March 2024 Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine

Chuck and Sue Cothran

Jeffrey Stites

jeff@liveoakmediainc.com

Lisa P. Stites

lisa@southportmag.com

Louise Sheffield-Baccarny

Carla Edstrom

Patricia Langer

Jan Morgan-Swegle

Joe Jancsurak

Lisa P. Stites

Jeffrey Stites

Liz Brinker

lcbgraphicdesign@gmail.com

Jeffrey Stites

jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741

Celebrate Spring

Let’s start by saying thank you for your support of this new publication. We’ve been humbled by the response to our first three issues and are looking forward to sharing even more of what makes our community great. To that end, in this issue you’ll meet the couple behind Sunset Porch and Patio and read all about how they can help you get your outdoors ready to enjoy the coming warm, sunny weather (fingers crossed). You’ll also learn about a group that set out to help new mothers who may be struggling and are now expanding their efforts into this part of the county with a new resource center in Shallotte.

Also in this issue is a story that is hopeful, but not at all cheerful. Writer Patricia Langer spoke to the Murgas, a St. James couple whose son took his own life after his return from a tour as an Army Ranger officer in Afghanistan. They are working with an organization called Stop Soldier Suicide that is doing some very important work. As the son of a Vietnam Veteran, this one hits me close to home. We ask that you read this story and share it with anyone who might be affected by PTSD or who has a loved one who may be.

28461

www.shallottemag.com

Community Samara’s Village

Helping New Parents Get A Good Start

STORY BY LOUISE SHEFFIELD-BACCARNY, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Sunday

mornings for many people are spent at church. However and wherever they fellowship may not look the same for everyone though. Some congregate in a sanctuary adorned with stained glass, some in a metal building with a steeple, others are in school cafeterias or converted retail space in a strip mall. Worship services can be found at outdoor venues such as the beach strand or the park and are also streamed online or watched on TV. Regardless of when or where you attend, pastors of all churches share the same hope that you will leave their service with a clear mind, a grateful heart, and a better understanding of God’s Word.

In 2015, four like-minded women also left their church service on a mission. These ladies came together after the Pastor of Generations Church challenged them to find their passion. Through research and prayer, they knew the focus of their group was to help female adolescents, specifically with teen pregnancy, which was a growing problem in Brunswick County. Samara’s Village was founded with the mission to educate, equip and empower pregnant and par-

enting adolescents and their families to raise healthy babies. The name “Samara” means under God’s protection and fit their mission perfectly.

Samara’s Village mentors and volunteers support families’ immediate needs and coordinate with available resources to help meet those needs for three years. Based on when the mother/father comes in for help, they may work with them until the child is 3 or 4 years old. After young parents referred

to the program, Samara’s Village mentors will provide a curriculum to teach them how to be good parents and provide educational support for parents completing their education. Many referrals are made by the court system, but anyone can make a referral via the group’s website as well.

Executive Director Debbie Keener shared that most needs are childcare, transportation and work. With 104 active volunteers, the organization is able to offer pregnancy and parenting coaching, tutoring and educational support, and assist in finding daycare, jobs and housing. A scholarship program titled “RISE” is also now available.

After making such a huge impact in the Southport area for the last eight years, Samara’s Village has recently expanded and opened a Shallotte Resource Center, at 4924 Main St., Unit 8, Shallotte, in late De-

cember. “As our County grows at a rapid pace, so does the need for our services,” explained Communications Chairman Jackie Marlette-Boras.

An array of baby essentials are now available at both locations. Items such as diapers, wipes, formula, clothing, toys, books, cribs and car seats can be picked up during business hours. Samara’s Village also holds Pop-Up shops alongside their community partners to distribute important items for anyone in need.

Keener said they are always looking for a host location that is large enough, adding that they served approximately 120 families at a previous Pop Up. Coastal Church of Shallotte, Seaside Methodist Church of Sunset Beach and Port City Community Church of Leland have each hosted a Pop-Up. Samara’s Village’s community partners for education, career, child development, medical and mental health, counseling and family services are also on hand to answer questions and provide information to these families on how and where their specific needs can be met.

This non-profit organization relies on donations and volunteers, and Samara’s Village looks to the community

for help meeting needs. Two years ago, Village Treasures, an upscale resale store, was opened at 1513 N. Howe St. in Southport, and profits from the store benefit Samara’s Village as well. Both resource centers strive to keep the shelves stocked in case of any critical need, and donations of new and gently used items can be dropped off on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 am to 1 pm at the Shallotte location and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 am to 1 pm at the Southport location, 1450F, Fifty Lakes Drive, Boiling Spring Lakes (next to the Olde Brunswick Store). The organization’s website includes a list of needed items as well as links to Walmart and Amazon registries that make giving even easier.

Samara’s Village has had 308 participants referred to them for help. The program currently has 25 moms working with motherhood mentors and four dads working with fatherhood mentors. Volunteers are crucial and there is a strong need for bilingual volunteers at this time. Marlette-Boras stresses that funding for Samara’s Village is key for further expansion or any future plans for this grassroots organization to grow smart in Brunswick County and help as many mothers and fathers as possible. A Grand Opening for the new Shallotte location will be held on March 7, when board members, local churches and lo-

cal physicians are invited to see the new site and learn about the services and how they can refer participants. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and Samara’s Village is hoping you will come and join them in carrying out the vision of building a strong community, one child at a time.

Please visit samarasvillage.org or call (910) 294-0292 for more information about becoming a volunteer, mentor, making a donation or becoming a community partner.

A young mom helped by Samara’s Village painted a mural in the new Shallotte resource center

Sunset Porch & Patio

Offering Outdoor Furniture And More

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES

AsSpring approaches, it’s time to look to sprucing up our outdoor spaces. Why live in a beach paradise if you’re not going to spent time outside enjoying it, right? When it comes to patio furniture, finding just the right pieces that are sturdy, pretty, and will last longer than a couple seasons can be a challenge. Sunset Porch and Patio is here to help! We spoke to Mary Meredith about how she and her crew can help make your outdoor spaces beautiful.

