Topsail Magazine Summer 2024 Edition

THE Saving

POINT

North Carolina Coastal Land Trust steps in to help save the southernmost portion of Topsail Beach from development, but much support is needed.

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TOPSAIL ISLAND BREWING WAS WORTH THE WAIT LITTLE PINK HOUSES OF HOPE SPREADS JOY REVITALIZING BURGAW WITH RICHARD JOHNSON

38 WORTH THE WAIT

Four years in the making, Topsail Island Brewing is open as Sneads Ferry’s first and only brewpub.

Meet Richard Johnson the social entrepreneur working to revitalize the town of Burgaw and making meaningful investments in southeastern North Carolina

BUSINESS

Larry’s Deli-Que is a delicious combo of deli sandwiches and Southern barbecue. 57 NONPROFIT

Little Pink Houses of Hope provides breast cancer patients, survivors and their families with a free weeklong vacation on Topsail Island.

73 W HAT’S NEW

Meet Katie and Houston Lowder, the owners of Lowder’s Furniture and Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports.

S

North Carolina Coastal Land Trust steps in to help save the southernmost portion of Topsail Beach from development, but much support is needed.

At Margherita Pizza Co. the Renna family brings authentic Italian eats to Surf City.

Summer 2024 - Volume 5, Issue 3

CEO/PUBLISHER: Justin Williams

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: Sandi Grigg

COPY EDITOR: Molly Harrison

CONTRIBUTING GRAPHICS:

Teresa Kramer S amantha Lowe

Elizabeth Dale Niemann

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Brian Wilner

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS:

D aria Amato C ity 2 Sea Media

Megan Deitz Pat Fontana

A dam Hawley M att McGraw

Vicky Oliver Bill Ritenour

S easide Topsail Photography A my Shores

James Stefiuk Town of Surf City Fire Department

Unique Media & Design Wi lton Wescott

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

A nna Beth Adcock A shley Daniels

Pat Fontana S andi Grigg

C ameron Rhinehardt A nnesophia Richards

Melissa Slaven Warren

MARKETING INTERN: Sophie Lesanek

FOUNDER: B.J. Cothran

PUBLISHED BY: CAROLINA MARKETING COMPANY, INC.

PO Box 1361, Leland, NC 28451 (910) 207-0156 • info@TopsailMag.com

Reproduction or use of the contents in this magazine is prohibited.

©2024 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.

About the cover:

Photographer Adam Hawley of Unique Media & Design captured our cover image of Serenity Point, aka The South End of Topsail Island, by drone. See Melissa Slaven Warren’s accompanying story on page 44.

Samantha Lowe

CONTRIBUTING GRAPHICS

I am a two-time award-winning graphic designer based in Hampstead. After graduating from Kansas State University, I quickly became a senior designer for New Boston Creative Group. A move down South shifted me into the freelancing world, and after 15 years I have not looked back. I have worked for a variety publications across the Southeast as art director and designer. When people ask me to describe myself in a few words, I say: faith, family, design and dark chocolate.

Cameron Rhinehardt

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A North Carolina native, I have lived all around the state from the mountains to sea, finally landing in Raleigh at N.C. State University. After graduating in May 2023, I decided to remain in the City of Oaks while working in various creative roles, from digital media to journalism. I found my passion for journalistic writing through working at N.C. State’s student newspaper as a news and culture writer. From there, my love for it continued to skyrocket! I adore all things North Carolina, but I have a special place in my heart for the coast after spending six months living in Holden Beach (and becoming a regular at Provision Co). In my free time, I check out local breweries, travel all over the state, scope out live music or chill out with my two cats.

Melissa Slaven Warren

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I am a freelance writer who lives in Sunset Beach. I earned my BA in English from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and am currently pursuing my masters in Liberal Studies from UNCW. I have been a freelance business writer, feature article author, nonfiction essayist, technical editor, entrepreneur, product and brand manager. My work has appeared in Our State magazine and I am a regular contributor to local publications. In my spare time I enjoy water sports and coastal living with my husband, Bill, and 110 lb. rescue dog, aptly named Bear. Visit my website at melissaslavenwarren.com.

Summer in Heaven

WWelcome to summer, the best time of the year at the beach!

It was a humbling and proud spring for us at Topsail Magazine. Five years after taking over this magazine and entering the Topsail area market, the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce honored us with the Business of the Year Award and the Greater Wilmington Business Journal ’s Coastal Entrepreneur Award as well. To say that we are appreciative would be an understatement.

When I received the awards on behalf of all the great people on our team who help put this product together, I mentioned that the Topsail-area community is truly amazing. I consider myself lucky to be able to share the stories about this little piece of heaven. I know that you, our readers, whether you are locals or visitors, love this community too, and I thank you for reading Topsail Magazine. And I want to thank all the advertisers who make sharing these stories possible. We could not do this without you.

Our team worked hard to put this summer edition together, and I hope you enjoy it. One story that has been impactful on the community is the story of Serenity Point and how the N.C. Coastal Land Trust is working to acquire the southern end of Topsail Island. Photographer Adam Hawley and I boated out to get some images for our article, and on page 44 you’ll see why it’s so important to keep this area in its natural state and learn how you can help.

To fuel all your summer adventures, you’ll need to eat well, and we’ve got a couple stories about where to find tasty fare, from a diverse deli to a new pizza place to Sneads Ferry’s first and only brewpub.

We also introduce you to Little Pink Houses of Hope, a nonprofit that provides breast cancer patients, survivors and their families with a free weeklong vacation on Topsail Island.

Enjoy your summer in the Topsail area! If you’re not here year round and you want to get Topsail Magazine at home, please subscribe at TopsailMag.com or follow us online at @TopsailMagazine.

Justin Williams Owner/Publisher

Publisher@TopsailMag.com  JustinW13

Publisher Justin Williams with Bella and Bib, photographer Adam Hawley’s canine assistants, on location for our Serenity Point article that begins on page 44.

PHOTO BY UNIQUE MEDIA & DESIGN

Tag, you’re it!

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

@jackety_jack

Shaka Taco

City, North Carolina

PRESCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP FUN

Soundside Meadow Day School delivers enrichment for preschoolers in Hampstead. Renee Richard and Joanna Alexander are best friends who share the same dream. While organizing play dates and thematic events and celebrations with their preschool-aged children, they discussed the reality of opening their own preschool in their home community of Hampstead.

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EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Pender County Schools named Teacher of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year and Principal of the Year at its 2023-24 Awards Banquet.

Megan Justice, a social studies teacher at Topsail High School, was honored with the title of Teacher of the Year. Dr. Sonya Oates, principal of Cape Fear Elementary, received the title of Principal of the Year. Paula KingJacobs, assistant principal at Burgaw Middle School, was named Assistant Principal of the Year.

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THE STORY OF OCEAN CITY

by Pat Fontana

The history of the Ocean City community is now on full display in an expanded and enhanced exhibit at the Missiles & More Museum in Topsail Beach.

Ocean City, a rare beach community where Blacks could have home ownership in the 1940s, has been an important part of Topsail Island’s history and culture since it was founded in 1949. Details of that history, including the background and the timeline, were recently added to an exhibit at the Missiles & More Museum in Topsail Beach. The museum celebrated the expanded exhibit at an open house on April 20.

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ASTRONOMY EDUCATION

by Pat Fontana

Coastal Pender Rotary and Surf City Rotary join efforts on an astronomy project that benefits 6th-grade science students at Topsail Middle and Surf City Middle schools.

Sixth-grade science students at two area middle schools are enjoying a long list of new astronomy supplies, thanks to a grant idea and a collaboration honoring a late Rotary Club member. Each class now has astronomy globes, constellation maps, earth and moon models, and Dark Skys projectors, among other tools for learning more about their universe.

NEW NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce launches Coastal Connections for making business connections.

People do business with people they know. It sounds simple, but making connections can be challenging, especially for small business owners who devote so much time to the office.

On June 6 the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is launching a new networking opportunity for the business community.

