News

Governor Recognizes Our Volunteers

Two Coastal Carolina Active Living volunteers were recently selected for the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award Program.

Albert Plant

Albert Plant, volunteer at Coastal Carolina Active Living in Supply, was nominated by Center Director Melissa Starr.

“Al has worked tirelessly in the Supply Senior Center kitchen Monday to Friday throughout the past year assisting with meal preparations to feed our homebound seniors through our Meals on Wheels Program,” Starr said. She called Plant “one of the most devoted and kind volunteers I have had the pleasure of working with. I wish we had a hundred Als, but we are grateful for our one and only.”

Barbara Morris

Barbara Morris, volunteer at Coastal Carolina Active Living in Leland,, was nominated by Caroline McLeod.

“You only have to ask and she is eager and ready to serve,” McLeod said of Morris. “Barbara is the volunteer backbone of our kitchen. Without her, our Meals on Wheels could not be nearly as successful, and my job of coordinating nutritious meals to needy senior citizens would become really difficult.” Leland staff added that Morris’ “compassion to serve and her most generous gift of time and effort epitomize the spirit of volunteerism.”

On May 16, all area recipients of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award will be honored at Odell Williamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community College. Recipients will receive a pin and certificate from the governor.

Barabara Morris, le , and Albert Plant are among area seniors being recognized with the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award. Albert volunteers in the Supply kitchen, and Barbara in the Leland kitchen. Congratula%ons and thanks for what you do!.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

Richard Winnie, or Dick as his friends call him, will be 96 come June. He is a member of the Hired Hands Band that regularly plays at BSRI locations. Mr. Winnie has more recently learned the guitar but can also play the saxophone and the clarinet. He is a recent member of the Hired Hands Band, playing guitar, singing and helping load and unload during setup and takedown of each performance (which can be a workout). It all of that isn’t impressive enough, Mr. Winnie was in the Army Air Corps during the World War II era. The Army Air Corps was the prequel to the U.S. Air Force. All I can say about this fellow veteran is that he sets an example for civilian AND military….KEEP ON TRUCKIN’!!!

By Robert Hunt, USAF Veteran

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

By Mike McGurn Thrift Store Operations Manager

Baseball is back and so are baseball cards at our BSRI Shallotte store. As I write this on Opening Day, April 7, I am excited for the new season. And I’m happy to report that we recently received a donation of a large collection of baseball cards.

As I look at the cards, which range from the early ’80s to the early 2000s, I’m immediately transported back to the good old days, especially when I come across an oversized 1985 Donruss Action Allstars set of cards. This set included some players who started back in the 60s with the likes of Pitchers Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, Rollie Fingers (with his famous handlebar mustache), and Phil Niekro, the famous knuckle baller, who broke into the majors way back in 1964. It’s truly amazing that these guys were still active in 1985! Especially being pitchers! Other notable players in the set who broke into the big league in the ’70s include Dave Kingman, Robin Yount, Keith Hernandez, Buddy Bell, Dwight Evans, Eddie Murray, Ozzie Smith, and Rich “Goose” Gossage, the famous and feared Yankee Reliever.

The set also includes some well-known players who were rookies in the early 80s, like Fernando Valenzuela, Tony Gwynn, Don Mattingly, and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. These are all players that I was familiar with growing up, playing Little League ball and watching endless hours of baseball on TV. The collection includes partial and complete sets from companies like Topps, Fleer, Donruss, and Victory. There is a complete set of Topps from 1994 and a set of Topps “Opening Day” Cards from 1999. The collection takes up two large boxes and is a treasure trove for card collectors or even someone who is looking to start a collection for themselves or for a special youngster in the family. Stop by our Shallotte store and see if there are any left. They’re sure to transport you to the ball park and ball games of yesteryear!

Medication and Wellness Program on Ar thritis

Please join your local Senior Center for the Medication and Wellness

program on arthritis. You will learn exercises, healthy eating, and how to obtain your arthritis medication FREE to low-cost.

Calabash Senior Center 05/05/2022 at 11:45 am

Leland Senior Center 05/12/2022 at NOON

Supply Senior Center 05/16/2022 at NOON

Anyone can join the Medication and Wellness class whether you have arthritis or not. —Marilou Smith

Medication Access Specialist

Lawler Named to NC STHL

Brunswick County once again has a delegate to the North Carolina Tar Heel Legislature (NC STHL). At its first general session of 2022, the NC STHL inducted Kathryn Lawler as Brunswick County’s delegate.

Lawler is a retired registered nurse with 58 years’ experience in nursing, administration, and education. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Arts in Human Development, and Ph.D. in Psychology.

A Brunswick County resident for 22 years, Lawler has also worked as a realtor for the last 15 years. She is actively involved in healthcare advocacy, serving on the Brunswick County Health and Human Services Advisory Committee and the NC Governor's Task Force on Heart Disease and Stroke.

STHL Guides the General Assembly

The purpose of the STHL is to identify the most pressing issues facing older adults in our state and propose legislation that will improve their quality of life to the NC General Assembly.

“I am honored to be selected to serve on STHL as Brunswick County’s delegate and look forward to helping the senior citizens of our community,” Lawler said. “Living in southeastern North Carolina and working with the senior population in both health care and real estate, I have identified critical needs among this population. Additionally, I consider myself and my husband very active seniors and have experienced personally the needs of the elderly.”

Lawler is especially concerned about the scarcity of resources for geriatric psychiatric care, the quality of care in long-term facilities, the need for affordable services for dementia and memory care, the cost of medications, need for affordable housing, and the growing problem of elder abuse.

Lawler’s addition to the NC STHL will give her a powerful platform to work towards improving the quality of life for older adults not only in Brunswick, but across the entire state. She welcomes opportunities to speak with residents, stakeholders, and community groups in the county in support of her role as an advocate for older adults.

For more information, contact Kathryn Lawler at klawler147@gmail.com or 910-279-4802. Additionally, visit ncseniortarheellegislature.org.