WILMA - February 2020

WILMA

FEBRUARY 2020

WILMINGTON’S SUCCESSFUL WOMAN

Big Day Blooms

Petal-powered weddings

Through the Lens

Wedding photographer tales

Water Warriors

Clean Cape Fear’s cause

Love you to the bakery and back.

Too Good to Regift.

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february 2020

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43

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10 SPOTLIGHT

51 CALENDAR

13 HEALTH: Kick-start

54 THE SCENE: Ax season

15 TASTE: Taylor’s second seating

55 TAKE 5: Genna Wirth’s new Voyage

18 STYLE: Knock-out nuptials

56 MEN’S ROOM: V-day don’ts

Check out WILMA magazine here:

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/WILMAMAG

18 27 L OVE & LIGHT: Wedding photographers share their favorite shots and stories 38 PLUS ONE: 128 South’s owners add onto their party venues 43 F ORCES OF NATURE: Clean Cape Fear’s water fight

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Despite the false start recently, summer is in fact, not yet here.

But, don’t worry, there’s plenty in our annual Weddings issue to give you the warm and fuzzies.

First of all, start with the dress. WILMA Stylist Ashley Duch Grocki found a stunner from Coastal Knot Bridal, which is modeled by Rafaela Alyssa for our style feature this month (page 18).

Taking a peek into the wedding industry side, we talk with the group that owns 128 South and how they’ve expanded over the past decade into their numerous venues (page 38).

And, several of our regular photographers also share some of their favorite pics they’ve captured while shooting weddings near and far (page 27).

Also this month, we talk to the women who founded Clean Cape Fear in the wake of the GenX water controversy and how they’ve taken the message around the region and up to D.C. (page 43).

While it might be too cold to hit the fields, Wilmington Women’s Soccer Association extends their seasons with of indoor leagues (page 13).W

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Publisher Rob Kaiser rkaiser@wilmingtonbiz.com

JENNY CALLISON is a former Greater

Wilmington Business Journal reporter who continues as a freelancer with the Business Journal and WILMA. Before moving to Wilmington in 2011, she was a university communications director and a freelance reporter covering a variety of beats. This month, Callison talks with Jessica Cannon and Emily Donovan, founders of Clean Cape Fear (page 43).

MELISSA HEBERT is a Wilmington-based

photographer who has had her work featured in national campaigns and magazines, including WILMA. Hebert studied photography at the Cleveland Institute of Art and specializes in editorial, portrait, and wedding photography. Hebert photographed this month’s cover and style feature (page 18). melissahebertphoto.com

CHERYL L. SERRA is a freelance strategic

communications specialist and writer who lives in Brunswick County. Serra talked with chef and former restaurant owner Karen Taylor, who recently had to close the doors to her longtime Southport restaurant, about figuring out the next steps in her culinary career (page 15).

MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER, owner of

Michael Cline Photography, is a Wilmington-based freelance photojournalist with over fifteen years’ experience working at several prominent North Carolina newspapers. He specializes in corporate, editorial, pet, and wedding photography. He photographed the Wilmington Women’s Soccer Association (page 13) and Axes & Allies (page 54) michaelclinephoto.com

LYNDA VAN KUREN, a transplant from the

D.C. metro area, is a freelance writer and content marketer whose work has appeared in national as well as regional publications. She loves connecting with others, whether through writing, ballet, or training her dogs for agility competitions. She profiles the owners of 128 South and their growing event venue business (page 38).

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President Robert Preville rpreville@wilmingtonbiz.com Associate Publisher Judy Budd jbudd@wilmingtonbiz.com Editor Vicky Janowski vjanowski@wilmingtonbiz.com VP of Sales/Business Development Melissa Pressley mpressley@wilmingtonbiz.com Senior Account Executive Craig Snow csnow@wilmingtonbiz.com Account Executives Ali Buckley abuckley@wilmingtonbiz.com Polly Holly pholly@wilmingtonbiz.com Brittney Keen bkeen@wilmingtonbiz.com Business Manager Nancy Proper nproper@wilmingtonbiz.com Events Director Maggi Apel mapel@wilmingtonbiz.com Events/Digital Assistant Elizabeth Stelzenmuller events@wilmingtonbiz.com Design & Media Coordinator Molly Jacques production@wilmingtonbiz.com Content Marketing Coordinator Morgan Mattox mmattox@wilmingtonbiz.com Contributing Designer Suzi Drake art@wilmingtonbiz.com Digital Editor Johanna Cano jcano@wilmingtonbiz.com Fashion Stylist Ashley Duch Grocki Contributors Jenny Callison, Nina Bays Cournoyer, Amy Kilgore Mangus, Beth Klahre, Dylan Patterson, Cheryl L. Serra, Lynda Van Kuren Contributing Photographers Logan Burke, T.J. Drechsel, Melissa Hebert Photography, Michael Cline Spencer, Terah Wilson Founder Joy Allen Subscribe For a one-year subscription, please send $26.00 (check or money order) to: WILMA, 219 Station Rd., Ste. 202, Wilmington, NC 28405, or call 343-8600 x201 www.WILMAmag.com

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SUPPORTER SPONSORS A Creative Touch Big Sky Design Cape Fear Arthritis Care Cape Fear Community College Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity Cape Fear Tax & Accounting Solutions Cavik Insurance Chrysalis Center for Counseling & Eating Disorder Treatment City Club of Wilmington Coastal Horizons Don Bullard Insurance Excite Credit Union First Citizens Bank WILMAmag.com

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W2W UPDATES

WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative has updates to share as we continue to work on the effort’s core mission of helping develop more women leaders in our area. Here’s what we’ve been up to with various W2W Leadership Initiative programs and what’s coming up next: WILMA NETWORK: The WILMA Network, made up of women from the companies that support the Women to Watch initiative, serve as a resource for each other and represent a variety of area businesses, large and small. Members participate in small-group networking events called 2nd Tuesdays (shown above at a recent one held at the Oceanic).

MENTORING: Applications are out for participants of the 2020-21 mentorship program in which we match up mentees with women and men leaders in the community to serve as mentors. Women who have been a part of the various Women to Watch Leadership Initiative programs during the past year are eligible to apply for a slot. If you are interested in serving as a mentor, feel free to contact us.

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: The 2020 class of WILMA’s Leadership Institute held its first meeting on January 22 for this year’s ninemonth program. The daylong orientation took place at tekMountain, with future sessions taking place at different sites in the area.

Applications for next year’s class open up again in the fall.

IN THE LOOP: Keep up to date with these and other Leadership Initiative programs as well as applications announcement by going to WILMAStoWatch.com or signing up for the WILMA newsletters on our website.

- Vicky Janowski, WILMA editor, and Maggi Apel, events director, Co-directors of the Women to Watch Leadership Initiative W2W@WILMAmag.com

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The Women to Watch logo: When you see this throughout WILMA’s pages, it means this is a woman on the rise to know, an experienced leader to learn from, or a local program worth checking out. W

15 NEXT COURSE: Karen Taylor takes stock of her food moves 38 HUSTLE & BUSTLE: Wedding venue 128 South’s decade of growth 43 NAVIGATING TROUBLED WATERS: Jessica Cannon and Emily Donovan on starting Clean Cape Fear

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UNCW’s Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO) holds sessions this month about RESPONSIBLE BOARD GOVERNANCE. The sessions, which all take place in Brunswick County, focus on Roles and Responsibilities on February 4, Intentional Practices on February 11, and Board Revitalization on February 18. Info: uncw.edu/qeno

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Bunker Brews Wilmington holds this month’s meetup on ENTREPRENEURS ON ACTIVE DUTY, featuring speaker Stuart Scheller, an active duty Marine and founder of The Perfect Ribbon. The event is 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Penthouse, 2 North Front Street.

Info: bunkerlabs.org/our-locations/wilmington

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Chris Mutascio, senior managing director at EquityCompass, is the guest speaker for the INVESTORS ROUNDTABLE OF WILMINGTON meeting. Mutascio speaks about his firm’s high-dividend portfolio as an alternative to high-yield corporate bonds in a low interest rate environment. The group meets at noon

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at the Country Club of Landfall. RSVP to Cliff Brock at cliffbrock@ec.rr.com.

