Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine

EDITOR

Jeffrey Stites

jeff@liveoakmediainc.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Lisa P. Stites

lisa@southportmag.com

LEAD DESIGNER

Liz Brinker

lcbgraphicdesign@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

Chuck and Sue Cothran

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Louise Sheffield-Baccarny

Carla Edstrom

Patricia Langer

Jan Morgan-Swegle

Joe Jancsurak

Lisa P. Stites

Jeffrey Stites

PUBLISHER & SALES

Jeffrey Stites

jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741

Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine is published once a month by

Live Oak Media, Inc

The opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of the staff.

Annual Subscription: $45

email jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741

Riding That Wave Into Summer

AsI drove around southern Brunswick County this month I recognized the old feeling I used to get each Spring when I was in the beer wholesale business — Summer Is Coming. Beach towns feel the approach of summer like other place do not. There’s a vibrance in the air and all the little signs that accompany the opening of The Season each year.

This will be Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine’s first summer and I couldn’t be more excited! We have so much to share and I can’t wait to be able to show our guests and locals how much fun summer is on the South Brunswick Islands Beaches.

This month you’ll read about Ocean Isle Beach’s two surf schools, hear a true American Dream success story from The Kitchen Man, and get to now our county’s Sheriff a little better as he enters his second year serving and protecting our community. And be sure to get out there and enjoy all the season has to offer — our events Calendar is full of ideas!

Community Catching The Waves

Two Surf Schools Spread The Love of Surfing

STORY BY LOUISE SHEFFIELD-BACCARNY, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Billabong, Body Glove, Rip Curl, Quiksilver and Rusty. In the 90s and early 2000s, if you had one of these stickers on your car then you were probably a surfer, and if you rode over to “check the waves” every day then you were probably pretty good at it.

In the summer, the beach is often a refuge from the heat and a place to gather with friends. If you’ve ever found yourself hanging by the pier, then you’ve surely noticed the surf crowd but the smell of sunscreen and Sex Wax will lead you to them either way. Whether paddling out yourself or just being a spectator of the sport, you’ll find yourself anxiously waiting for the next wave.

When you ask a surfer how it feels to ride a wave, most of the time they can’t even describe the thrill. With eyes closed and face illuminated, picturing themselves gliding on the water, you’ll eventually get an, “Ah, man, it’s amazing!” in response. That amazing feeling is exactly what OIB Surf Camp Owner/instructors Marty Mentzer and

Jesse McCrery want to give to others.

In the year 2000, Marty Mentzer was a Middle School PE teacher already leading a Surf Club at Shallotte Middle School called the Shallotte Shredders. He wanted to include more kids throughout the county and began holding a summer surf camp meeting at the West End water tower on Ocean Isle Beach. Local surf shops rented and sold surfboards and gave lessons, but Marty’s offering of a week-long camp has made OIB Surf Camp the longest running camp on Ocean Isle. Marty has been a competitive surfer since 1991 and still competes in the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA).

Surf students are taught water safety, surf etiquette and basic beginner skills, but in 2004 an advanced in-

struction class was added and taught by Jesse McCrery. Jesse, being a five-time East Coast Surf Champion, was able to work with kids who already knew how to surf but needed extra help with certain maneuvers or practice for contests.

When not doing camp, Jesse is also

a professional surfboard shaper (JM Surfboards) and can customize boards for all ages and sizes. He and Marty are both available for private lessons as well. Since the beach is so crowded now during the summer months, OIB Surf Camp has moved further west

and down in front of The Isles Restaurant. Jesse says that weeks do sell out so book now to secure your spot. Upon completion, students will receive a T-Shirt and a “SURFtificate”!

If you head east, you’ll find Carolina School of Surf meeting in front of the OIB Community Center. They accept students of all skill levels from beginner to intermediate and also advanced. From initially starting to feel comfortable in the water, your session will be tailored to your needs to help you reach the next level of surfing. Beyond basics of the sport, students will learn about ocean safety, surf Culture and participate in surf related activities. Owner/instructor Carston Allen has been teaching surf lessons at Ocean Isle for the last 12 years. Carston’s favorite parts of surf camp are getting to watch students catch their first wave, surfing with the students and showing them how to surfskate. “It’s always really exciting to see someone succeed for the first time. It never gets old, espe-

cially if you ride that same wave with them,” he said. Carston took over Carolina School of Surf after being an instructor with the company for a few years. The original owners were professional surf brothers, Michael and Ben Powell. The Powell brothers now own Drift Coffee and credit traveling to find great waves as their path for forming a love for coffee around the world.

For locals and vacationers alike, there are a couple options for summer surf camp. Sign your kids up now for a new, exciting adventure and let them see what it’s like to have their toes on the nose!

The Kitchen Man

The American Dream Come True

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES

It sounds almost too good to be true — teenaged immigrant moves to America, works hard from day one, finds love, raises a family, starts and grows a hugely successful small business and then thanks the community for his success by giving back. But for Chris Dabideen, aka The Kitchen Man, the story is true.

“I moved to New York City August 2001,” Chris said. “I wanted to go to college, I wanted to do something like railroad engineering. So my momma came, found me a place to live, and she went home and I was supposed to work my way through college.”

He was just 17 years old and full of the American Dream.

“I got a job mixing concrete, then September 11 happened and everything just stopped,” he said. “Now I’m in a new place, I ain’t got no money and I gotta figure out what I’m gonna do.”

What he did was get to work, first in a grocery store, then for that store’s supplier. “Then across the street was an auto body shop and I got a job there detailing cars, and then that guy had a granite business and he was looking for employees, and he

gave me an opportunity. He asked if I wanted to work in the granite business and my first word were ‘What is that?’” he said.

“I said ‘Sure, I’ll give it a try,’ and that was 2008 and ever since then I’ve been in the granite business,” Chris said. “Granite was very difficult until I got into the kitchen business. The design part of it was really cool.”

Chris lived in Queens and Long Island, but never quite felt at home in New York.

“In about 2015 I got tired of living in New York, because I grew up in the Caribbean, everything was laid back, not a whole lot of traffic,” he said. “So in 2015, when I had my second kid, I was like ‘Man, I don’t want to live here no more. I just don’t want this busy pace of life.’

“My friend Henry and I got in a truck and drove the entire coast from New York to Florida. We looked at all of the towns and

Chris said besides being halfway between family in New York and Florida, our community reminded him of home.

“The people were different, the place was different, it was sunny, it was HAPPY,” he said. “People would talk to you. I went into a store to get gas and snacks and ended up having a 15-minute conversation about nothing. That’s just the way that people were and I really enjoyed that. That’s the way things are in Trinidad.”

stuff and then out of the blue, when I got here it was what I wanted.”

The Southern way of communicating was very familiar. “In Trinidad when you give directions you use landmarks. It was the same thing here. Nobody says street names, at least not the original people,” Chris said. “A lot of the words people use down here are the same, it’s really cool. Like cabinets referred to as cupboards, the faucet is called a spigot, the one in the kitchen is called a tap, so those words resonated a lot, because when you go to New York City you don’t hear that stuff. The Southern feel of it really made it feel like home.”

Chris said he lives in Topsail Beach, which

Chris Dabideen--The Kitchen Man himself

he described as a small, but growing community where you pretty much know everyone.

The Kitchen Man has ridden the wave of growth in the Cape Fear. “The first year I did Kitchen Man I had two employees and we did $250,000 in business. Today we have about 14 W-2 employees and we grossed about four and a half million last year. So in five or six years, it’s tremendously grown.”

The Kitchen Man is based in Winnabow on U.S. 17 but has expanded with three showrooms in Hampstead, Wilmington and Shallotte. Chris said the showrooms save people having to drive too far to see what The Kitchen Man offers.

When you stop into a Kitchen Man showroom, you’ll find material you’re not likely to see elsewhere.

“Last year, what I wanted to do was to bring in material that was very, very unique. You see the same material over and over

and there’s nothing wrong with it, but I wanted to give people a chance to see something different,” Chris said.

That difference is directly imported Brazilian granite. “We order direct from the quarry, from the guys who cut the material,” Chris said.