How long has Sunset Porch and Patio been in business here in Sunset Beach?

We opened in April of 2021.

What is your background?

Kris ran a automotive shop that he was in the process of purchasing and I was in real estate and pharmaceutical sales. Covid hit and we had some life changes that helped

us to decide we didn’t want to wait until we retired to move to Ocean Isle. We sold everything we owned, moved into our vacation condo and started looking for work or business opportunities in the area. One of our condo friends was a friend of our manufacturer, and we went to buy a set of chairs for the condo and struck up a conversation and asked him if he would be interested in letting us sell his furniture in the Sunset

Beach/Ocean Isle Beach area. With neither of us ever being in furniture sales, we have to say divine intervention helped with giving us a vision for the store.

You offer a wide variety of furniture. Can you give us an idea of what types

of things customers can expect to find in your store?

We sell outdoor furniture and decor with a large volume of high density polyethylene (HDPE) furniture. We have tables, chairs, loungers, soft seating, fire pits, Adirondacks, rocking chairs and gliders, pretty much any style of outdoor furniture needs in HDPE. We also carry artwork from local artists, like metal hanging pieces, paintings, birdhouses and corn hole boards. Then we also have lobster rope mats from Maine, beautiful costal outdoor throw pillows, and all types of unique looking PVC birds.

Syp N’Slyde

What is the advantage of using HDPE furniture?

Our furniture is proudly made in North Carolina and comes with a best-in-class 20-year warranty — no rusting on any of the solid stainless steel and no cracking or fading on any of the HDPE. This furniture is a one and done. You pay a little more for HDPE upfront, but you never have to replace it. There are so many manufacturers of the polyethylene, customers need to be aware that there are different qualities in the material and various warranties offered by other manufacturers, so do your research.

Anyone who offers a limited warranty on fading is not one you want to buy. That typically means its color is not solid all the way through and will fade. Our manufacturer and several others offer no fading for the entire 20 years because our material is solid color all the way through.

Size and weight also play a role in what you buy. Most of our furniture is typically wider and heavier than others, so they are not

blown around easily and don’t bend and give over time.

The colors in your showroom are stunning. What sort of upkeep is needed to keep them looking great?

No maintenance is required for HDPE. You just clean when it looks dirty. You can clean it with soap and water or a bleach 50/50 mixture. Some people use a light setting pressure washer as well to keep them looking new.

What are the advantages to working with a local business?

With our shop you support us. We carry and support made in the USA manufacturers. Our top selling brand is made in North Carolina. All of are artists are local to Brunswick County, and a few of our other lines we have and will start carrying are all made in the USA. Love where you live and love on who lives there too — Shop local, buy local, support your local small businesses as we are the ones who support the local charities, eat at our local restaurants, and support other local small businesses.

Do you deliver, and if so, how far will you go?

We do deliver. Sunset and Ocean Isle Beach are free delivery, then delivery outside of those areas is $35-75. We have also had furniture dropped shipped out of state for an additional cost.

Any future plans for the store?

Yes, we are working to expand what we offer with additional manufactures based off of requests from customers. More information to come out

soon!

Please feel free to add anything else you’d like to share.

We are a huge supporter of local charities and events in the area, such as Brunswick Family Assistance, Hope Harbor Home Inc., Ocean Isle Beach Flotilla, Ocean Isle Beach Oyster Festival, and other various smaller events. We feel very blessed to be a part of the community and are so thankful for the support of everyone in the Brunswick County area and beyond.

Stop Soldier Suicide

Local Couple Helps Address National Crisis

STORY BY PATRICIAL LANGER, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Thank you for your service. We say it when we see soldiers in uniform or a veteran wearing a military hat, to express our appreciation for the time they spent defending our nation. We say it in recognition of the sacrifices that soldiers make on our behalf; family separations, lack of financial gain; risk of injury or death. But sometimes, a soldier’s service comes at a price far greater than we can fathom. More than 500,000 veterans have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the United States and soldier death by suicide has become a national epidemic. As a society, we are failing to take care of the men and women who defend our freedoms. Stop Soldier Suicide is an organization that aims to change that.

Stop Soldier Suicide (SSS) is a non-profit organization that aims to reduce the military suicide rate by helping those in immediate crisis, and by conducting research to identify, understand, and address the underlying issues of PTSD suicide. SSS serves active service members and veterans in all branches of the US military. Veterans Bri-

an Kinsella, Nick Black and Craig Gridelli founded SSS in 2010 amid the worst suicide crisis our military has ever experienced. Sadly, the crisis is far from over.  The suicide risk for active service members and veterans in the US is currently 57 percent higher than the national average.

If there is any doubt that military death by suicide is at epidemic levels, consider the following numbers.

The VA’s National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report for 2023 reported there were 6,392 veteran suicides in 2021.

The Department of Defense’s 2023 Annual Report on Suicide in the Military stated there were 524 suicide deaths among active military personnel in 2021.   Combining the two numbers indicates an average of 19 military suicides per day, with the highest number of deaths in the 18-34 age group.

As a point of reference, the total of 6,916 military deaths by suicide in 2021, just one year, compares to a total of 2,462 service members killed during the entire War in Afghanistan, which spanned from October of 2001 to August of 2021.

Many questions surround these alarming statistics.  Some speculate that multiple deployments in Afghanistan, due in part to the length of the war and the absence of a U.S. draft, have resulted in soldiers who endure a prolonged atmosphere of “fight or flight,” which takes a heavy toll on the psyche.  Soldiers receive little reintegration counseling upon their return.  The military training that demands physical and mental toughness from soldiers, creates a mindset

loved G.I. Joes.”

that prevents them from admitting to psychological struggles or seeking help.  To make matters worse, the modern culture in the United States can be socially isolating, making it hard for young veterans to find a strong network of support.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has recently taken measures to analyze and address the suicide crisis, siting financial strain, alcohol and drug abuse, difficulties transitioning from military to civilian life, physical injuries, anxiety and depression among the factors contributing to soldier suicide.  The DoD acknowledges, however, that PTSD, an invisible but very serious war injury, is by far the leading cause of suicide among active military and veterans, particularly over the last twenty years.

