WILMA - September 2019

WILMA

SEPTEMBER 2019

WILMINGTON’S SUCCESSFUL WOMAN

THE

Suiting Up

Swimwear updates for summer

Heading Outdoors

STYLE

Wild Side

Taming animal prints

Adventure trips wit h Nature Girl

She & Him

Vacation Plans

Making Waves

Pender’s Tammy Proctor gets ready for tourist season

I S S U E

Couples couture goals

Sur f shop style inspiration

WILMA’S

WOMEN WATCH AWARDS

A NIGHT UNDER T H E S TA R S Join WILMA in honoring the 2019 Women to Watch FRIDAY

October 11 5:30pm to 10pm

Wilmington Convention Center Food | Drinks | Dancing Live Music by Lunar Tide

$50 per ticket / $500 table of 10

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www.WILMAONTHEWEB.com

SEPTEMBER 2019

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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september 2019

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10

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8 SPOTLIGHT

46 THE SCENE: Booze on the move

10 TASTE: Vinyasa vittles

47 TAKE 5: Audrey Hart on hurricane recovery

12 HEALTH: Healing hiatus

48 MEN’S ROOM: School days

43 CALENDAR

Check out WILMA magazine here:

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WILMA

SEPTEMBER 2019

/WILMAMAG

14 14 W ILD & FREE: Animal prints abound this fall 22 M EET OUR STYLIST: Ashley Duch Grocki’s winding career 25 O FF THE CUFF: Fall looks for her and him 33 U NEXPECTED FINDS: Surf shop looks

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Fall is on everyone’s mind this month, with relief from the sweltering summer and transition to a pumpkin-tinged time of year.

Fall has us looking forward, too, for this year’s Style Issue inspiration.

Warm colors, looser cuts, and rich textures fill the style features. Those include incorporating leopard prints into your wardrobe without getting widely out of hand in “Animal Instincts” (page 14).

Adventurous meet practical for “The Explorers” (page 25) in both women’s and men’s wear.

And, if you only think of swimsuits with the area’s many surf shops, take a closer look. There’s serious shopping – and fashion – to be had in these beachside boutiques. Their buyers give us tips on extending the breezy summer looks into fall in “Beyond the Bikini” (page 33).

In this issue and throughout the year, we depend on members of our Style team to come up with ideas and shoots that bring out the best looks.

Writer (and former WILMA co-editor) Nina Bays Cournoyer, photographer Melissa Hebert, and stylist Ashley Duch Grocki, as well as hairstylists, makeup artists, and models all play a role in pulling together the spreads.W SEPTEMBER 2019

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NINA BAYS COURNOYER is design director for the Los Angeles Business Journal and style intro writer for WILMA magazine. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, she was previously co-editor/ art director of WILMA and art director for the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and is happy to still be part of the WILMA team, even while on the opposite coast. Bays Cournoyer takes a look at some fall trends for this year’s Style Issue in “Animal Instincts” (page 14) and “The Explorers” (page 25).

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 as well as the style shoots “Animal Instincts” (page 14) and “The Explorers” (page 25). melissahebert.com and melissahebertphoto.com

Publisher Rob Kaiser rkaiser@wilmingtonbiz.com 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 Executive Polly Holly pholly@wilmingtonbiz.com Ali Buckley abuckley@wilmingtonbiz.com Business Manager Nancy Proper nproper@wilmingtonbiz.com

LAURA MOORE is an English professor at Cape

Fear Community College in one of the top threerated English departments in the state. In addition to education, she has a background in public relations and journalism. Moore talks with organizers with Little Pink Houses of Hope and the beach retreats they hold for cancer patients and their families (page 12).

KHALISA RAE is a writer and educator who

published her first book, Real Girls Have Real Problems, in 2012. Her recent work has been seen in numerous journals and magazines including Glass Poetry, Feminist Press, The Tishman Review, Obsidian, Anchor, New Shoots Anthology, among others. She currently serves as co-editor and co-director of Athenian Press.

Rae talked with New Hanover Disaster Coalition Director Audrey Hart, the subject of this month’s Take 5 (page 47).

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 talks with Victoria Dodge about her yoga-inspired cookbook for this month’s Health feature (page 10).

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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 Editor Dave Dean ddean@wilmingtonbiz.com Contributing Designer Suzi Drake art@wilmingtonbiz.com Fashion Stylist Ashley Duch Grocki Contributors Marianna B. Boucher, Nina Bays Cournoyer, Laura Moore, Dylan Patterson, Khalisa Rae, Lynda Van Kuren, Katelynn Watkins, Elizabeth White Contributing Photographers River Bondurant, Erin Costa, Megan Deitz, Leanne Haskins, Melissa Hebert, HenHouse Photography, 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.WILMAonTheWeb.com

WILMA’S

LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE FOUNDING SPONSORS

CORPORATE SPONSORS

“As a PNC leader and a WILMA advisory board member, it

Karen Weaver Client Advisor, PNC Wealth Management

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is an honor to support the growth and development of female colleagues by building authentic relationships. Development is critical for all women in business, whether you are a business owner, corporate leader, or just starting in a career. PNC is committed to supporting female leaders in their quest to build skills, experience, and connections not only with other leaders, but with the diverse communities we serve.”

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W2W UPDATES

photo by Megan Deitz

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: LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: Members of the 2019 WILMA’s Leadership Institute visited last month with incoming students of Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW) for a half-day of activities to help get the students excited about their new school and upcoming year (above). The rising six-graders interacted with members of the Institute, a group of women who have spent this year on leadership development training. Members of this year’s Leadership Institute graduate from the nine-month program at a special event this month. Applications for next year’s Institute open October 1.

GET ON BOARD: Our Get on Board program seeks to help more women in the region join boards of directors. Women who complete the training session are eligible to list their backgrounds and areas of interest on our website WILMAsGetOnBoard.com so area organizations can expand their applicant pools.

WILMA NETWORK: The WILMA Network, made up of women from the companies that support the Women to Watch initiative, serves as a resource for the women involved and represents a variety of area businesses, large and small. Members participate in small-group networking events called 2nd Tuesdays.

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 Weekly newsletter on our website.

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

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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

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ON AIR: Rhonda Bellamy’s back on the radio

10 FOODIE FLOW Yoga Salt’s Victoria Dodge has a new cookbook 22 CHASING FASHION: Ashley Duch Grocki keeps a foot in NY fashion

SEPTEMBER

leadership opportunities

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Clay Dunnagan, managing partner of Anchor Capital, speaks to the INVESTORS ROUNDTABLE OF WILMINGTON about a private equity approach to investing in small-cap public equities. The lunch is at Country Club of Landfall. To RSVP, contact Cliff Brock at cliffbrock@ec.rr.com.

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Missy Carswell speaks about employee engagement during a seminar at CFCC’s Alston W. Burke Center in Surf City. The free breakfast talk, “ENGAGING EXCELLENCE: Bringing out the Best in Everyone” is 8:30-10:30 a.m. from CFCC’s Small Business Center, and preregistration is encouraged. Info: cfcc.edu/sbc

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UNCW’s QENO (Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations) holds sessions this month about RESPONSIBLE BOARD GOVERNANCE. The topic September 10 is Roles & Responsibilities; September 17 is Intentional Practices; and September

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24 is Board Revitalization. The training sessions take place 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the New Hanover County main library branch on Chestnut Street. Registration is $15 per session. Info: uncw.edu/qeno/trainingcalendar.html

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HATCH TRIBE Wilmington’s Founders’ Hour this month focuses on “When to Hire and When to Outsource: Building Your Dream Team,” featuring Lindsey Cheek, Gathered; Melissa Tyson, Melissa Tyson Designs; and Stephanie Lanier, Lanier Property Group, as panelists.