“The reason why I started importing directly from Brazil is that normal suppliers will just bring in what will sell, not things that are distinct,” he explained. “Like I have a couple off slabs out there that will sit there for a couple of months, even a year, then you get that one person who walks in and says ‘Holy crap, I absolutely love it!’ but the 300 people before him didn’t see the beauty of it. Everybody’s expression of creativity is different and that’s what granite does, and Brazil is one of the places you can find that— a lot of different colors, a lot of different density. I like to say it’s an expression of yourself.”

Each slab can weigh up to 3,000 pounds, and while they like to make use of as much as they can, The Kitchen Man puts design first. “One thing we do different here is we don’t skimp on using material,” Chris said. “We try to create patterns, and when you have patterns and veins and stuff, sometimes two thirds of the material gets wasted just to keep the veins going in the right direction.”

The parts of the slab not used for a project can become smaller pieces of another job, like table tops or vanities. The rest is recycled by a company in Wilmington where it’s ground up and used for things like driveways.

Chris can hold forth on any part of his business because he has learned each part himself. “I’ve learned every process in this business then delegated and trained em-

ployees, so that it’s easy to talk to them and relate to them when I’m creating ideas,” he said. “It’s easy to have great ideas, but when your carpenter shows up and you can’t relate to him, everything goes haywire. It’s good that I can do all of it. I can speak carpenter to the carpenter.”

Chris said people often ask him if The Kitchen Man is a franchise. “It’s not, it’s family organization.” He said. “It’s my wife and I, and I have three employees and their

spouses who work here. When we say it’s a family business, it’s a family business.”

When asked what came as a surprise as a small business owner, Chris laughs and talks about how he and his wife, Amanda, expected things to go.

“My wife’s going to hate me for this, but the whole point of starting a business was we can do three jobs a week and have time to go home and do all the fancy stuff she wants, but when we started the demand

This is the biggest machine of its kind in the United States. It cuts the granite pieces without raising any dust.

Biz Feature

for it was so good, people wanted more and more and more.” Chris said. “We went from my promise of two to three jobs a week and we’d have all the free time in the world to her working at the desk. Because I need some help.

“She enjoys it as much as I do, or at least so she says,” he said. “She’s a better salesman than I will ever be. She’s the one who taught me how to sell granite. Back in the day when I met her, the company we were working for, she was the manager of the

company. She used to be my boss. She runs the ship”

Chris and Amanda have four daughters, ages 16, 9, 8 and 4, and making time for family is important.

“We make time for everything,” Chris said. “And it’s the same with the employees when they have kids and stuff, that comes first. We’re never so busy we say you can’t attend a function for your kids. Family comes first in this place, we’ve always done

it that way.”

Chris tries to take care of his community as well as his employees, donating a thousand dollars a month to different local charities. “Giving back is a big thing in my family. You have to show appreciation for those who helped you along the way,” he said.

And every year since 2019, The Kitchen Man has donated turkey dinners for Thanksgiving. Chris puts out a call on social media and in advertisements looking for families in need of help, and everyone who asks gets a turkey dinner. The project has grown to close to a thousand turkeys each year, and takes the entire company to make it happen.

“We shut down work the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and for the next three days that’s all we do,” Chris said. “Delivering 1,000 turkeys is not an easy task.”

Chris said the favorite part of his work is meeting his customers. “I go to every job initially to meet the people and see what

they want,” he said. “And I leave an email address so customers can contact me and any time in the process.”

That process sometimes entails explaining that the kitchen his customers fell in love with on HGTV may not work for them in the real world.

“I get to be the dream killer, but I also get to be the person who can transform your imagination into what you want,” he said. “It’s a fun job…when everything goes right.”

Spring Fling Fair

Seaside United Methodist Fundraiser

STORY AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Seaside

United Methodist Church will host the Country Fair Spring Fling at the church, 1300 Seaside Road, Sunset Beach, on Saturday, May 18 from 8 am to 1 pm (rain date May 25). This year, for customer comfort, almost all of the events will be inside – temperature-controlled and weather-worry free.

Upon entering the church building shoppers will encounter a fabulous bakery section filled with delicious homemade goodies just like mom used to make. In the Fellowship Hall there will be tables and tables filled with a huge variety of housewares at rock-bottom prices. Look for baskets, dishes, pet supplies, small appliances, rugs, painting, knick-knacks, pottery and much, much more. Moving through the building, shoppers will have the opportunity to browse in our Better Buys; these are household items that are extra special and though still a bargain, priced higher than goods found in Housewares. Shoppers will also find a Crafting Corner, where hand-crafted items take center stage.  Tools, hardware and electronic items will also be avail-

able for sale. Right outside the church will be a tent for sporting goods and equipment. Want a bike?  We’ve got one, maybe two or three for you! Golf clubs? Absolutely! Look for fishing poles, tennis rackets, beach chairs and toys – really, anything to do with sports and leisure activities. Also outside will be a tent filled with garden items. We’ll have pots, gardening equipment, flags, birdhouses — lots of fun items to add interest to your home’s garden and lawn.

Of course, while shopping you might get hungry – we’ll have breakfast items and for lunch, including hot dogs! Our Welcome Desk will be staff to help anyone unsure of where to start, and friendly greeters will point you in the

Proceeds from the Country Fair go to Seaside’s Outreach Ministries at the local, state, national and international level. A few of the programs the church supports are the SUMC Food Pantry, Edge of the Field Free Store, Brunswick County Literacy Council, Beach House Recovery, Rainbow Covenant, UMCOR Disaster Relief, STARS Program, South Brunswick Interfaith Council, Habitat for Humanity, Emergency Aid Fund, Christian Recovery Center, Brunswick Family Assistance, Matthew 25 Ministries and many more. Your purchases positively impact these programs and help people here at home as well as farther afield. Please

mark your calendars now, as you will want to be the first in line to shop the treasures that will be awaiting you and in turn support necessary outreach programming.

right direction. There will also be blood pressure checks available at our health station inside the church.

May Fishing Report

As Water Warms, Fishing Heats Up

BY CAPTAIN STEELE PARK

Spring has sprung, but as is typical for our area, summer is already starting to muscle its way in, with temperatures outside having reached the mid to upper 80s as early as mid-April. The warmer weather and water temperatures have triggered increased activity among fish, which is why May, along with September and October, is a favorite among anglers in our area offering a wide range of opportunities inshore and offshore.

INSHORE

Inshore fishing during this time can be particularly rewarding as various species become more active in shallower waters. From snook and redfish to trout and flounder, there’s often a plethora of species to target, providing anglers with plenty of action and excitement. With water temperatures now in the high 60s to low 70s, we’ve started seeing the first flounder showing up in good numbers. Schools of small (peanut) pogies can be found in places like the marinas, wildlife boat ramp area and in the waterway. A quick cast net should catch you all

the bait you need to catch those flounder. For those wanting to use artificial bait, a variety of soft plastics rigged on a jib head will net results. Flounder are typically found along the docks on the Southport waterfront as well as holding on points and ledges along area creeks.

If it’s red drum you’re after, fresh shrimp on a Carolina Rig will produce results. This is also the time of year to catch them on topwater plugs first thing in the morning or late in the evening. Main creek channels that dump into the waterway or river are a good place to start, especially on a falling tide as those red drum will be stacked waiting on bait to get washed towards them.

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 910-620-9919

NEARSHORE

Nearshore action is hot and heavy with Spanish mackerel being the predominant catch. We had an exceptional April with an amazing showing of Atlantic bonito. This was one of the better years in recent memory for these delicious little tuna-like catches. If you are looking to catch Spanish mackerel, my recommendation is trolling a #1 or #2 planer with 30-feet of 20-lb fluorocarbon leader. Look for birds working in 10- to 30-feet and you will find the fish.

The first schools of menhaden (pogies) will show up on the beach in mid-May and with them will come the first beach run of king mackerel. Slow trolling live pogies at 1-3 mph near areas like Yaupon Reef and Ocean Crest Pier will provide some very exciting fishing. This first beach run of King Mackerel generally

million snapper) and as soon as the rig hits the bottom, reel it up 5-8 cranks since they generally suspend above the underwater structures.

