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March Into Spring
AsI write this, the last week of February, it’s beginning to feel like Spring already. I know this is almost certainly False Spring and we’ll be plunged into the cold again in March before we finally get the true return of warmer weather, but I’m really enjoying what we have now. No matter the weather, our March issue includes quite a few ways for you to get outside and shake off the winter blues. The Town of Leland is holding its annual Creek Week when the community can come together to help make sure our local waterways stay clean and tidy. The Senior Gator Games are a great chance for those over 50 to compete in a wide variety of athletic events (and don’t forget the Silver Arts contest for all manner of creative activities). Get your tickets now for the annual Azalea Garden Tour coming up the beginning of April! We went last year and had a simply wonderful time. It’s very much worth the trip across the bridge! And while it’s inside, you’ll feel like you’re sailing the seven seas at the Brunswick Arts Council’s Pyrate Parley fundraiser featuring a plethora of pirates and mermaids along with food and drink and gambling and music....all the things a good pirate needs for a night of carousing for a good cause. And speaking of a good cause, our lead story will tell you all about the new Veterans Creative Arts Program, developed to help veterans work through the trauma of war by creating art. So Happy Spring to one and all!— Jeffrey
Community
Veteran Creative Arts Program Offers The Highest Appreciation
STORY BY JAN MORGAN-SWEGLE, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
John F. Kennedy once said about the military, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Through a newly created arts program, a few local veterans are doing just that by to helping their fellow veterans who struggle with mental health issues after serving our country.
Gerald Decker, VFW Post 12196 Commander, and Cammeron Batanides, President of the newly created Veterans Creative Arts Program (VCAP), are two of those people, helping veterans join local writing and arts classes.
The need for a program such as this is critical. Decker said that the average number of veterans and first responders who commit suicide is 22 per day. “There are a number of good programs through the VA and the National Arts Council, North Carolina Arts Council and Brunswick Arts Council that try to address this issue, but they haven’t thoroughly addressed it yet and there is still a need,” Decker said. “The difference with this program is that it’s hands on and helps veterans move past PTSD and traumatic brain injuries and actually engages them in the community and with doctors. One of the biggest problems that veterans have is not speaking to doctors, not speaking to family or friends. Creative arts programs have been proven to be enormously successful in getting people to open up and that’s the key.”
In May 2024, Decker and Mary Beth Livers, Executive Director of the Brunswick Arts Council, traveled to Raleigh to meet with elected representatives for Arts Day. “While visiting with Sen. Bill Rabon, (Republican, District 8,) about various community assistance programs, he asked me, as the Commander of VFW Post 12196, why we didn’t have a creative arts program for veterans similar to what he recently saw in Israel that appeared to be very successful,” Decker said. “I didn’t have a good answer. When I returned to Leland, I got more information and spoke to some veterans who illustrated the need for an organization that gives them access to sources of wellness
and wellbeing in addition to the VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).”
Decker said that it actually wasn’t difficult getting the program together. “It just took some serious attention to detail,” he said. “I worked with Retired Marine Col. Eric Terashima, Cammeron Batanides and other members of Post 12196. We put a business plan together, and over the summer got the corporate paperwork finalized. On Sept. 28, which was the 125th anniversary of the VFW, we had a birthday party for the VFW and announced the VCAP program. So, in about three months, we were ready to go.”
During the course of those three months, Commander Decker was introduced to Cammeron Batanides, an internationally known fine artist in the Wilmington area. She was suggested as an excellent resource by several people in the artistic community as well as in the VFW.
“Gerald and I first met in June,” said Batanides. “He was looking for someone that would be able to assist with the ‘art side’ of the program and we’ve been collaborating ever since. I’ve been in Wilmington since 2003, and I really enjoy what I am doing now. Veterans should know that VCAP is a safe space. We have four or five teaching artists who are veterans — they understand.” Decker said that the instructors know their subject matter. “They can speak to us about our military experience and how to get stuff out of our heads,” he said.
“The Leland VCAP program is modeled after other successful programs across the country. We’re not trying to reinvent the
wheel; we’re just trying to make the wheel available locally,” he said. “Right now, we are effectively reaching veterans and first responders through writing classes and art classes. We encourage expression in a
form that works for them. The goal of our art programs is to recognize their trauma and get their feelings out. The number one goal of VCAP is to give veterans, first responders and their families access to a source that will help them on a path to recovery.”
If you are a history buff, you can learn a lot about military conflicts and war by reading books, but can you truly understand how the brutality of war can change who you are unless you have actually been in the military in a combat or emergency situation?
Those changes have been documented in many studies across the country and the news isn’t good. One study, published in Medical News Today in 2023, said that veterans, particularly those who have served in combat, have experienced more trauma in their life than non-veterans. Research shows that depression affects 20 percent of veterans, and that suicidal ideation or attempts occur in 11 percent of veterans, according to the study.
According to the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, “PTSD is slightly more common among Veterans than civilians. At some point in their life, 7 out of every 100 Veterans (or 7 percent) will have PTSD. PTSD is also more common among female Veterans (13 out of 100, or 13 percent) versus male Veterans (6 out of 100, or 6 percent).” Further information suggests that 15 percent of those deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom had PTSD in the year after returning from combat and 29 percent suffered from it at some point in their lives.
“One of the programs we offer is the visual arts class that meets on Tuesday,” Batanides said. “It’s a studio class; participants can draw or paint or work in whatever medium in which they want to create. During class, those who want to share their work get feedback and suggestions regarding different approaches to what they have done, like how to mix colors or why their piece might seem ‘flat’ to them. We give everyone encouragement to keep creating. One of our successes has been that many of our participants weren’t creating at home. Now, they are taking their artwork home with them and creating outside of class or gifting their work to loved ones. We provide take-home art kits if participants don’t have supplies so they can continue to work at home. Everyone brings their art back to class and I can see a positive change in their demeanor. They are smiling, they are speaking to others and sharing. They are really opening up.
“Everyone has their own unique way of expressing themselves,” Batanides continued. “It looks different for every individual. To me, the success of this program isn’t about numbers. It isn’t about how many people there are in a class, it’s about the level of impact that the class has on the individual; how that class has positively affected the person. I see friendships forming and people supporting each other. If their level of anxiety drops because of what we are doing — that’s success.”
She also said that readjusting to the community after deployment can be difficult. “Everything once again is unique. There is a disconnect between military and civilian communities that adds to the feeling of the veteran not being seen or understood,” she said. “In VCAP, I’ve seen civilians and veterans coming together and supporting each other. It’s important for all of us to create a community environment and remain in a community environment. It helps
Cammeron Batanides, VCAP President
Community
build connections. This is about creating together, laughing together, trusting together and experiencing joy together. In May, we are hosting our first community dinner and karaoke night. We are also working on presenting art exhibits in the community to showcase not only the art itself, but the incredible individuals behind the creation of the work.”
As the organization grows, both Decker and Batanides realize the importance of collaborating with others in the community. One of those collaborations is At Liberty Connections, a non-profit organization that “provides equine assisted therapeutic services within a safe and peaceful environment, which facilitates emotional healing and promotes relationship building for those individuals and their families who have served our Country and our communities.” VCAP is partnering with At Liberty Connections for a women’s veteran retreat which will be a mixture of equine and art therapy.