The talk is 8:30-10 a.m. at Stalk & Vine, 224 South Water Street. Info: hatchtribe.com/ upcoming-events/sept2019wlm BUNKER LABS, which helps veteran entrepreneurs and military spouses with their business goals, hosts “Real Estate Panel for Transitioning Veterans” 5-7 p.m. at Iron Clad Brewery, 115 North Second Street. Info: bunkerlabs.org/our-locations/wilmington

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PORT CITY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS holds its monthly networking at KBT Realty and Cavik Insurance, 1724 Gardner Drive, Suite 120, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Info: pcypapp.com/events

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The 3W Series (WILMINGTON WOMEN’S WORKSHOPS) hosts a session 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Keller Williams Realty, 1001 Military Cutoff, Suite 101. Tickets are $25 and include breakfast a personal StrengthsFinder assessment. Info: alexandra@cavikinsurance.com

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Jessica Lozada, from Delivering Happiness who facilitates and supports sessions for improving organizational culture, is the featured speaker at CAPE FEAR WOMEN IN TECH 5:30-7 p.m. at tekMountain, 1844 Sir Tyler Drive. Info: cfwit.com Sign up for the WILMA Weekly newsletter at WILMAOnTheWeb.com. To include your group's event, email W2W@WILMAOnTheWeb.com

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ON AIR WITH RHONDA BELLAMY

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RHONDA BELLAMY, executive director of the ARTS COUNCIL OF WILMINGTON/NHC, recently rekindled her radio background.

Around Town with Rhonda Bellamy began airing on public radio station WHQR this summer, featuring five-minute interviews with guests from around the region talking about arts, culture, and the community.

Besides her long-standing role with the arts council and with other arts-related boards, Bellamy has more than twenty years of experience in broadcast news. She was previously the news director for Cumulus Media’s five-station radio cluster in Wilmington and hosted a daily talk show, officials say. Bellamy also has authored and edited three books.

“It’s my honor to indulge my two passions in life – quality broadcasting and the arts,” she says.

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WILMA

SEPTEMBER 2019

HILL PROMOTED TO CEO OF BRIGADE

BRIGADE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB recently announced that ANGIE HILL is the group’s new CEO. Hill began her role in August and succeeds previous CEO Rick Sears, who retired after a two-year tenure leading the organization.

Hill is the first-ever internal candidate promoted to serve in this capacity and the organization’s first female CEO. She has held several previous leadership positions at the club in resource development, grants management, programming, operations, and staff training during her ten-year tenure with the organization.

Brigade Boys & Girls Club serves more than 2,200 children, from kindergarteners to high school seniors, through afterschool and summer programming, and has eleven locations in its tri-county network.

Hill is a business and accounting graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

She previously spent more than ten years in the clinical trial industry.

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UNITEDHEALTHCARE HIRES COLEY AS EXEC

NHC NAMES ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER

Officials recently named TUFANNA BRADLEY-THOMAS an assistant county manager for NEW HANOVER COUNTY. She started in the role August 27.

Bradley-Thomas had been the county’s community affairs coordinator since January and previously worked for the New Hanover County school system.

While she continues to manage the county’s community affairs, she now also manages the county’s Parks & Gardens; N.C. Cooperative Extension and Arboretum, Public Library, Cape Fear Museum, Soil & Water Conservation District, and Board of Elections.

“She has grown up in this community and knows the importance of the county’s work and our quality-of-life services. She is strategic and community-minded and will be a great asset as a leader for the county,” County Manager Chris Coudriet says.

Bradley-Thomas has worked in public service for almost twenty years and served as the director of several nonprofit organizations.

“I have an affinity for working with and for our community to address and solve issues that impact residents of New Hanover County,” Bradley-Thomas says.

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WILMINGTON’S SUCCESSFUL WOMAN

UNITEDHEALTHCARE has hired WANDA COLEY, former president and COO of Well Care Health, in a new executive role to expand the health insurer’s presence in the Carolinas, including in Southeastern North Carolinas.

Coley started as vice president of strategy and execution for North and South Carolina with UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare & Retirement business line on August 5.

It’s a new role for UnitedHealthcare’s reach in North and South Carolina, says Coley, who remains based in the Wilmington area.

She is responsible for the management of clinical programs and business development opportunities impacting the Medicare Advantage population in North and South Carolina.

Coley served nearly nineteen years with Well Care, and in October 2017, took on the role of president and COO soon after CEO Wayne Long died.

She said she left Well Care Health on “great terms.”

“It was just really a great opportunity to expand my horizons and take a leap, climb and build my career,” Coley said. “It was probably one of the hardest decisions that I have made, but it was the right decision.”

Well Care Health named SUSAN JACKSON as its interim COO. She had served Well Care as chief people officer since June 2018 and continues in that role while serving as its interim COO.

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

Email us: wilma@WILMAOnTheWeb.com WILMAONTHEWEB.com

SEPTEMBER 2019

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FOODIE

FLOW

YOGA STUDIO OWNERS RELEASE A VINYASA-INSPIRED COOKBOOK

by LYNDA VAN KUREN photo by ERIN COSTA

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ummer rolls with peanut sauce. Stuffed shells.

Strawberry rhubarb crumble. These are just a few of the yummy recipes in a soon-to-be-released cookbook The Yoga Plate by Wilmington’s VICTORIA and TAMAL DODGE. The Dodges are the owners of Yoga Salt, a yoga studio located in Wilmington’s South Front District that focuses on vinyasa yoga (commonly referred to as “flow yoga”). Because the cookbook is an outgrowth of the couple’s love for yoga and yoga philosophy as well as

cooking, it includes guidelines on how to weave yoga principals into your daily life, and all its recipes are vegan.

“Yoga asks you to do the least amount of harm possible,” Tamal says.

“A plant-based diet is when we create the least harm.”

Don’t let the cookbook’s vegan slant scare you off. The mouth-watering recipes in The Yoga Plate, which have been taste-tested by the Dodges’ neighbors and friends, received high marks from vegans and carnivores, alike. Most take thirty minutes or less from prep to table and use ingredients found in local grocery stores.

“We love to cook and love to experiment and try to find things that aren’t vegan and turn them vegan,” Victoria says. “It’s a great cookbook for anybody and for someone just being introduced to the plant-based life.”

Though both Victoria and Tamal love to cook, a cookbook wasn’t anywhere in their plans. In fact, Victoria didn’t even know how to cook when she met Tamal in Los Angeles, where the two resided.

Victoria was a sought-after photographer who captured the likenesses of celebrities such as Shaquille O’Neal and James Cameron. Her work has been featured in Crate & Barrel, Forbes, and other major publications. Tamal owned the Yoga Salt studio in Los Angeles and often traveled to Wilmington and other cities to teach yoga.

Two years later, in 2008, the two married. Tamal was already an accomplished vegan cook, and as Victoria adopted the yoga lifestyle, she dove into veganism.

“I felt like I was in kindergarten,” she says. “No one learns about health and nutrition. Most parents do what their parents did. I wanted to share what I’d learned.”

The couple taught cooking classes around Los Angeles and started their cooking blog The Yoga Plate.

Then one of the Dodges’ Los Angeles teachers told them they should write a cookbook, and the idea took off. Another friend introduced the Dodges to a literary agent, who loved the idea.

The couple wrote a seventy-five-page proposal, and Sounds True Publishing Company, which publishes books on

yoga and meditation, immediately accepted it.

Victoria credits the proposal’s fast acceptance to finding the right publishing company with the perfect audience for the cookbook and the fact that we’re in a time when people want to be more aware of what they eat.

“People want to be more mindful, to consciously eat a cleaner, healthier diet,” she says.

So began a whirlwind of activity. On their travels, the couple had fallen in love with Wilmington and were preparing to move and open their second Yoga Salt studio here.

Now, they had to write their cookbook, too.

That meant testing and perfecting recipes, making them over and over, and getting feedback from neighbors, friends, and students. Victoria was also photographing each of the finished dishes.

In the end, the Dodges had too many recipes and selected 108 of their favorites for the book. Then, they added guidelines on daily yoga practice for each recipe.

“Those who follow the yoga culture will appreciate the yoga principles that are presented in the cookbook and how we can make those principles part of our daily life,” Tamal says.

The cookbook is separated into sections that might resemble a typical yoga class.

It includes “Morning Meditations,” where you’ll find breakfast, smoothies, and teas; “A Plate Full of Prana,” which offers snacks, soups, and salads; “A Bowl Full of Yin,” which features entrees, dips, and sauces; and “Sweet Savasana,” which has something for every sweet tooth.

