Good Life Wilmington

RETIREMENT LIVING IN COASTAL N.C.

wilmington

P. 6 HOMES + COMMUNITIES

P. 16 HEALTH + WELLNESS

P. 28 LIFESTYLES + CONNECTIONS

P. 38 FOOD + DRINK

Dental AND Vision.

We love your whole face.

Now offering dental and vision plans for employer groups, families, and individuals.

Learn more at DeltaDentalNC.com.

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JUNE 2022 • ISSUE 1• $4.95

About Our Sponsors

Publisher Rob Kaiser

rkaiser@wilmingtonbiz.com

President

Robert Preville

rpreville@wilmingtonbiz.com

Editor

Vicky Janowski

vjanowski@wilmingtonbiz.com

Assistant Editor Cece Nunn

cnunn@wilmingtonbiz.com

Reporters

Johanna Cano jcano@wilmingtonbiz.com

Johanna F. Still

jstill@wilmingtonbiz.com

Vi c e P r e s i d e n t o f S a l e s

For more than 50 years, Delta Dental of North Carolina has championed healthy smiles across the state as North Carolina’s leading dental insurer. A member of the Delta Dental Plans Association, we are part of the largest dental insurance network in the nation, covering more than 80 million Americans. Today we are pleased to provide both dental and now vision insurance administered by VSP ® Vision Care to businesses as part of their employee benefits, and directly to individuals and families. Our mission is to improve the oral health and the overall well-being of the communities we serve. Learn more about Delta Dental of North Carolina at www. deltadentalnc.com and DeltaVision ® at www.deltadentalnc.com/deltavision.

Curt Ladig / President and CEO / Delta Dental of North Carolina

Carolyn Carver

ccarver@wilmingtonbiz.com

Senior Marketing Consultants Maggi Apel

mapel@wilmingtonbiz.com

Craig Snow csnow@wilmingtonbiz.com

Marketing Consultants Rachel Miles

rmiles@wilmingtonbiz.com

Lauren Proff

lproff@wilmingtonbiz.com

Digital Marketing Specialist Braden Smith

bsmith@wilmingtonbiz.com

Office & Audience Development Manager Sandy Johnson

sjohnson@wilmingtonbiz.com

Events Director

Elizabeth Stelzenmuller

Liberty Senior Living is excited to once again sponsor “Good Life Wilmington” – A Guide to Retirement Living in Coastal North Carolina. For over 147 years, Liberty Healthcare Management, a Wilmington-based, familyowned organization, has been helping older adults manage their healthcare and residential needs. Our portfolio of communities throughout the Southeastern United States continues to grow as we expand our service offerings which include communities for active adult living, independent living, assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing care. We have proudly served the Wilmington area for over 30 years with two communities; Brightmore of Wilmington and Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall, with more on the way. We invite you to visit LibertySeniorLiving.com where you can learn more about all of our premier communities which have been designed for active seniors who have high expectations for living life to the fullest and on their own terms. We look forward to serving you!

Dean Dellaria / Corporate Director of Marketing and Sales / Liberty Senior Living

events@wilmingtonbiz.com

Events & Digital Coordinator Jamie Kleinman

jkleinman@wilmingtonbiz.com

Contributing Designer Suzi Drake

art@wilmingtonbiz.com

Designer

Tara Weymouth

tweymouth@wilmingtonbiz.com

Media Coordinator Julia Jones

jjones@wilmingtonbiz.com

Contributing Photographers T.J. Drechsel, Aris Harding, Terah Hoobler

Subscribe To subscribe to WilmingtonBiz Magazine,visit wilmingtonbiz.com/subscribe or call 343-8600 x201. © 2022 SAJ Media LLC G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

Riverlights is Wilmington’s vibrant master-planned community situated along the Cape Fear River, featuring a humming commercial village, 38-acre freshwater lake and lakehouse, a pool and fitness center, miles of nature paths, and a dock for crabbing, fishing, or launching a kayak. And there’s far more to come. Home to 800+ families, we’re a social, easy-going, “we love it here!” kind of place, offering single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, and a Del Webb 55+ neighborhood. We invite you to visit riverlightsliving. com to learn more or drop by the Information Center. Time your visit right and catch a spectacular sunset over the Cape Fear River.

Riverlights Team

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THE SAGEWOOD 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath + a “You Room” 1,643 square feet

WILMINGTON’S ORIGINAL LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY is expanding with brand new community amenities to include all new dining venues and 44 village flats! Our new dog park — “Central Bark” — will welcome our residents’ four-legged friends.

Construction is underway and only a limited number of floorplans are available.

Call us at 1-866-825-3806 to learn more!

Secure your future today.

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Toby

Nick

Keira

G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

wilmington

Letter from the Publisher

Finding the

U

Good Life

nless my subconscious is playing mind games, it’s a complete coincidence that we’re launching a retirement-focused media property for people 50+ the year I’m turning 50.

This idea has consciously been on our minds for several years.

We see an information gap in our region. While the Wilmington area continues to attract more and more retirees, there isn’t a central, trusted information source to help current and aspiring retirees make decisions and connections.

Enter Good Life Wilmington, which will be that information source on retirement-related topics for three primary audiences – retirees and those nearing retirement who already live in our community, people outside our region who are researching Wilmington as a retirement destination as well as family members who are helping with these decisions.

A few years ago, I was one of those family members in need of information when I helped my parents move to Wilmington from their home of more than 40 years near Pittsburgh.

Even for someone already in

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Wilmington, many questions weren’t easy to answer – Where should we live? How do we find a primary care doctor and specialists? What opportunities are there to get involved in the community and meet people?

Where should we shop, eat and go out for fun? What professionals should we work with for financial planning, legal issues and other needs?

These types of questions informed the five main areas of coverage you’ll find at GoodLifeWilmington.com: • HOMES + COMMUNITIES — Neighborhoods, retirement communities, housing trends and more • HEALTH + WELLNESS — Medical specialists, ideas to stay active and health-related groups • LIFESTYLES + CONNECTIONS — Volunteering, mentoring, the arts, golf, boating and pickleball (if you haven’t tried pickleball yet, imagine playing ping-pong on top of the table) • FOOD + DRINK — Restaurants, bars, farmers markets and locally made products • COMMUNITY RESOURCES — Financial and estate planning, shopping destinations and more Good Life Wilmington is mainly online so it’s easy for people in our community and beyond to find information at GoodLifeWilmington. com, the Good Life Wilmington Directory at the same site, weekly

emails and Facebook posts. We’ll also publish an annual Good Life Wilmington magazine in print and as a digital flipbook.

Similar to our other two media properties, Greater Wilmington Business Journal and WILMA magazine, our stories will mainly focus on the trends, resources and happenings in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties, but we’ll venture into some neighboring areas as well.

We already have some ideas about expanding Good Life Wilmington’s reach and impact through events and other vehicles, but please contact me directly if you have thoughts on what we’re doing already and what else we can do to serve the Good Life audience. My email is rkaiser@ wilmingtonbiz.com.

Also, you can send your story ideas to editor@wilmingtonbiz.com and if you’re interested in learning about becoming an advertiser or sponsor of Good Life Wilmington, contact us at marketing@wilmingtonbiz.com.

Hope you enjoy the Good Life!

Sincerely, Rob Kaiser, Publisher Good Life Wilmington Greater Wilmington Business Journal WILMA Magazine 910.343.8600 x204 rkaiser@wilmingtonbiz.com

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WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER The #1 Registered Investment Advisory Firm Six Years in a Row.

*

With more than $600 billion in assets, CAPTRUST has the scale, resources, and local presence to provide Carolinians access to unparalleled financial advisory services.** CAPTRUST specializes in providing comprehensive wealth planning services to executives and high-net-worth individuals, and investment advisory services to retirement plan fiduciaries, foundations, and endowments.

910.256.8882 | captrust.com 1209 Culbreth Dr #100, Wilmington, NC 28405

*Source: FA Magazine’s 2016-2021 RIA Survey and Ranking in the category $1 billion+ in assets under advisement **As of June 30, 2021

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wilmington

CONTENTS S U M M E R

2 0 2 2

Homes + Communities

6 12

Developing Neighborhoods Downtown Dwelling

Health + Wellness

16 24

Novant Health 101 Hitting the Trails

Lifestyles + Connections

28 34 36

Main Stages Movie Extras Magic Pickleball Powerhouses

Food + Drink

38 43

Specialty Food Shops New Restaurants

About the Cover Tom and Kathleen Barber show off their dance moves on the Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington. The couple moved to Wilmington about 20 years ago and has been active in the area since. Read their recommendations for living the Good Life in our Insider’s Corner interview.