“Our presence is in Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, and while we currently
do not offer classes in Columbus County, we are in collaboration hoping to achieve this,” Batanides said. “I’m hoping that VCAP helps vets develop new collaborations and that those collaborations have a really positive impact on the community where we live and for our veterans. VCAP is a community here to provide the artistic classes and workshops that interest our
vets and first responders. All are welcome, know that this is a safe space, and that we want everyone to feel seen.”
If you are a history buff, you can learn a lot about military conflicts and war by reading books, but can you truly understand how the brutality of war can change who you are unless you have actually been in the military in a combat or emergency situation?
Those changes have been documented in many studies across the country and the news isn’t good. One study, published in Medical News Today in 2023, said that veterans, particularly those who have served in combat, have experienced more trauma in their life than non-veterans. Research shows that depression affects 20 percent of veterans, and that suicidal ideation or attempts occur in 11 percent of veterans, according to the study.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “PTSD is slightly more common among Veterans than civilians. At some point in their life, 7 out of every 100 Veterans (or 7 percent) will have PTSD.
PTSD is also more common among female Veterans (13 out of 100, or 13 percent) versus male Veterans (6 out of 100, or 6 percent).” Further information suggests that 15 percent of those deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom had PTSD in the year after returning from combat and 29 percent suffered from it at some point in their lives.
What sounds and images are lodged in the brains of our Veterans that take them away from routine chores or day-to-day life and transport them back to the depths of battle in a vehicle called Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome? What is it like having a traumatic brain injury? Why can it be so difficult to re-acclimate to the life they once knew? And, the most important question, what can we do about it?
As John F. Kennedy said, expressing gratitude means living by our words, not just saying them. It seems the VCAP program and all of those associated with it are expressing appreciation to our veterans in a most effective way. For more information on VCAP and how you can be effective too, go to www.veteranscreativearts.org.
Gerald Decker, VFW Post 12196 Commander
Community Azalea Garden Tour
Wilmington Tradition Welcomes Spring
STORY CONTRIBUTED, PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES
This year’s Cape Fear Garden Club’s 2025 Azalea Garden Tour is April 4 through 6 in Wilmington. The self-guided tour, aptly named “A Canopy of Blooms,” showcases a superb collection of vibrant landscapes accompanied by some of the area’s most captivating live oak trees.
The 72nd annual tour includes Airlie Gardens, a local treasure, and eight outstanding private gardens, three of which are “Secret Gardens” (accessible by trolley only at Harbor Way Gardens in Wrightsville Beach).
Rise Up Community Farm -- a working vegetable farm whose volunteers raise healthy crops to fight food insecurity -- will be included on the Tour for the first time. The event also features exquisite outdoor dining displays and a Benefit Art Show.
The Ribbon Cutting & Azalea Queen’s Garden Party will kick off the Tour at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 4 at Kenan House, 1705 Market St., with Jeff Rivenbark of WWAY-TV as emcee. Music will be provided by the Coastal Christian High School Choir. The Cape Fear Garden Club’s famous homemade cookies and light refreshments will be served following the ceremony. The Club is proudly celebrating its 100th year anniversary.
Plein air artists will be set up in the gardens all weekend and their paintings will be available for purchase on Sunday, April 6. The Azalea Ambassadors, young ladies
and gentlemen from New Hanover County high schools, will meet and greet guests at each garden.
Garden Tour tickets are $50 each and children 12 and younger are free with a paid adult. Tickets are non-refundable and can be purchased by: credit card online at www.azaleagardentour.com before March 28 (delivered via USPS)
check or cash only at two Brunswick County locations: All In Bloom, 1200 N Howe St., Southport, and Sweet Nectar
Florist, 324 Village Road, Leland check or cash only at the Gardens or the trolley stop during the three-day tour
Profits from the Tour are returned to New Hanover County nonprofits annually through grants for beautification, conservation, and education.
For additional Azalea Garden Tour information and photos, or to schedule interviews, please visit www.azaleagardentour.com or contact gardentourpublicity@ capefeargardenclub.org.
Leland Creek Week
The Community Is Invited To Help Clean Up
CONTRIBUTED BY TOWN OF LELAND
The Town of Leland invites community members to take part in the Clean Water Education Partnership’s Regional Creek Week, taking place March 17-22. This week-long initiative raises awareness about the importance of protecting local waterways through educational programs, hands-on activities, and volunteer opportunities.
Kick off Creek Week with Homeschool Studio on March 17 from 10 am to 12 pm at the Leland Cultural Arts Center (LCAC), located at 1212 Magnolia Village Way. This program will teach children ages 5 to 12 about the importance of clean water through two interactive activities.
On March 18, attend the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s Wild Wetlands presentation at the LCAC from 6-7:30 pm. Learn about wetland ecosystems, their role
in water conservation, and the diverse wildlife that depends on them.
Cape Fear River Watch will host a Storm Drain Marking event on March 19 from 1011:30 am in Mallory Creek. Volunteers will label storm drains and distribute door hangers highlighting the importance of keeping waterways free from pollution. Participants will meet at the Mallory Creek clubhouse, located at 115 Grace Point Drive.
Finish the week with Lend a Hand in Le-
land on March 22 from 8 to 11 am. This community-wide day of service offers five volunteer opportunities, including a stream cleanup, aimed at making a lasting impact on Leland.
Registration is required for all Creek Week events. Participants who register for any activity will be entered into a raffle to win a rain barrel, with the winner notified by email the following week. Register online at https://www.townofleland.com/ creekweek.
Community 2025 Gator Games
Athletic & Artisitic Competitions For Over 50s
STORY BY JEFFREY STITES, PHOTOS BY CONTRIBUTED
Brunswick County residents older than age 50 have an opportunity to get involved in a fun community event, indulge that competitive spirit, and exercise both their physical and creative muscles at the 2025 Senior Gator Games and Silver Arts Competition. Last year Brunswick County fielded 636 competitors, more than any of the 53 local competitions, and more than 100 winners went on the complete at the state level, according to Gator Games Ambassadors Chris and Gary Ettl-Mlynek.
Many people don’t know that Senior Games is a national event too. North Carolina Senior Games is a member of the National Senior Games Association. National Senior Games occurs every two years, in various locations across the country. The 2025 National Senior Games will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, said Chris and Gary.
Men and women who are 50 years and older by Dec. 31, 2025 and who have resided in North Carolina for a minimum of three consecutive months are eligible to register and compete. Registration closes on March 12 for paper entries and March 19 for online entries (see the QR code in the accompanying graphic).
All the materials for the games, including paper registration forms, are available in the lobbies of all the Brunswick Se-
nior Resources senior centers (in Leland, Southport, Supply, Shallotte and Calabash) as well as local recreation and senior centers such as the Recreation Center, Senior Center and Community Center in Oak Island. The entry fee is only $15 per participant.