The Dodges have posted some of their recipes on theyogaplate.com and featured them in their YouTube and Instagram videos. They also hold cooking classes at Yoga Salt, 1540 South Second Street, Suite 220.

The Yoga Plate will be released in September and available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent booksellers, or at Yoga Salt. W WILMAONTHEWEB.com

B R E AT H E A N D R E J U V E N AT E photo from The Yoga Plate

ASIAN QUINOA SALAD Serves 4-6

AN EXCERPT FROM THE YOGA PLATE: This salad is one of our household staples.

It only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and it is a crowd pleaser. Quinoa is not only gluten free, it is also a super food, loaded with protein, fiber, magnesium and iron. Plus, seaweed is light and refreshing yet super nourishing. It’s a hit in our house.

Sometimes, though, we’ll omit the seaweed from this salad, depending on whom we are serving it to. And there are still plenty of healthy ingredients to enjoy. Kale is a powerhouse, filled with vitamin C, fiber, vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese and copper.

Avocado has healthy fats and lemon is very cleansing. You can’t go wrong with this salad.

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• 1 cup dried quinoa • 2 cups water • 1 cup or more of kale, ripped into small pieces • ¼ cup olive oil • ¼ cup nori (seaweed), cut into small pieces • 2 small cucumbers, diced • 1 avocado, cubed • 1 tsp. black sesame seeds • Juice from ½ lemon • ½ tsp. garlic salt • ½ tsp. sea salt 1. Place the quinoa and water in a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover for 20 minutes. Let cool.

2. After the quinoa has cooled a bit, scoop it into a large bowl. Add the kale, olive oil, nori, cucumbers, avocado, black sesame seeds, lemon, garlic salt and salt. Toss and serve. It’s that simple!

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Christy Cutler, a participant this year in a Little Pink Houses of Hope trip

RESTORATIVE

RETREAT

NONPROFIT GIVES CANCER PATIENTS A BREAK AWAY

by LAURA MOORE

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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photo c/o LPHOH

n 2009, when JEANINE PATTEN-COBLE was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and given just a 25 percent chance of surviving a year, she was overcome with a sense of calling.

That calling was to create an opportunity for breast cancer patients and their families to take a break from the onus of treatment. Amid her struggle, she created LITTLE PINK HOUSES OF HOPE. The organization provides free weeklong vacation retreats for breast cancer patients and their families, allowing them to concentrate on being more unified and living each day to

its fullest. Oak Island will host a retreat this month for families of Little Pink Houses of Hope.

In its ninth year, the group hosts twenty retreats a year, all over the country and now in Costa Rica and the Virgin Islands.

“The day after I was diagnosed, I headed to the beach with my family for our annual trip, and I went for a run to come up with my Academy Award-winning speech to tell my son I had breast cancer,” Patten-Coble recalls. “That’s when I saw forty-three oceanfront houses that were abandoned (at an emptied Coast Guard compound), and I was physically struck by this heaviness, this profound, strong calling of ‘I’ve got to create a space like this for breast cancer patients.’”

Over the course of the next yearand-a-half, through chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries, the “knock, the prodding, never stopped,” she says, and Little Pink Houses of Hope was born. Its mission is “to embrace families as they are going through the difficult breast cancer journey with retreats to help them focus on celebrating life.”

Breast cancer treatment takes a physical, emotional, and financial toll on both the patient and the patient’s family. The mission of LPHOH is to provide an escape from those stresses – even if it’s just for a week.

“Instead of the posture of gripping on tightly, I decided to open my hands and see where it would lead,” Patten-Coble says.

It led her to Carolina Beach, where she asked God to give her a sign that she was making the right move. She found Kate’s Pancake House, where she told owner Kate Weiss about her idea and asked if she would help. She found the sign she had been looking for in Kate’s response.

“She threw her hands up in a ‘Touchdown!’ posture and said, ‘Yes, of course!’” Patten-Coble recalls. “I realized all I have to do is ask, and hearts will open and do what it takes to help.”

In 2011, the very first LPHOH

retreat was held on Pleasure Island, and the organization has returned every year since.

“The community has been amazing.

They have taken it on as their own. We have businesses in their ninth year, and they look forward to it, plan for it, and the local community really enjoys being a part of it,” says Patten-Coble, who was named a CNN Hero in 2017.

In LPHOH’S first year at Carolina Beach, Patten-Coble teamed up with Kevin Murphy of Ocean Cure to provide participants with fun experiences surfing and paddleboarding. They have been working together ever since at retreats all over the coastal Carolinas.

“We have a synergy with how we want to help people, to empower people,” Patten-Coble explains. “We are very lucky to have made that connection early on. They are really great supporters.

“When the cancer bomb has gone off in your house, and bills are piling up, and you don’t know what’s going to be covered, it is an emotional journey financially for the men, women, and families of breast cancer,” Patten-Coble adds.

Little Pink Houses of Hope receives 2,000 applications a year for its twenty retreats that typically host eleven families each with participants who are currently in the throes of cancer treatment.

Local Team Pinks spend the year creating a restorative week for families by arranging volunteers who donate homes, meals, and activities for the participants in communities such as Pleasure Island and Oak Island.

“VolunStars” are available 24-7 throughout the retreat week to ensure a comfortable and memorable experience for each family.

“Our participants feel an overwhelming sense of unconditional love from the community. The entire thing runs because local communities embrace the mission in an enormous hug,” Patten-Coble says. “It is palpable. Our families can feel it.”

And, as for Patten-Coble, she feels great, having just celebrated her tenth anniversary of being cancer free and keeping that “open-hand posture.”

“I feel blessed beyond measure,” she says, “to have a front seat to see all the goodness in the world.” W WILMAONTHEWEB.com

CAPE FEAR HEART WALK OCTOBER 26, 2019 UNCW – 9:00am Program – 10:00am Walk Entertainment, Family Activities & Dog Friendly

Join us for the annual Cape Fear Heart Walk in the fight against the nation’s #1 and #5 killers, heart diseases and stroke. Make a positive difference for your community and your family when you register for the Cape Fear Heart Walk. It’s more than walking — it’s about making a commitment to lead a heart healthy life and become healthy for good.

Event Chair: Jay Wileman, CEO, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

SIGN UP TODAY TO START YOUR FUNDRAISING TEAM www.capefearncheartwalk.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 910-538-9270 ashley.miller@heart.org

PL E A S E J O I N U S FO R T H E COA STA L H O R I ZO N S

Annual Luncheon OCToBer 2, 2019 11:30am-1pm

WILMINGTON CONVENTION CENTER

Keynote Speaker Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant Dakota L. Meyer To Purchase a Table or Seats Please visit us online at coastalhorizons.org.

For More Information Please call 910-790-0187.

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Brown-knit TANK TOP, pleated leopard MAXI SKIRT, and gold leather SKINNY BELT, all available at Oliver Clothing OPPOSITE PAGE: Black silk CAMI, leopard-print buttondown SHIRT, black leather JACKET, and denim high-waist button-up JEANS, all available at Oliver Clothing

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STYLED BY ASHLEY DUCH GROCKI | PHOTOS BY MELISSA HEBERT | INTRO BY NINA BAYS COURNOYER WILMA SEPTEMBER 2019

ANIMAL

INSTINCTS

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f you swung full force into spring’s animal prints, you’re in luck – leopard is still on the trend watch list this fall, but with a slightly more subtle groove.

Weaving the wild into the coming season’s wardrobe is simple. Whether you’re drawn to the daintiness of ruffles or the mightiness of leather, your exotic belts and scarves are welcome additions to autumn’s garment game. Keep those spots fierce, pairing your existing pieces with the newer trends such as high-waisted jeans, see-through fabrics, and chunky-soled boots.

