’m super excited for the Semiquincentennial celebration, and not just because I’ve learned to say and spell the word “semiquincentennial.” That means immersing myself in the NC 4th of July Festival! But the 4th of July isn’t all about parades and fireworks, it’s about the people who work to keep us free. In this issue we profile Judge Fred Gore, a local, Brunswick County born and raised, who has dedicated his life to seeing that our freedoms are respected. He served as a District Court Judge and now sits on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He has also served in the military since he was a teenager, working his way into the military justice system, first as a JAG attorney and now as a judge. His is an amazing story and I hope you’re as inspired reading it as we were putting it together. And speaking of inspiring, we also have feature on the brand new Carolina Museum of the Marine up the road in Jacksonville. Check it out — we think you’ll want to make a road trip to go see it for yourself. However you celebrate this year’s Independence Day, we hope you’ll stay safe, have fun, and take a moment to remember how important it is to live in a nation where we recognize that these truths are self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
EDITOR
Jeffrey Stites
editor@southportmag.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Lisa P. Stites
lisa@southportmag.com
LEAD DESIGNER
Liz Brinker
lcbgraphicdesign@gmail.com
STAFF
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Carla Edstrom
Patty Langer
Loiuse Sheffield-Baccarny
Janet Fortney
Lisa P. Stites
Jeffrey Stites
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jeffrey Stites
PUBLISHER & SALES
Jeffrey Stites
jeff@southportmag.com
910-471-7741
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS
Chuck and Sue Cothran
CONSULTANT
Kris Beasley
PO Box 10175, Southport, NC 28461
The opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of the staff.
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jeff@southportmag.com 910-471-7741
Community Celebrating Tradition
Bella Cucina Offering Dinners With A Nona
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES
In Italian culture, family is everything, and the embodiment of family is the Nona. “Your grandmother is matron of the family. She’s the one that cooks all day on Sunday. She’s the one that eats last. She’s the one that takes pride in culture,” said Maria Moore, owner of Bella Cucina Italian restaurant. So when she bought the restaurant last year and wanted to find something to set it apart from our community’s other Italian restaurants, she was inspired by the Movie “Nona.”
“So the movie Nona, it’s about a guy, it’s an Italian guy who’s mother had a legacy. He went from his corporate job, ended up buying a restaurant, and tried to set it up, and it wasn’t really working, and then he finally had neighborhood Nonas, Italian grandmothers, were coming in,” she said. “It’s all about passing the traditions down and teaching people how to cook or how to do different things. And so, my idea came from part of that movie, but also, I wanted to bring back the love of culture, because everyone is offended by everything right now, right? I think we’re in a time where we’ve got to remember how important tradition is and how important it is to embrace family and to pass down those traditions, but also be proud of who you are, right? So, when I bought the restaurant, I already had that idea in my head that I wanted to do something similar.”
She felt she had to set herself apart somehow. “There’s six Italian restaurants around here. And we all pretty much serve the same stuff, and it’s just personal preferences to where we’re going. So, for me, it was, I’m not on the water, right? So I’m not gonna have that going for me. I’m
in a shopping center that’s not walkable from anything downtown. So I have to come up with different ways to be creative, to get people to come in, but at the same time, have it be a different experience,” Maria said.
Bella Cucina’s Nona Wine Dinners began in May and run monthly through July, then they’ll take a break and resume in the fall. Each dinner features food and wine from a different region and is hosted by a different real life Italian grandmother, a Nona.
“They get the menu with a different pin each week. And then, every course, a wine guy comes out and says, ‘Okay, here’s the wine that’s with, blah, blah, blah,’ here’s where it’s from. I mean, you know what wine dinners are, right?” Maria explained. “So, the Nona is the part that makes it very interactive, because Nona will walk around, just like the wine guy will, and touch every table and talk a little bit and people seem to really love that.
“So it’s passing down the one course, and then explaining the history of the course, and the history where that Nona came from, when did her parents or her relatives come over from Italy? Did they come over on the boats, you know, all that kind of stuff, and then share the significance of the recipe that they’re sharing. ‘Hey, this has been in my family for generations. This is how we make it.’ And it just makes it more of an engaging night. It’s interactive versus just sitting there and listening to somebody talk about the courses,” she said.
“The other thing that’s different about our Nona wine dinner is, we don’t have a long table of, you know, 20, 30 people, where you have to find a seat, and you’re awkwardly sitting next to someone, you can either have a great time, or you’re bored out of your skull, because you don’t know the person next to you. So how we do it is we set this table up just like the restaurant, right? So if you’re a group of four, you seat four people, if you’re a group of eight, you seat with eight people. If you want to be put with a fun table, then we have tables that, you know, that we like to say, ‘Hey, if someone’s shy, or they’re by themselves, put them at our table.’ So, again, it’s more of a favorable experience, because you know who you’re dining with, and it gives the anticipation of meeting new people who were receptive to meeting new people,” Maria said.
And what about those pins she said were attached to the menu?
“So each one comes with a different pin,” Maria said.
“For this dinner coming up, I’m doing wine charms, so I’ll have a wine charm attached to the bottom of the menu
card. And we find that people come in and they wear their pins from the previous dinners, so that’s kind of fun.”
Maria said she does all she can to make the experience as much like a family dinner a possible. “This room actually holds 75 people, but I cap it at 65 because I also look at the capacity of the kitchen, how quickly can we plate everything, you know, how quickly can we serve four different wines and four different courses. So it’s a combination of making sure we have the right amount of staff, for the right guest experience,“ she said. “And the other thing we do differently too, is we close the whole restaurant for the night. So there’s no quick service, nobody’s calling in phone orders. Our attention is 100 percent on the 65 people that are in this room, and that’s actually worked out really, really well too. We open the doors at 5:30 pm, and they all come in at once, and we have the bar open for half an hour. So you get to mix and mingle for half an hour with all the different attendees before you even sit down, right? So it’s not just, everybody comes, and they sit only with their person, and that people love that, too.
“It makes it hectic for us for that half hour, because we do $500 in a half hour, because everyone wants their first drink, right? You know, that’s not wine. They want a Cosmo or they want their, you know, their pre-dinner drink, which is great. We even remove all the chairs from the bar, so you can’t sit at the bar. It’s all designed to get your drink, and then go and talk to somebody.”
The food at the Nona Dinners is special as well. “What we have in these dinners is not on our menu. So I’m not serving spaghetti and meatballs. I’m serving something that is a variation or something new and different. It also allows us to
Community
experiment with different meals. If it’s a hit, then we can add it to the menu,” Maria said. “So it’s a great way for us to get feedback, direct feedback from our customers, if they like the dishes, the portion sizes, you know, all of that, because, again, it’s all about the value. We want people, they’re spending $90, which includes four glasses of wine and four courses, you want them to feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. And at the same time, they’re also entertained.”
And don’t forget about the wine part of the wine dinners! “It’s also about the introduction of wine,” Maria said. “We don’t do the $75 bottles of wine. It’s designed to introduce you to Italian wines that are very affordable, that you would never look at or have access to before. I think the most expensive wine that we sold, we had one bottle that was $45, and that was probably the highest we got. Probably wouldn’t even do that again. But I would say the majority of the bottles that we get from our distributor are between $15 and $25, right? And so, they’re table wines, you’re not gonna break the bank, and so far, our customers have ordered. Our first wine dinner, they ordered 90 bottles of wine. Our second one, they ordered 60 or 70 bottles of wine. The last thing is, they get it for the same price I get it for. So I’m not marking it up, you know, so if I’m paying $15.99, you know, from my distributor, that’s what I’m charging my guests, because the whole point is, I’m not really making money off of these, per se. That’s not really my goal. My goal is to get people that want to come here, have a great experience, and then eat here on a more regular basis.
“It’s an interactive time. You learn a little bit about our culture, and then I also talk a little bit about my history, with my father’s table over there, and Papa Tom’s table over there, the original owner versus the new owners and father. People seem to like that sense of humanity, that sense of, of…importance of family and culture.”
Even spending her career in marketing, Maria said the restaurant business has always fit her personality. “So the funny thing about this
is my older sister was the one that told us that my father always wanted his girls to open a restaurant,” she said. “He never shared that with us. My sister and I worked in restaurants all through college, and my parents couldn’t afford to send me to college, and I didn’t want to have a student loan, so I worked three jobs every summer. My twin and I worked three jobs every summer, so that we can make enough money to pay for our own college. We did everything from wait tables to do weddings and banquets, to doing inventory, to bartending — we did everything but cook.
We were very good servers, and we were always picked by the owners to do the special events, because we had a sense of empathy, in a sense, we are quick, we are friendly, we are fast, and we understood what customer service was, right? It’s just innate in our genealogy.”
When Maria and her husband moved to town, she was still working full time, but retirement was approaching and she didn’t want to spend it doing nothing. They thought getting into the restaurant business would be fun and through broker found that several Italian restaurants in the area were for sale. One was in Wilmington and another in Ocean Isle, but the one close to their St. James home surprised them.
“The funny thing is, we had already been going to this one for three years. My husband and I would sit on the corner of the bar, we’d sit there every Friday night. Andre, the bartender, you know, he would scold us if we were late because we’d always be there at 4:30 pm. And so we got to know the staff, we got to know the menu, and we got to know the other customers, because every time, you know, we would sit there, we’d meet somebody new at the bar. And when we were sitting there going, this place is nice. We were like, hey, you know, I can own this,” she said.
She assured owner Tom McAndrews that she wasn’t going to completely change his family restaurant. She said she told him, “The food’s great. I’m not trying to change my grandmother’s recipes for yours, right? My grandmother had a few things that she was really well known for, but I can’t say that my grandmother was the best cook. My grandma was, um, Americanized, even though she came from Italy, and she very rarely spoke in English, when she came here, she made a point to try to keep the family from looking like we were foreigners.
So, she made meatloaf and chicken, and, you know, all these kind of things, until we got a little bit older, and then she started realizing, what am I doing? I need to teach them, you know, how to make pasta, how to make sauce, all that kind of stuff.”
Maria did feel like she had to do something to make Bella her own, though. “I felt like if I’m gonna own it, I need to give a little bit of a facelift,” she said. “So I added color. So I changed my tablecloths to black. I added the linen napkins, just to have the more fine dining experience, and I wanted each room to have its own experience. So you have your quick service
side, and if you want to get to-go, or sit right there, and you can grab pizza. If you want a drink at the bar, or whatever, you can sit there, or for a more formal or more a different dining experience, if you want the white tablecloth experience, it’s in here. So, I really wanted each room to have its own identity, and people seem to love it.”
She said she treats the restaurant like her home. “So I change out the decor here every three months, just so that when you come in, it’s not the same thing every time you come in. And people comment on that. They like to see what flowers are you gonna put up next. Oh, I see you decorated for Valentine’s. Oh, I see, decorated for Christmas,” she said. “And so, and that’s just, again, going back to family, your home, you decorate your home. Now I’m decorating this place. I don’t decorate my home anymore.” Bella Cucina 5177 Southport-Supply Rd Unit A (next to the Fairfield Inn) (910) 454-4540
Community
A Life Of Service
Judge Fred Gore Talks Military, Family and Law
STORY BY LISA STITES
We find that people doing great work are often truly humble, and that’s how we felt interviewing Judge Fred Gore. Strong family ties, love of community, and a real dedication to serving his country — what could be more American than that? And when better to tell this story than during the birthday month of our country.
When Fred Gore was working as a summer intern with the D.A.’s office, he saw something in court that made him want to be the one sitting on the bench one day. He said there was an older woman who had come to court for something minor, and she was clearly anxious and had questions. Gore recalled that the Assistant District Attorney was busy and didn’t really have time to answer the lady’s questions. When she was in front of the judge, the lady asked her questions, and the judge just told her she needed to hire a lawyer.
There are certain things an ADA or judge cannot advise defendants about, Gore acknowledged, but he said there are ways to have handled that situation that would have made it less stressful for her.
“That lady started it with me,” Gore said. “I said that day, I’m going get in that seat one day, and I’m not gonna let that happen to the next little old lady. Because it was just, it was just heartbreaking. People sometimes are at their most stressful, most vulnerable that day, when they come to the courthouse, and they don’t have to feel that way in your presence. Diffusing that tension for people is something that I have taken great pride in being able to do.”