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UNCW’s Swain Center offers a Data Analytics Series on USING EXCEL. Upcoming courses are Pivot Tables & Visualization on February 7, Power Query on March 6, and Predictive Analytics on April 17. Classes are 1-5 p.m. and $399 each or all three for a discounted rate. Info: uncw.edu/swain 1 MILLION CUPS’ Wilmington chapter launches with an event 9-10 a.m. at UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 803 South College Road. A national program founded by the Kauffman Foundation, 1 Million Cups is a way for entrepreneurs to network. At the free weekly gatherings, held on Wednesday mornings, two early-stage startups present their companies to an audience of mentors, advisers, and other entrepreneurs. Each founder presents for six minutes, followed by a twenty-minute question-and-answer session with the audience. Info: 1millioncups.com/wilmingtonnc

The North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce holds a POWER CONNECTIONS meeting 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., during which each attendee has the chance to describe his or her business and to pass referrals. Power Connections is open to chamber members and is designed for business-to-business or business-toconsumer professionals. Non-chamber members can attend two times. Info: nbchamberofcommerce.com February’s networking event for the PORT CITY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS is 5:307:30 p.m. at Perry’s Emporium, 2520 Independence Boulevard, Suite 100. Info: pcypapp.com/events

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The Inspiration Lab holds a member-only GALENTINE’S DAY event at Wilmington Dermatology Center, 710 Military Cutoff Road, #320.

Info: theinspirationlab.co

Sign up for the WILMA Weekly newsletter at WILMAmag.com. To include your group's event, email W2W@WILMAmag.com

FEBRUARY 2020

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WILMA ONLINE

Keep up with WILMA all month long, through our website, daily emails, and social media.

Sign up for WILMA’s new daily emails at wilmamag.com/email-newsletter. Here’s the weekly lineup: MONDAY IS WILMA LEADERSHIP with profiles on the region’s leading women, their business, personal, and career advice, as well as highlights on women who are making moves.

TUESDAY IS WILMA ROUNDUP, a focus on stories published on our monthly print issues and a look behindthe-scenes at the magazine.

WEDNESDAY IS WILMA WELLNESS where you can read about the latest fitness and health trends, as well as profiles on women in the wellness industry and get recipes and workouts from chefs and trainers in the community.

THURSDAY IS KEEP IT LOCAL, a collection of shopping finds from local retailers, sponsors’ content brought to you by the WILMA marketing team.

FRIDAY IS WILMA DOWNTIME, where we give you a backstage pass to upcoming shows and events in the community. You can also expect profiles and Q&As with local artists and highlights on the latest entertainment and leisure activities around town to get ready for the weekend.

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Meet the YWCA’s new CEO VELVA JENKINS FOLLOW US AT: WILMAmag.com

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Dish with MICHELLE ROCK about Wish Upon a Chef

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photo c/o Wilson Center

A SUPREME ACT

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Award-winning singer Diana Ross visits Wilmington this month, performing at the Wilson Center on February 28 for what is expected to be a sold-out show. From her early Motown days heading up The Supremes in the 1960s, Ross racked up seventy hit singles with the group and also as a solo artist – “Where Did Our Love Go” to “Endless Love.” Ross also found success on the small screen and in movies, acting in Lady Sings the Blues, Mahogany, and The Wiz. Info: wilsoncentertickets.com

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KEUSSEYAN EARNS NHRMC EMPLOYEE NOD

New Hanover Regional Medical Center recently announced that ASTRID KEUSSEYAN was the health system’s NHRMC Employee of the Year for 2019.

Keusseyan works as the administrative coordinator of network pathology and laboratory services for New Hanover Regional, which employs more than 7,000 people. She started at NHRMC six years ago as a medical technologist.

Hospital officials say that Keusseyan “looks for opportunities to offer better service and comfortably aggregates data to support decision making.” Last year, the Laboratory Systemization and Standardization project earned a Gold Touchstone award.

She serves as a leader of Healthcare Explorers, an NHRMC program that introduces teens to a range of medical career opportunities. She also was selected as co-leader of Todos Unidos, NHRMC’s Hispanic/Latinx Employee Resource Group.

“When one employee like Astrid cares so much about her job, her community, and her work family, everyone around her can feel it,” says NHRMC President and CEO John Gizdic.

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LAW FIRMS APPOINT NEW PARTNERS

Area law firms have added to their rosters of partners.

DEEDEE GASCH (above), who is based in Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP’s Wilmington office, was named a partner in the firm.

Gasch has more than a decade of experience litigating catastrophic claims involving serious injury or death, officials say. Her practice is primarily focused on the defense of trucking and commercial vehicle accidents, premises liability claims, and medical malpractice defense.

“Deedee is a well-respected attorney who truly embodies our firm’s core values of teamwork, reputation, and client service,” managing partner Marshall Wall says, “and we are excited to recognize her career and accomplishments.”

Murchison, Taylor & Gibson PLLC also recently announced that ANDREA “ANDI” MATT VAN TRIGT was named partner at the Wilmington-based law firm.

She joined the firm as an associate in 2015 and focuses her practice on real estate matters, including the sale, acquisition, financing, development, and leasing of raw and improved land, zoning and land use issues, agribusiness, and real-estate-related litigation.

ant more WILMA? Check out our daily emails, which include even more profiles and stories for Wilmington’s successful women.

To sign up for the free emails, go to WILMAmag.com

CAPE FEAR CREW HOLDS AWARDS

Cape Fear CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) will hold its annual Awards of Excellence this month.

The awards, February 27 at the Wilmington Convention Center, recognize excellence and leadership in the local commercial real estate industry.

The group recently announced the category finalists and achievement award winners ahead of the event.

NANCY GUYTON (above), of Kincaid & Associates PLLC, will receive the Beth Quinn Excellence Award, which honors a Cape Fear CREW member who “exemplifies the values and spirit of the late Beth Quinn, a founder of the Cape Fear CREW Chapter and leader within the region’s commercial real estate industry.”

Other categories that will be recognized at the event include the Dealmaker Award, Economic and Community Enhancement Award, Placemaking Award, and others.

There also is a Career Advancement for Women Award. Finalists in that category this year are JUDY GIRARD, founder of the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW); STEPHANIE LANIER, founder of The Inspiration Lab; and JUSTINE REEL, with UNCW’s College of Health & Human Services, who is organizing a women’s leadership program to promote diversity and inclusion among rising leaders across UNCW. Info: capefearcrew.org

Have a suggestion for a local woman or group to spotlight?

Email us: wilma@WILMAmag.com WILMAmag.com

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FEBRUARY 2020

A SPORT FOR ALL SEASONS

THIS AREA WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE GETS IN ITS WINTER KICKS

by BETH KLAHRE photo by MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER WILMAmag.com

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t might be a bit colder outside these days, but that doesn’t stop the Wilmington Women’s Soccer Association from bending the ball all winter long.

The team plays indoors at Off the Wall Sports in Wilmington from Thanksgiving through the end of February. Owner JANINE BLAISDELL welcomes the teams to play at her facility, which she became the owner of seven years ago.

The Wilmington Women’s Soccer Association offers women of South-

eastern North Carolina an opportunity to play competitive ball and socialize. The idea to create a women’s league was spearheaded by JEAN CONWAY in 2005.

Conway was a member of an adult co-ed league that played on Sundays, operating through an organization known as Cape Fear Soccer. The women on the co-ed teams started looking for a way for women to play together.

After meeting with county parks offices, obtaining insurance, connecting with referees, and getting guidance from the North Carolina Adult Soccer Association, the first five teams of the league were formed.

In 2006, the Wilmington Women’s Soccer Association was officially on its own.

“Some of the soccer community didn’t think we would make it as a league without support from Cape Fear Soccer. But, we are still here,” says past Wilmington Women’s Soccer Association President HEATHER STARCKE HORAK. “It’s been very rewarding to see how the league has snowballed.”

As of last fall, there were one hundred members, most from Wilmington, but some from as far as Hampstead and Sneads Ferry, says current Wilmington Women’s Soccer Association President JAYNE HERMAN. Players range in age from eighteen into their forties and vary in skill level from women who played a little when they were younger to college players. Each team has ten to fifteen women. In addition to coming indoors for the winter, this past year the women also held an indoor summer league for the first time.

“I’ve played soccer my whole life.

I played on the club team for my university, and then after graduating I played in recreation leagues in New Jersey,” Herman says. “So, when I moved to Wilmington, naturally I needed to find a league.”

