homes

Michelle R. Quinn

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Carolina Premier Properties

1162 Monroe Lane, Lot # 14, Topsail Beach

10/29/2021

$1,750,000

$1,600,000

18

$573.07

Frank Sherron

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

Maureen Sidbury

Intracoastal Realty Corp.

45 N. King Fisher Lane, Hampstead

10/18/2021

$2,380,000

$3,000,000

128

$344.23

Murray Landstreet

Keller Williams Realty

Dawn J. Berard

Sold Buy the Sea Realty

540 Ballast Point Road, Hampstead

11/18/2021

$2,395,000

$2,025,000

74

$493.90

Streamline Realty Team

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

Andrew Smith

Cadence Realty Corporation

84 Shipyard Lane, Hampstead

7/26/2021

$1,995,000

$1,895,000

36

$365.34

Non-Member

Non-Member

Kendrick Gaddy Team

Intracoastal Realty Corp

320 Olde Point Loop, Hampstead

9/29/2021

$3,600,000

$1,800,000

132

$202.07

Richard G. Morgan, HomeVestors

Clear Blue Real Estate, LLC

Terry A. Thompkins

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

100 Dogwood Circle, Hampstead

11/3/2021

$1,799,000

$1,750,000

8

$308.48

James A. Spicuzza

Coastal Properties

Nina A. Pelon

Moment Realty, LLC

MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES SOLD IN HAMPSTEAD

Spring 2022

33

TOPSAIL AREA TOP SALES

1018 S. SHORE DRIVE, SURF CITY

39 PORPOISE PLACE, NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH

245 BETHEA STREET, HOLLY RIDGE

Price per sq. ft.

Selling Date

Listed Price

100 Oleander Court, Lot #11, Surf City

12/17/2021

$2,250,000

$1,995,000

194

$414.59

Ashley Rigley

Intracoastal Realty Corp

Lisa NormanSparrow

Starfish Rentals & Realty

1018 S. Shore Drive, Surf City

9/24/2021

$1,985,000

$1,985,000

7

$631.16

Kristin Kelly Freeman

BlueStar Real Estate, LLC

Kristin Kelly Freeman

BlueStar Real Estate, LLC

1530 S. Shore Drive, Surf City

10/28/2021

$1,699,000

$1,617,743

99

$691.34

Nick Phillips

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

Sarah Harris Team

Intracoastal Realty Corp

1402 S. Shore Drive, Surf City

5/19/2021

$1,650,000

$1,600,000

95

$360.77

Don E. Harris

Intracoastal Realty Corp

Michael L. Nelson

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

108 Abigail Court, Surf City

9/24/2021

$1,564,900

$1,564,900

1

$650.42

Jan Best

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

Nick Phillips

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

39 Porpoise Place, North Topsail Beach

8/27/2021

$2,699,000

$2,550,000

183

$484.42

Joann M. McDermon

Treasure Realty, Inc.

Bizz Baker

Treasure Realty, Inc.

189 Topsail Road, North Topsail Beach

11/10/2021

$2,200,000

$1,995,000

57

$482.35

Katie Ann Batson

Teresa Batts Real Estate, LLC

Diane M. Castro-Perez

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage Jacksonville

3595 Island Drive, North Topsail Beach

8/30/2021

$1,875,000

$1,912,500

113

$429.97

Gwen M. Hydzik

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage Hampstead

Brendan D. Fitzgerald

Access Realty Group

3574 Island Drive, North Topsail Beach

6/7/2021

$1,810,385

$1,810,385

102

$432.18

Non Member

Non Member

Kylie Uzzell Parkhurst

Treasure Realty, Inc.

4132 Island Drive, North Topsail Beach

5/12/2021

$1,849,000

$1,800,000

13

$481.80

The Beatty Pittman Team

Intracoastal Realty Corp

Nick Phillips

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

Address

Selling Price

DOM

Selling Agent

Selling Company

Listing Agent

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

100 OLEANDER COURT, LOT #11, SURF CITY

Listing Company

MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES SOLD IN SURF CITY

MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES SOLD IN NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH

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TOPSAIL AREA

Address

Selling Date

Listed Price

Selling Price

DOM

Price per sq. ft.

Selling Agent

/

R E A L E S TAT E R E C A P

Listing Agent

Selling Company

/

2021

Listing Company

MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES SOLD IN SNEADS FERRY 238 Gill Net Lane, Sneads Ferry

2/12/2021

$1,250,000

$1,250,000

2

$246.16

Karen E. Critcher

Surf Realty and Property Management

Dane Demers

Sell Your Home Services, LLC

216 Shell Drive, Sneads Ferry

9/15/2021

$1,200,000

$1,050,000

64

$282.41

Matt Jones

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage Hampstead

Brittany Silance

Realty ONE Group Affinity

172 Big Hammock Point Road, Lot # 31, Sneads Ferry

12/21/2021

$1,100,000

$1,050,000

3

$276.32

Donna Waller

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty

Maggie D. Smith

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

171 Alligator Bay, Sneads Ferry

12/30/2021

$824,900

$861,000

12

$324.66

Billy Hudgins

Equity Real Estate, LLC

Billy Hudgins

Equity Real Estate, LLC

217 Bumps Creek Road, Sneads Ferry

5/3/2021

$825,000

$805,000

417

$209.64

Matthew Ferrogari

Coldwell Banker Alliance Group Realty

Christina B. Asbury

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

245 Bethea Street, Holly Ridge

10/7/2021

$950,000

$880,000

6

$256.16

Alana Maffessanti

Lewis Realty

Kevin Pelfrey

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

309 Fiddlehead Court, Holly Ridge

11/17/2021

$839,000

$835,000

21

$284.79

Hope S. Ogden

Ocean Life Realty

Streamline Realty Team

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

707 Lake Catherine Drive, Holly Ridge

8/3/2021

$749,000

$725,000

73

$277.46

Karen Lietz

Keller Williams Realty

Melissa Carter

Grifaldo Properties, Inc.

307 Fiddlehead Court, Lot #176, Holly Ridge

4/9/2021

$739,000

$719,500

73

$258.35

Steve Smith

Intracoastal Realty Corp.

David Alan Bartholow

Destination Realty Corporation

606 Seafarers Court, Lot 208 & 209, Holly Ridge

6/15/2021

$775,000

$715,000

38

$228.58

Ronel Austin

Coastal Realty Associates, LLC

Sandy C. Ledbetter

Intracoastal Realty Corp.

MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES SOLD IN HOLLY RIDGE

238 GILL NET LANE, SNEADS FERRY

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Spring 2022

35

TOPSAIL AREA

/

R E A L E S TAT E R E C A P

/

2021

TOP 20 BUILDERS BY PERMITS

ONSLOW COU NT Y BUILDER

PENDER COUNT Y PERMITS

BUILDER

PERMITS

ATLANTIC CONST 7 Doris Avenue E. Jacksonville, NC 28540 (910) 938-9053 AtlanticConstructionInc.com Owner: Joe Henderson

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DR HORTON 99 131 Racine Drive, Suite 201, University Corporate Center 2, Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 742-7946 DrHorton.com CEO: David V. Auld

SYDES A CONST

212

BILL CLARK HOMES

83

HORIZON HOMES

82

LOGAN DEV

63

H&H CONST

72

ROBUCK HOMES

41

CAVINESS & CATES

58

SYDES A CONST

32

BILL CLARK HOMES

32

H&H CONST

27

DR HORTON

29

LGI HOMES

26

LOGAN DEV

24

HARDISON BLDG

22

HUNTER DEV CORP

22

TO BE DETERMINED

22

MGT ONSLOW LLC

20

AMERICAN HOMESMITH

21

WORTHINGTON DEV

20

CLAYTON PROP GROUP

21

BUCKHORN DEV

15

CAVINESS & CATES

16

TO BE DETERMINED

11

BCL HOMES

13

BRABBEL D

10

CROSSROADS CONST

11

HERRING BLDRS

10

SEVENTY WEST BLDRS

10

REEVES BLDRS

9

STEVENS BLDG CO

10

TARHEEL HOME BLDRS

9

HORIZON HOMES

8

CHANNEL MARKER BLD

8

FAILSALE CONST

7

BLU ENT

7

REEVES BLDRS

6

JURNEY W HOMES

7

SOUTHEAST HOMES

6

Source: Stats compiled by M.O.R.E. (Market Opportunity Research Enterprises®) and are based on permits pulled between January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021.

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Topsail Magazine

TRUST. Southeastern North Carolina Trusts Southeastern Carolina Trusts Coldwell Banker North Sea Coast Advantage.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage.

Year after year, Our Team of exceptional agents propels us to reach new goals!

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As the Area’s #1 Real Estate the Our pastTeam 22 years, we continue to setpropels new standards of excellence.