Events take place April 2 through May 16 and include more than 70 athletic events and arts categories. Athletic events include individual events like running, swimming and even billiards; partner events such as bowling and pickleball; and team events in softball and 3-on-3 basketball. Silver Arts categories include Heritage Arts such as basket weaving, pottery and needlework; Visual Arts such as drawing, pastels and sculpture; and Literary Arts like poetry and fiction. New this year will be disc golf and metal working.
arts. We know there is lots of talent out there! We need them!” Said Chris and Gary.
Chris and Gary have been Games Ambassadors since 2022 and say they’ve had a great time. “The best part is meeting new people! The biggest challenge — getting people to believe that there really is something for everyone. You don’t
Performing Arts will be showcased at the Silver Arts Follies on Friday, May 16, at 11 am at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Way. The Follies will include performers in vocals, dance, instruments, drama and even cheer teams!
“We would love to get more people involved in SilverArts! Especially the performing
have to be the best...just come out and give something a try and have fun. All skill levels are welcome in both athletics and arts!”
For more information, contact Khrystye Haselden, the GA,es Local Coordinator, at 910-253-2670 or k.haslelden@brunswickcountync.gov, or visit the NC Senior Games website at ncseniorgames.org.
Community Public Safety Center
Brunswick Community College Expands
STORY BY JANET FORTNEY, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Brunswick Community College (BCC) celebrated a major milestone in late January with the symbolic groundbreaking of the new Alan Holden Public Safety Center. This undertaking marks the beginning of a transformative project that will bolster educational and career opportunities while addressing the critical workforce needs of ever-growing Brunswick County.
The Public Safety Center will house specialized labs and training spaces, including a VirTra Simulator, moveable wall tactical firearm room, self-defense and arrest techniques mat room, driving simulators, EMS scenario training rooms, and an apparatus bay. These resources will enable students and local professionals to train in real-world scenarios, enhancing their preparedness for public safety careers.
The facility will house Associate in Applied Science degree programs in Criminal Justice Technology, Emergency Medical Science (EMS), and Public Safety Administration with specializations in Corrections, Law Enforcement, and Emergency and Fire Management, and 911 Communication and Operations. In addition, the center will offer diploma, certification, and continuing education courses such as Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET), Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Advanced Life Support (ALS), and a variety of firefighter training programs.
Jerome “Chip” Munna, Program Director of BCC’s Department of Emergency Medical Science (EMS), confirmed that the new public safety center will bring exciting upgrades to an already distinctive program that brings students from as far as Greenville, NC. The new facility “will have an apparatus bay where [learners] can get realistic, efficient, and practical training. We can bring an ambulance in there, bring a fire truck in there. We’ll be able to offer them experience with all the ‘trinkets and gadgets’ before they go out on their first ride and need to focus on [patients’] continued medical care.”
Munna also noted that the new building will provide a dedicated EMS lab and classrooms. “The school puts a lot of money and equipment in to support the students and that’s what it’s all about. It’s a great program that’s really been growing a lot,” he said.
The EMS program has two paths from which students may choose. One is the certificate program, an evening program typically favored by those already in the workforce or with other daytime responsibilities; the other is the curriculum program, a degree-completion program with daytime courses. Currently, 13 first-year students are engaged in the curriculum offerings and 21 in the certificate classes.
Approximately 70 guests, including faculty, staff, and first responders who will teach classes at the site, were on-hand for the recent groundbreaking. The 28,278-squarefoot facility will be located off U.S. 17 in Bolivia, directly behind the college’s main entrance. It will occupy space, according to Julia W. Stuart, BCC Director of Public Relations & Marketing, previously used as part of BCC’s aquaculture program.
“This project is a game changer for the safety and well-being of the people of the county and beyond,” said Brunswick County Sheriff Brian Chism. “The Alan Holden Public Safety Center will provide invaluable training resources for public safety professionals, ensuring they are prepared to pro-
tect and serve at the highest level. We are grateful to both Mr. Holden and BCC for their continued contributions to and support of our community.” Holden, mayor of Holden Beach and chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees, donated more than $500,000 to actualize the project.
“Today’s groundbreaking is a monumental step forward in Brunswick Community College’s mission to meet the growing needs of our community,” said Dr. Gene Smith, BCC President.“The center will provide top-tier education and training opportunities for students and support in-service training for our local law enforcement officers, fire, and rescue personnel. We are deeply honored by Alan Holden’s generosity and his trust in BCC to carry forward a legacy of excellence and service to our community.”
Designed by Wilmington’s Sawyer, Sherwood & Associate Architecture, the state-of-the-art center is expected to be completed by March 2026. Bordeaux Construction Company, Inc., of Morrisville, NC, is on-board for project construction.
Owning Up To Facts Facing The Truth Can Change Your Reality
BY VICTOR FERNANDES
Victor Fernandes is owner of Fernandez Fit, helpjng clients achieve personal and professional success through health and fitness
Iknow
what I need to do. I just don’t do it.
Do you? I mean, do you really?
Because the first thing you need to do is recognize you have a problem with your health and well-being. The only way to solve a problem is to acknowledge that one exists.
Solutions that seem out of reach for so long suddenly become clear, because you finally realize finding solutions to your problems with health and well-being are the priority. A necessary mindset shift involves transitioning from ignoring problems, and expecting them to disappear on their own, to concentrating on the solutions required to address those problems.
Thinking about why we neglect our health and well-being will lead you to the same harsh but inevitable reality so many of us have faced, including me. The real reason why you struggle with your health and well-being is…
YOU.
If I placed an apple and bag of potato chips in front of you, I’m certain you could pick out which you should eat. If I placed a bottle of water and can of soda in front of you, I’m certain you could pick out which you should drink.
Yet, studies show that more than 40 percent of the population in this country is deemed obese, while 70-plus percent are considered overweight.
Of course, everyone’s circumstances are different. For example, there may be underlying health issues that have proven to be a challenge for so many
people for too long, which make losing weight and getting healthy difficult. But for many people, there is a common thread that leads them to not do what they know they should do to not become part of those sobering statistics.
There’s an effective way to start facing that scenario – reframe the statement so many use, the statement I addressed in the first sentence of this article.
Recite the following statement – ““I know what I need to do. I just don’t care enough about my health and well-being to do a thing to improve it.”
That’s harsh, I know – but not taking that all-important first step to better health and well-being and remaining on the same path that puts people in this unfortunate position for years –can be harsh too. Besides, I can say those words because I lived those self-inflicted struggles for years, until I heard a series of harsh words, in the form of a question from my first health and fitness coach nearly 15 years ago –“Can you afford not to?” Harsh or not, I needed to hear those words – and they played an integral role in turning my life around by first turning my health and well-being around.
Before that life-changing conversation, I didn’t want to believe I was neglecting my health and well-being because the excuses that ruled my life were more important than affecting positive change in my life – and I ballooned to nearly 250 pounds in the process.
Then my youngest son, Zachary, was born. The moment the nurse at the hospital put him in my hands was on my mind when that coach said those words that continue to resonate in my mind to this day, and I finally did something about it. It changed my life for the better.
A big part of what I do with clients is help them build a level of self-awareness on facets of their lives they previously ignored or took for granted. It starts with their health and well-being, because once we take control of the most precious commodity we have, we can take control of other facets of our lives. The way we do one thing is the way we do everything.