Pender High School JROTC

Mixed Raider Team Takes the Crown

Pender High School’s JROTC Mixed Raider Team came out on top at the Regional Raider Best of the Best Competition held in Chesterfield, Virginia, on April 20. The highly competitive event featured teams from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C. The Patriot Battalion Raider Team showed off their amazing skills by securing first place across all events, including the 5K team run, the team litter carry obstacle course, the team physical fitness course, the fireman’s carry relay race and the one-rope bridge. Guided by the leadership of senior Madison Giddeons, the team includes seniors Olivia Gurganus, Oscar Galvan and Jamiah Johnson; juniors Carter Brown, Luis Garcia-Maurilio, Gregory Greene and Mallory Psioda; sophomore Pasco Horton; and freshman Emma McKoy. Under the coaching of teacher and Army Instructor CSM(R) David Shaw, the Raider team concluded the season with an impeccable 7-0 record, showcasing their dedication, discipline and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Dr. Michael Sasscer Appointed Principal of Topsail High School

Pender County Schools has announced that Dr. Michael Sasscer will be the principal of Topsail High School for the 2024-25 school year. With a career spanning more than 28 years in education, Dr. Sasscer brings a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to academic excellence to his new role. Dr. Sasscer’s journey in education began with the prestigious NC Teaching Fellows scholarship during his high school years, laying the foundation for his passion for teaching

and lifelong learning. His tenure as superintendent and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at Edenton-Chowan Schools, coupled with leadership roles in Dare County Schools and Currituck County Schools, attests to his visionary leadership and dedication to instructional innovation.

As he assumes the role of principal of Topsail High School, Dr. Sasscer is poised to lead with vision, integrity and a relentless focus on student achievement. Supported by his wife, Amy, and their twins, Luke and Molly, he looks forward to collaborating with the school community to create an environment that nurtures the academic, social and emotional growth of every student.

Historical Society of Topsail Island Awards 2024 Scholarships

For almost 30 years, the Historical Society of Topsail Island (HSTI) has awarded scholarships to high school graduating seniors. This year HSTI awarded four scholarships at the annual scholarship luncheon on April 11. The scholarships ranged in value from $3,000 to $6,000. The following 2024 scholarship recipients are students from schools in Onslow and Pender county.

 Lillian Padgett from Topsail High School wrote her winning essay about an astronaut, Christina Hammock Koch, who grew up in Jacksonville, N.C.

 McKenzie Tomlinson from Dixon High School received a scholarship for her essay about The History of the Rosenwald Schools of Pender County.

 Lillian Swan , also from Topsail High School, is a scholarship recipient for her essay, A New Road to Peace about the Moores Creek Battlefield.

 Gabriella Colón is a student at Early Pender High School. Her essay was entitled Rosenwald Schools in Pender County.

The students made presentations about their essays at the awards luncheon. Attending the luncheon in addition to HSTI members, the scholarship recipients and their family members were Topsail High School (THS) Counselors Celina McGee and Sheila Sheats, THS Scholarship Coordinator Jonathan Buchanan; Dixon High School (DHS) Counselor Yulissa Balsamo, DHS Principal Curtis Ehmann, Pender Early College (PEC) Counselor Abby Robbins and PEC Career Development Coordinator Shannon Grable.

Island Hydration & Aesthetics Ribbon Cutting

On April 4 the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Island Hydration & Aesthetics. The new business, owned by medical professional Amber Johnson, is located at 200 Cape Fear Circle, Suite 3 in Sneads Ferry. Island Hydration and Aesthetics provides specialized wellness and beauty services tailored to individual requirements.

Alpha Osteopractic Ribbon Cutting

On April 3 the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Alpha Osteopractic located at 14669-B U.S. Highway 17 N. in Hampstead. At Alpha Osteopractic Brittany Forbes, known affectionately as Dr. B, offers one-on-one physical therapy services to eliminate pain and optimize wellness.

True Blue Butcher and Baker Ribbon Cutting

On April 25 the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce was honored to meet with Bobby Zimmerman, the restauranteur behind the True Blue brand, as they welcomed True Blue Butcher and Baker to the chamber. True Blue Butcher and Baker, a Hampsteadbased bakery, supplies all the breads, rolls, hamburger buns and plated desserts for the True Blue restaurants in the Greater Wilmington area. The bakery offers a variety of breads, with sourdough being the largest seller. On weekends

they offer bagels in the New York tradition. The desserts are spectacular. The shop, located at 13865 U.S. Highway 17 near Arbor Landing, also offers prepared items such as meatballs, crabcakes and True Blue quality meats.

Greater Topsail Community Garden Celebrates First Harvest with Donation to Share the Table

The Greater Topsail Community Garden, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island and Surf City Rotary, was thrilled to reap its inaugural harvest, marking a significant milestone in the mission to cultivate community, promote sustainable living and address food insecurity. The garden’s dedicated volunteers have gathered an abundant bounty of fresh produce to donate to Share the Table, a local organization committed to alleviating hunger. Ten volunteers joined forces to handpick a total of 10 pounds of crisp spinach, 12 pounds of vibrant kale and half a pound of delightful breakfast radishes. These nutritious offerings hold an estimated value of nearly $175 if purchased at a local grocery store. This remarkable contribution underscores the power of collective effort in addressing food accessibility and fostering a healthier, more sustainable future for all. The Greater Topsail Community Garden extends its deepest gratitude to all volunteers, supporters and partners who have contributed to this milestone moment.

Paradise Pilates TI Ribbon Cutting

On April 17 the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a grand-opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony with Erin Canada, owner of Paradise Pilates TI. Celebrating with Canada were friends, family, officials from the Town of Surf City and chamber of commerce member businesses. Paradise Pilates TI is at 104 Charlie Medlin Drive, Unit E in Surf City and welcomes people of all ages to try reformer Pilates.

Pender County Schools Names Deborah Farmer an Educator Extraordinaire

In March 2024 Pender County Schools bestowed a welldeserved honor upon Deborah Farmer, an educator at Surf City Middle School, naming her the Mentor of the Month. This recognition is a testament to her outstanding contributions to peer mentorship and leadership within the educational community, underscoring the impact she has made. Farmer epitomizes the essence of an Educator Extraordinaire. With 13 years of teaching experience and as a 6th-grade math teacher since 2018, Farmer demonstrates exceptional dedication to fostering leadership in her peers and students. As the advisor for the Builders Club, sponsored by Kiwanis of Topsail Island, she actively encourages students to engage in service projects, including elementary student tutoring, organizing food drives for Share the Table and beautifying the school’s Discovery Courtyard with a flower garden. Farmer instills compassion, responsibility and service in her students. Farmer’s impact as an Educator Extraordinaire is evident in her ability to inspire students to become compassionate leaders and her commitment to supporting her fellow educators. Her leadership and dedication shape a brighter future for Surf City Middle School community and beyond, leaving a lasting and significant impact.

Pender County Schools Honored with Purple Star Award Designation

Pender County Schools has received the Purple Star Award Designation from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This recognition underscores the district’s commitment to supporting military families within the community. The Purple Star Award initiative was launched by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to acknowledge the state’s robust military presence and its dedication to serving military families. Schools receiving this designation demonstrate exemplary practices in supporting military students and families. Director of Student Services

Leanne Radabaugh and Assistant Superintendent Kevin Taylor accepted the Purple Star Award on behalf of Pender County Schools. Their leadership and dedication have been instrumental in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for military-affiliated students and families throughout the district. The district remains committed to upholding its military-friendly practices and continuing to support military students and families in every way possible.

Upstairs Hampstead Ribbon Cutting

On March 18 the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome Upstairs Hampstead to the chamber. Danielle Coleman started Upstairs Hampstead as a studio rental space for public and private events and a gathering place for a wide array of interests. They also host public events like yoga, art classes and live music. The ribbon-cutting ceremony included a musical performance by Vaughan Penn in The Listening Room, and refreshments were served. Upstairs Hampstead is at 17097 U.S. Highway 17, Suite B in Hampstead.

Santorini Greek and Italian Bistro Ribbon Cutting

On January 3 the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Santorini Greek and Italian Bistro. Jenna and Pete Skenteris’ new restaurant is at 205 S Topsail Drive in Surf City. The concept of Santorini is based on Pete’s family’s ethnic background. From Papou’s recipes to Jenna’s Italian creations, their goal is to bring a slice of the Mediterranean to Topsail Island.

21st Annual North Carolina Blueberry Festival

June 14 & 15

The North Carolina Blueberry Festival is celebrating its 21st year in June. The festival will take place on and around the Historic Pender County Courthouse square at 100 S. Wright Street. The kickoff concert will be held on June 14 from 7 to 10 pm, and the main festival will be on June 15 from 9 am to 10 pm. This free event includes 175 artisan vendors, fresh local blueberries for sale, children’s activities, beer and wine, delicious food and live music from well-loved beach music like Band of Oz, and more. The festival also encourages the public to participate in a wide range of events from the recipe contest and BBQ cook-off to a 5K race and car and truck show.