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Homes + Communities

moving IN

By Jenny Callison

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Homes + Communities

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Median sale prices in the area – April 2022 $450k $400k

singlefamily homes

$350k $300k $250k $150k $100k $50k

townhouses + condos

pender co

$200k

brunswick co

In New Hanover County, where vacant land suitable for large residential developments is scarce, Riverlights is one exception. This 1,400-acre master-planned community bounded by the Cape Fear River offers a mix of housing, from rental apartments to townhomes and single-family homes. It includes a Del Webb neighborhood for residents 55 and older, while also featuring homes whose design and price appeal to young buyers and families.

clubhouse, swimming pool and gym as well as walking and biking trails.

Partly because of the growth at Riverlights, the southwestern portion of Wilmington has seen a boom in commercial development nearby, from grocery stores to specialty retail to a wide variety of restaurants and a movie theater.

The eastern portion of Pender County is experiencing significant growth as well, with new housing developments under construction and in the planning stages.

Windsor Homes, based in North Carolina’s Triad area, is building two new communities in Hampstead: The Arbors and The Terraces, with homes ranging from just under 1,700 to 3,000 square feet and price tags

new hanover co

W

ith growth in the Wilmington threecounty market area projected to reach nearly 570,000 by 2040 – an increase of about 34% over the 2020 population – builders and developers are striving to meet current and future demand for housing.

Charleston, South Carolina-based company New Leaf Builders is new to Wilmington, expanding specifically because of the opportunities available in Riverlights.

“We have two collections at Riverlights: one, The Piedmont, is designed with the retiree demographic in mind,” said Tyler Henrikson, a sales consultant with New Leaf. “The homes are designed with the main living area focused around a covered courtyard, and they offer three bedrooms and two baths with an attached two-car garage.”

Potential buyers who are retired or soon-to-be are looking for a bedroom that can serve as a home office, Henrikson continued. Also high on their list of desired features: hardwood floors throughout the house; one-level living or at least a main-level master; a fireplace; a fully tiled, walk-in shower and a natural gas kitchen.

“The Piedmont Collection homes range from 1,850 to nearly 2,400 square feet. They are built on a standard lot, but it may be smaller than the buyers had previously,” Henrikson said. “There is a shift toward low-maintenance yards.”

Among Riverlights’ attractions for people relocating within the Wilmington market as well as those new to the area is its sense of community, according to Henrikson.

Amenities maintained by the homeowners association include a

Source: Cape Fear Realtors

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Homes + Communities

photos c/o RIVERLIGHTS

from about $328,000 to $450,000. While many potential homebuyers are military families connected to Camp Lejeune in nearby Jacksonville, Windsor is seeing a number of retirees showing interest in its models and homesites.

“I get phone calls from up north, from retirees,” said Jason Cox, a Realtor who is a new home sales associate for the company. “A lot of them are looking for one-level living or that downstairs master. We have a couple of floor plans that have a downstairs master bedroom.

Others are mostly on one level but have a frog (finished room over garage, a local term for a bonus room).”

While open floor plans for the main

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living areas are in demand, Cox is seeing another trend among would-be buyers: requests to repurpose the dining room space into a study.

“With COVID, everyone is working from home; even some retirees are coming back into the workplace,” he said.

Increased demand along with supply problems caused by COVID have complicated pricing and selling for builders.

“Before COVID, Windsor strived for presales,” Cox said. “The buyer picked a lot, picked a house and we started from the beginning and locked in a price.

Now it’s more difficult with labor and

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materials shortages. A home takes at least a year to build. After the drywall is in, we have to have the right to adjust the price if costs have risen. That’s making presales difficult, so now we’re just specing out and pricing the homes.

We try to put as much that people want in our spec homes.”

Backlogs are affecting many new developments in the Wilmington area.

“We order materials as soon as possible so delays cause less of an impact,” said Grae Hawks, on-site broker for The Lakes at Pine Forest, the first neighborhood in Pine Forest of Oak Island, a large development taking shape in Brunswick County.

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Homes + Communities

While there are price uncertainties due to rising materials costs, the price of a home is finalized when the buyer signs the contract, she said. The Lakes homes range in cost from the low-$400,000s to the mid-$500,000s.

Plans call for Pine Forest’s 2,000acre expanse to include a mix of singlefamily, apartment and townhome units, an 80-bed assisted living facility, community facilities, a connected walking trail and dog parks. A medical clinic, Novant Health Family Medicine Pine Forest, is located within Pine Forest and has a contractual agreement with the development, although it serves residents of surrounding communities

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as well.

“We are not an age-restricted community, but we are senior-targeted,” said David Davis, Pine Forest’s director of marketing and business development.

Demand has been strong for The Lakes, many of whose homes offer one-level, open-concept floorplans and range from 1,650 to 2,600 square feet, Hawks said.

Hawks said that many future homeowners are living in the community’s apartment complex, The Hawthorne at Pine Forest, while their new homes are being built. The Hawthorne’s first phase of upscale one, two and three-bedroom apartments is

complete, with more than 150 units. A second phase will bring the total number of apartments to more than 300.

Northern Brunswick County is home to several well-established housing developments such as Brunswick Forest, Waterford, Magnolia Greens and newer Compass Point. Farther south is St. James Plantation, an expansive golf community.

Developments in the pipeline range from those featuring large homes on big lots to mixed-use and multifamily communities. Two new developments are ones that Brunswick Senior Resources Inc. is creating in partnership with private developers.

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Not Your Father' s Retirement Plan

Single-family, luxury, townhomes and Del Webb 55+ living along the river.

Floorplans by 9 homebuilders from the mid $300s - $1M+

@RiverlightsNC

RiverlightsLiving.com

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|

(910) 405-1234

R E T I R E M E N T L I V I N G I N C O A S TA L N . C .

|

109 Pier Master Point, Suite 100

|

Wilmington, NC 28412 G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

Home is better with a whole lot of “you” mixed in.

Our diverse home styles capture the colorful spirit of Riverlights and life on the water in a way that gives you just what you want, where you want it.

Trusst Builder Group – Duplex 2,266 sq. ft. | Plum Island II Model 831 Wharton Ave

New Leaf 1,573 - 2,650 sq. ft. | Gates Model 741 Edgerton Dr

Pulte Homes 1,841 - 3,160 sq. ft. | Newberry Model 740 Edgerton Dr

Trusst Builder Group – Duplex 2,317 sq. ft. | Linville Model 837 Wharton Ave

Trusst Builder Group 2,197 - 2,505 sq. ft. | Roanoke Model 730 Edgerton Dr

AR Homes

Del Webb*

AR Homes – Luxury Single Family

PBC Design + Build – Luxury

2,715 sq. ft. | Seascape Model 524 Edgerton Dr

1,262 - 3,818 sq. ft. | Dunwoody Way Model 4136 Passerine Ave

Hamp’s Landing and River Row

Single Family

Contact sales representative for

Hamp’s Landing and River Row

*5 additional Del Webb models available to view

more information.

Contact sales representative for

Legacy Homes by Bill Clark 1,453 - 2,590 sq. ft. | Cypress II Model 744 Edgerton Dr

Trusst Builder Group 2,697 - 2,924 sq. ft. | Catawba Model 726 Edgerton Dr

Charter Builder Group 2,347 sq. ft. | Devonshire Model 722 Edgerton Dr

more information.