In the Gulf Stream, the warm waters and favorable weather conditions make it an ideal time to venture out for an unforgettable experience. The Gulf Stream is renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and abundance of game fish. The waters are often teeming with activity as various species migrate or gather for spawning. Anglers can expect to encounter prized catches such as mahi-mahi, tuna, marlin, sailfish, and many others. Trolling ballyhoo on skirted rigs will yield bites from all of these fish. Early in the month, I still use wire leaders as there are still quite a few wahoo’s around but as the month progresses, I will generally switch over to fluorocarbon leaders throughout my spread. Blue/white, green/ yellow, black/blue, pink/white are some of the colors of the lures I’ve found to be most productive. Toward the end of the month, the mahis will spread out inshore of the Gulf Stream to 100-120 feet. When targeting mahi, don’t be afraid to stop inshore of the normal Gulf Stream spots. Often, I see folks running past the fish in their effort to reach a specific waypoint they are determined to fish. When running offshore, if you see a lot of flying fish, weed lines, and clear blue wa-

lasts for a week or two then the fish push out to 55-75 feet where they will remain for the season.

OFFSHORE

If you are itching to get offshore a few miles, check areas like the Shark Hole, Horseshoe, Jungle and Christinas Ledge for the king mackerel. May 1 also ushers in grouper season. Though we have a bit of a short season for gag groupers this year, there are several other varieties that you can target all season. For the grouper, a great place to look is on ledges, wrecks and rock piles in 90-110 feet. Start by catching some fresh pinfish on a Sabiki rig at the nearshore reefs and putting them down on a grouper rig to yield some exciting action. In those depths, using a 2-hook bottom rig with squid will catch lots of black sea bass and beeliners (ver-

FISHING REPORT

ter, try stopping to fish for a bit and you may find exactly what you are looking for – even 5-10 miles inshore of the “break.”

Some of my best days of fishing have been in 120 feet of water.

Finally, if you’re seeking the ultimate fight, push offshore of the break to 100 fathoms (600-ft) and chase blue marlin. This is about the only time of year these fish are around in big enough numbers to catch. Although a few blue marlin do get caught throughout the summer, May is absolutely the best time for this awesome battle. Trolling plugs with squid chain teasers and dredges out in the deep water will entice these sea monsters to bite and give you the experience of a lifetime.

So there you have it – I look forward to seeing you on the water and back at the docks with a boatload of fish to show off!

Community

It’s A Derby Party

South Brunswick Islands Women’s Club

STORY BY LISA STITES

It’s all about the Juleps and Jazz — and watching horses race the Derby, and some good food, fancy dresses and hats, and most importantly, a lot of money raised for local organizations that serve and support our community. It’s the General Federation of Women’s Clubs - South Brunswick Islands Women’s Club’s Juleps and Jazz derby party, and there are all sorts of ways to contribute. This annual Fund“racer” is set for Saturday, May 4, from 4-7:30 pm at The Brunswick Center, 101 Stone Chimney Road SE in Supply.

Club member Cindy Hewett is chairman of this year’s derby party, the ninth such event in person. Like many organizations, the Club held a virtual event during the pandemic years.

Last year’s event was a huge success, with the Club raising almost $65,000 to be awarded to local organizations. The list of groups the South Brunswick Islands Women’s Club supports is a long one, and includes the Food Pantry, the Brunswick Literacy Council, Brunswick Senior Resources Meals on Wheels, scholarship and school programs, and many others. The year, the group hopes to raise even more funds. Hewett said it’s the largest fundraiser the Club does, and that members have “been working like crazy” to bring it all together.

Last year, approximately 300 people attended. “It gives you the opportunity to get together with friends and help out the community,” Hewett said.

Tickets are $75 per person and include heavy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar with wine, beer, mint juleps and a special Jazzy Juleps, as well as a Bourbon tasting bar.

There will also be a silent auction and raffle.

“It’s going to be fun from the time you walk in until the time you leave,” Hewett said. “There will be live jazz, and a $500 raffle. You’ll purchase tickets and put them in the boxes for the horses you want to bet on. We’ll have win, place, and show. Those are really nice prizes.”

Attendees are also encouraged to wear festive spring attire and hats for the occasion, just like the real Derby. There will be awards for the Darling Deb hat and the Dashing Derbster — both determined by audience participation after the entrants do their best hat walks.

“The hats are fun. Those men that come out decked out in their attire can walk the hat walk too,” Hewett said. A third prize category for hats, open to everyone, is for the most creative.

“They come in their derby attire, with their spring frocks on and their hats,” Hewett said. “We’ve got some people that make their hats. We have some people who really love the derby.”

There will also be a live auction,

for some larger prizes, such as a week’s stay at the beach or maybe a catered dinner. The Club has lots of support from local businesses in offering prizes and financial contributions.

“Sponsorships are so important to the event. We’ve had some very generous folks in our community who have supported us every year,” Hewett said.

An online raffle — for bourbon — is also associated with the event. There are two ways to participate.

wc_derbyspirits24/items to purchase $5 raffle tickets for one of five bourbons, or purchase tickets through a Club member for a chance to win 10 bottles of bourbon! Winners will be announced during the event, but winners do not have to be present to win one of these raffles. The online raffle is open through May 3.

And no matter what is going on —the live jazz, silent or live auctions, announcing raffle win-

ners — it all comes to a stop to watch the Derby. The race is live streamed so everyone can cheer on their favorite horse.

“Our goal is that all the fun we’re having, we can put on pause to watch the race,” Hewett said. “We really put a lot of time and energy into putting this together. We want people to have a good time and be eager to come back next year.”

View the Facebook event page for a link to purchase tickets: https://www.facebook.com/ events/1400056054216186/?active_tab=discussion

Carolina Kite House

It’s A Perfect Time To Go Fly A Kite

STORY AND BY PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES

Our first thought when we heard that a kite shop was opening in our community was “Well, it’s about time!” Of course kites have been available in the local beach shops in a limited way, but it always struck us as odd that no one had opened a dedicated kite store. That all changed last year with the opening of Carolina Kite House in the Southport Commons shopping center. I was excited to visit when they opened and was expecting to be impressed by a bunch of colorful kites — and they are impressive — but what immediately caught my attention was a little balsa wood plane powered by a rubber band just like I used to trek to the local mall’s hobby store with my best friend to buy. Memories flooded back in the absolute best way. Carolina Kite shop is indeed a kite store, and they carry wind socks and flags as well, but it’s also well stocked with all the best sort of toys, the sort of toys that capture and nurture imagination and activity and getting outside in the sun and the breeze. It’s our newest local treasure and if you’ve not stopped in yet, you really should.

We spoke to Jamie Sorber, who, along with his wife Jenny, owns and operates the Carolina Kite House.

Can you describe what Carolina Kite House carries? It’s so much more than kites.

Absolutely!! You are correct. We have much more than just kites. In fact we carry many “wind powered” items to include windsocks, wind

chimes, spinners, children’s toys, garden and house flags.

When did Carolina Kite House open?

We opened our doors in November of 2023.

Can you tell us  a little about your backgrounds?

Jenny and I have adventured our entire lives. We have visited the world with our children. We share six children who are now thriving as adults in three different states.  Once our children became adults we looked for something to fill our time. We took some sailing lessons and have enjoyed that ever since. We love the power of the wind. The wind has such power. When we think about kite flying, it brings beauty, fun, and entertainment. When we think of sailing it

brings adventure, ability, and grace. We try to find the good in everything we are given.

What moved you to open a kite shop? Have you been a kite enthusiast?

When deciding how we could enhance an already amazing area of the country, we looked to our children. One of the toughest things to do as a parent of six is to be sure every-

one knows where Mom and Dad are. When our children were young (our youngest Jake who also assists in the day-to-day operations of the store was just 6 months old) we had taken a beach vacation. Our older children tended to sway with the sea waves and find themselves looking for us on shore. In order to ensure they knew where we were on the beach, we bought a Jolly Roger kite and attached it to our chairs. Our children were instructed to stay in front of the Jolly Roger to make it easier for us to keep track of their location and vice versa. To this day we still fly that kite each time we are at the beach. It was a great memory that we hope others will have the same chance to make.  Walking through your store brings me back to my childhood. How did you find all those little “throw back” toys? Those toys are fun aren’t they? We looked long and hard to be sure we had a great selection! The juggling balls take me back to my time in school where an English teacher challenged us to purchase a book from the book fair the school was hosting.

I found a book called “How to Juggle” that included juggling balls and accepted the challenge. Needless to say, the English teacher was not amused.