Information: ncblueberryfestival.com

Movies in the Park

June 14 & 28, July 12 & 26, August 9 & 23

Enjoy a free movie at Soundside Park in Surf City on select Friday nights during the summer months. The movie starts at sundown, with the pre-show fun and festivities beginning at 7 pm. Family-friendly activities and food vendors will be on site. Movie admission is free, with popcorn and drinks available for purchase. Parking is limited at the park, so you are encouraged to walk, bike or carpool if you can. Don’t forget to bring a chair or blanket to sit on.

Information: surfcitync.gov/calendar

Sip, Shop & Stroll

June 21, July 19, August 16

Join Surf City Parks, Recreation, & Tourism for a casual evening of live music while sipping on your favorite brew and chowing down on food from local food trucks. You can also find great island treasures as you shop from unique vendors.

Information: surfcitync.gov

2nd

Annual Juneteenth Celebration

June 22

Join the 1865 Society of Pender County for another great day of family fun, entertainment and education as they celebrate Juneteenth in Pender County.

Information: Facebook: The 1865 Society of Pender County, Inc.

Independence Day Celebration

July 3

The Town of Surf City’s Independence Day celebration will feature live music, food trucks, fireworks and fun. This event will be held at Soundside Park in Surf City.

Information: surfcitync.gov

Kids Summer Camp

July 8

Burgaw is offering a fun Kids Summer Camp. Registration will be taken online or at Town Hall, 109 N. Walker Street in Burgaw, until all slots are full. Summer Camp is geared to ages 7 to 12.

Information: burgawnc. gov/462/2024-kids-summer-camp

Touch A Truck

August 24

The Town of Surf City will host a Touch A Truck event at the Surf City Community Center from 9 am to 12 pm. Kids and adults alike will love this event.

Information: surfcitync.gov

53rd Sneads Ferry

Shrimp Festival

September 27 & 28

This year marks the 53rd annual Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival. This year’s event will include a parade, arts and craft vendors, food vendors, food competitions, live music and much more.

Information: sneadsferryshrimpfestival.org

Juneteenth Celebration

21st Annual North Carolina Blueberry Festival

Mother’s Little Helper

Get a cocktail-hour boost with this low-calorie, coffee-based cocktail.

BY SANDI GRIGG

YY’all, I have found the quintessential low-calorie “skinny mom” summer drink, and I want to share it with you. It combines soda, lemon, coffee and vodka for the perfect pick-me-up cocktail for us exhausted moms who want to watch our waistlines.

Let me add two disclaimers. One, I don’t think all moms should strive to be skinny. Moms are awesome no matter what size they are. But as “skinny mom” recipes are a trend for women concerned about caloric intake, I figured I could add one more to the mix. Two, this cocktail should only be enjoyed after all the carpooling, ball practices and kid drop-offs are complete (drink responsibly!).

After a long day of being the best mom I can be, I am typically too tired to do much with my spouse or friends. During the summer months, we are often invited to adult pool parties or downtown concerts, but I am just too tired and don’t have it in

me to be the fun adult I used to be — until I discovered adding coffee to my cocktail. This drink combines three of my favorite beverages. Most mornings I have a hankering for coffee to keep fuel in my tank. At lunch my go-to during the summer is Diet Coke with lemon because I want something that is bubbly and refreshing. I also enjoy a little vodka in the evening. Recently, I saw a TikTok video that promoted a drink combining ingredients very similar to these and I had to try it.

A friend and I went to the beach for a little girl time, and I took a big Thermos filled with this Skinny Mom cocktail. We sat on the beach enjoying the breeze, conversation and, most of all, this tasty concoction.

Instead of sipping on a sugary margarita or carb-filled beer this summer, try this sensational and low-calorie spirit. It will give you a youthful feel and keep you going for all the fun.

SKINNY MOM

Makes 1 drink

INGREDIENTS

Lemon Diet Coke

1 ounce vodka

2 ounces strong coffee

METHOD

Fill a cup with ice and pour some Diet Coke in, about ¼ of the way full.

Squeeze some lemon over the top and add the vodka and coffee.

Top with more Diet Coke and enjoy.

CatchoftheDay

HHave you ever been on one of those headboat ocean fishing tours? I’m not talking about a private deep-sea fishing charter with five of your friends; I’m talking about the fishing tour that has about 100 people lined down the sides of the boat with buckets of salted squid bait and rods provided by the boat. They take you a few miles out and will bait your hook for you, and they know exactly where to go so everyone gets a fish. You stand there dropping, jerking, reeling the entire time, and all anyone ever seems to catch is black sea bass. Black sea bass is also known as

Black sea bass, caught in abundance in North Carolina, is tender and firm and holds up well for pan searing.

BY SANDI GRIGG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES STEFIUK

blackfish, rock bass and pinbass.

Well, I am all too familiar with this because in my youth my family and our friends would do it every year. It is among one of my first and fondest coastal fishing memories and it turned me on to fishing right away. Unlike most fishing, I think my fondness came from the instant gratification of catching every single time I dropped the line; nonetheless, I saw myself as a 9-year-old professional angler.

At the time, I just thought it was fun and exciting to continuously catch fish. What I did not realize back then is that

black sea bass is a delicate, flaky and delicious fish offered in abundance right here in North Carolina. They migrate to inshore coastal areas and bays in the spring and head back offshore in the fall.

Black sea bass is tender but has a firm texture that holds up well for pan searing. It has a mild but sweet and delicate flavor so you do not need a heavy or thick sauce to cover up any fishy flavor.

I chose to pair my black sea bass recipe with a simple, fresh Mediterranean salsa. You can certainly

Have a recipe request for Southern Sandi? Shoot a message to Sandi@TopsailMag.com

serve roasted vegetables as an accompaniment, but my Mediterranean salsa adds to the refreshing herby flavors and presents so beautifully.

Black sea bass can be found at your local fish market at a very reasonable price, and the fishmonger would be happy to score it for you.

If you are not familiar with cooking fresh fish, then this would be a great fish and recipe to give it a try. Your tastebuds will thank you.

INGREDIENTS

4 skin-on black sea bass

fillets (1/2 lb. each)

Flour for dredging

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ cup dry vermouth

2 tablespoons capers

4 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley

1 tablespoon freshly chopped dill

For the Salsa

1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes

1 cup finely chopped English cucumber

½ cup finely chopped red onion

3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley (reserve

1 tablespoon for garnish)

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 garlic clove, minced

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon honey

1 tablespoon chopped black olives

Dash of salt and pepper

Sauteed Black Sea Bass with Mediterranean Salsa

Serves 4

METHOD

Make the salsa a day ahead, if possible, for extra flavor.

Mix all the ingredients for the Mediterranean salsa and place in the refrigerator to marinate.

For the fish

Pat fillets dry and slash the skin side of each fillet three or four times.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over mediumhigh.

Meanwhile, pour some flour on a plate (about 1 cup) and sprinkle with salt and pepper; mix to combine.

Press each fillet into the flour (both sides) and shake off excess. Throw away the remaining flour.

Add the fillets skin-side down and cook about 5 minutes, until the skin begins to crisp (thicker fillets may need additional time).

Flip fillets and cook the flesh side down for about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

Deglaze the pan by adding vermouth to the skillet and boiling until half evaporates –about 3 minutes.

Add butter, lemon juice and capers and cook until it begins to simmer and thicken – about 2 minutes.

Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the fresh chopped herbs.

Return the fillets to the skillet and spoon the butter sauce over the top.

Serve fillets with a spoonful of sauce on top alongside the salsa. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Agent of Change

Meet RICHARD JOHNSON

the social entrepreneur working to revitalize the town of Burgaw and making meaningful investments in southeastern North Carolina.

BY ANNA BETH ADCOCK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGAN DEITZ

FFrom a young age, Richard Johnson has had an interest in the business world, and that has not changed throughout the years.

“[Something that is] fundamental to my life as a businessman is the fact that I moved a lot and went to ten different schools while growing up,” Johnson says. “Those experiences gave me the ability to adapt to almost any situation.”

When he started his career as a technology recruiter in New York City, Johnson says he quickly understood

how speedily the industry was changing, especially with the ream of opportunities technology brought to the world.

