January 2023 Leland Magazine

Carla Edstrom

Jan Morgan-Swegle

Jeffrey Stites

Happy New Year & The Pet Issue

Jeffrey

love the pet issue! We love getting pictures of all your cute animals, and we really love sharing them with the community. Having a pet can be such a boost to morale. For us, there’s nothing quite like having a dog welcome you home with excitement, a wagging tail, and in our case with the news hound, loud barking and a little baying and barooing. It’s always difficult picking a cover picture for this issue — if we could put them all on the cover, we would. But this one of Miss Shelby made us want to get out on the Belville Riverwalk for a little down time to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Besides your pet photos, we have a feature on the new pizza shop in Leland — it’s a tough job always checking out the new eateries and watering holes, but we’re here for you. Our Art Beat story is about a wildlife photographer who lives, works, and takes amazing pictures in Africa. While our pet photos are a bit more domesticated than those wildlife shots, we hope you love looking at them as much as we enjoyed getting them!

Rufus, the News Hound

Community A Huge Pile of Pets

Start Your New Year With Cuteness

It’s Annual Pet Issue time! This is truly one of my favortite issues, not least because it means I get to start my day finding photos of dogs and cats in my email box. This year, you out-did yourselves!

Last year’s pet issue featured 15 critters, but this year we’ve more than doubled the fun! I hope you enjoy seeing your community’s critters as much as we enjoy putting this special issue together.

Ace

Bear Russel

Chloe Belle

Dixie Swegle

June

Kirby

Annabelle

Dakota

Louie and Hugo

Chase

Community

Luca Rambo

Russell and Marlow

Shady and Nikki

Brady Homie

Miss Shelby

Craig

David

Joseph

Buddy Brody

Moose & Moxie

Miss Shelby

Winston & Franklin

Rocky

Yankee Doodle

Murphy

Reading To A Dog Kiwanis Program Encourages Students

STORY BY JAN MORGAN-SWEGLE

Ibelieve that there is no greater gift we can give a child than the love of reading. Reading can fuel their imagination, start their dreams and let them escape from the loud noise of everyday life. Part of that loud noise came from the pandemic. The disruption of our children’s education has had a major impact on their ability to develop not only a love of reading, but on reading in general.

A CBS news report, filed in September, 2022, citing a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, indicated “math and reading scores for America’s 9-year-olds fell dramatically during the first two years of the pandemic. Reading scores saw their largest decrease in reading and comprehension in 30 years.”

Peggy Bradt, President of North Brunswick Kiwanis agrees. “Our students lost ground both academically and socially during the Pandemic,” she said. “This year, the North Brunswick Kiwanis Club is committed to encouraging children to not only read, but to read to others. They

have developed the ‘Read To A Dog’ program.”

Peggy gives a lot of credit to the delivery of the program to Marybeth Christiano, who  is a long time Kiwanis Club volunteer and leader on this project. “Marybeth was recently named the Education Chairperson for Kiwanis, so all of our educational initiatives will be developed and directed by Marybeth,” Peggy said.

“Each school in Brunswick County has a Kiwanis volunteer, and Marybeth has been very active in Lincoln Elementary School,” she said. “This is a pilot program, starting with just second graders at that school.

We hope to assess our progress after a few months of these sessions, and look for ways to expand on the experience, such as encouraging the participating students to read to a pet or sibling at home.  Or, other students might keep a log of their independent reading time for which they could be given certificates or other incentives.

“This program will be beneficial for the student who is lagging in their reading skills, those for whom English is a second language, the shy child who lacks confidence to read aloud, and for any child that needs the one-on-one attention of a reading buddy,” she said.

Peggy said they got the idea from one at another local school. “The Pine Valley library was doing something similar and we thought it would be a good fit for our mission,” she said. “We are focused on reading skills. We want to find out if this program makes students want to continue to read and how we can expand on the program to be even more successful.”

Working with students at Lincoln Elementary School who were selected by their teachers, and with parental approval, second graders participated in two practice sessions with the Kiwanis Club member “coach.” They read out loud and gained confidence in their verbal presentation skills.

On the third day, the children read a story using a life-sized stuffed dog as their “audience.” The readers receive a certificate with their name and picture on it, the book they read, and a keychain with a small stuffed dog on it to celebrate their success. “Kids want to be able to go

home and show an achievement, it makes them feel special and they hopefully, they will associate reading with that good feeling.” Peggy said.

Peggy also shared a different Kiwanis reading project — Story Walk. “Story Walk is a half mile walk in one of our near-by parks. There are 18 stations where you will progressively read a story, look at pictures and possibly participate in some

interactive activities. For example, if the book being read is about butterflies, children might be asked to look in the area to see if they find any butterflies. It gives parents and children an opportunity to read together and talk about the story they are reading.”

