February 2025 Southport Magazine

FROM THE PUBLISHERS

It was a frigid January and we even had a blizzard! Okay, it wasn’t that bad, but it still means we are more than ready to dive into February and forward through toward Spring. January is sort of a holiday hangover month — things just really slow down, it’s cold and it gets dark early, and a lot of us just feel kind of blah, right? But this month we’re coming back to life in a big way! Franklin Square Gallery re-opens and the Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson Historic Site is offering living history programs (and this month’s features a nighttime cannon firing, so be sure to read that article). There’s a new Bridal Expo in Southport, and Oak Island celebrates Mardi Gras in style with a parade and craft market. And keep those spring calendars open because there’s a huge Pyrate Parlay fundraiser coming in March for the Brunswick Arts Council. And of course we’re all looking forward to next month’s announcement of the Annual Maggie Winners! — Jeffrey

STAFF

EDITOR

Jeffrey Stites

editor@southportmag.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Lisa P. Stites

lisa@southportmag.com

LEAD DESIGNER

Liz Brinker

lcbgraphicdesign@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

Chuck and Sue Cothran

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

McKenzie Barwick

Carla Edstrom

Patty Langer

Loiuse Sheffield-Baccarny

Janet Fortney

Lisa P. Stites

Jeffrey Stites

PHOTOGRAPHER

Jeffrey Stites

PUBLISHER & SALES

Jeffrey Stites

jeff@southportmag.com 910-471-7741

CONSULTANT

Kris Beasley

PO Box 10175, Southport, NC 28461

Southport Magazine is published once a month by

Live Oak Media with an extra publication in July for the Southport Fourth of July Festival. The opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of the staff.

Annual Subscription: $45 jeff@southportmag.com 910-471-7741

The Fresh Cottage A Life Long Dream Finds A Home

STORY AND PHOTOS BY PATRICIA LANGER

Sitting with her husband Jeff at the Hidden Grounds Coffee shop in Wilmington last January, Ashley Lalier struck up a conversation with the young couple who own the business. She was impressed by their energy and passion as they told her how they decided to follow their dreams and take a chance on the coffee shop. Feeling inspired, Ashley started looking at commercial real estate for her own shop that very night. The stars must have been aligned, because one year later, Ashley is the owner of a beautiful boutique on Howe Street in Southport called The Fresh Cottage. Ashley always dreamed of owning her own shop. After earning a degree in interior design at Michigan State, she worked for a retail boutique in Seattle while raising her two young children. She later ran her own home-based business, The Anchor Room, sewing custom draperies and slipcovers for interior designers. But all along, Ashley nurtured a vision of her own retail shop, a dream she held close to her heart. She knew exactly what type of inventory she would carry, the décor of the space, and

the vibe she would create. She even had a store layout drawn up on paper. In 2008, Ashley actually purchased the URL www. thefreshcottage.com, though it would be another 16 years before her dream became a reality.

Ashley and Jeff Lalier moved from Seattle to Wilmington with their teenaged kids 16 years ago, trading long rainy seasons for sunny North Carolina skies. The Laliers share a fondness for small towns, and life in Wilmington allowed them the opportunity to explore all the fun beach towns and quaint coastal villages. Southport, where Jeff’s brother-in-law lives, has always been a family favorite for day trips.

py memories. Roxanne Piaretti purchased the building in 2018 to house her beloved shop, Sedona South, until she retired last year. Ashley and Jeff renovated the interior to achieve the feel she was looking for, but old vibes still inhabit the place. Ashely senses a strong, friendly energy in the cottage. She says customers comment on it as well.

to it and they feel a calming sensation when they are in the space. I felt it the minute I set food in the cottage and knew this was the space to carry out my dream.”

Ashley’s dream shop, The Fresh Cottage, differentiates itself from other boutiques with a focus on lifestyle products that encompass everything from what we wear to how we scent our home to what we put on our bodies. Ashley encourages people to be mindful about their consumer choices. Her products are intended to help people thrive on their journey toward physical and emotional wellness.

“My purpose with this shop is to offer quality goods that enhance people’s lives or provide them with items that will be around for years to come, that are either made well, sourced responsibly, or provide solutions to individual needs.”

The Fresh Cottage carries products ranging from clothing and jewelry to home decor to skincare and beauty.

“Everything here has a story,” says Ashely. “I truly care about responsibly sourcing everything that is in the store. I want it to be there for a reason, not just to sell.”

On that fateful day in January of 2024, Ashely’s real estate search led her to a listing for the Sedona South property at 517 N. Howe St. She was drawn to the cottage’s charm and history. The moment she walked through the door, Ashley says, she loved the feel of the place and knew she had found her shop. Ashley decided to follow her intuition, along with several signs that she said made it all feel right, and took a leap of faith.

The craftsman-style cottage was built in 1921 and owned by just one family for most of its life. Ashley says that people who knew the family have stopped by to recount hap-

“People say the store has a peacefulness

You’ll find candles made by a female-owned business in Seattle that gives 1 percent of sales back to the community through charitable organizations, as well as natural soaps and oils made by an indigenous woman from Vancouver Island, and beautiful blankets made from recycled fibers. The Fresh Cottage carries handcrafted leather jewelry made by a retired military veteran, and pretty bandanas printed with inspirational messages, whose company

owner donates 5 percent to mental health initiatives. You’ll also find several lines of organic skin care and “clean” beauty products.

One thing you’ll never find at the Fresh Cottage is sales pressure. The atmosphere in this shop is more akin to a soothing spa than a retail store. Ashley projects genuine friendliness, positivity, and mindfulness. She enjoys chatting with customers to learn more about their needs and educate them on the types of products they may like. Ashley considers herself an old soul, and she certainly seems to have a sixth sense about things. The day I was there, one woman came in with a cold and Ashley knew exactly what she needed to remedy

her ailment. Another woman came in to purchase a gift for a mutual acquaintance, and Ashley was able to tell her what items other people had bought for her and exactly what she still wanted!

The Fresh Cottage, located at 517 N. Howe St., is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm. Ashley plans to extend the shop’s hours in the spring and hire additional staff. She also intends to expand the clean skin care and makeup offerings, while continuing to hunt for new brands and products.

“I want the Fresh Cottage to be an

experience for people, a store where they continue to discover unique products –things they may not be aware of.” Although new to the neighborhood, the Fresh Cottage already feels like a natural part of the Southport community.

Community Raising The Ruff Casino Night To Benefit Paws Place Rescue

STORY BY JEFFREY STITES, DOG PHOTOS BY BRE BURGE, THE PHOTO DISTRICT

Wehave a soft spot for rescue dogs. All our dogs, and we’ve had few over the past 30 years, have been rescues. One of them, Belle the Hound Dog, came from Paws Place in Boiling Spring Lakes. We were looking for a hound and heard through our vet that Paws Place had a momma hound with more than a dozen puppies who all needed a home. We went up and plopped our son, then in second grade, in the kennel with all the pups to see what happened. One puppy, who we ended up naming Belle, ran right to him and began climbing an licking all over him. She chewed on his ear. It was a sign, and those two were friends up until we said goodbye to Belle many years later when our son was in high school. That’s the kind of magic that can happen when you rescue a dog, and we love to see that Paws Place is going strong and still bringing that joy to people and pups today.

Paws Place has moved since Belle’s adoption, now located at 242 George II Hwy still in Boiling Spring Lakes, and grown as well. It’s not easy or cheap operating a pet rescue, and Paws Place is hoping our community can help them at the Raise The Ruff casino night fundraiser at Wilmington’s Hotel Ballast on March 8. We spoke to Paws Place Signature Events Coordinator Lia Ballentine about the rescue’s history, needs, and what you can expect to enjoy at their fundraiser night.

Can you explain what Paws Place is, and a little about how it operates?

At Paws Place, our mission is life, and it’s

one life at a time. Since 1999, we have rescued, rehabilitated, and adopted dogs. As a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization we rely completely on the generosity of individuals and businesses in our area who provide us with the much-needed financial support to run our organization.

How long has Paws Place been open?

Paws Place Dog Rescue was founded in 1999 by Nancy Janovetz as an outdoor only kennel operating in Boiling Spring Lakes on her personal property. With the money from a generous benefactor, we were able to purchase the 17 acres in Winnabow and build spacious, climate-controlled facility featuring 26 indoor/outdoor kennels, five quarantine kennels, two outdoor playpens and more than three acres of walkable-space kennels. We moved to the Winnabow location in Spring of 2017.

CASINO GAMES, APPETIZERS & DESSERTS, WINE & BEERS, SILENT AUCTION, FORMAL WEAR ENCOURAGED

MARCH

pawsplace networkforgood

About how many critters pass through each year?

We average 120 adoptions per year.

What are you biggest needs in 2025?

Money to operate our facility (annual budget of $500,000) and additional funds to build a new Auxiliary Building to allow us to shelter in place during severe storms. Our paid staff is small, so volunteers are the heart of our organization. In fact, our Board

Community

of Directors is 100 percent volunteer based and oversees payroll for kennel staff; handles bookkeeping; facilitates adoptions; administers social media platforms (28,000+ followers); manages volunteers; and oversees all repairs and maintenance for the kennel.

What can attendees expect at the Casino Night?

It’s a great night of casino party games, silent auction, raffle items, food, music,

and more — plus, a special celebrity guest, Trevor Donovan. Trevor is a huge animal welfare advocate in addition to being a talented actor and model, appearing in a number of TV shows, such as “90210,” as well as numerous movies. Trevor also appeared on Season 31 of Dancing with the Stars in 2022.

This is our 10th annual Raise The Ruff. The first started back in 2014 when we were trying to raise funds to build our facility in Winnabow. We hold two “signature” fundraisers every year — Raise The Ruff in the springtime and our Golf Tournament in the fall.

February 13th • 2:00-5:00 pm

Fall of Fort Anderson

Living History Events And The NC Rice Fest

The Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson State Historic Site on N.C. 133 is back open after the storm damage to its entrance road was repaired, and this month features two programs in commemoration of the fall of Fort Anderson. And save the date for the return of the NC Rice Festival to Brunswick Town on March 8.

Living History: The 160th Anniversary of the Fall of Fort Anderson

Free living history event from 10 am - 3 pm on Saturday, Feb. 15. Experience artillery firings and infantry demonstrations throughout the day.

Plunging Shot and Screaming Shell: A Nighttime Bombardment

Later on the evening of Feb. 15, from 6-7:15 pm, commemorate the 160th anniversary of the fall of Fort Anderson as the night sky will come alive with a realistic reenactment of the bombardment and evacuation of the Fort. This event will be a rare opportunity to witness a heavy artillery duel.

Admission for this event is $10 for ages 16 and up. Children 15 and under are admitted for free. Tickets purchased in advance online should be shown at the gate to be admitted for the program. Tickets can be purchased online in advance beginning January 18th at https://friends-of-brunswick-townfort-anderson.square.site/

North Carolina Rice Festival at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site

Join us at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site on Saturday, March 8 for the North Carolina Rice Festival! Activities will be located indoors and outdoors. The schedule of events will include; history/cultural presentations, tours, demonstrations, live entertainment, family fun, children’s stage, Gullah Geechee food vendors, and arts/crafts. Visit https://www.northcarolinaricefestival.org/ for more information.

Romance is in the Air; Join us for our St. Valentine’s Day Prix-Fixe Dinner

Friday, January 14th, 2025 With Seatings from 4:30 – 8:30 pm Multi-Course Fine Dining

Save the Date: Our February International Wine Dinner in 2025 will be held on Thursday, February 27th! Trust Us! We are searching for an Exciting Culinary Destination Just for You!

Thank you for voting us: Maggie Award: “Most Creative Menu”

People’s Choice Awards: “Best Bistro” and,“Best Martini”

for these prior awards:

Community Love In Bloom Expo Plan The Perfect Wedding In Southport

STORY BY LISA STITES, PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES

It was the perfect moment for a proposal. Everything was planned out and it all went just how it was supposed to. You’re getting married! But where do you start in planning the wedding of your dreams? At Southport’s “Love In Bloom” Bridal Expo, brides and grooms to be, or those hoping to be one soon, can see what a variety of local businesses can offer to make their special day perfect. The Expo is Saturday Feb. 15, from 2-6 pm at the Southport Community Building, 221 E. Bay St.

It’s no coincidence that the event is happening the day after a romantic holiday.

“Love is in the air, and I am sure that there will be a number of proposals the day before,” Expo organizer Karen Martin said. “I thought that was a perfect time…a Saturday after Valentine’s — that’s perfect.”

More than 30 vendors are already signed up for the Expo, including musicians playing live at the event, florists, wedding planners, caterers, beauty and wellness experts, travel agents and hotels, and more. Caterers and other vendors will also have samples on hand.

“We’ll even have a little fashion show from a boutique in Southport,” Matin said. The fashion shows are scheduled for 3 and 5 pm.

Martin is happy to show off the beautiful Southport Community Building as a potential venue, but said this event is also meant to support our local, small businesses trying to get their name out. It is not strictly a sales event though.

“We wanted to show the support and intimacy of this venue — everyone will be relaxed and connecting. It’s that more intimate party cocktail event rather than a large convention with people just trying to sell you something,” she said. She added

that she hopes people will come meet the local vendors who put their heart and soul into what they do.

Martin said she knows of brides who have already booked their wedding at the Community Building but who plan to attend the Expo anyway to see it beautifully decorated for an event.

“When I am doing a walkthrough with an empty building its one thing, but it’s good to see it in action too,” Martin said. In fact, Martin said one of the vendors is recently engaged herself, so she plans to pick up a few ideas while she’s helping other brides with their own plans.