What is your favorite item you sell?

Of course the kites are our personal favorite. It is such a wonderful way to spend time on the beach. Why not take advantage of the warm breeze and paint the sky with color! Jenny stresses that she loves flying the microkites as she just opens the package, takes out the kite and it basically flies on its own.

What things have been the most popular?

It’s hard to say one particular item is more popular than another. Of course, in a kite store they are the number one seller. Diamond kites, Delta kites, stunt kites, character kites — you name it, they are all popular. Folks love to see the colors in the air!

What’s been the most surprising thing since you opened the store?

The amount of support in the local community! It is amazing to see so

many people gather and support local businesses in this area!

We live in a great place for kites. Any advice for novice kite flyers?  I couldn’t agree with you more. With such access to the coastline we have miles of beach to fly kites. We welcome beginner flyers all the time. If you have ever wanted to fly a kite and thought it might be a lot...you’d be surprised how simple it really is to fly single line kites. It’s really more about selecting a kite that represents your personality and colorful you feel.

Any plans for the future?

We are always planning for the future! Locally, we are looking for anyone interested in meeting as a group to fly kites. The group will be called the Cape Fear Kite Flyers and is just a way for kite flyers to connect with each other. The group will meet once or twice a month at some of our local beaches. No experience necessary and we are willing to provide instruction to any beginners. If anyone is interested they can contact us at the store or stop in and ask!

Carolina Kite House

Follow Carolina Kite House on Facebook!

Community Spring Plant Sale

Master Gardeners Share Their Expertise

STORY AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

The Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers of Brunswick County are sponsoring their annual Spring Plant Sale on Friday, May 3 from 9 am to noon (or until they sell out) at the Extension Botanical Garden greenhouse area located at the Government Complex, 25 Referendum Drive, behind Building N in Bolivia.

The sale will feature native phlox, salvias, coneflowers, and perennials. New selections include unusual irises and day lilies.  Flowering shrubs that are new to the sale include three varieties of difficult to find native azaleas. Beautiful tree varieties on sale include five varieties of three-gallon sized Japanese Maples. New offerings will be posted online at https://bcmgva.org.

While at the sale, please allow time to visit the Botanical Demonstration Garden just across the road where docents will be available to answer your questions.

Throughout the gardens you will see name tags with botanical and common names of the various specimens. These tags also contain QR codes that link to the Plant Toolbox maintained by NC State University. Just hold your phone’s camera over the code and a link to the plant’s description should pop up.

The Master Gardners are looking forward to a wonderful spring in Brunswick County and a fantastic Spring Plant Sale!

Soil Testing Info

The best first step toward having a beautiful garden and landscape is having your soil tested every couple of years. Homeowner/Residential Soil Kits are available for pick up on a table in front of the Extension Office doorways. Each soil test kit gives you three boxes for testing different areas of your yard and then you deliver them back, so they can be sent to the labs at NC State University. Your soil results are returned directly to you by email. Instead of picking up and delivering your soil tests back to the Extension office, you may pick up AND drop off soil kits and testing boxes at the following locations throughout Brunswick County: Ace Hardware in Southport, Scott’s Farm/ Jack’s Farm Center as well as Green Re-

source in Shallotte, Heritage Fresh Market (off Route 17) in Supply, Ace Hardware in Calabash, and Ace Hardware and Shelton Herb Farm in Leland.

The Extension MasterSM Gardener volunteers greatly appreciate your support as they raise funds to support the Botanical Demonstration Gardens located beside the Extension offices, landscaping for Habitat for Humanity houses, and a wide variety of educational programming to help Brunswick County residents succeed in gardening in our coastal environment.           For more information or questions, contact the Master Gardner Volunteers via email at bcmgvat@gmail.com .

Keeping Fit Eating On Vacation

Don’t Let Stress of Vacation Eat Away At You

STORY BY VICTOR FERNANDEZ

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

Morethan a month has passed since my family’s trip to Disney World in March, and of course, “How was your trip?” has been the most popular question I have received from people asking about our time in the Happiest Place on Earth. The No. 2 question…“How was the food?” Which as a professional health and fitness coach, I took to mean, “How did you eat healthy?”

The answer…

It actually was easy – for a couple of reasons.

First, unlike many people nationwide these days, I’m not an all-in or all-out kind of person. I didn’t attempt to stay as disciplined and dedicated as I am at home, and I didn’t blow up in one week all the work I have done for more than a decade, and all the gains I have made along the way.

Secondly, thanks to my wife Shelly’s meticulous research, I prepared in advance for where we would eat and what those restaurants offered.

Long before traveling to Orlando, Florida, she mapped out our daily itinerary for the entire week, nearly down to the minute.

Along with being able to maximize our time in each of the parks we visited, that helped us pinpoint the best option for meals, specifically lunch and dinner, each day. With that information in hand, we began researching various restaurants and eateries that would best fit into our daily plan.

Then we checked out their respective menus. So, when it was time to eat, I walked into each establishment with a solid idea in mind of what I would eat.

No fuss – and most importantly, no stress – because I began each day knowing I could enjoy myself without getting off track, and I didn’t have to worry about the choices I made because I already was confident in the choices I would make.

And with Memorial Day, the unofficial

start to the summer season, fast approaching, a little advance preparation will go a long way to making your vacation plans as stress-free as possible (at least nutritionally speaking, anyway).

Here are some helpful tips to keep top of mind when you’re on vacation so you can focus on having guilt-free fun in the sun while staying on track with your health and fitness goals:

* Don’t Head Out Hungry: Have a healthy snack before heading out to satisfy your hunger. It’s no different than when you head to the grocery store. If we aren’t hungry while walking up and down each aisle, we stand a better chance of not putting a bunch of unhealthy options in our shopping cart.

* Don’t Eat While Waiting: Don’t fill up on bread and other appetizers while waiting for main course. I used to make this common mistake over and over again in my heavier days when unhealthy choices were a staple of my diet. Often, there are fewer healthy versions of appetizers than dinners. So, staying away from those fillers leaves much more room for our meal.

* Order Vegetables and Protein: Calorie-dense vegetables and lean proteins, such as chicken and fish, satiate us faster and keep us stay satiated longer. Vegetables provide slow-metabolizing fiber, and proteins take longer to metabolize as well.

* Have a Salad With Dressing on the Side: Salads are always a healthy choice, especially with lean protein included. But dressings high in calories, sugar and saturated fat quickly make those same salads unhealthy option.

I’m simple with my salad dressing. I have used olive oil and vinegar all my life, but a tasty balsamic vinaigrette can provide the same nutrients while adding some zesty flavor to your meal. Also, I dip each forkful of salad in the dressing instead of pouring it on to savor the flavor without adding extra unwanted calories.

* Eat Slowly, Stop Early: Portions at restaurants often are two to three times larger than the average portion size. I cut my meal in half and put one half into a box to take home for a meal the next day. Then I take my time eating. Studies show it takes our brain 20 minutes to signal our stomach that we are full. When we eat quickly, our stomach often is full long before we know it is.

These tips seem simple, don’t they? That’s because they are.

The work we do each day to stay healthy and fit is hard. But the process we should follow doesn’t need to be. It can – and should – be simple and straightforward, even when our normal routine changes at vacation time.

Work smarter, not harder…and of course, enjoy!

And if you want to learn more about meal prepping in advance or simply have a conversation about your fitness goals and needs, contact me at 814-504-7774 or info@fernandesfit.com, or head to fernandesfit.com for more information.

Art Beat

Marilyn Ridgeway

Quilter Teaches Hand-Dyeing of Fabrics

STORY BY CARLA EDSTROM

Marilyn Ridgeway has been teaching quilting classes at Brunswick Community College (BCC) Southport Center for several years, and now she is teaching her students how to dye their own fabric to make their own unique projects. Her 20 years of experience making quilts is evident in her fabulous creations, including some with fabrics she dyed herself. Marylin’s quilts are all works of art. My favorite one, she has aptly named Neptune, is one of Marilyn’s masterpieces. It is a large quilt of the god Neptune, and he is hanging up in the hallway at the Southport Center in all his glory. Much of the fabric for that one was hand-dyed by Marylin.