He did make it to the district court bench, but he also went much further, on two fronts.
Gore earned a college degree, then worked in the private sector, law school and worked again for a D.A’s office, this time as a prosecutor. He became a district court judge in 2014, and he’s now serving on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. And through it all, he’s also served his country, first in the National Guard, and now in the Army Reserves as an attorney and now as a military judge in a JAG corps.
His military service actually started 34 years ago. It was 1992, and a 17-year-old Gore joined the National Guard in between
his junior and senior years at West Brunswick High School. He was the youngest of three children in his family, and was determined not to add to his parents’ financial burden. A few of his friends were signing up for the Guard, and besides the bonuses offered for joining infantry, the GI Bill was a draw for Gore.
“I was there watching Mom and Dad struggle and scrape and save,” Gore said. “So there was a part of me saying I didn’t want to be part of that strain on them.”
That summer before senior year of high school, he and his friends headed off to Georgia.
“We went to basic training, came back home, went to our senior year of school, and then the following summer, we all went back for what they call advanced individual training, AIT, back to Fort Benning — very hot down there in the summertime — but we did our infantry training,” Gore said.
“And then once we finished our 24-mile march after about another nine weeks, we got our cross rifles and our blue cords and graduated, and I’ve been doing it ever since, just in different jobs now.”
Gore’s latest assignment is as a Military Judge within the US Army Reserve JAG Corps, assigned to the 150th Legal Operations Detachment (LOD). Asked how he manages to split his time between two important judicial positions, Gore said there really is no split.
“There’s days where I’m handling phone calls when I’m driving back and forth to Raleigh, or doing emails in the evening time,” Gore said. “They say (the Reserves) is a part-time job, but it’s not. But if you’ve been in this long, then you’re committed to it. I would say it’s become a way of life, you know?” Gore’s military judicial work is in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
“I could be called to do court martial,
and it could be something that might take a day, it could be something that might take 10 days,” he said.
As a judge for the Court of Appeals, Gore said that he sits on a three-judge panel that is assigned 12 cases. Each judge is responsible for four of the cases and will write the opinion. The judges review all the cases and the draft opinions though, and can concur or dissent.
Gore did use that promised GI Bill to go to school, at UNC-Charlotte, and he worked in the private sector before going back to school to earn his law degree. He was deployed to Iraq in 2007-2007, and while serving there, he completed Sniper Small Kill Team training and earned the Army Commendation and Army Achievement Medals. After returning to the US, Gore worked in the District Attorney’s office, first in Durham and then back in his home district. Gore was again sent into active duty in 2011, serving with the 113th Sustainment Brigade. He served as the Chief Prosecutor and Officer In Charge for the Brigade’s Legal Team, supervising two practicing attorneys and seven paralegals while deployed.
He was elected in 2014 to serve as a district court judge serving Brunswick, Bladen, and Columbus Counties. While working in district court, he earned certification as a juvenile court judge, knowledge and experience he’s proud to be able to bring to the state court level.
“I’m passionate about it. People talk about gold and diamonds being precious
resources. Our families and our kids are the precious resource in our country. So, whatever we can do to protect, you know, kids and families is what I try to pride myself on being able to do,” he said.
And that lady who started Gore’s interest in law, along with advice from judges who came before him, still have an influence on his work.
“At the Court of Appeals, I talk to my clerks as they give me drafts of different things,” Gore said. “If we’re dealing with criminal cases, you got a lot of people that, these 12, 15, 50 pages that were generated, there’s a criminal defendant that’s going to probably read this in jail, and this is his only opportunity to see whether he’s got any hope of what he’s trying to challenge. But on the flip side of that, you also have potentially some victims and a victim’s family. And the children that are left behind, or the children that were the victims, that will one day read this to see what happened to my loved one. That’s why it’s so important to just not just think about what you’re doing — think about how it affects the ripple effect of what you do and who that affects.”
After taking his seat on the Court of Appeals bench, Gore said that one of the biggest surprises he had was that there are still areas of law that aren’t really flushed out, so there’s new ground to cover, which is always intriguing.
“I will say the most enjoyable part is being able to sit and synthesize the law,” Gore said. “The difference between being a district court judge and the Court of Appeals is you have to make decisions pretty rapidly on the spot (in district court). You don’t get to take a day or two days or a week to process anything. I’ve touched on so many other areas of law that I wouldn’t have, you know? So that breadth of law has really been enjoyable. I’m a researcher. I don’t claim to be the best writer, but I do enjoy to pour myself into research and learn, going as far as back to reading notes about what was being discussed on the legislative floor, which gets into one way of an analyzing law as legislative intent.”
Gore grew up in Brunswick County, and he is quick to credit the love and support of family and his community as helping him succeed in life. Gore’s older brother is a retired Durham police officer, and his older sister taught for 31 years in Gilford County Schools.
“I’m not doing what I do by myself, and I really feel that I’m standing on the shoulders of a lot of good people, but I want a
Community
lot of people to know that when I serve in uniform and serve in Raleigh, that there are a lot of spirits and people sitting in those chairs with me,” he said.
Gore and his sons were living in the Raleigh area after he began serving the state court, but after visiting home one summer, his twin boys, now 17, said they wanted to stay in Brunswick County.
“It’s been a blessing for them, having them spend their teenage years here, and my comfort level of their freedom and independence and freedom of movement is so much better here,” Gore said.
His boys are now in the Brunswick County school system themselves, are also enjoying that level of support and the opportunities ahead of them. One of his sons aspires to be an architect, so Gore will take him to a camp this summer that specializes in that field.
“We have to continue to do those things, because we have great success stories out of Brunswick County that I don’t think people really…you know, they harp on the bad things, but I’m serving at the Court of Appeals in the retired seat from Judge Wanda Bryant, from Brunswick County,” Gore said. “I just think we need to continue to highlight it, and then to encourage kids and say hey, look, this is what you can do, and remember that, you know, they just need a little bit of time.
“We, as a community, and as systems, we just have to continue to plant the seeds, and to support the growth, because kids spell love ’t-i-m-e.’ That’s how kids understand love. I think we just have to continue to pour into our kids while they’re in our system, you know, because Brunswick County School system is still better than a lot of counties across the entire state, and I’ll put them up against any. We’re doing the best we can with the resources we have, and I’m a product of that,” he said.
Support and encouragement followed Gore into the military, and Gore said he wouldn’t be where is is today without it. Throughout his military service, Gore said he’s always enjoyed the camaraderie from his fellow servicemen, but also their help.
“Those guys that I served with that enlisted with me, there’s a group of us. We call ourselves the Wolf Pack. And we all served in Lexington, North Carolina for many years. And, one of them had passed away now, but they have been in my corner and encouraging me, and some of them say they feel like they’re wearing officer rank now, because of me doing it, because I was a young guy. I was the youngest of the group, and these guys, one or two of the guys had been to Vietnam and were still serving, and, you know, they all took me under their wing, and I was juggling college, and trying to make drill, and this is my schedule. Sometimes I’d come in late, and they would be the ones pulling me to the side, saying, hey, Fred, you know, you have an opportunity to do something with this military thing that can really be important for you. And if it wasn’t for those guys, I wouldn’t have gotten on the straight and narrow and done it the right way, so the responsibility of doing it and making sure they’re proud of me is what pushes me still to this day.”
Gore applied to be commissioned as a JAG officer once he graduated from law school, and he said that when he became an officer, it was like he was wearing stars not just for himself, but for all his family members who had also served in the military.
“My dad, you know, was over the moon, but all of my family members have been so encouraging because they wish they would have had the opportunity, and they’re living kind of a different type of service through me, and it is humbling,” he said.
“I got in as a Private E2, and that kid would have never envisioned that I would be a Lieutenant Colonel trying to, hopefully, knock on wood, make full bird colonel, and serve as a military judge, and have my military career mirror what I’m doing on civilian time,” Gore said. “And you know, that kid would probably be in awe.”
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Community Honoring Marines Carolina Museum of the Marine Now Open
CONTRIBUTED BY CAROLINA MUSEUM OF THE MARINE
The new Carolina Museum of the Marine in Jacksonville, NC, is officially open, marking the culmination of more than 25 years of work. The destination honors the North Carolina and South Carolina Marines and Sailors who shaped American military history. Their tales of valor and service provide living examples from the past that will inspire Museum guests from every background.
The 25,000-square-foot museum invites visitors to “meet the Marine” through the personal stories of 43 Marines and Sailors. Exhibits span World War II through Vietnam and the Global War on Terrorism up to contemporary times.
Museum President and CEO, retired Maj. Gen. Joe Shrader of the U.S. Marine Corps said, “The lessons we learn here–about leadership, courage, sacrifice, overcoming adversity, problem solving, and more–inspire each of us to make life better, right now.”
Some of the Marines whose stories are told in the Museum include those who have left active duty and now serve in their communities today:
Raquel Painter retired as a Sergeant Major in the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune and now directs the United Way of Onslow County. A Native American, she started the first veterans pow wow in the country open to both Native people and the general public.
Retired Sgt. Maj. Raymond H. Mackey,
Purple Heart recipient, was on patrol in Afghanistan when one of his Marines fell into a ditch. As he bent to help him, an IED explosion resulted in the loss of both of Mackey’s legs. Today, he works tirelessly with Wounded Warriors, supporting other veterans.
Retired Marine Cpl. William “Kyle” Carpenter, the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient is recognized for his bravery in Afghanistan. He threw himself on a live grenade to shield a fellow Marine and sustained life threatening injuries. Today, he is an athlete, writer and public speaker. (Photo below)
The Museum also includes Marines of outstanding valor or who have made lasting contributions to the Corps, such as: Medal of Honor recipient Jack Lucas of Jacksonville, who was honored at age 17 for his valor during the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II; he’s the youngest person to ever receive the Medal of Honor, as he lied about his age to enlist at age 14.
Sgt. Maj. Edgar Huff Sr., was the first Black Marine to achieve the rank of Sergeant Major during World War II. He spent 30 years in the Corps, serving in Korea and the Vietnam War. He received a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and posthumously, a Congressional Gold Medal.
Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune, for whom the Jacksonville, NC base was named, was the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
He envisioned the value of the amphibious warfare tactics–and trained Marines–that would later prove essential to America’s victory in World War II.
Staff Sgt. Percy Price, “the Marine who beat Muhammad Ali” in the 1960 Olympic trials. He chose the Marines over professional boxing and dedicated his life to military service.
The museum shares nationally significant stories rooted at nearby Camp Lejeune.
From 1943 to 1945, the first women Marines served as part of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve at Camp Lejeune. They filled clerical, technical and administrative posts, freeing men for deployment. Personal stories and artifacts speak to the spirit and steadfastness of these women.
From 1942-1949, the first Black Marines trained separate from their white counterparts and were known as the Montford Point Marines. The Montford Point Marine Association is still working to name those who served and award them (or their families, posthumously) the Congressional Gold Medal.
For travelers planning America 250 experiences, the museum offers a meaningful new stop on the North Carolina coast. The museum connects the Marine Corps’ 1775 founding to North Carolina’s role in preparing Marines for modern amphibious warfare, including training at Camp Lejeune that supported successful Allied land-
ings in World War II.
The Visitor Experience Inside, visitors enter through the museum’s expansive Great Hall, where sun filters through colored glass windows designed to mimic service ribbons seen on Marine Corps dress uniforms. The ribbons worn on a uniform indicate where the Marine wearing them has served. From there, guests can explore immersive exhibits designed to make military history personal and accessible.
As guests enter the Pacific Theater of World War II, they can walk inside an LVT4. This particular amphibious vehicle transported Marines from ship to shore during multiple World War II amphibious landings in the Pacific.
Visitors will also spot an iconic Vietnam-era Huey helicopter swooping down to meet them. This particular helicopter, nicknamed “Mona Lisa,” was the first one issued to the Marine Corps in the 1960s at Camp Lejeune.
Guests see vivid video highlighting Marine prowess in the air. The footage includes multiple aircraft and technologies.
In the final “Always Faithful” Gallery, guests are surrounded by a video showing the progression of Carolina Marine service since 1941. As the video concludes, guests are challenged to “Serve Others,” “Think Critically,” “Never Forget,” “Set the Example,” and serve “Freedom, Justice & Democracy,” and more.