The Expo also features 19 raffle items. Entry to the Expo is

free, and each attendee will receive one free raffle ticket; additional tickets will be available for purchase (cash only). The first 50 attendees will also receive a free wedding journal they can use in their planning.

“I’m so excited to meet the brides there and have them in the Community Building. I’m grateful for all the support we’re seeing,” Martin said.

Community Pirates Are Coming Pyrates

Parlay To Raise Funds For Arts Council

STORY BY JEFFREY STITES, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Who says its too late to be born a pirate? Next month you can at least pretend to be one as you feast on food and drink, smoke cigars, gamble the night away, dance to live music, rub shoulders with a variety of scalawags and even spot a couple of mermaids at the Brunswick Arts Council’s Pyrates Parlay fundraiser.

Setting sail on Saturday, March 29, the evening runs from 5-9 pm at the Sea Trail Golf Resort and Convention Center, 75 Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach. Brunswick Arts describes the event as “an unforgettable evening of fun and excitement for adults! Embrace the pirate theme by donning your best pirate costume or your favorite evening attire. The night will be brimming with pirates, live music, a casino, a cash bar, dinner, dancing, a costume contest, and a cigar lounge. Plus, don’t miss the mesmerizing  mermaids and siren performing gravity-defying aerial gymnastics!”

Some of the entertainment scheduled includes:

Pirates:

Captain Anthony from Black Sails Adventure

Randy Hall, the Cannon Pirate

Princess Pat the Pirate

Black Bart

Elizabeth Swain the Pirate

Captain Hammer Head

Captain Worley

Captain Adam Morrow Shipwrecked

Fire Spinning by Pirate Mate Jeremy Tim-

co Yellow Beard  by Doug McKenna

Turtle The Pirate

Terrance Pirate Surgeon

Captain Jim’s Magic Show

The Flying Sirens: Alyscennne Vallelonga & Suzanne McElvy

Sorsha the Mermaid

Mike Mealey, The Pirate Instructor

Cape Fear Explorers

Parlay (Musical Entertainment)

Brookelyn Cigar Lounge

Casino Party Aces (Roulettes, Black Jack, Poker etc).

about by their lines of work.

An event like this a huge undertaking, and the Brunswick Arts Council is also looking for community support in the form of sponsorships. The sponsorship deadline is March 15, and the sponsorship levels available are as follows:

$2,500 BLACKBEARD Sponsor

Benefits: Business logo on website and e-news, recognition banner at event, all benefits included with levels as shown below. Also, social media promotion, website presence, email blasts, event advertisement (PR & PSA), Recognized by MC at event, Red Carpet w/BAC & Platinum banner, logo on table toppers, 1st prize award level naming (runway show), 2 VIP Tables (8 seats each) at event, on-site Event banner includes logo. Post event recognition includes outgoing press release & PSA’s, social media & website images, thank you Email Blasts, Thank you Advertisement.

$1,000 STEDE BONNET Sponsor

benefits included with levels as shown below. Also, social media promotion, website presence, email blasts, event advertisement (PR & PSA), Recognized by MC at event, logo on table toppers, 3rd prize award level naming (runway show), 4 Entrance Tickets, on-site Event banner includes logo. Post event recognition includes outgoing press release & PSA’s, social media & website images, thank you Email Blasts, Thank you Advertisement.

$250 BLACK CESEAR Sponsor

Benefits: Business logo on website and e-news, recognition banner at event, all benefits included with levels as shown below. Also, social media promotion, website presence, email blasts, event advertisement (PR & PSA), Recognized by MC at event, logo on table toppers, on-site Event banner includes logo. 2 Entrance Tickets. Post event recognition includes outgoing press release & PSA’s, social media & website images, thank you Email Blasts, Thank you Advertisement.

$150 PO TSAI Sponsor

Benefits: Business logo on website and e-news, recognition banner at event, all benefits included with levels as shown below. Also, social media promotion, website presence, email blasts, event advertisement (PR & PSA), Recognized by MC at event, name on table toppers, on-site Event banner includes name. 1 Entrance Ticket. Post event recognition includes outgoing press release & PSA’s, name on social media & website, thank you Email Blasts, Thank you Advertisement.

Tickets are on sale now for $100 per person and are available at brunswickartscouncil.

org. This event is the Brunswick Arts Council’s largest fundraiser of the year, and this year they are also collaborating with the Veterans of Foreign Wars’s Veteran Creative Arts Program (VCAP). VCAP provides Veterans and First Responders in our area with art therapy classes to help manage stress and other mental health issues brought

Benefits: Business logo on website and e-news, recognition banner at event, all benefits included with levels as shown below. Also, social media promotion, website presence, email blasts, event advertisement (PR & PSA), Recognized by MC at event, logo on table toppers, 2nd prize award level naming (runway show), 1 VIP Table (seats 8) at event, on-site Event banner includes logo. Post event recognition includes outgoing press release & PSA’s, social media & website images, thank you Email Blasts, Thank you Advertisement.

$500 CAP’N KIDD Sponsor

Benefits: Business logo on website and e-news, recognition banner at event, all

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Community

Becoming Fit For Life

Reclaiming My Authentic Self: A Journey from Fear to Freedom; A Book By

Victor Fernandes, Fitness

and Motivational

Coach

STORY BY JAN MORGAN-SWEGLE, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

We’ve all had tan “a-ha!” moment—those moments in time when it seems like the answer to your most difficult question comes to you in a flash of clarity and changes your life forever. But very few people have used their “A-ha moments” the way Victor Fernandes has.

Victor is the owner and operator of Fernandes Fit; he is also a published author as well as a fitness and motivational coach. His new book, “Reclaiming My Authentic Self: A Journey from Fear to Freedom,” will launch on Amazon on Feb. 25 and is published by Smart Publishing, a small firm based in Dallas, Texas, owned by the husband-and-wife team of Jonathan and Renee Lautermilch.

“Digital sales for that day will be 99 cents,” Victor said. “I have two goals with this book—get it in as many hands as possible in the hopes of helping even one person become the best version of themselves that they can, and to earn bestseller status on Day One. I co-wrote a book titled, ‘Real Talk with Real Fit Pros,’ and it reached num-

ber One on Day One, and it was a great feeling. I want to feel that again.”

Victor’s story is about personal growth. “The early years were rooted in fear,” he said. “I was afraid to take risks, to take that next step in my life and really become the husband, father, friend, and the man I wanted to be. The later adult years (I’m 53 years old now) are about breaking those chains and finally living my life.”

Victor describes the book as, “an opportunity to help as many people as possible learn from my mistakes and avoid the pitfalls I had trouble navigating in my early adult life, simply because I didn’t want to come out of my comfort zone. It was too scary. It was too overwhelming.” So, as

many of us do, Victor said, “I grew comfortable with pain and disappointment because I didn’t have the inner strength and confidence to change and become who I wanted to be.”

Just 15 years ago, Victor described himself as “the unhealthiest I have ever been in my life. I weighed nearly 250 pounds. When my youngest son was born, and I looked in his eyes, it clicked. I immediately searched for a health and fitness coach, who helped me lose seventy-five pounds in 14 months and get into the best shape of my life.”

Speaking like a true motivational coach, Victor said, “In today’s society, sources of inspiration and motivation are hard to come by. If I’m able to inspire someone to take action in their lives—whether it’s to get healthy, write a book, start a business, be a better person—then it was well worth the year of struggle and challenges I encountered while writing this book.”

Victor’s fitness and motivational journey started in 2020 when COVID-19 shut down the fitness center where he had been working for over a year training others. At 47 years old, he was out of work for the first time in his adult life and had a family to support. He needed to find something positive where he could channel his energy, so he borrowed some equipment from the gym and turned his garage into a place where he could train and work out his fears and disappointment in a positive

way. His workouts got the attention of his sons, and soon they were creating videos to show people how to workout effectively at home with just a few basic pieces of equipment.

It was at this point that Victor had one of his “a-ha moments.”

“I realized the internet was COVID-proof. I started virtually training my active clients so they could keep moving in the right direction while the shutdown was in place. When the gym reopened, I went back to work full time, but I also began building my business,” he said. “A year and a half later, I felt confident enough, felt our family was in a good position financially to move out on my own.” The garage space was dubbed the “Vicnasium,” and clients still come there to work out.

Victor takes a different approach to training people than some other coaches who simply want to know your end goal. “I evaluate my client’s needs by first getting to know them personally,” he explained. “You have to know what’s going on in their lives, what’s going on in their heads and in their hearts. You have to know what makes peo

Community

ple tick, and you have to get to the root of whatever problem they’re facing, whatever challenges they’re facing. It isn’t as simple as losing weight. I always say it may be called physical fitness, but it’s much more mental and emotional. If you can conquer what’s going on in somebody’s head and heart, you can affect positive change in so many ways.”

Victor’s clients include busy business professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners and career-driven people, many who have sacrificed more than just family time to build their careers and be successful. There is a mental, physical, and emotional toll on people who carry the load of working and creating an environment of stability and success for their loved ones; Victor’s methodology works to address all three issues.

While Victor can take some credit for getting his clients moving in the right direction in their workouts, he stressed it’s up to the person to achieve their own goals. “Success has to do with the individual. If someone is willing to do the work, willing to take ownership of the excuses that have

gotten in the way for far too long, they put themselves in a position to succeed. Whether you’re male, female, young, old, you have to be consistent, intentional and committed. If you do that, you’re going to get the results you want,” he said.

According to Victor, he wrote this book, in part, to honor his parents for the sacrifices they made for their family. He wrote the book for himself because he believes we all have a story to tell. But for the most part, he wrote the book for you and me. Learning about Victor’s journey was my “a-ha moment.” How often have I said, “If only I could lose 40 pounds and get back in shape, but I’m just too busy.” How often have you said it? How often have I looked in the mirror or of pictures where I see how out of shape I have become. How often have I been depressed over what I see. After hearing Victor’s story, I realized I don’t have to be this way and neither do you. If you and I don’t make Victor’s book number one on day one, it is we who will have lost something valuable.

“In the health and fitness profession, just

helping more and more people, continuing to work with the right people who truly believe in themselves, want to invest in themselves and want to be the best version of themselves they can be, are why I get up every morning excited to do this job. Every day, I have the honor and privilege of working with great people,” Victor said.

SPRING SPRING fest festSouthport

Downtown Southport, Howe Street

Saturday, April 19th: 10am-6pm

Community

Just For The Birds

Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter Finds New Home

STORY BY JANET FORTNEY, PHOTOS BY SCOTT FORTNEY

On a recent day at Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter, founder Mary Ellen Rogers led a tour of the facility, which is housed in her Oak Island residence. She enthusiastically and fondly spoke to the hospital’s patients, which included pelicans, seagulls, barn owls, a turkey vulture, a cattle egret, screech owls, a scoter duck, a blue jay, a kestrel falcon, a dove, and a turtle, among others.

But Rogers’ mind was preoccupied by an extreme cold front expected in Brunswick County. “They’re all coming in!” she explained. “I’m going to have to bring [the turkey vulture] inside, but darn if I know where I’ll put her. I’m going to have to bring the seagulls and the owls upstairs in the bedroom and close the door. But the big birds will all come in here into this room. There just isn’t enough room for what we’ve got.”

Fortunately, the facility will soon enjoy a much-needed expansion when it relocates from Rogers’ basement and backyard on Oak Island to its new mainland location

at 4260 Long Beach Road. “I’m thrilled to death about the new facility,” she said. “One side is going to be small enclosures. And the other side is going to be a big enclosure for the pelicans and hawks and the roof is going to have skylights. On the outside, we’re going to have netted enclosures for the six small ones and three big enclosures for the hawks, owls, and pelicans. The pelicans will have a pool like they do here, but a lot more room. They’ll have 16 feet of flying-around space and 34 feet on the other side, so they’ll have 50 feet to fly in. The big guys are going to have overhead doors, so they can fly in and out and have the whole space wide

The path to the beloved operation’s new location was long and challenging. “Whenever we get more money, we’ve been socking it aside so we can buy [a new] building,” Rogers explained. “The original plan was to put it in Bill Smith Park,

which is a perfect location, but I couldn’t get water to the property. After four years of trying everything we could think of, it was going to be around $300,000, so I just couldn’t do it.”

Rogers and Kat Walker, a long-time wildlife caretaker and invaluable Sea Bis

Mary ellen Rogers introduces a duck friend. open.”

The colorful sign is already up at the new Long Beach Rd. site

Owl patients call the hospital home for now

Community

cuit volunteer since 2014, credited local realtor Francesca Slaughter for turning their luck around. “It was almost a miracle!” said Walker. “We had worked for close to five years with the various entities to get approval to go into Bill Smith Park and we were dealing with Southport, Oak Island, and Brunswick County, and, ultimately, we were unable to get water. So we had a meeting and within two weeks, Francesca found it! I mean, what are the odds? It was quite a wish list: we have to be close to water, we have to be close to all the volunteers, we have to have a big

stayed with us for all this time. Without him we would not have been as ready to get exactly what we want and what we’re getting. He has the equipment to show us what it’s going to look like in 3D, so it gets us really excited. You do not realize how many details are critical because you’ve got a bird this big with a wingspan this big and how are you going to get it in the door? The important thing is that we get it right.”

“The backyard is the biggest seller,” Rogers said. “And we’re so thrilled with it because we’ve got trees all the way around right smack in the middle of civilization! We’ve got birds all over the place back there and it’s very close to Bill Smith Park where we can release them when they’re ready to go.” Additional perks of the site include a large treatment room, sizable windows, and space for on-site educational programs, as well as a close by creek and plentiful wisteria and azaleas.