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2016 2016 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020 2020 2021 2021

NUMBER OF CLOSINGS NUMBER OF CLOSINGS

Hampstead Hampstead 14889 US HWY 17 14889 US HWY 17 (910) 270-8880 (910) 270-8880

6364 6364 7023 7023 7124 7124

CLOSED BILLIONS CLOSED BILLIONS

7964 7964

9820 9820

10,865 10,865

Topsail/Surf City Topsail/Surf City 326 North New River Drive 326 North New River Drive (910) 328-5626 (910) 328-5626

*Source: Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage *Source: Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

S Se ea aC Co oa a ss tt R Re ea a ll tt yy .. c co om m

$1.4 Billion $1.4 Billion $1.6 Billion $1.6 Billion $1.7 Billion $1.7 Billion $2.1 Billion $2.1 Billion $2.6 Billion $2.6 Billion $3.2 Billion $3.2 Billion

Sneads Ferry Sneads Ferry 1350 NC HWY 210 1350 NC HWY 210 (910) 327-2441 (910) 327-2441

MAKING

DOGS AND THEIR HUMANS

HAPPY

FOR OVER FORTY YEARS

S H A L LOT T E

·

S E AV I S TA M O T E L . C O M

S O U T H P O RT

( 9 1 0 ) 3 2 8 - 2 1 7 1 - - 1 5 2 1 O C E A N B LV D , T O P S A I L B E A C H , N C 2 8 4 4 5 38

Topsail Magazine

W W W. S H A L L OT T E E L E C T R I C . C O M

·

910.754.6000

TOURISM

Life on Wheels RV travel is booming, and Topsail-area campgrounds are ready for the

B

guests who are flocking to their facilities.

BY KATE M. CAREY

Beyond hotels, five-bedroom homes and high rises, the humble campground provides a welcome respite for Topsail Island visitors. RV campers love the simplicity of a piece of land to call their own for a night or two, with neighbors around a campfire and the Atlantic Ocean not far away.

The RV Industry Association says 72 million Americans plan to go RVing in the next year, while sales of RVs have increased steadily since the beginning of the pandemic. Local campground owners say guests are flocking to their facilities.

RV campgrounds dot the landscape between Wilmington and Jacksonville. Some are open year-round; others close in the late fall after prime beach season and open again in the early spring. Some are corporate owned, and some have been family owned for decades.

Let’s take a look at some of the classic, family-owned RV parks in the Topsail area, each with its own diverse history.

Just off Topsail Island facing the Intracoastal Waterway a beautiful spot sat vacant until a camper friend told DC Lanier if he built a campground, they would come.

LANIER’S CAMPGROUND opened in 1975.

“My daddy built Rogers Bay for Dr. Hunter Heath, and then he bought Little’s restaurant in 1974, then Lanier’s Restaurant, and ran it for many years. He got a piece of land, started the campground, and it grew into what it is now,” says Donna Lanier, one of four siblings who have worked or still works at the park. “When we started, my grandmother worked there as well.

She was the matriarch. You listened to what she said.”

PHOTO BY ADAM HAWLEY

Spring 2022

39

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Topsail Magazine

TOURISM

The large, all-season park has a store, arcade, breakfast spot, laundry, boat slips and fishing piers. It’s one of the few campgrounds with a pool, and Lanier says many local kids learned to swim there. The pool and grill are open to the public with seasonal pool passes available for weekday use.

“So many different people come through,” Lanier says.

“People who are out to discover the world. That’s what my daddy liked – meeting all the different people. We started out camping as a family when all we had was a tent, then we got a pop up, then a travel trailer. He loved camping.”

Church is also important at this campground.

“Church is held every Sunday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Services started at campground when the game room became the church sanctuary,” Lanier says.

the kids not to come in wet off the beach.”

“I like the people,” says Beulah Smith, aka Shorty, a nickname bestowed upon her by husband. Grandma Shorty wasn’t initially keen on a campground, though she learned to love the new adventure. “We meet generations of families from all over, up and down the Atlantic Coast. They come for weddings, family reunions and vacations,” she says.

Reservations for most parks these days are made online, but Surf City Family Campground has “The Book.” To make a reservation, you have to call or come by. “It’s more personal this way; just the way they did it in the ’60s,” Brad says.

Church services offer another layer of community to camp guests at Surf City Family Campground.

Brad adds of Surf City Campground, “On Sundays, our whole campground stops for church. The front porch is transformed with folding chairs and a podium. Mr. Tommy, a long-time camper, holds a service for all who will attend, rain or shine.”

The Sneeden family opened SURF CITY FAMILY CAMPGROUND in North Topsail Beach in May

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

1961. The Sneeden family still owns the campground, but the Smith family now operates it.

A. D. Hinson leased and ran Surf City Family Campground before passing it along to Oliver and Johnella Hinson, who ran the campground through the 1990s then turned it over to Brad Smith’s grandparents, Lonnie and Beulah Smith.

“We have families who have been staying with us for generations,” Brad Smith says. “Teenagers have met at the campground, and some have gotten married here and are now bringing their kids to the campground.”

Brad credits much of the 90-site campground’s success to his grandmother.

“No one calls her Mrs. Smith — its Grandma Shorty, and she is something,” he says. “She still works 12-hour days in the store, hands out candy to the kids, sweeps and reminds

North of those two campgrounds sitting in a cove of the New River, SEAHAVEN MARINE RV PARK opened 25 years ago by Kal Karmous and his father, Moustafa Karmous. Kal and wife, Irina Yashkova, took over the operations in 2016 when Moustafa retired.

“We have a beautiful place where people can slow down, be one with nature and spend time with their loved ones while re-charging their batteries,” Irina says, pointing out the Mediation Garden, a shaded place for reflection. “Just past that garden, a group of guests planted a community garden Spring 2022

41

TOURISM

TOPSAIL AREA CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

with basil and rosemary and other herbs for all to enjoy. A new fish-cleaning station was built, then covered to cut out the hot sun, and lights were added, all at the request of our guests.”

Before they started running Seahaven, Kal and Irina were world travelers. Between them they speak five different languages and have visited more than 60 countries in part for their careers — Kal in the oil and gas industry and Irina as a simultaneous interpreter for NASA. In beach communities, nearly everyone has a story about the fish that got away, but Kal’s story is about the tuna he didn’t expect to catch. In December of 2020, he and Irina took his boat out whale watching and just for kicks he added his tuna gear in case. A brief trip to the Atlantic, less than 3 miles from their boat ramp, turned into an overnight battle with a 250-pound tuna and a new captain on the ship.

While Kal struggled with the massive fish, Irina, who had never been behind the wheel, kept it steady, forward and back, through the long night and brought them safely in shortly before sunup the next day.

An avid fisherman, Kal makes a passionate case for adding bluefin tuna to the island’s list to entice fisherman.

“Tuna fishing can draw people here and extend the season to year-round,” he says.

Like the other park owners, Kal and Irina agree that the campers are the best part of their jobs. They have met have generations of campers throughout the years.

“We enjoy hosting RVers from all over the world,” Irina says. “We’ve had visitors from as far as Alaska and Switzerland. We enjoy having U.S. Marines and their families who bring experiences form many cultures and traditions from around the world.”  42

Topsail Magazine

From large RV parks with 350 sites and full hook-ups on the sound to small campgrounds a short drive to the ocean, more than a dozen campgrounds dot the local landscape and are as diverse as the campers who visit them.

Some campgrounds are owner operated, others are corporate, and amenities range from dog parks and community gardens to cafes and coffee shops. Water access is available at some parks with boat slips and fishing piers. Some campgrounds host church services every Sunday morning. Many offer on-site laundry facilities, swimming pools and playgrounds.

Blackbeard’s Treasure Campground, Surf City, (910) 328-1206 Captain Jim’s Campground, Sneads Ferry, (910) 389-4000 Clay Hill Campground, Sneads Ferry, (910) 327-3600 Fulcher’s Landing Campground, Sneads Ferry, 910-327-1300 Harbor Point RV Community, Sneads Ferry (910) 327-2700 Lanier’s Campground, Holly Ridge, (910) 328-9431 Riverside RV Park, Sneads Ferry, (910) 512-0569 Seahaven Marine RV Park, Sneads Ferry, (910) 333-5773 Silver Sands Campground & RV Park, Sneads Ferry, (910) 389-9554 Stump Sound Campground, Holly Ridge, (910) 329-1414 Surf City Family Campground, North Topsail Beach, (910) 328-4281 The Pines RV Park and Campground, Sneads Ferry, (910) 327-1110 Topsail Sound RV Park, Holly Ridge, (910) 329-0500 Turkey Point RV Park, Sneads Ferry, (910) 327-2700 Virginia Creek Campground, Hampstead, (910) 329-4648 Wood Creek RV Park, Sneads Ferry, (910) 327-0409

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P I C N I C Picnic Haven and its founders LaRhea Burke and Cai Cee Murgo serve as a story of courage, community inspiration and the importance of relishing life’s special moments.