Blaisdell played soccer in junior high and high school in Oregon. “As a girl if you were willing to put on cleats, you were on the team,” she re-

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calls. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, she played soccer and ice hockey.

Off the Wall Sports also hosts men’s year-round soccer leagues, after-school programs, camps and soccer leagues for kids ages seven to twelve, birthday parties, and field rentals.

Blaisdell, a mother to three boys, especially enjoys the kids’ winter leagues. “I enjoy watching the kids grow as athletes and people,” she says.

Herman likes playing at Blaisdell’s facility.

“It is great that they take care of everything from scheduling to referees, and it gives us a way to keep playing in the winter,” she says. “They have been really accommodating.”

Both Herman and Blaisdell agree on the benefits of playing soccer.

“For starters,” Herman says, “soccer is more fun than going to the gym! I’ve also just met some great ladies who have become friends. And, it’s great to keep playing in the winter when it gets a little too cold outside.”

Blaisdell adds, “Indoor soccer is a lot different than outdoor soccer. The pace is much faster, the ball is hardly ever out of bounds, there is no weather or rainouts to worry about, and the schedule is set and rarely changes. And, in the summer, we have air conditioning.”

Herman encourages everyone to come try it out. “All the teams are really nice and welcoming. We have such a variety of skill levels, and everyone is welcome,” she says.

Blaisdell points out that the Wilmington Women’s Soccer Association is unique.

“In addition to the physical workout, the women form friendships, and they enjoy each other’s company,” she says.

“There are far more spectators at women’s games than at men’s games. In a society where girls are told to be cheerleaders and support the men, it’s great to see husbands, boyfriends, and kids supporting mothers, girlfriends, and wives.

“The women compete hard,” she adds.

“They want to win. And, they are in touch with each other and what their lives are like outside of the field after the game.”W

NEXT

COURSE

KAREN TAYLOR MIXES UP HER NEXT CHAPTER

by CHERYL L. SERRA photos by LOGAN BURKE

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ove hurts. Just ask KAREN TAYLOR, who fourteen years ago pursued her love and now has lost it after giving it all she had.

But, like many who have lost in love, she’s willing to go out and try it again.

Taylor didn’t chase a person, though. She chased a dream. She came to the Southport area and opened Taylor Cuisine Cafe & Catering at 731

North Howe Street fourteen years ago, after prodding by her parents, Walter and Virginia, who had moved to St. James Plantation from New York. Her specialty was what she calls “Southern with a twist” and featured items such as the traditional fried green tomatoes, which she served as an appetizer with crumbled goat cheese and a roasted red pepper sauce. The tomatoes were also served as a sandwich, with herb mayonnaise, goat cheese, and lettuce on focaccia bread.

While operating the restaurant in Southport, Taylor also became involved in the community, serving on Dosher Memorial Hospital’s board of trustees and the Order of the Eastern Star, as past president of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce’s board, past secretary of American Culinary Federation’s Wilmington chapter, member of the local NAACP chapter, and past board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America when it was in Southport and part of the Wilmington chapter.

Due to a number of circumstances, Taylor closed her restaurant in late 2019.

“I’m still numb,” she says, not quite a month later.

“You duck and you dodge bullets and you rob Peter to pay Paul,” she says of the past two years of the business.

The restaurant used to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then, it could only support breakfast and lunch. Taylor says the next step would have been to only open weekends. The summer of 2019 was particularly tough. The air conditioner in the rented facility broke. A GoFundMe effort helped to repair it, but it was a hot summer, and it impacted business.

Hurricane Florence caused a delay in opening. And, while the headline news of the hurricanes that have plagued the area in recent years has died down, the ramifications of those storms have not, she says. Many people are still trying to rebuild their lives; many more are displaced. Going out to eat was not a priority for these people.

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2020 Year of Giving For all of 2020, The City Club of Wilmington will reduce it’s new member initiation fee from $1,500 to $500, AND the joining member may decide which participating charity they would like to benefit. Corporate or personal memberships available, with 100% of the initiation fee to benefit a local charity of the member’s choice.

CALL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMENITIES OF A CITY CLUB MEMBERSHIP

(910) 343-1880 EXT 206 :: WWW.CITYCLUBOFWILMINGTON.COM

CAPE FEAR HEART BALL PRESENTED LOCALLY BY:

Celebrate the American Heart Association’s mission, to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, by joining us for an unforgettable evening featuring a gourmet dinner, exciting auctions, live music and dancing at the Wilmington Convention Center for the 2020 Cape Fear Heart Ball!

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TICKETS ashley.miller@heart.org • 910.538.9270 • capefearheartball.heart.org

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Finally, Taylor says, she had to say no more to trying to hold on to the restaurant. She still loves food, she says, “and, that’s the hardest part.” With the dream went her financial stability, as well. Taylor says she’s lucky to have the support of her fiancée, Raymond Hicks, as she determines the next stage of her career. Her father and sister, Karla, have also helped her through this difficult time, she says.

Much like peering at the ingredients needed for a dish, Taylor is taking stock of her skills and experience and starting to make a plan. It might look like this: • Take fourteen years of experience and roll into cookbook (This is a project Taylor says her customers have been requesting of her for years. Now, she has the time. “And, I have a lot of volunteers to test it,” she says.)

• Use partially completed computer science degree and completed business management degree and

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“It’s very humbling. It’s not easy, but you just have to swallow your pride and put yourself out there,” Taylor says of her experience. “It’s not going to be The Karen Taylor Show. It’s going to be working to help another company succeed.” W WILMAmag.com

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Love in Bloom STYLED BY ASHLEY DUCH GROCKI |

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PHOTOS BY MELISSA HEBERT | INTRO BY NINA BAYS COURNOYER

ress? Check. Rings? Check. Vibe? Pending...

When it comes time to create the atmosphere for your special day, take a breath. Will it be barnhouse chic? Minimalist? Have you committed to an all-Star Wars decor? (Hopefully not.)

The number one ambiance-maker starts with our petal-powered friends; following are a few of the new floral trends for this year. In 2019, we saw lots of feathery pampas grass, whereas this year, sun palms are topping the bouquet list.

With their geometric fan shape, sun palms work with any aesthetic and come in an array of hues to suit virtually any palette. Last year also kicked off the cascading trend, with large-scale wall arrangements styled to follow their natural flow. This year, the trend continues, be it on a wall, off the ends of your guest tables, or even in your bouquet.

If an over-abundance of blooms is not a must-have, subtle placements can do just as well. Pillar candles or tealights grouped with a small vase holding a single flower can

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speak volumes while also being wallet-friendly.

And, speaking of budgets, you should have one. It’s easy to get carried away in the moment, but your new mate should be the one making you swoon, not the wedding tab.

A few cost-effective tips: Make your own arrangements. Yes, it’s possible.

Check for a local flower mart where you can get wholesale deals. Locally-sourced or seasonal flowers tend to be good bets for better deals.

Use unconventional materials. This eco-friendly trend is growing, with bouquets made from dried, silk, paper, or even crocheted flowers.

Repurpose. If you have an amazing floral piece at your ceremony, don’t abandon it – bring it to the reception.

Bridesmaid bouquets can also be rearranged and used as centerpieces.

Spread the love. For an ultimate farewell, gift your guests flowers to take home with them as a colorful reminder of your epic day. W FEBRUARY 2020

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Capturing the Moment

or our annual Weddings Issue, we asked several of WILMA’s photographers who are also regular wedding photographers to share some of their favorite pics and also what it’s like behind the shutter.

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Erin Costa | pg28

T.J. Drechsel | pg30

Melissa Hebert | pg32

Terah Wilson | pg34

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ER I N CO STA E R I N C O STA P H OTO G R A P HY | E R I N C O S TA P H OTO.C O M

How many weddings have you shot?

“I have been photographing weddings for almost ten years and have roughly photographed over 300 weddings.”

What’s one that remains memorable to you?

“This past summer, I had a bride whose mom had been paralyzed in an accident, and they were unsure if she was going to be able to even make it to the wedding.

Thankfully, she was able to make it, and one of my favorite moments and photographs from that wedding was photographing the sheer joy on her face as she was watching her daughter during the father-daughter dance.

It’s hard to beat moments like that.”

How do you get nervous brides and grooms – or nervous families – to relax for portraits time?