Peggy stressed that Kiwanis is a great way to get involved with the community and really make a difference. “We live in a community with a lot of retired people. Successful retirement may include mental stimulation or physical activity or both. We all want to live a life of purpose. Being part of Kiwanis gives you the opportunity to learn, act and belong. There is so much negativity in the world today. We can’t change very much of that, but when you belong to Kiwanis, you are improving the world one child at a time. This is one initiative that faces one problem. We owe it to our community to be looking for places and ways to make small improvements. Belong to something you believe in,” she said. For more information about Kiwanis, contact Peggy at peggybradt@gmail.com

Art Beat Living On A Safari

Wilmington Photographer In S. Africa

STORY BY CARLA EDSTROM

Art is everywhere, and sometimes you find it in the unlikeliest places, like an airplane. Photographer and Filmmaker Cannon Wentworth was born and raised in Charlotte and moved to Wilmington in 2011 to attend UNCW as a film studies major. Her life changed when she was offered the chance to study abroad and fulfill her childhood dream of going to South Africa. Cannon jumped on an opportunity to learn there and has lived in South Africa for the past five years. I just happened to sit next to her on a flight from Newark to Wilmington in true serendipity.

We immediately started talking about our dogs and her incredible journey as a wildlife photographer. “I studied abroad in South Africa through UNCW for about a month in 2013 and it was just not long enough. I fell in love with the country and its people immediately,” she said. “The next year, I found a wildlife filmmaking internship there, and so in 2014, attended the internship and returned to South Africa. In 2015 I graduated from UNCW and decided to travel, starting in Scotland, and worked my way down to Botswana for a wildlife project in the Central Kalahari. After the project finished, I was so close to South Africa with little to do, so I returned to South Africa for a third time, found a job, and roots began to grow.”

Living so far away from home does present challenges. However, Cannon has learned living at a slower pace and has adapted to her new home abroad. Although South Africa is laid back, much like Wilmington, it is a third-world country with some fundamental differences. “South Africans are amazing people who are strong and adaptable to any circumstance, a common saying being ‘make a plan.’ There are much fewer rules in South Africa, like being able to walk your dog off the leash on the beach all year, which I love. The landscape is completely different to Wilmington as it is mountainous in areas, with an extremely diverse coastline whereas Wilmington is flatter with long beaches. There are pockets of pine trees in South Africa which is always a nice reminder of home. Oh and South Africa doesn’t have Chick-fil-a,” she joked. “I do miss Wilmington. Wilmington holds such a special place in my heart, and you will very often find me bragging about this great little city to South Africans while I’m abroad. I am very proud to be from NC, and especially Wilmington.”

Being able to merge her passions into her work is an incredible accomplishment.

Cannon always knew she wanted to work with animals somehow but realized that being a veterinarian or zoologist wasn’t for her. She decided to choose film studies in college so she could be near animals.

“My biggest passion is wildlife, as I have been obsessed with animals since I was very young. Another passion of mine is the camera, both photography and videography. I bought my first DSLR in the eighth grade with babysitting money,” she said.

“I always wanted to do something with animals as a career. Rather than research or veterinarian, I decided to combine two passions, wildlife and the camera, and

strive to become a wildlife filmmaker/ photographer,” she said. “I majored in film studies and worked as a lead videographer. I worked as an assistant editor in Chicago at a production company, and now I co-own a production company in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, that does filmmaking and photography. My goal is to use the camera as a communication tool to shed light and educate people about wildlife.”

Capturing just the right photo at the perfect moment is a thrilling aspect of wildlife photography. Trying to find the animals in the wild and predict their behavior is challenging but rewarding. Because Cannon’s husband Nickolas shares a

similar interest in animals as a safari guide and wildlife artist, she has many opportunities to see wildlife in their natural habitat. “I love capturing genuine beauty and exhibiting it in ways people who don’t exactly care for nature or wildlife will even appreciate,” she said. “My husband and I work as a team to find our favorites, being apex predators like leopards, lions and cheetahs, and the gorgeous giant elephants,” she said. “My personal favorite has to be the wild dogs. They are very rare to find (being an endangered species) and usually, the sighting happens as quick as a flash, so it’s a very challenging animal to get nice photos of. But when you get that perfectly lit and composed

photo of that wild animal, the adrenaline rush is beyond compare,” she said. “It’s a great coincidence that the best time to view wildlife is in the early morning and late afternoon as that is what photographers call the ‘golden hour.’ In photography terms, the golden hour is an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset. This is when you get the best lighting for photographs and when animals are most active,” she said. “I shoot on Fuji Film. I am beyond happy with Fuji and the quality you get for its size. I find the quality much higher, and the photos have more depth and a better color profile on a Fuji. The equipment is also much lighter, which helps with wildlife photography.”

Being animal lovers, Cannon and her husband have rescued three dogs that you will often see in her photography. One is a purebred Border collie, and the others are border collie mixes. “Their favorite thing to do is ‘monkey patrol,’ which is chasing the Vervet monkeys along the perimeter of

our

is a warthog. He doesn’t really care for the big animals but loves

warthog, jackal, mongoose, and springbok - just to list a few. On a game drive, he is trained to lie down when he smells lions, which helps us know they are in the immediate area. They live very spoiled lives with

beach visits, kayak trips, game drives, and more.”