For now, Rogers, Walker, and the shelter’s supporters eagerly await the move. “I’m hoping to have the building three months from now,” Rogers said, “and then we’ll do all the stuff on the inside, build the walls, and put all the aviaries out

there, and there’s a lot of other stuff to consider.”

“Each week something else gets taken care of,” Walker said. “And this spring, photos by Scott fortney we will have a grand opening party when we get everything moved over there. It’ll be great because [our community] will get to see everything brand spankin’ new with everything being all clean and beautiful!”

Another benefit of the move for Rogers? The owls won‘t be waking her up in the middle of the night anymore.

Brunswick’s Coastal Birds Need YOU!

Thousands of injured, sick, and abandoned wild birds rely on Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter.

Please make a donation in support of the organization’s mission to provide medical care, safety, shelter, and food to local animals, by going to www.seabiscuitwildlifeshelter.org or calling 910-294-2555.

If you find a bird that needs help… Immediately call the shelter’s injured/sick bird line at 910-294-2555 to get help as quickly as possible.

enough backyard where we can put the birds, we have to have trees, and we have to have a [certain amount of] space in the building. Our fairy godmother Francesca, she waved her magic wand and turned it into something beautiful.

“And, Shawn Phelan, one of our volunteers, has been working with our architect Glenn Willis on the designs,” Walker continued. “Sean has been doing all the details and he and Glenn have been meeting 3-4 times a week. Glenn’s been with us since the original plan and has

Mary Ellen Rogers displays the plans for the shelter’s new home

A little blue jay is re-growing feathers under Rogers’ care

New Spring Art Show

Artists In All Mediums Encouraged To Enter

STORY BY JEFFREY STITES

Artists of all sorts and the art loving public are invited to join in the Town of Oak Island’s first ever Spring Art Show on Saturday, March 28, from 5-7 pm at the Oak Island Recreation Center, 3003 East Oak Island Drive.

The Spring Art Show is the brainchild of Oak Island Recreation Supervisor Emily Kincer. “I am an artist myself and I just thought this would be a great way to let local artist show their works for the community,” Kincer said.

Artists have the rest of this month to submit work. “Submissions for the art show have started and will go through March 1. We accept 2D and 3D artwork,” Kincer said. “Sub-

missions end March 1, and we will be going through and letting those know which pieces have been accepted into the show and when to drop them off to be hung.”

The show will be judged, and of course there will be prizes! “We will have a judge — still talking with some people to see who that will be — and we will be giving away ribbons at the opening reception on March 29. It will depend on

what kind of art is submitted. But we will have Painting, Mixed Media, Fabric Art, Photography, Ceramics, and Sculpture to start for categories and see where we need to go from there with submissions we receive,” Kincer said.

To enter artwork, email a photo of your art to ekincer@oakislandnc.gov. Each artist can submit up to five works, and submissions should include the title, medium, size and price of work.

Showcase 2025 Spring Show

Franklin Square Gallery Upcoming Events

STORY CONTRIBUTED

To celebrate the Spring 2025 reopening of Southport’s Franklin Square Gallery, the Associated Artists of Southport also invites artists throughout the lower Cape Fear region to submit original artwork for exhibit in the Gallery’s Spring Show, scheduled for Feb. 17 to March 15. This exhibit will showcase 2D work in a wide variety of media and styles, and 3D work in the form of pottery and sculpture. All work featured in the Spring Show is offered for sale to the public.

Exhibiting artists will compete for more than $1,200 in prizes awarded by this year’s judges, Susan Dade (2D), an award-winning illustrator and watercolorist based in Murrells Inlet, SC, and Heather Lee McLelland (3D), an accomplished ceramicist and instructor based in Cary. The public is invited to attend the reception and presentation of awards on Friday, March 7 from 5-7 pm at the Gallery.

To enter work, artists must register by Feb. 3. Application forms and entry fees must be submitted online using the link provided at https://www.franklinsquaregallery.com/. Additional information regarding the Show may be obtained on the Gallery’s website or by contacting Show chairperson Kim Kirk at creativespirit@ec.rr.com or 910264-8580.

Franklin Square Gallery is a coopera-

tive of more than 120 artists, located at 130 E. West Street, Southport, in the heart of the historic downtown area. It offers the community and visitors alike the opportunity to experience the rich artistic culture that thrives in Southport and the greater lower Cape Fear region. The Gallery is open to public starting Feb. 17, 2024, from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday through Saturday.

Franklin Square Gallery - 3D Art Workshop

To coincide with the reopening of Franklin Square Gallery on Feb. 17, the Associated Artists of Southport (AAS) is hosting a 3D clay workshop at the Gallery, and invite interested artists to register and attend.

On Feb. 15 and 16, ceramic artist Heather Lee McLelland will be at the Gallery to guide participants through her two-day “Cut It Up Workshop,” which focuses on helping artists find new hand-built forms in clay. Participants will work with found ob-

jects to create paper patterns, and will also create loose maquettes in clay, which can then be cut up to create paper patterns. As Ms. McLelland explains, “working with patterns is a great way to explore forms that are unique but can also be made repeatedly through slab work.”

Born in Seoul, South Korea, McLelland received her BA from Elon University and continued her education at UNC Wilmington, where her interest in wood fired ceramics started. She has completed additional ceramics studies through an apprenticeship in Cromarty, Scotland and at East Carolina University. She has worked as a studio potter and as ceramics technician at Cape Fear Community College and UNCW, while also teaching classes at Orange Street Pottery in Wilmington.

McLelland’s “Cut It Up Workshop” will run from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday, Feb. 15, and from 9 am to 12 pm on Sunday, Feb. 16. Beginner and advanced potters are welcome to attend. For more information regarding registration, fees and supplies, please visit Franklin Square Gallery’s website, https://www.franklinsquaregallery. com, or contact Kim Kirk at creativespirit@ ec.rr.com.

COMMUNITY

Waterway Clean-Up

NC Coastal Federation Seeks Fishermen

CONTRIBUTED BY NC COASTAL FEDERATION

The North Carolina Coastal Federation has kicked off the 11th year of the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project, enlisting 17 commercial fishers along the northern and central coasts. Now the Federation needs the help of commercial watermen and women on the southern coast to work with us to locate and collect lost crab pots there.

Every year, crab pots and other fishing gear are lost in our sounds in a variety of ways. Lost gear can get hung up or drift into channels, creating serious hazards for boaters, wildlife, and fishermen. Since 2014, the Federation has led the Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project, in cooperation with the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to remove lost crab pots from North Carolina sounds and waterways.

Recruitment for applications is now underway for crab pot removal in DMF Marine Patrol District 3, which covers the southeast region of the coast during the closure from March 1 to 15. Those interested in taking part in helping to remove the lost fishing gear in the southeast region of the coast can apply on the Federation’s website, nccoast.org/crabpotproject/. Applications are being accepted through Feb. 17. Applicants must have a valid North Carolina standard commercial fishing license.

In 2024, commercial watermen and women in partnership with N.C. DMF Marine Patrol removed 2,463 pots from select areas within three Marine Patrol Districts. During the current January closure,

the 2025 project is in progress within DMF Marine Patrol District 1, which covers the northern region of the coast, and District 2, which covers the central region of the coast. Once the pots are collected, they are recycled or returned to their owners to the best extent possible.

The southern district hosts two Diamondback Terrapin Management Areas (DTMA) one encompassing the Masonboro Island Coastal Reserve and the other extending from the Zeke’s Island Coastal Reserve to Bald Head Island. Crab pots in these areas are required to have terrapin excluder devices. These measures will help protect diamondback terrapins, which the state lists as a species of special concern in North Carolina. Ted Wilgis, the Coastal Federation’s Marine Debris Program Director stated that he, “appreciates DMF’s Marine Patrol partnership in the project and enabling this effort to continue in the southern region.”

This project is funded by the N.C. Commercial Fishing Resource Fund Grant Program. It is intended to improve habitat and water quality and support coastal economies.

Coastal Federation has done an incredible job of creating a project that benefits everyone the whole way around; the fishers, the fishery, recreational boaters and other wildlife.”

This project is part of the Federation’s effort to ensure the North Carolina coast is free of marine debris. Establishing an annual paid program for marine debris removal — including crab pots — is a key objective of the N.C. Marine Debris Stra-

“Having been a part of the project for so long, I’ve been able to see how vital it is to our waters over the course of nearly a decade,” said Matthew Littleton, a long-time project participant whose homeport is in Swansboro. “Working on the water every day, it means a lot to me to keep our resources cleaned up, so we can all keep enjoying it, and preserve the resource for future generations like my son. The

tegic Plan. Through field surveys, marine debris cleanup crews reported that over 85 percent of the debris removed from North Carolina’s estuaries in recent years resulted from damaged and/or lost docks, piers, boat houses, and similar structures. The Federation will be working on preventative strategies in the coming year as part of a major goal to create a coastal environment free of marine debris.

Mardi Gras Party

Brunswick Literacy Council Fundraiser

STORY CONTRIBUTED

The Brunswick County Literacy Council (BCLC) has announced its 4th annual Mardi Gras Charity Fundraiser, a lively celebration of music, games and generosity in support of adult literacy programs in our community. This festive event will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 9 pm at Leland Brewing Company, 2115 Ale Avenue in Leland, promising an evening of fun for a great cause.

This year’s Mardi Gras fundraiser is bigger and better than ever, featuring a variety of carnival-inspired games and activities for attendees to enjoy. Among the crowd-favorite attractions are:

Heads or

Tails: A thrilling game of chance that keeps the whole room on their toes. Get ready to flip a coin and stay in the game to win big.

Wine Pull: Every ticket is a winner in this exciting wine game. Draw a number and uncover a surprise bottle of wine, perfect for wine enthusiasts and novices alike.

Liquor Ring Toss: Test your aim and toss your way to a prize! Successfully ring a bottle to take home your own spirited souvenir.

Raffle baskets: Try your luck in the raffle for a chance to win curated baskets filled with exciting items, from gourmet treats to spa essentials and more.

In true Mardi Gras fashion, the evening will be filled with vibrant decorations, festive music, goody bags, door prizes and delicious food and beverages. Guests are encouraged to dress in their best Mardi Gras-inspired attire, with masks, beads and colorful outfits adding to the fun atmosphere, and a chance to win prizes for best costumes and masks.

All proceeds from the event directly support BCLC’s mission to improve literacy rates among adults in Brunswick County. These programs empower individuals to gain the skills they need to enhance their education, employment opportunities, and

“We’re excited to bring the community together again for an evening of fun and philanthropy,” said Melissa Warren, executive director of BCLC. “Each year, our Mardi Gras fundraiser grows, and it’s heartwarming to see the support from attendees and sponsors who share our vision of a more literate Brunswick County. And we’re in a new venue this year, so a huge thanks to Leland Brewing Company.”

Tickets are $40 per person, available online at bcliteracy.org. The ticket price includes food and a goody bag. Tickets purchased at the door will be $45. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for local businesses and individuals who want to make an even bigger impact.

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we raise funds to transform lives through literacy. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit bcliteracy.org.

Let’s make a difference together while celebrating Mardi Gras in style!

About Brunswick County Literacy Council

The Brunswick County Literacy Council is dedicated to improving literacy and digital skills among adults in Brunswick County. Through personalized tutoring, GED preparation, and digital literacy programs, BCLC empowers individuals to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Black History Month

Entertainment and Education at Symposium

STORY AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

The Brunswick County Black History Symposium Committee, in conjunction with the city of Southport, The Brunswick Arts Council, NC Arts Council and The Southport Historical Society, proudly presents the 13th Annual Black History weekend Feb. 7-9 at the Southport Community Building, 233 East Bay St.

Friday, February 7 Doors open at 5:30 pm

6 pm: Mrs. Celia Lee Galloway

Step into the past for the 13th Annual Brunswick County Black History Symposium, where history will unfold in a moving performance. Actor, historian, and storyteller Tyanna Parker-West will bring to life the fascinating story of Mrs. Celia Lee Galloway (ca.1859–1950) in a premiere one-woman show. Adding to the evening’s immersion into history, James White, Civil War re-enactor from Battery B of the 2nd Regiment, U.S. Colored Light Artillery (USCLA) will represent the bravery and service of Brunswick County Union soldiers during the Civil War.

** Reservation is required — for free tickets see http://www.southporthistoricalsociety.org

Saturday, Feb. 8 — Doors open at 11:30 am

12 pm: John Moseley presents “Building Liberty: Exploring the history of the Wilmington, North Carolina, shipyard and its significant role in the mass production of Liberty ships, which played a crucial part in the Allied victory during World War II.”

2 pm - Donnie Joyner presents “Buffalo Soldiers: The story of African American regiments who overcame adversity and made significant contributions to the U.S. Army during the 19th and 20th centuries.”

3:30 pm – Patrica Mallett presents “Atlantic Beach, South Carolina: Blackowned beach resort that provided a crucial space for leisure and community for Black residents of Brunswick County,

North Carolina, during the era of segregation.”

5 pm – Dr. Zelphia Grissett presents “Reflections on the Origin, History, and Legacy of Union High School.”

Sunday, Feb. 9 — Doors open at 2:15 pm

3 pm: Black History Gospel Fest

Celebrate Black History Month at the Gospel Fest, hosted by Gwen Wearren. Enjoy an unforgettable afternoon of exceptional gospel music.