With her quilting classes being so popular, it was only natural that her students also should learn the art of dying fabrics for their own work. “Students saw the possi-

bilities of dyeing and using their fabrics to make a project their own. Hand dyes make beautiful backgrounds for appliqués,” said Marylin. “Students have lots of ideas about what they will do with the fabric.”

Since the Southport Center wasn’t built initially to be an art center but a school with regular classrooms, only a few rooms had sinks and running water. However, they installed a new large sink in the clay storage room not long ago. With this addition, Marilyn and her students can do fabric dying. “Students will have made fifteen yards of unique fabric,” she said. “We made gradient, light, medium, and dark shades specifically in quilts, as quilt patterns are most effective if they contain all three values.”.  Marylin started quilting when she lived on Bald Head Island. She has incorporated a large room in her house for quilt making. The quilt students are now a very tightknit group of artisans.

“My dear friend Maria Clancy and I began dye-

ing fabric after taking a Shibori dyeing class together,” she said. “We began dyeing fabric for the Old Baldy Quilts and learning more techniques, including batik, indigo dyeing, and ice dyeing,” she said.

“The first class I taught at BCC was a beginning piecing class,” said Marylin. “My friends and their friends actually made up my first class because they wanted me to get back into quilting. One of my friends had never used a sewing machine. Since that traditional first class, we have offered classes in free-motion quilting and walking foot quilting. Some classes will teach techniques like One Block Wonder or New York Beauty, and then the students will pick their own proj-

ects. In other classes, we will choose a pattern, and all of us will make the same pattern. The students have grown in number, and now we have a tight group that calls themselves ‘The Quilt Cartel.’”

When Marylin’s class was dying the fabrics, they were all business with creating beautiful fabrics using several different dyeing techniques. “The type of fabric we use is called PFD, or prepared for dyeing. It has no finishes added to it that would impede the dye from entering the fabric. You can also soak fabric for 15 minutes in soda ash to prepare it for dyeing. Our PFD fabric was Kona cotton. Any natural fabric, cotton, wool, or silk will be dyed with proion dyes. Students dyed some cotton fabric clothing and silk scarves,” she said. “We used Procion Reactive MX dyes for our class,” she said.  “We do Shibori dyeing in five gallon buckets wrapping the fabric around PVC pipes, folding it patterns and then putting into a wooden clamped press to dye.

The process of painting with dye is different. Some techniques require a curing period of 24 hours. The soda ash or dye

Marilyn Ridgeway with King Neptune

activator only lasts about an hour, so the fabric will only accept the dye for an hour. However, different processes will require curing for 24 hours. All fabric requires rinsing vigorously to remove any remaining dye particles, then laundering and ironing to bring out the beauty of the fabric.”

Check out Marylin’s quilt classes at the Southport Center. She has an unfinished projects class starting in May. “I hope to offer another fabric dyeing class in the Spring quarter. Due to space in the sink room, the class is limited to six students. “It has been a fun class to teach, as the students were very enthusiastic.

Above and Above Right:Dye by Kathy Hillsinger

Community Bible Scanning

Collecting Community Family Histories

STORY CONTRIBUTED

Family Bible records are among the most prized lineage proofs for genealogy enthusiasts. These records are often the only proof of a person’s important life dates, marriages and family members. Residents are invited to share their Bible records with genealogy researchers by taking them to a scanning event to be held at the genealogy research room of Brunswick Community College (2nd floor Building A) on May 13 to 16 from 9 am until 4:30 pm.

Brunswick Town Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) members will scan the records to digital files which will be stored at the library and return the Bible to the owners – all in just a few minutes.

Bible records from all parts of the world will be accepted.

The Brunswick Town Chapter NSDAR Genealogy Research Room is a joint venture with Brunswick Community College.

Daughters of the American Revolution is a service organization founded in

1890 for women who can prove direct, blood lineage from a Revolutionary War Patriot. The organization promotes patriotism, education, and historic preservation.

DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer organization with more than 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the world. There are more than

100 chapters in North Carolina.

The Brunswick Town Chapter has more than 160 members, several of whom descend from Patriots who lived in Brunswick County while fighting for our country’s independence. The chapter’s membership descends more than 700 proven Patriots from the original 13 colonies.

Sheriff Brian Chism

Local Beach Kid Grows Up To Serve

STORY BY LISA STITES, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Editor’s Note: Whether they moved here from other parts of North Carolina or out-ofstate, many people in our beach towns are from somewhere else. As time moves on, however, we’re seeing more “beach kids” who have grown to adults and stayed right in here in Brunswick County, where they found something they love doing in the place they loved growing up. Sheriff Brian Chism is one of them, having grown up on Oak Island, now living off the island but with a career that allows him to support all of Brunswick County. We were glad for the chance to sit down with the Sheriff and learn more about his first year in office and his future plans.

Just about one year ago, Sheriff Brian Chism took his first oath of office as Sheriff, and though he has worked in law enforcement there for 20 years, his main goal remains the same — helping people in any way possible. The Sheriff’s position is elected every four years, but Sheriff Chism was appointed when former Sheriff John Ingram retired. The Sheriff credits his staff for helping to make his transition to his new position an easy one. “I was kind of concerned about the transition at first, because you don’t know what it’s like until you sit in the seat, but I have a great command staff here and got nothing but support,” he said. “I am very humbled and grateful for that. And the community welcomed me as well. I am just blessed.”

Sheriff Chism also counts family and living on the coast among his blessings. As a child growing up on Oak Island, Sheriff Chism said the children played outside, rode their bikes all over the west end of the island and when the sun was setting or Dad whistled, we knew it was time to go home.

“My wife is from here, born and raised. Oak Island is home for me, and every time I drive over the bridge, the stress just kind of goes away. I love going to see my Mom and Dad on Oak Island,” he said.

He and his wife Serena have been married since 2005, though they’ve been together 26 years.

“My dad coached her brother in soccer. She hated me in high school,” he said with a smile.

Sheriff Chism didn’t start out his working life knowing he wanted to be in law enforcement. As a teenager, he worked at the former Country Kitchen restaurant on Oak Island bussing tables and then cooking. He worked in started working with John’s Plumbing and stayed in that job for several years.

“I did plumbing for seven years, so I know what real work is,” he said. “I realized that was not what I wanted for a career.”

He recalled visiting a cousin who had

He asked a deputy sheriff here in Brunswick County where to start, and was told to look into the Basic Law Enforcement Training program at Brunswick Community College.

“When I did that, everything just fell into place like it was meant to be,” he said. “I never looked back.”

served as a Marine and was working with Prince William County police in Virginia.

“I did some ride alongside with him and I thought I could see myself doing this. I got more passionate about service. I wish I had gone into the military when I was 18 years old, but I didn’t want anyone telling me what to do. That passion for helping people, what better way to do that than become a law enforcement officer,” he said. “I know that sounds cliche, but that’s literally why I got into law enforcement — to help people.”

The Sheriff said every aspect of the Sheriff’s Office helps people in some way, shape, or form. The administrative staff helps people who come to the office looking for help with reports, concealed carry permits, fingerprinting for jobs, etc. Deputies on patrol answer 911 calls and detention center employees work to help with rehabilitation. Telecommunicators answer the phone and send help to people asking for it.

“Every aspect is about helping and serving the community of Brunswick County,” he said.

Like many deputies, Sheriff Chism started out on patrol. After seven months, he became a K-9 officer. He said he “worked his tail off” those first seven months. He recalled knowing he wanted to do something with narcotics, but also wanted to work with dogs. “So for seven months, I was at training day when I was off, on my own time, learning about the dogs and what they did, and even working with some of the dogs, being the

bite dummy in the suit. I was that guy getting beat up by the dogs,” he said. When a position came open, he was the one to get it, and he worked in that unit for 10 years. He said that their main focus was to push people off the street corners into houses, and the narcotics team took over from there. He had taken over the K-9 unit, and was training K-9 officers when a new position was created for a 1st Sergeant on the road for each of the four shifts, and he filled one of those slots. He was promoted to lieutenant and supervised all of patrol, then took over the civil and warrants division as well, then K-9s and School Resource Officers.

“Throughout my 20-year career, I have supervised or been in every division of the Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

Now the Sheriff runs a department with 348 employees, sworn and non-sworn, with a volunteer corps assisting.