In the late ’90s, the Bucknell graduate hit it big after founding an internet job search and recruiting website dubbed HotJobs. Perhaps part of what gave him the Midas touch on his first big business win was his willingness to take risks. Johnson took a leap and mortgaged his home to afford a $4 million Super Bowl ad

during the 1999 game — breaking down into $1.3 million for the ad itself, $700,000 to produce the ad, $1 million toward increasing network capacity and $1 million saved just in case. The risk paid off in droves — to the tune of more than $165 million. And that move continued to rake in the gains thanks to a $400 million deal with Yahoo for the rights to the cash-cow website.

After his success with HotJobs, Johnson continued to delve into investments and sales but this time

with a focus on benevolence, fostering communities and family. Relocating to the Wilmington area in 2005, Johnson amassed an array of philanthropic experiences via various nonprofit boards, not to mention by founding a few nonprofits of his own.

“When it comes to philanthropy, I am a bit opportunistic,” says Johnson, who calls himself a social entrepreneur. “My focus tends to be community, the environment and supporting children’s programs.

Southeastern NC is such a wonderful place with so many great people in it. In the 18 years I have lived

here, I’ve seen tremendous growth.”

More than a decade ago, he began a nonprofit titled Masonboro.org, a program that offers every 5th grader in the New Hanover County school system the opportunity to embark on an educational adventure to Masonboro Island. Since the program began in

2013, more than 10,000 students have field-tripped to the island.

“I think it is important for the community to come together and have a say in how we grow,” Johnson says. “That’s why I’m so proud of organizations that I have started like Masonboro.org. It teaches our children and educates our community about the importance of this valuable resource. I’ve been inspired by how many people share that same vision.”

One of Johnson’s recent projects may be his biggest investment yet: revitalizing the town of Burgaw. The project, titled Burgaw Now, aims to revamp the previously fading coastal town and Johnson at Burgaw Brewing, a product of his initiative called Burgaw Now. Below, Johnson with Kevin Kozak, who owns Burgaw Brewing with his wife, Emmaline.

elevate the downtown area to its fullest potential through the addition of thriving businesses that will attract locals and visitors to the area.

“What led me to Burgaw was the challenge of seeing if I could help create a spark in a town that I felt was ready to take off,” Johnson says. “Burgaw has a great history, but after the train stopped running and U.S. 40 was built, many

competitors will be opening restaurants in Burgaw. In March 2024 Own Your Own announced that Khristen Hunter will be opening a Southern farm-to-table restaurant at 106/108 W. Courthouse Avenue, and Vincent Mangual will be opening a deli marketplace filled with fresh, local ingredients.

Johnson has his hand in pro bono recruiting, C-suite consulting and investing — along with balancing numerous

businesses suffered. In 2016 I realized that with the growth of Wilmington and Pender County, Burgaw was ripe for growth too.”

Through Burgaw Now, Johnson has already launched two successful food and beverage concepts in the historic square: Fat Daddy’s Pizzeria and Burgaw Brewing. More recently, Burgaw Now debuted Own Your Own, a company geared toward helping hopeful future entrepreneurs around the country open their own businesses. In the fall of 2023, Own Your Own completed its inaugural (and highly successful) restaurant competition in which chefs competed to win a $1 million investment to open a restaurant on W. Courthouse Avenue in Downtown Burgaw.

As a result of the competition, two of the Own Your Own

other projects and investments, from his work elevating the town of Burgaw to a boat manufacturing facility in Swansboro to a live oak tree farm known as Penderlea Farms. The 575-acre family-owned Penderlea Farms in Burgaw has a mission to preserve and repopulate the historic-style, sprawling live oaks in southeastern North Carolina.

CATCH THE SPARK!

To learn more about Burgaw Now, visit burgawnow.org

And when he is not hard at work, you can find Johnson enjoying fishing, skiing and spending time with his family. 

Johnson on the streets of Downtown Burgaw, where more exciting new businesses are coming soon.

THE

Worth Wait

Four years in the making, Topsail Island Brewing is open as Sneads Ferry’s first and only brewpub.

BY PAT FONTANA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICKY OLIVER

Four years of planning, permitting and building came together on a beautiful day in April 2024, as Topsail Island Brewing opened its doors to long lines and happy customers.

The idea for the Sneads Ferry brewery started about 12 or 15 years ago, according to co-owner and founder Rebekah Pearson. She says that her brother, Jordan, mentioned it to her dad and grandfather when he was working at Rick’s Restaurant & Sports Bar. Pearson explains that she and several of her siblings worked for their family at Rick’s

throughout the past 21 years that the restaurant has been in business.

“Craft beer was still up and coming then,” Pearson says, so the idea was put aside until the beginning of 2020. “I was running the restaurant and mentioned to dad and grandpa that we have land.” By that time, craft beer had become more popular and Rick’s was serving a “ton of craft beers” Pearson says.

As the bar manager at Rick’s for 10 years, Pearson saw that people wanted more than just four craft beer options. Thinking more

about the brewery idea, she says, “We were learning about the craft beer industry and thought it would be a good idea.”

They put up a sign in the early months of 2020, saying the brewery was coming. Four years later, on April 13, 2024, Topsail Island Brewing officially held its grand opening. Pearson says lines formed out all the doors all day long. The day, she says, was “overwhelmingly amazing.”

Pearson and her husband, Jesse, co-owner of the brewery, worked

15 hours that day, alongside their staff of bartenders.

“It was amazing to see how many people showed up,” she says.

“Everybody was happy.”

A steady stream of customers stood in line for a taste of the newly brewed, hyper-local beer.

“We went through a lot of beer,”

Pearson says. “The community was really coming forward and supporting us, more than I expected.”

Topsail Island Brewing is a brewpub, with a brewery, taproom

and beer garden. The taproom is the bar area, and the brewery area is where the expert brewers prepare the beer. Customers can watch the process through a brewery window where all the tanks are visible.

Brewing takes place about twice a week now, as they try to keep up with demand. Each beer is different in its process and the time it takes to brew, Pearson explains. “A faster beer will take about three weeks from brewing it to pouring it. A pilsner could be anywhere from six to eight weeks,” she says. After a beer has been brewed, the spent grain is donated to Warren’s Crab Farm in Sneads Ferry. Warren and his wife use the grain to feed their livestock.

The Topsail Island Brewing team includes Jesse, who is active-duty military and was deployed during the height of the build-out work for the new business. Pearson’s father and grandfather are a big part of the project as well.

Head brewer Zach Wakefield was hired before they broke ground. Originally from Georgia, Wakefield lives in Wilmington. Pearson says he helped them design the building and order the equipment, adding, “He’s awesome. He’s done a lot.”

Assistant brewer Cisco Amieva is also from Wilmington. Wakefield had worked with him

Rebekah and Jesse Pearson, owners of Topsail Island Brewing, with their son, Matthew.

previously and spoke highly of his work. Amieva was brought to the team in November 2023, when the first tanks were being delivered.

While the community has come out in big numbers to support Topsail Island Brewing, Pearson says they, in turn, “want to support the community as much as we possibly can.” Plans include vendor markets on Sunday afternoons in the beer yard. They will have local farmers and artisans visit each week.

The Lazy Daisy Bookshop will participate in Books and Brews once a month at the brew pub. The bookshop, owned by Kristen Rochelle, is a converted 1971 Sprite Caravan vintage camper that has been transformed into a mobile bookstore that travels throughout Sneads Ferry and Jacksonville for events such as this.

Live music will be held on the weekends, particularly on Saturdays and during the vendor markets on Sundays. The brewery’s large outside area features porch swings, READY TO TAP IN?

Topsail Island Brewing 9 514 Pete’s Way, Sneads Ferry m (252) 369-2628

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Rebekah Pearson’s father, Rick Bumgardner, built Topsail Island Brewing (and the neighborhing Rick’s Restaurant) himself.

Life is difficult.

The unexpected happens. Be ready.

PROUDLY SERVING

Hampstead, Topsail Island, Surf City, and Sneads Ferry Pender, Onslow and New Hanover Counties

Barrington Law is the law practice of Attorney C. Adam Barrington III in coastal North Carolina, located in Pender County. A Fayetteville native and third generation attorney, Adam came to the practice of law after prior careers in ministry and nonprofit management. Those experiences gave him a heart for helping people through their most difficult times. His practice emphasis on personal injury, auto accidents, estate planning, and post-conviction relief are all ways that he navigates his clients through life’s rough waters.

rocking chairs, tables and open spaces for enjoying beer, music and events all summer. The inside of the taproom also features a military wall, “with a couple hundred photos that people have sent in.”

As for the beer selection, Pearson says they are planning on doing a little bit of everything. That includes IPAs, blondes, a kellerbier (that is “most popular right now”), a kolsch, a gluten-free cider and sour beers, which Pearson describes as “interesting.”