Sure, you can still venture out in a head-to-toe wildcat, but if that’s not for you, know that even a little roar can go a long way. W WILMAONTHEWEB.com

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Multi-colored shimmer DRESS and Chanel NECKLACE, both available at Monkee’s of Wilmington; BELT (stylist's own)

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Hot pink silk CAMI, available at Monkee’s of Wilmington; black high-waist wide-leg PANTS, leopard-print HEADBAND, and leopard-and-gold statement EARRINGS, available at Très Bleu Boutique

WILMAONTHEWEB.com

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WILMINGTON’S SUCCESSFUL WOMAN

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MODEL: Ireland Headrick HAIR : Elisha Smith (Blush Haus of Beauté) MAKEUP: Jenna Ellegood (Blush Haus of Beauté) WARDROBE: Monkee’s of Wilmington, Oliver Clothing, Très Bleu Boutique

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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FALL 2019 HOME TRENDS SPONSORS’ CONTENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY ASHLEY HOMESTORE

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Whether you binged Marie Kondo’s Netflix show, Tidying Up, or are just vaguely aware of the minimalist movement, minimizing clutter and maximizing comfort is a trend we hope to see stick. Less is more according to minimalism, and carefully choosing what is useful and brings you joy can be an easy method of getting rid of the excess that is cluttering your life. Maximizing comfort is easy with soft velvety fabrics and intimate lighting. The Danish even coined a term for it. Hygge (pronounced hoo-guh) is the Danish word for a cozy, contented feeling.

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by KATELYNN WATKINS | photos by LEANNE HASKINS

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SEPTEMBER 2019

From NYC to Wilmington, making style happen

C

olors, textures, light, contrast – these are just a few threads in the elemental fabric of fashion, woven together to form a seamless image that inspires as much as it is worn.

It seems like a lot to expect from a shirt or a pair of pants, right?

But for ASHLEY DUCH GROCKI, a fashion marketer, editorial associate, and stylist, that’s just for a start.

“I’ve always wanted to style a magazine like WILMA without seeing ‘assistant’ in front of my name. It’s my joy,” says Duch Grocki who since becoming WILMA’s stylist in April, pulls together the magazine’s monthly fashion shoots and covers, including the spread’s for this month’s annual Style Issue.

She and photographer Melissa Hebert make quite the team when it comes to creating the right look and feel for every spread on which they get to collaborate.

Duch Grocki also lends her experienced eye to Blush Haus of Beauté in Lumina Station for marketing and promotional shoots, and she started a blog called The Tiny Essentials (thetinyessentials.com) that features everything from personal style insights to tips for moms everywhere.

She admits that this adds up to a busy schedule, especially for a dedicated wife and mom of a two-and-ahalf-year-old, but Duch Grocki says she wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the kind of work and pace that she imagined for herself even at a young age.

After spending her childhood and teen years in North Carolina, Duch Grocki went to The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale for a degree in fashion merchandise marketing. From there, she found her first post-grad job as an assistant to stylist Lisa Cera, whom Duch Grocki credits with teaching her the preliminaries of working in the fashion and styling industry.

“There’s just nothing like real-world experience,” Duch Grocki says. “What you learn in school is important, but it’s what you do at internships or a job that shows you what you’re getting into.”

So, when she accepted first an internship at fashion brand Tibi and then a job at event production company Raúl Àvila Inc. in New York City, Duch Grocki embraced both companies’ cultures that she says boiled down to no one feeling as though she or he was above any task.

Everyone got coffee, just like everyone had a part to play when it came time to bring events such as New York WILMAONTHEWEB.com

Fashion Week and the Met Gala to life.

And, when she makes the trip back each year as Raúl Àvila’s assistant production manager specifically for its part in the Met Gala, she immerses herself in the experiences that set the tone for everything Duch Grocki puts into her career now.

“That’s where those dreams that I had my entire life started to come true,” she says. “In this industry especially, you have to really love what you do. This work is your life.”

Even after leaving New York to move back to Wilmington, Duch Grocki used that philosophy to make her SEPTEMBER 2019

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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hometown’s climate work for her. Her husband, Andrew, was incredibly supportive, she says, especially as she began learning the balance between being a mom to their son, Greyson, and taking on jobs that require a lot of personal involvement.

Duch Grocki’s weekly schedule never looks the same – actually, her days sometimes change direction on the fly – but for the stylist, it’s all just part of the job.

Two days out of the week, she works with Blush Haus of Beauté on everything from photo shoots to company events that promote high-end services and products. She says that while the beauty retailer isn’t what most people think of first when it comes to fashion, it all ties in with what she loves most and what she’s able to bring to the creative process at WILMA, too: styling.

“Coming back from New York, I wasn’t sure if Wilmington would be able to support what I do,” she says.

“But, when it comes to finding the right clothes to use, Wilmington doesn’t disappoint. This city has it all; you just have to find it.”

And, if knowing where to go is the problem, then Duch Grocki’s blog might just be the answer. The secret to having those handy updates ready for her readers? Quiet time, and it’s not always easy to come by. Duch Grocki says she likes to take an hour or two to get out of the house and hammer out three to four posts at once and then schedules them out as needed. Whether the topic is related to “mom stuff,” as she calls it, or fashion, she says she likes to keep her posts honest and organic.

“It’s definitely gone from personal to editorial,” she says. “Instead of being about what I’m wearing, it’s more about what I’m creating.”

When asked if there is any advice she would pass on to others like her, who are passionate about fashion and creating their niche in the industry, there are a few things she says she would have liked to tell her younger self.

“I wish I took a few bold risks,” Duch Grocki says. “So, I’d say be brave. Never say no, and know your worth. Like I said, no one is too good to get coffee, but it’s so important that you also know and appreciate what you’re worth.” W

THE EXPLORERS STYLED BY ASHLEY DUCH GROCKI | PHOTOS BY MELISSA HEBERT | INTRO BY NINA BAYS COURNOYER

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(On Hannah) Black silk MAXI DRESS and statement EARRINGS, both available at Monkee’s of Wilmington (On Dylan) Chambray button-down SHIRT, white T-SHIRT, and black PANTS, all available at Bloke

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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t’s not often that the same trend speaks to women and men alike, but this fall the couture stars align … Welcome to explorer chic.

With a flair for pending adventure, this season’s fav pieces mix the utilitarian with the glamourous. Hues shift from summer pales to more sandy and earthy tones, with olive leading the pack for both ladies and gents. Long trenches dot the retail landscape, with strong shoulders, deep yoke backs, and slim, belted waists to balance out the bulk.

Loose trousers are an elevated take on the simple cargo pant. And, maybe best of all, this fall designers met the demand for pockets in women’s clothing – big pockets can be found sewn into just about any garment. Loose-fitting clothes and no unwieldy purse to carry? Seize the day, ladies!

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SEPTEMBER 2019

(On Dylan) Tiger print button-down SHIRT, black JOGGERS, and black RAINCOAT, all available at Bloke (On Hannah) Black TOP with full sleeves, available at Très Bleu Boutique; beige suede SKIRT and gold EARRINGS, both available at Monkee’s of Wilmington; black TRENCH COAT (stylist’s own)

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MODEL: Hannah Rose & Dylan Gibhardt (Directions USA) HAIR: Branden Summers (Blush Haus of Beauté) MAKEUP: Jenna Ellegood (Blush Haus of Beauté) WARDROBE: Bloke, Monkee’s of Wilmington, Oliver Clothing, Très Bleu Boutique LOCATION: Fort Fisher

(On Dylan) Burgundy button-down SHIRT, khaki PANTS, and Army green RAINCOAT, all available at Oliver Clothing (On Hannah) Cream 3D crochet MINI DRESS and beige TRENCH COAT, both available at Oliver Clothing

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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O’Neill Devie DRESS, Nixon Siren SS WATCH, and O’Neill HAT, all from CB Surf Shop

BEYOND THE

BIKINI

photo by HenHouse Photography

S u rf s ho p s t yl e spa ns the sea sons

by ELIZABETH WHITE photos by TERAH WILSON & HENHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY WILMAONTHEWEB.com

There are a variety of options available to continue that light, airy, comfortable style so that you can keep walking on the beach or cruising along the Intracoastal, even if it calls for a little more cover-up. Once you feel ready to transition your look, an obvious first step is to start by adding to your swimwear.

JENNIFER CAPRI, a women’s buyer from CAROLINA BEACH SURF SHOP, recommends wearing “kimonos or sundresses because they are breathable and come in a variety of styles and they are easy to throw on to elevate a look.”