When Sheriff Chism started as a deputy, he said he planned to stick with one agency, to start and finish at the same department. He said that when Sheriff Ingram and Rep. Charlie Miller, then the Office’s Chief Deputy, approached him about being Sheriff, it hadn’t been something he sought and that he always wants his work to speak for itself. Now as Sheriff, he said the job comes with its share of stress, but that he really is enjoying it.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen or when it’s going to happen, but something is going to happen every day,” he said. He said other than that uncertainty, and dealing with personnel issues, being Sheriff is the best job because he gets to

COMMUNITY

meet new people and help them.

“One goal that I have for myself is I don’t want to be that person who only comes a certain time in the year or every four years,” he said. “What I am doing now is something I want to maintain — being out in public, going to events, speaking to people, and going into communities.”

Sheriff Chism spoke highly of community support as well, saying that in April, the Office received permission to install a memorial for fallen officers, which is being funded through donations.

And while the community he serves continues to grow, Sheriff Chism said his intention is to work with the county commissioners in assessing any resource or personnel needs to accommodate that growth. “It is imperative to public safety that we stay on

top of the growth in our county, which can be very challenging given how fast we are growing. But with the hard work and dedication of our staff and the support of our county commissioners as well as our community, I am very optimistic about the future,” he said.

Sheriff Chism speaks highly of community support the Office sees, saying that in April, they received permission to install a memorial for fallen officers, which is being funded through donations.

“The perception is that everyone hates law enforcement, but in Brunswick County, I think the citizens love us. I feel like we have a good relationship with our citizens, and that’s because we’re out there” he said.

Golf Tips

Nicole’s Golf Notes

Golf’s Consistency Challenge

STORY 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.

Whenever I inquire about a student’s goals, the top response is the desire for more consistency. It’s a super popular quest by all golfers. Who wouldn’t want to find the perfect way to move the ball the same way each time — it’s so much more fun, rewarding and easy!

The interesting thing, though, is that consistency is a myth. As human beings who function a little differently every day, a more realistic goal might be to have a smaller window of variability. Instead of the big misses, can the shots have a lot closer pattern, wavering maybe a little this way or that way but not as wide a dispersion?

Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott are world-renown owner coaches of VISION54 (Pia coached Annika Sorenstam and they both coach many great current Tour players, amateur competitors and recreational golfers). They say be a “Master of Variability – Be adaptable! Every day on the golf course will be variable. Consistency is a myth. You want to learn your own common tendencies what you do when playing great and how you get in your own way. Those tendencies can be consistent! By recognizing these tendencies you can start to manage yourself on the course, no matter what happens each day – and you will be a master of your own variability.”

While playing at Wake Forest University on scholarship for the women’s golf team, I had shot my lowest round of golf during a qualifier for a travel event at one point. What a fluid, easy round – I couldn’t do anything wrong! I expected that the next day and tried to find what I had instead of being who I was that day and hitting the shots I had that day and scored a lot higher than expected.

Having great routines and a perfect swing doesn’t mean it’ll come through

as planned. It just increases our odds. Golf is a difficult game for a round, let alone four rounds in a row to win an event at a professional touring level or amateur Club Championship.

Dr. Robert Bjork, distinguished cognitive psychology research professor at UCLA, has done a great amount research on learning and forgetting. Just because one can perform something doesn’t mean it’s been learned and conversely just because something’s been learned doesn’t mean that it can always be performed exactly the same. Two top players at The Masters recently both hit their second shot way right of the 15th green on the final day, very off-line for players of their caliber. How could that happen after all the millions of golf balls they’ve hit with a coach right there? It’s the human factor and just because they’ve learned it doesn’t mean it can always be performed the way we intend, so we need to give ourselves some slack, acknowledge and honor the human factor, and move forward to do it again.

So how can one create a tighter result pattern?

1.Be aware of both your technical skill and your human skills you bring to the table each day, they’ll vary and that’s OK. Just check in with what you have that day. A former colleague of mine who coached at a large SEC university men’s golf team and had played in two U.S. Opens said if his ball curved a little right that day, he played it. If it curved a little left another day, he played it. He

didn’t try to fix it. He learned how to make his shots that day get to the hole. Patterns are a gift, so learn to recognize them and capitalize on them.

2.Spend energy on what you can control and not what you can’t. Golfers spend too much time on trying to micromanage things that are out of one’s control (other people, weather, results, fairness, one’s swing mechanics). Do your best to plan and then not worry, play. Rehearse a swing feel or image away from the ball and then once you address the ball, it’s time to play, not think and micromanage. In The Master’s recently, Ludvig Aberg from Sweden did all his planning (95 percent of his shot) and then spent very little time over the ball and executed his shot (5 percent of his shot). Let go of things you can’t control and focus on your planning, intent, attitude, how you power yourself during a round with food and hydration, how you warm-up effectively… remember it takes only 15 minutes to actually play the game of golf. All the time between those swings are how you can be successful or not, based on what you tend to be attentive to and how you react.

3.Learn to practice better with blocked (repetitive) and random (scrimmaging) type practice so that what’s learned can

then also be performed with variables. I love taking students out on the course or range for Transfer Play Practice. Hitting 10 7-irons on the range is one thing. Super and congratulations! But can you do it after having had five minutes since your last swing on a totally different terrain with the perceived pressure of the match or your friends’ comments? It’s one thing to learn how to shoot a basketball over and over again. It’s another to shoot a basketball with someone charging at you with arms flailing and a crowd cheering for you to miss while you have to pivot, re-set and shoot…did you practice shooting that way? Train better! Check out a brilliant book a colleague of mine, Trent Wearner called “Golf Scrimmages: Realistic Practice Games under Pressure” to help learn how to hit shots.

4.Be okay knowing you can’t be consistent but striving towards a tighter window of variance. A golfer might only hit one shot straight on the range but the other nine were only five-ten yards off in each direction. That’s better than three very straight shots and the other seven shot being 20 yards or more off and ‘out of bounds’…it’s a more playable tendency.

Above all, stay the course, enjoy exploring your game and either being successful on some days and rounds and learning about what could be better on the other days.

History

Union Colored Troops Brunswick Civil War Round Table Meeting

STORY CONTRIBUTED

The Brunswick Civil War Round Table is pleased to announce U.S. Navy Captain Edward W. Gantt (Ret.) will be the guest speaker at its Tuesday, May 7 meeting foe a presentation of “Contributions of the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War.” This meeting will also mark this organization’s 14th anniversary; the group continues to be nationally recognized as the largest Civil War round table in the country with 1,095 members, adding 157 new members since last September. The meeting will be held at Hatch Auditorium on Caswell Beach. Registration begins at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. Everyone is welcome to hear Capt. Gantt’s enlightening presentation, and help celebrate this festive occasion until monthly meetings resume on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Despite the Union rejecting Black enlistments early in the war, the United States Colored Troops eventually played a critical role in their victories. More than 180,000 African Americans enlisted, which included 175 USCT regiments, accounting for roughly 10 percent of the Union Army. Their regiments fought with courage and distinction, challenging racist notions about their fighting ability. Their forces fought bravely in battles like Port Hudson and Fort Wagner, and played a key role in capturing Charleston, South Carolina, the “Cradle of Secession,” and Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital, swaying public opinion in the North toward abolition and equality. To this point, President Abraham Lincoln acknowledged that without the military help of the black freedmen, the war against the South could not have been won. Importantly, their service paved the way for greater social equality in the post-war era. It demonstrated that Black men were willing and capable of fighting for the nation, a crucial step toward their eventual civil rights advancement. The USCT’s service paved the way for greater equality for Black Americans, though the fight for civil rights continued for many years.

Capt. Gantt has had a coveted career.

During his first tour of duty, he graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger schools at Fort Benning, GA. Later he saw combat as a helicopter door gunner and crew chief in South Vietnam. After graduating from Howard University, he returned to the military, entering the Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School where he received his Naval Flight Officer Wings of Gold. Career duty has taken him around the world, including the Mediterranean Sea, the In-

dian Ocean, and the West Pacific, flying more than 2,000 hours, including from several aircraft carriers. In July 2000, he took command of Navy boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, responsible for the development of nearly 50,000 sailors annually. He retired from the Navy in 2003 after 30 years of active service. A few year later, he began a new career as a public school teacher. In 2014 he began an association with the 23rd Infantry Regiment USCT Civil War re-enactors and living historians. And currently he is

a member of Company B, 54th Massachusetts Civil War re-enactors, and president of the re-formed 23rd Regiment USCT in Spotsylvania, Virginia.