Pearson and her team also collaborate on some draft selections. They have worked with breweries in Atlanta, Asheville and Leland to brew a style on a different brewing system. They collaborate with Brunswick Beer and Cider in Leland to make their top-selling cider and ran out of that selection quickly during their grand-opening weekend.

While Topsail Island Brewing does not serve food, Rick’s is just across the parking lot, and they are offering a special menu just for the brewery. The Brewfood menu is only available to Topsail Island Brewing customers and will be delivered to their customers’ tables. Selections include pretzels and beer cheese, chicken tenders, local peel-and-eat shrimp, a hummus platter, wings and cauliflower bites. The taproom is open seven days a week. They typically open at 11 am every day and close around 10 pm (11 pm on Friday and Saturday in the summer).

They want to be sure everyone is happy, including their customers and the community. Now that the doors are open and the beer is flowing, the four-year wait has proven worth it for everyone. 

The Point is home to unspoiled dunes, estuarine wetlands and a maritime shrub forest, which provide a safe haven for more than 30 bird species and nestling loggerhead sea turtles.

Saving the South End

North Carolina Coastal Land Trust steps in to help save the southernmost portion of Topsail Beach from development, but much support is needed.

BY MELISSA SLAVEN WARREN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARIA AMATO AND UNIQUE MEDIA & DESIGN

“There are some real heart-warming stories about the south end of Topsail Beach,”

says Harrison Marks, executive director of North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, a nonprofit conservation organization. “People tell us about their first dates walking there, or we hear from others who have great memories of growing up net casting off the end of the point.”

With nearly 150 acres and 1.6 miles of ocean-to-sound beaches, the southernmost portion of Topsail Beach, also known as “The South End” or “The Point,” is one of the last remaining, undeveloped privately owned sites on any North Carolina barrier island.

The South End is considered a birdwatchers’ paradise, home to several types of shore birds including Wilson’s plovers and willets. More than 30 bird species — some declining — have been documented there. The area is rich with unspoiled dunes, estuarine wetlands and a maritime shrub forest that provides natural habitat for diverse wildlife. It is also a nesting haven for loggerhead sea turtles.

While the surrounding beach is used often, “there is a serious effort by residents and informed visitors to resist exploring the area too much, as it’s a fragile eco-system,” Marks says.

The South End is an unprotected but respected conservation area. Yet in 2022, the unimaginable happened. A couple entered a contract to purchase the South End from its owners to build a 30-acre family compound. Though the tract is zoned for conservation, conditional zoning was possible. Thankfully, after much criticism from concerned citizens, the couple withdrew their application for

the proposed development. Realizing it would be just a matter of time before another developer set its sights on the property, Coastal Land Trust stepped in. They negotiated a fair market price with the owners to purchase the property.

“The South End has been on Coastal Land Trust’s top 40 list of properties we’d like to protect for some time,” Marks says. “We tried to buy 45 acres in 2005 and 2006, but at that time, the appraisal was in the $60 million range, making it financially impossible then.”

To date, the organization has helped save 90,273 acres of natural areas and working landscapes throughout the state.

The contract between the Coastal Land Trust and the property owners provides for closing on the purchase on or before March 31, 2025. That leaves the organization less than a year to raise nearly $8 million to complete the purchase — setting up an ambitious fundraising campaign.

Coastal Land Trust has applied for four grants — from both state and federal programs — which, if awarded, will total $5.5 million. Additionally, the Town of Topsail Beach intends to buy 1.5 acres, including the current parking lot, which will provide $800,000 towards the purchase price.

“We’ve already raised over $500,000 from private donors,” Marks says.

If the grant monies are approved — which Coastal Land Trust should

“In the first week after we announced our agreement to purchase the property, we had about 60 donors contributing over $50,000...”

know in July and as late as October and November — it could still take nine months to a year before the funds are released.

Once the organization knows it will receive the funds, it can close on the property with a bridge loan and then pay off the remaining loan once the grants are paid.

The grants, however, are not guaranteed. That is why the private donor campaign is crucial to the success of the preservation efforts.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have the support from people who have lived here or have a long history with Topsail Beach who want to see this property protected,” Marks says.

YOU HELP?

To contribute to the Save the South End campaign, donate through Coastal Land Trust’s website. More information can be found at coastallandtrust.org/ south-topsail-beach

PHOTO BY DARIA AMATO

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“They have been instrumental in connecting us with people who have sufficient means. In the first week after we announced our agreement to purchase the property, we had about 60 donors contributing over $50,000 through our online portal.”

Janice Allen, director of land protection for Coastal Land Trust, speaks about the South End project at a community meeting.

Once the purchase of the property is complete, the South End of Topsail Beach will be permanently preserved and protected from development. Coastal Land Trust will transfer the title to the State of North Carolina, and the Division of Coastal Management will become the agency responsible for the management and oversight of the property. Once the state takes over the property, it will dedicate it through the State Nature Preserve Act.

Once the purchase is complete, the goal is to permanently protect the property and manage it to balance conservation and public access. The South End will remain open to the public for traditional uses like beach combing, walking, swimming and fishing.

For Topsail residents, dedicated supporters and the team at Coastal Land Trust, the impending closing date adds a sense of urgency to the mission.

“If we don’t protect it now, it’s too attractive as a developable zone,” Marks says. 

BEHIND

Right on Cue

Larry’s Deli-Que is a delicious combo of deli sandwiches and Southern barbecue

BY ASHLEY DANIELS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARIA AMATO

IIt’s a hybrid deli and barbecue place. It’s Larry’s Deli-Que, and it’s quickly become a bustling business on Topsail Beach since opening on December 2, 2023.

Larry’s Deli-Que is the second restaurant venture for husband-and-wife owners Larry and Holly Hollifield, with the first being merely a deli. Now they’ve added the barbecue element.

“I’ve always been into barbecue smoking, so I knew the next restaurant we had I wanted to do barbecue along with the deli,” Larry says.

Business boomed when they first opened their doors, before the Hollifields could add barbecue onto the menu. That, and their popular ice cream shop, Four Cousins (named after their four grandchildren) in the same building, put the couple behind schedule. Now, they serve up barbecue sandwiches and platters of smoked pork, brisket, turkey breast, half chickens, sausage, wings and ribs for lunch and dinner.

Larry and Holly Hollifield operate Larry’s Deli-Que and Four Cousins Ice Cream in Topsail Beach.

“We also offer a variety of sauces,” Larry says. “We have a South Carolina mustard-style sauce, an eastern-style North Carolina vinegar sauce and a central North Carolina tomato-based sauce.”

The deli side of the menu features a hefty list of hot or cold deli sandwiches, homemade soups, salads, burgers and hot dogs. Build your own or try the fan-favorite Holly’s Chicken Salad blended with organic chicken breast,

fruit and nuts. Hot sandwich offerings include the Grilled Pimento Cheese sandwich or Larry’s Turkey (smoked turkey breast, cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce). Build your own burger or dog, or choose one of their creations, like the Pork Burger stacked with Monterey Jack cheese, avocado smash, lettuce and house mustard sauce.

Starters include a basket of Larry’s fries or tater tots, fried pickles, Southern fried okra and more.

For dessert, stop by Four Cousins next door for homemade ice cream with flavors that rotate weekly or order one of Holly’s cakes, pies, cookies or assorted bar desserts at Larry’s Deli-Que made fresh daily.

“My wife is the baker. I can’t hardly toast a piece of bread,” Larry says with a laugh. “She makes all the desserts that we serve here in house.”

GET QUED IN

Larry’s Deli-Que

9 718 S. Anderson Boulevard, Topsail Beach

m (910) 928-8010

E larrysdelique

Larry’s Deli-Que also features a full eat-in dining room and full bar pouring handcrafted cocktails, like the Topsail Blue (Blueberry Smirnoff Vodka, Blood Orange Liquor and house-made lemon juice) as well as craft, domestic and import beers, ciders and wines.

Larry says they also offer catering trays prepared onsite for customers to pick up at the restaurant and take to their party or gathering.

“We’re just trying to put out a good product, so we source as locally as possible,” he says. “Our pork for the barbecue, our eggs, chicken comes from local farms. We’re using as many organic ingredients as we can find.

I’ve already got some connections with local farmers here for the summertime for veggies and whatnot that we need. Plus, we’re building a small garden area behind the building. My wife loves to garden, and we always had a garden back home, so she’s going to be growing tomatoes and lettuce and cucumbers and trying to get the good stuff in people’s bellies.”