All events are free to attend, but donations are gratefully accepted. Your contributions will directly benefit “The Rev. Ronald Earl Davis Scholarship” (A scholarship given to a Master of Divinity student facing health challenges while attending Seminary to assist in meeting their needs to complete their seminary journey).

To donate by check: Please make checks payable to Hood Theological Seminary noting “Rev. Ronald E. Davis Scholarship” in the memo.

For questions: Contact Don Joyner by text at 910-368-7501 or by email at donnie.joyner@gmail.com

Note: Hood Theological Seminary is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Chamber News

Two Biz Showcases

Meet Local Businesses at Coastal Consumer & Health, Beauty and Wellness Expos

CONTRIBUTED BY SOUTHPORT-OAK

ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT KAREN SPHAR

Coastal Consumer Showcase

Whether you’re new to the area and want to learn a bit about our small business community, are a long time resident looking to see what’s new in our community, or are just looking for something to do in mid-February and enjoy collecting free swag, the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce Coastal Consumer Expo is for you. This year’s event takes place on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 4-7pm at the St. James Community Center, 4136 Southport-Supply Road. The event is free and open to everyone.

There are many free giveaways provided by the participating businesses, including free samples, branded swag, a $100 cash drawing and the ever popular Pick-a-Prize Auction.

What is a Pick-A-Prize Auction? There will be a bag in front of each prize. You determine which prize(s) you would like to a chance to win and then you place your ticket(s) in the bag(s) of that prize(s). The winner of that prize will be selected from the corresponding bag.

Each vendor will donate prize for the Pick-A-Prize Auction. Those who register for the $100 Cash Drawing will receive one ticket for the Pick-A-Prize Auction. You may purchase as many additional auction tickets as you would like: 5 tickets for $5 and 20 tickets for $10. At 6:30 pm, the Chamber will draw the winners for the Pick-A-Prize Auction prizes and will notify the winners by email. Winners will pick up their prize at the

business donating the item. The Chamber will notify the winner of the Cash Drawing on the Friday following the Expo.  Winners of the Pick-A-Prize Auction will be posted on the Chamber website southport-oakisland.com

For more information contact the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce, 4433 Long Beach Road, SE, by phone at 910-457-6964 or e-mail at events@southport-oakisland.com.

Vendor spots are now full, if you are interested in being placed on a waiting list for a vendor spot please email info@southport-oakisland.com.

Coastal Health, Fitness & Beauty Showcase

Connect with Local Experts to Help You Look and Feel Your Best

The annual Coastal Health, Fitness & Beauty Showcase will be held at the St. James Community Center (4136 Southport-Supply Road) on Tuesday, March 11 from 4-7 pm. Admission is free to the public.

Residents of Brunswick and surrounding counties are encouraged to attend this one-stop-shop to connect with local experts to help you look and feel your best.  Attendees can meet and speak with more than 30 businesses and professionals specializing in health, fitness and beauty products and services.

COASTAL CONSUMER SHOWCASE

The event will feature free health screenings, samples, giveaways, demonstrations, and two seminar rooms.

Seminar Schedule

Room One

4:30 pm - Health is your Greatest Wealth

- MaryBeth Dziubinski, RYT, CPT & Carysa

Overcash, Managing Owner, Cape Fear Fitness

A healthy body gives you the strength and energy to achieve better results in every aspect of your life. Now is the time to make your health a top priority by applying the W.E.A.L.T.H strategy in your life.

5 pm - Great Skin Care at Every Age:

Pearls and Pitfalls - presented by Dr. Sherrie G. Cass, DNP, FNP-C,  Live Oak Med Spa Discover the secrets to radiant, healthy, beautiful skin at every stage of life! This seminar explores essential skincare strategies tailored to each decade, from preventing premature signs of aging to combating dryness, lines and wrinkles, dark spots, and sagging. Learn about game-changing skincare ingredients, effective routines, and common mistakes to avoid. Whether you want to maintain a youthful glow or address specific concerns, this session offers professional insights and practical advice to help you achieve your best skin at any age.

5:30 pm - Understanding Joint Health: From Anatomy to Action - An interactive seminar presented by members of the Dosher Memorial Hospital Orthopedic

mobility and an active lifestyle. This seminar will include education on joint anatomy and common issues affecting joints, the importance of maintaining joint health, common interventions for joint issues, and an overview of physical therapy exercises you can do to keep your joints healthy. This session will be presented by Dosher Orthopedic Nurse Navigator Chelsea Beard and Physical Therapist Tim Ryan

6 pm – Topic and Presenter TBA, Novant Health

Room Two

4:30 pm — Topic and Presenter TBA, Novant Health

5:00 pm -Diabetes: The Changing Paradigm,  Debra J Barnette PharmD, CDCES, BCACP, New Hope Clinic

5:30 pm - Eating with Purpose:  The Impact of Macronutrients on Your Health &

Fitness - Levi Annas, PT, DPT Elevate performance & Health

We will discuss how calories and macronutrients affect your bodies function, as well as the individual roles that each macronutrient plays in fueling your body.

Special activities like Dosher Memorial Hospital’s Healthy Eating Demonstration Kitchen with Chef Joe, and the Novant Health Mobile Mammography will also be available.

The Coastal Health, Fitness & Beauty Showcase is an event of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Dosher Memorial Hospital, Cape Fear Fitness, Live Oak MedSpa and Novant Health.

For more information about the Coastal Health, Fitness & Beauty Showcase please contact the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce at 910-457-6964, email at Info@southport-oakisland.com or visit the website at www.coastalhealthfitnessbeauty.com

FISHING REPORT

February Fishing Report

Fish Out There If You Know Where To Look

BY CAPTAIN STEELE PARK

Thecold winter continues to hold on. I’m not sure if it’s because

I’ve spent more time in the Bahamas or South Florida during this season in past years, or if we’re truly experiencing an exceptionally long winter — but the latter seems to be the case! We’ve had plenty of very cold days, with not many mild ones mixed in. February is traditionally the toughest month of the year for fishing in our area, as the water typically reaches its coldest point. The silver lining? It’s all uphill from here to spring, bringing with it warmer air and water!

Backwater Fishing

The fish are in full winter mode. With water temperatures hovering in the mid-to-high 40s, fish are clinging to survival. Unfortunately, with these temperatures, we might expect a potential trout kill. However, speckled trout that have found deep holes or mud flats to stage on during the warmer parts of the day should fare well. Red drum are employing a similar strategy, schooling in the backs of creeks where the water can warm a few degrees throughout the day.

The clear water this time of year is a unique feature. Sight fishing is absolutely possible — but keep in mind,

the cold water has slowed the fish down, and they’re searching for an easy meal, not chasing aggressively. For those targeting sheepshead, fiddler crabs remain available. Sheepshead can be found around bridges, docks, or any structure with barnacles or oysters. Unlike trout and red drum,

Captain Steele Park, a US Navy Veteran, has been fishing the oceans, rivers, and lakes of southeastern NC since he was 7 years old and knows these waters like the back of his hand. He calls Southport home and captains the Catherine Anne Sportfishing & Excursions fleet. For more information please call at 910620-9919

sheepshead are much more aggressive feeders this time of year.

Nearshore Fishing

if you can see the fish, they can also see you! Look for fish tailing in shallow water or along marsh lines. Artificial shrimp or soft plastic paddle tails on light jig heads work well. Fish these baits as slowly as possible;

With water temperatures ranging from 45–55°F out to 30 miles offshore, the options are limited right now. However, on a calm weather day, fishing for jumbo black sea bass is a great choice. Look for live bottom or ledges in 5570 feet of water. There might still be a wayward bluefin tuna in the area, but for the most part, they’ve moved up to Hatteras and Oregon Inlet, feeding on massive schools of bluefish.

Offshore Fishing

When weather permits and you can head offshore to the break, finding 70–73°F water will be key. There are still some wahoos around, along with plenty of blackfin tuna. For wahoo, troll the ledges in 140–250 feet of water. Blackfin tuna are likely stacked up on rock piles. Small cedar plugs,

tuna feathers, and smaller trolling baits are effective for tuna.

Late in the day, blackfin tuna often feed on the surface, providing an exciting opportunity. Casting larger poppers on spinning tackle can be incredibly fun, as the surface strikes are explosive and thrilling to watch.

If you make it out to the Gulf Stream and encounter cold water, high-speed jigging can turn your trip around. You can catch everything from triggerfish and vermilion snapper to massive amberjacks. I recommend using a Bluewater Candy Roscoe jig when deep-dropping on the break.

Looking Ahead

We’re all eagerly awaiting spring and the return of prime fishing along the southeastern coast of North Carolina. Next month, I’ll be reporting from sunny Marsh Harbour, in the Bahamas, which I’m absolutely looking forward to. To ensure you have the most accurate local fishing updates, I’ll collaborate with some of our local guides. Stay tuned, and tight lines!

Keeping Fit

Self-Care Is Essential

How To Be There For Your Loved Ones

BY VICTOR FERNANDES

Victor Fernandes is owner of Fernandez Fit, helpjng clients achieve personal and professional success through health and fitness

This month’s article comes with a homework assignment right off the bat. I want you to consider everything you do for everyone else in your life, and all the times you have gone above and beyond for others that matter most to you.

Do you give yourself the same consideration?

If your answer is no, trust me, you’re not alone. And if your answer is yes, read on, because you may just reconsider that answer before you finish this article.

It’s really easy to get caught up in the sacrifices we make for those we love and care about — so much so that we fail to show love and care to ourselves.

We work so hard at work, then we head home to work so hard some more before crawling into bed for a few hours of restless sleep knowing full well we will do it all over again tomorrow.

We think looking out for number one is a selfish way to live. We grow guilty that we even consider taking time for ourselves, because we are convinced that sacrificing our own health and well-being is the inevitable price we pay to take care of the people we care about the most.

This all may sound very familiar to you. It sure does to me. I was last in my own life, without any hope of being close to number one, for many years in my earlier adult life. Those that mattered most needed me, I told myself, and I needed to do everything in my power to be there for them at all times. Subconsciously, if that meant running myself into the ground, then so be it.

But self-care is essential, not selfish — because if the ultimate goal is to be at our best in life for those who count on us the most, we need to be at our best in our own life.

We can’t do that if we’re struggling with our health. When simply getting out of bed is a major challenge, and getting into it isn’t any easier because you often feel like you’ve been run over by a bus, that’s when it’s time to start thinking about our well-being for a change.

For the entrepreneurs, business owners and career-driven people reading this, imagine if you or members of your team were constantly out of work because of illness or going to one medical appointment after another. Imagine the impact that would have on your

finances.

The best abilities people in the business world need to showcase are availability and reliability. If you or your team struggled with both, and business suffered because of it, I imagine that would capture your attention, and you would be focused on finding and implementing solutions.

Why doesn’t our personal struggles with health and well-being demand the same approach?

If you have traveled by air in your lifetime, you have heard the instructions for operating masks that fall from above the seats in case the airplane depressurizes. Put your mask on first before placing a mask on someone else. Why? Because you can’t help anyone while unconscious.

Still, back on land, the vicious cycle continues for many of us. It took me the better part of two decades to get

that valuable lesson through my head — and it was a life-changer. And the mindset transformation began soon after my physical transformation — losing 75 pounds, to be precise — began taking place nearly 15 years ago.

Now, if I showed you the calendar on my phone, you would see times blocked off for workouts, healthy meals, walking our dogs, Tulip and Scarlett, alongside scheduled client calls and training sessions, and playing chauffeur for my youngest son, Zach, to and from school and the farm where he works. If it’s on my calendar, it’s set in stone because it’s important to me.

It takes being committed, being intentional and being consistent to break the chains of the guilt that bind us. Take time for yourself. You’re important too. You will wonder why it took so long to take control of your health and well-being. And when you’re truly at your best for the people you love, when you truly can take care of them in the manner they deserve, they will thank you for it.

If you would like to learn more about making self-care a priority in your life, or if you would like to learn more about me and Fernandes Fit, call 814504-7774, send an email to info@fernandesfit.com, or head to fernandesfit. com for more information.

Golf Tips

Nicole’s Golf Notes

Putting Pointers Part 2: Putter Face

BY NICOLE WELLER LPGA/PGA GOLF TEACHING PROFESSIONAL

Nicole Weller instructs local area golfers at Compass Pointe Golf Club in Leland. Feel free to submit your question or topic for the Nicole’s Notes column via her website ‘Contact Nicole’ page. For more information on Nicole and her tips / videos, visit www.nicoleweller.com.

Whatis putting other than rolling a ball into a hole across an uneven surface…seems simple, right? It can be simpler if we let it, and there is always a mix of both luck and skill that produces result. Some keys are an effective putter face, path and centeredness of contact through impact after a good green read. In this article, we’ll focus a bit on putter face through impact.

Did you know that 85 percent of the initial ball direction is based on the direction in which the putter face is pointing at the moment of impact? There’s a lot of information and data out there…I found a fun article by Modern Golf Staff (2015) that showed a putter face two degrees open at impact will miss a ball 1.85 inches to the right (righties and left for lefties) at 4-feet from the hole and 3.75 inches to the right and left, respectively, at 8-feet, assuming center contact.

Putter style, shaft insert, weight, posture, alignment, loft and lie are some of the putter characteristics that affect initial directions…seems like there’s just more than grabbing a putter off the shelf or from a stock set of clubs if you’re really interested in improving your putting stats and having less putts! Putters are the most used and

least-fitted club in the bag…consider doing that if you want to shave strokes off your game with a club that works for you instead of you constantly tweaking the putter to fit you.