Her kimonos are typically sold in muted colors with some pattern. Floral sundresses are another fun, practical choice and are popular because there is a wide variety of color and fit.

Even though it can seem some surf shops cater to a younger population, LISA YEARY, of SURF CITY

photo by Jennifer Capri

F

OR THOSE LOOKING TO TRANSITION THEIR BEACH STYLE PAST THE TYPICAL SUMMERTIME BIKINI AND INTO THE COOLER WEATHER, LOCAL SURF SHOPS HAVE THE ANSWERS.

Rip Curl Wave Lines crop TEE, Rip Curl Classic Surf SHORT, Vans Authentic SHOES, Pura Vida BRACELETS, Electric Honeybee SUNGLASSES, and Dear Life Designs NECKLACE, all from CB Surf Shop

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photo by Terah Wilson

Lisa Yeary, buyer for Surf City Surf Shop

SURF SHOP in Wrightsville Beach, encourages all ages to stop by because there is something for everyone.

“Right now, there is so much influence from decades past. We’ve seen the late ’80s and ’90s make a huge return to fashion,” Yeary says. “Higher-waisted jeans, buttonfront dresses, and crop tees are here to stay and are most relevant to a younger clientele.”

New fall arrivals at Surf City Surf Shop

For a touch of sophistication, Yeary suggests cropped flared jeans and midi-

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length dresses.

“Those are some pieces that transcend all age groups,” she says.

While surf brand clothing makes up the majority of stock, it doesn’t mean there isn’t something for everyone, explains Yeary.

“At my age now, there are things I wouldn’t wear myself,” she says. “But, buying styles I would like to wear helps me buy for my more mature customers.”

Out of all the brands she carries, Yeary points to Billabong, Volcom, and O’Neill as her top three brands to keep an eye on. Also, she adds, watch out for Rip Curl, “which is quickly becoming a very important brand for us, not just swim but apparel, as well.”

There are set pieces from these brands that are particularly marketable through every season. A perfect example are cotton shorts from Billabong.

“Blues are big right now, but the line will expand to olive and rusts for the fall,” Capri says.

She echoes Yeary when referring to

SEPTEMBER 2019

brands such as Billabong and Rip Curl as go-tos.

“They are great at creating clothes for transitioning into cooler weather,” Capri says.

Beyond changing the colors of their pieces for fall, surf brands also stay relevant in the market with sweatshirts and sweaters. Once the cold hits, people will tend to swap the beloved and reliable T-shirt for a sweatshirt. High in popularity now are logo crewnecks or pullovers.

Yeary explains that “pullover sweatshirts are more in style versus the zip style we’ve seen for so long now.”

DANIELLE BOURGEOIS, owner/ partner at SWEETWATER SURF SHOP, says “the most popular item of the summer is our Sweetwater-embroidered crew sweatshirt because of its clean and simple design that comes in over eight colors.”

She reveals that fall weather is going to mean an unavoidable sweatshirt trend with which Yeary agrees.

Accessorizing can be just as important

Billabong Wildlife TANK and Road Trippin SHORT, both from CB Surf Shop

photo by Jennifer Capri

as choosing staple pieces, and the surf shops make sure they help provide the full look.

Dainty jewelry creates most of the inventory at CB Surf Shop, Capri says.

“We look for simple and elegant pieces that are low maintenance,” she says, adding that keeping the base piece of the look simple allows for more fun with jewelry and bags.

“Accessories are a must,” Bourgeois agrees.

“Jewelry with any kid of seashell has been very popular this summer especially puka shell and cowrie shell necklaces.”

At Sweetwater, there is also a fun selection of clutches and purses from Bali made from wood beads and woven rattan.

Textured bags have been a huge trend this summer, and their earthy colors allow them to enter the fall season with ease. Pairing a trendy handbag with a post-beach outfit adds a level of thought and effort.

What about the man in your life looking for the same level of style and comfort? No fear. DALTON GILLEY, men’s buyer at Surf City, is on hand with a list of trendy musthaves.

He suggests continuing to buy from favorite summer brands but instead look for khakis in beige, navy, and black. Then, pair that with a dark-toned flannel for a full fall look.

Whatever your style and whatever the fall weather, be assured that with the assistance of these surf shops your transition from summer to fall will be far easier than deciding which beach to visit. W

O’Neill Kyler JUMPER, Oakley Low Key SUNGLASSES, Reef Vista SANDALS, Nixon Time Teller WATCH, and Pura Vida BRACELETS, all from CB Surf Shop

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photo by HenHouse Photography

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25 years experience Trained in PA & NY

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W I L M I N G TO N ’ S S U CC E S S F U L W O M A N

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Sept. 24 | 4:30PM - 7PM | FLYING MACHINE BREWERY

L Please join us as we showcase the launch of our new website and celebrate together with WILMA contributors, staff, and women featured in this year's magazine!

Visit the WILMA Facebook for event details! @wilmamag

2019WILMA-Party.indd 1

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8/16/19 3:01 PM

SEPTEMBER 2019

SEPTEMBER’S BEST PL E A S E J O I N U S FO R T H E COA STA L H O R I ZO N S

Annual Luncheon OCToBer 2, 2019 11:30am-1pm

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Keynote Speaker Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant Dakota L. Meyer To Purchase a Table or Seats Please visit us online at coastalhorizons.org.

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ANNUAL LUNCHEON Please join us for Coastal Horizons Annual Luncheon on Oct. 2, featuring keynote speaker Sergeant Dakota L. Meyer. To purchase tickets visit coastalhorizons.org

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BUST A MOVE FOR BREAST CANCER Get ready to bust a move at a Dance Party benefiting Going Beyond the Pink on Sept. 27! Call (910) 667-2111 for tickets or visit goingbeyondthepink.org

CUSTOMIZE SMALL SPACES Make the most of your small spaces from laundry rooms to bathrooms with custom cabinets from Markraft Cabinets. Call (910) 7930202 or visit Markraft.com and see how you can transform your spaces.

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BE KIND TO YOURSELF and make your massage appointment today. Call (503) 348-7522 or or email nancy@massagekind. com. Check Wilma emails for special deals.

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MAKING LEGS GREAT IN 2019 Spotless Vein Care is your trusted medical provider for varicose veins and spider veins. Your insurance may even cover your costs. Call (910) 763-6571 or visit spotlessveincare.com

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Visit WilmingtonHCHeroes.com to honor those making a difference in the health care industry in our region! Nomination deadline is September 12.

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2019-20 SERIES Save 20% now when you buy subscribe to Wilmington Symphony Orchestra’s Upcoming series. Call (910) 362-7999 or visit wilmingtonsymphony.org

Contact Sales at (910) 343.8600 x203 for more info and rates.

SEPTEMBER 2019

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D IG NITY ME M OR I AL AN UNDERSEA TRIBUTE TO LIFE

W

ith more and more families choosing cremation than ever before, we are seeing the development of exciting and new options in permanent places of remembrance. This is an important part of planning for a celebration of life, to ensure that loved ones will always have a meaningful place to visit, remember and reflect.

At Dignity Memorial, we are honored to be able to provide access to one of the most unique resting places ever conceived — the Neptune Memorial Reef, the largest man-made reef ever created. This is the first and only environmentally friendly sanctuary for those choosing cremation with memorialization.

The Neptune Memorial Reef is located three miles off the coast of Key Biscayne, Florida in 40 feet of crystal clear water with a plethora of active marine life that continues to grow exponentially. Ocean enthusiasts, scuba divers, environmentalists, marine biologists, fishermen, and boaters from around the world are flocking to this impressive marine habitat (GPS coordinates N 25° 42.036’, W 80° 05.409’) which will ultimately provide sanctuary for more than 250,000 individuals across its 16 acres of the ocean floor.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

Memorialization at the Neptune Memorial Reef begins with pre-planning final arrangements to help relieve families of emotional as well as financial burdens.

Our compassionate Dignity Memorial experts get all the details set ahead of time, so when a loved one passes his or her cremated remains are carefully blended with natural materials, then molded and secured in this awe-inspiring undersea tribute to life with an engraved copper plaque.

For those loved ones who have already been cremated, they can still be memorialized in this impressive underwater setting.