For this last meeting of the current season, and one not to be missed, the guest fee is $10, and can be applied toward the $25 annual membership dues, which can include a spouse. For more information about the Tuesday, May 7 meeting, contact president John Butler at Brunswickcwrt@gmail. com, or call him at 404-229-9425. Or, visit their website at Brunswickcivilwarroundtable.com to learn more, become a member, or learn about member benefits. The Facebook page also has additional information, news, and updates.

CALENDAR

May

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.

MAY 4

Juleps and Jazz

The South Brunswick Islands Women’s Club hosts this Kentucky Derby Fund “Racer,” complete with a best hat contest, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar (with bourbon and jazzy juleps, of course), a live jazz band, silent auction and raffles, and a livestream of the 150th Kentucky Derby. The derby party is 4-7:30 pm at the Brunswick Senior Center, 101 Stone Chimney Road in Supply. Tickets are $75; visit https://www.sbiwc. org/home. The Club raises funds and volunteers with many local charitable organizations in many areas, such as hunger, education, medical care, elder care, and more.

MAY 5

Brunswick Bands Concert

The Brunswick Winds performs ON BROADWAY, 3 pm at Odell Williamson Auditorium on the campus of Brunswick Community College, 150 College Road, Bolivia. Conductor Michael Stringer will lead the group in selections from Broadway favorites such as “Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables,” “Rent,” “Wicked,” “The King and I,” and many more.

MAY 7

Brunswick Civil War Round Table

Edward W. Gantt, a retired U.S. Navy Captain, high school teacher, Civil War re-enactor, and currently president of the re-formed 23rd Regiment USCT in Spotsylvania, Virginia will lead this month’s program on “Contributions of

the USCTs During the Civil War,” highlighting the fact that nearly 200,000 African American soldiers fought in the Civil War. Registration begins at 6:15 pm. Programs start at 7 pm. The visitor fee is $10 and may be applied toward the $25 annual membership dues. For more information, please contact president John Butler at Brunswickcwrt@gmail. com, or call him at 404-229-9425. See full story elsewhere in this issue.

MAY 10

Book Signing at Silver Coast

Pelican Book Store and Silver Coast Winery team up for an author meet and greet and book signing. There are actually two this month — look for the May 16 entry. This session features Mary Kay Anders, author of “Summers at the Saint.” The evening begins at 5:30 pm, but seating is first come, first served. Tickets are $45, and include a beverage, light hors d’oeuvres, and a hardcover copy of the book. Visit https://silvercoastwinery.com/events to purchase tickets.

MAY 10-11

Creating a Character

Actress, author and storyteller Carolyn Evans leads sessions on acting and interpretation — creating a character. The 2-day workshop is 10 am to 3 pm at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site. Space will be limited, and the cost is $25. Visit www.brunswickartscouncil.org to register.

MAY 11

Flea Market — Southport Yacht Club

The Club holds its annual flea market at Morningstar Marina, featuring all things marine, such as boating supplies, nautical crafts and novelties. The market is 9 am to 3 pm at the Marina, 606 W. West St. in Southport.

MAY 14

Learn Wildlife Cell Phone Photography

Ellen Sheehan, whose works are featured in the Museum of Coastal Carolina, will share tips for capturing great

shots of local wildlife with the cameras we always carry with us — our phones! The class is 9-10:30 am at the Museum, 21 E. Second St. Ocean Isle Beach. The class is $50, and is limited to eight people. Call 910-579-1016 to reserve a spot.

MAY 16

Book Signing at Silver Coast

Pelican Book Store and Silver Coast Winery team up for an author meet and greet and book signing. There are actually two this month — look for the May 10 entry too. This session features Kristin Harmel, author of “The Paris Daughter.” The evening begins at 5:30 pm, but seating is first come, first served. Tickets are $35, and include a beverage, light hors d’oeuvres, and a hardcover copy of the book. Visit https://silvercoastwinery. com/events to purchase tickets.

MAY 17

Community Dentistry Day — Coastal Cosmetics Family Dentistry

Residents of Brunswick County may be seen for one of the following services free of charge: a teeth cleaning, one filling, or one tooth extraction. There will be a patient registration (English or Spanish) to complete prior to being

seen. The services will be offered 7:30 am to 2:30 pm at the office, 3071 Southport-Supply Road (N.C. 211). First-come, first served; plan to arrive early. All ages are welcome, and as many patients will be treated as is safely possible.

MAY 17

Brunswick Little Theatre

Comedian Lee Hardin performs; the show will also feature special guest Chris Ruppe. Visit https://www. brunswicklittletheatre.com/ for ticket information. This clean comedy show will be at 7:30 pm at the theatre, 8068 River Road SE, Southport.

MAY 18

Women of the Port

This living history event at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site focuses 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 Port Brunswick. This free event is from 10 am to 4 pm at the site, 8884 St Phillips Rd SE, Winnabow (off N.C. 133) and is for all ages.

Enjoy the beauty of Sunset Beach Park while shopping for produce, artisan products and more at the weekly Thursday market

MAY 18

Hidden Battleship

Enjoy a unique, behind-the-scenes tour of unrestored areas on the Battleship. Participants are led to areas in the bow, third deck, and below, and the superstructure, including all the way to the very top! This program requires climbing ladders, crossing high hatches, and going through tight/confined spaces. The tour is limited to ages 16 and older and tickets sell out quickly. Tickets are $60; visit https://battleshipnc.com/programs-and-events/ to purchase.

MAY 18

Country Fair Spring Fling

Show for home goods, pet supplies, hardware, sports equipment, garden equipment, baked goods, and much more at Seaside Methodist Church’s Country Fair Spring Fling. The Fair is from 8 am to 1 pm, and breakfast items and hot dogs will be available for purchase as well. The church is at 1300 Seaside Road, Sunset Beach.

MAY 21

Brunswick Partnership for Housing fundraiser at American Fish

It’s dancing, food and fun for a great cause. The Brunswick Partnership for Housing is holding a fundraiser featuring The Salty Dawgs band at the American Fish Company, 150 Yacht Basin Drive, Southport.  Doors open at 5 pm, and the band plays from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $50.  The event includes food from The Frying Pan, a 50/50 drawing and cash bar.  To purchase tickets, contact Steve Moore at 919-601-2765, stevenam70@gmail.com or Susan Crabtree at 267-235-6132, susan-crabtree@ hotmail.com.  Tickets also may be purchased online at brunswickpartnership. org.  Cash or checks are payable to BPH.

JUNE 2

Paws-Ability BandFest ’24

Enjoy music from The Sea & Sand Band and Julio and the Saltines at this fundraiser for Paws-Ability, a group dedicated to supporting local rescue

groups and improving animal welfare in Brunswick and New Hanover Counties. BandFest ’24 is at the Sunset Beach Town Park, 206 Sunset Blvd. N, from noon to 5 pm; entry is $5. There will be raffles, vendors, food and beverages, and animals ready to find their forever homes. Email info@paws-ability.org or call 910-269-6885 for more information.

Summer/Open Air Markets

Market on Mulberry — Shallotte

Browse for local foods and works from crafters and artisans at the Market, 9 am to 12 noon at the Park, 123 Mulberry St. This month’s market dates are May 11 and May 25.

Summer Market Ocean Isle Beach

Shop for goods that are handmade, homemade and homegrown at this weekly market, 9 am to 1 pm on Tuesdays at the Ocean Isle Beach Town Park, 11 E. Second St.

Sunset Beach Market In The Park

All your favorite vendors from years past with the addition of some new bakeries and produce vendors. 9 am to 1 pm on Thursdays in Sunset Beach Park, 206 Sunset Blvd

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Summer Concert Series

Holden Beach

Concerts are 6:30-8 pm at the Town park under the bridge (we think!)

May 26 — The Main Event Band

June 2 — Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot

June 9 — Carolina Kool

June 16 — Cat 5

June 23 — Blackwater Band

June 30 — The Tams

Sunset Sound Waves

Concert Series — Sunset Beach

Bring blankets or chairs and enjoy the sounds of summer at the Town Park, 206 Sunset Blvd. North. Concerts are 6-8 pm, weather permitting.