Over time, that improved level of self-awareness allows them to maintain a more positive perspective on life — because they’re focused on solving the problem at hand, not lamenting it.
Actually, doing the physical work grows simple once we reach that point in our lives, and that mindset grows stronger as we see the progress we’re making day after day.
It may be called physical fitness, but it’s much more mental and emotional than physical. We need to do the work on our mental and emotional well-being, because that clears the path to doing the work we need to do and accomplish the goals we want to accomplish.
If you would like to learn more about improving your mindset and taking control of your health and well-being, 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.
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).
health issues brought 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
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, 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
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
Ireland’s Most Exciting Young Tenor with a golden voice
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025
7:30 PM
One of the most dynamic modern dance ensembles of our time
SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2025
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025 7:30 PM
An uproariously funny, comedy dog spectacular
SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2025
2:00 PM + 7:00 PM
Main Attractions Season Tickets On Sale Now. www.Th alianHall.org
FISHING REPORT
March Fishing Report
As Temperatures Warm, Fishing Heats Up
BY CAPTAIN STEELE PARK
Well,
February is over, and winter should be as well. It’s been a brutal one, with frigid conditions, wind, wind, and more wind. We did not get many days of fishing due to the weather, and when we did, we were met with cold water. The good news is that spring is right around the corner, and the fishing should pick up very quickly.
Inshore
Red drum are the best game in town right now. The water is still on the chilly side, so look for the drum to be schooled up on the flats and in the backs of creeks at midday, taking advantage of shallow, warm water. You can use soft plastics, fresh shrimp, or a quartered blue crab to catch them. A quiet approach and long, accurate casts will greatly improve your odds of getting a bite when you spot a school of fish. Work the bait very slowly. In many cases, you will see the fish approach your bait, making it much easier to hook your catch. I like to use soft plastics in bright colors, such as electric chicken, because they are easier to see in the water.
With the trout season closed, we are giving them a break to recover, but they are still around, just moving slowly. Look for trout in deep holes of feeder creeks and use baits like Vudu shrimp or paddle tail
baits to entice a bite.
The whiting will also be showing up this month. This is a super fun fishery that does not take a lot of planning or effort to be successful, and they are absolutely delicious to eat. Some of the best spots are on the north side of the river channel near Bald Head Island. Look for the deep sloughs that dump into the river channel and anchor there. A simple two-hook drop rig with a two-ounce pyramid weight, cut shrimp, and small, long-shank hooks are all you need. As the month progresses and the water warms up, fishing should improve, and we expect to see the first flounder of the year. Rumor has it that we will be getting a flounder season this year, but it remains to be seen when and how long it will last. Fingers crossed!
Nearshore
Finally, there’s something to report here. When the water hits 60-65 degrees, we will see our first Spanish mackerel of the year. Troll small Clarkspoons behind a #1 or #2 planer with 25-30 feet of 20# fluorocarbon. You can also cast diamond jigs on light spinning tackle if you see schools of fish jumping and feeding. Last year, we had an exciting showing of Atlantic bonito, and all indications suggest we should see them again this year in March. You can catch them using the same techniques as Spanish mackerel. The key is knowing where to find them. In my experience, they generally hold a little deeper than the Spanish. Places like Yaupon Reef, McGlamery Reef, and Lighthouse Rocks typically produce good catches, with the best fishing being first thing in the morning.
Offshore
The black sea bass fishing can be nothing short of spectacular in March. They can be found in solid numbers and large sizes in 55-80 feet of water. Using a two-hook chicken rig with cut squid will give you all
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
the action you want.
Big chomper bluefish can be found at Frying Pan Tower. These fish are super fun to catch on light spinning tackle and will eat just about anything you throw at them. We love to mix it up and throw topwater plugs — because who doesn’t love seeing fish explode on topwater baits? You can use Zara Spooks, poppers, or anything in between to catch them.
Vermillion snapper will be holding on rock piles and ledges in 80-100 feet of water. Just like the sea bass, a simple chicken rig with cut squid will do the trick. When the water temperature hits 68-72 degrees, we should start seeing some king mackerel offshore, though that’s usually a little later in the month.
Gulf Stream
This is the transition time for the Gulf
Stream. While fishing can be good, you can also go out there and find less-than-ideal trolling conditions. Typically, in March, blackfin tuna fishing is excellent. There are a few wahoo around, but the tuna fishing is on fire. Pulling small ballyhoo on 50-60# fluorocarbon, cedar plugs, and tuna feathers fished way back will get you lots of action. Spring is in the air, and we are on the verge of some fun fishing, as well as mild to warm days. I cannot wait! This fisherman is headed to the Bahamas in mid-March and I’ll be there through April. We still have some dates available if you want to experience some amazing nearshore blue marlin action. While I will still do a local fishing report next month, I will also touch on what we’re up to down south—hopefully with some pretty cool action shots. Get out there and enjoy the spring!
Art Beat
Fat Cat Pottery Pottery Adds Brunswick County Location
STORY BY CARLA EDSTROM
In 1998, potter Mary Holden-Hall established Fat Cat Pottery in Wilmington, quickly transforming it into a beloved community studio for ceramic artists. The studio soon evolved as a pottery supply retail store and an excellent membership-based studio that offered various pottery classes and workshops. This unique membership model allowed ceramic artists to access dedicated workspace, share ideas, and collaborate on projects, fostering a supportive community of potters. To this day, Fat Cat Pottery fills a need for local potters in Wilmington and surrounding areas who need local access to pottery supplies and ongoing classes. And now Fat Cat has expanded into Southern Brunswick County with a new studio in Sunset Beach.
In October 2023, after decades of running the studio, Mary retired, passing the torch of ownership to two passionate potters, Sarah Worley and Stephanie Bennett. These two women were no strangers to Fat Cat. Sarah was born and raised in Wilmington and joined Fat Cat Pottery as a member in 2012. After a brief hiatus to homeschool her children during the pandemic, Sarah returned to her pottery practice, realizing how much she missed creating art with clay. Her dedication and love for the craft led her to take on a part-time job at Fat Cat Pottery, ultimately paving her way
to become a co-owner.
Stephanie, a retired hairstylist with a lifelong passion for functional pottery, moved to Wilmington in 1978. She began taking pottery classes as a hobby, drawn by her affection for collecting beautiful, handcrafted pottery. Her skills evolved, and she found fulfillment in working as a studio technician and membership coordinator, ensuring members had the resources and support they needed to grow as artists.
Before becoming business partners, Sarah and Stephanie collaborated as employees at Fat Cat Pottery, combining their strengths in administration and studio management. Their complementary skills and shared vision for the studio set the stage for their successful partnership. Together, they officially took ownership of Fat Cat Pottery in October 2023, ready to continue its legacy while infusing it with their unique perspectives and ideas for growth.
“We offer a wide range of classes from beginners to highly experienced artists to advance their skills,” said Stephanie. “Classes are five-week sessions one day a week for three hours. They include clay, tools, and glazing. All students will end the session with functional pottery they can be proud of creating. Fat Cat Pottery hosts a variety of workshops as well, from facial sculpting to birdhouse building and everything in between,” she said. “Fat Cat
Pottery offers 24-hour access to our experienced members. We currently have 65 members who create in clay. Some members are production workers, and some just like to create in a stress-free, fun environment. We offer general public firing services for artists with home studios without access to a private kiln.”