Beloved Local Soldier Made Great Impact in Life and in Death

Captain Austin Murga of the United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Division always wanted to be a soldier.

“From the time he was a little boy, he always wanted to chase the bad guys” his mom Gay recalls.

Austin, an only child adored by his parents, was a fun-loving, energetic boy who loved the outdoors.

“He didn’t really play with video games or electronics,” said his dad Kevin.  “But he

Austin was a natural leader from a young age.  He was an Eagle Scout, he served as captain of his high school championship wrestling team, and he was known to always stick up for other kids.  He had an adventurous spirit and an infectious laugh that earned him the “Best Laugh” superlative for his senior class in 2012.

Austin graduated from the prestigious Virginia Military Academy in 2016 and earned his Ranger Tab at Fort Benning shortly thereafter.  Assigned to the the 82nd Airborne Division, Capt. Murga was regarded as an outstanding officer, beloved by his “Joes” for his approachability and compassion, and for his “death squeeze hugs.”

In 2019 Austin Murga was deployed to Afghanistan, where he served proudly for nine months.

Austin’s parents, Gay and Kevin Murga, were thrilled when he returned safely to Fort Bragg.  Austin, however, found his new assignment increasingly difficult and admitted to feeling that he lacked a sense of purpose.  The Murgas knew their son was struggling to find his footing but had no idea that he was so deeply damaged by PTSD.  They said he was happy and funny when he came home to visit, even talking with his parents about plans for the future.  There were no obvious, outward signs of his inner turmoil.  The consummate soldier hid his pain to protect those he served and

Gay and Kevin Murga

Captain Austin Murga

those he loved.

On September 7, 2020, just six months after his return from Afghanistan, Captain Austin Murga succumbed to PTSD and died by suicide.

Austin’s parents thought the danger to their son’s life was over when he came back from the war zone.

“You expect it to happen over there,” his father said. “You don’t expect it to happen here.”

Making an Impact

In the days and months following Austin’s death, The Murgas searched for answers.  They also searched for ways to battle the suicide crisis afflicting our military community.  Their exhaustive research taught them several things.

“Having military PTSD is not a weakness,”  Gay Murga states emphatically.  “It’s an injury caused by physical damage to the neurons in a person’s brain.”   There is an abundance of data to back that up.

The Murgas also learned that the VA has historically been overwhelmed and illequipped to handle the epidemic levels of military deaths by suicide.  And they learned that Stop Soldier Suicide is an excellent organization to fill the gap.

SSS’s mission is “to reduce service member and veteran suicide by using enhanced data insights, focused client acquisition, and suicide specific intervention services.”  SSS provides 24/7 mental health care through telehealth services.  Soldiers receive a one-

on-one wellness coordinator who develops a personalized treatment plan that includes suicide-specific care for their physical and mental health, resources and referrals, information on alternative therapies, education and training.  SSS provides consistent care that is deemed “disruptive and pro-active.”

Key components to the success of SSS are the fact that it’s completely confidential and completely free.  SSS is fully funded by donations and therefore able to provide its services at no cost to the soldier.  Veterans never need to worry about the financial strain of mental health treatment.  And because SSS is an independent organization, with no reporting to the Dept of Defense or the VA, active-duty soldiers can contact them without fear of damage to their military career.  Veterans can engage with SSS and not worry about the stigma that still hovers around mental health issues within the military community.

Gay and Kevin Murga have become ardent supporters and advocates of SSS, but not before conducting some very thorough research on the organization.

“Here’s why we love SSS” Gay Murga said.  “They respond immediately.”

Gay knows firsthand.  She called the SSS hotline to test the responsiveness and was thrilled with the results.  She went on to praise the organization’s free and confidential counseling, and its 24/7 availability.  She also noted that SSS provides client-specific and ongoing services, staying

READY TO SEE YOU

SCAN TO BE SEEN TODAY!

with a soldier for an average of 1.5 years.

US Military Gains Ground

By all accounts, the US military and the VA have struggled when it comes to identifying and prioritizing veterans at risk for suicide.  Problems such as a lack of manpower, ineffective services, excessive red tape, and inaccurate data limit the responsiveness.   As part of the Biden administration’s national strategy to address the suicide crisis, the VA made a remarkable announcement in January of 2022:  a veteran in suicidal crisis could seek immediate care at any VA or non-VA hospital in the United States, including inpatient and outpatient services, completely free of charge.   In January of 2023, CBS news reported that nearly 50,000 distressed veterans responded during the first year of this new policy.

The VA also initiated a 24/7 emergency hotline in 2022 called the “Veterans Crisis Line.” Veterans in despair are urged to call or text “988” then hit “1” to reach a crisis counselor.  While these new measures represent great progress, there is still an urgent need for more, which is when organizations like SSS come into play.

In 2022, Stop Soldier Suicide served

1,400 veterans and active service members, providing 17,500 hours of care.  Impressed with its success, Gay and Kevin Murga made a decision to help SSS with its research.

SSS Wins VA Award for Its Black Box Project

In 2022, Stop Soldier Suicide was the winner of the US Dept of Veteran Affairs “Mission Daybreak” grand challenge, designed to accelerate innovative solutions for addressing the critical issue of Veteran suicides. SSS was awarded $3,250,000 for their groundbreaking “Black Box Project,” which aims to redefine how we understand and respond to suicide risk through research and analysis.

Families of soldiers who died by suicide agree to loan their loved one’s digital devices to SSS, allowing a team of forensic experts to scan for warning signs of depression and distress.  Utilizing artificial intelligence, SSS can study patterns in soldiers’ behaviors during the months, weeks, and days leading up to an attempted suicide.

Algorithms are developed based on social media usage, online research, and phone activity, which can help researchers spot warning signs of suicide risks.  Gay and Kev-

in Murga graciously loaned Austin’s devices to SSS as part of the initial Black Box Project study.

“We thought really hard about it.” Kevin Murga said.  “It’s like handing over your child’s personal journal.  We had to trust that it wouldn’t be misused.  In the end, we

felt we had to take the chance, knowing we could help save lives.”