Newland is the largest private developer of mixed-use communities in the United States. With our partner, North America Sekisui House, LLC, we believe it is our responsibility to create enduring, healthier communities for people to live life in ways that matter most to them. newlandco.com | nashcommunities.com

NNP IV-Cape Fear River, LLC (“Fee Owner”) is the owner and developer of the Riverlights Community (“Community”). Fee Owner has retained Newland Real Estate Group, LLC (“Newland”) solely as the property manager for the Community. North America Sekisui House, LLC (“NASH”) has an interest in one of Fee Owner’s members. Homebuilders, unaffiliated with Fee Owner, Newland, NASH, or their affiliates (together, the “Released Parties”) are building homes at the Community. The Released Parties are not co-developing, co-building, guarantors of, or otherwise responsible for, nor shall they incur any liability as a result of, any of the obligations or representations made to buyers by any homebuilder or other third party. Fee Owner’s responsibility with respect to the Community is limited to certain infrastructure improvements (e.g., roads, sewer, etc.) and such obligations run solely to persons buying real property directly from Fee Owner. Buyers of homes waive, to the fullest extent allowed under the law, any and all rights, claims, causes of action and other rights whatsoever against the Released Parties arising from their purchase of a home or services, respectively, in the Community from homebuilders or other third party. Not an offering of the sale or lease of real property to residents of any jurisdiction where prior qualification of out-of-state real property is required unless the Community has been so qualified or an exemption is available. Any prices, sketches, renderings, and specifications contained herein are proposed only and subject, without notice, to change or withdrawal at any time. The maps contained herein are for illustrative purposes only and are based on current development concepts, which are subject to change without notice. © 2022 NNP IV-Cape Fear River, LLC. All rights reserved. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

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Homes + Communities

Downtown’s

DRAW

By Jenny Callison

B

ordered by the Cape Fear River and seeped in more than 250 years of history, downtown Wilmington has blossomed into a dynamic and colorful place to live for people of all ages. Its neighborhoods are diverse, from districts on the National Register of Historic Places to blocks of sleek condo and apartment developments in or near the central business district.

“I love being downtown,” said Margaret Haynes, a longtime Wilmington resident who traded her 3,000-square-foot home for a River Place condo in September 2020.

Centrally located River Place, which contains 171 residential units, 32,000 square feet of retail space and garage parking, has proved popular with others as well: Both its condos and its retail spaces are fully occupied. Wilmington’s Ruth’s Chris restaurant recently relocated to River Place.

“There is a bunch of sociable people in our building, and now that

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COVID is waning we enjoy getting together for happy hours and other occasions,” Haynes said.

She also likes the convenience of being able to walk to the many restaurants, performing arts, visual arts and educational events downtown Wilmington has to offer. She is steps from the Cape Fear Riverwalk, a nearly 2-mile boardwalk connecting Riverfront Park and the marina to the north with development near Cape Fear Memorial Bridge to the south.

“It’s great for people-watching; you see a little bit of everything,”

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Haynes says of living downtown. She also enjoys the view from her riverfacing windows, a panorama that includes Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and the Battleship North Carolina, moored across the water from River Place.

In less than a decade, downtown Wilmington has welcomed several large apartment and condo developments.

More than $650 million of private capital has been invested over the past six years in apartments, condos and hotels throughout the central business district, according to G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

Homes + Communities

INSIDER’S CORNER KIM NELSON

After a career in the pharmaceutical industry, working on both the scientific and business sides, Kim Nelson retired in 2014.

Nelson, who is 59, and her husband, Tim, traded in workwear for travel duds.

Hometown: Bolivar, Pennsylvania Any professional work that you still do now? “Strategic consulting mostly in the nonprofit industry ” How did you prepare for retirement? “The long-term financial

Several apartment and condo projects have been built around Wilmington's northern riverfront area in recent years, especially around the city's new park and amphitheater (shown in foreground).

photo by T.J. Drechsel

Wilmington Downtown iNC (WDI).

In addition to River Place, there is Pier 33, a fully occupied complex of 275 residential units and retail space, and Flats on Front, another fully occupied development of 273 apartments. In October, developers broke ground on The Metropolitan at the Riverwalk, which will contain 293 apartments, 4,500 square feet of retail space and a 490-stall parking garage.

“Downtown has added more than 1,100 new housing units (primarily apartments and condos), and more than 300 additional units are currently under construction,” said Holly Childs, G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

who until recently served as WDI’s president and CEO. Investment of public and private dollars in Wilmington’s downtown has not been funneled only into housing and infrastructure.

Cape Fear Community College’s Wilson Center, funded through private gifts and a New Hanover County bond sale, took glittering shape as a 1,500-seat performance venue, with a smaller studio theater and 26 instructional spaces.

Across the street, but part of the complex, is the Wilma W. Daniels Gallery, one of a large mix of

vision that we wanted was to retire early and travel the world. We started investing young and stuck with it.”

What community activities are you involved in? “GLOW (Girls Leadership

Academy of Wilmington) board member, Young Scientist Academy board member, District C trained coach, UNCW-Cameron Executive Network Advisory Council and mentor, FuseCR Advisory Council and mentor, QENO (Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations) coach, SeaTech Advisory Council member, Leadership Wilmington Advisory Council member, United Way of the Cape Fear Area Planning and Investment Committee member, UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Blue Economy strategic adviser. And, of course, the stuff I do with WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative.”

Any restaurant picks? “Our favorite

restaurant, manna, has the total package of excellent food, wine and service. Brassiere du Soleil is a nice place for an outdoor lunch. A few recent entries to the Wilmington food scene with good food and nice outdoor space are Three10 and True Blue Butcher and Barrel.”

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Homes + Communities

Margaret Haynes downsized from her home to a condo in River Place in 2020.

photo by Aris Harding

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downtown area art galleries.

“In 2016, $45 million was invested in the Wilson Center, and just last summer we celebrated the opening of the city’s $35 million Riverfront Park, which includes Live Oak Bank Pavilion – downtown Wilmington’s second Live Nation venue to attract nationallytouring music acts,” Childs said.

Music and other performing arts flourish in a variety of downtown venues, while the visual arts are on display everywhere, from private galleries to public sculpture installations.

Downtown is also a place to shop and work. The downtown office occupancy rate is at 96.2%, and there is currently 17,000 square feet more in development, according to a report Childs cited from SVN Efird Commercial Real Estate. The report stated that retail occupancy downtown is at nearly 100%, with rents rising as a result of demand.

G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

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Health + Wellness

photo c/o Novant Health NHRMC

HOSPITAL LANDSCAPE

I

By Neil Cotiaux

n the wake of the first anniversary of their merger, Novant Health and New Hanover Regional Medical Center are accelerating plans to build more facilities, deepen medical specialties and serve more patients.

Following the Feb. 1, 2021, merger of New Hanover County-owned NHRMC with Novant, the two health care systems began integrating staff, policies and resources – a formidable task in itself – as COVID-19 tested the combined organization’s capacity to handle record waves of hospitalizations.

At the same time, a new coastal market management team was put in place that cross-pollinated leadership at NHRMC and Brunswick Medical Center, which was already part of Novant Health prior to its purchase of NHRMC. Above: Laurie Whalin, COO of Novant Health NHRMC, shown at its neuroscience center

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Health + Wellness Now, with an integrated team that proved its mettle throughout the pandemic, the approximately 8,400 individuals working in Novant Health’s coastal region as of the beginning of the year have their sights set further down the road.

When NHRMC’s sale took effect last year, Novant Health became obligated to execute a host of hospital-specific and communityrelated promises made as part of the purchase agreement.

Among the key commitments are a total of $3.1 billion to fund major facilities and both strategic and routine capital needs; $300 million for a county revenue stabilization fund; and $1.25 billion in sales proceeds as base funding for a new nonprofit, the New Hanover Community Endowment, which is expected to release $50 million or more in grants annually for education, health and social equity, public safety and community development.

“You had Brunswick and then you had NHRMC, and we did things separately and almost in competition. And now this has given us an opportunity to take a step back and say, okay, now that we’re one, how do we provide access to the entire region?” said Laurie Whalin, who served as president and COO of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center over the past year before being named COO of Wilmington-based Novant Health NHRMC in February.

“Not just Pender, Brunswick and New Hanover County, but all seven counties” as far north as Onslow and as far west as Columbus, she said.

Retaining and recruiting the right staff will be critical in delivering quality services to a growing area population, many of whom need specialized care in disciplines such as cardiology, oncology, neurology and pediatrics.

As part of its acquisition, Novant pledged to retain all of the G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

Wilmington system’s employees for a minimum of two years at their then-current salaries, titles and responsibilities. Hourly workers at NHRMC were transitioned to Novant’s higher $15 minimum.