BY KATHRYN GREEN

PHOTO BY CAROLINE DONOVAN PHOTO BY RINI HERMAWAN

Cai Cee Murgo, left, and LaRhea Burke started Picnic Haven to help people build connections and create memories at the beach.

t

To tell the story of where Picnic Haven really began, you have to go back a few years before its founding, to 2018.

That was the year when former Ohio resident LaRhea Burke decided to change her life and make her dream of living at the beach a reality.

When she arrived at Topsail — for the first time ever, no less — she had never been to the island, let alone North Carolina, and didn’t know anyone. But she was committed to starting a new chapter of her life that would take her on a journey of physical and spiritual transformation. She began to lay down roots in her community and joined The Gathering in Surf City, where she met Cai Cee Murgo. A native of Raleigh, Murgo grew up going to Topsail Beach every weekend before settling in the area full-time when her family bought a house.

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PHOTO BY RINI HERMAWAN

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started to snowball into a veritable business fast.

One day after the gym, they headed to Steadfast Nutrition for a post-workout recovery treat. While they were there, they noticed there was a retail space for lease next door.

Burke — who also owns apparel brand Love’s Active, inspired by her wellness journey and physical transformation — had another idea. The space could house both her clothing company and the soon-to-be-named beachside business, Picnic Haven. After securing the lease and taking steps like painting the walls and making the shop their own, they got into more detail about what they would offer.

They landed on picnic packages, starting with a classic package with cozy rugs, blankets and tableware, and luxury packages for a more elevated experience with a table and decor. For those looking for even more things to enjoy, they also created a menu of add-ons including chocolates, charcuterie boards, fresh flowers and games, letting guests choose however many they would like.

They created a Facebook page, took some photos of their offerings Friends since and made a few posts. Even though 2018, Burke they knew they had a good idea, they and Murgo love didn’t know quite how good until working together they announced it. The reaction was to plan special swift and positive. Inundated with occasions for others. messages, likes and follows, their online presence grew quickly. And in their circles within the community, they overheard people talking about their business, excited for it to come to fruition. It was then they realized the enormous opportunity they had identified — and it wasn’t about the picnics.

“We’re giving people the chance when they’re coming to [the beach] to have these special moments,” Burke explains.

The founders have noticed that the picnics they book most often are for personal special moments like anniversaries, engagements and birthdays. During the first picnic they ever hosted, which happened to be for a couple, the guy proposed to his girlfriend.

“Cai Cee and I literally looked at each other said, ‘Man, if this is all this is — to set this one picnic up and have this one marriage come together, and this one life started, this is all worth it,’” Burke says.

Another one of their favorite things about Picnic Haven CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

As fast friends, Burke and Murgo often had conversations about faith, the community and, sometimes, the different activities at Topsail Beach. One night when Burke was looking for something fun to do, she used the Airbnb experiences tab and her search turned up very few results.

That got her and Murgo wishing that there was some type of unique memorable experience for people who come to Topsail Island, especially since so many of them visit from different states. In particular, an experience that would create an opportunity for people to build connections and create memories with one another.

After a few weeks of bouncing ideas around, Burke remembers texting Murgo, “Would you ever want to host picnics on the beach?”

“And I say this one thinking she is going to laugh at me because this has never crossed our minds before, we had never talked about picnics on the beach before,” Burke explains. But Murgo was immediately into the concept. Even though they hadn’t fleshed out the business idea much beyond its core, they say that things

WANT TO BOOK A PICNIC? Visit thepicnicchaven.com.

transcends its services. Both Burke and Murgo are mothers, juggling parenthood with the responsibilities of being business owners, but for them, therein lies another opportunity — being a source of inspiration for those around them.

“People who we are in connection with have said things to us like ‘you guys are such an encouragement just to see you do this’ and ‘everything that you do already makes me think I can do X, Y, and Z,‘“ Burke says.

Burke and Murgo say that not only have people been kind enough to share their words with them, but they also have followed them up with action, stepping out in faith in different areas of their lives toward the unknown, just as they did.

“It is really exciting where and how this business can grow and how we can show that women can do it all and be successful,” Burke says.

Picnic Haven currently offers picnics in two locations in Surf City — one on the beachside and one on the sound side, a more secluded setting with access to a fire pit. Dozens of additional locations are coming soon in the form of travel picnics, allowing customers to book a package that comes to them at their beach house. While Picnic Haven has a popular sunset package, they are now offering the opportunity for sunrise picnics for those looking for an early morning experience. No matter where or when someone wants to have a picnic, Picnic Haven can help create a special memory. 

PHOTOS BY CAROLINE DONOVAN

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LOCAL

The Building of Burrito Shak Dave Longo shares the story behind the business that he and his wife, Kara Longo, started in 2015 in Hampstead.

BY ASHLEY DANIELS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARIA AMATO

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When David Longo couldn’t find any local restaurants that served up tasty, quality dishes for his kids (besides the obligatory chicken nuggets, applesauce and fries combo), he decided to take things into his own hands — those of an executive chef. And in 2015, Burrito Shak was born.

The family behind The Burrito Shak, left to right: Kara, Adalyn, Amelia, Avah and David Longo.

Longo and his co-founder and wife, Kara Longo, wanted to keep things simple, founded on a delicious, chef-inspired menu with affordable prices in a fun, quick-casual dining atmosphere. Their idea caught on, and now there are seven Burrito Shak locations from North Carolina to Arizona, with Spring 2022

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“ Originally, I had worked in restaurants for so long, and the hustle of working in a kitchen was just all I loved to do. So advancing my skills in the culinary field was the next step to achieving my goals.

two to four more locations within the franchise projected to open in the region within the year.

Longo says their franchise consultants thought Burrito Shak was a great candidate to franchise because the business is easy to replicate.

“Everything just kind checked off all the boxes,” Longo says. “And the model has done extremely well through COVID, especially when there was just takeout and to-go. We were kind of built for that.”

Born in Wilmington, Longo grew up in the Topsail Beach area. He attended University of North Carolina Wilmington before deciding he’d rather go to culinary school, so he enrolled in Johnson & Wales University, which was in Charleston at the time.

He worked in a few restaurants in Charleston, then moved to Hawaii to work and surf.

“That’s where I started to think of the idea of a fresh, surfer, beach-type vibe,” he says.

At 20, Longo returned to his Carolina stomping grounds to work his way into executive chef positions at various restaurants, including Castle Bay Country Club and Beauchaines.

After 23-plus years of working in the restaurant industry, it all culminated into the next chapter of Longo’s culinary career with the opening of the first Burrito Shak in Hampstead in 2015.

“Originally, I had worked in restaurants for so long, and the hustle of working in a kitchen was just all I loved to do,” he says. “So advancing my skills in the culinary field was the next step to achieving my goals.”

Two years after they opened, Burrito Shak proved their staying power and customer loyalty by being voted as No. 1 Tacos in North Carolina, beating over 63 other competitors in an elimination-style taco tournament.

“There were quite a few restaurants from Wilmington competing in that, but we ended up winning,” Longo says.

In 2019 Burrito Shak was officially franchised, with doors opening by franchisees in Wilmington, Swansboro, Surf City, Cary and Jacksonville. The newest out-of-state location in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, opened in November 2021.

“We’ve only really marketed in North and South Carolina, but they reached out to us because they Spring 2022

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read about us in an article,” Longo says of the Arizona franchisees. “We got to meet them and we really liked them a lot. It’s a little different in that location, with different challenges, but we couldn’t ask for anybody better to do it.”

The Longos show their support to all of their franchisees; one of the tenets of Burrito Shak’s mission to offer a path to other entrepreneurs with a dream like their family first had. Their other mission is a dedication to sharing the family’s love for fresh Tex-Mex flavors in a friendly, beachin’ atmosphere. This combination has created a solid fan base everywhere a Shak pops up.

“I still love fine dining food, but this is a creative outlet for an everyday type of meal for lunch or dinner,” Longo says.

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In addition to internally supporting their family of franchisees, the Longos also help those in need within the Burrito Shak communities, giving back through fundraiser nights, donations and sponsorships.

“We believe in supporting, and one of our core values is to support the communities that support you,” Longo says. “And the goal from within is to expand at a pace that still provides great support as we build our team.”

Burrito Shak is definitely a family-oriented business. Kara handles most of the company’s marketing and branding, and their oldest daughter, Avah, helps out from time to time on the job. The Longos also have daughters, Adalyn and Amelia. 

WANT TO GO? In the Topsail area, you’ll find Burrito Shak at: 15489 U.S. Highway 17, Suite 4, Hampstead (910) 319-0243 2761 N.C. Highway 210, Unit A, Surf City (910) 803-2382 For more information and updates on the Burrito Shak enterprise, visit burritoshak.com.