Searching for other ways to channel

Captain Austin Murga Memorial Golf Tournament

their grief into positive action and honor their son’s life, the Murgas, along with the help of good friend Steve Rice, organized a charity golf tournament at the St. James Players Club in 2021.  That first year, 90 people registered to play in the “Captain Austin Murga Memorial Golf Tournament and Silent Auction” and raised $27,000 for Stop Soldier Suicide.  In 2022, 120 golfers participated and raised $57,000.  In 2023, registration soared to 180 golfers and raised a whopping $105,000, making the tournament SSS’s largest donor in NC!

“The residents of St. James and the small businesses of Southport and our surrounding communities have been truly amazing in their support!” said Gay Murga.  “We were able to do all this without any corporate sponsors.”

Given the tremendous growth of the tournament, organizers are seeking corporate sponsorships for this year’s tournament to be held on September 7, 2024.

A Call to Arms in the Fight to Stop Soldier Death by Suicide

By all accounts, Capt. Murga was an outstanding soldier and a strong leader in the 82nd Airborne Division.  He was a well-loved young man from a happy, stable family.  Athletic, handsome, funny and outgoing, he certainly didn’t fit the stereotype of a suicide risk.  But Austin suffered from PTSD as a result of his time in Afghanistan, a terrible injury he kept well-hidden.  Tragically, his battle with PTSD was a war he could not win on his own.

Austin’s death by suicide represents a crisis in our military, a crisis in our nation.  As citizens, we bear a responsibility to serve our soldiers better upon their return from deployment.  As a nation, it’s our duty to care for the physical and mental well-being of our veterans. Stop Soldier Suicide can help, but they need our support to continue their work.

Thank you for your service.

For more information or to donate to SSS, go to www.StopSoldierSuicide.org or send a check by mail to:

Stop Soldier Suicide

P. O. Box 110605

Durham, NC 27709

For information on sponsoring or participating in the Captain Austin Murga Memorial Tournament to Benefit SSS, contact Steve Rice at:  steverice11618@ yahoo.com or call (919) 485-9254.

2024 Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour

Tour Airlie Gardens as well as 10 private gardens, including a trolley tour of four "Secret Gardens" Gardens are open 10 am - 5 pm each day

Sunday features an Art Sale

Purchase tickets in advance online at: www.capefeargardenclub.org , until March 29 or at these retailers:

All in Bloom • Southport

Ricky Evans Art Gallery • Southport

Sweet Nectar’s Florist • Leland

Tickets will also be available at the trolley stop and in most of the gardens during the tour

Senior Gator Games

Compete In Athletic And Artistic Events

STORY BY LISA STITES, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Keeping active mentally and physically is important at any age, and many Brunswick County seniors are remaining active while having fun and competing at the same time. Brunswick County had more participants in last year’s Local Senior Games than any of the 53 such events held throughout North Carolina, and more than 100 Brunswick County participants went on to compete at the state level last year. The Local Senior Games, or Gator Games, have been held in Brunswick County since 1988, and saw 500 Brunswick County participants last year in a variety of athletic competitions and SilverArts categories, according to Gator Games Ambassadors Chris and Gary Ettl-Mlynek.

The games are open to residents ages 50 and “better,” as those involved describe it. The entry fee is just $15 and includes more than 70 sports and arts categories. Sign ups are going on now, and online registration ends March 20. Events take place April 3 through May 24. Sports categories include individual events like football throwing, basketball shooting, golf, track and field events, and a whole slew of swimming races, and team sports include tennis, pickleball, bowling, table tennis, and more.

New this year are mini-golf and a 5K and 10K run, Chris and Gary explained. “There really is something for everyone and all skill levels are welcome. Online registration closes on March 20th. Be a Gator!  We hope to see previous participants and lots

of new friends! Spectators are welcome at all events to cheer on participants.”

Competitors can also enter several arts categories, including literary contests, performing arts, painting, photography, sculpture and heritage arts like basketweaving and crocheting, among many others. Register at https://bcparks.recdesk.com/Community/Page?pageId=7961, or visit ncseniorganes.org for more information.

In their role as Ambassadors, Chris and Gary assist Local Games Coordinator Khrystye Haselden, who works as the 50 and Over Program Coordinator for Brunswick County’s Parks and Recreation Department.

“This is a joy! We try to spread the word through the press, visits and presentations to various groups throughout the county during the year,” Chris said. “We have assisted at the state level as well. We love to volunteer in this capacity because it is a great way to meet new people in our greater community. It’s wonderful and very inspiring to meet active and creative members par-

ticipating in the games.”

Though there are plenty of arts categories, it’s the athletic competitions that see more participation in Brunswick County, especially the ever-popular pickleball category. Chris and Gary said they are trying to get more participants in all of the categories, including the SilverArts. This will be the second year that the events include a “Coffee and Conversation” at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, when artists can meet fellow participants. SilverArts winners will receive ribbons at the showcase, and overall winners will receive medals at the Follies Show.

As Ambassadors, Chris and Gary encour-

age people to participate in the games. All participants can attend the opening day activities and the SilverArts Follies Showcase. Both are catered events and offer recognition for athletes and artists.

Individuals, or groups, who want more information can contact Haselden at 910253-2670. For anyone who is unsure about giving the games a shot, Chris and Gary have a simple response.

“Give it a try! Senior Games are for everyone 50 and better. Get out there and meet someone new. It’s fun and friendly competition, and for the entry fee you get a lot!”

Community Living With Water

Improving Infrastructure And Environment

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES

TheBattleship North Carolina welcomed more than 232,000 visitors last year, making 2023 the best year, financially, for the ticket sales-supported attraction. But as strong as those numbers are, there were days and times the Battleship faced unscheduled closures due to parking lot flooding during extreme high tides, according to Capt. Terry Bragg, executive Director of the Battleship North Carolina. Thanks to a new project called Living With Water, the Battleship will soon be leaving that problem in her wake. At a groundbreaking in February, representatives of the many organizations involved celebrated the beginning of what they referred to as a visionary project.