As the pandemic continued to take its toll on employees and their families and as the first anniversary of the merger neared, Novant announced a one-time, $40 million investment in team members across its three-state system of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Full-time employees at the assistant director level and below were given an extra week of paid time off or its cash equivalent. Part-time workers received an additional 24 hours of PTO or cash.

While the bonus came on the heels of some staff departures and concerns across the health care industry over nursing shortages, it also was a reflection of the need to retain and hire even more staff devoted to value-based performance.

Over the past year, 49 new providers were recruited to the coastal region’s physician group alone, Whalin said.

“One, the volume has increased, so we need more staff,” she said. “But two, we’ve lost staff.

We’ve probably landed in about the same place (8,400 employees) … but nursing is our No. 1 top focus.”

Shelbourn Stevens, formerly president of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center and now president of Novant HealthNHRMC as well as its broader coastal region, said quality staffing is essential as the system develops a master facility plan that is central to meeting the demand for services.

“Where are there gaps? Where are we out of space? What could we do differently, what could look different, how do we offer those services? How do we expand some specialty clinics for the region?”

Stevens said. “People just keep moving here and moving here, so

NOVANT AT A GLANCE

Novant Health is a notfor-profit health care system based in WinstonSalem, North Carolina.

In February 2021, it purchased New Hanover Regional Medical Center and took over the local system’s facilities and physician group. Novant previously had a presence in Brunswick County with physician offices there and Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center. As part of the deal, Novant entered into an agreement with UNC School of Medicine to expand its branch campus in Wilmington.

NOVANT

BY THE NUMBERS

800 15 1,800

LOCATIONS, including

HOSPITALS

PHYSICIANS

35,000

EMPLOYEES

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Proud to Offer

You work hard to protect your loved ones. Now, you should simply enjoy them.

You deserve a retirement worthy of a lifetime of love. Let’s talk about a solution that works for you and your goals.

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Health + Wellness Clinical coordinator Lynn Brinson stands with the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system in an operating room at Novant Health Scotts Hill Outpatient Surgery Center.

photo c/o Novant Health NHRMC

we’re going to have to continue that physician recruitment and be able to provide those services in those communities. So, we’ll have lots more projects coming up on the horizon.”

With both providers and patients having gotten used to virtual care during the pandemic, there is increased interest by Novant in the health care system becoming more deeply involved in home-based care.

Last September, Novant launched COVID Care at Home for patients who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 and who could transition to athome monitoring using virtual care, along with office visits or hospital readmission if required.

NHRMC had launched a similar program in April 2020, prior to the G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

purchase.

“We used that as a mini-model,” Whalin said. “We see (using) it for a lot of simple conditions like pneumonia, cellulitis, things that can be treated in the home that just need minimal therapy such as antibiotics, but some monitoring and nurse care.

“We do see us offering a lot of those services ourselves, from physician staff as well as nursing” while utilizing partners such as physical therapists and mobile X-ray services, she said.

Meantime, Novant Health launched a new business division in March that will serve as an incubator for technological advancements that could enhance clinical care for a variety of patients.

The new division, Novant Health

Enterprises, is able to invest in, or acquire, third-party enterprises that pioneer breakthrough technology that could help staff deliver a higher level of care.

Prior to NHE’s formation, Novant partnered with the firm Viz.ai to introduce artificial intelligence that can analyze images of suspected large-vessel occlusion strokes. The technology enables stroke specialists to save “critical minutes, even hours,” a company statement said. It is already in use in Novant’s coastal market.

“I’ve lived in this region for 15 years,” Stevens said, “and it has been astounding to see this positive level of investment and health care progress in just one year.”

2022-23 Edition

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DON’T JUST LIVE HERE...

LOVE IT HERE.

LIVE at Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall and…

LOVE the INSPIRE wellness program LOVE the active lifestyle LOVE the variety of dining venues LOVE the spacious apartments and garden flats LOVE the peace of mind with continuing care on-site.

Call 910.541.8538 to schedule a tour and see why residents don’t just live here, they LOVE IT HERE.

630 Carolina Bay Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403

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R E T I R E M E N T L I V I N G I N C O A S TA L N . C .

A Life Plan Community offered by Liberty Senior Living

CarolinaBayatAutumnHall.com

G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m © 2022 Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall

SPONSORS’ CONTENT

WE ARE LIBERTY Liberty Healthcare is a Wilmington based, family-owned company that has been helping people manage their healthcare and residential needs for more than 145 years.

Principal owners, Sandy and Ronnie McNeill, are proud to call this area home, and are the fifth generation of the McNeill family that has been immersed in the healthcare industry.

The company founders, who opened their first pharmacy in 1875, established Liberty’s core values of quality, honesty, and integrity that guide us to this day.

LIBERTY SENIOR LIVING Liberty Senior Living is the development and operations management company for Liberty’s senior living division. We oversee the development, financing, acquisition and operation of independent living, assisted living memory-care and Life Plan Communities. For more than 30 years, Liberty Senior Living has been offering seniors access to a full continuum of services in luxury communities built in some of the most desirable locations in the Southeast. With two locations here in Wilmington, Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall and Brightmore of Wilmington which includes The Kempton and The Commons on the Brightmore campus, Liberty G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

Senior Living is posed for growth and a continued commitment to helping seniors live life to their fullest.

COMMUNITY OFFERINGS Liberty Senior Living communities have been designed for active seniors. They are filled with fabulous amenities and an abundance of activities for promoting physical, mental, social, educational and spiritual well-being. We have specifically designed and/or acquired communities that are able to offer our residents whole-person wellness, distinctive dining, life enrichment, and top-class amenities and services. With the active senior in mind, Liberty has branched out into the Active Adult division. Our first community, Inspire Coastal Grand, opened in Myrtle Beach, SC in 2021. Inspire Royal Park will open in Matthews, NC in June 2022. Our future location near Brunswick Forest in Leland, NC will open in 2023.

Our community and service offerings combine housing, health care, hospitality, and ancillary services. Our senior living communities offer residents a state-of-the-art home-like setting, assistance with activities of daily living and, in some communities, licensed skilled nursing services.

We also provide ancillary services including home health, hospice, in-patient short-term rehabilitation, 2022-23 Edition

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SPONSORS’ CONTENT

long-term care, and out-patient services to residents in many of our communities as well as seniors living outside of our communities. We offer our residents the opportunity to “age-in-place” by providing a full range of service options as their needs change. With a diverse range of community and service offerings, we are positioned to take advantage of favorable demographic trends over time.

WHOLE - PERSON WELLNESS AND LIFE ENRICHMENT One of our core values at Liberty is whole-person wellness, the integration of a person’s multiple dimensions, including physical, nutritional, spiritual, social and intellectual, into positive beliefs and meaningful activities. We encourage all of our residents to participate in this program. Our

“At Liberty Senior Living, we offer all sorts of activities.

There are classes and cooking demonstrations, outings and social groups, concerts or movies, lifelong learning opportunities, book clubs, women clubs and walking clubs,” Haley Norris, Regional Wellness and Enrichment Director. goal is to help our residents remain at their highest level of functional abilities, and even to improve their fitness and wellness once they move into one of our communities.

Wellness is not just about physicality. We know that engagement and socialization play a crucial role in the mental health

and wellbeing of our residents.

Isolation can diminish the immune system and have other negative impacts on physical and emotional health.

Our wellness facilities and equipment are state-of-the-art, and all of our wellness instructors are certified. Energetic instructors conduct both land and water classes, as well as training on the stationary equipment. Classes are tailored to residents’ requests and participation, from yoga to tai chi, water aerobics to line dancing. Residents design their own community program based on their interests, and our wellness instructors are also available for coaching and personal training upon request.

We encourage residents to indulge their current passions and discover new ones as they embrace all life has to offer.

WHAT LIBERTY HAS TO OFFER: DISTINCTIVE DINING Liberty’s Senior Living communities offer distinctive dining and a remarkable range of culinary choices for residents and their guests. The various venues and menus afford residents a wide range of healthy, dining options.

Best of all, our communities offer dining dollars or a declining monthly balance which are including the monthly rent that can be used at the residents’ discretion.

This policy allows residents the flexibility to dine out with friends without paying for meals they are not eating at the community.

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AMENITIES AND SERVICES As a resident of a Liberty Senior Living community, you’ll let go of house and yard upkeep and embrace all the services and amenities we offer to ensure your comfort, convenience and safety.