There is no one exact method for face and path, it’s a mix of being able to find what is most consistently repeatable for a person to reproduce, so a perfectly square (straight) putter face matched with a perfectly on-path stroke the moment of impact is difficult. Even the best players still miss putts slightly left and right despite the best training and equipment. Some might do best with a slightly open club face but have made adjustments to their set-up and path that allow for a consistent result. Find what works best for you that is repeatable and gives you confidence.

Some of my favorite drills for putter face practice are as follows:

6-foot putt. If the putter head returns fairly square, the balls will travel within roughly 12 inches of each other. If the putter face closes and the putter toe hits the outside ball first, the outside ball travels much further than the inside ball. If the putter face opens and the putter heel hits the inside ball first, the inside ball travels much further than the outside ball. Get better at having the putter face impact through both balls more closely at the same time.

2) Chest & Arm Tension

Awareness Drill: The putting motion occurs mostly from the chest and torso, the big muscles, not the small hand and forearm muscles. There have been players who can make a consistent wrist motion through the putting swing but it’s very unreliable for most. Place your putter against the ground or your body (won’t need it at the start of this drill), bend forward from the hips into

your putting posture and let the arms hang with the inside of the wrists touching and fingers pointing away from each other. Rock the chest/shoulders back and through. This is the main putting motion. The fingers and hands do not flip flop past each other, those forearm muscles should be passive. Now repeat the same motion with the putter in your hands. Be aware of what tension level you like in your big muscles (chest, shoulders, back). Be aware of any jumps or changes in tension with your forearms, hands and fingers…you should start and finish with the same tension level. These pressure changes, especially under ‘perceived’ pressure, are what create a lot of unnecessary putter face rotation through impact.

Let that putter swing through with a square/straight putter head at impact…it’s Hip to be Square!

1)

Two-Ball

Drill: Place two balls next to each other, just touching. Address both golf balls with your putter head, they should both fit within the width of the putter face. Make a stroke for a

Art Beat

Music Photography

Saloon

Owner Turned Photographer

STORY BY CARLA EDSTROM, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

If you have been out and about in Southport listening to live music, you have probably seen Peter Riekstins taking photos of the bands and the crowd. A resident of St. James for more than five years, Peter has been posting his work on social media to promote the local bands and the venues that hire them.

Being the owner of PETE’S Saloon & Restaurant in NY for 43 years, Peter knows how to promote and advertise events. “Naturally, the restaurant also held many events and celebrated all of the calendar holidays. Someone had to record these,” said Peter. “PETE’S had some sort of live entertainment five nights a week. Taking photographs of bands and entertainers gave me a bank of images I could use for advertising and share with the customers and players. The bands seemed to like it, too. I think it also brought us closer together. Not just the old stereotype of club owner versus musician,” he said. “Once upon a time, I played a musical instrument. Now when I hear music, my instrument has become a camera. With that, photographing live entertainment makes me feel as if I’m part of the band!”

The era of digital cameras changed Peter’s photography a lot. His creativity es-

calated with the advancement of digital photography and the instant gratification of seeing the photo immediately. “My music photography started a little over 25 years ago with the advancement of digital. Digital was such a novelty back then. Most of the early cameras were relegated to point-and-shoot status. In 2001, I bought my first (DSLR) a digital Nikon D1X. This was fantastic — an SLR converted to a DSLR. In other words, it could control light like any film camera. The great plus was Instant Gratification! The image was visible right then and there. The downside? Now you worked as the Photo Processor!”

photos led to topside photography.”

The artistry of photography involves catching the

emotion in the image and the technical aspects of the shoot. “I have been engaged in photography for about 35 years as a hobby that went astray! I was lucky enough to have first worked with film and now digital. Those early experiences were so valid in learning how a camera sees light and how you learn to control it,” he said. “Many times, I look at the ordinary and try to find a certain special quality within. I Look-I See-I Feel-I Shoot. I can shoot hundreds of good-looking shots. But then, without the image having that certain feeling you wish to convey, it’s just another pic. Unfortunately, these goodies come far and few in between! Then again, there’s nothing wrong with shooting and recording nice photographs of what we do daily.”

Peter and his wife Denise were introduced to the area by scuba diving in the wrecks outside Morehead City and Atlantic Beach. “Both my wife and daughter were avid divers. Later, my daughter Samantha went to Duke to get her MBA. After searching for different areas to retire to, my barkeep John, who has a house on Oak Island, told us to check out the Southport area, and we were immediately sold,” he said. “I always had an interest in photography as a way of recording life’s daily goings on. I got my first real camera in 1979, a Minolta x-700 that I used for the next 11 years,” he said. “It wasn’t until about 1989, when we really started to travel, and I was introduced to underwater photography in the Cayman Islands. After that, underwater

Inspiration comes to Peter in other ways as well. “Sitting in a café, bar, diner, or street corner, just watching the world go by. I love watching people. I enjoy seeing one person’s reactions to another’s. Simple communication. The results of different emotions. Being alone. Being alone in a crowd,” he said. “There are times that this may regard me as an ambush photographer, a candid photographer, or a street photographer. Trying to catch the emotion that can never be displayed in a setup shot.”

“I’d like to give a shoutout to the various photo clubs in our area that have helped to inspire me: St James Photo Club, Southport Camera Arts, Coastal Carolina Camera Club, and Up Your Arts.”

If you want to contact Peter, Email him at saloon@aol.com, call him at 914-282-7082 or find him on Facebook.

“No, don’t do weddings!”

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History

Battle of Manassas

February Brunswick Civil War Round Table

STORY CONTRIBUTED

The Second Battle of Manassas, also known as the Second Battle of Bull Run, was a brutal and bloody affair that shattered the early optimism of the Union and emboldened the Confederacy. The battle allowed Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia to cross the Potomac into the North for the first time, becoming a turning point in the Civil War. Chaos and confusion, destructive power, and determined courage only begin to explain what guest historian Kevin Pawlak will share during his presentation entitled, “Never Such A Campaign: The Battle of Second Manassas,” at the Tuesday, Feb. 4 meeting of the Brunswick Civil War Round Table. The group mets at Hatch Auditorium at Fort Caswell Retreat and Conference Center in Caswell Beach.

This second battle was fought Aug. 2830, 1862, a battle of much larger scale and numbers than the first. Despite heavy Confederate casualties (9,000), it was a decisive victory for the rebels as Lee managed a strategic offensive against Union forces under Maj. Gen. John Pope’s Army of Virginia, an enemy force twice the size of his own. The armies who met at this second battle were more experienced, battle scarred and hardened than their peers in the first battle in 1861. The forces were larger, the troops better trained, the officers more prepared, and the tactics more ruthless and proficient. New developments in weaponry made war-

fare more dangerous, as rifles and artillery could be fired with greater precision. The human toll was greater, especially among the North with more than 14,000 casualties. The exhausted Confederate troops showed little remorse toward the enemy. They were numbed by the atrocities they had witnessed.

To briefly summarize the incredible trauma during this period must include Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s surprise attack on the Union supply depot propelling the Union army into disarray, forcing a desperate retreat. A fierce stand by Union troops near Groveton

crossroads which bought time for the rest of the army to withdraw, but at a heavy cost. And the fighting continued for days, with soldiers exhausted and desperate. By the end of the third day, the Union lines faltered, retreating across Bull Run under the cover of darkness. This second loss for the Union at Bull Run resulted in the Lincoln administration’s dismissal of Pope from command as Lee continued his march northward.

Guest presenter Kevin Pawlak’s credentials are noteworthy. He is an Historic Site Manager for the Prince William Preservation Division, a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Antietam National Battlefield, and a Board member of the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association, and the Save Historic Antietam Foundation. In addition, he has worked and completed internships at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, the Papers of Abraham Lincoln at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and the Missouri Civil War Museum. Kevin is also the author of Shepherdstown in the Civil War: One Vast Confederate Hospital; The Heaviest Blow Yet Given the Confederacy, and, The Emancipation Proclamation Changes the Civil War in the forthcoming Turning Points of the Civil War, part of Emerging Civil War’s “Engaging the Civil War Series.”

Registration for the meeting begins at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. Everyone is welcome. The visitor fee is $10, and can be applied toward the $25 annual membership dues. For more information about the meeting, the easy online program

registration process, how to attend meetings remotely, or how to become a member, email president John Butler at Brunswickcwrt@gmail.com. Or, call him directly at (404) 229-9425. Also, you can visit their website at Brunswickcivilwarroundtable. com, or their Facebook page for additional information, news, and updates.

CALENDAR

February

We’ve included events here that were scheduled at press time, but please remember that all events, dates and times are subject to change.

FEB 3

Speakeasy Series at Southport Suzie’s

Enjoy a glass of wine, maybe some FroYo at Southport Suzie’s for this month’s Speakeasy Series talk on “When Basketball was Forbidden in North Carolina,” presented by Musette Steck. Hear the story of a secret 1944 basketball game when Duke and NCCU broke the rules to find out who would win! The program starts at 6 pm at Southport Suzie’s, 4956 Old Long Beach Road SE, in the River Run shopping center.

FEB 4

Brunswick Civil War Round Table

Licensed battlefield guide and historic site manager Kevin Pawlak discuss a major turning point in the Civil War entitled, “Never Such a Campaign: The Battle of Second Manassas.” The group meets at Hatch Auditorium at Fort Caswell; doors open at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. Anyone can attend; the cost is $10 but can be applied to $25 annual membership dues.

FEB 5

Dosher Memorial Hospital Tour

Take a guided tour of the hospital and learn more about the services offered. Participants will gather in the hospital lobby, 924 N. Howe St., Southport. The tour is at 1 pm; space is limited and an RSVP is requested. Call 910-457-3900, or email marketing@dosher.org to reserve your spot.

FEB 7-9

13th Annual Black History Symposium — Southport Community Building

The three-day program includes lectures, a living history presentation from Civil War Re-enactor James White and from actress Tyanna Parker-West portraying Celia Lee Galloway, and culminates with a Black History Fest (at 3 pm Sunday, Feb 9). See story elsewhere in this issue for full details.

FEB 8

Pop Up Exhibit Opening — From Africa to Carolina

The North Carolina Maritime Museum - Southport hosts this traveling exhibit, which explores the forced migration of enslaved Africans to North Carolina ports and their lasting legacy in shaping the state’s landscape. Special hands-on activities scheduled that day include rice art and indigo dyeing offered from 11 am to 3 pm. Find the Museum at 204 E. Moore St., and don’t forget to glimpse a view of the Oak Island Lighthouse or boat traffic through the Museum’s periscope.

FEB 11

Southport Historical Society “2nd Tuesday Talk”

This months talk is the 100th Anniversary of Brunswick County Training School#2, presented by Alumnus and local historian Donnie Joyner. Donnie will share the history of the first Brunswick County High School for Black students, established in the Jim Crow era of “separate but equal” education. He’ll speak about about how the school was funded, who the teachers were, what the students achieved and the role the parents played in their success. The lecture is at 10 am at Harper Library, 109 W. Moore St.

FEB 13

Coastal Consumer Showcase

The Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce hosts this annual event, highlighting area businesses and services. The showcase is 4-7 pm at the St. James Community Center, 4140 Southport-Supply Road.

FEB 15

“Love In Bloom” Bridal Expo

The City of Southport hosts this bridal expo from 2-6 pm at its Community Building, 221 E. Bay Street. The Expo will feature area businesses that handle all aspects of the perfect wedding — photographers, caterers, florists, beauty and wellness experts, and more. There are also bridal fashion shows scheduled for 3 and 5 pm. See story in this month’s issue for more details.

FEB 15

Living History: The 160th Anniversary of the Fall of Fort Anderson

Enjoy artillery firings and infantry demonstrations during this anniversary celebration. The living history event is free, 10 am to 3 pm at the site, 8884 Saint Philips Road SE, Winnabow (off NC 133). Tickets for an evening celebration are $10 for those ages 16 and older. (See next entry).

FEB 15

Plunging Shot and Screaming Shell: A Nighttime Bombardment

Fortunately this is just a reenactment at the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site. It’s a great chance to experience an artillery duel. The bombardment is 6-7 at the site, 8884 Saint Philips Road SE, Winnabow (off NC 133). Tickets are $10 for those 16 and older, and those 15 and younger are admitted free.

FEB 22

Mardi Gras By the Sea — Oak Island

The Town celebrates Mardi Gras with a parade that starts at 11 am. The parade route ends at the Middleton park

fields, 46th Street and Dolphin Drive, and there will be food vendors, a craft market, children’s activities and live music from local bands. The event runs until 4 pm.

FEB 22

Chefs of Brunswick

The Southport Rotary Club hosts this annual event, which features samples and tastings from chefs, restaurants and wine sellers in the county. Tickets are $30. The event is 5:30-9 pm at the St. James Community Center, 4140 Southport-Supply Road.

FEB 26

Books, Brews & Beads Mardi Gras Carnival Night

The Brunswick Literacy Council hosts this festive evening, with music from the Rude Bwoys, costume and mask contests, raffles and carnival games. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door, and include food, goodies and entertainment. Mardi Gras is 6-9 pm at the Leland Brewing Company, 115 Ale Avenue, Leland. Visit https://bcliteracy. org/fundraising-and-events/mardi-gras for tickets, and laissez les bons temps

Save The Date for Oak Island’s Mardi Gras By The Sea Parade, February 22, 2025

MARCH 1

Musical Bingo

The SE Brunswick Women’s Association hosts this fundraiser, with proceeds to benefit Oak Island Water Rescue. The evening includes four bingo cards to get you started, raffles, and prizes. Tickets are $25, and the event is 1-3:30 pm at 801 Ocean Events Center, 801 Beach Drive on Oak Island.