“By re-engineering the shoreline, creating a constructed wetland and elevating the parking lot, the project will reduce battleship vulnerability to river flooding,” said Dena Merlino Scott, Marketing Director for the Battleship. “Living with Water will restore natural aquatic habitats for an array of wildlife, including shrimp and blue crabs. Native trees, shrubs, and marsh plants will support nesting and migratory birds. The living shoreline is expect-

ed to lessen wave and tidal erosion, while the created wetland will capture, hold and direct the flood waters. The living shoreline is unique, but replacing a parking lot with a wetland is visionary.”

Battleship Commission Vice Chairman Mike Bradshaw said tracking of the frequency and severity of flooding began in 2015, and in 2018, the engineering firm of Moffatt & Nichol was engaged to lead a flood mitigation project that should take eight months to complete. The project will include construction of a living shoreline and wetlands along with raising the elevation of the parking lot.

According to Capt. Bragg, design is complete, all permits are in hand, and funding is available. He said that education and outreach will also be a part of the project. The University of

North Carolina at Wilmington will be creating a “living lab” onsite to study the project and the new habitats it creates. More than 100,000 plants, a marsh grass called Spartina Patens, will be planted as part of Living with Water.

Will Summers, Interim executive Director of the North Carolina Land and Water trust Fund said, “What I love about the Living with Water project is that it solves a prob-

lem, flooding, but it does it with a nature-based solution. This project will let us show visitors there’s a better way to solve this kind of problem.”

Krista McCracken, member of the Kerr McGee Natural Resources Trust Fund Trustees, said, “We’ve been saying this project is special from the start. This project is uniquely positioned to show how nature-based solutions can provide community resilience benefits, protect infrastructure, instill value and protect ecological health.

“Thousands of visitors will be stepping off their busses and out

of their cars, walk along the pathways and learn about what has been done here to improve both their visitor experience and the ecological health of the area.”

“This project is having your cake and eating it too,” Summers said.

Capt. Bragg summed it all up saying, “I’m glad we checked all the boxes, because our hearts are in taking care of the Battleship North Carolina.”

Chamber of Commerce Events

Wine, Women And Chocolate

Network With Fellow Business Women

Join the Brunswick County Chamber at the Ultimate Girls Night Out Wine, Women & Chocolate! Entry is $50 and includes admission to the event, one drink ticket, one raffle ticket, shopping and food (including chocolate). The event will be hosted at Sea Trail Convention Center, 75A Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach, on March 6 from 5:30 to 8 pm.

BrunsCo Biz Forum and Expo

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

There are two parts to this networking event.

The Forum kicks off the event and includes breakfast and lunch, along with two Keynote speakers and with a morning and afternoon breakout sessions. The Forum will conclude with an after-hours social, a great opportunity to network with other attendees and businesses. You can attend the Forum and also enjoy the Expo throughout the day!

The Biz Expo will have all of your business, home and service needs in one place! See what these showcased Brunswick County businesses have to offer! The Expo will be ongoing throughout the entire day.

We hope you didn’t miss the First Annual Ozzie’s Oyster Roast last month! The event kicked off the 2024 Oyster Festival and a fine time was had by all enjoying live music, local beers, oysters, a low country boil and s’mores, all at the beautiful Calabash Marina.

Sea Notes Concert

Spring Show Takes Us To The Movies

STORY BY LISA STITES

Brunswick County will be in the movies again, at least in song. The Sea Notes Choral Society’s spring concert, “Let’s Go to The Movies” will offer favorites from classic Hollywood flicks and more recent classics in the making. Performances are March 23-24, at 3 pm both days, at Odell Williamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community College, 50 College Road, Bolivia. Concerts are free to attend.

The concert will feature songs from movie favorites such as “The Wizard of Oz,” “Casablanca,” “Top Gun,” and “Dirty Dancing,” among others.

Sea Notes is made up of volunteer singers and conductors, accompanists and a Board of Directors, and has been performing for all sorts of gatherings, programs and ceremonies since 1974, according to the group’s website, https://sea-notes.com/. The Choral Society generally performs a spring concert, patriotic programs around the July 4th celebrations, and a Christmas concert.

One of those volunteer singers is Julie Sloup, who said she usual-

ly sings second soprano, but has dropped down to alto to help out on occasion. Sloup is also an accomplished flute player, and plays with another group of volunteer musicians, Brunswick Bands. She also sings and plays at Trinity United Methodist in Southport, and is involved in a new group with three flutes and three harps.

Sloup retired about a year-anda-half ago from Virginia Williamson Elementary. She moved to Brunswick County about 25 years ago, and has been singing with Sea Notes since 2000.

“When I moved to Brunswick County in 1998,” Sloup said, “I was excited to find opportunities

to join music groups like the concert band and Sea Notes. I enjoy experiencing the styles of our different directors, and there is something exciting about seeing the progress from first rehearsal to performance.”

Sloup has been singing since her high school days, when her mother took her along when she was singing in a community choir.

With the upcoming spring concert all about movies, Sloup said she is most excited about the selections from “The Sound of Music,” because it “ranks right up there with ‘The Music Man’ for me.”

See Sloup and all the Sea Notes singers as they set the stage for a spirited spring season full of music and good gatherings with friends and family.

Art Beat

Experimental Art

Lemuel Heida Pushes The Boundries

STORY BY CARLA EDSTROM

After

struggling with PTSD and depression, artist and photographer Lemuel Heida discovered photography as a means of expressing himself, drawing experience from his military service and mental illness to speak about pain, fear, and control. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Lemuel now lives in Supply. “I joined the military after September 11th, and was stationed in NC. I never left the beach once I was done with that part of my life. I have been here since 2002.”

Though Lemeul has a background in IT and Business, he said art has always been where his heart was. “I graduated from UNCW with a BA in Studio Art in 2019. I have attended several schools and trainings, including Penland School of Arts and Crafts for alternative processes in photography, which I am a big fan of and is the reason that led me to art school.”

Building things and using tools with his hands have proved beneficial skills he picked up after working at Home Depot. “I enjoyed learning tools and materials, refinishing furniture, and building small projects. Anything where I am using my hands, I am in my zone,” he said. “I like to build and create, so when I got to art school, I took to the

sculpture room right off,” he said.