AT A GLANCE: · fully equipped fitness center complete with a salt water pool and hot tub · a professionally staffed day spa and salon · multiple dining venues; several living rooms, libraries and game rooms · plus an art studio and various meeting spaces · onsite security and emergency response services, giving both you and your family invaluable peace of mind · weekly cleaning · grounds maintenance and landscaping · concierge services

R E T I R E M E N T L I V I N G I N C O A S TA L N . C .

G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

Retire Your Perception of a

Senior Living Community.

Imagine a community filled with social opportunities, exceptional amenities and a maintenance-free lifestyle.

Now, imagine living there.

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- The INSPIRE wellness program - The peace of mind with continuing care on-site - The social engagement

Call 910.507.7384 to schedule a visit and discover all that Brightmore of Wilmington has to offer.

2 3 24 41 S T ST R E E T, WI L M I N G TO N , N C 2 8 4 03 G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

Retirement Living Choices offered by Liberty Senior Living

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B R I G H T M O R E O F WI L M I N G T O N .CO M 2022-23 Edition

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© 2022 Brightmore of Wilmington

Health + Wellness

WALK on Wilmington File photo

By Neil Cotiaux

Invariably, one of the first things that day-trippers or newcomers to the Wilmington area want to do is park their car, hop out and soak up some sun and sand at one of the area’s scenic beaches.

While strolling along the ocean engages the senses and rejuvenates the soul, locals know there is another outdoor activity that is just as invigorating, and which doctors say may be even more helpful in sustaining good health.

From the Cape Fear River to the Atlantic Ocean and in a variety of adjoining communities, opportunities to walk or hike abound.

With an accelerating number of baby boomers either retiring or working remotely and many choosing “Wilmington and beaches” as their preferred location,

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the proliferation of natural and man-made trails in Southeastern North Carolina provides numerous options to enjoy the outdoors while making new friends and staying active.

According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, a daily brisk walk can prevent or manage conditions such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and cancer; improve mood, memory and sleep; and reduce stress and tension.

“The faster, farther and more frequently you walk, the greater the benefits,” Mayo Clinic staff advise.

In the greater Wilmington area, local governing bodies, businesses and nonprofits have worked together since 2013 to create a Comprehensive Greenway Plan that continues to expand. Along with parks and other nature trails, the initiative aims to bring more people together outdoors.

Before embarking on a

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full-fledged hike, newcomers to the area might head downtown to stroll along WILMINGTON RIVERWALK, a 1.75-mile stretch with immediate access to dining, shopping and cultural attractions that was named “Top Riverfront” in USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

Then it’s off to the GARY SHELL CROSS CITY TRAIL, a 15-mile mostly off-road pedestrian and bike route that runs from Wade Park, Halyburton Park and Empie Park and along Eastwood Road, all the way to the bridge crossing to Wrightsville Beach and a picturesque view of the Intracoastal Waterway.

“We walked the entire trail a few years ago by breaking it into short segments,” said Andy McGlinn, a retired call center manager from Wisconsin and a member of the Sierra Club, whose local Meetup group exceeds 1,000 people. “It was a fun series that we will likely repeat soon.”

On the other side of the

waterway lies THE LOOP, a 2.5-mile circular path that draws a steady stream of walkers, runners and bikers who keep fit as they take in the charm of a friendly beach town. The Wrightsville Beach shoreline and the town park are just steps away.

G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

ARE YOU GAME? Open space and recreational opportunities are key to a high quality of life and in Wilmington we strive to provide just that. As part of the voter-approved bond projects, the City of Wilmington is investing $38 million in enhancing our parks. From upgraded facilities at the Municipal Golf Course to resurfaced courts at Empie Park, we’re working hard so you spend your time relaxing and enjoying life in the city you love.

wilmingtonrecreation.com

G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

2022-23 Edition

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Health + Wellness

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Beyond the cross city trail and The Loop, McGlinn suggests visiting some lesser-known trails such as EVHENWOOD NATURE PRESERVE in Leland, “a great wilderness trail” within a 175-acre coastal forest preserve; GREENFIELD LAKE, a 3.9-mile loop trail near downtown brimming with springtime azaleas and views of turtles, geese and alligators; and the cypress- and pine-covered trail at BLUETHENTHAL WILDLIFE PRESERVE on the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus.

Further south, at CAROLINA BEACH STATE PARK, nearly 9 miles of trails lead visitors through distinct habitats of plant and animal life.

Over the next few years, Wilmington city planners hope to add the WILMINGTON RAIL TRAIL to the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s greenway plan.

To be developed along abandoned rail lines, planning is underway for a 5.9-mile pedestrian and bicycle pathway that will create “a unique space for art, exercise, and community engagement” and “honor and celebrate the local history and culture” of the city’s Northside neighborhood.

Such greenways are “the only real way to improve traffic congestion, produce cleaner air and improve our personal health,” the Sierra Club’s McGlinn believes. “We need to keep this at the forefront of plans as the region grows.”

G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

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2022-23 Edition

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Lifestyles + Connections

Stage Presence

By Fritts Causby

Shows at Live Oak Bank Pavilion and the Wilson Center have upped the area’s entertainment ante in recent years.

photo by T.J. Drechsel

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Lifestyles + Connections

REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin at Live Oak Bank Pavillion during the 2022 Azalea Festival

T

he Wilson Center and Live Oak Bank Pavilion are consistently bringing high-level talent to Wilmington. Now, it’s no longer a necessity to find a vacation rental or hotel in a far-away city if seeing live acts such as Widespread Panic, ZZ Top, Diana Ross, The Doobie Brothers or touring Broadway productions is the goal.

“Without question, the Wilson Center and Live Oak Pavilion have elevated the arts in Southeastern North Carolina, offering unique experiences in two unique settings,” said Rhonda Bellamy, executive director of the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County. “The grandeur of the Wilson Center, coupled with an ambitious Broadway series and robust calendar of local and national acts, rivals cities several times our size.

Similarly, how many cities can boast having the Cape Fear River as the backdrop for a 7,200-seat amphitheater? Both facilities have helped establish our region as an arts destination.”

USHERING IN NEW SHOWS

Cape Fear Community College opened the Wilson Center, with more than 1,500 seats, in late 2015. Officials call it the most technologically advanced theater in the eastern part of the state.

“We are constantly reinvesting our earnings back into the building, to ensure that we can continue to offer the broadest range of talent possible, with the highest level of quality possible,” said Shane Fernando, vice president of advancement and the arts at CFCC. The popularity of the comedy acts, musicians and theater performances may serve as an indication of the success of the venue.

A few highlights for the rest of 2022 include stops by well-known performers such as Pat Benatar, the Blue Man Group, G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

2022-23 Edition

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Lifestyles + Connections “Weird Al” Yankovic, Jason Isbell and Trombone Shorty. Musicals including Tootsie, On Your Feet and Anastasia make up this year’s touring Broadway slate, with crowd favorites Annie and The Book of Mormon slated for next spring.

With about 300 events a year, the Wilson Center’s schedule has returned to pre-pandemic levels. “Around 30 percent of our ticket sales were to buyers from out of town,” Fernando said.

“In just the first six months, we entertained guests from all 50 states and every continent except Antarctica.”

AMPHITHEATER ACTS

The $35 million Live Oak Bank Pavilion – paid for mostly by the city of Wilmington but including $4 million from venue manager Live Nation – opened with fanfare in July 2021 as the centerpiece of the city’s new Riverfront Park along the Cape Fear River.

The economic impact created

by Live Oak Bank Pavilion, which celebrated its opening with three sold-out shows by Widespread Panic, has already been significant. The city receives $2 from each ticket sold at the 7,200-seat concert venue, as well

as $200,000 in yearly rent from Live Nation.

“We can’t wait to kick off our second season at Live Oak Bank Pavilion,” Live Nation general manager Ryan Belcher said. “This year’s lineup has something for everyone. We are featuring a wide range of genres.”

This year’s calendar is filled with top names such as Josh Groban, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Darius Rucker, My Morning Jacket, Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats and more.