“I have found that just talking and joking with my couples and the families while we are photographing as if we are just having an everyday conversation tends to put them at ease and takes their mind off the fact that they are being photographed. The more I can take away from that fact that there is a giant lens pointing their way, the more relaxed they become. I have also found that just by giving people something to do with their hands while they are being photographed – hands in pockets for gentlemen, ladies holding their dress or

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bouquet, as a couple snuggling into a pose – really tends to also help relieve that nervousness. I can’t tell you how many times a guy has said to me, ‘I don’t know what to do with my hands!’ in a somewhat panicked tone.”

Working on a wedding takes longer than just the day-of, right? What else is involved after the big day?

“After the wedding day is when the work really begins. We download our images from the wedding, which takes a few hours, then back up all of our files in multiple locations for safekeeping. Once our files are backed up, we begin the process of removing any photos that people may have eyes closed, perhaps a flash didn’t fire, etc. Once we have our final selects, we edit the files, prepare the files for export, then upload the images to an online gallery for our client. If our client has ordered a wedding album, we work with them on the design and finalization of that as well. The whole process after the wedding can take anywhere from twenty to forty hours or more depending.”

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T.J. DR E C H S E L

D R E C H S E L P H OTO G R A P HY | TJ D R E C H S E L P H OTO G R A P HY.C O M

Where’s the farthest you’ve traveled to photograph a wedding?

“This past year I had the honor to capture a wedding in arguably one of the top National Parks, Yosemite! I was totally giddy to have this opportunity! I have one in the Caribbean this year, which I’m excited about as well. My willingness to travel farther than that is wide open.”

What have been some of your favorite destination wedding trips?

“I had an awesome group I joined in Iceland where we also did some elopement shoots that I still signify as a trip that gave me vision for where I wanted my art to head. Yosemite would definitely hit that list. And, even closer to home, I’ve had some amazing trips out to the barrier islands of coastal Carolina where untouched sand dunes at sunset are magic to place a romantic couple! I now have started to work on setting up sessions wherever I vacation. This past November, I traveled up to Banff, Canada, in the midst of winter snow and had a great session with a local couple amidst the epic peaks of the Canadian Rockies.”

What’s the coolest wedding photo you’ve ever taken?

“This is probably where my right and left brain will argue constantly. I have some epic shots where I’ve framed everything

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perfectly at the right moment, but then I’ll drift to others where I have a couple so connected in a moment that knowing that connection and capturing it makes it the coolest. I will say that while in Yosemite this past year, I was able to get my bride and groom up above the crowds of Tunnel View with El Capitan, Bridal Veil Falls, and Half Dome beyond and place them there for their first look before going to the chapel to be married. I’d say that is about the most epic place I’ve seen for a first look – and I got the shot!”

Because of what you do, was it hard for you to find your engagement photographer and be on the other side of the camera?

“Not really. What is cool about being in the industry is that I see all the styles of work. I was able to do what I tell every couple to do who inquires with me. Look at each artist’s work! Once you find a style you dig, then that is who you should be getting to shoot your wedding.

You’ll find people who range from ‘Bright & Airy’ to ‘Moody,’ and then we artistic photographers will drift toward the magicians who use flares, mirrors, prisms, and all kinds of tricks to produce some beautiful but very artistic looks. I definitely encourage any couple searching for a wedding photographer to not just rush to getting pricing from whoever.

Find someone who fits what you think is awesome, and they will deliver to you memories of your day in that same way.”

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ME L I S S A HE B E RT

M E L I S S A H E B E RT P H OTO G R A P HY | M E L I S S A H E B E RTP H OTO.C O M

How long have you been photographing weddings?

“I have been photographing weddings since 2010.”

What’s are some challenges to shooting them?

“Challenges to shooting weddings – the weather being unpredictable, so always having to adjust lighting and working with, not against, the elements. Organizing the groups together for the family shots can be a challenge, especially when there are large groups to gather. My favorite part is taking the newlyweds off for their portraits after the ceremony; however, the time is often rushed to get them to the reception.”

As WILMA’s Style photographer, in what ways would you say you bring your eye for shooting fashion to weddings? In which ways are they different in the way you work?

“Fashion photography is usually a controlled setting, whereas weddings are more fast-paced where you don’t want to miss a moment. I also have the added value of an amazing team working to put the final looks together for a fashion shoot. I honestly treat wedding and fashion photography the same. Having a fine arts degree, I take an artistic, creative approach to all of my photography in fashion, portraits, and weddings. I really enjoy the intimate moments that I am able to capture with all of my photography work. I take pride in being true to who people are and being able to capture their special moments. It is all about building relationships and for me to make my subjects comfortable and trust my vision.”

Do you have any favorite places/settings you like to shoot locally for weddings?

“I love shooting around downtown Wilmington with all the unique buildings and textures, Fort Fisher for the landscape and beautiful lighting, Wrightsville Beach for our beautiful coast and doing water shoots, and I love traveling to new destinations for something new.”

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TE R A H WI LS O N

TE R A H W I LS O N P H OTO G R A P HY & A RT | TE R A H W I LS O N.C O M

What’s your favorite part of a wedding or reception to shoot?

“I’d have to say my favorite part of a wedding is when the doors open, and the groom sees the bride for the first time. That hushed, split-second holds so much emotion and anticipation. It’s truly an honor for me to be included in such a special moment in my clients’ lives.”

Advice for best first dance song?

“My advice would be to choose a song that you both have some type of attachment to. A song that is special to the both of you, for whatever reason, is way more sentimental than the current popular first dance song is circulating at the time!”

How would you describe your wedding photography style?

“My wedding style is definitely a photojournalistic style mixed with a little dash of hopeless romantic!

I love, love, love capturing real moments. I love to encourage real moments while I’m photographing.

It’s really important for me to build a relationship with my couples so that we can be ourselves around each other. That’s number one for me!” W

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HUSTLE

& BUSTLE

Over the past decade, 128 South has turned part of downtown Wilmington into wedding central

by Lynda Van Kuren | main photo by T.J. Drechsel

I

t was never MIRA KHOURY’s intent to run a wedding and events business. But, serendipity played its hand, and Khoury, along with three partners, made 128 South one of Wilmington’s premier venues for weddings and corporate and private events.

“I love the excitement of it,” Khoury says. “It’s a celebratory business, and it’s fun to be part of that.”

Khoury and her partners, JJ Khoury, Brian Hood, and Christie Bazemore, started 128 South after Mira Khoury and her brother bought the historical VonKampen Building in downtown Wilmington from their father in 2009. Though it was in the midst of the recession, the new partners, with determination and optimism, decided to renovate and open the space the next year as an events venue – and to make weddings and other celebrations as wonderful and stress-free as possible.

Mira Khoury pulled on her experience in the food service industry – she’d worked in multiple restaurants while attending the University of North Carolina Wilmington – and her partners drew from their experience and expertise. If the group didn’t know how to do something, they learned.

In the beginning, the four young entrepreneurs did everything, from walking brides through the planning process to marketing to selling space to cleaning the bathrooms, Mira Khoury says. Thanks to their hard work and vision, 128 South has been a favorite venue for local and out-of-state brides for ten years.

WILMAmag.com

photo c/o 128 South / by Eric Boneske photography

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photo c/o 128 South / by Lightbloom Photography

photo c/o 128 South / by Susie Linquist Photography

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It’s so popular that even though the group added a second venue, weddings still must be booked a year in advance.

Before opening for business, the owners had extensive renovations done on the VonKampen Building at 128 South Front Street. With views of the Cape Fear River, the site was transformed into a space that melds historic charm with modern amenities.

In 2014, the four partners added another site, the historical Bakery 105, to its offerings. Located across the street, Bakery 105 also joins the old with the new to create a unique and beautiful setting, complete with an outdoor courtyard.

In 2016, 128 South expanded once again. The Cottage on Orange Street is a former home built in the 1870s that the partners dubbed The Bridal Suite. Brides who book it can indulge

in beauty treatments before the big event or hold bridal showers there.

You might say 128 South’s corner of downtown is wedding central.

The company folded in full-service catering. Its chef, who attended culinary school in Atlanta, specializes in farm-to-table menus.

“There’s no reason why wedding food has to be mediocre,” Mira Khoury says.

As the four founders and staff are committed to creating memorable celebrations and events, they offer a boutique approach to their customers. For services 128 South doesn’t provide, or if the customer wants to use another service, 128 South staff recommends vendors they trust. Furthermore, the staff works with brides and party hosts through the planning steps, from assisting with floor plans to setting deadlines. 128 South even

Specializing in dentistry for infants, children, adolescents and children with special needs.

photo by T.J. Drechsel

sends reminders for such tasks as finalizing the headcount to ensure everything is done in plenty of time.