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SPORTS

Howard Hess renovated the rundown tennis courts at Belvedere Country Club to create Belvedere Pickleball Center.

T

Racket Man

Howard Hess, known for bringing tennis to the Topsail area,

is back at it with pickleball and the Belvedere Pickleball Center.

BY ANNESOPHIA RICHARDS

There are some people who love a sport so much that they want to play every chance they can get. Then there’s Howard Hess, a man who loves a sport so much that he’s dedicated the later part of his life to making sure others can play too. At 86 years old, Hess has spent the last two decades bringing first tennis and now pickleball to the Topsail area. His love for the game as well as for his

community are always at the heart of everything he does.

Before retiring to Hampstead, Hess spent 25 years in New Jersey as a high school teacher. It was there where he first learned to play tennis, and he brought his passion for the sport with him when relocated to Pender County in 2000.

Not content with sitting inside all day, Hess wanted to stay active by coaching high school tennis, but he learned that Spring 2022

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The sport of pickleball has taken off in Hampstead since Hess developed the Belvedere Pickleball Center.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Topsail High School didn’t have a team, not to mention any tennis courts.

“That didn’t seem right, so I got the community behind me and we set to work building six tennis courts for the school,” Hess says. “Then I took seven girls from the middle school and for the next few years I worked with them and taught them to play tennis, and that’s what got tennis started here in Topsail.”

Hess and his new team quickly worked their way up to the top and earned a spot in the state finals in 2004, 2005 and 2006 consecutively.

Hess also received Hampstead’s Citizen of the Year Award in 2004 for constructing the tennis courts and developing the Topsail High School team. Credited with building Topsail’s entire tennis program from the dirt up, he is considered a legend in local tennis circles today.

As Hess reached his 80s, he realized he couldn’t chase a tennis ball down the court as well as he used to, but that didn’t mean he wanted to put down his racket for good. He decided to give the sport of pickleball a try at the Wilmington YMCA and was hooked from the first swing.

“I think what I enjoy most about pickleball is that the action is similar to tennis, but I don’t have to run down a tennis ball,” Hess says. “I can get my exercise just by playing, and it’s still a challenge.”

Having the experience of building Topsail’s tennis program under his belt, Hess set out once again to see if he could find a way to make his newfound favorite sport more accessible to his community. Knowing there were a few dilapidated tennis courts located on the grounds of what was once the Belvedere Country Club, Hess reached out to the property’s new owner, Ironclad Brewery CEO Ted Coughlin.

“Ironclad purchased the country club in mid-2020 with the goal of turning it into what is now Ironclad Golf and Beer Garden,” Coughlin says. “That September, Howard approached us because he saw the tennis courts weren’t in good shape, and he was interested in reviving them and turning them into pickleball

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SPORTS

Men's Doubles Pickleball Tournament 2021

Howard Hess

neglected tennis courts into six brightly colored and welcoming pickleball courts, three of which he coated with an extra rubberized surface for added cushion and support. Hess named the new facility Belvedere Pickleball Center and in October 2020 welcomed his first players to the net.

“I remember it was raining on the day I gave my first lessons, but we still had 17 people come out and they insisted on staying in the rain to learn pickleball,” he says.

Belvedere Pickleball Center now has almost 50 regular members, with many others visiting the facility while on vacation for a drop-in game or lesson. Regular groups play almost every morning and every afternoon, and members are given keys to the courts so they can come in at their own time and play during off hours. The center also hosts pickleball tournaments that draw in players from Wilmington, Jacksonville and other nearby communities. Although the CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

courts. He was willing to roll up his sleeves and get the job done, so we welcomed the opportunity. He did a great job renovating the courts and building them and a fanbase up from scratch, when just a few months prior there was no pickleball in Hampstead.”

Having already developed the skill of building and resurfacing tennis courts, Hess says he found it easy to refurbish the rundown, dormant courts into modern pickleball courts.

“I’d built my own tennis court back in New Jersey and then later built the Topsail courts, so I knew how to do it from experience,” Hess says. “The Belvedere courts were no longer functional because they were grown over with bushes and weeds. It was a piece of cake for me to clear them off and then turn them into something really pretty.”

It only took about a month for Hess to transform the two

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age range of most of Hess’s members tends to skew older, he is one of the only pickleball instructors around to have also developed a program for children.

“Last year I had a school-aged program with about 24 elementary kids, and I also had another group of

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middle school students who became very good players,” Hess says. “I called around to find some other teams for my students to play against, but everyone told me that I’m the only one that’s teaching kids.

So that team dissipated, but I’m planning to offer something for

young kids again this year.”

When he’s not busy offering lessons and running the facility, Hess joins in on a game of pickleball anytime there’s a group needing another player. He believes what makes the sport so special is not only how fun the game is to play, but also how much the players enjoy spending time together.

“Pickleball is half exercise and half social,” Hess says. “People are looking for exercise, but rather than lift weights or ride on a bicycle, they’re playing pickleball because they can gather and talk and get a nice little workout. Our group is the warmest, most encouraging bunch of people you’d want to meet, and some of them have become quite skilled players now.”

Hess continues to work hard to share his love of pickleball throughout Hampstead and beyond, and his dedication to both the sport and his community hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“Howard’s life has been marked by selfless goodwill, and his new pickleball center gives him great joy for the simple reason of the community spirit it’s generating,” says neighbor and Belvedere Pickleball Center member Mike Winesette. “He’s the type of person you meet and immediately like — soft spoken, kind hearted, intelligent and generous. He’s also a darn good player, out there every day greeting one and all and always happy to fill out a foursome!”

Ted Coughlin agrees, saying he considers Hess to be both an icon and an asset in the Hampstead community.

“I’m in my 50s, and I tell everyone I want to be like Howard when I’m in my 80s,” Coughlin says. “I really hope that when I’m his age, I have the energy and ability to contribute to the community like he continues to do.

He’s really my idol.” 

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PHOTO COURTESY FPTOWER INC.

With a new nonprofit named FPTower Inc., the owner of Frying Pan Shoals Light Station seeks help with preserving the historic tower 32 miles offshore.

BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN

leven years ago, Richard Neal participated in a federal government auction in which he was the highest bidder for a tower sitting right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The tower, once a light station, sat all but abandoned for six years before Neal snatched it up for $85,000.

Neal’s first thoughts after winning the auction was, “Now what do I do with it, and why did I buy it?”

There is rich history behind the tower. For more than 40 years, Frying Pan Shoals Light Station helped guide large ships through the treacherous shallow waters 32 miles off the coast of North Carolina — known as Frying Pan Shoals. This permanent structure, first erected in the early 1960s, replaced the U.S. Coastguard lightships that had been stationed at the shoals for nearly 110 years.

In 1979 the light station was automated, which means it was no longer required to be physically manned, with the exception of periodic repair and maintenance crews. Once modern technology became available to help boats safely divert the shoals, the light station was no longer needed, and the Coast Guard decommissioned it in 2004.

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PHOTO BY JEFF WENZEL

PHOTO COURTESY FPTOWER INC.

Topsail Magazine

PHOTO COURTESY FPTOWER INC.

PHOTO COURTESY FPTOWER INC.

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Decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 2004, Frying Pan Shoals Light Station, 32 miles off the coast of Southport, can be reached by boat or helicopter.

Neal decided to turn the tower into a one-of-kind bed & breakfast destination in 2012 to help fund its restoration efforts. Powered by wind and solar energy, the 5,000-square-foot living space includes a stainless-steel kitchen, a large open living and dining area, three queen bedrooms, five twin bedrooms, a utility room with washer and dryer, a hot shower, toilet facilities and a sleeping quarter for crew. There is also a maintenance area for the battery and communication systems as well as backup generators, fuel sources and tools and equipment for repairs and maintenance. It also has its own helipad. The tower is only accessible by boat or helicopter, making it truly an adventurous getaway.

“We stayed booked, every weekend,” Neal says. “It didn’t slow down.” That is until he realized he could no longer keep up with the repairs and maintenance required to keep the tower running as a B&B. “I watched things rust and fall off into the ocean,” he says.

Then Neal had an epiphany. He divested his ownership and shut down the B&B so he could focus on his true passion — restoration — and established the nonprofit FPTower Inc. FPTower Inc. has a three-fold mission to restore, protect and preserve.

Restoring is imperative. If left alone, the tower will succumb to the salt, wind and waves and eventually dissolve away with rust and fall into the Atlantic. Preserving as much of the original structure and materials — including an original 1970s man hoist — for historic value is also a goal, as is protecting not just the tower, but the ocean underneath. There is a protected reef below the tower that serves as a valuable habitat for marine life.