Larry, originally from Marion, North Carolina, and Holly, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, settled down in the Wilmington area after commuting back and forth when their kids (now ages 30, 32 and 33) went to college here. And the timing for their move seems perfect.

“It worked out for the best,” Larry says. “We’ve really been super busy, and the local clientele has just come out in droves. People from Hampstead, Holly Ridge and as far as Jacksonville are coming down here to eat. So I can’t complain, frankly!”

In summer Larry’s Deli-Que hosts live music – both bands and DJs – several nights a week. 

Surf City & Topsail Island are unique and magical places, so where better to have a fun gift shop full of casual, coastal cleverness?

910-650-2891 ShopCoralCottage.com becky@coralcottageboutiques.com 14061 NC Highway 50 E Surf City, NC @coralcottageboutiques

Coral Cottage is the shore thing when it comes to home décor, furniture, original art, books, women’s accessories and more! Stop in and shop our bevy of beach-inspired items from house wares to hostess gifts and hilarious whatnots. We promise you that shopping at Coral Cottage will make you giggle, blush, laugh out loud and pray that your stay could last just a bit longer.

&

Hope Joy By the Sea

Little Pink Houses of Hope provides breast cancer patients, survivors and their families with a free weeklong vacation on Topsail Island.

BY ANNESOPHIA RICHARDS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY SHORES, SEASIDE TOPSAIL PHOTOGRAPHY

IIf you visited Topsail at the beginning of May, you might have noticed a sea of pink running parallel to the sea of blue. A line of rosy-colored signs, tents and beach chairs spread across the sand at the water’s edge. This pop of pink signified the island’s warm welcome to the dozens of breast cancer patients, survivors and their families who came for a free, weeklong vacation with the nonprofit organization, Little Pink Houses of Hope (LPHH).

Here and on the following pages, see family portraits from the May 2024 Little Pink Houses of Hope vacations on Topsail Island.

...the Topsail Island communities came together to further the organization’s mission of supporting and connecting families as they enjoyed a much-needed respite from the challenges of their diagnosis and treatment. “

As one of 23 yearly beach retreat locations across the country, the Topsail Island communities came together to further the organization’s mission of supporting and connecting families as they enjoyed a much-needed respite from the challenges of their diagnosis and treatment.

Surf City residents and current retreat coordinators Russ and Natalie Lindsey became involved with LPHH several years ago when Russ happened upon one of the pink tents on the beach. After approaching the tent and speaking to a volunteer, he says he felt an immediate connection.

“Natalie is a breast cancer survivor, so it’s easy for us to embrace Little Pink Houses of Hope’s mission by helping not just the women but the entire family with a complimentary break or vacation from doctor appointments and treatments,” Russ says.

As event coordinators, the couple now prepare and schedule the weeklong annual retreats, which occur during the first week of May.

The Lindseys work for several months to make sure the schedule of events flows well through the week, with free time built in as well for the families to enjoy. They also connect with area businesses, churches and restaurants to plan meals and activities for the families. Local volunteers, otherwise known as Team Pink, secure gifts and services for the families from the Topsail community. Community members, including the mayor, enjoy

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coming out to meet the families and welcome the retreat each year.

“The Town of Surf City and the surrounding areas have been wonderfully giving and caring for these families,” Russ says. “People always ask what they can do to help.”

The retreat begins on Sunday afternoon with 40 to 50 guests flying or driving in from various states. An average of

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12 houses on the island participate each year, all donated through local homeowners. A staff of volunteers from different states also travel to Topsail to help the families follow the schedule and assist with any needs. The week also includes one event per day, which ranges from things like paddleboarding, a boat ride, a beach day, ghost crab tours, crafts and other various activities.

The Lindseys agree the success of the retreat is largely due to the positive impact the local small businesses and community have on the participants and the work of Team Pink volunteers.

“The families leave feeling taken care of and blessed beyond belief,” Natalie says. “They understand what a giving and caring community this is, and they always talk of coming back to visit.”

Russ, adds, “The beach has a relaxing atmosphere, especially to families who do not live close to a beach. Seeing children who’ve never seen the beach is always a joy.” 

At Margherita Pizza Co. the Renna family brings authentic Italian eats to Surf City.

BY ANNA BETH ADCOCK PHOTOGRAPHY BY UNIQUE MEDIA & DESIGN

A Slice of SICILY S

Say ciao to authentic Italian pizza when you pop into Surf City’s family-owned pizzeria, Margherita Pizza Co. Nestled on the mainland of Surf City, the authentic eatery showcases a passion for good fare — from fresh ingredients found in each creation to acute attention to recipes.

Coming across the pond from Sicily circa 1989 at only 19 years old, owner Lorenzo Renna settled in Long Island, New York, as his first stateside home. With family in the area, the cooking connoisseur began working at his cousin Tony’s pizzeria, where he fine-tuned his craft in the kitchen and his business acumen in regards to running a restaurant. Facing the challenges of the hospitality industry and adjusting to a new country, Lorenzo spent his first few years in the States “busting his hump,” and learning English while still finding room in his schedule to venture out and meet people.

“Back in Italy, I knew how to cook because of my grandmother and my mom,” Lorenzo says. “But with my

cousin’s restaurant knowledge, it took me to the next level. I learned how to be disciplined.”

Beyond gathering restaurant know-how, Lorenzo learned English, met his wife, Diane, and started a family. He became the proud co-owner

of a pizza shop in the beachside community of East Hampton by age 26.

“It was the American Dream,” Lorenzo reflects. “And I knew how to do it well.”

With the opening of a larger second pizzeria location soon after, the stress of business ownership amplified, causing Lorenzo to work long hours, thus missing his children’s ball games and concerts, not to mention a smattering of weddings and funerals. And while his family understood his sacrifice, the call for transition was brewing.

“I was really stressed out and wanted to change for something good,” Lorenzo says. “I loved New York, but it was time to move even though business there was booming.”

The family acted on their

Margherita Pizza Co.’s famous Margherita pizza with meatballs and fresh ricotta cheese.

Lorenzo and Diane Renna and their three grown children, now beginning families of their own, all reside in the area and are involved with the pizzeria.

intuition for a scenery switch despite the Long Island restaurants’ success. After looking around for enticing areas to resettle, they were drawn to putting down roots in coastal North Carolina. In 2019 the family made the move to Surf City.

Lorenzo’s initial intention was to start a basic pizza trailer for private or community gatherings — and he even upfitted a 1970s horse trailer into a self-designed brick-oven pizza trailer to do so (which is still reflected in the restaurant’s logo). This changed one day when Lorenzo and Diane ventured out for a java in Triton Village and fell in love with the communal mom-and-pop atmosphere of the shopping center.

Margherita Pizza Co. made its debut in Triton Village in July 2023. The family business strives to make its

customers feel like family and to dish out delish food.

The menu, lauded as an opportunity to “meet a new world of tastes and flavors,” remains intentionally curated, centering around wood-fired pizzas with salads, appetizers and desserts as well as high-end beer and wine selections.

The starter options are stacked with the likes of garlic bread, stromboli, calzone, chicken meatballs and caprese. For the main event, the 12-inch pies are made with love and with good

ingredients (organic and non-GMO) daily, featuring easily digestible pizza dough showcasing a lightly charred crust, compliments of the wood oven. Fun fact: Many of the pizza names have stories behind them, such as the Italian-imported deli-meatforward Gabagool, whose name nods to references found in The Sopranos and The Office. Those hungry for something sweet can top off the meal with cannoli, layered limoncello cake, cheesecake and tiramisu.

As for the ambiance, the eatery stays buzzing, with locals and visitors popping in for a meal. The space, designed by the husband-and-wife duo, was built with the Surf City area in mind, flaunting a beach-meetsindustrial look with cement floors and chic details.

Truly making food a family affair, Margherita Pizza Co. is the fruition of Lorenzo’s love for family and the culinary experience.

“My passion for cooking has been in my life for a long time,” he says. “It’s like a musician with a piano. I just really enjoy it.”

As he travels down memory lane, Lorenzo reminisces on nostalgic childhood days helping his grandmother in the kitchen.

“She would put me to work,” he says. “It might have been recruiting me for help making Parmesan, sauce or leftover bread or cooking pasta, braising meat or picking up meat from the deli.”

Customers dining at Margherita Pizza Co. should expect a family atmosphere.

“Our whole family works here,” Lorenzo says. “When you come in, the door is open, we welcome you — and we’re fun people to be around.”