Look for Cannon on Facebook or Instagram to see more of her fantastic work.

fence line,” said Cannon. “Our border collie joins my husband on game drives and knows all the animals by name. His absolute favorite

We Are Not Harriot

Recent Advances In Veterinary Medicine

BY DR ALI TRAVIS, RIVER ROAD ANIMAL HOSPITAL

It doesn’t seem that long ago that we practiced medicine like James Herriot, the famed British veterinary surgeon who treated all comers in the countryside with experience and ingenuity, but little else. Without even antibiotics, he managed to treat his patients standing in a muddy field, in the dark, with farmers acting as assistants.

The difference between human and veterinary medicine in his time was not great, but as we gained knowledge about microbes, developed sterile technique, antibiotics and medical imaging – the gap widened. Animals then were not yet considered family – they didn’t rate the time and expense to treat them the way a person would be treated.

Over the past 20 years that gap has narrowed and our ability to provide care at a higher level has skyrocketed.

Although the majority of veterinarians like the ones your pet sees work in general practice, there are also more than 40 recognized specialties requiring further

study and examination. Locally, we have surgeons, internists, ophthalmologists, radiologists, and sport medicine and rehabilitation specialists. Your veterinarian can consult with these specialists on cases, as well as refer your pet to them when needed.

General practitioners (GPs) and specialists now routinely use Computer Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and other advanced imaging techniques to look for the underlying problems. Most GPs have digital X-ray and many have ultrasound available.

New diagnostic techniques allow us to screen for cancer with blood tests (On-

coK9 Liquid Biopsy ) and urine (CADET Braf ).

We can treat orthopedic issues with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and stem cells, and wounds with laser therapy and hyperbaric oxygen chambers.

Surgeons do more and more work with scopes and laser, and can do amazing precision work in the bladder, in joints, and in the heart. Although it’s still rare, kidney transplants and heart valve replacements are being done in animals. Your dog can have cataract surgery as easily as you can.

Cancers can be treated with chemotherapy (note: this is NOT like human chemotherapy, so talk to your vet if your pet has cancer) and radiation, but some are also now treated with immunotherapy, mirroring advances in human oncology.

One of the most exciting areas of advancements is the use of Monoclonal Antibodies, which have been in use in human medicine for decades — you might have heard of drugs like Humira and Cosentryx. Monoclonal antibodies are created in labs to mimic our own natural antibodies.

Veterinary medicine now has two mono-

clonal antibody therapies available for pets – Cytopoint, which targets itchy skin in dogs, and Solensia, which targets arthritis pain in cats. These therapies are technically not drugs, so their use is likely safer and also can be used without interactions with other medications and in younger animals. They are given by injection and last a month and longer.

With these advances does come one downside – cost. These therapies generally still cost less than similar treatments in humans, but the cost of veterinary medicine in general is rising like everything else.

How will you pay for them, if they are needed in your pets? The best way I can recommend is to have pet insurance. It can allow you to say yes to these advanced diagnostics and therapies without the stress of wondering where you will get the money. Not all pet insurance is created equally, so do your homework. But there are many companies that do a great job helping us take advantage of the amazing progress our profession is making in helping your pets live longer, healthier lives.

Riverine Warfare

Brunswick Civil War Round Table Meets

STORY CONTRIBUTED

river gunboats would be employed along inland rivers, especially the mighty Mississippi River. This will be the topic, entitled, “Defending the Arteries of Rebellion,” presented by historian and author Neil Chatelain at the Tuesday, Jan. 3 meeting of the Brunswick Civil War Round Table.

eld at Generations Church on Rt. 211, 3/10 mile from the St. James main gate (4019 Executive Park Blvd., Southport). Everyone is welcome. Registration begins at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. The visitor fee is $10 which can be applied

toward the $25 annual membership dues.

Control of the Mississippi River and its tributaries was a slow and bloody struggle, one of the longest and most challenging campaigns of the Civil War encompassing a 700-mile

wet corridor from Mound City, Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico. Importantly, it played a vital role in the outcome of the war. As Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman wrote to his wife Ellen on June 10, 1862, “I think the Mississippi, the great artery of America, whatever power holds it, it holds the continent.”

Most historians researching the Mississippi River’s Civil War operations tend to focus on efforts by the Union to gain its control, ignoring Confederate naval defenses. However, Confederate leadership envisioned a riverine fleet that could gain parity with their opponent. While they felt positive, scarcity of supplies, a lack of operational coordination, no clear strategic objectives, and no well-defined position from their political leaders, the South never had a chance of success against Union forces. Yet, the Confederacy challenged Union control of the Mississippi River valley at every turn, introducing innovations that spread to other theaters of the conflict, including ironclad warships, synchronized

joint operations, reintroduction of the ram, and underwater torpedoes.

Guest speaker Neil Chatelain is adjunct professor of history at Lone Star College in Texas. The former U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer is a graduate of the University of New Orleans, the University of Houston, and the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Neil researches U.S. Naval History, concentrating on the Civil War. He is a member of Emerging Civil War, and a prolific author, including “Defending the Arteries of Rebellion: Confederate Naval Operations in the Mississippi River Valley,1861 –1865” and “Fought Like Devils: The Confederate Gunboat McRae,” as well as articles for magazines, journals, and online sites.