Currently, there are 16 projects on the restoration plan, including putting glass back in the top of the tower, installing new stairs, replacing steel at water level torn off by hurricanes,

scraping away rust, and treating and repainting.

“We’ve got a full workshop on the tower; it’s a MacGyver’s paradise,” Neal says. “We’re always scavenging one part to make another while we’re out there.”

FPTower relies on volunteers who can donate their time and talent to help preserve Frying Pan Tower. They

especially need those with welding and other mechanical skills. All meals and accommodations are provided for; volunteers just have to get there — which can be a challenge since the only transportation is by boat or helicopter.

“We’d love to have boat captains with boats who could volunteer to bring the rest of the volunteers out,” Neal says.

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like hoodies, hats and shirts as well as fractional ownerships, which offers a portioned share of Frying Pan Tower, providing investors the benefits of ownership without the upfront expense. It is the best kind of ownership. FPTower is also fortunate to have sponsors like Culligan Water out of Wilmington as well as Waterline Brewing and Cape Fear Distillery to reward hardworking volunteers.

When Neal placed the winning bid in the auction more than a decade ago, he had no idea what he was in for. The journey has been “a challenge, but a fun one,” he says. His hope is that within the next 10 years, once they can preserve the tower, that “it will be self-maintained by research, training and educational institutions and organizations.”

PHOTOS COURTESY FPTOWER INC.

fortunate to have volunteers from all over the country rally behind their mission.

“Some of our volunteers aren’t quite sure how they can help, but they always find something to do,” he says. “One guy drove all the way from California; he didn’t have a lot of mechanical skills, but he was great with computers and made our slow computers go fast again. And he could cook!”

To reach the tower, it is approximately an hour-and-ahalf to two hours from Southport or 15 minutes by helicopter.

It is not all work for the volunteers who come out to help.

There is fishing from the tower, biodegradable clay skeetshooting, corn hole, snorkeling or scuba diving, a pool table and indoor movie and game nights.

Funding comes from the sale of Frying Pan Tower merchandise

It's not all repair work for volunteers at the light station. Volunteers enjoy many comforts, good food and recreation in the former bed and breakfast.

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Saving the Frying Pan Shoals Light Station presents constant challenges for Richard Neal, but the nonprofit status and volunteer contributions are helping.

As for the answer to Neal’s second question — why did he initially buy the tower? — it came three years after he first wrote the check.

“It hit me like a ton of bricks,” he says. “I ended up buying it because it reminded me of my childhood tree house. I grew up in suburban Oklahoma, where there were no

trees, so I couldn’t have a tree house. So, my parents went and bought large poles and sticks, stuck them in the ground and built a square box on top. It was kind of a mini version of the tower. The primary difference, as a child I had to battle the mosquitos in the tree house; there are no mosquitos out on the ocean!” 

Want to help?

Potential volunteers are encouraged to go to the website at fptower.org to see when the next volunteer trip is scheduled and fill out an application.

PHOTOS COURTESY FPTOWER INC.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MISSILES AND MORE MUSEUM

Is there gold from a shipwreck waiting to be found on Topsail Island? Or was it, as some believe, dug up by treasure hunters who then mysteriously disappeared into the night? Or was it never there? No one knows for sure.

But we do know this: After being driven far off course in a 1750 hurricane, sailors in a Spanish armada of five vessels were tossed about in the Atlantic Ocean before being smashed against Topsail Island. One of the vessels, El Salvadore, was carrying 240,000 silver coins and other treasure.

Centuries later, treasure hunters thought they knew where it was buried — at a site just south of the Surf City town line. A syndicate of New York of investors known as Carolina Expedition Company searched for that treasure from 1937 to 1941. They erected a large, A-frame derrick and winch to dig through the sand. Sifting debris carefully as they went, they eventually dug a hole that was 40 feet deep and 4 feet wide.

Carolina Expedition Company searched for treasure on the beach near present-day Surf City from 1937 to 1941. They erected a large, A-frame derrick and winch to dig through the sand and then sifted through the debris.

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HISTORY

Historic photos of the Carolina Expedition Project are on display at the Missiles and More Museum in Topsail Beach.

They brought in equipment to pump out water once they reached the water line on the undeveloped island. The work was backbreaking and dangerous, but their hopes were buoyed by pieces of hand-tooled, rotten wood they believed were from the El Salvadore. The treasurer hunters used an early version of a metal detector to augment maps to locate buried gold or silver. To test it, they buried a gold watch in the sand and found it in each of their tests.

Kenneth Andrews, a local workman hired for the project, told his story of the experience in Echoes of Topsail: Stories of the Island’s Past by David Stallman: “I’ve been digging sand for three years in this hell hole. Fought stinging sand, breaking my back throwing sand through screens, wondering if the treasure was just a pipe dream. What if there is nothing down there at all? If we do get rich beyond our dreams, what will we do with it?”

“

What if there is nothing down there at all?

If we do get rich beyond our dreams, what will we do with it?”

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HISTORY

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HISTORY

Then suddenly the work came to an abrupt halt. “...One evening the local men were laid off,” reported a Pender Chronicle article in 1965. “The next morning the entire expedition was gone. Did they find treasure and take it away in the night? It adds romance to the story to think of them stealthily hauling chests of gold across the sound in the dead of night — but no one seems to know for sure.”

Did they find the gold and abscond with it before alerting anyone or did the project shut down because they ran out of money? At this point, we will probably never know.

Janine Stidley, director of the Missiles and More Museum, says interest in the Gold Hole disappeared with World War II. Topsail Island was used for Operation Bumblebee, an effort to develop rockets for use in propulsion and missiles from 1946 to 1948.

“The island was taken over by the federal government, so treasure hunters would not have had access even if they wanted it,” Stidley says.

Reports of gold buried on the island still spur dreams today and probably always will. There are rumors that the 1700s pirate Blackbeard buried treasure on the strand and that the retreating Confederate Army buried a chest of gold in a pond near where Highways 17 and 210 converge. Neither have ever been found. 

WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Missiles and More Museum in Topsail Beach has an exhibit on the Gold Hole.

There have been many other projects to search for historic buried treasure in southeastern North Carolina, but so far none have been successful.

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The book Echoes of Topsail: Stories of the Island’s Past

by David Stallman is available at the museum.

Find the museum at 720 Channel Boulevard in Topsail Beach or visit missilesandmoremuseum.org

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

PEOPLE

A Humble and Simple Life

M

Meet the namesakes of the Earl G. & Inez Batts Recreation Complex in Surf City.

BY PAT FONTANA

Most of the news related to Earl and Inez Batts these days is focused on the forthcoming Town of Surf City recreational complex that’s named after them.

The Town of Surf City acquired approximately 53.8 acres adjacent to the existing Surf City Community Center and Athletic Complex land from the Batts family in 2020. Town plans for this land include a skatepark, walking trails, an inclusive playground, an 18-hole disc golf course, sand volleyball courts and more, and the town elected to name the complex the Earl G. & Inez Batts Recreation Complex.

However, the Batts’ daughter, Audrey Viner, emphasizes that her parents “didn’t like formal things, didn’t want to brag or be in the center of the attention.” In fact, she says, they were “humble country people who truly represent North Carolina’s state motto, ‘To be rather than to seem.’” Above and right: Earl and Inez Batts The story of the Batts family and their land in

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Surf City dates back to the 1800s. Earl’s father, James Howard (JH) Batts bought five tracts of land from his uncle and aunt, Frederick and Sarah Batts Rhew, in 1897. Earl Batts was born on October 19, 1905, in Sloop Point in Pender County.

Earl was 14 when his father died and 25 when his mother died.

As Viner explains, “Daddy and another brother had to quit school and farm when their daddy died.” Earl and his siblings then inherited the land, which consisted of the five tracts. Some of the siblings sold their shares to other siblings, and by 1965, Earl owned one-third of all the land originally owned by his father.

Winfred Inez Spence Batts was born on January 27, 1909, in Lenoir County. She and Earl married in 1935 and they had four children – Gerald David, Donald Earl, Belva Anne and Audrey Edna Inez Batts (Viner).

Earl worked as a bridge tender and, as Viner explains, “Mother would be the one to teach us about gardening. She was the best farmer of the two.” Viner says the family “grew or raised everything that we ate. We just bought a few staples from the country store.” She adds that she has “special memories of being with them and how life was back then.”

The land that Earl inherited was in the Sears Landing area.

Although his family moved to Sneads Ferry when he was a toddler, after a fire destroyed their home, Earl and Inez moved

Daddy and another brother had to quit school and farm when their daddy died.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Right: Inez with the four Batts children, Donald, Audrey, Anne and Gerald.

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Topsail Magazine

back to Surf City to raise their own family.

Their land also included a tract on Topsail Island. Earl became a bridge tender for the original pontoon bridge and then for the swing bridge that was later installed to connect the mainland to the island.