As the number of potters in the area, including Wilmington and Brunswick County, has grown, so has the need for supplies and classes. “Fat Cat Pottery is proud to have our new Seaside location (at 1641 Seaside Rd SW). We have often been asked about having a location in south Brunswick County. In November 2024, we opened a small retail store and a working membership studio. We have been thrilled with the response. This location also has a 24hour studio. Our plans in 2025 are to host ceramic workshops throughout the year, with most of them being three-day advanced classes, including throwing bigger pots, altering, surface design, and slip
design,” she said.
“Fat Cat Pottery’s retail store on Blue Clay Road in Wilmington has everything ceramic artists need or want. We currently carry brands like Amaco, Mayco, Spectrum, and Laguna glazes. Kemper, Mudtools, Xiem, Garrity, Etched Earth, GR Forms, and Stan Simmons tools. Our clay choices are Standard Ceramics and Laguna. If there is something you need that we don’t carry, we will be happy to order it for you. We also carry pottery equipment, to include Skutt and L & L Kilns. Shimpo and Pacifica potters’ wheels. We do offer services for the repair of kiln and wheels.”
2025 is gearing up to be a fabulously creative year for Fat Cat Pottery!
Mark your calendars for these fantastic workshops:
•Karen Godwin & Stan Simmons Intermediate Throwing and Slip Design, May 17-18
•Brian Evans Altered Forms, June 20-22
•Steve Kelly Surface Design and Glaze Work, July 11-13
•POT FEST! Nov 1
•Melissa Russel Throwing and Altered Forms Workshop, Seagrove Tour, and even more special events throughout the year!
The owners and staff of Fat Cat Pottery enjoy working with and supporting the pottery community. They strive to keep the art of ceramics growing through education, offering space to create and tools to keep the artists going strong.
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.
What is 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 results. 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 a good putting path..
If 85 percent of the initial ball direction off the putter face is due to putter face, then 15 percent is due to putter path. Does the player make a stroke that moves too much away or toward himself during impact? Too much away (push) or too much toward (pull) sends the ball off on the wrong initial line, and as accurate as one needs to be within several feet of the hole, getting the ball started on the correct line is pretty paramount, part of the challenge of the game!
Often times mis-aim (aiming too far to the side and then pulling the ball back to the target) and ball position have a direct negative impact on the path. Check with set-up keys first, that’s low-hanging fruit… check aim, body alignment, ball position, swing center/eyes and other factors together with a coach or training tool. I like using an Eyeline Golf small putting mirror to check that eyes are over the ball or slightly inside the ball line depending on the players’ preference.
I once had a young student playing in a
regional qualifier whose Dad was caddying for her while I caddied for her older sister. On one hole we passed and he said she was pulling every putt today. Later, I asked how she was doing and the dad said she was making everything! I said not to change anything as she had found out that day how to match what she saw with her swing and was able to drop a lot of putts that way! (She ended up qualifying) Plan A always there but as we know, golf can quickly shift to plans B, C and others!
Some players like a straight-backstraight-through swing in which the putter head stays on the putting line and the hands arc (mallet style putters). Some like a slight arc in which, as the golfer rotates around his or her center, the putter head moves in a slight arc inside the putting line, returns just inside the putting line back to the top of the arc and then follows through just inside the putting line in the finish (putter face stays perpendicular to the arc but looks open and closed to the target line). That’s how I putt. Others have a very large arc and use putters that look more like a field hockey stick, the putters have more toe flow. It depends on a person’s style.
The SAM Putt Lab data shows a person if he or she is close or really off on path and then can check set-up and motion goals.
Two of my favorite path drills are as follows:
1)Yardstick Putting: Get a metal yard-
stick and place the ball at one end of the yardstick. How far can you roll your putt up the yardstick before it falls off to the side? Set and beat your record. Can you get a ball to actually roll straight off the other end of the yardstick? It’s hard! Make some rehearsal swings and notice if you’re using your chest or your hands more, the goal is the least amount of wasted and unnecessary motion with this quiet skill that precision. You can see this drill on my website under
Media Videos or my YouTube channel.
a.How many out of 10 can you roll off the end of the yardstick?
b.How many in a row is your career record rolling off the end of the yardstick?
2)Putting Track or Rail: I like using the Eyeline Golf Edge Rail (70 degrees for slight arc or 90 degrees for straight-backstraight-through) to have students learn what it feels to keep the putter literally on the correct path. I have students start with no golf ball, just to feel the putter heel scrape/swing constantly against the track. Then we introduce the ball with the same swing in which the putter stays on the track back and forth and stays on the track at the ending (I don’t like seeing the putter head come off from the track at the end). Then we move half an inch away from the track with the putter heel and see if the student can maintain the swing on his or her own without guidance from the track. If I hear the Gong Show with putter heads clanking against the track during the swing, I know we’re not on track! Feel free to check out Eyeline Golf through my website under Products.
Eyeline Golf small putting mirror
HISTORY
The Confederate Navy
Cape Fear Civil War Round Table Meeting
STORY CONTRIBUTED
The next meeting of the Cape Fear Civil War Round Table, now celebrating its 30th year of operation, is Thursday evening, March 13, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Midtown Wilmington near Independence Mall. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the meeting begins at 7:00 pm. Members and friends are welcome.
Our speaker will be Sion Harrington III, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel with service from 1970 to 2009. He had service on active duty, and in the reserves and National Guard, including assignments in Grenada and Bosnia. He is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and holds a masters in history from N.C. State. He worked as a teacher, ROTC instructor and military collection archivist with the NC Division Historical Resources. He is also the vice president of the N.C. Military Historical Society, which operates a very interesting and educational museum on the grounds of the Blakeslee Air Force Recreation Area in Kure Beach, near the Fort Fisher State Historic Site.
A native of Erwin, N.C., a small town in Harnett County about halfway between Raleigh and Fayetteville, Si is a lifelong student of history and has dedicated years of concentrated study and
effort to documenting the history of the military in North Carolina and the history of Erwin and Harnett County, including the Civil War battle of Averasboro, fought just before the battle of Bentonville. He is the author of numerous articles and the book-length Roster of North Carolinians in Confederate Naval Service.
Si has noted that “Perhaps the best way to describe this roster is by explaining what it is not. As hard as I tried to make it so, I cannot claim it is a comprehensive list of all North Carolinians who served the Confederacy on, or near, the water. It is this author’s humble attempt to document a group of men all too often under appreciated and superficially treated by historians of the conflict. North Carolina men and boys serving in the land forces were well documented by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources’ on-going multi-volume series ‘North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster.’ The fact that North Carolina naval personnel had no such annotated roster was sufficient justification for me to develop such a roster. It is my hope that by preserving and publishing the names and such service information as could be found that the Tar Heels who served the Confederate naval service may receive the recognition they so richly deserve.”
daunting opponent in the industrialized North, and nowhere was that more apparent than on water. The Confederacy began the war without a single warship to its name.