Planning ahead for memorialization is a great way to ensure that you and your loved ones will be able to establish a truly memorable place to celebrate a remarkable life. Please contact us to speak with a Certified Neptune Reef Specialist at (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.

GIERIE ORTHODONTICS CORRECTING AN IMPROPER BITE HELPS PRESERVE ADULTS TEETH

I

Dr. William V. Gierie received his dental degree and orthodontic specialty training from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is an associate adjunct faculty member and Invisalign instructor in the orthodontic department. Dr. Gierie is in the top 1% of all Invisalign doctors in North America and lectures extensively on Invisalign. He maintains a private orthodontic practice in Wilmington, N.C., at 700 Military Cutoff Road, Suite 100. For more information, visit gobraces. net or call (910) 256-8590.

mproving one’s appearance is the most obvious reason for orthodontic treatment but, for many adults, another important motivator is avoiding premature tooth loss and extensive restorative work.

Misaligned teeth are correlated with excessive tooth wear and periodontal disease.Those problems, in turn, can cause the loss of teeth. Orthodontic treatment can help reduce or eliminate the need for crowns, implants, dentures, and other invasive procedures after teeth are badly damaged or lost completely.

Often, adults seek orthodontic treatment to correct an improper bite. Correcting such problems helps position the teeth, so the chewing surfaces are aligned better.

That can significantly reduce the amount of wear on the teeth.

Another benefit of straightening teeth is reducing bone loss, a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. While some reduction of bone volume with age can be normal, abnormal forces caused by poorly positioned teeth can accelerate that loss.

Consider the numbers. A normal human jaw can create a force of between 23 and 230 pounds while biting! Now multiply that by the hundreds or thousands of times we bite each day during normal chewing. If those forces are applied abnormally, such as a sideways pressure between poorly aligned

teeth, they can cause the underlying bone to break down. Other adverse effects can include muscle strain and pressure on the jaw joint, leading to the painful condition called temporomandibular disorder, or TMD. Straight teeth are easier to clean, and regular, thorough cleaning is vital to preventing gum disease.This can start as gingivitis, a common infection of the gums among adults over 30. Untreated, gingivitis can cause the gums to become inflamed and pull away from the teeth.This infection – and the body’s immune system response to it – can damage the bone and lead to teeth loosening or being lost prematurely. Periodontal disease also has been linked to heart disease.The underlying inflammation from the periodontal disease is damaging to the body’s blood vessels and the entire cardiovascular system.

It’s important that a patient with active gum disease have it treated before beginning orthodontic treatment and continue to see a dentist or periodontist during the course of orthodontic treatment.

We always work closely with our patients’ general dentists to ensure that all necessary treatments are properly coordinated.

In the long run, straighter teeth are healthier teeth, and far more likely to remain intact for the patient’s lifetime.

910.256.8590 | GoBraces.net

WILMAONTHEWEB.com

SEPTEMBER 2019

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JAMES E. MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY

HURRICANE THOUGHTS:

A

s a Wilmington native, longtime resident of Wrightsville Beach - and an insurance agent - I have experienced and helped countless others contend with hurricanes. Now that the 2019 hurricane season is underway, here are some thoughts I hope you’ll take to heart.

The next hurricane will never be exactly like any other. I’ve always said that, but now I also say the next storm will not only be different, but it could be worse than anything we have imagined.

The possibility of our next hurricane being a Category 5 is higher than ever. Hurricanes reaching North Carolina lose most of their energy due to cooler waters at this latitude. With global warming, this cushion is disappearing.

Experts believe there is enough energy in our ocean to easily support a Category 5 storm.

FROM A PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Life before property. In the past, almost all our focus in preparing for hurricane season has been on protection of property. I’m now suggesting we spend as much or more time preparing for our physical safety.

Plan to evacuate. Think about how far you might travel and where you will stay. If you have elderly family members or close friends who might need help, consider them too.

Remember to plan for your pets, which may necessitate different hotels or friends with whom you’ll shelter.You might also pre-pack and take photos and valuable keepsakes.

Arrange with someone in Wilmington to help with your property in your absence. It could be weeks before your return and it would be wise to leave your property key with someone to protect your property. At the least, they’ll be able to let you know the

condition of things.

Update your insurance immediately. There could be as much as a 30-day wait before changes to your insurance become effective.

Call your insurance agent today to ensure everything is in order.

Create a checklist. Sit down now and make a list of everything you think you need to do in advance of a hurricane.

Inspect your house. If some things could be patched up or repaired now, doing so could save you a lot of time and money.

Create a video inventory.

Walk around inside your home with a video camera and create a record of everything you have. Be sure to make audio notes as you’re taking the video.

Remember that conditions can change rapidly. Have your plan in place and as you listen

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SEPTEMBER 2019

to the hurricane warnings keep in mind that conditions can change very rapidly.

We all hope there won’t be any major storms this year. But in reality, the only thing we can ever control is our own ability to respond in an emergency.

Preparedness is truly the key to keeping our loved ones and our property safe and being able to help others in the process.

Jim Moore is the president of James E. Moore Insurance Agency.

Established in 1954, it has become one of the most trusted independent insurance agencies in North Carolina. The James E. Moore Insurance Agency is a familyowned business and offers homeowners, automobile, life and health, employee benefits, and commercial insurance products.

M AR K RA F T C A B I NE TS

WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE REMODELING: BRIAN VOGEL

I

ndustry trends point to kitchens being the most popular rooms homeowners are choosing for remodeling, followed by the master baths and secondary bathrooms.

With so many new and exciting options from colors and styles to cabinetry to hardware, it’s easy for homeowners to quickly get overwhelmed.

There are certain remodeling considerations that are consistent, regardless of the extent of work or age of the home: budget and timeline.

According to Markraft Technical Advisor Brian Vogel, budget is king when looking to remodel. Homeowners should temper their enthusiasm when it comes to how much to spend, especially when remodeling to get a home ready to sell.

Targeting the right return on investment is key to avoid either pricing yourself out of the market or not getting enough back in the sale of the

home to cover the cost of renovation.

When it comes to the timeline to get the work done, Brian’s overarching advice to homeowners is to be aware of peaks and valleys.

“During my career, I’ve seen the beginning of HGTV which has given people an unrealistic timeframe, the work goes too smooth in order to fit into 30 minutes,” he says.

First off, a homeowner needs to conceptualize the remodel. Customers walking into the Markraft showroom in Wilmington are greeted with the latest and greatest, everything that’s trending and “hot” in kitchens and baths.They can chat with knowledgeable staff, collect samples and other materials, then make an appointment with a Markraft designer.That’s when the kitchen or bath gets measured, and discussions take place around pricing, style and

color.

“What we find is most people who come in have a general idea, they’ve seen their neighbors or relative’s house.

They just need a professional to steer them into the right direction and tie it into a realistic budget,” Brian explains.

The “right direction” encompasses everything from differing cabinet heights to variations of hardware to the right combination of form and function.

Once the budget is set and cabinets and the like are selected and ordered., homeowners should plan on 4-8 weeks on average for delivery depending on the product. Sometime after that (usually 48 hours) construction will begin and 7-10 days typically new countertops for example, will get put in.The contractors like plumbers will be sent out to get the kitchen up and running. Whether

remodeling an older home or a recent build, once work starts the home is going to be somewhat torn-up, with certain rooms being inaccessible during construction. With older homes, there is the possibility that once old cabinets are torn out, some underlying damage might be found that needs repair before remodeling can continue.

“You really need to have a certain level of flexibility in your budget to account for incidental, unexpected surprises,” Brian cautions. *Many variables during construction affect the lead time for all products.

Brian Vogel is Technical Advisor at Markraft on the construction side of the business.

His job is to work with his team to bring client projects to completion after finalization of designs and delivery of materials.

910.793.0202 | markraft.com

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P L A N TAT I O N V I L L A G E

Kim Nelson

Barbara Biehner

Joanne Rockness

Dr. Audrey Surak

BOARD MEMBERS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PLANTATION VILLAGE

P

lantation Village is a nonprofit Life Plan Community governed by a Board of Directors, six of which are women. What better place to showcase the achievements of our female board members than WILMA? Having such strong, successful women involved in the leadership of this community is a topic worthy of discussion.