For more information about the Brunswick Civil War Round Table, options for attending the Jan. 3 meeting, becoming a member, or wish to volunteer for this non-profit organization, please email president John Butler at Brunswickcwrt@ gmail.com, or call (404) 229-9425. Visit Facebook page or their new website for additional information, news, and updates.

Biz Showcase

Gandolfo’s Pizza Pizza and More Straight From New York

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JAN MORGAN-SWEGLE

Ithinkthat everyone has a favorite pizza place buried somewhere in the depths of their memory. You know the place — It was right down the street from where you lived and when you walked in, that smell of garlic, tomatoes and pepperoni slapped you in the face and made your mouth water.

For me, it was Peppi’s, in Cleveland, Ohio. Right there on the corner of West 98th street and Denison Avenue. It was a small, white building with big windows in the front and a red sign over the front door. I spent hours there either on dates or after the Youth Canteen closed on Friday nights. The cashier stood up front and answered the phone that was hanging on the wall, scribbling down new pizza orders while she counted out your change and told you to “come back soon.” It was a warm, comfortable place that served great pizza.

LIke many family owned pizza shops, Peppi’s is long gone, replaced by big named chains with cheese and

pepperoni carefully measured and counted to a specific recipe so each pizza is the same.

A few days ago, I was at Food Lion off of Lanvale Road and I happened to see Gondolfo’s Pizza. Gondolfo’s is part of the strip stores near the grocery store, on the very end. I walked in and was overwhelmed by my favorite pizza smells. It was like going home again. The kitchen, which is spotless, is open and you can watch Pauly, one of the owners, create magic with handfuls of cheese, fresh tomatoes and basil, and a variety of meat toppings.

Pizza dough comes out of the ovens hot and bubbly. Pauly spins it, builds it and puts the finishing touches on before it’s picked up with the pizza paddle and put back into the stone oven.

The finished pizzas sit in a large glass case right in front of the kitchen. They offer the Neapolitan Style NY Pizza, Sicilian, White, Crostata, Supreme, The Godfather and Veggie Lovers, in addition to Buffalo or BBQ Chicken, Alla Vodka or you can build your own. Want more? You can also get Calzones, Strombolis, Heroes, salads and appetizers. Beer and wine are also available.

Although Gondolfo’s has that old style pizza shop feeling, everything is brand new. So why did Pauly and co-owner John pick the Town of Leland to open Gondolfo’s? John said, “We’ve been talking for years about opening a shop. I live in South Carolina and Pauly lives in Wilmington. When Pauly finally moved down here, we looked at more than 100 places online and

physically visited twenty of them. We knew right away; this was the place for us. We believe in this community. It’s just going to grow and get better. The hospitality of the people around here is great, they’re friendly, helpful and really supportive,” he said. “We made an offer and closed in 3 weeks. Then, we tore it all apart and built everything new. Our landlord, Wilfred Bufkin, has been very supportive of what we are building here. He knows we plan on being around for a long time.”

Gondolfo’s opened in late October. Paul (Pauly) Lore and his partner, John Thompson are originally from Lake Ronkonkoma, New York. They grew up together and formed a 45-year friendship and now, partnership. “You asked if this is a family-owned business,” Pauly said. “Well, I grew up with John. We lived on the same street; we went to the same schools. He’s like a brother. If that’s not family owned, I don’t know what is. Plus, Gondolfo was my father’s first name, so every time I come here, he inspires me. He was a city bus driver and a great guy.” John agreed, “I spent a lot

of time in Pauly’s home and with his family. As soon as he suggested the name Gondolfo’s, I knew it was right. The name of a business is really important. It should have a meaning; and Gondolfo’s does. Gondolfo’s is a legacy.”

Paul and John wanted to bring “authentic” Italian style, pizza to Leland. And they have done a great job. John said, “We’ve been open for 32 days and have sold over 4,000 pizzas.” Added Pauly, “We sold out the first two days. We didn’t expect the volume we had when we first opened. The business just took off. We were understaffed, but we’re doing better now.” John added, “We want to get our production time down to around 30 minutes; so if you call at 5, you can pick up your pizza at 5:30. We’re close to that now. The staff is better trained and we have a better idea of what Leland wants. The wheels are getting oiled so we can exceed the customers’ expectations.”

Pauly said, “There aren’t many pizza places here in Leland and we have definitely filled a need. We offer New York style pizza—thin crust, seasoned sauce, and the best tomatoes. People here just love our food.” He continued, “We get a lot of business from Compass Pointe, and one day a lady told me that our food reminded her of Little Vincent’s pizza in Lake Ronkonkoma. That was a great compliment. Little Vincent’s on Smith-

Owners, Paul Lore and John Thompson

town Boulevard, had the best New York style, authentic Italian food.”

But John and Pauly are doing more than making pizza and authentic Italian food. “We’re hiring students from around the area,” John said. “We’re not only teaching them how to make pizza, we’re teaching them the business. We want to expand — have more Gondolfo’s Pizza Shops, but also good Italian restaurants and bars. We want to develop the staff that has been with us from the beginning to be able to manage our other sites and help us grow the businesses.”