It was clear that to win, the Confederacy had to industrialize, which it was able to do…to some degree. In the effort to industrialize, the South took advantage of and initiated revolutionary changes that were occurring in naval warfare. The Confederacy would combat-test mines (torpedoes), submarines, semi-submersibles (Davids), and rifled cannon (Brooke guns) during the war. But the modern weapon in which the C.S. Navy initially placed its greatest faith was the armored ship, and by war’s end it had commissioned and put into action a veritable fleet of ironclads, 23 in all, with five in North Carolina waters, including the CSN Wilmington.
The Confederate ironclads were neither the first commissioned, the first in battle, nor the most advanced. The concept of iron-armored ships was well known by naval officials. French ironclad floating batteries had engaged Russian shore batteries during the Crimean War. And both Great Britain and France had commissioned powerful armored warships by the time the American Civil War broke out.
During the Civil War, the agricultural South faced a
about 168,000, it was the sixth largest city in the United States. Yet New Orleans was an outlier, one of a kind. The second largest city in the states that would secede from the Union was Charleston. With about 40,000 inhabitants, however, Charleston was only the 22nd largest city in the country. Richmond was 25th with about 38,000. So, of the 25 largest cities in the country, 22 were in the north. The 100th largest city in the country, Wilmington, was the largest city in North Carolina with almost 10,000 residents.
North Carolina had a total population of almost 1,000,000 people in 1860 but about 332,000 were enslaved African-Americans, many of whom escaped slavery during the Civil War and joined the U.S. Army or the U.S. Navy. Of all the states in 1860, North Carolina was 12th largest in population but it had a long coastline, the most extensive sounds anywhere in North America, and a strong maritime tradition. Some of the most intrepid and notable figures in Confederate naval history were from North Carolina. To hear more about their story, come join us as we listen to Si Harrington’s presentation. Take advantage of the relaxed atmosphere of the Cape Fear Civil War Round Table to ask questions and discuss his book with the author.
Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory, aware of the South’s deficiencies in warship construction, attempted to obtain armored vessels in Europe. Despite efforts by various naval agents, only one—the Stonewall—reached Confederate hands, but the war ended before she saw any action. Hampered by chronic shortages of iron and a dearth of manufacturing facilities for steam power plants, Confederate ironclads were almost always underpowered and unfit for service on the high seas. They usually ended up being dedicated to harbor defense where they often played an important role.
The South’s largest city in 1860 was the metropolitan port city of New Orleans. With a population of
As usual, the meeting will be held in Elebash Hall in St. John’s Episcopal Church. Enter at the rear of the church, which is located at 1219 Forest Hills Drive in Wilmington. The church parking lot, close to the entrance to the meeting room, is easily accessed via Park Avenue off of Independence Boulevard. Doors open at 6:30 pm and there is ample time to talk to other members of the round table. Ask a friend to come along and find out more about the round table. There is no cost for admission. For information about membership, go to our website at http://cfcwrt.org and click on “Join”.
See you there!
Smithville Tavern
Civil War Round Table Ladies Forum
STORY CONTRIBUTED
The Civil War Ladies’ Forum, sponsored by the Brunswick Civil War Round Table, eagerly anticipates its upcoming annual meeting on Monday, March 10, featuring guest speaker Mary Duffy, Smithville tavern owner. Actually, Mary is Liz Fuller, president of the Southport Historical Society, who will portray Mary in her Civil War period dress. The meeting will be held in Murrow Hall at Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport, across from the U.S. Post Office.
Mary Duffy was a widow who was well known in what was then Smithville during the 1800s. In fact, her only grandson fought for the Confederacy during the war. Since Smithville was a rather small fishing village on the Cape Fear River at the time, you can only imagine the stories she
has to tell on any number of subjects. To make a long story short, she has a wealth of stories, and some little known secrets, about life’s trials and tribulations during the War of Southern Independence. During those war years, she and her friends experienced numerous frustrations,
hardships, and importantly, the unknown. With all these pent up facts and emotions, she is eager to share with her audience, the spirit, resolve, and determination these women of Smithville experienced.
Liz is a popular local historian who is a frequent speaker at local historical and civic organizations on a wide variety of topics relating to Southport’s history. She is known for her ability to foster a more intimate connection to the past by highlighting the lives of everyday people within the context of larger historical events, the Civil War era being an important one. With her vast knowledge, she frequently writes guest columns and articles on Southport history in The State Port Pilot. In addition, she is the author of the recently published book, “Southport’s Secret Suffragist: The Story of Anna Alena Clemons.”
In addition, the evening’s program will also feature Carolee Morris. She has a keen interest in history, including graduate studies as well as oratorical and speaking contests. She will be reading a selection from Mark Twain’s “Tom Sawyer.” The selected story, its time frame, subject matter,
and Twain’s inimitable humor will be a complement to Liz Fuller’s presentation.
The program will take place from 6-8 pm and is a free event for all women members of the Brunswick Civil War Round Table. There is a $5 fee for guests, which can be applied toward the $25 annual membership dues to the Round Table. For more information, or to make a reservation, please contact us at Brunswickcwrt@ gmail.com.
History
Weaponizing Food
March Brunswick Civil War Round Table
STORY CONTRIBUTED
During the Civil War, “weaponizing food” referred to the strategic use of food as a tool of war. This involved tactics aimed at disrupting the enemy’s food supply, thereby weakening their forces and undermining their war effort. Many tactical options became reality, like simply cutting off enemy supply lines; foraging and raiding farms and businesses; using scorched earth tactics by destroying crops and livestock; or, surrounding cities or fortifications to cut off access to food supplies.
In essence, weaponizing led to hunger, malnutrition and suffering, leading to overall deteriorating battle morale and effectiveness on both sides. This brief description leads us to an even more comprehensive and rarely discussed Civil War topic when returning guest speakers Judkin Browning and Timothy Silver delve into this topic entitled, “Weaponizing Food: From Antietam to Vicksburg” at the Tuesday, March 4 meeting of the Brunswick Civil War Round Table at Hatch Auditorium on Caswell Beach.
From the fall of 1862 through the summer of 1863, faced with the prospect of a starving army, Gen. Robert E. Lee made the decision to invade the North, resulting in the Battle of Antietam, a strategic victory for Federal forces that helped turn the tide of war in favor of the Union. The desire to acquire more food also motivated Lee to launch a second invasion of the North in the summer of 1863, leading to the defeat at Gettysburg. In July 1863, food (or the lack thereof) played a crucial role in the siege of Vicksburg, a city many thought was impregnable.
Meanwhile, across the South, the Union
D. Reed Memorial Award for Outstanding Writing on the Southern Environment conferred by the Southern Environmental Law Center. He currently teaches courses focused on the environmental histories of areas, including the South and Southern Appalachia, as well as national and state parks.
blockade, foraging armies, and loss of farmland left civilians struggling to avoid starvation as they faced shortages and soaring prices for staples like flour and bacon. By the end of summer, 1863, fully one-third of the Confederacy’s farmland had been occupied by Federal forces, dramatically reducing the southern food supply. The South’s continuing focus on cash crops only added to the crisis. In contrast, agricultural production in the Midwest (untouched by war) boomed, and advances in technology and distribution techniques made the Union army the best fighting force in history. As summarized by guest speakers Browning and Silver, “it might well be said that food, as much or more than military strategy, decided the outcome of the Civil War.”