“We want to make sure the process is seamless and that everything gets done well and on time,” Mira Khoury says. “On the day of the wedding, we want the bride and groom to show up and have the most amazing day of their life.”

As 128 South celebrates its tenth anniversary, it plans to continue to offer its slate of services and venues to brides and grooms, as well as host more events such as bar and bat mitzvahs and birthday, anniversary, and retirement parties – any milestone is worth celebrating, Mira Khoury says – as well as corporate events.

“I enjoy pleasing people and giving people a good experience,” she says. “I need that human contact, relationships with people, planning parties, and hosting people – having them relax and enjoy their day.” W

WILMAmag.com

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N AV I G ATI N G

by JENNY CALLISON photo by TERAH WILSON

TROUBLED WATERS J

ESSICA CANNON and EMILY DONOVAN remember the point at which they were spurred to action on local water quality issues: It was June 2017, when the StarNews published news about the presence of GenX in the Cape Fear River and, thus, in the region’s water supply.

“Jessica had started Suit Up Wilmington, an organization online that was working to promote transparency in government,” Donovan recalls. “It was a citizens group of mostly women. Jessica encouraged civic engagement – becoming part of the solution. Living in Brunswick County, I was doing that in my commuWILMAmag.com

nity, getting more civically engaged.

“When the StarNews broke the story on GenX,” Donovan continues, “that’s when we really saw the need to create a space for social justice issues with regard to water, bringing in other community groups to take on this bad actor.”

When Donovan says “bad actor,” she means Chemours, which had spun off from DuPont and which operated a chemical plant in Fayetteville, upriver from Brunswick and New Hanover counties. The discovery of GenX, and subsequently of other toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Cape Fear followed soon after the revelations of DuPont’s longtime chemical emissions cover-up in Parkersville, West Virginia.

That story is chronicled in the current movie, Dark Waters, that was released in

November.

Speaking of the news coming from examination of local river water, Donovan says, “We knew this was a tricky topic. The community was desperate for information.”

The women decided they needed to create an opportunity for education and the exchange of information about PFAS exposure locally. So, they founded Clean Cape Fear, which operates a website (cleancapefear.org) through the efforts of Cannon, Donovan, and two scientist volunteers.

The two founders describe their organization as “an alliance of established advocacy groups, community leaders, educators, and professionals working together to restore and protect our water quality, as well as spotlight deficiencies in

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governmental regulations that adversely impact our right to clean water.”

They also emphasize their commitment to challenging Chemours and Dow-DuPont (the latter now carved into separate companies) and holding the area’s elected officials accountable.

Cannon, a retired OB/GYN and mother of three boys, once worked as a legislative aide in the U.S. Capitol. She founded Suit Up Wilmington as an outgrowth of her advocacy for transparency at all levels of government.

Donovan, youth director at Little Chapel on the Boardwalk, heard a call to ministry and to civic activism several years ago when her husband survived a life-threatening brain tumor. She also was alarmed at the health risks PFAS pose to her children.

Cannon says that Donovan brings a credible voice to Clean Cape Fear because of her faith and her willingness to work with people of all political stripes to tackle water quality issues.

Both women are determined to remain nonpartisan in their approach and work with lawmakers across the aisle. Donovan has testified twice before Congress on the danger of PFAS and was part of an online Washington Post Live discussion of Dark Waters and the West Virginia PFAS suit. The discussion also featured actor/producer Mark Ruffalo, who stars as crusading lawyer Rob Bilott in the film, and Bilott himself.

The group is working with the Fight Forever Chemicals campaign championed by Ruffalo “to elevate and educate residents about the continued concerns regarding PFAS contamination in her community,” according to Participant

What are PFAS? Source: EPA

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Media, which produced Dark Waters.

Cannon’s and Donovan’s awareness efforts helped convince U.S. Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.) to co-sponsor the “PFAS Action Act of 2019,” which would require the EPA to “designate all perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous substances within one year of enactment of this bill.” While the bill has not yet been voted on in the U.S. House, Cannon and Donovan stress the importance of Rouzer’s support and continue to advocate for the bill’s consideration. Last July, they took a group of local cancer victims to the Capitol to tell their stories.

“Over the last couple of years we have gained a reputation of being a reliable source (of information on PFAS),” Donovan says, adding that she has researched the science extensively and has debunked the myth that chemicals developed to replace the known toxins are any safer.

“It’s a chemical whack-a-mole,” Cannon says. “It’s not one-and-done with Chemours. This is an international problem, but Europe is ahead of us with plans to ban these chemicals. (European countries) are calculating the health costs of exposure to the population.”

PFAS are everywhere in American consumer products (see below) and even a small exposure through ingestion can be harmful to humans, given the chemicals’ long half-lives in our bodies, the women say.

“Our goal is to ban production of PFAS chemicals,” Cannon says. “For the most part, they are ‘luxury’ chemicals: not necessary for products they are in. We want people to be healthy and have companies not use our river as a sewer.”

Because exposure to PFAS chemicals is

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines PFAS as “a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals. PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe since the 1940s.”

The EPA states that PFOA and PFOS have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals, and both “are very persistent in the

FEBRUARY 2020

In November, Emily Donovan (far right) joined lawyer Rob Bilott and Dark Waters actor/producer Mark Ruffalo for a panel talk with Washington Post Live.

Donovan and Jessica Cannon (right), taken before testifying at a Congressional hearing on PFAS in 2018 so widespread and dangerous, the women say, they are linking up with other groups to pursue their goal.

“There is a national coalition of PFAS-connected communities,” Donovan says. “We joined this, and it has helped us.

We are trying to get PFAS-contaminated areas added to (qualification for) the Superfund.” W

environment and in the human body – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects.”

• Commercial household products, including stainand water-repellent fabrics, nonstick products such as Teflon, cleaning products, and firefighting foams

The website lists sources of possible exposure to PFAS, including:

• Drinking water, especially water associated with a specific source of PFAS

• Foods packaged in places where PFAS are found, or food grown in PFAS-contaminated soil or water

• Living organisms such as fish, animals, and humans, given PFAS’ long-term retention and slow breakdown in bodies

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DIG N IT Y M E M O RIA L CELEBRATE A LIFE WELL LIVED

A

s holiday celebrations with family and friends winddown and the calendar flips to a new year full of hope and promise, it’s time to plan for the future. When it comes to end-of-life planning, the same love and fellowship shared during the holidays is also a big part of memorializing those who have passed on.

The professionals at Dignity Memorial® can help you plan a final tribute for you or a loved one that is as special as the life it represents, bringing comfort to you and those your love. Your imagination is the only limitation in considering the celebration best fitting the unique, special story of our lives.

From food to flowers, music to mementos, each meaningful, memorable personalized funeral service is a special tribute to the person it remembers. You can release doves, balloons, lanterns (into the air or on water) or butterflies in a symbolic gesture of remembrance, or really delve into the personality of the individual being memorialized.

Did your family gatherings center around cookouts?

Celebrate a grill master by hosting an outdoor barbecue complete with jars of homemade sauce as mementos for guests to take home in special remembrance.

For the outdoor lover, have a friend play “Down by the River” on the guitar as pallbearers bring

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FEBRUARY 2020

in the urn, nestled in a kayak. A headstone with a paddle etched into the granite completes the lasting remembrance.

A lap around the track is a special way to remember a racing fan, with friends and family standing in salute as a hearse or car carrying the urn or casket makes the turns.

Memorialize a motorcycle enthusiast with a ceremony that celebrates camaraderie and the thrill of the open road with a motorcycle processional with a group of bikers, the honoree’s cremation urn tucked into a sidecar.

Everyone has their own unique story, and a funeral or memorial service should be a one-of-a-kind celebration telling that story. How do you want to tell yours? Dignity Memorial® professionals celebrate each life like no other. We’ll help you weave those very special memories into a beautiful service with personal touches and lasting impressions. For more information please call (910) 799-1686.

Michael Higgins is Sales Manager for Dignity Memorial®, which cares for more than 300,000 families each year through its network of more than 2,000 providers throughout North America. Learn more at www. dignitymemorial.com or call Greenlawn Memorial Park, Oleander Memorial Gardens and Coble-Ward Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, (910) 799-1686.