Viner tells the story of her grandfather being a cattle rancher and farmer, just like many other people in the area at the time.

They would “herd their cattle over to the island to graze during the winter so folks knew some of the good crossings.” Then one day in the early 1940s, a “man dressed in a military uniform (Army Corps of Engineers) came riding up to the house on his horse. He wanted to know from my daddy the shortest route from the inland to the island. My daddy said that he did know the shortest route and that it was the Sears Landing, which was on my daddy’s and his siblings’ property.”

The Army then decided to build the pontoon bridge for Camp Davis, and the Navy took it over for about two years. Earl worked as a bridge tender for the Navy and then for the State of North Carolina, which built the swing bridge after Hurricane Hazel hit in 1954. He retired in 1971.

Viner says her father “knew everybody.” He especially loved children and older people. He would loan money to young people in the community so they could buy the cars they needed. When he was in a store, he would buy sodas for the young people there.

Inez was the gardener. “She used to say that when she was out in her garden, she thought she was in heaven,” Viner says.

“There was no place that she felt any closer

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

PEOPLE

Earl Batts' father, James Howard Batts, and a map showing the family property.

to God.” Earl was not a church person and Inez was the one who went to church, Viner says.

Earl was instrumental in getting Surf City started. He and his brothers were involved in developing the city, particularly as they “owned the center of the land, Sears Landing, all the way up several blocks over almost to the curve before getting to Topsail Beach.”

Education was important to both Earl and Inez, and all four of their children graduated from college. Viner, their youngest, went to East Carolina University and recently retired as a clinical psychologist. Donald also went to East Carolina. Gerald went to N.C. State, and Anne went to Wilmington College, which is now the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW).

The Batts family has been traced all the way back to the 1700s to southern Spring 2022

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PEOPLE

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Virginia. They migrated to “This land means a lot to us Wilmington and the Pender and a lot to my daddy’s County area over the years. In fact, descendants,” Viner says.

Pender used to be a part of New However, she adds that she and Hanover County. The family is her siblings “were happy knowing deeply rooted in the Topsail area. this part of our heritage would Viner says the “cemetery where benefit many others in the long grandaddy’s father and grandfather run, and we could see it somewhat are is not too far from where we like we remember when we were lived on Belt Road, on the sound.” farming the land.”

The Batts children as adults.

Earl is buried in Sneads Ferry, Earl was a humble man who did where his mother was from. not want to be the center of “We always lived on the mainland,” Viner says. “Where the attention, even given his many accomplishments. Inez, park is now, that’s the land we farmed.” She remembers fondly likewise, found her happiness in her garden and not in the that “you smell the salt water in between where we lived and public eye. Viner and her siblings, though, wanted to where we farmed.” There are still trails there that were used recognize them, particularly when the naming opportunity by previous inhabitants, and her brother used to find stone was offered to them by Town Manager Kyle Breuer for the arrowheads on their land. new recreational complex on their land. Viner says they “first The decision to sell her family’s land to the Town of Surf put daddy’s name then thought they were a team. She was as City was not easy. much a part of everything he did.” 

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Hampstead Preschool of the Arts

I

n case you haven’t seen it yet, there’s a new preschool in Hampstead. Heading north on U.S. Highway 17 just past Matter More Coffee on the left is the recently opened Hampstead Preschool of the Arts (HPA). After successfully operating the Wilmington Preschool of the Arts for five years, owners Margie and James Butts wanted to emulate the success of their first location with a new one in Hampstead. After some remodeling for expansion, they are ready to bring a top-level preschool experience to local children.

“By providing a setting that fosters selfesteem, builds confidence and is based on respect, it is our goal that the children will be empowered to take risks in learning,” Margie says.

“Hampstead is growing, and children are thirsty for some normalcy in these crazy times. We are able to offer it to them right here where they live and play.”

With a highly competent team of creative, well-educated staff who love to work together, HPA seeks to establish a positive personal interaction with their children and regard

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Business Profile

BY BRIAN WILNER

each child as an important, capable individual.

“We believe that young children are concrete learners who learn by doing,” Margie says. “Children use all their senses to explore and learn about their environment. They feel a sense of security from pattern, rhythm and predictability within their days.”

HPA offers half-day (8 am to 12:30 pm), extended-day (8 am to 2:30 pm) and full-day preschool (7 am to 5:30 pm). They offer daily specials such as art, dance, music, soccer and lots of outside play along with kindergarten prep.

Margie adds that young children are looking to the adults in their lives to provide a safe and nurturing environment where they have lots of time for uninterrupted play, to participate in real-life activities and to simply enjoy being a child.

Hampstead Preschool of the Arts 15965 U.S. Highway 17, Hampstead (910) 406-1358, hampsteadartspreschoolnc.com

Chef James The Englishman

W

ho wouldn't love to have a personal chef come to their home and cook them a five-course gourmet meal?

Chef James McEowen is making this a reality for people in the Topsail area.

James is already known for his delicious food and menus at Fat Burgers in Sneads Ferry, but his true passion is gourmet. That’s why he also provides fine five-star dining to the community in the form of personal chef services.

For Chef James, cooking is a lifestyle.

“I breathe, eat and sleep the kitchen life,” he says.

His passion for food started at a young age, and he says he was bred into the restaurant industry. Both of his parents owned and ran restaurants even before he was born. He says he was blessed to be raised in a multicultural family with an American father and English mother.

They met when his father moved to England, and when James was born they moved back to America to chase the American dream.

James thanks his parents for instilling

in him the love of food. He says his mother was the cook in the house, and his dad was more the brain of the operation. The family sat down to eat together every night, and every holiday, family special event or birthdays was held at his family’s home.

“Food has always been the focus of life,” James says. “I would see how much love had been put into cooking a beautiful meal and how much it meant to my mum when we enjoyed it. Cooking has always been a way to express love, family and togetherness. Food equals happiness.”

James moved to England when he was 19 to attend Carshalton College for a degree in culinary arts and hospitality, and he was top of his class all three years. While living in England, James took the opportunity to train and sharpen his skills under some amazing chefs.

His love for fine dining started when he got a commis chef job at The Pheasant Hotel in North Norfolk on the coast of England. He worked there for two years training under his mentor Chef Erling Rugsten and earning his way

Business Profile

BY MICHELLE MACKEN through the ranks of the kitchen. This is what he wants to bring to your kitchen — a one-on-one, first-hand experience into the world of gourmet cooking.

“With my background and connections to many cultures, I love to infuse American flavors with the techniques I've learned overseas to give the customer a flavor explosion they won't forget,” he says.

James adds that being a chef is more than just a job, it's a passion.

“I get to express myself through food, and there's no better feeling than seeing a smile on someone's face when they love what I’ve cooked for them,” he says.

“I got into this business because I love it.

It feels like I never work a day in my life because I love what I do.”

Personal chef services are ideal for events and special celebrations or for making vacations more relaxing, and James will work with you to plan the meal of your dreams.

For booking, pricing or information on Chef James’ personal chef services, call (910) 520-1594 or visit chefjamesnc.com

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SNIPPET

 To promote environmental management on Topsail Island, the Topsail Island Shoreline Protection Commission (TISPC) held a luncheon on February 3, inviting more than 65 guests that included State House Representative Carson Smith, Chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners David Piepmeyer, Onslow County Commissioner Mark Price and other local officials, business leaders and friends of the Topsail Island community. Pender County Tourism Director Tammy Proctor co-hosted the event with Steve Smith, chairman of the TISPC and mayor of Topsail Beach. The event took place at the assembly building at Missiles and More Museum. Mayor Smith talked about waste and two programs that help businesses be more environmentally friendly. Guest speakers represented Karen Beasley Turtle

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Topsail Island Shoreline Protection Commission Luncheon

Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, North Carolina Coastal Federation, Visit NC and Outdoor NC as well as the Salty Turtle Beer Company, which talked about their environmental business practices.

For more information on the commission, visit their website at tispc.org.

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SNIPPET

Sundown in the Ferry 2022  Get ready for summer fun in Sneads Ferry! Sundown in the Ferry is a free summer concert series established

PHOTOS BY FOWLER PHOTOGRAPHY AND DRONES

by The Satellite Club of The Rotary Club of Sneads Ferry. This year’s events will feature live music, vendors, food trucks, family-friendly activities and more. Save the dates: May 28, June 25, July 30 and August 20.

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SNIPPET

Annual Dolphin Dip in Surf City  Surf City’s annual Dolphin Dip may have been cancelled in 2021, but it came back stronger than ever for its

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

20th annual event on Saturday, January 1, 2022. Hundreds of people came out to the beach dressed in costumes to support Share The Table, a nonprofit organization that helps hungry families in Pender and Onslow counties.