“We’re able to secure notable acts by leveraging our extensive industry and touring relationships while utilizing our knowledge of the region,” Belcher

Wilson Center shows: Trombone Shorty (from top left), 9 to 5, Legally BlondeThe Musical, and The Midtown Men

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Lifestyles + Connections Widespread Panic at Live Oak Bank Pavilion’s opening in 2021

INSIDER’S CORNER Nick & Deloris Rhodes Nick and Deloris Rhodes have lived in Wilmington since 2001 after Deloris retired from Fairfax County Virginia Public Schools and Nick from the U.S. Air Force and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Locally, Deloris worked as assistant superintendent of schools in Pender County Schools, and both remain active in local organizations.

Hometowns: Lake Waccamaw and

Riegelwood

Why did you choose to retire here? “We chose Wilmington to retire

because of the moderate climate, close proximity to family, the university, the airport, libraries, good medical services and the downtown area.”

What community activities are you involved in? Deloris: Alpha Kappa

Alpha sorority, Davis Heath Care CenterThe Davis Community, Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW), WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative advisory board, Cape Fear Community College trustees and Landfall Foundation; Nick: 100 Black Men of Coastal Carolina mentorship program for minority youth, Child Development Center board, Kids Making It board, N.C. Agricultural Foundation board, New Hanover County Airport Authority board and Wilmington Downtown Rotary Club What do you recommend for others moving here who want to be involved with the community? “Wilmington

has over 135 nonprofits in the area.

Additionally, there are organizations that need the support and assistance of Wilmington-area retirees. Be open for new experiences and embrace differences and explore the unknowns.”

Any restaurant picks? “Wilmington

has so many outstanding restaurants.

We love Blue Surf, True Blue, Caprice Bistro, Landfall Country Club and so many more!”

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photo by Michael Cline Spencer

said. “Wilmington is also a big draw for bands and live music fans.”

BEYOND THE HEADLINERS

While Live Oak Bank Pavilion and the Wilson Center are the largest and newest entertainment venues for the area, other stages from Thalian Hall to Brunswick Community College’s Odell Williamson Auditorium to UNCW’s Kenan Hall have been used for years to stage local productions and national names, just with smaller seating capacities.

The arts, Bellamy pointed out, have been an active part of the area.

In 2015, the arts council was the local organizing partner for an Arts & Economic Prosperity study on the county – before Wilson Center and the amphitheater factored in.

“We will launch the next study in May and update the numbers, which, in 2015, showed an economic impact of $55.8 million, supporting the fulltime employment of 2,076 jobs and generating $5.6 million in local and state tax revenues, not including the cost of admission,” Bellamy said about the impacts of arts and cultural

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organizations and audiences in New Hanover County.

Recognizing that the arts are not only a valuable economic driver but also a major cultural benefit to those who live in or visit the Wilmington area, Fernando and his team have worked to make the Wilson Center a lab for student learning.

“We focus on experiential, handson learning here,” he said.

It is not just about providing CFCC students with a chance to perform on stage. There are many roles, tasks and responsibilities that need to be taken care of to effectively pull off a show; graphic design, carpentry, welding, physical therapy, hair and makeup, set design and A/V management are just a few of the on-the-job learning opportunities provided to students.

Each event requires a staff of about 200 to make it happen, and students always make up a portion of the crew.

“Our major focus is on providing access so students can learn,” Fernando said. “We waive the base rent for school systems, something that is very unusual for a touring house of our size.”

G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

WilsonCenterTickets.com

33 910.362.7999 2022-23 Edition

Lifestyles + Connections

Starring HOLLYWOOD File photo

EAST

By Neil Cotiaux

P

aul and Patricia Lawler like to keep busy, even though they’re retired.

She, a former congressional aide, and he, a former member of Wilmington City Council, like rolling up their sleeves and addressing a variety of community causes such as child advocacy and urban forestry. They don’t stay home watching a lot of TV – but they do help make it.

Last year, just for fun, the Lawlers signed on as extras for several series being shot in the region.

Since 1985, more than 400 films, television and commercial projects have shot at the Wilmington lot of EUE/Screen Gems and various off-lot locations, pairing big-name stars with locals who get in on the action. It’s an opportunity to see how films and TV programs are made while making some money – and for the area’s newcomers, a chance to make friends and acclimate to new surroundings.

On any given day, a single production can require anywhere from a dozen to at least 400 extras, said Taylor Woodell, owner of TW Cast & Recruit.

Woodell and another firm, Kimmie Stewart Casting, use digital platforms to engage with potential background actors.

“The first thing you do is sign up with them and you put some pictures in there – full-body, headshots, etc. – and tell them some things about yourself,”

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Patricia Lawler said.

Height, weight, waist and shirt size are captured in the event of costuming, said Woodell, who reviews entries, confirms an applicant’s availability and selects the candidates who “best suit the roles.”

Currently, extras earn a guaranteed $80 over an eight-hour day and after that, time-and-a-half for each hour.

Some productions require extras to test for COVID-19, but extras get a bump in pay for being tested.

Once on set, it’s “rush, rush, rush” and then “you may sit there for two or three hours before you’re used,” Woodell said. She urges extras to “bring a book; bring cards.”

In the past few months, Paul and Patricia Lawler have been extras on a total of four productions: Patricia on Echoes and Our Kind of People; Paul on Florida Man (shown above); and both of them on George and Tammy, a miniseries about married music superstars George Jones and Tammy Wynette.

Be warned, though, retakes can sap energy.

“I was at Legion Stadium for two concert scenes, and we must have gone through 14 or 15 takes of each of those scenes. So, part of it is, you just have to bring up the enthusiasm,” Paul Lawler said.

One day’s shoot can occasionally run up to 16 hours, and things can change fast, he cautioned.

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During a casino scene for George and Tammy, “All of a sudden, somebody comes over and unbuttons my shirt, puts a silver chain on me and then cuts my T-shirt,” Paul Lawler recalled, giving the scene a better ’70s vibe. “I guess I needed to look more like a casino guy … it’s an indication of how they keep adjusting the scene to fit the storyline and it points to their attention to detail.”

For Florida Man, he was told he would be a pedestrian, but “I got there, and the production assistant looked at me and said, ‘No, you have more of a detective aura.’” He was “deputized” on the spot.

Throughout any shoot, small talk is forbidden.

“You only speak when spoken to, and that’s a way for them to preserve the integrity of the set and also to kind of protect some of the principal actors from being hounded by fans,” Patricia explained.

On the days Patricia Lawler was on the set, numerous extras were either retirees or new to Wilmington. “It was amazing how many had moved here within the last year,” she said.

Despite all the rules, Paul Lawler recommends becoming an extra at least once.

“It’s just one of those things you should really do if you’re here and become a part of the community,” he said. “It’s really cool.”

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Lifestyles + Connections

S

Piddle Paddle Pickleball

By Fritts Causby

photo by Aris Harding

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teve Dayvault is no stranger to making history with a racket in his hand.

In fact, his name is synonymous with achievements on the racquetball court, as he was inducted into the N.C. Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2005 after a career filled with open singles and doubles titles in the state as well as national wins in his age bracket.

The achievements led Dayvault, who took up the sport when the Market Street YMCA opened its doors in 1965, to be inducted into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

These days, Dayvault’s focus has shifted to the sport of pickleball. He explained that the 2016 closing of the Wilmington Athletic Center, where he often played, was a partial catalyst for the decision.

“Racquetball is on the decline,” said Dayvault, “and pickleball is not as hard on the body. Plus, with pickleball, it is usually easy to get a game.”

Dayvault said that the average game only lasts about 15 to 30 minutes. Along with the fact that it is played on a relatively small, badmintonsized court and approaching the net is against the rules, this makes it a relatively low-impact activity. The area within 7 feet of each side of the net is called the kitchen, and it is illegal for a player to hit a ball there before it bounces.

Pickleball has a legion of devotees across the nation, and the numbers are only expected to increase.

In fact, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association recently reported that the popularity of the sport grew in 2021 to include about 4.8 million players nationwide. People love the fast pace, simple rules and social aspect of the game, which is partially why it is the fastest-growing sport in the nation, according to the association.

Holly Manning, president of the 500-memberstrong Cape Fear Pickleball Club (CFPB), estimates that there are between 1,600 to 1,800 players in Wilmington and the surrounding area.

Many of them can be found on private courts in communities such as Brunswick Forest, Magnolia Greens and St. James Plantation.

Those who are interested in finding a public place to play in New Hanover County can consider joining the club, as doing so allows access to the courts at Robert Strange Park, Greenfield Lake Park and Veterans Park. The club G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m

Lifestyles + Connections maintains a lockbox with nets and balls at these locations for members to use, so they can modify the tennis courts for pickleball.