May 29 — The Extraordinaires

June 5 — Chocolate Chip & Company

June 12 — Cat 5 Band

June 19 — 100 Grand Band

June 26 — JB and the Get Down Browns

Peggy Hughes Summer Concert Series

Ocean Isle Beach

Concerts are 6:30-8 pm at Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St.

May 24 — Band of Oz

May 31 — Bailout

June 7 — Special Occasion Band

June 14 — LunaSea

June 21 — Too Much Sylvia

Juen 28 — Blackwater Band

Sunset Beach Fishing Pier

Summer Music 6-8 pm

101 W. Main St.

May 30 — DJ Butch Barnes

June 6 — Sea & Sand Band

June 13 — Johnny Toppings

June 20 — JT and the Strats

June 27 — Saltbone

ONGOING EVENTS

Museum of Coastal Carolina

21 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach

The Museum is open Monday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, and Sundays 12-4 pm. Sandbar lectures are 5-7 pm on the second Tuesday of the month.

Ingram Planetarium

7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach

Open Monday-Saturday 10:30 am - 4 pm for dome shows and science displays. Laser shows run hourly from 5:30 - 8 pm Monday - Saturday. Visit https:// musemplanetarium.org/ingram-planetarium/ to see the show schedule..

NC Maritime MuseumsSouthport

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 16 Deep Dive Into History program features information on Merchant Marines during WWII. Visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.com to register for special programs.

Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site

8884 St. Philip’s Rd. SE, Winnabow

There is plenty to do and see, with a museum, historic ruins, great information on the site’s history, and some of the most beautiful riverfront property in the County. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

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!

Bring the whole family and join us for a fun-filled ride through Southport’s historic waterfront district aboard our state-of-the-art tram!

One Hour Tour Covering:

• History and Culture

• Movie Locations

• Spectacular Coastal Views

• Shopping and Dining

Tour departs from Southport Visitors Center • 203 E. Bay Street 910-713-3373

www.southportfuntours.com

Looking for something to do besides going to the beach? Here you’ll find lots of fun for the entire family. Be sure to check before you go as hours may change and some attractions may be seasonal

Attractions

INGRAM PLANETARIUM

7625 High Market Street

Sunset Beach (mainland) https://museumplanetarium.org/ingram-planetarium/

Enjoy musical laser shows and learn more about the night sky; check website for schedule and tickets. Hands-on activities and interactive displays are available in the Paul Dennis Science Center, and admission to the Center is free.

MUSEUM OF COASTAL CAROLINA

21 E. 2nd St. Ocean Isle Beach https://museumplanetarium.org/

Learn more about our coastal environment, with a live touch tank, saltwater aquariums, interactive exhibits, lectures and family programs. The Mu-

Attractions Guide

seum is open 10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Saturday, and 5-7 pm on the second Tuesday for sandbar lectures.

SHALLOTTE RIVER SWAMP PARK

5550 Watts Road SW Ocean Isle Beach (mainland) https://www.shallotteriverswamppark. com/

This adventure park features zip line tours, an aerial park, guided ATV tours and eco-tours on a swamp boat.

PLANET FUN/STARZ GRILL

349 Whiteville Road

Shallotte

https://planetfuncenter.com/

This family entertainment center offers arcade games, laser tag, and bowling (including cosmic bowling on weekends), many TVs for watching all the games, and a restaurant.

SHALLOTTE RIVERWALK

Gazebos at 159 Cheers St. and 146 Wall St.

The Riverwalk is open from dawn to dusk, and features a quarter mile boardwalk, gazebos at each end and beautiful views of the Shallotte River.

OLD BRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

109 Shoreline Drive West Sunset Beach (mainland) http://www.theoldbridge.org/

The old swing bridge that used to connect Sunset Beach to the mainland has been preserved as a museum. The Museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 am to 2 pm, with stories about the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge tender house, local history, and more.

STUMP HILL FARMS

2030 Ash-Little River Road NW Ash

https://www.stumphillfarms.com/

The farm is open on Saturdays in April and October, and by appointment or for special events other times of year, with hay rides, games for children, and educational opportunities covering bee pollination and local crops.

GRAYCE WYNDS

FARM AND THE WILD HORSE RESERVE AT GRAYCE WYNDS

2450 Grayce Wynds Drive Supply, NC 28462

Visit the farm, take a guided tour, or participate in special events. Check https://www.graycewyndsfarm.com/ for tours available and events.

SILVERY COAST WINERY

6680 Barbeque Road

Ocean Isle Beach

https://silvercoastwinery.com/

Winery tours, tastings, and shop for wine accessories and gifts; event rental space also available.

OCEAN ISLE MINI GOLF

6391 Beach Drive SW

Ocean Isle Beach http://oceanisleminigolf.com

TREASURE ISLAND MINIATURE GOLF

3445 Holden Beach Rd. Holden Beach (910) 842-4878

Parks

There are so many great spots to get out and enjoy this beautiful county. We’ve listed a few of the main parks here, but keep an eye out for smaller pocket parks and water access areas.

HOLDEN BEACH PAVILION AND BRIDGEVIEW PARK

The Pavilion is tucked in next to the west side of the bridge on the island, and Bridgeview Park is a couple blocks down the Intracoastal Waterway, at Davis Street.

TOWN CENTER PARK

11 E. Second St.

Ocean Isle Beach

This town park has an amphitheater, interactive fountain, bocce ball court, playground, and plenty of bike parking.

SHALLOTTE PARK

5550 Main St.

Ball fields, tennis courts, basketball court, a playground, picnic shelters and a dog park.

MULBERRY STREET PARK

123 Mulberry Street

Shallotte

Picnic shelters, an amphitheater, and home to Shallotte’s outdoor markets

SUNSET BEACH TOWN PARK

Sunset Boulevard North (mainland) Stroll through five acres of live oaks along the Intracoastal Waterway, sit a spell on a bench, do some fishing or visit the Veterans Memorial.

Go Under The Sea at the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach

OCEAN ISLE BEACH PARK

6483 Old Georgetown Road

The Park features 2 playgrounds, eight tennis courts, four pickleball courts, baseball and softball fields, a dog park, basketball courts, an amphitheater, picnic shelter and a multipurpose field for soccer/football with walking trail and fitness stations.

WACCAMAW PARK

5855 Waccamaw School Road NW, Ash

This park features ball fields, basketball court, tennis courts, playground, bocce ball and a nine-hole disc golf course.

Fishing Piers

SUNSET BEACH FISHING PIER

101 W. Main St.

Sunset Beach http://sunsetbeachpier.com/

OCEAN ISLE BEACH PIER

1 W. First St.

Ocean Isle Beach https://oibpier.com/

Fishing Charters

Boat Tours

Boat Rentals

OCEAN ISLE FISHING CENTER

65 Causeway Drive

Ocean Isle Beach

https://www.oifc.com/

TOUR H2O

Locations in Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Southport

https://tourh2o.com/

CAROLINAS COASTAL ADVENTURE TOURS

2000 Sommerset Road SW Ocean Isle Beach (mainland) https://www.ccattours.com/

SALT FEVER GUIDE SERVICE

21 Causeway Drive

Ocean Isle Beach

https://www.saltfeverguideservice. com/

HURRICANE FLEET - LEAVES FROM THE CALABASH WATERFRONT

https://hurricanefleet.com/

CALABASH FISHING FLEET

9945 Nance St. Calabash

https://calabashfishingfleet.com/

HOLDEN BEACH FISHING

https://www.holdenbeachfishing.com/

HOLDEN BEACH WATERSPORTS

3325 Old Ferry Road SW

Holden Beach

https://www.holdenbeachwatersports. com/index.html

BLUE PLANET WATERSPORTS

7156 Beach Drive

Ocean Isle Beach

https://blueplanetwatersports.com/

HOLDEN BEACH JET SKI RENTALS

1305 Cedar Landing Road SW Supply

https://www.holdenbeachjetski.com

SORTA SALTY FISHING CHARTERS

Holden Beach https://sortasalty.com

OLLIE RAJA CHARTERS

3238 Pompano St. SW

Holden Beach/Oak Island

https://holdenbeachfishingcharters. com/