MARCH 4

Brunswick Civil War Round Table

Appalachian State University Judkin Browning and Timothy Silver, will lead a session on “Weaponizing Food: From

Antietam to Vicksburg.” They recognize that the Civil War was much more than a military conflict. It was also a time when environmental issues came into play; e.g., like food supplies, weather, topography, animals, disease, etc., all impacting the outcome of key battles from Antietam and Vicksburg. The group meets at Hatch Auditorium at Fort Caswell; doors open at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. Anyone can attend; the cost is $10 but can be applied to $25 annual membership dues.

MARCH 8

NC Rice Festival — Brunswick Town/ Fort Anderson Tour the state historic site and enjoy

history/cultural presentations, demonstrations, live entertainment, family fun, children’s stage, Gullah Geechee food vendors, and arts/crafts. The festival is 10 am to 5 pm at the site, 8884 Saint Philips Road SE, Winnabow (off NC 133).

MARCH 11

Coastal Health, Fitness & Wellness Showcase — Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce

Learn about all the wonderful health, fitness and wellness services available in the area at this annual showcase. The event is 4-7 pm at the St.. James Community Center, 4136 Southport-Supply Road (NC 211). There will be seminars, free samples, free health screenings, free giveaways, a $100 Cash Drawing and a Pick-A-Prize auction.

MARCH 22

Spring Fling — Oak Island

Let’s get the season started right with this spring festival, noon to 4 pm at the Middleton Park fields, SE 46th Street and Dolphin Drive. The festivities include an artisans market, food vendors, kids games and live music from Hood’s Creek.

MARCH 29

Spring Art Show — Oak Island

Oak Island debuts a Spring Art Show with an opening reception, 7-9 pm at the Recreation Center, 3003 E. Oak Island Drive. Featured artwork will be on display at the Recreation Center through the following week. To find out how you can enter the show, email ekincer@oakislandnc.gov.

Ongoing Events

Friends of the Library Southport & Oak Island

The Libraries are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 6 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am - 6 pm; and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. The Once More used bookstore, at Southport Realty (727 N. Howe St.), with new-to-you books, is open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm and Saturdays 10 am to noon. Visit https:// folsoi.org/blog/ for information on summer youth programs.

Barbee Library, 8200 E. Oak Island Drive: Call 910-278-4283 for details on children’s story time and other programs. The Lifelong Learners Group is discussing masterworks of American art at 10 am on Thursdays and the Socrates Cafe meets Mondays at 9:30 am.

Harper Library, 109 W. Moore St, Southport: Call 910-457-6237 to register for programs. One-on-one tech support is offered on Thursdays, 1-3 pm. .

NC

Maritime Museums - Southport

204 E. Moore St.

Hours are 10 am to 4 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Sensory Saturdays (low light and quiet time in the museum) are the first Saturday of the month, 10 am to noon. The Museum will be closed Dec 24-26 and Jan 1 for holidays. Visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.com to register for special programs.

Oak Island Recreation Department

Join the Striders Club at various locations and dates/times to get out and about with a group or try your hand at art with the Paintbrush Academy. There are book clubs, kayak tours in the Davis Canal, surf fishing lessons, and much more. Visit https://parksrec.egov. basgov.com/oakislandnc for details on programs.

Bingo at the Elks Lodge

Bingo games on the second and fourth Tuesdays at the Lodge, 106 E Dolphin Drive, Oak Island. Games are open to the public; no one under 16 and no outside food or drinks allowed. Doors open to the public at 5:45 pm with games starting at 6:30pm. Snacks and drinks available for purchase (cash or checks only). Progressive Jackpot and winner take all coverall.

First Friday Gallery Walk

The First Friday Gallery Walk is 5-7

Don’t see your event or location listed? Try as we might, we don’t catch everything, so to be sure to be included send your events to lisa@southportmag.com before the 20th of each month!

The NC Rice Festival returns to the Brunswick Town State Historic Site on March 8

CALENDAR

pm in Southport at participating galleries, such as Lantana’s, The Rickey Evans Gallery, the Franklin Square Art Gallery, Artisans on Howe and the Intracoastal Realty Downtown Southport Office. Stroll along and browse in the shops to see what local artists have to offer.

Battleship North Carolina

Tour the USS NORTH CAROLINA and participate in group programs and special programming throughout the year, such as Memorial Day observances, Battleship 101 (Feb 8) and more. Visit https://battleshipnc.com/. The battleship site is at 1 Battleship Road NE, Wilmington (west side of the Cape Fear River)..

Belville Riverwalk Farmers Market Riverwalk Park, 580 River Road, Belville Thursdays 2-5 pm, Fridays 11 am - 5 pm; Saturdays 10 am - 5 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm. Fresh seafood, seasonings and all things related to seafood, with the beautiful backdrop of the Brunswick River.

Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site

8884 St. Philip’s Rd. SE, Winnabow

There is plenty to do and see, with a museum, historic ruins, great information on the site’s history, and some of the most beautiful riverfront property in the County. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Guided tours are now available, at 10 am on Fridays and Saturdays; the cost is $5.

.Museum of Coastal Carolina

21 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach

The Museum is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. The Museum will be open Feb 17-17 for President’s Day.

Ingram Planetarium

7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach

The Planetarium is open Thursdays through Saturdays; dome shows start on the hour from 11 am to 3 pm. Laser shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 6 pm and 7 pm. The Planetarium will be open Feb 17-17 for President’s Day. Visit https://museumplanetarium.org/ ingram-planetarium/ to see the show schedule, including special holiday shows.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Odell Williamson Auditorium

150 College Road NW, Bolivia (Brunswick Community College)

Feb 9 — Can’t Get Next To You - A Temptations Concert Experience

March 1 — The Brothers Doobie - A Tribute to the Doobie Brothers

March 31 — The U.S. Navy Band Tour

Open Air Markets

Olde Southport Village Shoppes

Farmers Market

The Village Shops spill out onto the courtyard with vendors and artisans joining in to offer a wide variety of goods and munchies. Find the market at 1102 N. Howe St., behind the Smokehouse restaurant.

WINE, BEER AND COFFEE

American Fish Co

150 Yacht Basin Drive, Southport

Gorgeous views at this waterfront bar, live music, and great conversations; now open for the season!.

Haven

307 N. Howe St., Southport

This downtown spot features “bites, beer, gelato, wine” with space for live music too. Tuesdays feature live music and wine tastings, Fridays have live music and beer tastings, and there’s live music on Saturday too..

Royal James

109 E. Moore St., Southport

Southport’s brand new rum and tequila bar in the heart of downtown; also serving signature Cuban sandwiches and other tasty salads and snacks.

Southport Coffee Co. & Kitchen

130 E. Moore Street, Southport

Coffee, beer and good food, and an outside courtyard and live music too.

SILVER COAST WINERY TASTING ROOM

105 N. Howe St., Southport

Brunswick County’s first and only winery and original Craft Beer Bar. Check Facebook for specials, tasting events, and snack tray offerings.

Southport Suzie’s

4956 Long Beach Road (Big Lots shopping center)

Frozen yogurt with a toppings bar, desserts, wine and craft beer, charcuterie, and wine tastings. Mondays are Speakeasy night (featuring various speakers), Wednesdays feature wine tastings, trivia and bingo are on Thursdays and live music is on Sundays.

Southport Tap & Cellar

827 N. Howe St., Southport

Offering craft beers brought in from across the State. Check Facebook for food truck appearances and trivia nights.

The Mullet Bar

112 Yacht Basin Drive

Open during tourist season, with a great view of the boats coming and going.

THE WINE RACK

102 W. Brown St., Southport.

The shop offers wines, cigars, coffees and accessories and a cozy patio area to relax with a glass of wine and enjoy live music.

THE PUB OF SOUTHPORT

1513 N. Howe St., Unit 10, Southport

Check the Pub’s Facebook page for drink specials and food truck appearances. Sports programming on eight TVs and live music too! Bar swag bingo on Tuesday nights.

TIKI TAVERN

104 E. 8th St., Southport

Seating available outdoors, with games, trivia, music and open mic nights; check Facebook for details.

UNCORKED BY THE SEA WINE SHOP & GALLERY

602 N. Howe St. Southport

Shop for a wide variety of wines and craft beers, call 910-454-0633, or shop online at www.uncorkedbythesea.com. Collector wines, crystal stemware and other great gift items also available.

Crossroads Gathering Place

128 Country Club Drive, Oak Island

Enjoy coffee, mimosas and other tasty beverages and treats on the huge waterway porch. Listen to music, shop at one of the many vendors or just relax in a rocking chair.

GRAPE & ALE

8521 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island

Stocked with your old favorites and new wines to try. Check www.thegrapeandale.com, or find them on Facebook for specials and wine tastings.

The Lazy Turtle Oceanfront Grille

601 Ocean Drive, Oak Island

Good food, a great ocean view with gorgeous sunsets. Check Facebook for music and specials.

SEAHORSE EATS & DRINKS AT OCEAN CREST PIER

1409 E. Beach Drive, Oak Island

Sip your favorite drink and watch the beautiful sunsets at the Ocean Crest Pier.

Second Wind Sports Bar

8620 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island

Live music, jam night, dancing and great drinks. Open Mic night on Tuesdays.

Bald Head Coffee & Tea House

3481 George II Highway SE (N.C. 8), Boiling Spring Lakes

Fresh roast coffee and tea in delicious flavors, plus coffee and tea accessories for purchase. Live music and outdoor seating available too!

The Office Coffee and Wine Bar

3280 George II Highway (NC 87), Boiling Spring Lakes

Sit a spell with friends and enjoy a fancy coffee drink, good food, a plain cup of joe or a glass of wine, and grab a bottle for later.

SPOTTINGS

Brunswick Community College (BCC) is celebrating a historic milestone with a record-breaking Fall 2024 enrollment of 2,069 curriculum students, the highest in its history. This marks an impressive 81 percent growth since 2006, when curriculum enrollment stood at 1,142 students. Between 2019 and 2024, BCC has experienced significant growth, with enrollment increasing by 28 percent, showcasing the college’s continued momentum and commitment to serving its students and the community.

Enrollment Trends on the Rise

BCC’s growth in recent years has been especially remarkable. In 2023, the college welcomed 1,886 students, reflecting a 9.3 percent increase over the previous year. This positive trend continued into 2024, with enrollment rising another 9.7 percent to reach its record-setting total. The consistent growth highlights Brunswick Community College’s role as a cornerstone of education in the region.

Expansive Program Offerings

Brunswick Community College offers a robust selection of programs, including 34 degrees, 12 diplomas, 28 certificates, and 29 high school pathways. These programs equip students with the education and skills needed to pursue meaningful careers in high-demand fields. Many also offer a seamless pathway for transfer to four-year institutions, supporting continued academic success.

Leadership and Innovation

“Brunswick Community College is proud to deliver quality education that empowers our students and strengthens our community,” said Dr. Gene Smith, President of BCC. “This record-breaking enrollment is a testament to our dedicated faculty, staff, and the growing trust placed in us by students seeking life-changing opportunities.”

The college attributes this success to its forward-thinking approach to education. By expanding programs that align with regional and local workforce demands, BCC equips students with skills for in-demand fields such as healthcare, skilled trades, business, and technology. Strong partnerships with industry leaders and four-year universities also ensure students have pathways to employment and advanced education.

Support for Student Success

To accommodate its growing student population, BCC continues to enhance student services. Personalized advising, accessible financial aid, and a focus on inclusivity create a supportive environment where every student can thrive and achieve their goals.

“We remain committed to creating a welcoming, innovative learning environment where students can excel,” Dr. Smith added.

Dosher Memorial Hospital was informed through the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) that the hospital earned a 5-star rating on their patient surveys. The rating system, which is based on a 0 – 5 scale, contains 22 questions related to patient care, including responsiveness of hospital staff, communication with doctors and nurses, cleanliness of hospital environment, and communication about medication. Dosher scored above the North Carolina as well as the national averages in all categories. Dosher is one of eight hospitals in North Carolina who publicly report data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and one of 295 hospitals out of 3,207 in the United States who publicly report data, who have achieved this 5-star rating.

Said Dosher President and CEO Lynda Stanley, “Our five-star rating reflects the hard work and dedication of our skilled and committed staff members, who exemplify our mission of providing extraordinary care to every person, every day. We are grateful for our Dosher team who prioritizes quality and patient experience and for the community members who trust us with their care.”

The referenced HCAHPS Star Rating is based on surveys from patients who were discharged between January 2023 and December 2023 and was included in public reporting in October, 2024. To read more about the HCAHPS Survey, visit www.hcahpsonline.org

FOR SALE BY OWNER

FSBO HOUSE OPPORTUNITY. One of a kind, stylized as a classic lighthouse on St. James marina inlet. Observe yachts in passage and marine wildlife from the comfort of enclosed viewing areas, along with spectacular sunsets from private balconies off master suite. Studio solitude, library relaxation and sensational entertainment areas in this unique estate. 2013 build, original owners. 4,170 s.f., 4-bedroom, 4.5 baths. $1,525M. (704) 604-0837.

HOMES/LAND FOR SALE

65 CHERRY ROAD, SOUTHPORT, NC | 3 BR, 2 BA, 1,200 SF | Welcome home to this charming 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom gem, offering 1,200 square feet of beautifully designed living space. Nestled on a spacious lot with no HOA, this property is perfect for those seeking comfort, style, and privacy. The spacious kitchen is a chef’s dream, featuring stainless steel appliances, ample counter space, and plenty of cabinetry. Outside, an expansive fencedin backyard has all the potential to make it your very own private oasis, perfect for pets, gardening, or outdoor gatherings. A large shed offers extra storage, while the cozy front porch invites you to enjoy your morning coffee or evening sunsets. Currently listed at $264,900 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Call Tim Wendt at (980) 225-4990 for more information or to schedule a showing.