Dr. Judkin Browning is Professor of Military History, and serves as the Director of Appalachian State University’s Master of Arts in History degree program. He is a prolific writer, editor, and author of three books, including “An Environmental History of the Civil War,” published in 2020. He is currently working on projects that ex-
plore North Carolina deserters during the Civil War, as well as the long-term effects of battles on soldiers and their families and communities. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida State University, earned his M.A. in public history from North Carolina State University, and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.
Dr. Timothy Silver holds a Ph.D. from the College of William and Mary. He is another prolific author, as well as an award-winning author given by the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, and the Phillip
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 via ZOOM, 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 informative website at Brunswickcivilwarroundtable.com, or the Facebook page for additional information, news, and updates.
FIVE-STAR EXPERIENCES
At Dosher Memorial Hospital, that is exactly what you can expect.
As one of only eight hospitals in North Carolina to earn a 5-star rating for patient experience from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, we know that care is about more than the high quality, high tech services we provide. It’s also about making patients feel valued, respected and supported from the moment they walk through our doors.
We are your community hospital, and we will always work to provide you with extraordinary care, close to home.
CALENDAR
You’ll notice this month’s Calendar is bigger and carries more information from all of Brunswick County. We publish three magazines — Leland Magazine, Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine, and Southport Magazine. We love collecting details about all the of the fun events from all across our county and thought that everyone in the county, no matter which magazine they read, should be able to see all of the opportunities our community offers. We hope you’ll find something unexpected in this month’s Calendar and we really encourage you to hop in the car and go to something you’ve never experienced before.
March
We’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 register in person at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way
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 Ocean Drive on Oak Island.
MARCH 4
Blood Drive — Palmetto Creek
The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive, 10 am to 3 pm at the Palmetto Creek Club House, 1195 Palmetto Creek Way, Bolivia. Donors should sign up online at redcrossblod.org. Visit the site to find out more about the critical need for blood and if you’re eligible to donate.
MARCH 4
Brunswick Civil War Round Table
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 5
Wine, Women and Chocolate — Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce
Chocolate, wine and plenty of local vendors featuring their goods and services. There are also lots of raffle items, and did we mention there’s chocolate? This well-attended fundraiser for the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce is 5:30-7:30 pm at Sea Trail Resort & Convention Center, 75 Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach. Tickets are $50 and include one drink ticket and one raffle ticket; visit https://form.jotform. com/243453840205148
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 8
Contra Dance — Leland
This is an active social dance open to dancers of all abilities. The evening starts with a beginner’s lesson at 7 pm. Tickets available through the Town of Leland, and the dance will be at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way.
MARCH 11
The Making of Aila’s Journal — Harper library
The Southport Historical Society, 2nd Tuesday Talk is “The Making of Aila’s Journal.” The talk features author and SHS member Charlie Clemmons, who notes that his book “Aila’s Journal: A Tale of Southern Reconstruction” is a work of introspection, with a primary purpose of encouraging the examination of history’s relevance to today’s values. Charlie will present the results of his historical research on the Reconstruction Era and how that actual history served as a backdrop for the tale in the novel. The talk is at 10 am at the library, 109 W. Moore St. Call 910-457-6237 to reserve your seat.
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 14
Kayak Adventures — Eagles Island Paddle along Sturgeons Creek to Eagles Island and then go exploring. The Eagles Island trek is scheduled for 2-4:30 pm and the fee is $60.
MARCH 14
Community Outreach: Bunny Trail “Campsites” — Northwest District Park
Activity- and engagement-based stops for participants to play games or activities, engage with community groups, and gather eggs, candy, or prizes in their baskets. Businesses and organizations who wish to host a campsite can learn more below and complete the interest form online at townofleland. com. The fun starts at 5 pm, 1937 Andrew Jackson Hwy (U.S. 74), Leland.
MARCH 15
Spring Into Health
Join the Brunswick Wellness Coalition for its annual 5k/1 mile run, walk, stroll, or whatever you do to get moving. All ages, skill levels and abilities are welcome to participate. It’s the Ides of March, and Roman toga attire is encouraged. The run kicks off at 9 am at Dosher Memorial Hospital (924 N/ Howe St., Southport). Visit brunswickwellness.org to register your team.
MARCH 18
Wild Wetlands Lecture — Leland
Learn more about the creatures that live in our wetlands how they can be protected. The lecture is at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, 6-7 pm. The event is free, but seating is limited and online registration is encouraged.
MARCH 20
Business Expo & Biz Breakfast Series
The Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce hosts this annual event, featuring lots of local businesses and highlighting services and products available. The event starts with a breakfast featuring keynote speaker Karen Barefoot (Director of Business Development – Champion of Strategic Planning) from 8-10 am. The Expo is 10 am to 4 pm at Sea Trail Convention Center, 75A Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach.
MARCH 22
Book Sale — Friends of the Leland Library
Find some great new-to-you books at this used book sale hosted by the Friends of the Leland Library. The sale is
9 am to 3 pm at the Leland Library, 487 Village Road. Prices start at 10 cents for children’s books, 50 cents for paperbacks and $1 for hardcover books. Visit friendsofthelelandlibrary.com for more information about the group or to become a member. The group helps support the summer reading program and special purchases for the library.
MARCH 22
Lend a Hand Leland
This community-side day of service brings together individuals and organizations to make a positive impact in the community. Projects will be completed from 8-11 am; visit https://www.town-
ofleland.com/lendahand to register for a project.
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 22
Birding at Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve
Explore nature with a guide who will lead participants along a trail, point out various bird species, share facts about their appearance and behaviors, and offer tips on birdwatching techniques including birding by ear. Supplies needed: binoculars, comfortable walking shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing. These trails are in nature preserves, meaning they are not paved. Participants should be able to navigate uneven terrain. The program is 10-11:30 am, and the registration fee is $10.
MARCH 27
Southport Historical Society General Meeting
All are welcome to attend the Southport Historical Society General Meeting, held at 6:30 pm at the Southport Community Building, 223 E. Bay St. Join SHS members Tom Milner and the Southport Shanty Crew as they explore the rich and diverse music of the Civil War era. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how music influenced the experiences and morale of both those on the frontlines and those on the home front!
MARCH
28
Youth Arts Celebration — Leland
Magician Michael Mario’s family friendly “No Sleeves Magic” takes center stage from 7-9 pm at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way. The evening also includes awards presentation for the 2025 Youth Arts Month. Tickets are $15.
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.
MARCH 29
Pyrates Parlay — Sea Trail
The Brunswick Arts Council hosts this fundraiser with plenty of pirates, mermaids, music, food and more. Pirate costumes are encouraged, and there will even be a costume contest. The parlay is 5-9 pm at Sea Trail Resort & Convention Center, 75 Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach. Tickets are $100; visit https://www.brunswickartscouncil.org.