When the clock struck noon, attendees rushed into the water (and rushed out just as quickly), washing away the previous year and starting the new year refreshed and restored. Trophies were awarded for best costumes in youth, adult and group categories.

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FACES & PLACES

Business After Hours The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours was held February 17, 2022, at Surf City Line Restaurant & Bar.

Doug Lowry, Kaylee Estrada, Mike Wallace, Sandi Lowry

Candice Foxworth, Patrick Hoffman, Brad Puffer

PHOTOS BY BILL RITENOUR

Melinda Robinson and Cynthia Jones

Jay Robinson, Jeff Peterson, Chris Peterson

Tammy and Jim Proctor

Scott Franko, Jay Belloma, Jeff Peterson

Lillian Jernigan, Jo Anne DeRossett, Mike Holloway

Annette Cox Erny and Nealie Williams

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NEED TO KNOW

New to the area?

Find more information and numbers at TopsailMag.com

Where are the nearest emergency rooms?

NHRMC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT NORTH

151 Scotts Hill Drive Wilmington, NC 28411 (910) 662-9000 ONSLOW MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

317 Western Boulevard Jacksonville, NC 28546 (910) 577-2240 PENDER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

507 E. Fremont Street Burgaw, NC 28425 (910) 259-5451

Where are the nearest drug stores?

REALO DISCOUNT DRUGS

15441 U.S. Highway 17, Suite 801 Hampstead, NC 28443 CVS/PHARMACY

13461 N.C. Highway 50 Surf City, NC 28445 (910) 329-0484 PUBLIX PHARMACY AT ARBORETUM IN SURF CITY

2765 N.C. Highway 210 E. Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 803-6010 WALMART PHARMACY

420 Fun Center Drive Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 803-6003

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HARRIS TEETER PHARMACY

LOWES FOODS OF HAMPSTEAD

203 Alston Boulevard Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 329-0711

17230 U.S. Highway 17 Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 270-6300

JOHNSON DRUG HAMPSTEAD

FOOD LION IN HAMPSTEAD

17230 U.S. Highway 17 Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 270-2223

14564 U.S. Highway 17 Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 270-9703

CVS/PHARMACY AT HAMPSTEAD

PUBLIX AT ARBORETUM IN SURF CITY

14636 U.S. Highway 17 Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 270-2970

2765 N.C. Highway 201 E. Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 329-1000

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14057 U.S. Highway 17, Suite 100 Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 319-6050

420 Fun Center Drive Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 803-6001

CVS/PHARMACY

SURF CITY IGA

1309 N.C. Highway 210 Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 (910) 327-2052

106 S. Topsail Drive Surf City, NC 28445 (910) 328-3961

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1016 Old Folkstone Rd #214 Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 910-327-2454

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Where are the nearest grocery stores?

Where are the post offices?

FOOD LION IN SURF CITY

213 Holly Street Holly Ridge, NC 28445

13601 N.C. Highway 50 Surf City, NC 28445 (910) 329-1163 HARRIS TEETER

203 Alston Boulevard Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 329-0711

HOLLY RIDGE

SURF CITY

13567 N.C. Highway 50, Suite D Holly Ridge, NC 28445 HAMPSTEAD

121 Dan Owen Drive Hampstead, NC 28443

NEED TO KNOW

Find our publications in the comfort of your own home.

SNEADS FERRY

2001 N.C. Highway 172 Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 TOPSAIL BEACH

714 S. Anderson Boulevard Topsail Beach, NC 28445

Where are the town halls located?

SURF CITY TOWN HALL

Scan to read on your device.

201 Community Center Drive Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 328-4131 TOPSAIL BEACH TOWN HALL

820 S. Anderson Boulevard Topsail Beach, NC 28445 (910) 328-5841

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Point the camera at the QR code of the publication you wish to view below.

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH TOWN HALL

2008 Loggerhead Court North Topsail Beach, NC 28460 (temporary location at: 1000 N. C. Highway 210 Sneads Ferry, NC 28460) (910) 328-1349

Tap the notification to open the link associated with the QR code.

Summer 2020 | SouthBrunswickMagazine.com

Fall 2020

HOLLY RIDGE TOWN HALL

212 N. Dyson Street Holly Ridge, NC 28445 (910) 329-7081

CHRIS STEVENSON HAS A

15060 U.S. Highway 17 Hampstead, NC 28443 (910) 270-6704

No place like home

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SHEAD’S BRITISH COTTAGE GARDEN

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MODEL RAILROAD CLUB

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805 S. Walker Street Burgaw, NC 28425 (910) 259-1200

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NEW RIVER INLET TIDES

Apr il D a t e

High Tide AM Time (EST)

May

Low Tide PM

Height Time (ft) (EST)

AM

PM

Height Time Height Time Height (ft) (EST) (ft) (EST) (ft)

D a t e

High Tide AM Time (EST)

June Low Tide

PM Height Time (ft) (EST)

AM

PM

Height Time Height Time Height (ft) (EST) (ft) (EST) (ft)

D a t e

High Tide AM Time (EST)

Low Tide PM

Height Time (ft) (EST)

AM

PM

Height Time Height Time Height (ft) (EST) (ft) (EST) (ft)