John and Pauly plan to make some changes in 2023. “In the spring, we want to add outdoor seating. We want to be able to do online ordering and maybe even have a food truck for events and parties. There’s so much we can do.” Above all, Pauly and John want to keep that feel of an old family pizza shop, where you can come in and enjoy the best Italian food in the area.

Gondolfo’s, Paul and John are excellent additions to the landscape of Leland.

They bring the style of New York cuisine, the small-town friendliness of Lake Ronkonkoma and the diversity that makes all of us interesting, smalltown neighbors.

Gondolfo’s is located at 1735 Reed Road, NE in Leland. They open at 11 am, and you can place your order by calling 910-833-5666. Go online at www.gondolfos.com to check out their full menu.

This coming year, give yourself a treat. Say goodbye to frozen grocery store boxed pizza and get over to Gondolfo’s. Once you do, you will adopt their slogan—”Gondolfo’s Pizza, Y’all can’t fuhgettaboutit.” What a great blend of north meets south!

REASONS TO SMILE

Fort Anderson History

Cape Fear Civil War Round Table Meeting

STORY CONTRIBUTED

Jim McKee, site manager of North Carolina’s Brunswick Town/ Ft. Anderson State Historic Site, will present a program entitled “Abraham Lincoln and the Ft. Anderson Garrison Flag” at the Thursday, Jan. 12 meeting of the Cape Fear Civil War Round Table. The Round Table meets at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Wilmington. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the meeting begins at 7 pm.

Jim is a native of Clinton, NC, and grew up with a great interest in history nurtured by his parents. “Family vacations centered around a national park, historic site, museum, or something similar,” Jim said. He earned a Masters degree in U.S., military and public history at Southern New Hampshire University, and after several years at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, he moved to Southport. He has been at Brunswick Town/Ft. Anderson for more than 10 years.

About Fort Anderson

In 1861 the Confederate States of America decided to take advantage of the high bluffs overlooking the Cape Fear river by building a large fort at the site of the former colonial era town of Brunswick. The Cape Fear river was an essential route for supplies brought into the south by blockade runners and then loaded on rail cars at Wilmington to be transported to Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia, to sustain General Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.

The key to defense of the river, however, was the massive “Gibraltar of the South,” Ft. Fisher, located across the river from Ft. Anderson. A large and unusually effective joint Army-Navy operation delivered Ft. Fisher into the hands of the Union on Jan. 15, 1865. At that point, Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg ordered all of the Confederate forts below Ft. Fisher to be abandoned and their garrisons to report to Fort Anderson. Within a few days the garrison at Fort Anderson numbered around 1,100 North

Carolina soldiers, a motley assortment of teenaged Junior Reserves, Coast Guard, and mostly artillery troops. In addition Brig. Gen. Johnson Hagood’s Brigade of 989 South Carolina infantry was transferred to Fort Anderson to reinforce the garrison, along with 152 troopers from the 2nd South Carolina Cavalry. All told there were about 2,300 troops in Fort Anderson by February 1865.

A strong Confederate defensive line anchored on the Sugar Loaf sand dune on the banks of the Cape Fear and ocean water near today’s Carolina Beach, stopped the Union advance up the east bank of the Cape Fear.

Moving to outflank the Sugar Loaf line, on Jan. 24, 1865 the Federal monitor USS Montauk entered the Cape Fear River to begin operations against Fort Anderson. For the next week, a squadron of sixteen vessels was assembled to prepare for an assault on the fort.

Starting on February 14, soldiers from the Second and Third Divisions of the Union XXIII Army Corps, under the command of Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox, began crossing the river from Fort Fisher to Smithville (present day Southport). By February 17, when the advance toward Fort Anderson began, Cox’s 6,000 man force consisted of the entire Third Division and one brigade

from the Second Division.

As the Union naval squadron bombarded the fort, Cox’s men began their fourteen-mile advance. By the evening of the 17th, Cox’s men had entrenched about a mile and a half south of Fort Anderson. The next morning, the Union advance on the fort continued, with Cox’s men deployed in a three-brigade front with one in reserve. Within an hour, Federal skirmishers had begun to clash with the fort’s skirmishers, and soon the engagement became general across the whole front. The Federals were able to advance to within six hundred yards of the defenses before superior Confederate artillery and horrendous terrain foiled further assaults.

It was obvious to Cox and XXIII Corps commander Maj. Gen. John Schofield that a frontal assault of Fort Anderson would be too costly, so they made alternate plans. The Confederates had cleared the ground in front of the fort for three hundred yards, creating a perfect killing ground. Federal commanders decided to split their forces and leave the brigades of Col. Thomas Henderson and Col. Orlando Moore in front of Fort Anderson’s land approach, while Cox took the brigades of Col. John Casement and Col. Oscar Sterl on a flanking march around Orton Pond to gain the rear of Fort Anderson.

At 2 pm, Cox set off on his march with the brigades in front of the fort prepared to renew their assaults. Henderson and Moore engaged in heavy skirmishing against the fort’s

land face, while Cox forced his flanking troops around the head of Orton Pond. By 9 pm, Casement’s and Sterl’s brigades had rounded the pond and encamped for the night. The Confederates defending Fort Anderson had endured the heavy skirmishing against the land face and more than 2,700 shells, ranging from 30-pounder Parrott rifle shells to huge 15-inch shells, fired from the Union naval squadron. Residents in Wilmington, fourteen miles away, could clearly hear the bombardment.