Community
The museum’s exhibits and storytelling were developed by internationally recognized partners, including Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), known for exhibit design with Smithsonian museum partners and other global destinations, and their consultant, Journey, known for immersive storytelling.
Visitor Planning Tips:
Admission at the Carolina Museum of the Marine starts at $8 for ages 4-15; $14 for ages 16-54 with lower rates for seniors, veterans and active duty personnel. The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm.
Self-guided exploration of the Museum takes around two hours.
The MAGTF Cafe is operated by veteran-owned The Milk Road Coffee Shop in Jacksonville. (MAGTF stands for Marine Air Ground Forces Task Force.)
The MAGTF Gift Shop features stickers,
branded gear, t-shirts, America250 mugs, puzzles and more. Before or after visiting the Museum, go to Lejeune Memorial Gardens. The azalea-lined paths encircle multiple memorials. The Gardens are open 24/7, and visitors can use their phones to scan QR codes at each memorial for an audio tour. The Gardens include the nation’s second-largest Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Beirut Memorial and the national Montford Point Marine Memorial, and more.
The Carolina Museum of the Marine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Approximately $36 million has been invested in building the museum by the North Carolina General Assembly and private donors. Ticket sales, event venue rentals and fundraising will support ongoing operations.
The museum is right off U.S. 17 in Jacksonville at 109 Montford Landing Road. It shares the parking lot with Lejeune Memorial Gardens.
Why Are We Writing About A Museum All The Way Up In Jacksonville?
Out
of the blue, I was invited to a media tour of the new Carolina Museum of the Marine in Jacksonville on its opening day. We don’t generally cover things that far out of Brunswick County, but one of the perks of being the publisher is I get to decide what we put in the magazines. It’s less than two hours from anywhere in Brunswick County, which has the highest veteran population of any county in the state, and it’s our July Independence Day issue, but really it’s just something I wanted to experience and then share.
My father is a Marine and he and my mom lived in Jacksonville for a bit between the time they got married and my dad was discharged, so I have always had a deep respect for the Marine Corps and those who serve. What I hadn’t expected was how different this museum is.
The Carolina Museum of the Marine isn’t a museum of military vehicles and gear, though they have some significant pieces of equipment. It’s not a history museum, though it does follow a timeline from the creation of Camp Lejeune in the early 1940s through all the conflicts in which Carolina-based Marines served up through the present day. What it is, is a museum about the Marines themselves, the individuals who trained in the Carolinas and went on to serve at home and overseas. It’s a museum about people like my dad. And I wasn’t prepared for how much that would mean.
All the things displayed are tied to the stories of people. There’s the handwritten flight logs of the first female Marine aviator, the uniform of one of the African American Marines who trained at Montford Point while the Corps was still segregated, letters from school children to Marines serving at war abroad, letters home from Marines who would later be killed in the US Embassy bombing in Beirut, and a captured Iraqi battle map hand painted on a huge piece of fabric.
My tour was led by the Museum’s CEO, retired Marine Major General Joe Shrader. When he was told that an earlier visitor left after only seeing the first half of the museum because he was so overwhelmed with emotion, General Shrader said he could understand because the room concerning the conflicts in the Middle East in which he’d served hit him hard as well. He lost men under his command there.
The Marine Corps motto is “Semper Fidelis,” which means Always Faithful. And that’s why a museum like this is important. General Shrader explained that to the men and women who serve, it’s not seeing the guns or tanks or helicopters that tugs at their memories, it’s the people. This museum is keeping the faith.
As General Shrader was talking, he started looking through his phone. Paging up though his photo album he found the photo of a young Marine under his command who was killed in Iraq. It’s right there among photos of family and vacations and holidays. Because he matters. And that’s the lesson in the Carolina Museum of the Marine.
Semper Fi
General Joe Shrader watches the presentation at the conclusion of a tour of the museum
4th of July
Fun On The Fourth
Here’s The Complete Festival Schedule
America 250 is here, and we’re lucky that the official celebration in the State of North Carolina is right here in Brunswick County. The NC 4th of July Festival runs for the better part of a week this year and includes all your all favorites and some new events just for this year’s semisesquentennial celebration. We hope this schedule helps you and your family and friends makle the most of the celebration. Note: This is the schedule as of press time, event times are subject to change. See nc4thofjuly.com for any changes.
Friday, June 26
10:00 AM–4:00 PM: Fort Johnston-Southport Visitors Center and Museum Open.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: NC Maritime Museum at Southport open.
12:30 PM–3:30 PM: Old Brunswick Jail Open. Corner of N. Rhett Street/E. Nash Street. Hosted by the Southport Historical Society.
4:30 PM: Welcoming Reception, Southport Community Building, hosted by the Southport Woman’s Club. All are welcome to attend. Sponsored by the Southport Lions Club
5:30 PM: Welcoming Ceremony. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Sponsored by the Southport Lions Club
5:45 PM: Reenactment of the first 4th of July Celebration in Southport in 1795, presented by the NC Maritime Museum at Southport. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Sponsored by the Southport Lions Club
6:00 PM: Brunswick Summer Winds Ensemble. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Sponsored by the Southport Lions Club
Saturday, June 27
7:30 AM–10:00 AM: Freedom Run 5K-1 Mile. Southport Waterfront. Sponsored by Novant Health. Entertainment by NOW CAT.
10:00 AM–4:00 PM: Fort Johnston-Southport Visitors Center and Museum Open.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: NC Maritime Museum at Southport open.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Summer Regional Art Show. Franklin Square Gallery. Hosted by The Associated Artists of Southport.
12:30 PM–3:30 PM: Old Brunswick Jail Open. Corner of N. Rhett Street/E. Nash Street. Hosted by the Southport Historical Society.
3:00 PM: 41st Annual Fire Fighters Freedom Competition & Apparatus Expo. Nash Street. Hosted by the Southport Fire Department.
4:00 PM: Gospel Fest. Franklin Square Park Stage, Featuring Angela Primm.
6:00 PM: World’s Largest Ice Cream Sundae. Franklin Square Park. Hosted by the Southport Fire Department.
Monday, June 29
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Celebrating Art in Southport – Patriotic Art Contest & Porch Activity at Artisans Gallery on Howe, 114 S. Howe Street. Hosted by Artisans Gallery on Howe. Presented by Southport Art Gallery Guild.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Celebrating Art in Southport – Open House & Art Activity at Franklin Square Gallery, 130 E West Street. Hosted by Franklin Square Gallery. Presented by Southport Art Gallery Guild.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Celebrating Art in Southport – Refreshments & Kids’
Craft-Making Activity at Studio Artists of Southport, 715 N Howe Street. Hosted by Southport Studio Artists. Presented by Southport Art Gallery Guild.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Celebrating Art in Southport – Patriotic Sidewalk Chalk Activity at Lantana’s Gallery, 113 S Howe Street. Hosted by Lantana’s Gallery. Presented by Southport Art Gallery Guild.
10:00 AM–4:00 PM: Fort Johnston-Southport Visitors Center and Museum Open.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: NC Maritime Museum Open at Southport.
Tuesday, June 30
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Fort Johnston-Southport Visitors Center and Museum Open.
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: NC Maritime Museum at Southport open.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: The Bellamy Joyner Post 213 - Everyday Heroes, 530 W. Ninth St
Wednesday, July 1
7:00 AM: Oak Island Beach Day - Con-
Don’t want to fight for parking? Park at Southport Elementary and catch the trolley!
4th of July
test Registration at the Middleton Park Rec tent. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
8:00 AM: Oak Island Beach Day - Volleyball at the Middleton Park Complex. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
8:30 AM: Oak Island Beach Day – Sandcastle Contest, 46th Street SE & Beach Drive Access. Hosted by Oak Island Recreation.
9:00 AM: Oak Island Beach Day - Horseshoes at Middleton Park (Register at field by Softball Field). Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
9:30 AM: Oak Island Beach Day - Stars, Stripes and Snouts Dog Costume Contest at Middleton Park Complex Stage. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
10:00 AM: Oak Island Beach Day - Cornhole at Middleton Park Complex. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
10:00 AM–9:00 PM: Cape Fear Radio MCing at Middleton Park.
10:00 AM–4:00 PM: Fort Johnston-Southport Visitors Center and Museum Open.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: NC Maritime Museum at Southport open.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Summer Regional Art Show. Franklin Square Gallery. Hosted by The Associated Artists of Southport.
10:30 AM: Oak Island Beach Day - Freedom Scoot Baby Crawling Race at Middleton Park Complex Stage. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
11:00 AM: Beach Day - Splash for the Stars Pre-K School Age Reusable Balloon
Toss at Middleton Park Complex Stage. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
11:00 AM–2:00 PM: Beach Day - Inflatables at Middleton Park. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Large Field Games. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
11:30 AM: Red, White and Blue Bucket Relay (6th-12th grade & 18+ Divisions) at Middleton Park Complex Stage. Hosted by Oak Island Recreation.
12:00 PM: Mic Drop for America Karaoke Contest. Registration Required. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
12:30 PM–3:30 PM: Old Brunswick Jail Open. Corner of N. Rhett Street/E. Nash Street. Hosted by the Southport Historical Society.
1:00 PM: Liberty Looks Costume Contest at Middleton Park Complex Stage. Registration Required. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
5:15 PM: Flag Unrolling and Red, White and Blue Streamers to the National Anthem. Hosted by Oak Island Parks and Recreation.
5:30 PM: Welcoming Ceremony, Oak Island. Middleton Park Complex. Sponsored by the Southport Lions Club
5:30-7:30 PM: Colonial Food & History Dinner Event, Southport Community Building. Ticketed Event.
6:00 PM: Beach Day Concert - Extraordinaires at Middleton Park Complex Stage. Hosted by the Town of Oak Island.
9:00 PM: Beach Day - Town of Oak Island
Thursday, July 2
10:00 AM–2:00 PM: Historic Chapel of the Cross. Guided Tours. St. Phillips Church, Southport.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: NC Maritime Museum at Southport open.
10:00 AM–11:00 PM: Trolley available from Southport Elementary, 701 W 9th Street. Sponsored by Intracoastal Realty Corporation/Waterway Community.
10:00 AM–7:00 PM: Arts & Crafts. Southport Waterfront. Sponsored by Beach Road Furniture.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Summer Regional Art Show. Franklin Square Gallery. Hosted by The Associated Artists of Southport.
11:00 AM–10:00 PM: Food Concessions. South Howe Street.
12:30 PM–3:30 PM: Old Brunswick Jail Open. Corner of N. Rhett Street/E. Nash Street. Hosted by the Southport Historical Society
2:00 PM–3:00 PM: Flotilla - Red, White & Blue Freedom Flotilla. Southport Waterfront Park. Organized by Cape Fear Yacht Club.
2:00 PM-4:45 PM: Cape Fear Radio. Southport Waterfront Park.
3:00 PM Up Your Arts Downtown Banner Showcase
4:45 PM: Reading of the Declaration. Southport Waterfront Stage.
5:00 PM: A Salute to Veterans - Featuring Letters from Home, Southport Community Building. Organized by River Road Animal Hospital.
5 PM-7 PM: Waterfront Stage Entertainment - Whiskey Ridge Outlaws. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by State Port Pilot.
7:30 PM–10:00 PM: Waterfront Stage Entertainment, The Conspiracy. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by the State Port Pilot.
Friday, July 3
10:00 AM–2:00 PM: Historic Chapel of the Cross. Guided Tours. St. Phillips Church, Southport.
10:00 AM Meet Winners of the 2026 Miss NC 4th of July Festival & Court. Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn.
10:00 AM–11:00 PM: Trolley available from Southport Elementary, 701 W 9th Street. Sponsored by Intracoastal Realty Corporation/Waterway Community.
10:00 AM–7:00 PM: Arts & Crafts. South-
Anniversary Fireworks. Oak Island Pier. Hosted by the Town of Oak Island.
Show off your skills at the Sand Castle Building Contest during Oak Island’s Beach Day
Don’t miss the Freedom Flotilla!
4th of July
port Waterfront. Sponsored by Beach Road Furniture.
10:00 AM–10:00 PM: Festival Merchandise Tent Open. Southport Waterfront Park
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: NC Maritime Museum at Southport open.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Summer Regional Art Show. Franklin Square Gallery. Hosted by The Associated Artists of Southport.