L OW ER C APE F E AR LIFE C A RE

WHAT IS LIFECARE?

L

ower Cape Fear LifeCare (LCFLC), formerly Lower Cape Fear Hospice, defines LifeCare as access to healthcare that provides people with a spectrum of health services from palliative care through hospice care, at any point in their lives, wherever they call home.

LifeCare also provides support and education to loved ones and caregivers throughout the stages of illness and the grieving process.

The local non-profit legally became Lower Cape Fear LifeCare on January 1, 2020.

During the past 40 years, the organization has experienced a great deal of growth from the number of patients and geographical area served to increased services lines and programs. The new name reflects its growth and positions the agency for future development.

Hospice services are available for adults and children, including infants.

The majority of patients are

served wherever they call home. However, when acute care is needed, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is the only local hospice provider that has inpatient care centers available for patients and their families.

The nonprofit never refuses care based on ability to pay.

Although hospice care is at the heart of the agency, it currently serves almost as many palliative care patients as hospice patients.

Palliative care is for patients undergoing treatment for serious and chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart and lung disease, diabetes, and more. Increasingly, doctors are recommending this type of care for their patients to improve quality of life through pain and symptom management.

Another staple of the agency has always been its bereavement program, now called grief care. Many people do not know that these services are available to anyone in the community who has lost a loved one, free

of charge. LCFLC’s grief care program is extensive, and includes individual, group, and Healing Arts workshops.

In New Hanover County, the nonprofit has begun a pilot Dementia Care program to help family caregivers with the challenges of caring for a loved one with a memory disorder. LCFLC is looking for ways to expand the program in the future. Workshops on The Positive Approach to Care, which can improve quality of life for dementia sufferers and their loved ones, is currently being offered to local organizations.

Lower Cape Fear LifeCare’s community education offerings continue to grow.

Monthly and bi-monthly Begin the Conversation advance care planning workshops are available at its Wilmington and Bolivia locations. The agency also offers LifeCare 101, and, one of its most popular workshops, a Compassionate Simulation Lab Experience to gain empathy for those living with chronic illness. Groups

and organizations can request workshops on a variety of topics at no charge.

Lower Cape Fear LifeCare encourages community members to reach out to the agency as an expert resource for care and information when they are facing a chronic, serious or life-altering illness to empower them when making complex healthcare choices.

To learn more about Lower Cape Fear LifeCare and how they can help you or a loved one, visit their website at LifeCare.org.

Gwen Whitley is CEO and President of Lower Cape Fear Hospice which cares for more than 950 patients and their families each day throughout a nine-county service area. Learn more about Lower Cape Fear Hospice services and programs by visiting www.lcfh.org or call 800-733-1476 to talk to someone about getting the care you need.

800.733.1476 | LIFECARE.ORG

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MARKRAFT CABINETS FEATURED DESIGNER: GET ORGANIZED WITH KEVIN BRIGGS SPACE SAVING DESIGNS Design Passions: Kitchens. It’s the area of the home that’s the most important.

Time in Wilmington: 2.5 years, moved from Boston Favorite Things: I enjoy good sushi, the beaches around Wilmington, and music. I still cook every day, and am somewhat of a foodie although I eat at home more than I eat out.

O

rganization and space saving are hugely important to any home design, especially for homeowners who like to spend summer months entertaining. How can you organize outdoor areas, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens to be functional yet welcoming to groups both large and small?

Kevin Briggs can help. In addition to over 30 years of experience designing residential kitchens and being certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association as well as the National Association of Homebuilders, he brings another important trait to the table.

“Coming out of the restaurant industry, I’ve cooked and done pretty much everything you can do in a restaurant, working in the back and front of the house, managing, and helping people open up smaller, private restaurants,” he said.

Kevin’s experience and passion for preparing and serving food has lent itself to designing kitchens that bring together the elements of making and eating meals with social interaction.

“Everybody wants to open things up. I’d say 95 percent of the time, I’m working with a big open great room/ dining room/kitchen area,” he said.

To further the entertainment concept, bar areas, wine coolers, and beverage refrigerators are being incorporated into home designs with focus on organization.

Unique, functional spaces for all the accouterments accoutrements -- liquor, glasses, serving ware -- are along for the ride, often accompanied by a small bar sink.

In open kitchens, Kevin is seeing a proliferation of big center islands. These serve dual purposes: one as a barrier keeping guests out of the working area,

and also as a reliable spot to lay out a buffet.

Here at the coast outdoor kitchens are becoming all the rage, with built-in grills with extra burners and overhead hoods for screened-in areas or ones with roofs. Outdoor refrigerators and coolers for storing ice, as well as ice makers, are also growing in popularity.

“The companies specializing in these components are producing very high quality pieces that aren’t going to deteriorate over time,” Kevin said, adding, “We have them in beautiful patterns, the designs have really come a long way.”

Whether designing entertainment spaces inside or outdoors, storage is a big consideration. Cabinetry is a favored solution, from built-ins to seats with drawers or overhead spaces. And it’s not just in the kitchen anymore.

“We’ve got people coming home from the beach, wanting somewhere to sit and change out of sandy shoes and beachwear while having a place to store things like umbrellas and chairs. A lot of times this is in the garage, or a mudroom just inside the main house from the garage,” Kevin explained.

Garage cabinetry and storage takes on simpler style, Kevin said, while rooms transitioning from the garage into the house take on the feel of the coast with lots of whites and nice blues, with some other beachy colors as well.

Kevin Briggs and his fellow professional designers at Markraft are ready to share innovative indoor and outdoor living design concepts with you. They consult by appointment, but drop-in visitors are always welcome. The Markraft Design Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 2705 Castle Creek Lane just off Castle Hayne Road.

910.793.0202 | markraft.com 48 WILMA WILMAONTHEWEB.com

FEBRUARY 2020

JULY 2019

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39

PLA NTATION V ILLAGE

RESIDENTS TREATED TO CHEF JOHN’S TAKE ON FAMILY FAVORITES

F

or some of us, the New Year is all about erasing some of the calories from the annual holiday indulgences.

The holidays are forever tied to images of cookies and cakes and candies and sugarplums. That’s not always a bad thing of course, and who doesn’t have a well-loved family memory of a cousin or aunt or uncle walking into a crowded holiday gathering carrying a favorite side dish or dessert? The marriage of smell and memory is always intriguing to think about, how an aroma wafting out of the kitchen can easily transport us to a time and place, more powerfully than a picture, song or story ever could.

Our residents love having the opportunity to share a family favorite that has been carefully refined, tested and proven over the generations.

That is why our yearly feast with Chef John Baldersen and Pastry Chef Jessica O’Mara

reinventing and revitalizing some of our residents’ favorite family recipes has become such a popular affair. It is worth noting that the menu this year is not about holiday indulgence; sugar, broccoli casserole or sweet potato pie. Instead, it’s a fresh take, a healthy start. Reviewing the dishes described below, I am confident the menu will prove a meal can be delicious and healthy at the same time.

The first stop in this four course journey begins with Mrs. Virginia Sherman’s Mushroom Soup, made with more than 30 pounds of mushrooms. What could be more heart-warming or decadent than mushroom soup in cold weather? The second course makes me think I could leave the cookies and cake behind forever. Those who are lucky enough to be in attendance will get to sample Mrs. May-Britt Bergstrom’s Health Salad, a combination

of romaine lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, green onions, tofu and sunflower seeds, topped with a home-made dressing consisting of lemon, orange juices and tahini.

The main course is Salmon à la Ferguson, a contribution from Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson, who credits the recipe for beating cancer.The meal is finished by Mrs. Dene McIntosh’s Simply Delicious Chocolate Pound Cake.

All of this creates a veritable smorgasbord of social interaction and an abundance of opportunities for social engagement, something that is well known to enrich people’s lives and foster a sense of community.

It is worth noting that the preparation and enjoyment of food is a common denominator, something that unites people in ways that are difficult to describe.

Having a chance to sample

a variety of fine cuisine from two highly trained professional chefs is one of the best things about working here and living here. The quality standards in place at the restaurant are simply unsurpassed, and the emphasis is on creating a farm-to-table experience. To keep things fresh and exciting, our residents are encouraged to share recipes and favorite foods from all over the world.

Considering that many of them are very well-traveled, it has become a challenge and a hobby for them to find something new, exciting and adventurous for the chef to create.