Later that evening, news reached Hagood that Federal soldiers had flanked the fort and would attack in the morning. Hagood received permission to evacuate Fort Anderson and move his forces to a new line, about eight miles upriver at Town Creek. The Confederates quickly loaded as much as they could carry and hastily abandoned the fort. The evacuation was so quick that the large guns were not spiked and the magazines were not destroyed. In the confusion, the large garrison flag of Ft. Anderson was somehow lost.

By morning, Fort Anderson was in Federal hands, and the fate of Wilmington was sealed. On Feb. 22, victorious Union troops marched into Wilmington, and the last major port of the Confederacy was captured. Casualties at Fort Anderson were light when compared to the numbers engaged. Confederate casualties numbered about twelve while Union army and navy casualties numbered 34.

So, how could the garrison flag of a somewhat obscure southern fort be connected to President Abraham Lincoln in the tumultuous final days of the Civil War? Come to our meeting to find out.

The Jan. 12 meeting of the round table will be held at Elebash Hall at the rear of St. John’s Episcopal church at 1219 Forest Hills Drive. The church parking lot and the entrance to our meeting room is easily accessed via Park Avenue off of Independence Boulevard. For more information about membership in the Cape Fear Civil War Round table, go to http:// www.cfcwrt.org and click on “Join/ Rejoin.” See you there!

CALENDAR

JanuaryWe’ve included events here that were scheduled at press time, but please remember that all events, dates and times are subject to change. For programs offered through the Town of Leland, visit https://apm.activecommunities.com/townofleland/ to register online or call 910-385-9891.

JAN 3

Brunswick Civil War Round Table

“Defending the Arteries of Rebellion” is the topic for this month’s program. Registration starts at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm at Hatch Auditorium at Ft. Caswell, 100 Caswell Beach Road. The cost is $10, which can be used toward the $25 annual membership dues. For more information, email president John Butler at brunswickcwrt@gmail.com or call 404229-9425.

JAN 7

Student Showcase at Leland Cultural Arts Center

Students from all areas of study and art present their works, 12-2 pm at the Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way. Their works will be on display through the 26th.

JAN 8

Blood Drive — Bolivia

The Bolivia Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a blood drive from noon to 5 pm at the station, 3848 Old Ocean Highway. Blood donors will receive a $20 e-Gift card.

JAN 12

Cape Fear Civil War Round Table

Jim McKee, site manager of North Carolina’s Brunswick Town/Ft. Anderson State Historic Site, will present a program entitled “Abraham Lincoln and the Ft. Anderson Garrison Flag.” The program is at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Wilmington,1219 Forest Hills Drive; access the parking lot via Park Avenue off of Independence Boulevard. Registration starts at 6:30 pm and the program starts at 7 pm.

JAN 14

In the Garden: Tree Pruning

It’s time to get trees and shrubs pruned, and you can learn best practices from the experts. Brunswick County Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners will lead a session that covers the basics of what tools to use and more advanced topics such as shaping flowering ornamentals. The program is 9 am to noon at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, and the cost is $15.

JAN 14

Story Walk — Westgate Nature Park

The Story Walk makes its debut with a grand opening. There will be a ribbon cutting at 1 pm, followed by crafts, face painting, and a meet and greet with the author of “The Traveling Coin.” The book will then be on display for three months.

JAN 18

Charter Celebration for Leland VFW Post 12196

A dinner celebration at Blossoms Restaurant will commemorate the Post’s 3rd year of serving veterans in northern Brunswick County. The celebration will also welcome NC Department Commander Tim Woods, Dept. Jr. Vice-Commander Annie Cummings, District 5 Commander Bradly Lauver, Leland Mayor Bozeman and Leland Town Council members Veronica Carter and Bill McHugh. To make your reservation, email vfwpost12196@gmail. com.

JANUARY 20

Leland We Don’t Know Tour

The program starts off at the Cultural Arts Center with a presentation on the Town’s history and growth, and a twohour bus tour around town highlights some of that history and provides information on future plans. If this tour fills up, there’s another opportunity coming up Feb 8.

JAN 28

Jigsaw Junction — at LCAC

How are your puzzle skills? Test them out in this competition as teams race to put the same 500-piece puzzle together in two hours. The first three teams to finish win prizes, and all teams get to keep their puzzles. Each team can have up to four participants (all ages welcome) and the cost is $40 per team. The competition is 0 am to noon at the Cebter, 1212 Magnolia Village Way.

FEB 2

Artist Reception

Meet potter Kate Waltman and view her works, which she makes using local materials and patterns inspired by Art Deco design. Waltman will give an artist talk during the 5 pm meeting, and a reception follows, 6-8 at the Leland Cultural Arts Center. Waltman’s pottery will be on display in the gallery through the 23rd.