11AM - 4PM: KID ZONE! Taylor Field Park. Inflatables, water slides, live animals, crafts, entertainment, kid-centric vendors. Includes Humphrey Honey Bunny Farm Traveling Petting Zoo. Hosted & Organized by NC 4th July Committee, Brunswick Arts Council, Southport Rotary Club and community groups.
12:00 PM & 2 PM: Clicks of Confidence and Trick Horses, Southport, Taylor Field Park
11:00 AM–10:00 PM: Food Concessions. South Howe Street.
11:00 AM-12:00 Noon: Wilmington Virtuosi Brass at Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn
12:00 PM–1:45 PM: Naturalization Ceremony at Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn. Keynote Speaker, Dr. Yousry Sayed, founder, president and CEO of Quality Chemical
Just try to keep a dry eye during the Naturalization Ceremony
Laboratories, Inc. Organized & Sponsored by Downtown Southport, Inc.
12:30 PM–3:30 PM: Old Brunswick Jail Open. Corner of N. Rhett Street/E. Nash Street. Hosted by the Southport Historical
Society.
2:00 PM Meet Winners of the 2026 Miss NC 4th of Festival & Court.Southport Waterfront Stage.
2:30 PM: Flag Retirement Ceremony. Southport Waterfront Stage. Organized by Richard H. Stewart Jr. American Legion Post 543 and Cape Fear Council of Boy Scouts.
2:30 PM-4:30 PM: Cape Fear Radio. Southport Waterfront Park.
4:30 PM–6:30 PM: Waterfront Stage Entertainment - Deep Creek Soul. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by the State Port Pilot.
7:00 PM–10:00 PM: Waterfront Stage Entertainment & Street Dance - Sleeping Booty Sponsored by the State Port Pilot.
Saturday, July 4
7:00 AM–10:30 AM: Pancake Breakfast. Trinity Methodist Church, 209 E Nash St. Hosted by Trinity United Methodist Church.
10:00 AM–2:00 AM: Historic Chapel of the Cross. Guided Tours. St. Phillips Church, Southport.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM: Summer Regional
Art Show. Franklin Square Gallery. Hosted by The Associated Artists of Southport.
9:00 AM–11:00 PM: Trolley available from Southport Elementary, 701 W 9th Street. Sponsored by Intracoastal Realty Corporation/Waterway Community.
10:00 AM–9:00 PM: Arts & Crafts. Southport Waterfront. Sponsored by Beach Road Furniture.
10:00 AM–10:00 PM: Festival Merchandise Tent Open. Southport Waterfront Park.
11:00 AM–10:00 PM: Food Concessions. South Howe Street.
10:15 AM: Reading of the Declaration at the intersection of Moore and Howe Streets.
10:30 AM: Flag Raising Ceremony. Intersection of Moore and Howe Streets. Organized by Brunswick Town Fort Anderson.
11:00 AM: Festival Parade. Moore and Howe Streets. Sponsored by WECT TV6 and Dosher Memorial Hospital.
12:00 PM–5:00 PM: NC Maritime Museum at Southport open.
4th of July
12:00 PM-4:00 PM: Cape Fear Radio. Southport Waterfront Park.
12:30 PM–3:30 PM: Old Brunswick Jail Open. Corner of N. Rhett Street/E. Nash Street. Hosted by the Southport Historical Society.
1:00 PM: All Veterans Jump. Lands in Waterfront Park
1:00 PM–2:30 PM: First Responders Vehicle/Helicopter Display. Southport Wa-
terfront Park. Organized by the City of Southport Fire and Police Departments.
2:00 PM-2:20 PM: Coast Guard & Civil Air Patrol Demonstration, Waterfront Park
2:00 PM-3:00 PM Old Smithville Cemetery Tour with Musette Steck. 401 E. Moore Street
2:30 PM–3:00 PM: Miss NC 4th of July Scholarship Pageant Talent Showcase. Waterfront Stage, Southport Waterfront Park.
3:00 PM–5:00 PM: UPWA Live Pro Wrestling. Nash Street.
4:30 PM–6:30 PM: Waterfront Stage EntertainmentSalty Dawgs. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by the State Port Pilot.
7:00 PM–10:00 PM: Waterfront Stage Entertain-
ment - Irresistible Groove. Sponsored by the State Port Pilot.
9:00 PM: 4th of July Fireworks. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by American Fish, Frying Pan & McPherson Marine
9:30 PM–10:00 PM: Irresistible Groove returns to Waterfront Stage. Southport Waterfront Park. Sponsored by the State Port Pilot
NC 4th of July Festival
Opening Ceremonies
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Tap into your inner patriot and help officially kick off this year’s 4th of July Festival. Southport’s Opening Ceremony will begin Friday, June 26, at 5:30 pm on the Fort Johnston lawn and is sponsored by the Southport Lions Club. The ceremony will feature the posting of colors and, later, the retiring of the colors by South Brunswick High School, the Southport Fire and Police Departments, and the American Legion. The National Anthem will be performed by vocalist Brittany Reinert, and remarks will be made by Mayor Joe Pat Hatem and Festival Chair, Hugh Fosbury.
Another highlight of Southport’s opening ceremony will be the NC Maritime Museum at Southport recreating a 1795 4th of July celebration via toasts and a 1795 musket firing. The crowd will then be entertained by the Brunswick Summer Winds.
Prior to Southport’s opening ceremony, there will be a Welcome Re-
ception in the Southport Community Building from 4:30-5:30 pm. It is being organized and hosted by the Southport Women’s Club. There will be refreshments, patriotic decorations, and a special presentation by Mayor Hatem of the City of Southport and an official welcome from the 2026 NC 4th of July Festival Chair, Hugh Fosbury.
3:00pm
5:00
range of American & International cuisine with robust and flavorful specials for each meal service
Lower cost specials & three-course summer fare meals
Oak Island’s welcoming ceremony
The reception will run from 4:30-5:30 pm; the ceremony will start at 5:30 pm and last about 30-45 minutes, and the Brunswick Summer Winds will then perform for 30 minutes. All events are free to the public.
NC 4th of July Festival
will be held on Wednesday, July 1, at 5:30 pm at the Middleton Park Complex. Remarks will be delivered by Mayor Chris Brown and Fosbury, followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Brittany Reinert. There will also be a reading of the Declaration of Independence.
The festivities on Oak Island will then conclude with a performance by the legendary band Extraordinaries at Middleton Park. The welcoming ceremony takes place on the same day as Oak Island’s Beach Day, which begins at 7 am on July 1.
The ceremonies in Southport and Oak Island are both sponsored by the Southport Lions Club.
Fourth of July Festival Fun At The Beach
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
To get the full NC 4th of July Festival experience, head to the beach on Monday, July 1 for Beach Day, a full day of fun, games, contests, food and music celebrating the Town of Oak Island’s birthday. The event runs all day and into the night at Middleton Park, 4610 E. Dolphin Drive, with an evening of music and fireworks at Oak Island Pier, 705 Ocean Drive. The fireworks are visible all up and down the beach strand..
“This year’s celebratory events will be extra special as we commemorate and celebrate the Country’s 250th birthday. We’ll be incorporating a number of 250th themed activities into our events,” said Oak Island Parks & Recreation Director, Todd Tetreault.
Beach Day offers many beach activities, games, contests, food and music. Various youth events organized by the Oak Island Recreation Department will begin at 8 am at Middleton Park and will include beach volleyball, horse-
shoes and corn hole and sandcastle building. Beach game tournament registration will begin at 7 am at the stage at Middleton Park. Inflatable rides and food concessions will be available from 11 am - 2 pm, and there will be contests for dogs and children of all ages throughout the day on Middleton Field.
A Welcoming Ceremony kicks off at 5:15 pm in Middleton Park with a 250th Flag unrolling followed by a performance by beach band, The Extraori-
naires at 6 pm.
The Town of Oak Island will conclude the evening with a fireworks display off the Oak Island Pier around 9 pm, preceded by music on the pier starting at 6 pm. The fireworks show can be seen and enjoyed for miles along the Oak Island beaches.
Beach Day is a Town-sponsored event, meaning Paid Parking will not be enforced throughout the entire day in the Middleton Park Complex area, from SE 46th St - SE 49th St. All other areas will operate under normal enforcement. Paid Parking ends at 5 pm each day, and will not impact the fireworks display that evening (parking in all locations for this event will be first-come, first-served).For a complete schedule of activities and an Oak Island Beach Day traffic plan, visit www. oakislandnc.gov/beachday.Beach Day is sponsored by the Town of Oak Island and the Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department.
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NC 4th of July Festival Firefighters Competition
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Kids and kids at heart will love exploring firefighting equipment and watching firefighters in wet and wild competitions during this year’s NC 4th of July Festival. The Southport Fire Department will present the 41st Annual Firefighter’s Freedom Competition on Saturday, June 27, beginning at 3 pm at the Southport Fire Substation at 115 E. Nash Street in downtown Southport.
This annual event has drawn firefighters from area departments to compete since 1984. Competitive events include Tanker Tug, Command Post, Bucket Brigade, Benjamin Franklin Impersonator, Extrication Demonstration, Firefighter Relay Challenge Event, Fire Extinguisher Demonstration, a Barrel Push, and a pie-eating contest. This year’s event will also feature displays of fire engines, ladder trucks, equipment and other emergency service equipment. Trained and experienced firefighters will be available to answer any questions.
“What looks like fun games to the spectators is really an event to test the teamwork of a department, as it pays homage to the training and firefighting methods of our past,” said Charles Drew, Southport’s Fire Chief. “Take for example, the bucket brigade. It was the method of extinguishing fires until the invention of the hand-pumped fire engine. A tremendous amount of teamwork and physical endurance, the key to an effective fire department, is needed to complete this duty.”
The public is invited to view the competition, see fire apparatus displays, take tours, visit fire vendors, and enjoy water sprinklers and activities for children.
Clicks of Confidence and their extraordinary trick horses return to this year’s NC 4th of July Festival with performances at noon and 2 pm on July 3 at
Taylor Field Park, 409 E. Nash St..
Founded and developed by Lauryn Zepeda, Clicks of Confidence is a Brunswick County-based program that showcases the possibilities of positive reinforcement and clicker training in equine performance. A seasoned horse performer, Lauryn exhibits feats of horsemanship many have only seen in the movies — demonstrating how patience, trust, and a few well-timed clicks can lead to astonishing results. In fact, just recently the organization became Guinness World Record holders when one of the horses broke a record with 38 tricks performed in just two minutes and 47 seconds. The record-breaking horse will be at this year’s festival event.
Audiences will be amazed as Lauryn and her horses perform a captivating blend of
games, tricks, and awe-inspiring maneuvers, all while highlighting the strength of the human–horse connection. The show is equal parts skill and spectacle, offering an unforgettable look into the world of compassionate, confidence-building horse training.
Lauryn began her journey more than a decade ago while training and showing BLM mustangs. The name Clicks of Confidence was born when an announcer described her method after watching her overcome an obstacle using her signature verbal cues. Since then, Lauryn has gone on to work with a prestigious Friesian breeder, training horses in advanced movements such as the Spanish walk, bowing, and dancing. Today, Lauryn exclusively breeds, trains, and per-
forms with her own Friesians, sharing her unique training philosophy with audiences across the region.
Clicks of Confidence has been featured
in Horse & Rider, Horse Got Talent Champions, Southport Magazine, Holistic Horse, WECT News, and”Extraordinary People.” Lauryn was also recognized as a Women to Watch finalist and a Rising Star.
Don’t miss this inspiring performance that celebrates the beauty, intelligence, and power of horses. As Lauryn puts it: “Come experience firsthand the beauty and intelligence horses hold!” For more information or to inquire about booking Clicks of Confidence for your own event, visit www.ClicksofConfidence.com.
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NC 4th of July Festival
Freedom Flotilla
Join In The Annual Patriotic Boat Parade
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Calling all power-boaters, sailors and commercial vessels! Boats of all sizes and types are invited to join the flotilla, scheduled to begin at 2 pm on Thursday, July 2. Participants are encouraged to decorate their boats in festive red, white, and blue to reflect their patriotic spirit. There is no fee to enter, however, there is a mandatory captain’s meeting at 10 am on Thursday, July 2, at Morning
develop our youth’s interest in sailing. A summer youth sailing program is held for six weeks each summer for ages 9-17 providing hands-on instruction to sail Optimist sailboats (Optis) and Collegiate 420 sailboats. The program incorporates STEM components into everyday sailing instruction. CFYC
NC 4th of July Festival Run For Freedom Registration Open
For 5k and Fun Run
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
One of the NC 4th of July Festival’s most popular events is the Freedom Run 5K and Walk, sponsored by Novant Health. This year, the event will take place on Saturday, June 27, in historic downtown Southport.