Our restaurant is one of the many aspects of life at Plantation Village that set us apart from other Life Plan Communities. We invite you to take a private tour and experience the difference.

1.866.825.3806 | PLANTATIONVILLAGERC.COM

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DE SI GN E R P UR S E SI LE NT AU C T IO N & R A F F L E $30 PER TICKET, GIRLFRIEND PACKAGE OF 4 TICKETS FOR $100

For tickets and sponsorships, visit coastalhorizons.org

COUNTRY CLUB OF LANDFALL 6:00 – 8:30 P.M. DOORS WILL OPEN AT 5:30 P.M.

March 10,

2020

This wildly popular event for Women and Men will feature a silent auction of amazing designer purses, ties, and other fabulous items. Guests will have a chance to win an iconic Louis Vuitton handbag, a dinner cruise for six aboard a local yacht, and other fabulous items throughout the evening.

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Redenbaugh at eredenbaugh@coastalhorizons.org or 910-524-5592

Annual Power of the Purse benefitting Wilmington Health Access for Teens (WHAT) of Coastal Horizons.

WHAT offers comprehensive primary medical care, mental health and prevention services to children, adolescents and young adults ages 6-24.

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FEBRUARY 2020

FEBRUARY 2/15

1

CHEFS’ SHOWCASE Hotel Ballast

The North Carolina Azalea Festival holds its annual Chefs’ SATURDAY Showcase as one of its prefestival events. A lineup of chefs including Don Drake of Magnolias in Charleston, Matthew Register of Southern Smoke BBQ, and Pastry Chef Jamie Turner of The Asbury in Charlotte serve up a five-course meal. Fine wine pairings, light entertainment, silent-auction items, and a luxury vacation raffle also are on tap for the event, which takes place 1-4:30 p.m. Tickets are $75. Info: ncazaleafestival.org

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4

2/4

JAKI SHELTON GREEN Bourgie Nights

North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green headlines TUESDAY the third annual Writers’ Night, hosted by Friends School of Wilmington. Proceeds from the event, which starts at 7 p.m., benefit Friends School of Wilmington. Green was inducted the state’s ninth Poet Laureate last year, becoming the third woman and first African American in the position. A poet, teacher, community arts advocate, and the author of eight collections of poetry, she teaches at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies. New York Times best-selling author Wiley Cash serves as master of ceremonies for the Writers’ Night event. Tickets are $50. Info: fsow.org

4

2/4

WAITRESS CFCC Wilson Center Through Feb. 6

The touring production of Waitress stops in Wilmington this month, with three shows at the Wilson Center. Based on the 2007 film, the Tony Award-nominated musical follows the story of waitress Jenna Hunterson, who sees a baking contest as her chance to escape the challenges of her life. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. February 4-6. Tickets are $46-$96. Info: wilsoncentertickets.com TUESDAY

FEBRUARY 2020

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5

2/5

HEART OF THE MATTER Hotel Ballast

at Wrightsville Beach Park. A 5K takes off

can create their own prints to take home

or you can run both for a Double Trouble

Community College art students offer demos

and life coach and survivor of

15K distance. Enjoy an early Valentine’s

guest speaker for The Carousel

well as costume awards. Proceeds benefit

Tambry Harris, a leadership

WEDNESDAY childhood sexual abuse, is the

Center’s annual lunch 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The event is a fundraiser for The Carousel

Center, Southeastern North Carolina’s only

National Children’s Alliance-accredited Child

5

Advocacy Center. Info: carouselcenter.org

AILEY II UNCW Kenan Auditorium

Founded in 1974 by Alvin Ailey, the Ailey II dance company

at 8 a.m., with the 10K starting at 9 a.m.,

date, with awards for the fastest runners as the Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation Department. Info: its-go-time.com/wb-

14 valentine-run

FRIDAY

FEAST DOWN EAST UNCW Burney Center Feast Down East

holds its annual Local Food Conference, bringing together

WEDNESDAY combines the energy of young

farmers and fishermen, food retailers and

choreographers. Its tour comes to the Port

community leaders. Workshop topics include

of UNCW Presents and is co-presented with

cooking demonstrations and food tastings.

dance talent and emerging

establishments, foodies, advocates, and

City, with a 7:30 p.m. performance as part

agricultural and gardening techniques,

Countywide CDC. Tickets for the dance

Registration includes a locally-sourced

performance are $25-$50. Info: uncw.edu/

8

arts/presents

SATURDAY

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2/21

VALENTINE RUN Wrightsville Beach

It’s a race to get the heart

pumping. The Wrightsville

Beach Valentine Run starts

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breakfast and lunch. Info: feastdowneast.org

FEBRUARY 2020

SATURDAY

KIDS AT CAM Cameron Art Museum

using simple techniques, while Cape Fear

of more advanced printmaking techniques

using print presses. The suggested donation for Kids at CAM, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., is $5 per

21

child. Info: cameronartmuseum.org

FRIDAY

LEAH HAWKINS UNCW Beckwith Recital Hall Met (Metropolitan

Opera) rising star Leah Hawkins performs

at Opera Wilmington’s Caterina Jarboro Memorial concert, which also features

the Snipes Academy Chorus. The concert is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults

and $8 for children/students with ID. Info:

22

operawilmington.org

SATURDAY

ART FOR ALL Brooklyn Arts Center Through Feb. 23 Art for All 10 brings together more than

Artist and educator Ben

fifty local and regional artists. The show is

to printmaking. Families

Sunday. Admission is $5, which is good for

Billingsley introduces kids

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and noon-5 p.m.

2/22

Scie nce

Te chno lo gy

Engine e ring

M ath

in t h e W ilmin g t o n co mmu n it y

Thur sda y March 12, 2020 5 : 3 0 - 8 : 0 0 pm

Cape Fear Museum 814 Market Street

2/8 both days. And children age twelve and under get in free. Info: brooklynartsnc.com

22

CHARACTER BREAKFAST Cape Fear Country Club

22

CAPE FEAR HEART BALL Wilmington Convention Center

SATURDAY

Cocktai l s, Li ve Mu si c, Heavy Ho rs d’ o eu vres an d more!

On e Nig h t On ly S cie n ce S a lo n w it h V R , A R , R OV and AI Ti ckets: $25

Detai l s: b i t .l y/S TE M ILM 2 0 20

LIMOUSINES, SUV'S VINTAGE CARS & BOATS

The Children’s Museum of Wilmington holds its 2020 Character Breakfast. Kids can get autographs and photographs with some of their favorite superheroes, princesses, storybook characters, and more. The event is 8:30-10 a.m., and tickets are $25 for children and $30 for adults. Info: playwilmington.org/characterbreakfast

The Cape Fear American Heart Association’s Heart Ball fundraising gala takes place 6-11:30 p.m.

The black-tie event includes a cocktail reception, dinner, live and silent auction, music, and more.

Info: “Cape Fear Heart Ball” on Facebook

SATURDAY

Submit your event to the WILMA online calendar at WILMAmag.com

WILMAmag.com

(910) 208-0057 | www.bluewatertransport.net contact@bluewatertransport.net

FEBRUARY 2020

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CHOP ON BY

HAVE A BEER AND CHUCK AN AX

by AMY KILGORE MANGUS photo by MICHAEL CLINE SPENCER

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N

othing says unwinding with friends or family like … hurling hatchets? Since opening in August 2018, Wilmington’s Axes & Allies has become a popular spot on the activity-based entertainment scene.

Owner MIA TROY (above) has created a relaxed and casual space for socializing and recreation in the Third Street space that used to house the Red Barn Studio Theatre.

Visitors can hang out in the “lumberjack chic” lounge, grab a drink, and toss axes at large targets stenciled on pine wood planks.

The bar is stocked with local and craft beer, wine, sodas, and seltzer – but no liquor.

That’s intentional for safety purposes. Axes & Allies’ eight throwing lanes – six inside and two outside – are set up like a bowling alley. Groups of up to eight people per lane can throw for fun, keep score by tracking

FEBRUARY 2020

points on provided chalkboards, or try more skilled games.

First-timers need not be nervous. An “axepert” will coach you on throwing techniques. All it takes is close-toed shoes, decent aim, and a little finesse.

“It’s something most people can do.

You don’t need any experience,” Troy says.

“We’ve seen throwers as young as ten (children can throw before 9 p.m. with parental supervision) and as old as ninety-one. Actually, women are sticking the axes quicker.