With a background in the pharmaceutical industry that spanned 29 years and encompassed multiple fields, Kim Nelson brings a unique insight into her role as President of the Board of Directors at Plantation Village. A graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, where she earned a degree in Biology, Kim has refocused her efforts on serving the community since her retirement in 2014.

Kim donates her time to serve as chair for the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW) school board, as a member of the GLOW foundation, as a mentor with the Cameron Executive Network, and as a member of

the Planning and Investment team of the Cape Fear United Way. Her background includes serving as Secretary of a BlueRibbon Commission for the Prevention of Youth Violence, with her husband as co-chair of the WHQR Capital Campaign, and as a member of the advisory board for MARBIONC. Joanne Rockness is a former Associate Dean at North Carolina State University. She then earned a PhD in Business Administration/Accounting from UNC-Chapel Hill and spent 21 years at the UNCW Cameron School of Business where she was professor of accounting.

An avid golfer and boater who lives in Porter’s Neck with her husband, Joanne is now in her fourth year working with the board at Plantation Village. In the past she served the Wilmington community through her involvement on the boards of various organizations, and she is now working with GLOW. Barbara Biehner brings more than 27 years of experience in Health Care Management to the Board.The Director of

Operations at Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance since 2016, Barbara has worked with the UNCW Cameron School of Business for the past 13 years, as a Director of External Programs and the Executive-in-Residence.

She has earned the Graduating Seniors Faculty Recognition award on numerous occasions and serves various organizations in a leadership capacity, including New Hanover Regional Medical Center, the Landfall Foundation, and Cape Fear Clinic.

Last but certainly not least is Dr. Audrey Surak, Medical Director at Plantation Village since 2014. Previously the Chief Resident at Florida Hospital East Orlando, Dr. Surak is Board Certified in Family Medicine as well as Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine. A partner at Health Partners Wilmington, her extensive professional background includes serving as Medical Director at Lower Cape Fear Hospice for five years and providing patient care at Champions Assisted Living and The Davis Community. Dr. Surak likes spending time with her

1.866.825.3806 | PlantationVillageRC.com

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family and friends, traveling and working out with her husband and office manager, Clem.

Taking the time to attract and retain quality board members such as the women profiled here is just a small example of the work that we do to ensure our residents have a wonderful quality of life.Visit us on the web at www.PlantationVillageRC. com and like us on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/ PlantationVillageRC. Lisa Polanski is Marketing Director at Plantation Village, a non-profit continuing care retirement community that offers independent living on a 56-acre campus in Porters Neck, minutes from downtown Wilmington and area beaches. Residents enjoy first-class services in a wide variety of home styles, from one- and twobedroom apartments to cottage homes and two-bedroom villas.

Plantation Village is managed by Life Care Services™, the nation’s secondlargest senior care management company.

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SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE Thalian Hall Through September 8

Opera House Theatre ComSUNDAY pany presents Shakespeare in Love, bringing the Academy Award-winning romantic comedy to the stage.

The story, about a young Will Shakespeare finding inspiration after meeting Viola, is adapted for the stage by Lee Hall, with music

by Paddy Cunneen. Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m., and Thursday-Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20-$32. Info: thalianhall.org

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9/7

GLOW OPENING GLOW Academy

Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington, an all-girls charter THURSDAY school, marks a grand opening celebration for its newly built campus. Free events open to the public are a ribbon cutting, with limited seating, at 2-3 p.m., followed by campus tours until 4 p.m.

Visiting celebrity chefs Emeril Lagasse, Guy Fieri, and Robert Irvine will be on hand for a ticketed portion 5-10 p.m., with private campus tours, cocktails, and small plates. Those tickets are $250. Info: glowacademy.net

6 FRIDAY

9/14

WILMINGTON BOAT SHOW Downtown Wilmington Through September 8

Manufacturers and boat dealers are on hand, while exhibits, vendors, and activities fill several venues. The show activities take place at the Wilmington Convention Center, Port City Marina, and Battleship North Carolina. Pier 33 has several boat displays along with music and food. The convention center features boat displays, marine industry exhibits, fishing and sailing seminars, and other fun events throughout the weekend.

Vendors also line the riverfront. Daily tickets are $5-$10, with admission free for children three and under. Two-day passes are $15, and September 5th VIP party tickets are $50. Info: wilmingtonboatshow.com

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FRIDAY

9/7

DINING IN STYLE Big Sky Design Big Sky Design hosts its

second annual Dining in Style

event for a boost of inspiration on holiday entertaining.

Designers will feature six unique dining

schemes from Old World maximalism to eco chic. The $15 ticket includes drinks, heavy

hors d’oeuvres, and discounts. The event is

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5-7 p.m. Info: bigskydesignonline.com

SATURDAY

JENNY LEWIS Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

14

On the heels of her fourth

studio album On the Line, singer-songwriter Jenny

Lewis takes the stage at Greenfield

Lake Amphitheater. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30-$35, and kids age ten and under get in free. Info:

greenfieldlakeamphitheater.com/events

GIPSY KINGS CFCC Wilson Center Decades after releasing their debut album, the Gipsy Kings are still going strong,

touring nonstop with their global-inspired

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version of flamenco roots. The Grammy Award-winning band stops in Wilmington for a performance at the Wilson Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $48.50-$91.50. Info: cfcc.edu/capefearstage

SEPTEMBER 2019

I AM BEAUTIFUL Pine Valley United Methodist Church

The annual I Am Beautiful Fashion SATURDAY Show shines the spotlight on the beauty of individuals with disabilities in the community. Models of all ages get the opportunity to get their hair, makeup, and nails done and pick out a wardrobe that fits their personal style to strut down the runway. The event is a fundraiser for the Miracle League of Wilmington and the Cape Fear Enrichment Program. A raffle, silent auction, and entertainment also take place before the fashion walk. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Info: facebook.com/pg/IAmBeautifulFashionShow

GIRLS NIGHT OUT Mayfaire Town Center

Stores and restaurants at Mayfaire Town

9/19 Center are coordinating for a night out event 4-7 p.m. The first 50 women to check-in with a concierge at Williams Sonoma receive a VIP swag bag. Brixx Wood Fired Pizza and Cost Plus World Market hold wine tastings. And, stores throughout the center have styling events, special discounts, and activities as well as makeup applications, mini makeovers, free five-minute massages, hair styling, and more. Michaels Arts & Crafts hosts a drop-off Kids Night Out for children age five and up with crafting activities. Info: Mayfaire.com/GNO

19 THURSDAY

RAGAMALA DANCE COMPANY UNCW Kenan Auditorium

Minneapolis-based Ragamala Dance Company performs Sacred Earth during a visit to Wilmington as part of the UNCW Presents series. Sacred Earth takes a look at the connections between emotions and the environments that shape them. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $25, $50, and $75. Info: uncw. edu/arts/presents

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9/6

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TASTE OF THE TOWN Thalian Hall

Niche19Aig.indd 1

7/17/19 12:26 PM

A culinary tour of downtown restaurants TUESDAY takes places as a fundraiser for Thalian Hall. Participating restaurants provide samples of their signature dishes, and strolling diners get to make their votes for Best Appetizer, Best EntrĂŠe, and Best Overall. The tour starts at 6 p.m., and tickets are $50. Info: thalianhall.org

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LAKEFEST Greenfield Lake

Cape Fear River Watch holds this year’s LakeFest 10 a.m.-2 SATURDAY p.m. at Greenfield Lake near the boathouse and 302 Willard Street.

The event to promote science, nature, and outdoor recreation features casting clinics, face painting, water quality testing, paddle

boats, and discounted eco tours at noon and 1 p.m. for $3 a person or $5 per family. Info: capefearriverwatch.org/education/lakefest

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

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PEDAL

PUSHERS

BY LAND OR SEA, MOBILE PUBS GET GROUPS OUT AND ABOUT

L

by MARIANNA B. BOUCHER photo by RIVER BONDURANT

ooking for a fun way to hang out with family and friends, see the sights, and get a little exercise (or not)? Try a pedal pub!