All registration is online and available until 7 am on the day of the race or until we reach capacity. Please register online, then come see us at packet pickup. All participants registered by June 1 will be guaranteed an official Freedom Run T-shirt in their preferred size. Registrations after June 1 may select from the remaining inventory while supplies last.
The morning begins with the OneMile Fun Run at 7 am. The Fun Run is open to all participants but especially geared toward children and will be followed by the Freedom 5K at 7:30 am. Before the start of the race, the national anthem will again be performed by renowned trumpet player Jon Lewis.
Last Chance Packet Pickup will take place from 6 am to 7:15 am on race morning. Participants are encouraged to arrive early, as street parking is limited.
New for 2026: Race packet pickup and the official kickoff party will be held Friday, June 26, from 4 pm to 6:30 pm at Cape Side Brewing Company, located at 511 N. Howe St. in Southport. Register early and take advantage of early-bird registration. Tiered pricing: $40 from May 26 to June 25; $45 on June 26 and June 27. There is no charge for the One-Mile Fun Run/Walk. Fleet Feet Wilmington will provide
prizes for winners, while the Southport Rotary Club and Southport Evening Rotary Club will provide race support. Handcrafted awards by students at South Brunswick Middle School, under the direction of Arts Director Elizabeth Simpson, will be presented to winners. All children ages 13 and younger participating in the One-Mile Fun Run will receive a finisher’s medal.
For more than 30 years, the NC Fourth of July Festival Freedom Run has raced through the streets of Southport. Both the 5K and One-Mile Fun Run begin and end at Waterfront Park in downtown Southport.
“It’s a wonderful way to celebrate ur nation, and it’s thrilling to see the run continue to grow in popularity,” said Seth Robbins, Freedom Run Chairperson. “Patriotic attire is encouraged but not required—and a heartfelt thankyou to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, Fleet Feet Wilmington, water station sponsors Southport Rotary Club & Southport Evening Rotary Club, and my co-chair, Ted Todorov, for making this possible.”
For more information on the festival, please visit www.nc4thofjuly.com.
NC 4th of July Festival Children’s Activities
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Families are invited to join the festivities during the Children’s Entertainment Day at the Kids Zone on Friday, July 3 from 11 am - 4 pm at Taylor Field at 409 E. Nash St. in downtown Southport. All festivities are proudly sponsored by the NC 4th of July Committee, Brunswick Arts Council, the Rotary Clubs (Southport Noon and Southport Evening Club), the Youth Arts Council, and dedicated community groups including Southport Presbyterian Church.
“This fun-filled, free event is designed to bring smiles and laughter to children of all ages,” said, event committee chair Mary Beth Livers. It will include inflatables, water slides, live animals, crafts, entertainment by Clicks of Confidence and an open mic with the Youth Arts Council. Don’t miss the kid-centric vendors and a traveling petting zoo. “We are excited to offer a variety of engaging activities and creative crafts. Attendees will have the chance to explore a range of interactive sta-
tions and test their skills for some exciting surprises,” added Livers.
Pirate Lawn Games will also add a nostalgia feeling to the day including classic games that bring joy and friendly competition. This is especially exciting as this year’s festival is greater in size and scope as the community celebrates America’s 250th birthday. All events will take place in one convenient place at Taylor Park in downtown Southport.
Residents and visitors are encour-
aged to bring their family and friends to celebrate the joy of childhood and the spirit of independence. For more information about the Children’s Enter-
tainment Day and other festival events, visit the festival’s website at www. nc4thofjuly.com.
Memorial Day to Labor Day
Nightly @ 7:30 pm
Southport Flag Ceremony Waterfront Park
June 26 @ 5:30 PM
Welcoming Ceremony Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn
June 27 @ 7:30 AM Freedom Run 5k-1 Mile
Southport Waterfront
June 27 @ 3:00 PM
Firefighters Freedom Competition & Apparatus Expo Nash Street
June 27 @ 5:00 PM Patriot’s Ball
Southport Community Building *ticketed event*
June 28 @ 1:00 PM A Pirate’s Life for Me! Southport Community Building
June 28 @ 4:00 PM Gospel Fest ft Angela Primm Franklin Square Park Stage
June 29 @ 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Celebrating Art in Southport Downtown Southport Art Galleries
July 1 @ 5:30 PM Beach Day Welcoming Ceremony Oak Island Middleton Park Complex
July 1 @ 5:30 PM
Independence Eve: Colonial Dinner Southport Community Building *ticketed event*
July 1 @ 9:00 PM Town of Oak Island Fireworks Oak Island Pier
July 2, 3, 4 @ 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Arts & Crafts Market E Bay Street & S Davis Street
July 2, 3, 4 @ 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Food Concessions S Howe Street
July 2 @ 2:00 pm
Red, White & Blue Freedom Flotilla Southport Waterfront Park
July 2 @ 5:00 PM
Waterfront Stage Entertainment Southport Waterfront Park
July 3 @ 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Kidzone! Taylor Field
July 3 @ 2:00 PM Meet 2026 Miss NC 4 of July th Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn
July 3 & 4 @ 4:30 PM
Waterfront Stage Entertainment Southport Waterfront Park
NC 4th of July Festival
Patriots Ball Returns
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
In a return of one of the NC 4th of July Festival’s most cherished traditions, the festival committee is proud to announce the revival of the historic Patriot’s Ball, a lavish fundraising event celebrating patriotism, community, and the enduring spirit of America.
Set for Saturday, June 27, from 5 pm to 9 pm at the Southport Community Building, the reimagined Patriot’s Ball will offer guests an elegant evening featuring live music, elevated décor, a heavy hors d’oeuvres buffet, and an experience in a transformed setting unlike anything previously experienced in the venue.
Once a signature social event of the festival from the 1960s through the 1990s, the Patriot’s Ball was traditionally hosted aboard a boat along Southport’s historic waterfront. Over time, the expense of producing the event outweighed its fundraising benefit, and the tradition was eventually retired. Now, as the nation approaches the celebration
of America’s 250th anniversary, festival organizers are embracing nostalgia and bringing the beloved event back for a new generation.
“Bringing back the Patriot’s Ball is about honoring the traditions that helped shape our festival while creating an unforgettable experience for today’s community,” said event organizer, Ki Ki Lee Herr. “As we look ahead to America 250, this event celebrates both our history and our future.”
Attendance for the Patriot’s Ball will be limited to just 200 guests, making it one of the most desired events of the festival season. Tickets are priced at $200 per person, with all proceeds directly benefiting the NC 4th of July Festival
and supporting the continuation of one of the state’s most historic patriotic celebrations.
The NC 4th of July Festival traces its roots back to 1795, when ships anchored in Southport’s harbor celebrated Independence Day with cannon salutes and gatherings known as the “Festival of Free Men.” Over the centuries, the celebration evolved into the nationally recognized festival it is today, welcoming visitors from across the country and honoring American heritage through parades, arts, music, community traditions, and patriotic ceremonies.
Businesses and individuals interested in sponsorship opportunities or ticket information are encouraged to contact the NC 4th of July Festival via the website at www.nc4thofjuly.com to fill out the Sponsorship form or email/call sponsorship chair, Sarah Hunter at sponsorships@ nc4thofjuly.com or 336-971-9294. The North Carolina 4th of July Festival Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
NC 4th of July Festival
Parade Grand Marshal
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
This year’s NC 4th of July Festival Parade Grand Marshal is the highly decorated Jason Gazzillo, Chief Warrant Officer (CWO), of the US Coast Guard Station Oak Island. As the new Commanding Officer, CWO Gazzillo’s ‘Change of Command’ ceremony is planned for late June 2026. He will be a couple weeks into his new command when he assumes the lead as the Parade Grand Marshal in the historic parade on July 4 at 11 am in Southport.
“Every year, the festival committee is dedicated to honoring those who have served or are currently serving our country. This year, we are privileged to have a commanding officer from the US Coast Guard leading the parade,” said Hugh Fosbury, chair of the 2026 NC 4th of July Festival committee. “The parade, a major highlight of the festival, is a platform for us to express our gratitude to the men and women of the country’s armed forces. Having a member of the US Coast Guard as the Grand Marshal is a significant way for us to do so. Every day we recognize and honor the contributions of the men and women of the Coast Guard Station Oak Island. They play such an important role in protecting what makes our community so special.”
Coast Guard Station Oak Island, referred to locally as the Oak Island Coast Guard Station (OICGS) is located in the Town of Caswell Beach. A part of the Cape Fear region, the station is in the United States Coast Guard East District which is charged with ensuring the safety and security of the oceans, coastal areas, and marine transportation system within the Mid-Atlantic Region. The district encompasses some 156,000 square miles of ocean, bays, rivers, wetlands and tidal marshes, geographic waterways, several major mid-Atlantic ports, and the Nation’s capital. They also patrol the mouth of the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).
The primary mission of the men and women of the OICGS is to perform search and rescue missions in our waters. Other missions of the Station include law enforcement, Marine Safety Oil Pollution Response, and Force Protection support for Sunny Point. In addition, they have an Aids to Navigation Team that monitors the channel buoys.
In the US Coast Guard, a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) is a highly specialized technical expert and commissioned officer appointed directly from the senior enlisted ranks. CWO Gazzillo’s appointment is a higher rank than previous commanding officers at this station, due to the recent expansion in both leader-
ship and station responsibility and size of the overall station.
CWO Jason Gazzillo enlisted in the US Coast Guard in February 2003 and upon graduation from Basic Training in Cape May, NJ, he was assigned to USCGC BLACKFIN in Santa Barbara, CA. CWO Gazzillo spent one year aboard the BLACKFIN prior to receiving orders to BM “A” school where he was later assigned to the CGC VIGILANT out of Port Canaveral, FL. as a BM3. CWO Gazzillo advanced to BM2 in November 2005. In 2007, CWO Gazzillo received orders to Station Fort Pierce, FL. He certified as a Boarding Officer and Pursuit Coxswain on the 33’ SPC-LE , 47’ MLB, 25’ RBS, and the 45’ RBM. In 2011, he transferred to the CGC PELICAN in Abbeville,LA. Earning his certification as a Deck watch officer and advancement to BM1. CWO Gazzillo received orders to Maritime Force Protection Unit in Kings Bay, GA. He acted as the Training Petty Officer and Opposing Force Coxswain, and Tactical Coxswain on the 64’ SPC-SV; the largest small boat in the Coast Guard. In 2017, he transferred to the CGC RAZORBILL in Gulfport, LA., as the Operations Petty Officer. He advanced to Chief and short toured and transferred to his very first command position as the Executive Petty Officer at Station Wrights-
ville Beach, NC.
Southport - Fourth of July Festival Parade Route
During his tour, he earned Certifications as Officer in Charge Ashore and Afloat, and later earned his first assignment as an Officer in Charge at Coast Guard Station Hobucken. The summer of 2023 CWO Gazzillo was commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer-2 and received orders to CG Station South Padre Island. CWO Gazzillo and served as the Executive Officer where he was second in command and lead the mission to detect and suppress unlawful activity in the inshore waters of the Rio Grande Valley and the Gulf of Mexico at the maritime border between the United States and Mexico. The Station executed more than 100 Search and Rescue cases and 500 Law Enforcement Boardings annually, a high operational tempo involving drug and alien smuggling cases, frequently engaging in lancha pursuits.
CWO Gazzillo’s professional achievements include certifications as an Officer in Charge Multi Mission afloat and ashore. He is a graduate of the Chief Petty Officer’s Academy Class CCXL and the Coast Guard Maritime Law enforcement Academy. CWO Gazzillo’s personal awards include three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, five Achievement Medals, six Good Conduct Medals, Permanent Cuttermen, Advanced Coxswain and Coxswain Pin, and Advanced Boat Forces Pin. CWO Gazzillo has been married to the former Caressa Kirby of Vero Beach, FL for 15 years. They have two children together; 14-year-old Arianna, and 11-year-old Julian.