FEB 4

Contra Dance — LCAC

Cape Fear Contra Dance leads a night of live music and folk dance. Participants don’t need a partner, and no experience is necessary! The program is 7-10 pm, and a lesson for beginners kicks things off at 7 pm. Flat, closed shoes are recommended. Tickets are $12; Contra Dance is at the Leland Cultural Arts Center.

ONGOING EVENTS

Riverwalk

Marketplace

Thursdays 2-5 pm, Fridays 11 am - 5 pm; Saturdays 10 am - 5 pm; and Sundays 10-4 pm; Produce and fresh seafood, seasonings and all things related to seafood, with the beautiful backdrop of the Brunswick River.

Town of Leland/Parks & Recreation

Check out http://bit.ly/lelandevents for more information on classes and programs, including painting, pottery, jewelry-making, acting, dance and more.

Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site 8884 St. Philip’s Rd. SE, Winnabow

There is plenty to do and see, with 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.

NC Maritime Museums - Southport, 204 E. Moore Street

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. Visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.com.

Art League of Leland (ALL) at the Leland Cultural Arts Center

The group welcomes artists of all kinds and meets monthly (except in summer months) 4-6 pm at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way.

LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT

Odell Williamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community College 150 College Road NW, Bolivia

Jan 20 — Face 2 Face: Elton John/ Billy Joel tribute performers

eb 16 — Superstar - The Carpenters Reimagined, a tribute show

March 7 — Hotel California - the original Eagles tribute band

March 28 — Rave On! The Buddy Holly Experience

Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

701 N. Third Street in Wilmington

Jan 12 — Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances

Jan 17-18 — Blue Man Group

Jan 26 — Benny Hill Quartet Scholarship Concert

Jan 27 — Wanda Sykes

Jan 28-29 — Annie, by the Broadway touring company

Jan 31-Feb 1 — Riverdance

Feb 4 — The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra performs Gullah-Geechee Heritage

Feb 7-9 — The Book of Mormon, by the Broadway touring company

Feb — Dancing with the Stars: Live! The 2023 Tour

Visit https://wilsoncentertickets.com for more information.

Visit https://wilsoncentertickets.com for more information.

BEER AND WINE

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar

1175 Turlington Ave, Suite 101, Leland

Full menu available for dine-in or takeout — also hosting live music, karaoke and trivia.

The Joyce

1174 Turlington Ave.

Check Facebook for specials and details on music and trivia nights.

Local’s Tavern

1107 New Pointe Blvd., Leland

Music Bingo on Wednesdays, starting at 7 pm. Specials are posted on Facebook.

Bridgewater Wines

1132 New Pointe Blvd., Leland

Tuesday Trivia is at at 6:30 pm (reservations required). Checkout the great food menu, and Sunday brunch specials; call 910-408-1900 to order takeout.

Blossoms Restaurant (Magnolia Greens)

1800 Tommy Jacobs Dr. Reservations are encouraged; call 910-383-0998. Check Facebook for drink and food deals and special events.

Brunswick Beer Xchange Co. 113 Village Road, Leland

Check Facebook for live music, food truck appearances, trivia nights and wine tastings.

Brunswick Beer and Cider 1313 S. Dickenson dr., Leland Leland’s first brewery and cidery! Full menu also available

FIVE GUYS

2028 Olde Regent Way, Leland (910) 833-1997

Burgers and More!

APPLEBEE’S

1113 New Pointe Blvd, Leland 910-371-6315

Full-service chain bar &grill providing hearty American eats in an informal setting

BLOSSOMS RESTAURANT

Magnolia Greens Golf Course 1800 Tommy Jacobs Dr., Leland 910-383-0998

Breakfast- Saturday & Sunday | Lunch –Tuesday – Sunday | Dinner – Wednesday – Saturday

BRIDGEWATER WINES

1132 New Pointe Blvd, Leland (910) 408-1900 www.bridgewaterwines.com Free Wine Tastings Thursdays and Fridays 3-6pm, Saturdays 1-5pm and Sundays 12-3pm

BRODEE’S DOGS BREW HOUSE 103A Village Rd NE, Leland

(910) 523-5121

Hot dogs and specialty craft beers Brunswick Beer and Cider 1313 S. Dickenson Dr., Leland Leland’s first brewery and cidery! Full menu also available

CAPE FEAR SEAFOOD CO

Waterford Leland, 910-399-6739

American seafood, signature dishes, hand cut fish, steaks and chicken, freshly made desserts all served in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere.

CHINGON TAQUERIA

1132 New Pointe Blvd, Leland (910) 3408-1221

Mexican Food & Drink

CHRISTOPHER’S STEAKHOUSE AND SEAFOOD

2013 New Regent Way Ste 200, Leland (910) 782-8498

Steakes, Seafood, Salads, Sandwiches

DUNKIN DONUTS

1132 New Pointe Blvd, Leland

910-383-8383

Hand crafted espresso drinks, fresh made all day breakfast sandwiches and delicious donuts.