“There are 87 tennis courts in New Hanover County but only six pickleball courts,” Manning said.

“Getting court space has been a struggle, but we are going to keep trying,” Dayvault said. “The thing is, you can do twice as much with one court with pickleball as you can with tennis.”

Dayvault, who manages and helps coordinate the schedule of more than 80 local players, added that: “I have to thank Dr. John Ludwig and Steve Lombardi, as they were instrumental in getting our group together. Our group is comprised of around 60% men and 40% women. Basically, anyone with experience playing sports with a racket can pick it up really fast.”

The startup costs are relatively inexpensive, as the only thing that is really necessary is a racket. Rackets start at about $40; a good one can be

had for about $80.

The price for joining CFPC starts at $25 a year, and in addition to lockbox maintenance, the dues cover everything the club does to promote the sport.

This ranges from providing lessons to holding charity benefits, such as its recent spring tournament to benefit the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services.

With numerous public and private facilities in Brunswick County, including the area’s only indoor facility, the House of Pickleball, the region might have to increase current efforts to meet the demand. But with a new large, private project being considered for an 8-acre tract at 5000 N. College Road in Castle Hayne, the growth outlook for the sport might be as fast as the pace of play.

“This started out as a sport mainly for seniors, but we have a lot of teenagers and 20-somethings now,” Dayvault said. “Pickleball is just a really inclusive sport; it’s really easy to learn, and there is a quick learning curve.”

FALLS are the leading cause of death from injury among older adults.

33% of those falls are directly related to environmental hazards within the home such as poor flooring, shaky railings, and lack of grab bars.

Visit WilmingtonSymphony.org or call Wilson Center at (910) 362-7999

2022-2023 SEASON

Season subscriptions on sale June 6!

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Join WARM’s mission to repair, rebuild, and make homes accessible.

Learn more at

warmnc.org 2022-23 Edition

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Food + Drink

specialty

eats

By Laura Moore

F

or foodies on the lookout for interesting food selections, the outlook is bright in Wilmington.

Whether you’re a carnivore looking for exotic cuts of meat or a vegan hoping for a new twist, options abound in the area. There’s a unique variety of stores and markets in the Wilmington area with food choices that go above and beyond the typical grocery store selections.

If you are looking for fresh seafood classics, international delights or perhaps comfortable favorites, there are plenty to choose from to satisfy even the most discerning of tastes.

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Food + Drink

NEW SAIGON INTERNATIONAL MARKET 831 S. Kerr Ave.

BIGGERS MARKET 6250 Market St. + 6458 Carolina Beach Road

Local fruits and vegetables, as well as plants, honey, seasonings and dressings are the focal points at Biggers Market.

“We carry local meat, eggs, cheese, beer and everything in between. The No.1 question I get asked is, ‘Where is this from?’ So, it’s exciting when I can say it’s from right here,” general manager Tamara Thomas said.

Biggers has expanded to carry a variety of Amish furniture and has a bar open Friday-Sunday with live music and a food truck to round out the market experience.

Biggers has two locations to choose from in Wilmington. Both are open 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.6:30 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday.

biggers-market.myshopify.com

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If fresh international foods are what you desire, then the New Saigon International Market will more than likely have what you are looking for and more.

With a wide array of foods from a variety of regions around the globe, the market offers produce, meats and seafood, as well as snacks and specialties.

The multicultural market, a local favorite since 1994, provides fresh and packaged products from East and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

With a diverse selection of sauces, spices, vegetables, teas and rice, the market offers an abundance of options for your palate. New Saigon makes its own in-house kimchi, offers fresh crab and lobster, and has fully stocked freezer and refrigerated sections.

The market is known for its authentic food selection and variety of herbs and produce. Housewares such as cutting boards, steamers, knives and chopsticks are available as well as bamboo plants and candles.

The New Saigon Asian Market is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. every day except Sunday when it closes at 8 p.m.

new-saigon-marketinternational-groceries. business.site

THE BUTCHER’S MARKET 4512 Oleander Drive, Suite 800

“If it walks, crawls, swims or flies,” The Butcher’s Market can get it through their doors and onto your plates.

Opened in Wilmington in March, the father-and-son business offers a wide variety of meats as well as the produce and products to finish off meals.

“We most likely have it or will do our best to source it for you,” said Smith Prevost, The Butcher’s Market owner and operator.

Whether it is beef, pork, chicken or seafood on the menu, The Butcher’s Market is a go-to place. If you are the more adventurous type, it has a selection of exotics including elk, bison, kangaroo, gator and crawfish too.

“We offer an array of housemade sides/marinated veggies to pair with your proteins,” Prevost said. “Our grocery area is made up of local North Carolina//Wilmington products, and our line of ‘Dinner Done Easy’ items, just take it home and pop it in the oven.

“I believe after the pandemic there has been a huge shift in customers’ shopping patterns,” Prevost added.

“They are seeing the importance of shopping local.”

The store’s hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.

thebutchersmarkets.com

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Food + Drink

INSIDER’S CORNER TOM & KATHLEEN BARBER

Good Life Wilmington’s cover models, Tom and Kathleen Barber, have lived in Wilmington for two decades. Tom, 78, worked as vice president of operations for Continental Airlines and vice president of its Houston hub before retiring. Kathleen, 68, was senior director of airport operations for Continental and served as senior director of the airline’s Cleveland hub before retiring.

Hometowns: Staunton, Virginia, and

Denver

How did you prepare for retirement? “Since we would be

retiring before traditional retirement age, we decided we would like a small business to operate. Within a few months, a franchise broker recommended that we consider a Great Clips for Hair opportunity. Initially, we were lukewarm to the concept despite the broker pointing out that our last name was Barber! The franchisor offered us an incredible opportunity to purchase complete market rights to a territory that extended from the South Carolina border to just south of Jacksonville. … We opened 14 salons in seven years! In late 1999, we executed the franchise agreement, and Kathleen retired to start the operation.” In 2006, they also purchased A&B Personnel services, in partnership with Kathleen’s sister.

Second retirement: “We really

retired in 2012 when we sold our Great Clips franchise to another franchisee that we had been mentoring, and A&B Personnel Services was sold to Greene Resources of Raleigh.”

Favorite ways to spend a day:

“Coffee and bagels in the morning on the beach, pickleball, wine club at Country Club of Landfall and bicycling”

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SEAVIEW CRAB COMPANY

Midtown Market: 1515 Marstellar St. (retail, wholesale and kitchen) • Other area locations: 6458 Carolina Beach Road • Biggers Market: 6250 Market St.

When three college graduates decided to get a few crab pots and start a business, they never imagined it would grow to a nationwide business that serves the Wilmington area and beyond. Seaview Crab Company offers fresh selections of seafood through a wide network of local fishermen.

A TASTE OF ITALY 1101 S. College Road

For almost 30 years, the deli and specialty market at A Taste of Italy have been bringing Italy to the tastebuds of local customers.

With nearby locations in Wilmington, Castle Hayne, Carolina Beach and Belville, Seaview “actively source(s) our products locally, supporting the entire North Carolina commercial fishing industry,” according to its website.

Whether you are looking for crab, shrimp and oysters or tuna, trout and mahi-mahi, you can go into one of their retail locations to find it or order a box online and have it delivered to your door. If you want it prepared for you, Seaview has opened its Kitchen & Deli at the Marstellar Street location, offering “quality seafood served fresh, hot & affordable.”

Fan favorites of chicken, meatball and eggplant parmigiana are central to A Taste of Italy’s menu, as well as chicken marsala and baked ziti. Olives, salads, cheeses and sausages are front and center in the deli, in addition to its line of Boar’s Head cold cuts.

The deli offers catering service, dine-in or take-out. A Taste of Italy also has a wide selection of grocery items including assorted pastas, canned tomatoes, olive oils and wines.

Because so many people have moved to Wilmington from the Northeast, the shop is always willing to “hunt down products for people, so they can always find what they’ve been able to get up there,” manager C.J. Guarino said.

“The backbone of our business is making sure our quality and standards are kept the same. Recipes haven’t been altered. We don’t cut corners,” Guarino said.