WECT TV6 and Dosher Hospital sponsor the parade, which will be televised on WECT TV6 and presented by Gabe Ross and Rachel Lewis Hilburn.
NC 4th of July Festival
Wayne Berry
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
V
olunteers work throughout the year to make the NC 4th of July Festival a success, and this year, long-time festival volunteer Wayne Berry is being recognized as an Honorary Parade Marshal. More than 50 years ago, Wayne and Jill Berry along with their young daughter Elizabeth, chose to make Southport the place they wanted to live their lives and build a successful business. That is exactly what they did. Not only did they build a life in their beautiful home on Bay Street, they built a successful CPA business that continues in operation today. What makes this family even more admirable is that there is so much more to the story that developed since setting down roots in 1973.
The family’s love for community, philanthropic endeavors and involvement has been going at full speed since they pulled into what was then the small town of Southport. One chapter in the family’s book started when they went to their first 4th of July Festival. “The first year I saw the parade I couldn’t believe how professional and
community-oriented it was run for such a small town at that time,” Wayne said. “I was so impressed. The next year I started volunteering for the Festival.”
Today, Wayne is still volunteering and has been Chairman of the Parade and the entire growing Festival during multiple decades. The amount
of time, coordination and energy that goes into such a big event is staggering. Because he and all the volunteers helping make it look so easy, most of the thousands of NC 4th of July Festival parade spectators and event attendees are not aware of his long-term contributions.
Wayne’s wife, Jill, and daughter, Elizabeth, (who now lives in Raleigh) always help support his efforts and help with the parade each year.
Wayne started with the Festival in 1974 and had some good direction and advice from previous Festival organizers Robert Howard, Lee Aldridge and Cliff White. Wayne became president in 1977 and in the early 1990s he became parade chair. He’s helped put it together ever since. He doesn’t want to take the credit alone, however, as there is a lot of help in this undertaking.
The parade committee starts planning in March or April, seeking applications for units, or parade participants. The applications arrive by late June and are then lined up for parade day.
The goal is to have 115 to 125 units. Any more than that number and the parade can get tiresome, particularly in the heat of Southport’s July.
Wayne is one of Southport’s longest-serving volunteers who has been an integral part of the City’s successes. His awards and recognitions come from years of self-less giving of his time.
Wayne was even awarded and honored with one of North Carolina’s most prestigious awards, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. It was awarded by then governor, Roy Cooper. He was nominated by the Friends of the NC Maritime Museum at Southport where he has served decades on the board of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
A few highlights from Wayne’s 50 years of volunteer service to the Southport and surrounding communities include:
• A volunteer with the Friends of the NC Maritime Museum at Southport since 1990.
• President of the NC 4th of July Festival in 1977 and serving on the board of directors since then, including many years as chairman and co-chairman of the festival parade.
• Founding member of the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce’s US Open King Mackerel Tournament and serving as its weighmaster from 1971 to 2021.
• President of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce twice and serving several terms on the board of directors.
• Charter member of the Southport Rotary Club and a member from 1986 to present, and awarded the Paul Harris Fellow.
• Member of the Southport Lions Club since 1973 and serving as past president.
• Serving member of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of NC from 1959 to present, receiving a 50-year pin as a Master Mason.
He has also served on the Cape Fear Regional Jetport Commission, Southport Board of Adjustment, Boy Scout Council of the Lower Cape Fear board and United Carolina Bank (BB&T) local advisory board.
“The vote to make Wayne Berry the Honorary Parade Marshal was unanimous by our Board of Directors. We wanted to do something to recognize Wayne for his outstanding service, work ethic, character, leadership skills and unwavering commitment to the N.C. 4th of July Festival and to the Southport community overall. Wayne’s contributions reach so far into our community. He has truly done so much to enrich the lives of residents and visitors and thus made our City a more wonderful place to live,” said Hugh Fosbury, Chairman of this year’s NC 4th of July Festival.
4th of July Festival
Pageant Winners
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
The revived Miss NC 4th of July Festival Scholarship Pageant saw 40 contestants vying for the crown earlier in June. The reunion-style celebration drew 200 attendees and marked the pageant’s return in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. Guests enjoyed a retrospective of past pageants and live entertainment.
This year’s competition crowned the 28th Miss North Carolina 4th of July Festival Court and awarded scholarships to contestants who exemplified responsibility, dedication, and community spirit. The crowning featured a custom crown created by Wade’s Jewelers and a photo opportunity with the retired crown, which was on loan from the Southport Historical Society and is on display at the Southport Museum — Southport Visitor Center, 203 E. Bay St. Winners:
Miss: Trinity Simms (21)
Teen Miss: Allura Cummings (18)
Junior Miss: Aubree Raelyn Cook (10)
Young Miss: Kathryn Ruth Strickland (14)
Little Miss: Georgia Gumerson (8)
Tiny Miss: Bryar Rose Miranda (6)
Baby Miss: Shelbie Leighanne Marshburn (2)
Ambassador: Avery Morgan Lumsden (2)
The titleholders will showcase their talents on July 4 from 2:30–3 pm on the main stage at Waterfront Park, 146 E. Bay St. The full court will make appearances throughout the festival, and the Queen and other title holders will represent the festival and community throughout 2026–2027. All proceeds benefited the NC 4th of July Festival. Special thanks to Wade’s Jewelers, our sponsors, contestants, volunteers, Southport Baptist Church, media partners, and raffle donors. Scholarship donors include Coastal Cremations, Southport Fire Department, Southport EMS Auxiliary, and Southport Cares.
Thisyear’s crowning moment was made especially memorable by a custom-designed crown created in partnership with Wade’s Jewelers.
“The 4th of July in Southport is something truly special,” said a Wade’s Jewelers representative. “We wanted the crown to reflect the elegance of the pageant while honoring the spirit of the town itself.”
The crown is a one-of-a-kind piece inspired by classic patriotic motifs and modern, timeless elegance — handcrafted after a process that began with hand sketches, moved into CAD and 3D modeling, and was cast in sterling silver in smaller sections for precision assembly. Old-world touches and hours of polishing finished the piece, and 576 red, white, and blue cubic zirconia stones were handset to the highest standards, symbolizing leadership, grace, and community pride.
Photo by Zeb Starnes
SALES | RENTALS | VACATIONS
Brian Deutsch
Sherol Lappala
Verilyn McKee Sarah Smith
Brian Quinn Katherine Hufham
Pam Hayes Pamela Frandano
Fred Fiss
David Thorp
Myles Williams
Lee Ann Walker
Katherine Wooten
Sally Stidham
Valerie Earman Karen Saunders
Tanya Broussard
Kim Moss Annabelle Pivarnik
Shea Williams Andrea Milligan
Karen Hufham
Christian Stiller Jason Hester
Jill Oakley
Mary Carneiro
4th of July Festival Professional Wrestling
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
UPWALive Pro Wrestling returns to the Festival’s lineup of events on Saturday, July 4, from 3-5 pm on Nash Street, Southport. Viewers may wish to bring a chair or blanket for their viewing comfort. During the Brunswick County Brawl there will be matches involving Heavyweight Champion Sasha Jenkins, Carolinas Champion Johnny Smooth, Devaun Haley, The Royal Wave, the Carolina Collective, Joseph Everhart and more.
Wrestling has been pleasing crowds since the carnival days of traveling performers in the 1860s.
According to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, wrestling was an established sport among Native Americans in the 15th and 16th Centuries. Organizations such as United World Wrestling, which governs wrestling at the Olympics, the American Wrestling Federation, and the UPWA are just a few organized governing bodies representing the various forms of the sport.
The United Pro Wrestling Association is the fastest-growing wrestling promotion in the southeast. An ac-
tivity for all ages, the action-packed two hours will have spectators clapping, laughing, and cheering.
Wrestling tournaments today allow boys and girls to participate in competitions throughout the country. The US Armed Forces wrestling members have been some of the nation’s best international wrestlers, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
North Carolina has its share of famous professional wrestlers, such as Ric Flair, Rockin’ Robin, Brad Anderson, and Sick Boy, to name a few.
Visit the festival’s website for more information at www.nc4thofjuly.com.
4th of JUly Festival Naturalization Ceremony
CONTRIBUTED BY NC 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Perhaps the most patriotic event of the week is the 27th annual Naturalization Ceremony which the North Carolina 4th of July Festival will host on July 3. The ceremony will be on the Ft. Johnston Garrison Lawn beginning at noon and will be preceded by a performance from the Wilmington Virtuosi Brass beginning at 11 am.
The Wilmington Virtuosi Brass is a British-style brass band founded by cornetist Richard Hillson and made up of highly experienced local brass players — including principals from regional orchestras, retired military bandsmen, music educators, and freelance professionals — performing a diverse repertoire that ranges from classical and Broadway to pop and swing. The ensemble has quickly become active in the national brass-band circuit and the local concert scene.The keynote speaker for this year’s Naturalization Ceremony will be Dr. Yousry Sayed founder, president and CEO of Quality Chemical Laboratories, Inc. Dr. Sayed is a former UNCW chemistry and biochemistry professor and academic administrator who founded Quality Chemical Laboratories, a Wilmington-based company serving the pharmaceutical and chemical testing industries. He has remained closely connected to UNCW,
serving on the University’s Board of Trustees, supporting the development of pharmaceutical chemistry programs through major philanthropic commitments, and being recognized for his contributions to education and the region’s scientific workforce. A former professor and General College director at UNCW, Sayed said his fondest goal is to not just grow the pharmaceutical industry’s stature in the area but to keep students who are interested in the sciences in Wilmington, either working for him or starting their own business.“As some of our country’s newest citizens complete the Naturalization Program, the people of Southport and the North Carolina 4th of July Committee look forward to welcoming them into our community,” Committee Chair Tom Rabon said.The Naturalization Ceremony is a significant part of the annual NC 4th of July Festival in Southport. It is anticipated
that 50 new citizens will be administered the oath of citizenship by the Honorable Richard E. Myers II, Chief U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of North Carolina. Chief Judge Myers was confirmed by the US Senate on
December 5, 2019, and has served on the federal bench since January 2020. Prior to his appointment, he was the Henry Brandis Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law.The Naturalization Ceremony is sponsored by and organized by Downtown Southport, Inc. The Brunswick Town Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will host a new-citizen reception and present flags to the new Americans.
Keeping Fit
Build Staying Power
Turning Your Passion Into Progress In Life
BY VICTOR FERNANDES
Victor Fernandes is owner of Fernandez Fit, helpjng clients achieve personal and professional success through health and fitness
After 26 years in sports journalism, I’m well aware that everyone has a story to share, but it’s still a pleasant surprise when I get to hear one of those stories firsthand — like one I heard recently at a local convenience store in southern Brunswick County.
As I entered the store, I read a sign on the door stating that the main beverage cooler had malfunctioned again – and I got the sense that again meant much more than twice. That feeling was confirmed a minute or two later – in the way we in today’s society ordinarily have our feelings confirmed regarding frustrating instances like that, with the employee working at that time hearing all about the inconvenience created by the malfunctioning beverage cooler from a frustrated customer on his way out the door.
I grabbed my drink from the small cooler that was still cold, walked to the counter, and asked how she was doing –although I already had a good idea what she would say.
Or so I thought.
Then I heard all about her side hustle
knitting blankets and other items that she sells to make extra money, and suddenly her mood perked up a bit...
Because she was talking about her passion, not her paycheck.
It’s a reminder that jobs pay the bills, but passion makes you feel alive on a day when the frustration of others weighs on us. It’s also a reminder to me why I do what I do – because my passion and my paycheck come from the same venture.
It’s also a welcome reminder to me how important it was for me to start my health and wellness journey – and finally stick to it long term too – nearly 16 years ago because of the integral role that it has played in how my life has changed for the better.
We all have control over how our life unfolds, even if there are times when we think things happen by chance or coincidence. But we all have a choice, and the next choice we make determines what happens next, followed by the next choice.
was at nearly 250 pounds. So, the only way I could have reached that unhealthy level was by making choices that led to it happening.
Then I lost 75 pounds. The choice to take on that challenge, and all the choices I made every day the next 14 months and since then – altered the course of my life for good.
And not simply physically. When we make the choice to take care of ourselves – and then follow through on it long term – we begin to grow the discipline and confidence needed to make good choices day after day in all facets of our lives.
Even on days when discipline and confidence waver, the quality habits we have formed over time consistently take over to help us make the best choices time after time.