They have that finesse and aren’t so serious about it. They’re just having fun.”

Serious competitors can join eight-weeklong competitive leagues. Axes & Allies is a member of the World Axe Throwing League, so players can advance to national tournaments. Lumberjills can enjoy discounted rates on Wednesday nights. Thursdays are military and first responders nights.

And, groups can reserve lanes for parties or corporate events.

Troy knew ax throwing was the next big thing when she visited her sister and brother-in-law in Denver in March 2018. They called Bad Axe Throwing and discovered there was a three-week waiting list to get in.

“I had an ‘Aha!’ moment and told my sister, ‘This is going to be something. Wilmington will love this,’” Troy recalls.

She had never owned a bar or thrown an ax. But, using her business degree and marketing and public relations experience, Troy knew she could curate a fun – and cathartic – customer experience.

“People getting their first bull’s-eye … that’s is my favorite part! I’m getting goosebumps,” she says. “When everyone erupts and is cheering each other on, I never get sick of it. I just love making people happy.”

Troy signed a lease in May 2018, began construction in June, and opened two months later. Hurricane Florence hit that September. Storm-weary residents sought normalcy, and Axes & Allies gained popularity. Troy found visitors wanted to do something new.

“People are looking for more experiences, not just drinking at a bar,” she says.

Whether it’s a first date, family night, or a team-building activity, Axes & Allies is an accessible, low-key, and incredibly fun way to spend an evening.

“At first people don’t know what to expect,” Troy says. “After a few throws, they can’t wait to come back.”W

5

TAKE

photo by TERAH WILSON

GENNA WIRTH partnered with the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence in May of 2016 while she was a UNCW student. Through a course on nonprofit leadership, students were paired with nonprofit organizations to complete a project for them. Three years later, Wirth became executive director of the group, which formed in 2008 to work with youth on north side of downtown Wilmington. It works with kids and families in an identified Youth Enrichment Zone, an under-resourced area that covers about 140 square blocks and includes about 400 families.

THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON THE PREVENTION OF YOUTH VIOLENCE RECENTLY CHANGED ITS NAME TO VOYAGE. WHY WAS THAT? “BRC is currently rebranding and doing business as Voyage due to quite a number of reasons. First, things get tricky with long names and acronyms, especially ones that aren’t very descriptive of the work we do. We wanted a name that stands out and encompasses the fact that we are on a journey to a destination with the people we serve, and that destination is ‘success.’ We already had the name Voyage attached to much of our programming, so it seemed like a perfect fit. Second, although our mission to connect youth with pathways to success still holds true, we have spent the last year restructuring our services and our strategies to do so from solely working with youth, to taking a more public health, communitybased approach at empowering our youth and interrupting the intergenerational cycle of crime and poverty.” ARE THERE NEW FOCUSES FOR THE NONPROFIT? “We have gotten rid of some of our direct services and programs but also added new ones and have opened up a platform for other initiatives, programs, and organizations to come together for partnership and to create synergy. The way I like to explain it is that Voyage is all about bringing the right people to the table.” HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH THE BRC? “(Through the UNCW class project Wirth found that) the BRC was the perfect fit for me, as it falls in the intersection of nonprofit management, public administration, and criminology, which were my three minors in college. I ended up completing the BRC’s first annual report and absolutely fell in love with the organization. Three more internships, including over 800 hours of work later, and I was offered a position here at the program director. After three short months, the board of directors appointed me the executive director in June 2019.” WHERE DO YOU TURN TO FOR NEW IDEAS AND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR ROLE? “I always turn to mom and dad when I need ideas or inspiration. They are my heroes and have had a lot of great experiences that I can learn from. They both serve on multiple nonprofit boards and provide a good balance of advice.” READ ANYTHING LATELY THAT YOU’D RECOMMEND? “Double Bind: Women on Ambition. It is a collection of pieces from women who write about what it means to be a woman with ambition, challenges that come with it, and advice. As a twenty-four-year-old CEO, this has definitely been one of my favorites.”

W

GENNA WIRTH’s full profile will appear in an upcoming WILMA Roundup email. To sign up for daily WILMA emails, go to WILMAmag.com.

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VALENTINE’S DAY NO-NOS

by DYLAN PATTERSON illustration by MARK WEBER

D

Dylan Patterson is a writer and filmmaker who teaches English at Cape Fear Community College.

Dear boyfriend, husband, of other variety of male (or maleacting) life partner, Your significant other has instructed you to read this because you have either sorely disappointed her in the past, or, if your relationship is new, you’ve proven to be the kind of guy with a high probability of screwing up your first Valentine’s Day together.

I know what you’re thinking: “How dare this guy tell me how to celebrate with my lady on the year’s most romantic day!” Slow your roll, pal. I’m not here to lecture you on what to do on Valentine’s Day. I’m just going to tell you ten things definitely NOT to do: 1. Don’t do nothing. Even if she routinely mocks Valentine’s Day as just another “Hallmark holiday,” pay that no mind. You have to do something. Anything is better than nothing.

2. Don’t say, “I’ll do whatever you want to do.” On this one day, take some initiative, my brother. Be bold. Make a freaking plan for once in your life.

3. Don’t cook for her. Unless you’re a professional chef or a kickass amateur, do not subject your lady to your once-a-year foray into the kitchen to make overcooked chicken with past-the-expirationdate pre-grated Parmesan.

4. No steakhouses, all-you-can-eat buffets, or sports bars.

Not on Valentine’s Day. Not even if it’s where you met. Not even if it’s where you proposed. Up. Your. Game.

5. Don’t pick out expensive jewelry without help from her friends. Just because she claims to love the rose gold, heart-

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FEBRUARY 2020

shaped brooch you bought her last year doesn’t mean she actually likes it. She’s just trying to spare your fragile feelings. If you buy her something ugly and expensive, she’s going to wear it. Remember, it’s supposed to be a gift, not an obligation.

6. Learn a lesson from the guy in that Peloton ad and don’t buy her exercise equipment, a gym membership, and, for God’s sake, no diet books. This should go without saying, but honestly, all ten of these should go without saying.

7. Don’t use a coupon, Groupon, or gift certificate at dinner.

A two-for-one discount does not good foreplay make. On February 14th, she wants reckless physical abandon, not cautious fiscal discipline.

8. Don’t select a plastic-wrapped bouquet from the pickedthrough leftovers of your low-end grocery. If your bouquet includes a miniature balloon, a Disney copyrighted theme, or flowers dyed colors that don’t exist in nature, pick again.

9. Don’t get on your phone during dinner. Not to check the score of the big game. Not to Instagram pics of dinner. Not even to calculate the tip. Take a night off from the electronic pacifier, and instead, take a long look into your lady’s eyes.

10. And, finally, don’t eat a huge meal. There are plenty of other nights to gorge on carbs and crash on the couch before 9 p.m.

Your circulatory system is your friend; don’t overtax it. Consider a salmon fillet or grilled chicken over a Caesar salad. Remember, you’ll need to be in top form later. Tonight’s your big night, stud muffin.

Family.

Family.

Friends.

Friends.

Community.

Community.

We're We'reall all this together. together.

We're allinininthis this together.

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Rob Rens, Agent Agent Agent Name, Name, Agent Agent 2528 Castle Street StreetAddress Address Hayne Road Wilmington, City, City,State, State,Zip ZipNC 28401 Agent Name, Agent MyCapeFearInsurance.com Phone Phone Street Address E-mail E-mail O: 910.599.9398 City,C: State, Zip 910.262.3355

Phone E-mail

1801075

1801075 1801075

State Farm, Bloomington, IL

State StateFarm, Farm,Bloomington, Bloomington,IL IL

Much more than something Blue & Find the reflection of your love when you choose one of our waterfront venues for your dream wedding. Whether you are looking for a stunning backdrop for your ceremony, or sunset views for your reception, our exceptional culinary team and experienced event staff will help you craft and coordinate your perfect wedding.

CONTACT OUR SALES & EVENTS TEAM: |P| 910.599.1337

Keep all of our family-owned coastal restaurants in mind for your upcoming events!

|E| CoastalEvents@LMRest.com Photography: Kate Supa Photography (other than building exterior photos). Dress: Camilles of Wilmington. Makeup: Adrianne Lugo. Flowers: Designs by Dillon. Rentals: Party Suppliers.