Margherita Pizza Co. is also popular for take-out, with customers taking their food to nearby Locals Art Gallery & Wine Bar, Hidden Ships Distillery, Salty Turtle Beer Company or back to the comfort of their home.

Beyond running the family business, the couple will be celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary in the fall of 2024. Their three grown children, now beginning families of their own, all reside in the area and are involved with the pizzeria.

Margherita Pizza Co. represents the success story of an Italian immigrantturned-New Yorkerturned-North Carolinian and showcases the pizzeria owner’s belief that honor, principle and hard work pays off — and then some. As Rocky Balboa says and Lorenzo quotes, “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows.” But this soon-to-be-year-old establishment is surely adding a bit of brightness to Surf City.

“We offer a passion for what we do,” Lorenzo says. “The food is fresh, and you can feel good about what you’re eating. It’s authentic, and we care about what we put on people’s plates.” 

HUNGRY?

Margherita

Co.

112 Charlie Medlin Drive, Unit A, Surf City m (910) 803-2253 K margheritapizzaco.com

For the Love of Surf City

Meet Katie and Houston Lowder, the owners of Lowder’s Furniture and Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports.

BY CAMERON RHINEHARDT PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICKY OLIVER

IIt’s a story for the ages: a couple in love doing something they love to serve a community they love.

Katie and Houston Lowder originally met in their hometown of Albemarle, but they ended up in Wilmington and were there for more

When they reconnected in 2012, Katie was a teacher and saw Houston (who was pleasantly surprised to see her) on a field trip, where he was working with his brother at Carolina Beach Jet Ski Rentals, which they had opened the previous year.

Houston and Katie were quickly smitten with each other and got married three years later, soon after opening Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports.

Katie and Houston Lowder with their son, Maverick.

Furniture is a whole-home furniture center with fair pricing on indoor and outdoor home furnishings.

Houston had been wanting a second location to pair with Carolina Beach Jet Ski Rentals for a while and finally decided on Surf City, as the couple fell in love with the community almost as fast as falling for each other.

Katie and Houston are smalltown raised, making them naturally oriented toward places where the community is engaging and “everybody knows everybody,” Katie says. This is what attracted them to Surf City.

“What we’ve learned with starting businesses is that it can provide a lot of flexibility and the freedom to have a life outside of work,” Katie says. “But you really get what you put into it, which teaches hard work.”

The couple is big on hard work and determination, which shows through their dedication to their businesses. They want to provide the best to Surf City, not only as a service to their community, but also to themselves.

“It’s scary opening a business because you have to be so involved, but it really is rewarding,” Katie says. “It’s yours, you’ve worked it and everything you get from it is what you put into it.”

Houston grew up going to the lake, where he was around boats and Jet Skis. He began working in a power sports dealership when he was 16 and spent a lot of time Quad Racing. Eventually he attended Motorcycle Mechanic Institute in Orlando, where he became a certified power sports technician. Looking for a career and power sports and following his brother to Wilmington, he decided that repair was not for him.

Lowder’s

Houston wanted to do something fun and step away from repair, which led him into Jet Ski rentals, a widely popular tourist attraction at the beach.

“I wanted to do something where people came to us with a smile and to do something fun, versus in the service and repair industry where they come because something is broken,” Houston says.

Katie decided to shift career paths in 2015, shortly after opening Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports, from teaching to owning a business and dove in head first working alongside Houston. She also earned her real estate license in 2020 and uses it to help friends and family in residential buying and selling. Now, the license comes in handy when managing new business locations.

Katie and Houston also use her real estate knowledge to flip every home they have purchased. Katie says they buy a home, love it for a few years, then sell when they’re ready

Surf City Jet Ski & Watersports offers freestyle rentals and guided adventures around the waterways of Topsail Island (up to 60 miles round trip including shark tooth adventures).

for a change. They had purchased a beach house in Surf City to rent as a short-term rental, but decided to move into it full time because they love Surf City so much. The Lowders engage further in the community through their church, The Gathering in Surf City. Katie, a former PE teacher, also coaches youth sports programs in Surf City.

Katie and Houston agree that the best part about working with Jet Skis is seeing how happy and excited their customers are about the experience. It reminds them of how beautiful their community is.

“We want to be the highlight of a vacation,” Katie says. “Our customers go out, come back and can’t even contain their emotion on how much fun they just had with friends and family.”

“Most people only ride Jet Skis once every year or two years,” Houston adds. “Having that fun and unique experience with customers and seeing how exciting it is for them, that’s the cool part.”

The couple’s 7-year-old son, Maverick, shares the same pride in the business, probably considering he has been around since it first opened. According to Katie, Maverick tells his friends at school about the Jet Ski dock and spends a lot of time enjoying the space.

The couple recently became curious about opening another business. The stars aligned when they went to buy furniture in Sneads Ferry for their own home. They could not help themselves from approaching the owner about buying the space. The timing was perfect, as he was looking to sell. The Lowders purchased the business and in February 2024 opened Lowder’s Furniture.

“We’re not really sure where the furniture store will go, but we named it Lowder’s Furniture in hopes it will grow into a staple business and have the family name behind it,” Katie says. “We want to be community-oriented and provide a business to the locals that they can trust.”

The couple hopes for their businesses to be widely known in the community and give back to a place that they love so much.

“You know we’re your neighbors, and neighbors have each others’ backs,” Katie says. 

Welcome to Our Magical Place!

Take a look at some of our past content to help you navigate your visit. You can read all of these online at TopsailMag.com or scan this QR code.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Diver Surfside Cafe, a family-run business offering coffee, fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, bowls and bites, is run by a longtime local and a couple who are newer to town.

OF SALT & SEA

With N Sea. Oyster Co. and Oyster Barn, Connor and Alyssa MacNair are keeping our waters clean, feeding people tasty oysters and contributing to area communities.

GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE!

Daybreak Donuts and Sunrise Bagel Co. are Surf City’s daily wakeup call.

CARRYING ON THE TRADITION

Islanders Jane and Robert Jeffreys have reopened Topsail Beach’s beloved Godwin’s Market, which dates all the way back to 1949

Oven One Food Truck rolls up fresh, hot breakfasts in Surf City.

THAT’S THE SPIRIT

With Hidden Ships Distillery in Surf City, Andy and Amy Szwejbka have opened the first distillery and craft cocktail bar for the Topsail Area.

LOBSTER LOVE

The family of Maine Lobstah Shack serves up authentic Maine lobster on the Carolina coast.

BEACH RVING

Oceans RV Resort in Holly Ridge is a new luxury campground within easy reach of the Topsail beaches.

 SCAN ME

THE PERFECT PAIRING

the finer things in life.

SAFETY FIRST

Learn the history and meanings behind the beach flags around Topsail Island.

WITH GRATITUDE

The Locals Art Gallery & Wine Bar in Surf City is a place to appreciate

At Blue Gracias Open Air Art Market in Topsail Beach, artist Liz Guri channels her creative nature and appreciation for life through art and sustainable goods.

UPSCALE RESALE

Our Yard, Your Sale shop offers everything you need — including a taco.

Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Awards Luncheon

May 15 at the Assembly Building in Topsail Beach

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL RITENOUR

Karen Seibert & Peggy Fussell (Business Person of the Year recipient for Surfside Sportswear & Gifts)

Cindy Scaparrotti

Karen Clow

Kathy Cherry (Lifetime Achievement award recipient) & Mayor Steve Smith

Award winners Annette Erny, Peggy Fussell, Linda Bumbardner, Cookie Tilghman & Justin Williams

Linda Bumgardner (Hospitality Business of the Year award recipient for Rick’s Restaurant) & Eric Fritz

Cathy Kittrell, Jackie Smallwood, Jo Adcock, Liz Trojan & Evelyn Wheeler

Liz Trojan, Cookie Tilghman (Chamber Volunteer of the Year award recipient ) & Wes Tilghman FACES

Tammy Proctor and Justin Williams (Business of the Year award recipient for Topsail Magazine)

Annette Earny (Non-Profit of the Year award recipient for Reel Housewives of Topsail Island) & Michele Bennett

Earl G. and Inez Batts Recreation Complex Ground Breaking

 On April 5 Surf City Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department hosted a ground-breaking ceremony for the first phase of the Earl G. and Inez Batts Recreation Complex. On roughly 45 acres next to the Surf City Community Center in Pender County, the town’s newest park will feature, for phase one, a skate park, an inclusive playground, sand volleyball courts, a picnic shelter, restroom facilities, parking and walking paths to existing trails.