“I knew I had talent, skill, and creativity at an early age when I found some of my father’s sketches as a kid. I told my mom I wanted to draw like this, and she sat me down with a pencil and paper. She then placed a drinking glass on the table and told me to draw it. I drew the ellipse of the glass, and that impressed her. I also remember showing her a photo I made when I was 11; she said it could be a postcard. Small reinforcements like that were helpful throughout high school when I was drawing and writing,” he said.

similar to that of many artists; usually, an idea presents itself, and a creative chain reaction starts. “It usually starts with an idea, brainstorming, or the materials themselves. I mostly work in photos, building cameras, making paper, experimenting, and inventing new tools or processes. That’s how we have photography today; a bunch of chemists and inventors were fooling around with glass, metal, light, and acids,” he said.

objects and recycled and reclaimed items that normally would be thrown away. It’s fun to take items and repurpose them and make something beautiful or thought-provoking,” he said.

Lemuel’s creative process is

Creative people benefit from having someone who they can bounce ideas off and honestly critique their work. Lemuel’s wife, Tricia Messenger, also likes experimenting with new art techniques and processes. “We create new artwork together every night, positively challenge or critique each other’s art projects,” said Lemuel.

“I like using wood and natural found

Having a background in so many things has been a positive for Lemuel when it comes to knowing how to put something together. Currently, Lemuel is teaching a Printmaking class at Brunswick Community College in Southport. “Printmaking in the traditional sense is very new to me. I studied the history of it and was always around the printers on the second floor of the art building right across from the darkroom, and it’s interesting how I

often approach things with an ‘opposite the norm’ rule. I started in digital photography before art school and discovered the dark room. Then it was after graduation when I took a printmaking class,” he said. “I always knew I would enjoy woodcuts and any type of carving! I enjoy light so much that I almost always put light into or at least on my sculpture. I also enjoy paper making because its uses are unlimited. Sculpture, light fixtures, casting, photo, painting, printing…I use it for everything.”

Lemuel focuses on making and showing sculptures and art a few times a year. “I will have a few pieces in the student art show at Cape Fear Community College where I still take one to two classes per year. I have my first solo show coming up this summer with a line of sculptures that I created and designed just in the past few weeks that I am very excited about. Later on this Fall, I will have some pieces at the annual TriState

Sculptors Conference and I plan on making another lantern for Illumination 2024 at the CAM (Cameron Museum of Art in Wilmington). I like to show about twice a year and I do not use social media much

to show or promote my work. It’s just what works best for me. I am old school and very personable and like dealing with people one-on-one in person.”

Lemuel has won several awards for his photography, including Best in Show at the 2016 All Student Art Show at The University of North Carolina at Wilm-

ington, where his photographs are part of the permanent collection. In 2016, he was also awarded a full scholarship to The Penland School of Crafts to study some of his other passions, such as alternative processes in photography, building cameras and lenses, and making handmade paper. He is also the Volunteer Coordinator of UNCW’s Art Therapy Club and is very involved with the Student Veterans Association.

To contact Lemuel about his work, email him directly at lemuel_heida2000@yahoo.com

Safe Plates Classes

Certification

Training For Food Service

CONTRIBUTED

Thenext Safe Plates course will be held March 1 and 25. This comprehensive course is appropriate for food service managers and supervisory staff in restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, childcare facilities, and other food-handling establishments.

NC Safe Plates is a food safety certification course developed by North Carolina State University. Safe Plates for Food Managers differs from other food safety manager trainings as it is taught through case studies, storytelling, activities and discussion. This class is interactive and encourages participants to engage with the material.

Food service managers successfully completing the exam will meet the 2022 FDA Food Code requirement for an ANSI (American National Standards Institution) approved Certified Food Protection Manager. Managers will receive a certificate to display

in their operation which will verify to the local Environmental Health Department that they are in compliance. A certified person in charge (PIC) should be present at all times the establishment is in operation.

The classes will meet at the NC Cooperative Extension Training Center at the Government Center in Bolivia from 9 am until 4 pm on each day. The registration fee is $125 per person. This includes all instruction, materials and the exam. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch, snacks and beverages.

Instructor for the classes will be Cheryle Jones Syracuse and Avery Ashley, both Family and Consumer Science Team Members with NC Cooperative Extension in Brunswick County. Staff members from Brunswick County Environmental Health will also be on hand to answer questions.

The class will be taught in English and the book and the handout materials are available in English only. The Food Safety Manager Certification test is available in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Spanish.

For more information or to register, contact Avery Ashley at Brunswick County Center of the NC Cooperative Extension 910253-2610. Checks should be made out to Brunswick County Cooperative Extension and mailed to PO Box #109, Bolivia, NC 28422. It is recommended that participants pay in-person at the office in Bolivia and pick up books and study materials before the class. Pre-registration is required. Seating is limited to the first 30 registered.

Cape Fear Explorers

Amateur Archaeologists Dig Up History

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MCKENZIE BARWICK

“Digging up the past to make it last, Cape Fear Explorers are dedicated to preserving lost history.” –Jacob Obriant

Cape Fear Explorers is a non-profit organization dedicated toward the recovery and preservation of artifacts. The group was established in 2020 with only four members, and they have added an additional six to the team since then. Team members include Kevin Mercer, Kyle Mercer, Justin Macklin, Nathan Ingram, Jacob Obriant, Jake Auman, TJ Randolph, Ethan Albright, Noah Daigneault, and Jack Hooker. The main thing the explorers set out to do is share with the community the local artifacts found in the Cape Fear Region. Some of those local artifacts include civil war buttons, bullets, coins, and jewelry.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with original team member Justin Macklin, and he spoke on the importance of these artifacts in our area.

Justin also happens to be one of my long-time pals and I’ve watched his

fiery passion for relic hunting over the years. “Our past doesn’t define us, but it has sculpted us into what we are today and being able to find different things and shed light on the past is really important,” Macklin said.

“There ain’t no telling what you might find, something that might change your life forever.”