MARKETPLACE

149 NW 6TH STREET, OAK ISLAND

| 3 BR, 3 BA, 1,170 SF | This island home features a large screened porch and great layout with oversized family room, kitchen (with pantry), eating area and 3 good size bedrooms/2 full bathrooms, all on the main level. There is loads of storage space throughout the home, including a one-car garage, workshop & large storage room. Additional screen porch on the back, just off kitchen, offers a great spot for you to enjoy your evening meals while overlooking the tranquility of the mostly private back yard. The mature trees throughout the yard provide the perfect amount of shade. Between 2 screened porches, with patios below each, there is more than ample space for you and your guests to enjoy the great outdoors. This home, located in a quiet area of the island, is ready for you to make it your very own retreat! This home would also make a great rental investment. Currently listed at $489,900 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Call Keith Gray at (828) 310-9542 or Elizabeth Barlow Gray at (828) 6122478 for more information or to schedule a showing.

116 NW 26TH STREET, OAK ISLAND, NC | 3 BR, 1 BA, 1,022 SF | Unlimited potential and room to expand! This home boasts solid foundations, featuring three bedrooms and one-bathroom, rustic wood beams in the living room and a cozy wood-burning fireplace. Nested in the serene west end of the island, this property sits on a generous lot and a half, presenting numerous options for expansion. The potential here is truly remarkable. Just

a brief stroll from the Intracoastal Waterway and a quick golf cart ride to the beach, you’ll fall in love with island living! Don’t miss this opportunity to transform this home into your personal haven and claim your own slice of heaven on this beautiful island. Currently listed at $399,000 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Call Tiffany Baker at (919) 842-2399 for more information or to schedule a showing.

4744 SOUTHGATE BLVD SE, SOUTHPORT, NC 28461 | 3 BR, 2 BA, 1,800 SF |No HOAs, No Town Tax, only county taxes. Move in ready! 1800 sq ft Doublewide ,3 BR, 2 BA, with separate dining room, sunroom and an office. Approximately 3 1/2 miles to putting your toes in the Atlantic Ocean. Also close to downtown Historic Southport, shopping, fishing. golf courses and many restaurants. Crawl space is encapsulated with a Dehumidifier. Detached garage (storage building) 18’x19’. House has new fortified roof, new appliances, new windows and new siding pinewood floors. House is 1.6 miles (approximately 5 minutes) to Dutchman Creek Wildlife Boat Ramp. | Currently listed at $319,000 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Call Brenda King at (910) 279-4591 for more information or to schedule a showing.

268 BONNET WAY | $285,000. Easy living in this one-level 3 bedroom, 2 bath townhome in popular Bonnet Way - just a short distance to downtown Southport, area beaches, shopping and dining. All outside maintenance including the lawn is maintained by HOA. The open living room/dining room area has a vaulted ceiling, gas log fireplace and an

enclosed sunroom. This home has a split floor plan with a large master bedroom and full bath on one side and 2 additional bedrooms and a full bath on the other. There is also an attached one-car garage. Call Verilyn McKee, Southport Realty, Inc. for more information, (910) 470-0527.

194 ST. BRENDAN CT | $789,900.

Perfectly placed in the heart of the city, this custom-built Southport home is ideally located near the waterfront, locally-owned shops, restaurants, parks and historic sites. Features include an open floor plan, 1st floor primary suite, Caribbean Heart Pine floors, tall ceilings, custom kitchen cabinetry and fine craftsmanship in this lovely home. Upstairs you will find a 4th bedroom or bonus room and climate controlled storage. Make plans to tour this easily accessible home and sit a while on the simply southern front porch! Call Sally Stidham, Southport Realty, Inc., (910) 540-8320, for more information.

1101 BUCHANAN RD | $399,000.

2301 | 2 BED | 2 BATH | $499,000. Experience true luxury living in this fully renovated, top-floor, waterfront end-unit condominium at The Preserve. Enjoy stunning vistas of the Intracoastal Waterway from the Living Room and Master Suite. Unwind on the Private Balcony, perfect for outdoor living, where you can take in the sights of abundant wildlife, passing boats, the nearby bridge, and stunning sunsets. The unit is bathed in natural light thanks to an abundance of windows, while a mature tree line ensures ultimate privacy. This condo features a bright and airy split floor plan, along with a study ideal for work or relaxation. Residents can enjoy a range of amenities, including a pool, a clubhouse with a fitness room, and the peace of mind that comes with hurricane-resistant steel-framed construction. The Preserve is ideally situated for leisurely walks amidst beautiful scenery, just minutes away from Oak Island Beaches and a Golf Course. Access your home conveniently via stairs or elevators located at each end of the building, with parking provided in the garage. Store your beach essentials in the dedicated Storage Room. Life at The Preserve is truly a dream. Call Myles Williams, Southport Realty, Inc. for more information, (910) 457-7676.

Beautiful office space for rent entering downtown Southport area. Up to 800 sq’, or smaller options, newly renovated and has file area, 2 large office, built in shelving, kitchen nook, restroom, reception/meeting area, private entrance. Includes internet, parking, utilities. Contact David 860.729.8276.

This beautiful home features a double garage, handicap-accessible doorways & shower, and is situated on a large corner lot with a fenced backyard and a well for watering. Inside, you’ll find wood floors, an extra-large living room with abundant natural light, and a spacious kitchen with ample counter space and a marble backsplash. The dining room opens to a screened porch and a grilling deck with new Trex decking. Recent updates include a new heat pump (2020) and fresh interior paint. The property is conveniently located just 5 minutes from Spring Lake, offering swimming, fishing, and recreational activities, along with a public boat launch and golf course. Enjoy the beautifully landscaped yard with seasonal blooms, and benefit from being centrally located between Wilmington, NC, and Myrtle Beach, SC, with no HOA. Call Shea Williams, Southport Realty, Inc. for more information, (910) 461-6789.

2100 MARSH GROVE LANE, UNIT

DINING GUIDE

Find Something Sure To Please Everyone

Check out the Dining Guide and what delicious food the local area has to offer!

SEAFOOD SPECIALTY

M FISHY FISHY CAFE

106 Yacht Basin Dr., Southport 910-457-1881

www.fishyfishycafe.com

A sophisticated take on the dockside seafood café, Fishy Fishy serves up plates like Buffalo shrimp, Cajun grouper bites, and Bacon Wrapped Shrimp.

M FRYING PAN

319 West Bay St., Southport 910-363-4382Featuring homemade sweet potato biscuits and fried seafood, as well as other delicacies such as pan seared grouper.

M ISLAND WAY RESTAURANT

1407 E. Beach Dr., Oak Island 910-278-7770

www.islandwayres.com

Offering fine steaks, from filet mignon to flat iron, and fresh seafood, from lobster to crab cakes, with attentive service.

KOKO CABANA

705 Ocean Drive, Oak Island (910) 933-6222

Open Tues - Sun. Seafood Specialties, Steaks, Sandwiches, Salads

MOJO’S ON THE HARBOR

16 Marina Way, Bald Head Island 910-457-7217

www.mojoontheharbor.com

Featuring Southern classics :fried pickles, shellfish steam pots to global dishes like Italian meat antipasto and Mediterraneans shrimp and grits.

MOORE STREET OYSTER BAR

110 E. Moore Street, Southport (910) 363-5115

Moore Street Oyster Bar is an oyster pub rooted in the traditions of coastal Southern cooking, epitomized by the seaside town of Southport.

M PROVISION COMPANY 130 Yacht Basin Dr., Southport 910-457-0654

www.provisioncompany.com

Offering a la carte seafood sandwiches, conch fritters, steamed shrimp and more.

RUSTY HOOKS DOCKSIDE GRILL

4907 Fish Factory Rd Southport, (910) 477-6616

www.rustyhooksdockside.com

Fun dining featuring fresh local seafood and generational recipes, guaranteed to leave a lasting smile on your face. Come join our small piece of paradise along the coast of Carolina; our team looks forward to greeting you. We welcome boaters to pull up to our docks or con-

Pizza and a sandwich at Dry Street Pub & Pizza

tact the Marina Dockmaster on Channel 16, and all others to come down Fish Factory Road and join us for a relaxing meal with a gorgeous view!

SWAIN SEAFOOD SHACK

5119 E Oak Island Dr, Oak Island, Phone: (910) 448-5056

Good food for good people. Locally caught seafood, homemade soups and salad bar.

MODERN AMERICAN

BACK TO SHUCKERS

6220 E. Oak Island Dr., Oak Island 910-278-4944

Casual dining in a tropical setting, with Caribbean inspired seafood as well as steaks, chicken, pork and salads. (Opening in May)

EDGEWATER 122

122 Yacht Basin Dr. Southport, (910) 677-6130

Locally Sourced, Hand Crafted Food and Drink served waterfront at the Old Yacht Basin.

OLIVER’S ON THE CAPE FEAR

101 West Bay Street, Southport 910-477-9299

oliversonthecapefear.com

Fine dining on the Cape Fear—where exquisite southern cuisine meets the salubrious dishes. We also offer great burgers, steaks, and other southern favorites.

M MR. P’S BISTRO

309 N. Howe St., Southport 910-457-0801 www.mrpsbistro.com

Fine low-country cuisine, from crab-stuffed fish du jour to crab cakes and prime rib.

SHAGGER JACKS

8004 E. Oak Island Dr., Oak Island 910-933-4103 www.shaggerjacksoki.com

With over 50 beer selections, Shagger Jacks offers an assortment of dishes from steamers to ribs and sweet curry chicken to tacos.

SOUTHERN, A GATHERING PLACE

105 E. Brown St, Southport 910-931-0786

Elevated Southern Cuisine

SALT 64

6404 E Oak Island Dr, Oak ISland 910-933-1019

Serving coastal cuisine in an upscale atmosphere

SWAIN’S CUT SEAFOOD

8317 E. Oak Island Dr, (910) 933-6300

Serving fresh, local seafood and delicious and creative baked treats.

TRANQUIL HARBOR

5908 E. Oak Island Drive Oak Island Call (910) 250-12944

Casual family restaurant with a variety of dishes, seafood and daily specials.

WINE & BEER

GRAPE AND ALE

8521 E. Oak Island Dr. Oak Island, 910-933-4384

Quaint and eclectic store offering a large selection of wines, beers, and spirits. Perfect for either relaxation or for on the go! Tastings on Fridays 5-8pm,

SILVER COAST WINERY

105 S. Howe St. Southport, 910-777-5151

Brunswick County’s first and only winery and original Craft Beer Bar. Craft Beer and Wine tastings all day, every day! Check out our Facebook page for updated events, specialty beer tastings, and live music.

SOUTHPORT TAP & CELLAR

827 N. Howe St., Southport

Huge variety of draught beers, wine, adult slushies and more! Inside and outside seating. Watch our Facebook page for Foodt Truck dates!

THE WINE RACK

102 W. Brown St. Southport, 910-457-5147

Offering a selection of wine, cigars, coffees, and accessories, this quaint shop is perfect for a night out. Great service and over 600 wines to choose from.

UNCORKED BY THE SEA

602 N. Howe St. Southport, 910-454-0633

Offering a wide variety of fine wines and craft

beers for in-store shopping, curbside pick-up and shopping on-line. Delivering locally. Enjoy sipping wine in the shop while admiring local art or in the courtyard. Wines are available to taste every day. Special orders welcome

Royal James

109 E. Moore St., Southport

Southport’s brand new rum and tequila bar in the heart of downtown; also serving signature Cuban sandwiches and other tasty salads and snacks.

HAVEN

307 N. Howe St., Southport

Featuring Italian wines, local craft beer, and THC drinks

BARBECUE

M SOUTHPORT SMOKE HOUSE

1102 N. Howe St., Southport 910-363-5035

www.southportsmokehouse.com

Real wood smoked BBQ and brisket, great side items, and a great family environment.

M BAR-B-QUE HOUSE

5002 E. Oak Island Dr., Oak Island 910-201-1001

www.bestbbqonthebeach.com

Hormel ribs are slow d in house and meats are offered with a variety of sauces, from Eastern NC vinegar to Lexington-style red.

CAFES, DELIS & GRILLS

49th STREET BAR AND GRILL

4901 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island

Indoor and outside seating will a full menu.

BLUE COW GRILLE

108 Moore Street, Southport 910-363-4402

Serving specialty Burgers,.sanwiches and seafood. Lunch and Dinner

BOB’S DOGS

8903 E. Oak Island Dr., Oak Island 910-278-3456 • www.bobsdogsoki.com

With custom hot dogs featuring an array of ingredients to homestyle sandwiches like chicken salad and burgers.

THE BREAK

5700 E. Oak Island Drive (910) 933-4734

Breakfast and lunch with an island flair

CAROLINA COASTAL CAFE

607 N. Howe Street, Southport (910) 363-4350

Full service breakfast and lunch cafe withfull coffee bar and baked goods

CHASER’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL

8520 E. Oak Island Dr., Oak Island 910-278-1500

Enjoy BBQ sandwiches, wings, fish ‘n’ chips and more at this sports grill.

ERIC’S GRILLE

1671 N. Howe St., Southport 910-457-9024

Offers old fashioned, hand patted hamburgers, plus bbq, hot dogs, chili cheese fries and breakfast sandwiches and platters.