And on days when life does nothing but get in the way of your needs and goals, we turn to those same habits to guide us to the results we want.
I was grossly overweight nearly two decades ago. That was a choice. No one else in my family has ever been as overweight as I
Of course, it takes work – every day. I know when frustration, disappointment and all other negative feelings we feel arise, I head into the Vicnasium - home of Fernandes Fit in Bolivia - close the doors and lift heavy things and put them down in peace and quiet.
Then I focus on the Fernandes Fit family - the great, hard-working clients who I get to channel my passion into every day. I don’t take that for granted, but if I do, it’s stories like the one I heard at that convenience store recently that will set me straight.
At Fernandes Fit, Fitness Is Our Business – but it’s the people who do the work to turn their lives into personal success stories that inspire so many people like me.
So, if you have personal and professional goals in mind you want to accomplish, but you struggle with the biggest goal we ever face – our health – it’s time for us to talk.
If we take control of our health and wellness, that provides the tools we need to take control of other facets of our lives.
Contact me at 814-504-7774 or by email at info@fernandesfit.com to get started. You can also get more information on my website at fernandesfit.com to learn more about why…Fitness Is Our Business.
HOMES/LAND FOR SALE
108 SW 22ND STREET, LOT 21 BEAUTIFUL WOODED LOT.
0.15 Acres | Zoned OK-R-6 | $210,000. Turn your dream of building into a reality! This beautiful, wooded lot can be found on the quiet side of the island at a road that ends at the Davis Canal! Listed at $210,000 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Reach out to Kathy MacNish at 919-3522809 for more information or to discuss the possibilities!
8708 E OAK ISLAND DRIVE, LOTS #1-5, OAK ISLAND. Rare Opportunity for 2 Parcels & 5 Lots. 0.37 Acres | Zoned OK-CB | $1,150,000. Unique commercial opportunity right on Oak Island in the high-traffic Yaupon Beach area! Listed at $1,105,000 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Call Pat Proctor at 910-523-0087 for more information.
16+/- ACRES MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY. SIGNALIZED ACCESS ON NC 133/LONG BEACH ROAD.
16+/- Acres | Zoned R-6000/ CLD | $700,000. Seize this rare opportunity to develop
MARKETPLACE
approximately 16 acres in one of North Carolina’s fastest growing areas! With signalized access, this prime location is perfect for builders, developers, and investors. Listed at $700,000 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Reach out to Jonathan McLaughlin at 910269-8200 for information or to discuss the possibilities!
659 BROOKNEAL STREET SE, BOLIVIA. 2 Lots Near Public Boat Launch. 0.30 Acres | Zoned R60 | $60,000. Home to some of the most incredible sunsets around, 659 Brookneal is the perfect spot to build your dream home near the public boat launch on Oak Island! Listed at $60,000 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Call Kristie Beasley at 910-2316204 for more information.
4911 SOUTHPORT SUPPLY ROAD SE, SOUTHPORT. 431+/SF of Hwy 211 Road Frontage. 2.2 Acres | 3 Parcels | Zoned CoCld | $1,400,000. Prime location along Highway 211!! Check out these 3 parcels, zoned for commercial and perfect for a variety of business types! Listed at $1,400,000 with Margaret Rudd & Associates, Inc., REALTORS®️. Call Pat Proctor at 910-5230087 for more information.
608-F W. BROWN STREET$359,900. This light-filled, 1st floor end-unit condo is ideally located just steps from the marina and historic downtown waterfront. Partially furnished and move-in ready, it features an open-concept living space, covered back deck, and thoughtful updates. Enjoy community amenities like a private pool, elevator, covered parking, storage unit, and full-service marina with overflow boat parking. Perfect as a primary home, second home, or investment - this is easy coastal living at its best. Call Sarah Smith, Southport Realty, Inc., for more details, (910) 443-8000.
5215 EAST OAK ISLAND DRIVE, UNIT #1. 5,193 SQ.FT. COMMERCIAL SPACE |
$1,099,000. Rare commercial investment opportunity in the growing market of Oak Island, where inventory is limited and demand is rising.This property features five units, four with new leases already in place delivering immediate, stable income. With flexible layouts including a 36’ x 30’ conditioned warehouse and a newly remodeled apartment, the property supports a variety of business uses and future rental growth.Strong road frontage, rear alley access for parking and loading, and close proximity to Publix enhance visibility and tenant appeal. Call Valerie Earman, Southport Realty, Inc., (540)8789465 for more information.
4911 BEECH TREE DRIVE$349,000. This 4-bedroom home in Carolina Place sits on a .26-acre lot with a huge, fully fenced backyard and NO city taxes - just minutes to the Oak Island bridge and Southport. The open layout features a split-bedroom floor plan, cozy gas fireplace, sunny breakfast nook, and a double-car garage. A versatile upstairs bonus/4th bedroom is perfect for a home office or flex space. Outdoor living shines with room for grilling, fire pit nights, recreation, a custom putting area, storage building, and a unique catio with endless potential. Community amenities include a pool, crabbing dock, and RV/ boat storage. Only 3 miles to beach access and 4 miles to historic downtown Southport. Call Katherine Wooten, Southport Realty, Inc., for more details (910) 620-8962.
2100 MARSH GROVE LANE, #2304 - $399,000 CORNER UNIT WITH EXTRA WINDOWS + WATERWAY VIEWS! This 1-bedroom condo with a spacious flex room offers a rare opportunity to enjoy natural light from multiple sides, thanks to its coveted corner position. Located in the sought-after Preserve at Oak Island. Call Valerie Earman, Southport Realty, Inc., for more details, (540) 878-9465
CALENDAR
We’ve included events here that are listed as scheduled, but please remember that all events, dates and times are subject to change. (For programs offered through the Town of Leland, visit https://apm.activecommunities.com/townofleland/ to register online or register in person at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way). Register online for Town of Oak Island programs at www.OakIslandNC.gov/PROGRAMS. — Lisa
July
JUNE 27
Contra Dance — Leland
This fun and approachable partner line dance has English and Scottish roots. A beginner lesson will run from 7 to 7:30 p.m., followed by open dancing. The dance goes until 10 pm at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, and the cost is $15
JUNE 27
Belville Founders Day and America 250 Celebration
Enjoy live music from Catatonic and the Brunswick Big Band, kid’s games, food trucks, and vendors in Belville’s Riverwalk Park from 10 am - 3 pm. .
JULY 2
America 250 — Army Band at Barbee Library
Bring a chair to the back parking lot of Barbee Library for a patriotic concert with the 208th Army Band in honor of America’s 250th anniversary! This special performance is to connect the community with the rich history, service, and sacrifice that shaped the nation since the Army was founded in 1775. This celebration is free and open to the public! No registration is required. The performance is 11 am at the library, 8200 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island.
JULY 8
Food Drive — Dosher Hospital
Dosher Memorial Hospital will host a drive-through food donation event to benefit communities served by PORCH South Brunswick. Donors may drive up to the hospital front entrance between the hours of 9 am and 1 pm to drop off non-perishable food items. Food pantries often experience low inventories in the summer, therefore, and this July
food drive aims to help compensate for these shortages. The hospital requests non-perishable items only, and no glass packaging. For questions about the Dosher food drive, call the office of Community Relations at 910-457-3900.
JULY 23
Ladies Night Out Purse Bash
The North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce hosts this annual not-to-bemissed event. Tickets come with entries for raffles, and more are available for purchase, with designer purses as prizes. The evening also includes dinner, a cash bar and silent auction. The purse bash is 6-8 pm at the Virginia Williamson, 150 College Road SE, on the Brunswick Community College campus.
JULY 23
Candy Bar Bingo at LCAC
All ages bingo at the Leland Cultural Arts Center. From 6 - 7:30 pm. Registration includes three bingo cards. Purchase extra cards at the front desk, three for $1. Prizes include various chocolate bars and fruity candies. Kids under 5 receive one card per game for free. Children under 13 should attend with an adult.
JULY 25
Summer Art Market — Leland
Find unique works of all sorts at the Summer Art Market, noon to 5 pm at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Road.
THROUGH JULY 29
Oak Island Loggerheads baseball Cheer on Oak Island’s baseball team, part of the Old North State’s collegiate summer league. Games are hosted at Bill Smith Park, 4446 Fish Factory Road SE (Oak Island mainland). Check https:// www.oakislandloggerheads.com/ for the game schedule and more details.
JULY 31
Founders Park Grand Opening
Celebrate with the Town of Leland as Founders Park officially reopens. Activities are planned for 5-8 pm, including food trucks, vendors, games, a ribbon cutting ceremony and live music. WECT Sounds of Summer will be onsite too, and attendees can get a behind-the scenes view of the live broadcast. The Park is across form Town Hall, on Town Hall Drive in Leland.
AUG 1
Food Truck Rodeo — Southport
The 4th Annual Food Truck Rodeo will offer tasty treats from 11 am to 3 pm at the historic Fort Johnston – Southport Museum & Visitors Center, 203 E Bay St. Take your appetite and indulge in a wide array of dishes from various food
trucks, each bringing their own specialty to the table. The event will also feature live music, creating a vibrant atmosphere for all ages to enjoy.
AUG 1
Dutchman Dinghy Dash — Oak Island
Teams of two are challenged to row 400 feet in a homemade cardboard vessel worth of sea travel, or at least a temporarily float. The entry fee is $10 worth of non-perishable food and goods. Some of our first responders generally float a boat, so head on out and cheer them on! The festivities are 10 am to 3 pm at Dutchman Creek Park, 4750 Fish Factory Road.
CALENDAR
AUG 5
Dosher Hospital Tour
The guided tour will provide guests with a unique opportunity to learn more about the hospital’s services, meet healthcare professionals, and gain a behind-the-scenes look at how Dosherserves the community. Participants will have the chance to ask questions and learn about the many ways the hospital is working to meet the healthcare needs of Brunswick County residents.
The tour group will meet in the front lobby of the main hospital building located at 924 N. Howe Street in Southport at 1 pm.
Space is limited, and advance registration is requested. To reserve a spot, call 910-457-3900 or email marketing@ dosher.org.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Odell Williamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community College
150 College Road NE, Bolivia
June 27-28 — Brunswick County’s choral group, the Sea Notes, will perform Celebrate America! The shows are at 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
701 N. Third St., Wilmington
June 27 — Tommy James & the Shondells
July 2 — The NC Symphony presents Stars and Stripes
July 11 — Straight No Chaser Beach Bash
July 14-15 — Bluey’s Big Play
July 18(two shows)— Jurassic Park In Concert with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra
Aug 1 — Graham Nash
Aug 7 — The Oak Ridge Boys
Aug 13 — Brit Floyd - Best of The Wall
Aug 14 — Brit Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon
Aug 15 — Leann Rimes
Visit https://wilsoncentertickets.com for more information.
Thalian Hall
310 Chestnut St., Wilmington
June 18-28 — Gypsy: A Musical Fable by the Opera House Theatre
July 9-19 — The Shark is Broken by Big Dawg Productions
uly 16-26 — Come From Away by the Opera House Theatre Company
Aug 13-23 — West Side Story by the Opera House Theatre Company
Check https://www.thalianhall.org/ calendar for more information.
Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
1941 Amphitheatre Dr., Wilmington
July 9 — Blackberry Smoke
July 10 — Matt Maeson
July 13 — An Evening with Wilco
July 15 — Umphrey’s McGee
July 16 — An Evening with Band of Horses and Dinosaur Jr.
July 17 — Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime and Red Hot Chili Peppers
July 18 — Buffalo Traffic Jam
July 22 — Rhiannon Giddens
July 23 — Little Stranger
July 26-27 — Jesse Wells
July 27 — Congress The Band
Aug 7 — The Wallflowers
Aug 8 — Dumpstaphunk
Visit https://www.livenation.com/venue/KovZ917A2qV/greenfield-lake-amphitheater-events for tickets.