A Taste of Italy is open 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.

seaviewcrabcompany.com

atasteofitalydeli.com

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Good Life Directory - Sponsored Listings

wilmington

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COMMUNITIES Riverlights

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REALTORS Cassidy Boone, Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices, Carolina Premier Properties 1612 Military Cutoff Rd #200 Wilmington, NC 28403 (970) 275-6224 CBoone@BHHSCPP.com

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COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT Priestley Management Company 1205 Culbreth Dr Suite 100 Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 509-7276 PriestleyManagement.com

CABINETS MarKraft Cabinets

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HVAC Salt Air Heating and Cooling 3306 Kitty Hawk Rd #100 Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 777-3539 SaltAirInc.com

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Delta Dental

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Elderhaus, PACE

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FINANCIAL ADVISORS Captrust Financial Partners 1209 Culbreth Dr #100 Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 256-8882 Captrust.com

Movement Financial Group 1213 Culbreth Dr. St 459 Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 398-8464 Info@MovementFG.com

Nabell Winslow

219 Racine Dr Suite a-1 Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 239-9130 NabellWinslow.com

INSURANCE AGENTS Huneycutt Group 1908 Eastwood Rd. Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 338-1773 HuneycuttGroup.com

James E. Moore Insurance Agency 1508 Military Cutoff Rd #104 Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 256-5333 JamesEMoore.com

ATTORNEYS Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed 310 N Front St Wilmington, NC 28401 (910) 763-2727 BCKLawFirm.com

ENTERTAINMENT Wilmington Symphony Orchestra 5032 Randall Pkwy Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 791-9262 WilmingtonSymphony.org

Wilson Center

703 N 3rd St. Wilmington, NC 28401 (910) 362-7999 WilsonCenterTickets.com

2022-23 Edition

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Good Life Directory - Sponsored Listings

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DIRECTORY TRAVEL Wilmington International Airport 1740 Airport Blvd Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 341-4125 | FlyILM.com

NON-PROFITS/ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AARP

5511 Capital Center Dr., Suite 400 Raleigh, NC 27606 (866) 389-5650 Local.AARP.org/Wilmington-NC

Good Shepherd Center

811 Martin St. Wilmington, NC 28401 (910) 763-4424 GoodShepherdWilmington.org

United Way of the Cape Fear Area

5919 Oleander Dr Suite 115 Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 798-3900 UWCFA.org

Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM) 5058 Wrightsville Ave Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 399-7563 WarmNc.org

LOCALITIES City Of Wilmington

102 North Third Street Wilmington, NC 28402-1810 (910) 341.7800 WilmingtonNC.gov

Visit the Directory section at GOODLIFEWILMINGTON.COM to see more. To learn about Sponsored Listings and how your organization can become a Good Life sponsor or advertiser, contact us at Marketing@WilmingtonBiz.com

COASTALCCS

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TRANSPORTATION

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CoastalCCS has established and aligned itself with Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Affairs Office, and many medical providers within the area to streamline the process of transportation.

3942 Market Street Wilmington, NC 28403 910.616.7718 CoastalCCS.com

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Food + Drink

new places to nosh

By Stephanie Bowens

W

hile the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the restaurant industry, some new restaurants in the region were birthed amid the challenges.

From vegan to Asian menus, comfort dishes to modern Southern classics, here are some of the owners and chefs who are finding ways to thrive.

photos by Megan Deitz

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One was THE GREEN HOUSE, which Laura Tiblier and Anastasia Worrell opened in July 2021 at 1427 Military Cutoff Road, Unit 106. They brought vegan fine dining to Wilmington, opening the city’s first upscale vegan restaurant.

Tiblier said opening The Green House Restaurant during a pandemic meant taking a “brave” step. Extra downtime, however, caused by the pandemic proved useful for Worrell and Tiblier.

“The pandemic gave us a lot of time to be together, and it gave us a lot of planning time,” Tiblier said.

Tiblier and Worrell have been working diligently together to make The Green House a restaurant that is sustainable, collaborative and inclusive.

They want it to be a place where everyone, including those with dietary restrictions, can find enjoyable options.

“We are really big on inclusivity,” Tiblier said. “We are 100% gluten free and vegan, and we want people to come here and be comfortable.”

The Green House chefs have found creative ways of incorporating fresh 2022-23 Edition

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Food + Drink

THE GREEN HOUSE

PHO VANHLY

CASTLE STREET KITCHEN

greens, nuts, seeds, flavorful vegetables, beans and herbs into a variety of dishes.

Diners can experience a variety of plantbased cheeses and “charcuterie” made in-house typically with a variety of nuts, gluten-free grains, seeds and beans.

Working closely with local farmers, Tiblier said the menu changes weekly.

But some staples are offered throughout the year.

Fifty percent of The Green House’s cocktail menu is alcohol-free, offering a sustainable way to drink.

Herbs and greens for the restaurant are grown using tower farming in the restaurant’s greenhouse located in Scotts Hill. “We are only one of four restaurants in the U.S. who use this type of farming,” Tiblier said.

Plans are underway to have a greenhouse on-site where the restaurant’s greens and herbs will grow in aeroponic tower gardens.

In downtown Wilmington, Jennifer Concklin and Matthew Walker opened THREE10 at 1022 N. Fourth St. in October 2021.

Housed in a renovated 1920s bungalow, the menu blends seafood and traditional Southern meals, along with customized cocktails.

“The focus of our menu, like the space, is modernizing classics,” Concklin says.

She and Walker, who is the head chef, choose to focus on low country ingredients in updated ways, while also maintaining a rotating menu.

Concklin said that for a new restaurant – particularly one that opened during the off-season and amid the pandemic – business started on a

strong note.

“We try to have fun at three10 while still providing an upscale yet welcomingto-all dining experience,” she said.

Over in Porters Neck, PHO VANHLY Asian Bistro opened in November 2021 as a noodle house serving Asian food from Vietnam and Laos.

Mone Somsnith, Pho Vanhly’s owner, and her partners Oye Schwartz and Tunyamai Netsavang opened the restaurant at 208 Porters Neck Road, Suite 120, offering diners a chance to experience authentic Vietnamese and Laotian cuisine.

“For lots of my friends when they wanted to eat some authentic food like this, they had to go to places like Raleigh, so I felt that I could bring this to Wilmington,” Somsnith said.

Somsnith was born in Laos before immigrating to High Point 30 years ago with her parents and siblings. “I am so excited to introduce this food from my country to my customers and friends,” she said.

Somsnith named the restaurant in honor of her mom, Vanhly, and says Pho Vanhly basically means “mom’s soup.”

“My plan for this restaurant was already set up before the pandemic, and when the pandemic hit it delayed things,” Somsnith said. “But I was so glad when I was finally able to open it up and get it going. This is a long-time dream and goal.”

Pho Vanhly’s signature dish is pho, a traditional Southeast Asian rice noodle soup. Pho Vanhly offers this Vietnamese noodle soup in a beef broth. It’s served with a side dish of bean sprouts, cilantro, Thai basil leaves, jalapenos and lime

slices. You can choose from various types of pho, such as vegetable pho, tofu pho, chicken pho, meatball pho, beef pho and more.

Somsnith cherishes memories of her mom cooking pho and said she wants diners to fill the same warm, relaxing feelings the soup brought to her while growing up.

“My mom would make this dish every Sunday, so every Sunday after church we would eat pho,” Somsnith said.

Other popular dishes at Pho Vanhly include khao poon and khao piek – both noodle soup dishes of Laos. The khao piek is a popular comfort food consisting of homemade rice flour noodle soup filled with crispy pork belly, cha lua pork roll, cilantro, scallion and crispy shallots in a light broth.

A recent addition, CASTLE STREET KITCHEN opened in March as a neighborhood eatery reflecting the surrounding blocks’ unique character.

Located in the Castle Street Arts & Antique District, with its mix of antiques, vintage clothing shops and locally owned businesses, Castle Street Kitchen offers up unique food with a twist.

Heather and Lauren Rhodes moved from Raleigh to open the restaurant at 509 Castle St. “We wanted to honor the history and heritage of Castle Street by keeping it in the name,” Lauren Rhodes said. “Then we added Kitchen, typically considered the heart of the home. We hope to become the heart of Castle Street.”

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-Beth A. Klahre, Scott Nunn and Elizabeth White contributed to this story.

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Come visit: 1380 North College Road,

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