1

8:34

3.2

8:55

3.5

2:28

-0.3

2:40

-0.3

1

8:47

2.7

9:07

3.6

2:57

0.0

2:39

0.0

1

9:39

2.3

9:58

3.4

3:59

0.2

3:21

2

9:14

3.0

9:35

3.5

3:13

-0.2

3:16

-0.2

2

9:25

2.6

9:44

3.5

3:38

0.0

3:14

0.1

2

10:18

2.2

10:36

3.3

4:38

0.2

3:59

0.3

3

9:53

2.8

10:13

3.4

3:57

-0.2

3:50

-0.1

3

10:03

2.4

10:22

3.4

4:18

0.1

3:49

0.2

3

10:59

2.2

11:16

3.2

5:18

0.3

4:40

0.3

4

10:32

2.6

10:52

3.3

4:40

0.0

4:25

0.0

4

10:42

2.3

11:01

3.3

4:59

0.2

4:26

0.3

4

11:43

2.1

11:59

3.1

5:59

0.3

5:24

0.4

5

11:11

2.4

11:33

3.2

5:23

0.1

5:01

0.2

5

11:23

2.2

11:44

3.1

5:42

0.3

5:06

0.4

5

--

--

12:30

2.2

6:41

0.4

6:14

0.5

0.2

6

11:52

2.2

--

--

6:09

0.3

5:40

0.3

6

--

--

12:09

2.1

6:28

0.4

5:51

0.5

6

12:44

3.0

1:22

2.3

7:24

0.4

7:10

0.5

7

12:18

3.0

12:39

2.0

6:59

0.4

6:26

0.4

7

12:31

3.0

1:01

2.0

7:17

0.5

6:44

0.6

7

1:32

2.9

2:17

2.4

8:08

0.3

8:12

0.5

8

1:09

2.9

1:35

1.9

7:56

0.5

7:21

0.5

8

1:23

2.9

2:00

2.1

8:09

0.5

7:44

0.6

2:08

2.8

2:40

1.9

8:58

0.6

8:26

0.6

2:18

2.8

3:00

2.2

9:01

0.5

8:51

0.6

0.5

9

9

10

3:11

2.7

3:45

2.0

9:57

0.5

9:34

0.5

10

3:15

2.8

3:57

2.5

9:49

0.4

9:56

0.5

11

4:11

2.8

4:42

2.2

10:47

0.4

10:37

0.4

12

5:04

2.9

5:31

2.5

11:31

0.3

11:33

0.3

13

5:50

3.0

6:15

2.8

--

--

12:09

0.1

14

6:34

3.1

6:57

3.2

12:23

0.1

12:46

0.0

15

7:16

3.1

7:39

3.5

1:11

-0.1

1:23

-0.2

16

7:58

3.1

8:22

3.8

1:57

-0.2

2:01

-0.3

17

8:41

3.1

9:06

3.9

2:44

-0.3

2:41

-0.4

18

9:26

2.9

9:52

4.0

3:33

-0.3

3:23

-0.4

19

10:13

2.8

10:42

4.0

4:23

-0.3

4:08

-0.3

20

11:04

2.7

11:36

3.9

5:16

-0.2

4:58

-0.2

21

--

--

12:00

2.5

6:14

-0.1

5:54

-0.1

22

12:35

3.7

1:05

2.4

7:17

0.1

6:59

0.1

23

1:40

3.5

2:17

2.4

8:24

0.1

8:12

0.2

24

2:50

3.3

3:31

2.5

9:30

0.1

9:29

0.2

25

3:58

3.2

4:37

2.7

10:30

0.1

10:41

0.2

26

5:26

2.7

6:04

3.3

11:35

0.0

26

5:00

3.1

5:35

3.0

11:23

0.0

11:45

0.1

27

6:15

2.6

6:48

3.5

12:26

0.2

27

5:54

3.1

6:26

3.2

--

--

12:09

-0.1

28

7:00

2.5

7:28

3.5

1:15

0.1

28

6:43

3.0

7:10

3.4

12:40

0.0

12:51

-0.1

29

7:42

2.5

8:06

3.6

1:59

29

7:27

2.9

7:52

3.5

1:29

0.0

1:29

-0.1

30

8:22

2.4

8:43

3.6

30

8:08

2.8

8:30

3.6

2:14

-0.1

2:05

-0.1

31

9:00

2.3

9:20

3.5

11

4:10

2.8

4:48

2.8

10:33

0.2

10:57

0.3

12

5:01

2.8

5:36

3.1

11:16

0.1

11:53

0.1

13

5:51

2.9

6:23

3.5

11:58

-0.1

--

--

14

6:39

2.9

7:09

3.9

12:45

0.0

12:41

-0.2

15

7:27

2.9

7:57

4.1

1:37

-0.2

1:25

-0.4

16

8:16

2.9

8:45

4.3

2:28

-0.3

2:11

-0.4

17

9:06

2.8

9:36

4.3

3:19

-0.3

2:59

-0.4

18

9:58

2.7

10:29

4.2

4:12

-0.3

3:51

-0.4

19

10:53

2.7

11:24

4.0

5:07

-0.2

4:46

-0.3

20

11:53

2.6

--

--

6:04

-0.1

5:46

-0.1

21

12:23

3.7

12:59

2.6

7:04

0.0

6:53

0.1

22

1:26

3.5

2:08

2.6

8:05

0.0

8:05

0.2

23

2:30

3.2

3:17

2.8

9:04

0.0

9:20

0.3

24

3:33

3.0

4:20

2.9

9:59

0.0

10:29

0.3

25

4:32

2.9

5:15

3.1

10:50

0.0

11:31

8

2:24

2.8

3:12

2.7

8:53

0.2

9:18

9

3:19

2.7

4:07

3.0

9:39

0.1

10:22

0.3

10

4:15

2.7

5:00

3.4

10:26

0.0

11:24

0.2

11

5:10

2.7

5:52

3.7

11:15

-0.2

--

--

12

6:05

2.7

6:44

4.0

12:22

0.0

12:05

-0.3

13

7:00

2.7

7:36

4.2

1:18

-0.2

12:56

-0.4

14

7:54

2.7

8:29

4.4

2:12

-0.3

1:48

-0.5

15

8:48

2.7

9:22

4.3

3:05

-0.3

2:42

-0.5

16

9:44

2.8

10:16

4.2

3:59

-0.3

3:38

-0.5

17

10:41

2.8

11:11

4.0

4:52

-0.3

4:36

-0.3

18

11:41

2.8

--

--

5:47

-0.2

5:37

-0.2

19

12:07

3.7

12:44

2.8

6:42

-0.2

6:42

0.0

20

1:04

3.4

1:49

2.9

7:36

-0.1

7:51

0.2

21

2:03

3.1

2:53

2.9

8:30

0.0

9:01

0.3

22

3:02

2.8

3:53

3.1

9:22

0.0

10:10

0.4

23

4:00

2.6

4:48

3.2

10:11

0.0

11:12

0.4

0.2

24

4:55

2.4

5:38

3.3

10:58

0.1

--

--

--

25

5:46

2.3

6:22

3.4

12:07

0.3 11:41 AM

0.1

12:16

0.0

26

6:33

2.3

7:04

3.4

12:56

0.3

12:23

0.1

12:54

0.0

27

7:16

2.2

7:44

3.5

1:40

0.2

1:03

0.1

0.1

1:31

0.0

28

7:57

2.3

8:22

3.5

2:21

0.2

1:42

0.1

2:40

0.1

2:07

0.1

29

8:37

2.3

8:59

3.5

3:00

0.2

2:21

0.1

3:20

0.1

2:44

0.1

30

9:16

2.3

9:37

3.4

3:37

0.2

3:00

0.1

*TIDE CHARTS ARE ACCURATE TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE. IF YOU ARE CHECKING TIDES FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES, PLEASE VERIFY THESE TIMES WITH ANOTHER SOURCE.

96

Topsail Magazine

--

ADVERTISERS INDEX

Advertiser

Phone# Page#

Advertiser

Phone#

Page#

Access Realty..................................................910-329-9800

BC

Kinco Inc........................................................910-803-0695

AnA Builder's, Inc............................................910-329-9819

BC

Landmark Sotheby's International Realty...........910-328-2276 14 & 15

Beach Bums Pizza Bar & Grill...........................910-328-1044

76

Linen & Leather Interiors..................................910-803-0048

84

Beach Furniture Outfitters Inc...........................910-803-0455

28

Low Tide Steakhouse & Sandbar........................910-803-0738

9

Beach Shop & Grill..........................................910-328-6501

7

Mia's Marketplace............................................910-803-0316

66

Burrito Shak....................................................910-803-2382

48

New Estuary Home Care...................................910-541-1160

75

Carolina Coast Contracting................................910-328-6400

54

New River Pottery............................................910-791-7522

61

Cheek & Belly Catering Co................................910-407-1819

82

NHRMC and Novant Health..............................910-254-1033

IFC

Chef James the Englishman..............................910-520-1594

85

Oliver's Photography........................................910-650-4633

87

Coastal Carolina Real Estate.............................910-329-1133

54

Organize with Jess...........................................844-267-4264

78

Coastal Insurance............................................910-754-4326

66

Pet Supplies Plus............................................910-803-2440

11

Coastal Window Fashions of NC........................910-388-6995

61

Pierpan Dentistry.............................................910-270-1222

5

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage................910-328-5626

37

Quarter Moon..................................................910-328-4969

76

Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry .............910-329-8191

40

Sandy Toes Boutique........................................910-541-2091

78

Sea Vista Motel...............................................910-328-2171

38

Shorefront Construction....................................910-241-0477

BC

South End Outfitters........................................910-541-0832

7

Southern Roots Grille.......................................910-803-0773

90

Surf City Dental...............................................910-329-0298

80

Surf City Pet Hospital......................................910-329-4700

80

The Daily Grind Surf City..................................910-541-0471

92

The Fancy Flamingo.........................................910-465-3776

90

The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce ......................

70

The Topsail Island Trading Company..................910-328-1905

31

Topsail Home Watch........................................910-233-0410

80

Topsail Steamer...............................................910-328-2645

78

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage Holly Hobbs....................................................415-748-8227

43

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage Tanner Gray.....................................................910-547-9618

25

Computer Warriors...........................................910-238-2277

86

Crew Insurance................................................910-329-3691

83

East Coast Framing Contractors Inc...................910-234-9801

70

East Coast Sports............................................910-328-1887

60

EmergeOrtho...................................................910-332-3800

22

Floors Galore...................................................910-886-1700

53

Hampstead Preschool of the Arts.......................910-406-1358

75, 84

Holtzman Propane...........................................888-306-4243

83

Inis Spa..........................................................910-328-3988

69

Intracoastal Realty Corporation.........................910-328-3000

13

76, 83

Intracoastal Realty Corporation Topsail Area Agents..........................................910-328-3000

3

Town of Surf City.............................................910-328-4131

16

Intercoastal Mortgage, LLC...............................910-389-1865

65

Treasure Realty................................................910-327-4444

IBC

Intercoastal Mortgage, LLC — Patty Davis..........910-617-3135

75

Unique Media & Design Inc..............................910-526-7926

88

Island Time Cleaning & Construction.................910-520-1594

58

unWINEd........................................................910-541-0095

92

Keller Williams — Angie Wilkie.........................910-777-7945

69

Wilmington Cleaning & Sanitation.....................910-538-1005

70

Spring 2022

97

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

NAMASTE (Kylie enjoying Topsail beach) Photo captured by Lauren Sigmon

HAVE YOU CAPTURED THE MOMENT? If so, email your photos to capture@topsailmag.com.

98

Topsail Magazine

You’re sitting on gold.

TreasureRealty.com TRUSTED LOCAL EXPERTS

Buying or Selling?

If you are selling, you could be sitting on gold. If you are buying, it is a great time to find your treasure. Whether buying or selling it pays to choose a realty firm that knows how to get the best results both on and off the Island. With more than three decades of experience and success, Treasure Realty is consistently a top-selling agency in the Greater Topsail area.

Talk to us today if you are considering buying or selling a property.

Call Today! 910-327-4444 The Greater Topsail Area is defined by the Chamber of Commerce as the combined communities of Scotts Hill, Hampstead, Holly Ridge, Sneads Ferry, Topsail Beach, Surf City and North Topsail Beach.

Residential Built By

listed FoR sale By

CommeRCial Built By

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION: 910.241.0477 | SaleS@BeachSideVillageTownhomeS.com