MR. BAGELMEISTER

Full STEAKHOUSE

1105 New Pointe Blvd, Leland 910-383-8383

Gondolfo’s Pizza 1735 Reed Rd NE, Leland 910-833-5666

FARMHOUSE KITCHEN

1120 E. Cutler Crossing, Leland Southern Style, Breakfast & Brunch (910) 408-1676

FIVE GUYS

2028 Olde regent way, leland (910) 833-1997

Burgers, Shakes and more!

FALCONE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

2013 Olde Regent Way, Leland 910-371-3442

Authentic Italian Fare

FIREHOUSE SUBS

3572 Leland Town Center Dr., Leland (910) 408-1007

THE FOREST RESTAURANT

Cape Fear National at Brunswick Forest 1281 Cape Fear National Dr., Leland 910-383-3283

FUZZY PEACH

1109 New Pointe Blvd, Ste 4, Leland 910-371-1238

Frozen Yogurt

GAYLYN’S DINER

322 Village Rd, Leland (910) 371-3533

Breakfast and Lunch

HWY 55 BURGERS, SHAKES AND FRIES

1114 New Pointe Blvd, Leland 910-371-2707

Retro-themed chain with 1950’s sodafountain look

ISLAND FRESH-MEX

JADE GARDEN

1735 Reed Rd, Leland 910-383-0880

Chinese

JERSEY MIKE’S

2029 Olde Regent Way, Leland 910-523-5300

Sub sandwiches

JIMMY JOHN’S

503 Old Waterford Way 104-A, Leland 910-399-7007

Sub sandwiches

THE JOYCE IRISH PUB

1174 Turlington Ave, Ste 101, Leland 910-408-1400

Irish Pub, Burgers, Beverage

LELAND SMOKEHOUSE

503 Olde Waterford Way Ste 100, Leland (910)228-5008

BBQ, Wings, Ribs

LOCAL’S TAVERN

1107 New Pointe Blvd, Leland 910- 769-1289

American Bar/Pub, Music

M + K’S KITCHEN

403 Village Rd NE, Leland 910-833-8030

MIYABI JR EXPRESS

1108 New Pointe Blvd #110, Leland (910) 769-2358

Hibachi, Sushi

NEW DAY CAFE

497 Olde Waterford Way Ste 100, Leland (910) 769-9036

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

PANARA BREAD

2024 Olde Regent Way, Leland Suite 110 (910) 274-0358

PAPI’S CAFE

1108 New Pointe Blvd #140, Leland (910) 408-1662

PIZZETTA’S PIZZERIA

1144 E. Cutlar Crossing, Leland 910-371-6001

Pizza, Italian, Bar

PORT CITY JAVA

511 Olde Waterford Way 1112 E Cutlar Crossing 910-383-1238, Leland Coffeehouse chain with house-roasted, organic, breakfast items, sandwiches.

P.T.’S OLDE FASHIONED GRILLE

1035 Grandiflora Dr, Leland 910-399-6808

Burgers, sandwiches and fresh-cut fries

SAN FELIPE MEXICAN RESTAURANT

1114 New Point Blvd, #140, Leland 910-371-1188

Mexican Food and Drink

SHIRLEY’S DINER 112 Village Rd. NE, Leland 910-371-2890

SHUCKIN’ SHACK OYSTER BAR - LELAND

1175 Turlington Ave Suite 101 Leland, North Carolina (910) 221-5522

SIX HAPPINESS ASIAN RESTAURANT

1114 New Pointe Blvd, Leland 910-371-0021 Japanese, Sushi, Asian

SMITHFIELD’S CHICKEN ’N BAR-B-Q

2020 Olde Regent Way, Leland 910-371-6900

Counter-serve chain offers fried chicken &Eastern NC BBQ vinegar-based sauce

SUBWAY

103 Village Rd NE & 1012 Grandiflora Dr 910-371-9933 910-383-0211

Subs & Salads

TAQUERIA SANTA CLARA

1389 Lanvale Rd, Leland (910) 769-5598

Take-out Mexican, Burgers, Hot Dogs

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE

143 Poole Rd, Leland 910- 765-1144

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner serving sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads, quesadillas, bowls, and more

WAFFLE HOUSE

111 Village Rd NE, Leland 910-371-3600

Breakfast Restaurant

WOK AND ROLL

2013 Olde Regent Way, Leland 910-371-9025

Chinese

YUMMI YUMMI

112 Village Rd NE, Leland 910-371-0077

Chinese

If you don’t see your establishment in our Dining Guide, please send an email with your restaurant name, address, phone number and a brief description to editor@lelandmag. com

GRILL

2013 Olde Regent Way, Ste 110, Leland Serving frshly made burritos, quesadillas and more Mexican

Peruvian Charcoal Rotisserie Chicken

PIZZA HUT

112 K Village Rd NE, Leland 910-371-9547

The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra will highlight the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor with a new work written by story-teller singer Ron Daise and score by Steven Errante. Sankofa: Return and Get It will take audience members through the unique culture of the Gullah Geechee people who have traditionally resided in Jacksonville, NC and the sea islands of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The concert will also feature a symphonic work by Florence Price, a Black composer whose music is enjoying a deserved revival, and performances by our High School and UNCW division winners of the 47th annual Richard R. Deas Young Artist Concerto Competition.

Concert is sponsored by: