shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 1
STAFF
EDITOR
FROM THE PUBLISHERS
Welcome to your first Pet Issue Shallotte Mag readers!
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS
Jeffrey Stites jeff@liveoakmediainc.com
Chuck and Sue Cothran
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ASSISTANT EDITOR
Carla Edstrom Patricia Langer
Lisa P. Stites
Jan Morgan-Swegle lisa@southportmag.com
Joe Jancsurak Lisa P. Stites
LEAD DESIGNER
Jeffrey Stites
Liz Brinker
PUBLISHER & SALES
lcbgraphicdesign@gmail.com
Jeffrey Stites jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741
Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine is published once a month by Live Oak Media. The opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of the staff. Annual Subscription: $45 email jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741 Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine PO Box 10175, Southport, NC 28461 www.shallottemag.com email jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741
shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 2
H
appy New Year! Once again it’s time for one of our very favorite issues of the year, the Pet Issue! The time from November until I put this to press is spectacular. Imagine waking up each morning, checking your email, and finding photos of pups, kitties and all sorts of other critters. It’s the best way to start the day, and I thank each and every one of you who sent in a photo. The response was once again amazing and your photos are terrific. It goes without saying your critters are the best boys and girls, of course.
W
e have a new puppy here at the Live Oak Media Headquarters. We adopted Copper the News Hound from the great people at the Brunswick County Animal Shelter and he is becoming a good office dog. Right now paper shredding is his specialty, but he also reminds us that getting out for a little walk is important for our physical and mental health.
W
e hope you and your pets have a safe, healthy and prosperous 2024. Cheers!
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Community Low Key Therapy
Therapy Dogs Spread The Love And Calm STORY BY LISA STITES PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
I
magine you’re flying out of Myrtle Beach International Airport. You’re worried about connecting flights, and maybe some family drama at your destination. You’re not a well-seasoned traveler, and you’re a bit nervous as it is. Then the announcement comes that your flight is delayed. The stress is building, and your fellow passengers are starting to feel it too. And then along comes Loki, an English Cream Golden Retriever. He’s soft and fluffy, and so calm and gentle. And his sole purpose at that moment is to share some of that calm with the humans around him. For those he helps, he’s a much-needed calming influence in times of stress, illness or recovery. For Loki, it’s just another day of volunteer work as a licensed therapy dog.
Loki’s human counterpart is Carolina Shores resident Ket Koett. Together, they were certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs about two and a half years ago and have been working to calm people and brighten their day at nursing homes and hospitals; they visit Coastal Pointe Assisted Living and Memory Care in Shallotte and McLeod Seacoast Hospital in Little River. “We go into memory care first, and
he’ll just sit there while they pet him,” Ket said. She even said that patients’ families started buying dog treats for Loki’s visits because he’s so popular. Ket said she had a Burnese Mountain dog who passed away and soon after, she adopted Loki. She later moved to Brunswick County from Colorado, having picked the area off a map. Loki was the smallest of his litter, but doesn’t look like it now. He is three, and Ket
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also has a female of the same breed — two-year-old Coconut. She is also a therapy dog, but is much more active and a bit bouncier at home than Loki. “When I was training Coconut, she was a little more difficult because she was a puppy. It’s just a matter of reinforcing,” Ket said. She also lovingly said Coconut was a “hot mess” when she isn’t working. Many dog owners have certain words they don’t say out loud until it’s the right time, like “walk” or “treat.” For Ket’s dogs, the word “work” gets them excited. She said she tries to work them each once a week because it’s good exercise for them and keeps them socializing. Ket said when they go to the airport to work, it’s like Loki is a celebrity. All the security staff know him, and people just seem to brighten up when they see him. The program is called PETS, or Pets Easing Travel Stress, and Loki w e a r s a vest that says “Please pet me.” “ W e just walk them by the gates
and calm people,” Ket said. “At the airport is where we get our biggest crowds. We block people from getting to their gates because they crowd around us. People will wait until they can pet him. I am just there to hold him. I’m just his person. And people say they needed that so much.” When she’s not working with Loki or Coconut, Ket works from home for the Department of Energy and also sells Mary Kay cosmetics. She said she hopes to get more involved with therapy dog work though, possibly even training with HOPE Animal Assistance Crisis Team, an organization that sends therapy dogs to wherever they’re needed in the country to work with people following a disaster. Ket said Loki is not quite ready for that, but it is a goal of
hers. Loki and Coconut are both certified, and while there was no prescribed training course, dogs and handlers must pass several tests to achieve that certification. “As long as a dog can behave themselves and listen to command, you become a unit. The testing involves working in a medical facility,” Ket explained. “The dogs have to be able to walk by another dog and keep going without acknowledging them, and come to you
directly from where they are,” she said. Ket’s mom Bobbie Reid also lives in the home and is also working to become certified as a therapy dog volunteer. She has already done her testing with an Alliance representative, working with a dog on three separate occasions, and she is just awaiting for her approval before she can start. Bobbie has already been going with Ket and the dogs for their work, and early next year she’ll take a class at the hospital and also go through the se-
curity checks to be able to work at the airport. “It’s nice to make people feel so good. A lot of these people don’t have visitors, so to have somebody pay attention to them, especially a dog, means a lot to them,” Bobbie said of making hospital visits. Ket also said it was very rewarding to see how people respond when Loki shows up. People’s faces light up at the airport and medical facilities. At the memory care center, Ket said that during Loki’s visits, one patient talked often about the coondogs she had, and she even remembers Loki’s name from one visit to the next. She and her mom were also able to take Loki into a hospital in Florida when a relative was recovering. For anyone thinking of working with their dog to become certified, Ket recommends shadowing a working therapy dog to see if it would be the right fit for the dog and human unit. She would also refer anyone interested to Alliance, https://www. therapydogs.com/alliance-therapy-dogs/. She said the organization is very supportive and helps find work for the dogs. They recommended the airport to her. Ket and Loki started their training in Colorado and finished when they made the move to North Carolina. Ket said that one reason she started training with him was because he was so easygoing.
“He didn’t get into anything. I can do anything to him, even blow dry him. He does whatever I ask of him. Loki just wants to make me happy,” she said. “I think this is my calling, I think that’s why he was given to me,” Ket said.
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Community
Our Readers’ Pets
Marlow Gaskins
Shallotte Magazine Has Gone To The Dogs
A
nd cats. And birds. And a horse. The best part of this issue is not knowing what will come into our inbox, but knowing for sure it will make us smile. Thank you so much for sharing your critters with us and we hope you enjoy seeing them as much as we enjoyed putting them togeher for you. What a way to start the new year!
Joe Bud
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Community
A Dental Health Story
of the dental wizards, whose tireless efforts guarantee your pets’ lives are brimming with delight and devoid of dental distress.
Considering Teeth: A Tail of Two Crowns
The Grand Finale: A Tribute to Magical Guardians
STORY BY DR ALI TRAVIS, RIVER ROAD ANIMAL HOSPITAL
I
have grown tired of boring all of you with my nerdy discussions about the whys and importance of care for dogs and cats. I am no Chaucer – I cannot charm you with my sanguine verse. So I will try instead to tell you a “tail” of heroes battling furtive evils …. Pearly Whites and Wagging Tails: Why Your Pet’s Teeth Deserve the Royal Treatment
Ah, the joy of furry companionship — those wet noses, wagging tails, and...funky breath? Yes, your cuddly creatures may not always have the freshest breath, but fear not, because behind those adorable whiskers lies a dental story begging to be told. Welcome to the court of your dog, Sir Slobbers-alot, and your majestic feline, Queen Whiskerina, where dental fears meet the daunting cost! But fear not, for behind the curtains lies a magical tale of the dental wizards and the invaluable worth of their wizardry.
Combating the Dreaded Dragon Breath
Let’s talk about their breath, which sometimes smells like a mix of old socks and fish markets. It’s not their fault. It’s just the result of bacterial revelry in their mouths. Regular brushing, dental treats, and vet check-ups can turn their breath from “eau de rubbish” to “minty fresh,” sparing you from those nose-pinching moments. But, woe! Sometimes it is not enough and something more must be employed.
The Dental Wizards: Masters of Enchantment Enter the dental team, the unsung heroes of the furry kingdom! They don their capes and wield their tools like wands, turning
dental fears into mere shadows. These wizards ensure a safe, comfortable, and painfree experience for Sir Slobbers-alot and Queen Whiskerina, all while preserving their regal smiles.
Anesthesia’s Slumber: A Guardian’s Charm
Anesthesia may seem like a mysterious slumber, but it’s a carefully crafted charm cast by these wizards. Without it, our royals might face uncertain risk. But it ensures Sir Slobbers-alot and Queen Whiskerina journey to dreamland, where their dental woes are banished, and their oral health is restored without discomfort or distress. We all know the mere thought of anesthesia might send shivers down a pet owner’s spine, but the alternative — a diseased mouth wreaking havoc on their majesty’s health — is far scarier! Imagine Sir Slobbers-alot trying to play fetch while battling toothaches or Queen Whiskerina attempting her daily grooming routine with painful gum disease. Not the royal life they deserve, right?
The Costly Conundrum: Balancing Royalty and Treasury
Ah, the weight of the royal treasury! The cost of professional dental care might make the coin purse feel lighter, but consider this: it’s a noble investment. The dental wizards’ efforts secure the enduring health and happiness of your furry monarchs, making the expense a mere trinket in the grand story of their well-being. Imagine Sir Slobbers-alot chasing after balls with unrestrained joy or Queen Whiskerina basking in a pain-free grooming session. It’s all thanks to the enchanting work shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 14
Dear owners, amidst the fears and hesitations, let us pay homage to the true heroes — the dental wizards. They are the guardians of your pets’ smiles, the magicians who ensure safety, comfort, and enduring happiness. Their dedication transforms professional dental care into a fairytale, where Sir Slobbers-alot and Queen Whiskerina reign, pain-free and joyous. When fears and cost weigh heavy on your mind, remember the magical prowess of the dental wizards. Embrace professional dental care as the key to preserving those majestic grins and ensuring a blissful reign for your beloved Sir Slobbers-alot and Queen Whiskerina. Your love combined with their efforts ensure your pets’ smiles shine bright, illuminating a life of boundless happiness and comfort.
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Pet Supplies Plus
Biz Q&A
A Local Touch With Big Store Selection STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES
W
hen we adopted Copper the News Hound Trainee from the Brunswick County Animal Shelter, he had nothing but a leash. As anyone who has added a pet to their family knows, pets need stuff, lots of stuff. So Copper’s first trip out into the people world was shopping at Pet Supplies Plus, 2823 Midway Blvd. in the Midway Commons shopping center. He promptly peed on the floor. But that wasn’t a problem. The staff, who loves having pets in the store, took it in stride and helped us find all the new puppy stuff — toys, a bed, a new collar and leash, treats and food. Since then, shopping at Pets Supplies Plus is one of Copper’s favorite things, and for our part, we love being able to shop local and find everything we need for our new little buddy. There’s a lot that goes into running a pet shop, so we spoke to Pets Supplies Plus manager Aaron Smith about how the store operates, what they can do for local pet parents, and even some plans for the future.
Tell us a bit about Pet Supplies Plus, like what you carry and the services you offer.
We are a full service pet store, stocking merchandise for dogs, cats, reptiles, fish, small animals, and birds. The business premise is that we carry 90 percent of the product that a big box store does, in 70 percent of the space, and with a focus on old-fashioned customer service. We also offer a self-service dog wash, local delivery, and curbside pickup.
Is Pet Supplies Plus a franchise? How does being a locally owned store with national connections help?
We are a locally owned franchise, and this is our only location! Being locally owned means that all of your purchases come back into the local economy, and we really care about what happens in the store, because these are our friends and neighbors shopping here. Being part of the national PSP
group gives us the buying and pricing power of a national chain, making us competitive with the big box stores on price and selection. We are normally less expensive, but whatever we are not on, we offer price matching.
What separates the items you carry, particularly the pet food, from what people might be more likely to find in a grocery store?
We carry both options, including the same products that you would find at a grocery or farm store, as well as several options they do not carry in that same quality range and price point. Our primary focus however, as you insinuated, is on the Natural and
Premium segments. In that area, we have a wide variety of options for different dietary and lifestyle needs, including traditional kibble without the fillers, premium quality ingredient sourcing, and freeze dried or raw for nutritional density. Even in the Natural and Premium segments, we have a wide variety of price points, from economical bang for your buck to “no expense spared” ultimate quality.
turtles for order. In bird we stock a variety of parakeets, and we can order numerous species of parrots and other avians. In fish we have a huge selection and variety in
Can people find a pet at the store? Any adoption options?
We sell a variety of pets in four segments; small animal, reptile, bird, and fish. In small animal you would find multiple breeds of gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, and a wide range of other options for special order. In reptile, we stock snakes such as ball pythons, corn snakes, king snakes, and sand boas, chameleons, bearded dragons, geckos, and a massive selection of other lizards, snakes, and shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 17
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tropical and cold water fish, with almost unlimited options for special order. While we do not keep dogs or cats in store, we do hold adoption events, monthly for cats, and intermittently for dogs.
How do you help customers with questions? Like matching treats and toys to a pet’s breed and age?
We love helping customers find what they need! One of the very first things I talk to potential employees about in interviews is my personal focus on customer service and how that aligns with PSP’s corporate business model. There should always be someone on the sales floor to assist, and we ask questions to find out what someone needs, because many times they may not even know themselves. For example, if someone is looking for a low calorie or hypoallergenic treat options, I would take them to our freeze dried section and show them the single ingredient options. If someone comes in looking for skin products to combat itchiness or dry skin, we take them to our
Biz Q&A dog or cat health sections, but many times we end up in the food aisle because most skin issues in our furry friends can be traced back to fillers, low-quality ingredients, or allergens in their food. So someone may come in looking for a hot spot spray, and end up with a bag of food instead. We would rather fix the real problem and have happy, healthy pets than treat the recurring symptoms.
Can you tell us how the self service dog wash works? Is that a popular service?
The self service dog wash is extremely popular. Just think about it — bring a dirty dog in, take a clean one home, and we take care of all the shampoo, towels, and clean up afterwards. So rather than destroying your bathroom and your back, bring your baby in and let them get clean, while we give them pets and treats. A single wash is $14, but we offer a Dirty Dog Discount program that has five washes for $40. Any wash, as mentioned, includes the tub area, four different types of shampoo for different needs, towels, high intensity air dryer, and us cleaning and sanitizing after you are done.
the cutting edge of what is new in the industry.
Any plans for the future of the store?
We are are always fine tuning the experience and options we have in store, but we are also planning to add a program called The Nail Bar with a trained associate scheduling nail trims and basic services in the store in the next few months. I am not sure if we will ever be able to do full service grooming, but never say never. Our inventory in general stays consistent throughout the year, but we do get a large amount of seasonal goods for all the seasons and major holidays! Whether your pup needs a St. Patty’s sweater, or your rat needs a Halloween costume, we should have it. We are also always tinkering with individual products, bringing in new options and discontinuing things that neighbors are not buying, which gives us the ability to special order a wide variety of things we may not keep in stock, and constantly be on
Looking for a hairless Guinea Pig?
You welcome pets in the store (Copper the News Hound loves to go shopping), so any advice for shopping with a pet in tow?
We love having pets in store! I told someone a few days ago, as long as they are friendly, bring your moose in. We have had everything from dogs and cats to ducks, monkeys, and pigs. If you are bringing your baby in, no matter what the species is, just make sure they are friendly, or at least okay with our other neighbors, on a leash or in a cart, and if you are okay with it, ready for treats and pets because that is the best part of our day. How does your inventory change seasonally, if it does? shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 19
Art Beat
Tricia Messenger
locations, including the Netherlands (as an exchange student) and Santa Fe, New Mexico,” said Messenger. “I have lived in the Supply area in North Carolina for six years. What brought me to the area was that I was in a place in my life where I needed a fresh start, and my mother needed me to help her care for my stepfather, who had developed dementia. They lived in Holden Beach.”
Holden Beach Ceramics Artist & Teacher STORY BY CARLA EDSTROM
W
ith the enrollment at the Southport Center of Brunswick Community College increasing, there has been a need for new instructors. The Pottery Department, of which I am an instructor, has recently hired a couple of contemporary but experienced artists/ instructors to help fill the need. Pottery work has gone viral in the area, and the need for working studios is real. Many experienced potters take the classes at BCC to work on their own craft and learn new techniques. One of these instructors is Tricia Messenger. She is a talented artist who can both hand-build sculptures and use the pottery wheel to produce production pottery. With extensive experience as an apprentice, she understands the ins and outs of running a clay studio. And with all her other art education, Messenger is a well-rounded artist. Messenger took night classes with Kimberly Caroon years ago, so the idea of teaching at BCC intrigued her. “I just finished my first semester of teaching at BCC, and I adore my students and their unique talents and skills,” she said. “They have been pivotal by positively challenging me to expand my vision with clay and inspired me to delve even deeper into learning more about ceramics. I really enjoy teaching my students all of my tips and tricks
about clay, hand-building, and wheelthrown pottery, regardless of whether it’s functional, decorative, or sculptural. It’s vitally important that students learn the proper foundational skills and techniques to teach them how to manipulate clay to help facilitate their learning process and bring their vision into reality. “Historically, ceramics has been a community craft, from processing clay to firing kilns. That positive and supportive spirit is the connection I have made with my students in the BCC pottery studio. I’m excited that all of my students are returning for the spring semester and that I will be welcoming new members into my classroom community as well,” Messenger said. A chance encounter with a pottery wheel in high school sent Messenger on a lifelong path of pursuing art and making pottery. “I got started in ceramics out of necessity. I was a high school senior (1993) who needed one more art class for graduation. I did not enjoy hand-building at the time when my teacher suggested trying the potter’s wheel. Within the
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Sadly, Messenger’s mother suddenly passed away six months after she moved to the area. And her stepdad passed away in 2020. “I managed the care and the household for my stepfather and our 4 dogs while grieving and attending Brunswick Community College for my Associate in Applied Science in Health Information Technology.” first few seconds of sitting behind the potter’s wheel with the clay flying far and wide, I knew that THAT was what I would do for the rest of my life,” she said. “Clay is a humbling material; she will teach you how to do everything wrong before you learn how to do it right. It’s essential to make mistakes as a part of the learning process, and it takes a lot of time, dedication, and experience to really grasp the language of clay, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a lot of fun and a few disasters for good measure, along the way.” Originally from Connecticut, Messenger now lives in Supply. “I have also lived in several other
Although proficient in many art forms, her preferred media is pottery and paper. “I work in various 2D and 3D media, including paper, clay, wood, metal, textiles, pencil, ink, paint, digital photography, and digital illustration. My process of creating usually starts with sketching designs and my morning coffee. Or when I notice intriguing elements like color, line, pattern, and texture, whether in nature or something manmade,” said Messenger. “I have been making pottery for 30 years and working with handmade paper for the last seven years. Making art has always been my creative outlet for expressing my pain and joy, and it is a cathartic and meditative process for me. I enjoy the challenge of ex-
perimenting with materials through new and inventive methods to increase my tactile comprehension and knowledge. These discoveries expand my vision of new forms of creative expression and help me find my voice through media to create art that speaks from my soul,” she said. “My work and the variety of media I use embody the diary of my life experiences. Common themes and inspiration for my work are rooted in the foundations of my childhood, growing up in the 1980s and playing in the forests of New England. Sometimes, my work is colorful, carefree, and fun, like my 2D illustrations, which employ bright colors in flat, stylized drawings that are influenced by popular American teen culture from that period. In contrast, my 3D ceramic and paper sculptures are non-objective and inspired by my fascination with the natural world’s ordered chaos, textures, and sculptural beauty,” she said. “The emo-
tional connection I hope to share with the viewer through my art is my feelings of comfort and safety from childhood and the wonderment of discovery when you see something new for the first time.” Messenger often collaborates with her husband on art projects. “My husband,
Lemuel Heida, is also an artist and the new printmaking instructor at Southport Center. Occasionally, we collaborate on making functional paper lanterns and non-objective sculptural paper art. We are currently exploring methods comb i n i n g black and white photography, ceramics, and handmade abaca paper.”
As well as her Etsy page, paperandclayfineart.etsy.com Email: paperandclayfineart@gmail. com facebook.com/triciamessenger.lemuelheida
Her work will be displayed in an art show in April 2024 at the Wilma W Daniels Gallery at CFCC, then “Illumination” at Cameron Art Museum in December 2024.
You can find her pottery at Artisan Tide in Holden Beach/ Supply. Website: https://artisantidenc.com/
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shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 22
Community
Safe Plates Classes January Certification Schools Enrolling STORY CONTRIBUTED’
N
C Cooperative Extension in Brunswick County is offering the Safe Plates Food Safety Manager Class in person in 2024. This comprehensive course is appropriate for food service managers and supervisory staff in restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, childcare facilities, and other food-handling establishments. The upcoming class will be held three days on Monday, Jan. 22, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 from 12:30 pm until 4:30 pm each day. The classes will meet at the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, 4433 Long Beach Road, Southport. The registration fee is $125 per person. This includes all instruction, materials and the certification exam. Participants are encouraged to bring their own snacks, and beverages. Certification will be based on successful passing a written ANSI accredited examination. This certification satisfies the FDA Model Food Code requirement for a Person-in-Charge. Virtual training is also available. Those taking the virtual class can take the certification exam on Feb. 5 at 2:30 pm. The class and training materials will be available in English. The exam is available in Spanish, Korean, Traditional Chinese and Modern Chinese. Requests for tests in a language other than English must be made by Jan. 17. Check the NC Cooperative Extension, Brunswick County Center website for more details or contact Avery Ashley at Brunswick County Center of the N.C. Cooperative Extension, 910-253-2610. Checks should be made out to Brunswick County Cooperative Extension and mailed to PO Box 109, Bolivia, NC 28422. Pre-registration is required. Seating is limited to the first 20 registered.
ABOUT N.C. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION N.C. Cooperative Extension is a strategic partnership of NC State University, N.C. A&T State University, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and local governments statewide. Extension professionals in all 100 counties, and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, connect millions of North Carolinians with research-based information and technology from the universities. Educational programs specialize in agriculture, food and nutrition, 4-H youth development, community development and the environment. Find your local center at www.ces.ncsu.edu/local-county-center.
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shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 23
Community
Fishing For History
all nickels. And so they called this place Nickel Town for a while.”
Maritime Museum Opens New Exhibit STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES
I
f you’re fishing for something to do this winter, stop in to the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport and check out the brand new exhibit on, what else, fishing in Southport! The crew has been hard at work since before the pandemic putting together an interactive and informative collection that highlights not just the role of the fishing industry in the lower Cape Fear, but also tying in the effect hurricanes have had on our region. “It’s a pretty unique story to look at the fishing industry in the Southport and lower Cape Fear area, and that’s one of the things that we wanted to do. We wanted to tell these stories that we haven’t touched on in the past, that are key to understanding this area,” said Museum Manager John Moseley. The display covers the area from around Brunswick Town down through Varnamtown. “When you start around Lockwoods Folly and go up to around Southport and the lower Cape Fear, you find out about all these various dif-
ferent industries that were here, the fish types that were being fished, and how fishing really dominated a lot of the life of this area,” Moseley said. “The exhibit is going to talk about what were the kinds of fish were fished here, stuff like mullet, menhaden, even sturgeon, which most people might find surprising,” he explained. “And then you have the fish processing plants that were on the coast. You have the ships that were being used. So in the exhibit we’re going to talk about the fish, how they were being fished, how they were processed, how they’re canned and what was done with them, and all those local companies that were here.” Have you ever heard of Nickel Town? Moseley found a newspaper story that talked about how the fish factories contributed to that being a nickname for Southport. “There’s a great story of a gentleman from a newspaper, I don’t remember the paper, but coming down here to Southport and calling it Nickel Town,” Moseley said. “I’d never heard of that before and I read the article and apparently it was easier for the business owners to carry around buckets of nickels.
shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 24
So when you’re de-heading shrimp and doing these other things, you get paid a nickel per pound. They were hiring children, this is before the child labor laws, but you had children that were going in and they wanted to get ten cents so they could go to the candy store. The kids would do all this kind of work for a nickel. They could be de-heading shrimp, peeling shrimp, they could be gutting fish, they’d be doing a lot of stuff in these industries. The parents were doing this as well, and so the children were working alongside the parents and that was the family income. And they were getting paid in nickels. And so the stores were getting paid in nickels, going to the banks with bags of nickels, no dollar bills or anything, it’s
One of the jobs done for nickels was squeezing the juice from menhaden. Not the most appealing idea, but useful. “Menhaden was not a very tasty fish, but it was one that was used for the oils and it was also used or its scraps and it was turned into fertilizer for a lot of the crops that were grown in North Carolina. So the fish was very useful in many ways,” Moseley said. “You basically had a very oily fish that you could squeeze and get the oil out and use it for different things. There was something called Menhaden Milk. It was an oily pink substance that you could use for all different types of things.” The fishing industry defined the community for a long time. “So in the exhibit we actually have some of the cases of some of the cans from the canning industry,” Moseley said. “Those were just collected over the years, and people donated them. You’d be surprised, a lot of people when these businesses closed, they would just take a can home with them because they worked there for so long.” Fish stories aren’t limited to the factories though. You’ll learn about how during the World
Community wars, local fishermen went submarine hunting.
which is right off the Cape Fear and which we have artifacts from. There’s all kinds of stories, then you get to ’54 where you have this hurricane that wipes out the fishing fleet. And it’s all over the newspapers all over the country. Prior to that in 1944 there was another hurricane that came up the Cape Fear, followed the same track as Isaias and did about $30 million in damage which at that time was massive.
“You’ve got WW I and WW II that kind of really also shift what’s going on,” Moseley said. “You have the Navy looking for shrimp boat captains and these menhaden boat captains and employing them to look for German U-Boats. “They would fix up the fishing boats so they would look like war boats. You have these shrimp boats that are being armed. They’re removing all the arms and all the netting, they’re upgrading the engines and putting two fifty caliber machine guns on them and depth charges and they’re sending them out into the ocean to look for submarines. “About 1944 they realize then German U-Boat menace isn’t there anymore, so they start bringing them back in and demilitarizing them. They keep some of them and they’re going out just to see if there’s anything suspicious going on, but now they’re throwing the shrimp nets back on the boats, so while they’re going out to hunt for subs they’re also trolling for shrimp. Then they come back in and say ‘Sorry, we didn’t find anything’ then pull up to the dock and offload all their shrimp, so they’re getting paid twice.” Once again, this was a story that was sort of stumbled upon while putting this new exhibit together. “It was the craziest thing. These shrimp boats had been armed for all of this, and I didn’t even know that” Moseley said. “The whole reason I found this is that on the Southport Historical Society website, and in the State Port Pilot’s ‘The Way It Was book,’ was this photograph. And those are all shrimp boats that have been militarized. There was a Navy district based out of Fort Caswell that would keep track of this.” Moseley said there was a fishing boom immediately following the war, no one had been fishing for a few years and stocks were high. “They had to
“These two exhibits will help us talk about how weather can influence business and the way people live.”
be careful because if they caught too much the prices would drop,” he explained. “Nobody for two years had done any shrimping or any menhaden fishing or mullet. And so you read about these guys coming in with a banner day, the boats nearly about to sink because they’re filled with all these fish or shrimp or whatever they’re catching. After the war there was this boom with all this food, and then you’ve got nine years and then (Hurricane) Hazel hit and that just destroys the fishing fleet that was here and the fishing industry that was here.” And that leads into the other half of the exhibit, which shows the changes, both natural and cultural, that hurricanes have brought to our area. “So on one side we have the fishing exhibit and on the other side we have the hurricane exhibit to focus in on how hurricanes have changed the land and the way people live,” Moseley said. “So you’ve got starting in 1761 with the opening of New Inlet where the hurricane comes in and stays for quite some time and cuts a channel between the ocean and the Cape Fear. “We talk about some of the other storms that happened here, the 1778 storm that sank the City of Houston,
And that fits into the museum’s mission perfectly, Moseley said. “As a maritime museum, our job is to preserve what happened here, but is also to teach the people about what was going on here. And since we have so many people that are moving into the area, we want to be responsible and help them understand what it looked like 50, 60 or 100 years ago. And with this we can talk about hurricane season,” he said
because of these storms.’ That’s what we want people to take away from the hurricane exhibit, how much these storms really change the geography of this area and how much they also change the way people are living in this area.” “When people come to the museum, we don’t want them to just read about names, dates and places. We want them to understand the human experience, from the very beginnings with the American Indians here for thousands of years, to European contact, to colonial times, the Civil War, WW II, and how our society has changed through these experiences. We just collect those items that help us tell those stories,” Moseley said. The new exhibit is open now, but will have a grand opening later this month. So stop on by, because if a historian learned new things putting this together, it’s sure to surprise you too.
“We have a lot people here who’ve never seen through a hurricane. We had a newcomers group come through and I asked how many had gone through a hurricane and only about half of them had, and most of those have been not really a hurricane,” he said. “It gets people thinking. We can show the photographs of what happened in this area and the devastation, and it’s not to shock people, it’s to get them to think about ‘Hey, you know what, you’re living on the beach. You never know what’ll happen shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 25
History
Confederate Gunpowder
in classical piano, and played keyboard and bass in several Midwest rock bands! For more information about the Tuesday, Jan. 2 meeting, contact president John Butler at Brunswickcwrt@gmail. com, call him at 404-229-9425, or visit the website at Brunswickcivilwarroundtable.com to learn more, become a member, renew your membership, and learn about member benefits. The group’s Facebook page also has additional information, news, and updates.
Brunswick Civil War Round Table Meeting STORY CONTRIBUTED
G
unpowder was a crucial component of the Confederate war effort. Without a reliable supply, the Confederacy would not have been able to sustain its military operations. Guest speaker Ted Savas will address this topic as he presents “Civil War Uninterrupted: Jefferson Davis, George Washington Rains, and the Confederate Gunpowder Strategy” at the Brunswick Civil War Round Table’s first monthly meeting of the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at Hatch Auditorium on Caswell Beach. Everyone is welcome, and the visitor fee $10 can be applied toward the $25 annual membership dues. Registration begins at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. The Civil War was a brutal conflict that tested the limits of both sides’ resources and resolve. Gunpowder was a vital element. For the Confederacy, at the helm of securing this crucial resource stood two figures: President Jefferson Davis and Colonel George Washington Rains. President Davis, recognizing the importance of self-sufficiency, tasked Colonel Rains with establishing a reliable gunpowder supply. This was no small feat, as the South lacked the industrial infrastructure of the North. Colonel
Rains, a graduate of West Point with experience in engineering, chemistry, and mineralogy, was uniquely qualified for this mission. He meticulously searched for a suitable location, eventually settling on Augusta, Georgia. Under Rains’s leadership, the Confederate States Powder Works was built, including numerous buildings, mills, refineries, and storage facilities. And once up and running, it utilized innovative methods to produce gunpowder efficiently, even with limited
shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 26
resources. It became a vital lifeline for the Confederate army. Despite facing numerous challenges, including Union blockades and internal struggles, this production allowed the Confederate armies to continue fighting despite facing overwhelming odds. This monumental effort, despite adversity, demonstrated the power of human ingenuity and resourcefulness during times of great struggle. Ted Savas was an attorney for many years, an adjunct college instructor, an entrepreneur, award-winning author, and an award-winning publisher. He started a publishing company, co-founded the quarterly journal Civil War Regiments, and co-founded The South Bay Civil War Roundtable. In addition, he is a regular guest on podcasts, online forum presentations, in-person lectures, and offers an occasional online series of classes to help aspiring and veteran authors get on track, stay on track, and negotiate the gears and machinery of the publishing world. Ted was also part of author Clive Cussler’s expedition in 1994-1995 that found the Confederate submarine CSS Hunley off Charleston, South Carolina. He is also an accomplished musician, trained
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CALENDAR
January
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.
DEC 31
Noon Year’s Eve — Ocean Isle Beach
The Town and the Museum of Coastal Carolina team up for this all ages kid-friendly countdown at a time when we can all stay awake. The fun starts at 11 am at Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St. Crafts. Refreshments and a dance party lead up to a special event at noon.
JAN 2
Brunswick Civil War Round Table
“Civil War, Uninterrupted: Jefferson Davis, George Washington Rains, and Confederate Gunpowder Strategy.” George Rains was instrumental in providing Jefferson Davis’s army with gunpowder. This enabled the South to achieve early success at the Battle of Bull Run in 1861, building momentum and confidence in the South’s war effort. It was referred to as the “Confederate gunpowder strategy,” a critical component of their war effort. Guest speaker: Ted Savas is an award-winning author, college professor, attorney, and publisher of a company specializing in military and general history subjects. 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.
JAN 20
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/programsand-events/ to purchase.
JAN 26
Pelican’s Author Series
Pelican Bookstore brings author Stacy Willingham to Silver Coast Winery for this month’s book event. Willingham will promote her book “Only If You’re Lucky.” Meet with the author, get an autographed copy of the book, and enjoy a glass of wine included with your ticket. Call 910-287-2800 for tickets. The Winery is located at 9869 Ocean Highway West, Carolina Shores.
FEB 3
Bella Itaila
Join the Brunswick Community College Foundation at thier annual Bella Italia fundraiser. The event kicks off at 6 pm at the St. James Community Center. Email Teresa Nelson at nelsont@brunswickcc.edu for tickets information.
FEB 6
Brunswick Civil War Round Table
“A Great Race between Two Rivers: Sherman’s March toward Fayetteville.” As part of the Carolinas Campaign, Sherman’s army took control of Fayetteville, destroying the Fayetteville Arsenal, foraged for food and supplies, burned private homes and businesses which demoralized Confederate forces and the civilian population. This was a strategic effort toward ending the war. Guest speaker: Colonel Wade Sokolowsky (Ret.) is a 25-year U.S. army veteran, au-
shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 28
thor, frequent lecturer, and one of North Carolina’s leading experts of the 1865 Carolinas Campaign. The group meets at Hatch Auditorium at Fort Caswell; doors open at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. Anyone can attend; the cost is $10 but can be applied to $25 annual membership dues.
FEB 10
Contra Dance — LCAC
Cape Fear Contra Dance leads a night of live music and folk dance. Participants don’t need a partner, and no experience is necessary! The program is 7-10 pm, and a lesson for beginners kicks things off at 7 pm. Flat, closed shoes are recommended. Tickets are $12; Contra Dance is at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way.
MARCH 1
Diamonds and Denim Charity Ball
The Brunswick Sheriff’s Charitable Foundation holds its annual ball, with proceeds to benefit selected local charities. The Ball is 6-10 pm at the St. James Community Center, 4140 Southport-Supply Road (N.C. 211), and will feature dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions, music by Tru Sol and more. Tickets will be available in January; visit https://www.sheriffscharity.com/.
ONGOING EVENTS
Museum of Coastal Carolina
21 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach
The Museum is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm, and the second Tuesday from 5 to 7 pm for Sandbar Lectures.
Ingram Planetarium
7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach
Doors open at 10:30 am 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.
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. Visit www. ncmaritimemuseum.com to register for special programs. Sea-sons Snow Craft Bags are available Dec 10 to 31 or until sold out. These virtual programs can be done from anywhere with something to cut with, something to attach, and decorating items. Bags come with supplies for four crafts and instructions on how to access video instructions and recorded story time. The kits are appropriate for ages 5 to 12 and adaptable to all abilities. Kits are $7 from the museum or $12 by mail. For more information or to order a kit, contact Curator of Education Katy Menne at (910) 4775153 or katy.menne@ncdcr.gov or go to ncmaritimemuseumsouthport. com/events.
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!
Spottings
Did you get to go see the Ocean Isle Flotilla this year? Not only were there a ton of beautiful and festive boats all decked out for the season, but they raised $50,00 for Brunswick Family Assistance and filled a truck with toys! Great job everyone! We can’t wait for next year!
Thank You for Your Support in 2023 We can’t Wait to See you in 2024!
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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 Museum is open 10 am to 4 pm Thursday
Attractions Guide
through Saturday, and 5-7 pm on the second Tuesday for sandbar lectures.
walk, gazebos at each end and beautiful views of the Shallotte River.
SHALLOTTE RIVER SWAMP PARK
OLD BRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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 board-
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.
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)
OCEAN ISLE MINI GOLF Go Under The Sea at the Museum of Coastal Carolina in Ocean Isle Beach
shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 30
6391 Beach Drive SW Ocean Isle Beach http://oceanisleminigolf.com
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.
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
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
Boat Rentals
1305 Cedar Landing Road SW Supply https://www.holdenbeachjetski.com
OCEAN ISLE FISHING CENTER
SORTA SALTY FISHING CHARTERS
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)
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OLLIE RAJA CHARTERS
3238 Pompano St. SW Holden Beach/Oak Island https://holdenbeachfishingcharters. com/
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SOUTHPORT, NC • BREVARD, NC • FLETCHER, NC • NORTHEAST, MD • BLUEEARTHWORKS.ETSY.COM shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 31
shallottemag.com /January /January 2024/ 2024/ Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine 32