PHOTO BY WILTON WESCOTT

PHOTO BY WILTON WESCOTT

PHOTO BY UNIQUE MEDIA & DESIGN

The park came about after the Surf City Town Council approved a Parks and Recreation Open Space Master Plan in June 2019. In 2020 the town acquired the park site at 380 J. H. Batts Road from the Batts family for $500,000. A combination of grant money from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, The Land and Water Conservation Fund and the town is paying for the first phase. Once the first phase is up and running, officials will focus on the second phase, which is expected to include many walking trails.

Fresh MAINE Lobster

Overnighted directly from the cold waters of the rocky coast of Maine to the beautiful shores of Topsail Island.

Surf City 75th Anniversary Celebration

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY

BILL RITENOUR

 The Town of Surf City held its 75th Anniversary Celebration on March 24 at the Surf City Welcome and Event Center. Attendees enjoyed live music, food trucks, entertainment, sweet treats, face painting, a caricature artist and a walkthrough exhibit showcasing Surf City’s transformation into the beach destination it is today.

Ground Breaking for High Tides & Good Vibes

 On May 22 High Tides & Good Vibes, a family entertainment venue coming to Surf City, held a groundbreaking ceremony in conjunction with the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce. Family, friends, investors,

arcade with classic favorites and new VR experiences, a laser tag arena, an entertainment space and beer garden, and a restaurant. It is scheduled to open its doors to the public in the summer of 2025.

Teams make Dreams come true...

Holly Ridge Bee Festival

 The Town of Holly Ridge is officially the 201st Bee City USA, a collective of cities that allows natural, wild growth to keep the bees and pollinators (like butterflies) healthy and able to do their jobs. To celebrate, the Town of Holly Ridge and the Holly Ridge Busy Bee Committee hosted the inaugural Bee Festival on Sound Road on April 27. The daytime festival offered a wide range of activities that kept attendees buzzin’ throughout the day, including food trucks, vendors and a DJ. There were also exhibits about the importance of bees and our environment. Local beekeepers were available to show displays as well as share information about how to become a beekeeper, and seed packets were handed out to encourage the growth of wildflowers (which are essential to a healthy bee population). The Greater Topsail Garden was on site to talk about their amazing new community garden.

Denim & Diamonds Charity Dinner and Auction

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL RITENOUR

 Pender Sheriff’s Charitable Foundation’s Denim & Diamonds Charity Dinner and Auction raised $30,000 to support needs within the Pender Sheriff’s Office on May 17 at Old Homestead Farm in Rocky Point. It was an evening of delicious food from Casey’s Buffet in Wilmington followed by live and silent auction fanfare. Funds raised will be applied toward purchasing

Volunteer Appreciation Day for the Historical Society of Topsail Island

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL

RITENOUR

 On February 29 the Historical Society of Topsail Island hosted an appreciation day for volunteers at the Historic Assembly Building in Topsail Beach. During the event, board member Larry Combs presented Ed Broadhurst the Distinguished Service Award.

July August September

1 3:57 2.6 4:49 3.6 10:04 -0.2 11:22 0.2

2 4:59 2.4 5:46 3.8 10:59 -0.2

3 5:59 2.4 6:39 3.8 12:22 0.1 11:53 AM -0.2

4 6:54 2.4 7:30 3.9 1:17 0.1 12:46 -0.2

5 7:46 2.4 8:18 3.8 2:07 0.0 1:36 -0.2

6 8:35 2.5 9:03 3.8 2:54 0.0 2:25 -0.1

7 9:21 2.5 9:46 3.6 3:38 0.0 3:11 0.0

8 10:06 2.5 10:27 3.4 4:20 0.1 3:56 0.1

9 10:50 2.5 11:07 3.2 5:00 0.1 4:41 0.2

10 11:35 2.5 11:46 3.0 5:38 0.2 5:27 0.3 11 12:20 2.5 6:14 0.2 6:16 0.5

12 12:26 2.8 1:07 2.6 6:51 0.3 7:08 0.6

13 1:07 2.6 1:56 2.7 7:28 0.3 8:06 0.7

14 1:52 2.4 2:48 2.8 8:08 0.3 9:08 0.7

15 2:43 2.2 3:40 2.9 8:52 0.3 10:11 0.7

16 3:37 2.1 4:32 3.1 9:40 0.3 11:09 0.6

17 4:34 2.1 5:23 3.3 10:31 0.2

18 5:29 2.2 6:13 3.5 12:03 0.4 11:23 AM 0.1

19 6:22 2.3 7:01 3.7 12:52 0.3 12:15 0.0

20 7:12 2.4 7:48 3.9 1:38 0.2 1:06 -0.2

21 8:02 2.6 8:35 4.0 2:23 0.0 1:57 -0.2

22 8:52 2.8 9:22 4.0 3:07 -0.1 2:48 -0.3

23 9:42 2.9 10:08 3.9 3:51 -0.2 3:41 -0.3

24 10:34 3.1 10:56 3.7 4:35 -0.2 4:36 -0.2

25 11:28 3.2 11:46 3.4 5:20 -0.2 5:34 -0.1

26 12:25 3.3 6:06 -0.2 6:36 0.1

27 12:38 3.1 1:25 3.4 6:55 -0.2 7:43 0.2

28 1:34 2.8 2:27 3.5 7:47 -0.1 8:54 0.3

29 2:36 2.6 3:32 3.5 8:44 0.0 10:06 0.4

30 3:42 2.4 4:35 3.6 9:44 0.0 11:13 0.4

31 4:48 2.3 5:34 3.6 10:45 0.0

*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.

Advertiser Phone#

910 Chiropractic

ADVERTISERS

910-803-3223 77

Access Realty, Beachside Village Townhomes 910-241-0477 BC

Apricot Lane Boutique

Army of Davids Garage Doors

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Bayside Electric Supply

Beach Furniture Outfitters, Inc.

Beach Shop & Grill

Bella Luna Treasures

Burrito Shak

Carolina Coast Contracting

Cedar Grove Construction

Centerfire Cocktail Lounge

Century 21 Coastal Advantage

Coastal Blends of Holly Ridge

Coastal Car Care

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Coastal Window Fashions of NC

Coastal Wing and Spirits Co.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

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Coral Cottage

Crew Insurance

Custom Canvas

D’s Interior Design Home Furnishings

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Oliver’s Photography 910-650-4633 95

Pender County Tourism 910-259-1278 36

Pierpan Dentistry 910-270-1222 5

Quarter Moon Books & Gifts 910-328-4969 70

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Hampstead Internal Medicine

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Intracoastal Realty Corporation - Topsail Area Agents 910-328-3000 3

Island Time Cleaning & Construction 910-520-1594 IFC

Lewis Realty Associates, Inc. 910-328-5211 50

Loggerhead Inn & Suites

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NORTH CAROLINA

NEED TO KNOW DATES

KIDS FRESHWATER FISHING DAY

JUNE 1

9AM-12PM Surf CommunityCityCenter

SIP, SHOP, & STROLL

JUNE 21

5PM-9PM

Soundside Park

SIP, SHOP, & STROLL

JULY 19

5PM-9PM

Soundside Park

MOVIE IN THE PARK

JUNE 14 & 28

7PM

Soundside Park

SURF CITY KID’S FISHING TOURNAMENT

JUNE 15

9AM-11AM

Soundside Park

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

JULY 3

6PM

Soundside Park

MOVIE IN THE PARK

AUGUST 9 & 23 7PM

Soundside Park

TOUCH A TRUCK

AUGUST 24

9AM-12PM Surf City Community Center

Surf City, your hometown beach.

MOVIE IN THE PARK

JULY 12 & 26 7PM

Soundside Park

SIP, SHOP, & STROLL

AUGUST 16

5PM-9PM

Soundside Park

TRUSTED | LOCAL | EXPERTS

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Your home is not just another house, it’s a reflection of you. It’s your style, your personality, your taste. It’s the place where your fondest memories are made, and where your dreams can come true. That’s why Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Treasure is dedicated to helping you find the ideal home, one that will inspire and comfort you for years to come. You can count on us to guide you through every step of your home buying or selling process – before, during, and long after the sale.

Just what you’d expect from your Trusted Local Experts.

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STARTING IN THE $270S COMMUNITY POOL, CLUBHOUSE, SHOPPES, DOG RUN, BOAT/RV PARKING, GARAGES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

COASTAL LUXURY 2 MILES FROM THE BEACH! YOUR DREAM HOME AWAITS.