–TJ Randolph

you can’t detect them. You just come across them. Original team member Kevin Mercer added, “I like to think we are showing people that history isn’t something just found in a book.”

Macklin’s favorite thing about the explorers is the research that comes before the hunt. “It’s an awesome quest,” Macklin said. “The personal things we find such as diaries, jewelry, and ID tags can help us identify a solider and that feeling is awesome.” Another one of Macklin’s favorite things to find is bottles because

“With each newly discovered relic comes a newlydiscovered story.” –Noah Daigneault

The group’s members are all dive certified making their search for artifacts not limited to land only. But when it comes to their searches on land, there have been several times when they have found things in people’s back yards. “They don’t even know what’s buried in their yard, and you uncover artifacts, and in turn you’re able to share the history of something right there where they live,” Macklin said. Team member Jack Hooker added, “Saving history isn’t just recovering artifacts, it’s learning where we

History

came from and reveals how we have grown.”

A recent discovery made by team member Jake Auman was a Georgia frame buckle crafted exclusively for the Confederate army by McElroy and Hunt. It was predominantly worn by North Carolina and Georgia troops in the American Civil War and had been in the ground for more

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” –Justin Macklin

than 160 years. The buckle was found along the Cape Fear River. “We explore where no one else dares to go in search of forgotten history,” Auman said.

the ring, saving the happy couple’s big day.

While something big is currently in the works for the group that they’re not ready to shared with the public yet, their latest news is the Cape Fear Exporers new rotating display at the Fort Johnson Visitor Center and Museum at Fort Johnston, 203 E. Bay St. Justin and I stopped by the museum for a few pictures after our interview. It was his first time seeing the display and as you can see in the pictures, it was exciting for him and the

whole team! This display will rotate every month so be sure to check it out because it has some neat things from all their discoveries.

If you are interested in learning more about the Cape Fear Explorers, they have a Facebook group with more than 125,000 followers where they post pictures and stories about what they are currently finding. Good luck to the boys!

In early May of 2023, Oak Island resident Christian Stiller had been swimming with his dogs and lost a family heirloom that had been passed down in the family. Macklin was quick to show up and help locate the ring. Within minutes it was discovered with the proper equipment and knowledge that comes from doing this for a long time. There was another instance that a ring bearer in a local wedding ceremony had lost the ring in the water in preparation for the wedding. That’s news you wouldn’t want to deliver to the bride. Macklin once again put the family at ease by showing up with his detector and locating

Civil War POW Camps

Brunswick Civil War Round Table Meeting

The Civil War brought about significant challenges, including the treatment of prisoners of war (POWs) on both sides. Prisons were horrible and terrifying places where overcrowding and unsanitary conditions were commonplace. This troubling part of Civil War history is the subject of the Brunswick Civil War Round Table’s guest speaker Angela Zombek, Ph.D. in her presentation “Treated Worse Than Felons Before Prisons Were Reformed: The Civil War’s Crisis of Imprisonment.” The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 5 at Hatch Auditorium on Caswell Beach. Everyone is welcome.

Before significant prison reforms were implemented, conditions in both the Union and Confederate facilities were deplorable. The treatment of prisoners was influenced by a number of factors including inadequate resources, logistical challenges, and a lack of established protocols for handling a large number of captives. Overcrowding led to cramped and unsanitary conditions. Many inadequate shelters were makeshift tents or poorly constructed wooden structures making imprisonment especially unsatisfactory during harsh weather conditions. Food shortages were common, medical facilities were

primitive, and inadequate sanitation often led to numerous diseases. Physical and psychological abuse by guards and fellow prisoners was also common. Some prisoners were subjected to vio-

lence, torture, or harsh punishments, contributing to an ongoing environment of fear and hostility.

Although prison was a hostile place on both sides, the south had a reputation of having the worst prisons known to man at the time. The south was home to some of the largest and most historic prison camps in the war. One such prison camp was Andersonville Prison in Andersonville, Georgia, the deadliest prison in the Civil War. Of the 45,000 Union soldiers imprisoned, 13,000 died there. On the Union side, Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio was established in 1861 with an original capacity of 4,000 men, but at times more than 7,000 prisoners were housed there. There was also Camp Douglas in Chicago, Illinois sometimes described as “The North’s Andersonville,” the largest Union POW camp.

Of the 26,000 interned over the four years, roughly 4,000 died from starvation, execution, or exposure.

It’s important to note that as the war progressed, both the Union and Confederate took steps to improve the treatment of prisoners. In fact, the establishment of the Geneva Conventions in 1864 marked an international effort to establish standards for the treatment of POWs during armed conflict.

Angela Zombek is an historian of the Civil War Era, and is currently Associate Professor of Civil War History at UNCW. She has experience with the National Park Service at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Angela has published several articles on prisons, and is author of “Penitentiaries, Punishment and Military Prisons: Familiar Responses to an Extraordinary Crisis during the American Civil War.” In addition, she has appeared in TLC’s celebrity genealogy show, “Who Do You Think You Are,” and helped actress Jessica Biel learn about the history of her Civil War ancestor!

Registration for this meeting begins at 6:15 pm and the program starts at 7 pm. The guest fee is $10, and can be applied toward the $25 annual membership dues. For more information about the Tuesday, March 5 meeting, contact president John Butler at Brunswickcwrt@gmail.com, or 404-229-9425, or visit the website at Brunswickcivilwarroundtable.com to learn more, become a member, renew membership, and learn about member benefits. The group’s Facebook page also has additional information, news, and updates.

CALENDAR

March

We’ve included events here that were scheduled at press time, but please remember that all events, dates and times are subject to change. For programs offered through the Town of Leland, visit https://apm.activecommunities.com/ townofleland/ to register online or register in person at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way.

MARCH 1

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/.

MARCH 1

Pelican Bookstore Author Event featuring Meagan Church

$35 ticket includes glass of wine, light hors d’oeuvres paperback copy of “The

Girls we Sent Away,” and abook signing event with the author.