MARCH 29
Oak Island Beach Preservation Society
Wine Tasting
It’s an afternoon of “Grape Expectations” for the group, 2-5 pm at 801 Ocean Events Center on Oak Island (810 Ocean Drive). There will be hors d’oeuvres and selected wines from local vendors. The event also features a silent auction. Tickets are $55 and are available at The Grape & Ale, 8521 E. Oak Island Drive. Proceeds from the event will be used for education and community engagement for beach protection and enhancement.
MARCH 29 &APRIL 29
Frog Watch Volunteer Training
Learn how to help FrogWatch USA keep track of the frog populations. Training is 10 am to 4 pm on March 29 and 10 am to 1 pm on April 5; training is held at the LCAC, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland. Participants will learn how to identify specials by their sounds. Youth volunteers must be registered with a guardian.
MARCH 29-30
Sea Notes Spring Concert
The Sea Notes Choral Society per-
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!
Thank you!
The NC Rice Festival returns to the Brunswick Town State Historic Site on March 8
CALENDAR
form “Celebrating Spring, Celebrating Life,” with songs to help us welcome our next season. Performances are at 3 pm at Odell Williamson Auditorium, on the campus of Brunswick Community College, 150 College Road NE, Bolivia.
APRIL 1
Brunswick Civil War Round Table
Sarah Bierle, researcher, author, and managing editor of Emerging Civil War will present “John Pelham: Trained at West Point but Aiming Artillery for the Confederacy.” As an artillery officer, he was instrumental in creating the concept of horse artillery. 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 for non-members but can be applied to $25 annual membership dues.
APRIL 5
Community Yard Sale — Belville
Belville residents can do a little spring cleaning and sell gently-used housewares, books, clothing, toys, etc. (no crafts). Register at https://belvillepr. recdesk.com/Community. The sale is 7 am to noon at Riverwalk Park, 580 River Road SE.
APRIL 12
America 250th: Women of Brunswick — Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson
Enjoy living history demonstrations that focus on the women who worked and lived at the Port of Brunswick. Get a chance to see what their life was like and dive into a new perspective of our local history. This is a free event for all ages, 10 am to 4 pm at the historic site, 8884 Saint Philips Road SE, Winnabow (off NC 133).
APRIL 12
Kiwanis Club Duck Derby
The Kiwanis Club launches this fundraising event, Dinah E. Gore Sports & Aquatics Complex at Brunswick Community College in Bolivia. Ducks are $5 each or five for $20, and the racing starts at 1 pm. A maximum of 2,500 ducks will be sold, and there will be awards of
$500 to the winning duck, $250 to the second-place finisher, $100 for third, and a “lame duck” prize of a $25 gift card will be given to the duck that finishes last. Proceeds will benefit the Kiwanis Club programs, which focus on helping children in Brunswick County.
APRIL 19
18th Century Easter Litany — Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson
Celebrate Easter with a period Anglican service in the ruins of St. Philips Church. Visitors will be welcomed to the site starting at 6:45 am, and the service begins at 6:45 am. Seating is not provided, but attendees may bring their own chairs. The site will remain open until 5 pm.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Odell Williamson Auditorium
150 College Road NW, Bolivia (Brunswick Community College)
March 1 — The Brothers Doobie - A Tribute to the Doobie Brothers
March 31 — The U.S. Navy Band Tour
Visit https://bccowa.com/.
Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
701 N. Third St., Wilmington
March 4-5 — The Addams Family musical
March 7-8 — Champions of Magic
March 14 — The Righteous Brothers
March 15 — The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra presents Bernstein, Copland, and Torke
March 21-23 — The Book of Mormon
March 25 — Lila Downs
March 26 — “The Simon & Garfunkel Story”
March 30 — The Golden Girls North American Tour
April 11 — Iron & Wine, American singer-songwriter Sam Beam
April 14 — Our Planet Live, a natural history speaker series featuring Sophie
Lanfear
April 15 — Beth Hart
April 21 — “Clue,” part of the PNC Broadway series
April 25 — Larry the Cable Guy
Visit https://wilsoncentertickets.com for more information.
Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut St., Wilmington
March 6 — Tenor Emmet Cahill
March 9 — New Orleans Songbook, a Jazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS production
March 13 — Paul Taylor Dance Company
March 15 — Canines and comedy collide in “Mutts Gone Nuts: Unleashed”
March 27 — Comedy with Billy D. Washington
March 28 — Bluegrass Bash
April 4-13 — Thalian Community Association presents “Mary Poppins”
April 10 — Comedian Darren Carter
Check https://www.thalianhall.org/ calendar for more information.
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 meets 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 March Deep Dive Into History program is March 29, 10 am to 3 pm. Visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.com to register for special programs.
Historic Bike Tours in Southport Tour historic Southport on bike with the Adventure Kayak Company, Inc. Tours can be for parties of four or more. Call 910-454-0607 or visit www.theadventurecompany.net.
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.
Franklin Square Art Gallery
The Gallery is open 10 am to 4 pm Monday through Saturday and can be found at 130 E. West St., next to Franklin Square Park.
First Friday Gallery Walk — Southport
The First Friday Gallery Walk is 5-7 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.
Bingo at the Elks Lodge — Oak Island
Bingo games are on the second and fourth Tuesdays at the Lodge, 106 E. Dolphin Drive, Oak Island. Games are
CALENDAR
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 6:30 pm. Snacks and drinks available for purchase (cash or checks only). Progressive Jackpot and winner take all coverall.
Battleship North Carolina — near Leland
Tour the USS NORTH CAROLINA and participate in group programs and special programming throughout the year, such as Memorial Day observances, Battleship 101 (March 8), Hidden Battleship for a behind-the-scenes tour (March 22) 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
Shop for produce, ice cream, and fresh seafood, seasonings and all things related to seafood, with the beautiful backdrop of the Brunswick River. Hours are Fridays 11 am to 5:30 pm; Saturdays 10 am to 5:30 pm; and Sundays 10 am to 4 pm. The market re-opens in midMarch.
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site
8884 St. Philips 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. Touch tank feedings are 11 am to noon on Thursdays.
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. Visit https://museumplanetarium.org/ingram-planetarium/ to see the show schedule, including special holiday shows.
Leland
Library
487 Village Road NE
Baby storytime is at 10 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Pre-K and older storytime is at 11 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
4th Friday Art Market
Shop among 30-plus vendors, eat, dance and enjoy spending time with friends and neighbors at this monthly market next to Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar (1175 Turlington Avenue, in Brunswick Forest). The market is open from 4-8 pm.
Town of Leland/Parks & Recreation
Check out https://www.townofleland. com/parks-recreation-and-cultural-resources for more information on classes and programs, including starting an art journal, pottery, gardening, writing creative nonfiction, acting, dance and more.
Wilmington River Tours
212 S. Water St., Wilmington
Tour the beautiful Cape Fear River and learn more about the area’s history and ecology. Sunset cruises include acoustic music Thursdays through Sundays! Tours are offered daily, to the north along historic downtown Wilmington, the USS North Carolina Battleship and Eagles Island on the even hours, and to the south under the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and past the shipyard on the odd hours; visit https://wilmingtonwatertours.net/ for schedules and to purchase tickets.
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.