Pedal pubs originated in the Netherlands in the late 1990s and recently found their way to the Port City. While the term “pedal pub” implies that your experience requires a little sweat equity, that is not necessarily the case. All the local pedal pubs are equipped with engines that make pedaling optional.

Even though these are BYOB operations, they are not limited to an over-twenty-one crowd enjoying alcohol.

“We have quite a few family cruises, and I tell people that BYOB means bring your own beverage,” says ASHLEY MANN, owner and operator of SEA LEGS PEDAL PUB in Carolina Beach.

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Here are a few options to see the area from a pedal pub perspective.

THE BREWBOAT brewboatnc.com/brewboat-wilmington The BrewBoat cruises the Cape Fear River four or five times a day. The vessel features ten pedal seats and five sofa seats that accommodate up to fifteen people.

People enjoy the pedal seats because they like talking to one another across the bar, even if they’re not pedaling, says owner, operator, and captain CHRIS HAYNES. The 90-minute tours begin at Port City Marina and travel to the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, over to the Thomas Rhodes Bridge, and back to the Isabel Holmes Bridge. Customizations for special events are available upon request.

The BrewBoat runs seven days a week from March 1 until as far into the season as people want to enjoy the adventure.

SEA LEGS PEDAL PUB sealegspedalpub.com If you’re after a smooth ride with opportunities to spot dolphins, loggerhead turtles, and the occasional alligator, then check out Sea Legs Pedal Pub. Sea Legs provides ninety-minute tours in both Carolina Beach and Beaufort. The Carolina Beach route travels from the town docks to Snow’s Cut, and back.

SEPTEMBER 2019

“It’s funny to see the kids’ reaction when we see the turtles,” Mann says. “And, we see turtles nearly every day.”

Sea Legs is available for private parties as well as public cruises. Mann also offers two-hour fireworks cruises on Thursday evenings during the summer and recently added a Wine Down Wednesday that features six bottles of wine for a full vessel.

Sea Legs’ season begins in mid-March and operates through the end of October, every day but Tuesday.

TROLLEY PUB NC trolleypub.com/wilmington If you’re a landlubber at heart, then check out the Trolley Pub. This open-air trolley accommodates fourteen people on two-hour tours of downtown Wilmington.

Tours start in the 100 block of Princess Street and stay within a half-mile radius.

Routes are customized, and guests can select two or three bars or restaurants for fifteen-twenty minute stops during their tours. Like the boat pubs, an electric motor helps move the trolley along so that pedaling is not required.

The trolley also offers a ninety-minute Wheels & Brunch on Sundays.

Trolley Pub furnishes mixer tours for small groups as well as private events.

“Dropping off a bridal party to the reception is always fun,” says TOM GRIFFITH, of the Trolley Pub management team.W

5

TAKE

intro by KHALISA RAE photo by RIVER BONDURANT

AUDREY HART is passionate about her work and believes that one should respond to the call to service.

In April, Hart, who has worked for many years in case management, politics, and recruiting, was named executive director of the NEW HANOVER DISASTER COALITION. The coalition started in October with a conference call of faith-based and nonprofit leaders after seeing the immediate need to collaborate and coordinate resources in response Hurricane Florence, which made landfall September 14 and caused significant flooding in the area.

The coalition, which currently has seventy collaborative community partners, has a mission “to connect residents with resources that aid in disaster readiness, response, and recovery.”

WHAT DREW YOU TO TAKE THIS ROLE? “… My passion to help coordinate efforts to help the community. The community has a lot of needs, and we have great resources, so my passion to connect the two is a happy balance.” WHAT’S THE GREATEST NEED STILL HERE FOR RECOVERING FROM HURRICANE FLORENCE? “We still have a great need of housing repairs and rebuilding. There is also a big need for furniture since a lot of it was molded from water, and it gets expensive quickly to buy new.” HOW DO YOU THINK THE COMMUNITY IS BETTER PREPARED NOW TO HANDLE A MAJOR STORM? “The main way that we are better prepared is because we now know who everyone is and what we are all doing.

We have created a network of community members to better communicate resources in preparation and response. We are working with the county and county emergency management for the emergency plans to continue to improve and grow.” IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU THINK WE’RE STILL NOT READY? “We are still treading water – metaphorically – to reach the people that are still recovering and providing them with resources. There are still thousands of people displaced from the storm, and another storm would be disheartening this quickly.” WHAT DO YOU KEEP IN YOUR EMERGENCY KIT AT HOME? “My emergency kit includes a hand-crank, solar, and battery radio that can also charge my phone, a first-aid kit, an adult coloring book with colored pencils, battery packs, protein shake mix, batteries, lantern, hand sanitizer, case of water for me and my dog, the daily things for my dog. When I see something in the news that could come here, I add my daily personal items like toiletries, change of clothes, nonperishable food, important documents in a Ziploc bag, and sentimental items that I want to save.”

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AUDREY HART’s full profile will appear in an upcoming WILMA Weekly email. To sign up for the WILMA Weekly, go to WILMAOnTheWeb.com.

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FASHION

VICTIMS

by DYLAN PATTERSON illustration by MARK WEBER

T

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

The halcyon days of summer are over, and Americans are engaged in an annual rite of passage fraught with conflict: back-to-school shopping. Watching parents and kids butt heads in department stores takes me back to the shopping battles of my youth.

As photo albums in my parents’ attic attest, to the age of ten, I cared about fashion not at all. Despite owning nice clothes, I routinely showed up to picture days in T-shirts three sizes too small featuring grotesque rips in the armpits. Threats and bribery were required to get me to the mall to shop for new clothes.

But, around sixth grade, I discovered girls. Suddenly, what I wore mattered. A lot. From then on, I was the one trying to convince my parents to take me shopping.

My first “must-have” was a Levi’s jean jacket. Even in 1980, Levi’s jean jackets were not cheap. But, I was persistent. Okay ...

I begged. Made solemn promises about new chores I’d take on.

Took sacred oaths on the lives of future offspring.

My parents finally caved, and I was styling the next week at school. But, that Friday evening, my mom asked where my new jacket was. I broke into a cold sweat as I realized I’d left it behind on the soccer field when the bell rang. When my mom drove me back to school, the jacket was, of course, long gone.

The next year, long sleeve T-shirts from a local surf shop were all the rage. Since we lived in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., (three hours from the beach), this trend was odd, but the cool

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kids were wearing them, so I needed one. My parents didn’t put up a fight. Even an obscenely overpriced T-shirt was cheap compared to a Levi’s jean jacket. I guess they figured they were getting a bargain.

Checkerboard Vans hit next despite the fact that “no show” socks were three decades away, and most kids’ Vans soon reeked of foot funk. Mine never got the chance to stink, however.

My feet grew so fast, I was soon forced to pass my Vans on to a lucky cousin or risk permanent podiatric disfigurement.

The following year, Members Only jackets rose to the height of middle school fashion when Jeff, a popular soccer player, began sporting a red one. Not to be a rip-off, I begged my parents for a blue one. I too wore this jacket only briefly, not because I lost it or outgrew it, but because Members Only jackets were so flash-in-the-pan trendy that Jeff soon quit wearing his, and I was forced to follow his lead or risk looking ridiculous. I crammed the fashion relic into the back of my closet and prayed my parents wouldn’t force me to keep wearing it.

While the trends have changed (except for checkerboard Vans), kids’ urgent need to follow them hasn’t. So, the next time you find yourself at the mall being guilted into spending way too much on the latest trend just so your twelve-year-old can look like some hipster on Twitter, take a breath.

It can’t be any more ridiculous than a Members Only jacket.

With 3,500+ attendees, the 9th annual WILMA EXPO and Holiday Market is a live version of the magazine with vendors displaying a range of offerings - holiday gift ideas, products for moms and kids, ways to improve your health and wellness, help for growing a business or career, local food and art and ways to spruce up your home. Join us as a vendor!

S A T U R D A Y

12.14.19 WILMINGTON CONVENTION CENTER P R I Z E S / G I V E A W AY S

SHOPPING

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P I C T U R E S W I T H S A N TA

ARTISANS & MAKERS

LOCAL CONNECTIONS

FOOD SAMPLING

AND MORE

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