5:30 pm at Silver Coast Winery, 6680 Barbeque Road, Ocean Isle Beach Call (910) 287-2800 for tickets

MARCH 2

NC Rice Festival

Indoor and outdoor activities are planned this year, including history/ cultural presentations, tours, demonstrations, live entertainment, family fun, children’s stage, Gullah Geechee food vendors, and arts/crafts. The festival is free to attend, from 10 am to 5 pm at the Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site, 8884 St Phillips Rd SE, Winnabow (off N.C. 133).

MARCH 5

Brunswick Civil War Round Table

This month, the Round Table will learn about the crisis of keeping prisoners of war, with Angela Zombek, Ph.D, leading the discussion. The group meets at Hatch Auditorium at Fort Caswell, at the end of Caswell Beach Road. Registration starts at 6:15 pm, and the program begins at 7 pm. The fee for non-members

is $10, and can be used toward the $25 annual membership dues.

MARCH 9

Community Day at the Museum of Coastal Carolina

Brunswick County residents have free entry to the Museum, and there will be family-friendly activities, a scavenger hunt, and opportunities to interact with conservation and education focused organizations. It’s also the debut of photographer Ellen Sheehan’s exhibit, and she’ll be present to discuss her works. Community Day runs from 10 am to 4 pm at the Museum, 21 E. Second Street, Ocean Isle Beach.

MARCH 12

Meet the Author

Pelican Bookstore hosts a meet and greet with author Laura Cook Betz. The event is 5:30 pm at Silver Coast Winery, 6680 Barbecue Road, Ocean Isle Beach. Betz is the author of “My Right Hand to Goodness: The Life and Times of Crazy Dale Varnam.” Betz is also coproducer of the Varnamtown podcast, and Dale Varnam himself will be a special guest at the event. Tickets are $35 and include wine, hors d’oeuvres and a signed copy

of the book.

MARCH 16

Green Wine and Guinness Festival

Get your Irish on at Silver Coast Winery’s Green Wine and Guinness Festival, 10 am to 6 pm at the Winery, 6680 Barbecue Road, Ocean Isle Beach. There will be food trucks, art vendors, breweries, and local wine.

MARCH 16

Spring Into Health

The Brunswick Wellness Coalition hosts this annual 5K/1M walk/ run; individuals and teams are invited to participate, and the run will take place in downtown Southport, starting at 9 am. This year’s theme is TAKE THE LEAP! GO GREEN, GET HEALTHY. Participants can run, walk, stroll, or roll along the route to raise awareness about living healthy lifestyles. All ages, skill levels, and abilities are encouraged to participate. In addition to age category medals, a Spunky Team Award will be presented to the team that best harnesses creativity and energy. Registration is $35/adults. Visit https://brunswickwellness.org/ for more information

Don’t miss the 2024 Rice Festival on March 2 at Brunswick Town State Historic Site

Enjoy a Sunrise Service in St. Philips Church at Brusnwick Town State Historic Site on March 30. Vistors welcomed beginning at 6:15 am.

and to sign up.

MARCH 23

Bunny Hop — Ocean Isle Beach

Children can fill their baskets with treats from the town and area businesses, 10-11:30 am at Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St. There will also be face painting and pictures with the Easter bunny.

MARCH 23

Christian Recovery Center Grand Opening

The grand opening of the revitalized Shallotte Campus is at 10 am at 520 Mulberry St. There will be a ribbon cutting, light refreshments and tours of the facility. Rain date is March 30.

MARCH 23-24

Sea Notes Choral Society Spring Concert

The Sea Notes are going to the movies with the spring concert, which will feature songs from movie favorites such as “The Wizard of Oz,” “Casablanca,” “The Sound of Music,” “Top Gun,” and “Dirty Dancing,” among others. This free concert will be at 3 pm on March 23 and 24 at Odell Williamson Auditorium, on the campus of Brunswick Community College, 50 College Road, Bolivia.

MARCH 28

Welcome Home - Vietnam Veterans Recognition Dinner

Lower Care Fear LifeCare will host a dinner, with food from Mission BBQ, for local Vietnam-era veterans, 6-8 pm at the Virginia Williamson Evens Center at Brunswick Community College, 150 College Road NE, Bolivia. Veterans may each bring one guest. Call 910-6205062 or email laura.Long@LifeCare.org to register.

MARCH 30

Eggstravaganze — Shallotte

Children ages 10 and younger are invited to hunt for Easter eggs, with children divided into three age groups, and pictures with the Easter Bunny after the hunt. The event starts at 10 am at Mul-

berry Park, 123 Mulberry St.

MARCH 30

18th Century Easter Litany — Brunswick Town

The St. Philips ruins at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site serve as host for a period Anglican service. Visitors will be welcomed starting at 6:15 am for a sunrise service beginning at 6:45 am. The service is rain or shine and seating will not be provided. After the service, the site will remain open for tours until 5 pm. Attendance is free, but donations will be accepted. The site is at 8884 St. Philips Road SE, Winnabow (off N.C. 133).

APRIL 2

Brunswick Civil War Round Table

Popular historian Chris Fonvielle leads a discussion on “Why the Civil War is Still Important.” The group meets at Hatch Auditorium at Fort Caswell, at the end of Caswell Beach Road. Registration starts at 6:15 pm, and the program begins at 7 pm. The fee for non-members is $10, and can be used toward the $25 annual membership dues.

APRIL 5

Family Nighttime Easter Egg HuntHolden Beach

Teams of four will compete in this family-friendly event. Participants need their own flashlights and something to carry their eggs. Pre-registration by March 18 is required and space is limited to the first 100 families. Email christy. ferguson@hbtownhall.com to register.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

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

Feb 29 — Supreme Reflections Tribute for Diana Ross and The Supremes

March 14 — Cashback — Johnny and June Carter Cash Tribute

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!

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. Touch Tank feedings are at 11 am on Fridays through March.

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. A new show debuts in March called Cosmic Mashups, which digs into the science behind black holes. Visit https://museumplanetarium.org/ ingram-planetarium/ to see the show schedule, including special holiday shows.

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.

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.

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

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.

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/

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/

CAROLINAS COASTAL ADVENTURE TOURS