ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

A NEW PROGRAM AT THS

By Topsail Magazine Contributor

Topsail High School is one of only six high schools in the country to have a U.S. Coast Guard JROTC Program.

A United States Coast Guard JROTC program has officially been established at Topsail High School (THS), making THS one of only six high schools in the country to have such a program. “About nine weeks ago about 80 students made their way across the parking lot, right out those doors, to our classrooms, and each had their own reasons for being there, but I would dare say none had a full understanding of what they had signed up for,” said Joseph Solomon, Senior Maritime Science and Coast Guard JROTC instructor at Topsail High School. “They are in a sense what we in the Coast Guard call ‘plank owners,’ an inaugural crew challenged with the daunting task of building a unit from scratch, and that’s what they’ve been hard at work doing.”

DEFEATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

By Anna Beth Adcock

Safe Haven of Pender County provides hope, healing and help for victims of domestic abuse in Pender and Duplin counties.

Everyone knows someone who has been affected by domestic violence — and the statistics are staggering, with as many as one in four women and one in seven men experiencing domestic violence during their lifetimes.

TALK OF THE TOWN

By Kate M Carey

The Town of Topsail Beach is lobbying for a specialty license plate to build civic pride.

The small town of Topsail Beach, population 466, is asking the North Carolina General Assembly to approve a specialty license plate to help the town improve recreational opportunities. It’s a small ask for politicians who routinely approve requests for schools, roads and other important services that serve North Carolinians, but it could be a large boost for the beach town.

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LET’S GET PHYSICAL

By Kate M Carey

Rusty and Tiffany Walker run three local physical therapy offices in Hampstead, Sneads Ferry and Topsail to help people stay strong and flexible and to heal from injuries.

As the Hampstead-TopsailSneads Ferry area population grows, so has the need for physical therapy. One local practice, Hampstead PT has grown to three offices to meet that need. Husband and wife Rusty and Tiffany Walker have worked together for more than 15 years owning three successful physical therapy practices. The key to their success is simple, Tiffany says, “We help our patients get back to living their lives.”

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ROAD TRIP

By Pat Fontana

Biltmore Estate in Asheville makes for a great escape from the beach any time of year.

When you live in paradise, where do you go for vacation? Of course, the sand and saltwater of Topsail cannot be beat, but when you’re looking for a change of scenery, it may be time to head inland. So, fuel up the car, jump on Interstate 40 and head west for your next road trip. You’re only a few hours away from an exciting adventure at Biltmore Estate in Asheville.

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