FAT ANDY’S BURGERS

3196 George II Hwy,Boiling Spring Lakes 910-845-7700

Handmade burgers using 100% ground chuck, plus freshly cut French fries.

FIXIN’S OKI

8300 E. Oak Island Dr., Oak Island (910) 933-1009

Southern inspired brunch menu served thoughout the day

JERSEY MIKES

5130 Long Beach Rd. SE, Southport 910-477-6261

Subs and sandwiches, fresh salads.

CAFE KOA

302 N Howe St, Southport, 910-363-4206

Gourmet Sandwich Shop & Market With Yummy Goods & Gifts! Soups, Salads & Sandwiches Served Daily!

LITTLE BIT’S GRILL

5902 E. Oak Island Dr. , Oak Island 910-278-6430

A classic burger joint, onion rings and other sides. Breakfast is served, pancakes and bacon.

LAZY TURTLE BAR & GRILL

601 Ocean Drive, Oak Island, 910-278-7725

Oceanfront dining and entertainment that is easy on the wallet and hard to forget. Tiki bar, arcade with two pool tables and plenty of seating to host your work, friend or family fun!

LOCAL’S FAMILY DINER

832 N. Howe St., Southport 910-457-0444 www.localsfamilydiner.com

With a warm and friendly atmosphere, Local’s Family Diner serves breakfast all day long and a seafood and entrée menu for lunch and dinner.

LOCO JO’S

602 N. Howe St., #E

Fresh, creative asian and American specialties with wine, beer and a now a fully stocked bar

LONERIDER AT OAK ISLAND

57th Place west, Oak Island

Lonerider Brew-Stillery outlaws bring award winning brews/bourbons and atmosphere

DINING GUIDE

to Oak Island. Enjoy a beer or bourbon with the outlaws, listen to live music, play outdoor games, and raise a toast to craft beer and spirits community. Enjoy delicious food with amazing views of the intercoastal. Limited release, and cool specialty beers/spirits will be available at the Hideout

MOORE DOGS AND MORE

4346 Long Beach Rd, Southport Hot Dogs, BBQ, and MORE!

M SOUTHPORT COFFEE CO. AND KITCHEN

130 E. Moore St., Southport, 910-363-4203

Open for breakfast and lunch, specializing in organic and fairtrade coffee as well as gourmet sandwiches crafted with Boar’s Head deli meats.

OAK ISLAND DELI AND PUB

5422 E. Oak Island Dr., 910-278-4005

Offering hamburgers, sub sandwiches, salads, wraps, seafood and daily drink specials.

OAK ISLAND SUBS AND SALADS

5705 E. Oak Island Dr. 910-278-9040

From BLT’s with avocado to Cajun and Reuben sandwiches, & other quality sandwiches.

OASIS BAR AND GRILL

8039 River Rd. SE, Southport 910-454-4004

Shrimp in every style, plus sandwiches; try entrées such as scampi and filet mignon.

THE OFFICE COFFEE & WINE BAR

3280 George II HWY (BSL) Southport NC 910-351-8093 www.theofficecoffeeandwinebar.

com

We serve Roast Magazine’s 2016 Roaster of the year, Espresso, Coffee Drinks(Hot, Frozen, Iced) Smoothies, Variety of Red/White Wines & Craft Beer. Also Pastries, Trays, Breakfast and Lunch Wraps.

OLD BRIDGE DINER

132 Country Club Dr., Oak Island

910-250-1184

A casual diner featuring breakfast & lunch, from fluffy omelets to burgers and fried chicken sandwiches. Open 6am - 2pm

SUNSET GRILL

5119 E. Oak Island Dr, 910-933-6137

Mediterranean Cuisine with a Lebanese influence

TROLLY STOP

111 S. Howe St., Southport 910-457-7017

www.trollystophotdogs.com

A staple in NC, Trolly Stop is renowned across the nation for its one of a kind hot dogs.

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ

1671 N. Howe St. #1A, Southport 910-363-4908

www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com

Bold, flavorful food and smoothies with a healthy appeal. Our items are made to order with fresh, simple, superior ingredients.

WILDLIFE RESTAURANT & GRILL

4381 Fish Factory Rd., Southport 910-457-9953

www.wildlifegrill.webs.com

Serving a full range of items on our menu from breakfast to home cooked meals.

CHINESE

ASIAN TASTE

1671 N. Howe St., Ste. 3, 910-457-0988 asiantastesouthportnc.com

Takeout traditional Chinese food, with staples such as lo mein, sesame chicken, and General Tso’s.

SOUTHPORT GOURMET AND SUSHI BAR

1643 N. Howe St, Southport (910) 477-9045

Serving a varietry of home-cokked Asian specialties and featuring a full sushi bar.

TASTE OF CHINA

4956 Long Beach Rd., Southport, 457-1838

Serving Cantonese, Szechuan and Hunanstyle Chinese food.

INTERNATIONAL

M PORTS OF CALL

116 N. Howe St., Southport, 457-4544 www.portsofcallbistro.com

Offering choices that are largely influenced by dishes from across the globe. Menu items and specials can whisk your palette from Casablanca to Barcelona, Santorini to Mumbai, and from Marseilles to Munich or Charleston. Finish with a fresh baked dessert in the romantic atmosphere.

ITALIAN

M BELLA CUCINA

5177 SouthportSupply Rd., Southport 910-454-4540 www.belladiningnc.com

Focusing on family Italian recipes, Bella Cucina serves up everything from fine and fresh local seafood to hand tossed, New York style pizzas. Aside from a decadent wine list, Bella Cucina also offers specialty martinis.

CASTUCCI’S AN ITALIAN JOINT 4332 Long Beach Rd, Southport 910-477-6755

Family Italian restaurant

D’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 2831 Midway Rd Ste 106 (910) 253-8151

Serving Itaiian entrees, pizza and sandwiches.

FALCONE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

5013 Southport Crossing Way, Southport 910) 363-8000

Serving home cooked Itailan specialties in a friendly atmosphere.

M JOSEPH’S ITALIAN BISTRO

5003 O’Quinn Blvd., Southport, 454-4440 www.josephsitalianbistro.com

Armed with decades of experience and “secret” family recipes, Joseph’s Italian Bistro appeals with candlelit dining and fresh Italian continental cuisine.

JAPANESE

TENGU JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE

4956 Long Beach Rd. SE, 457-9398

Sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, hibachi, tempura and udon noodles all available.

MEXICAN

DELPHINA CANTINA

10 Marina Wynd, Bald Head Island 910-457-1222 delphinacantina.webs.com

Mexican cuisine with Spanish and Cuban flare, such as Churrasco Cubano and Pescado Especial—both with plantains.

KAI JOE’S

4722 E Oak Island Dr, Oak Island Phone: (910) 622-1509

Traditional Mexican dishes and specialties.

SAN FELIPE

1671 N. Howe St., Ste. 1, Southport & 4961 Long Beach Rd. SE 910-454-0950

Serving authentic dishes, such as fajitas, enchiladas and chalupas, fresh salsa and margaritas; serves traditional Mexican dishes.

TACO & BURITTO SHACK

3261 Hwy 87, BSL 910-351-0179

SIDE STREAT TAKE OUT

524 N Howe St., Southport 910-363-4113

Tex-Mex style cuisines at a local take-out joint.

PIZZERIAS

BAMBINI’S PIZZERIA

1513 N Howe St, Southport 477-9352

A New York Style Pizzeria featuring homemade pizza, pasta, desserts, etc. Also serving a selection of beer and wine.

BEACH ROAD PIZZA AND WINGS

4688 Long Beach Rd, Southport

Pizzas, wings, fries, desserts

DRY STREET PUB AND PIZZA 101 E. Brown St., Southport 457-5994

www.drystreetpubandpizza.com

Known for handmade, original pizzas—including Margherita, “very veggie,” and Greek. Also offers salads, soups and gourmet sandwiches.

FAMOUS SUBS AND PIZZA

1541 N. Howe St., Southport • 457-5143

Recognized regionally for outstanding gyros, calzones and pizzas.

MO’S WOOD FIRED KITCHEN

4956 Old Long Beach Road SE ,Southport Wood Fired Pizzas, Burgers, Salads & Wings

PIZZA SHACK

6212 E. Oak Island Dr., • 278-6781

Offering a variety of pies from classic favorites to Greek white and Hawaiian.

THE PEPPERONI GRILL

3156 George II Hwy, Boiling Spring Lakes 845-5151 • www.pepperonigrillnc.com

Offering eat in, take out and delivery. As well, offering oven toasted subs and calzones.

PEPPERONI GRILL AT THE BEACH

4320 East Beach Drive • 250-1190 www.pepperonigrillnc.com

Open 7 days a week year round. Offering eat in, take out as well as delivery.

Solar Brewing

8108 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island Oak Island’s first and only brewery! Also featuring pizza, wings and even a giant pretzel!

DOMINO’S (SOUTHPORT)

1671 N Howe St #1b, Southport (910) 457-0083

DOMINO’S (OAK ISLAND)

5003 E Oak Island Dr, Oak Island (910) 278-9111

Delivery/carryout chain offering a wide range of pizza, plus chicken & other sides.

DINING GUIDE

(910) 363-5072

Asian delicasies for dine-in or take-out

THAI AND VINE

106 SE 58th Street (910) 933-1025

Southeast Asian specialties

BAKERIES/ COFFEE

BALD HEAD COFFEE & TEA HOUSE

3481 George II Hwy (Hwy 87), Boiling Spring Lakes 800-484-8399

Serving coffe and tea drinks along with breakfast sandwiches, croissanta and other goodies. Drive-thru available.

Crossroads Gathering Place

128 Country Club Drive

Enjoy wine, beer or coffee and sit a spell on the porches out back, with a view of the Intracoastal Waterway and Oak Island’s Barbee Bridge.

BURNEY’S BAKERY

808 N. Howe St., Southport 454-4222

Known for their light and flaky filled croissants with a sweet sugar glaze, plus more.

ISLAND JO COFFEE ‘N CAFE

7916 E. Oak Island Drive (910) 250-1677

Homemade bagels, breakfast sandwiches, quiche, specialty coffees and sandwiches.

JUMPIN’ JAVA OAK ISLAND

4022 Old Bridge Rd., Southport • 363-4841

We carry a large variety of gluten free/vegan baked goods, as well as homemade coffee cakes and muffins. Delicious and decadent specialty drinks: lattes, mochas, frapps, hot chocolate, Chai teas and more.

PORT CITY JAVA

113 N. Howe Street, Southport 454-0321

www.portcityjava.com

We serve coffees, espresso drinks, fruit smoothies, milkshakes, fresh juices, breakfast and lunch sandwiches and wraps all day. Open year round. Complimentary WiFi. Comfortable inside and outside seating. Coffee catering available.

RUBY’S COFFEEHOUSE AND EATERY

At the Oak Island Pier, 705 Ocean Dr. Oak Island

Serving bagels, croissants, sandwiches, hot dogs and coffee right at the pier.

SEASIDE MERMAID

6102 E Oak Island Drive

Enjoy sweet treats, ice cream and coffee right next to Mermaid Cove. Outside seating available.

lime pie, and carrot cake.

ICE CREAM

CHUCK’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

5021 Southport Crossing Way, Southport (910) 363-0208

Featuring delicious home made ice cream.

M DAIRY QUEEN

5701 E. Oak Island Dr.,• 278-5371

Featuring the iconic Blizzards, waffle-bowl sundaes, and more frozen treats. *Call for other nearby locations.

FLAVA’S COFFEE AND ICE CREAM

310 W. Bay St., Southport • 457-5150

Ice Cream at the Yacht Basin

HAVEN

307 N. Howe St., Southport

Imported Italian gelato from Turin- it’s like being in Italy!

LIL & JOHN’S SWEETREAT HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

6324 East Oak Island Drive.

Family-owned and operated. Featuring 16 flavors of ultra-premium, homemade ice cream. We use only dairy from grass-fed North Carolina cows and never add artificial flavors or colors.

SEASIDE MERMAID

6102 E. Oak Island Drive

Enjoy sweet treats, ice cream and coffee right next to Mermaid Cove. Outside seating available.

SPIKE’S DAIRY BAR

201 N. Howe St., Southport, 477-9117

More than just ice cream, Spike’s offers great hot dogs as well.

THE SCOOP SHOP

4922 East Oak Island Dr, OKI 910-250-1321

The best ice cream on the beach! Plus made to order cake donuts and fresh hot donuts!

SOUTHPORT SUZIE’S

4956 Old Long Beach Rd. Suite 1, Southport 910-363-4188

Frozen Yogurt & Desserts; Wine & Beer, Outside seating

SUGAR DADDIES

5119 E. Oak Island Drive

Ice Cream and Dip-n-Dots

TIKI PINEAPPLE WHIPS

4602 E. Beach Drive, Oak Island (910) 632-0598

Dole Whip pineapple frozen treats right at the beach!

TROPICAL TREATS

5811 E. Oak Island Drive

Ice Cream, Italian Ice, Coffee, Ho,me Made Fudge

INDOCHINE EXPRESS

1131 N. Atlantic Ave, Southport

SIDE STREET BAKERY

417-A N. Howe Street, Southport 363-4629

Locals suggest the cupcakes, lemon bars, key

A Match Made in Real Estate Heaven.

This February, let us play Cupid for your real estate needs.

The best real estate journeys begin with the perfect match you and the right agent! Whether you’re buying or selling, we’re here to guide you with expert advice, personalized service, and a commitment to making your goals our priority. Your perfect match is just a call away!