Summer Concert Series
Bands by the Beach
Oak Island Summer Concerts
Middleton Park Complex
4610 Dolphin Drive
Concerts are 6-8:30 pm
June 26 — Too Much Sylvia
July 1 (Beach Day) — The Extraordinaires
July 10 — The Entertainers
July 17 — Chocolate Chip & Company
July 24 — Rivermist
July 31 — Crystal & Aria
Aug 7 — I-42 Band
Aug 14 — 52nd Street Band
Aug 21 — Hoods Creek
Aug 28 — The Conspiracy
Bald Head Island
Marina Park
Concerts are 6-9 pm
July 1 — Band of Oz
July 15 — The ToneZ
July 29 — The Catalinas
Aug 12 — Snapback
Aug 26 — Austin
Sept 2 — Chairman of the Board
Boiling Spring Lakes Summer Concerts
Spring Lake Park
210 Pine Road Concerts are 6-8 pm
June 26 — 17 South
July 10 — The Doorsmen
Aug 7 — Parrot Party Duo
Calabash Summer Concert Series
Calabash Town Park
868 Persimmon Road
Concerts are 6-8:30 pm
June 30 — The Extraordinaires
July 7 — The Main Event Band
July 21 — The Embers featuring Craig Woolard
July 28 — Brunswick Big Band
Aug 4 — Chocolate Chip & Company
Holden Beach Summer Concerts
The season starts off at Bridgeview Park and changes to Block Q midseason
Concerts are 6:30-8 pm
June 28 — The Extraordinaires
uly 5 — The Tams
July 12 — Band of Oz
July 19 — Too Much Sylvia
Aug 2 — The Sand Band
Aug 9 — North Tower
Aug 16 — Continental Divide
Aug 30 — The Main Event
Don’t miss a minute of the NC 4th of July Festival. Check
Sept 6 — Chairman of the Board
The Peggy Hughes Summer Concert Series
Ocean Isle Beach
Town Center Park, 11 E. 2nd St. Concerts are 6:30-8 pm
June 26 — Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot
July 1 — Chocolate Chip & Company
July 10 — Rivermist
July 24 — The Main Event Band
July 31 — Jam Biscuit
Aug 7 — Special Occasion Band
Aug 14 — The Embers featuring Craig Woolard
Aug 21 — Uptown Easy
Aug 28 — Julio & The Saltines
Sept 6 — The Extraordinaires
Sunset Sound Waves
Sunset Beach Town Park
26 Sunset Blvd North Concerts start at 6 pm
July 1 — Gimme Back My Skynrd
July 3 — Rivermist
July 8 — Chocolate Chip & Company
July 15 — Band on Fire
July 22 — Too Much Sylvia
July 29 — Unknown Artist Band
Aug 5 — North Tower
Aug 12 — Pushh
Aug 19 — Pink Slips
Aug 26 — Whitewing Dove
Sept 2 — Julio and The Saltines
Shallotte Concert Series
Mulberry Park Amphitheater
123 Mulberry Street Concerts are 7-9 pm
July 2 — Chocolate Chip & Company
July 9 — Catalinas
July 16 — The Fabulous Fish Heads
July 23 — Special Occasion Band
July 30 — Band of Oz
Aug 6 — Julio & The Saltines
Aug 13 — Jack Jack 180
Aug 2 — Too Much Sylvia
Aug 27 — Jebb Mac Band
Sept 3 — North Tower
Sept 10 — The Extraordinaires
Southport Summer Concert Series
Franklin Square Park, Howe Street Concerts are 6-8 pm
June 25 — Gary & Linda Scalfani
July 9 — The Dust Parade
July 16 — Rusty Bones of Southport
July 23 — Hodnett Family Band
July 30 — Bacon Grease Moonlight Movies
Sunset Beach Pier
101 W. Main St. Concerts are 6-8 pm unless otherwise listed
June 25 — The Mac Daddys
July 4 — DJ Taco (music all day)
July 5 — Silver Fox DJ — 5-9pm
July 9 — Brunswick Stew
July 16 — The Mac Daddys
July 23 — Trublmkrz
July 30 — The Mac Daddys
Aug 6 — Honeycutt & Co.
Aug 13 — Salt Road
Aug 20 — MacDaddy’s
Aug 27 — Sea & Sand Band
Sept 3 — Johnny Toppings
Sept 6 — Labor Day Weekend Show featuring Trublmkrz from 1-3 pm and Randy Knight and Parrot Party from 3-5 pm
Moonlight Movies
Town Center Park
11 E. 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach Movies start around dusk (7:15-ish)
June 24 — Inside Out
July 8 — Treasure Island
July 15 — Joseph King of Dreams
July 22 — Red Shoes & The 7 Dwarfs
July 29 — Antz
Aug 5 — Shorts
Aye 12 — Ruby Gillman: ‘Teenage Kracken’
Aug 19 — Middle School - The Worst Years of My Life
OPEN AIR MARKETS
Oak Island Farmers Market
The Market can be found on the Middleton Park Fields, SE 46th Street and Dolphin Drive, on Mondays from 8 am to 1 pm. Shop for local fresh produce, homemade jams, cakes, and a variety of homemade goods, all while enjoying ocean breezes.
Summer Market in Southport
The summer market begins May 6, and will be open 9 am to 2 pm on Wednesdays (except the week of July 4th). Find the Market in Waterfront Park at East Bay Street.
OneLove Market
NC 179/Beach Drive SW (field next to RE/Max
This community based-non-profit helps local rescue organizations with financial support. Shop, Munch and Mingle! Enjoy music, free craft table, fresh produce and other vendors. Wednesdays 8:30-12:30 through August
Sunset Beach Town Park
206 Sunset Blvd North (mainland)
The Market begins April 30, and will be held on Thursdays throughout the season from 9 am to 1 pm.
1st Saturday Artisan Fair — Olde Southport Village Shoppes
This market at the Olde Southport Village Shoppes (1102 N. Howe St.) will feature artisan vendors, handmade goods, vintage treasures, live painting, gifts, self-care products, fizzy sodas, and fun finds for everyone. The fair is the first Saturday of the month, 10 am to 4 pm.
ONGOING EVENTS
Storytime By the Sea
Oak Island hosts this program for children 12 and younger, which features a coastal-themed story and a craft to take home. The program is 10-11 am on July 8, 15, 22, and 29, and Aug 5 at the Town’s 801 Ocean Drive events center. The program is free, but pre-registration is required (OakIslandNC.gov/ PROGRAMS)
Art in the Park - Ocean Isle Beach
Children can make a new art project each week at Ocean Isle Beach’s Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St. The program is 10-11 am on Tuesdays through June 30 and Tuesdays from July 14Aug. 11. Art in the Park is weather dependent.
Tye Dye Tuesdays
Make your own beach tye dye t-shirt with the Town of Holden Beach. Tye Dye Tuesdays through Aug. 4, 1-2:30 pm (participants must be ib line by 2 pm) at Bridgeview Park Picnic Shelter, 125 Davis St. There is a cost for the shirt, depending on the size needed. Check Facebook for weather updates.
Friends of the Library
The Once More used bookstore, at Southport Realty (727 N. Howe St.), with new-to-you books, is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturdays 10 am to noon. Visit https:// folsoi.org/blog/ for information on upcoming programs.
Barbee Library, 8200 E. Oak Island Drive: Call 910-278-4283 for details on children’s story time and other programs. The Lifelong Learners Group meets at 10 am on Thursdays. Other programs offered at the library include chair yoga, one-on-one tech support on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm, and more.
Harper Library, 109 W. Moore St., Southport: Call 910-457-6237 to register for programs. One-on-one tech support is offered on Thursdays, 1-3 pm.
Leland Library, 487 Village Road NE: Baby storytime is at 10 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Pre-K and older storytime is at 11 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Ruark Library, 5068 Main St., Shallotte Storytime for toddlers and pre-K on Thursdays at 10:30 am, and the Teen Chess Club meets on Mondays at 4 pm.
Southwest Brunswick Branch, 9400 Ocean Hwy West (U.S. 17), Carolina Shores: Move It Monday library workouts are at 9 am on Mondays. Chess Club meets on Tuesdays at 3 pm
NC Maritime Museums - Southport
204 E. Moore St.
The Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am to 4 pm at 204 E. Moore
CALENDAR
St., Southport. Admission is free, but donations are accepted and there is a gift shop too offering maritime and seasonal items for visitors of all ages. Visit www.ncmaritimemuseum.com.
Franklin Square Art Gallery
The Gallery is open 10 am to 4 pm Monday through Saturday and can be found next to Franklin Square Park.
First Friday Gallery Walk — Southport
The First Friday Gallery Walk is 5-7 pm in Southport at participating galleries, such as Lantana’s, The Rickey Evans Gallery, the Franklin Square Art Gallery, Artisans on Howe and Southport Studio Artists. Stroll along, or jump on the trolley, browse in the shops, and see what local artists have to offer. The first Gallery Walk for the year will be March 7.
Oak Island Recreation Department
Join the Striders Club at various locations and dates/times to get out and about with a group or try your hand at art with a new class. There are book clubs, kayak tours in the Davis Canal, surf fishing lessons, and much more. Visit https://parksrec.egov.basgov.com/ oakislandnc for details on programs.
Town of Leland/Parks & Recreation
Check out https://www.townofleland. com/parks-recreation-and-cultural-resources for more information on classes and programs, including starting an art journal, pottery, gardening, writing creative nonfiction, acting, dance and more.
Bingo at the Elks Lodge — Oak Island
Bingo games are on the second and fourth Tuesdays at the Lodge, 106 E. Dolphin Drive, Oak Island. Games are open to the public; no one under 16 and no outside food or drinks allowed. Doors open to the public at 5:45 pm with games starting at 6:30 pm. Snacks and drinks available for purchase (cash or checks only). Winner takes all coverall.
Battleship North Carolina — near Leland
Tour the USS NORTH CAROLINA and participate in group programs and special programming throughout the year. Visit https://battleshipnc.com/. The bat-
tleship site is at 1 Battleship Road NE, Wilmington (west side of the Cape Fear River).
Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site
8884 St. Philips Rd. SE, Winnabow
There is plenty to do and see, with a museum, historic ruins, great information on the site’s history, and some of the most beautiful riverfront property in the County. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
Museum of Coastal Carolina
21 E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach
The Museum is open Monday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm (until 7 pm on Tuesday and Thursday), and Sunday noon to 4 pm. The Museum is not open on Saturdays in the summer. Visit https://museumplanetarium.org/ for the programs calendar, which includes lots of special programs for the summer, including biofact bingo and pirate swordsmanship..
Ingram Planetarium
7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach
The Planetarium is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm; dome shows start on the hour from 11 am to 3 pm. Laser shows are Thursdays through Saturdays at 6 pm and 7 pm.
Visit https://museumplanetarium.org/ ingram-planetarium/ to see the show schedule.
Brunswick Newcomer’s Club — Southport
The Brunswick Newcomer’s Club is a non-profit social club of more than 300 adults who live in Southeastern Brunswick County, including the Boiling Springs, Bolivia, Leland, Oak Island, St. James, Shallotte, Southport and Supply areas. Meetings are held the third Tuesday morning of every month at 9:30 a.m. in Murrow Hall at Trinity United Methodist Church, 209 E. Nash St., Southport. For more information visit: Brunswick Newcomer’s Club or contact us at brunswick.newcomers@gmail.com or find them on Facebook. Please note that the group does not meet in June, July or August, but will resume meeting in September..
B r un sw ick S um m er W in ds
2026 Summer Concert Tour
Friday - June 26th
6:00pm – Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn – Southport
Wednesday - July 1st
7:00pm – The Davis Community in Porters Neck – Wilmington
Thursday - July 2nd
7:00pm – Homer E. Wright Event Center - St. James
Sunday, July 5th
5:00pm – Southport Baptist Church – Southport
All Concerts are free of charge
Wilmington River Tours
212 S. Water St., Wilmington Tour the beautiful Cape Fear River and learn more about the area’s history and ecology. Sunset cruises include acoustic music Thursdays through Sundays! Tours are offered daily, to the north along historic downtown Wilmington, the USS North Carolina Battleship and Eagles Island on the even hours, and to the south under the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and past the shipyard on the odd hours; visit https://wilmingtonwatertours.net/ for schedules and to purchase tickets.
Don’t see your event or location listed? Try as we might, we don’t catch everything, so to be sure to be included send your events to lisa@southportmag.com before the 20th of each month! Thank you!
Meet The Author Book Events Throughout the County
July 3
Needful Things and Moody Bean Book Cafe will host S. R. Fabrico, author of The Southport Series, from 1-3 pm.
The Pelican Bookstore in Sunset Beach hosts a series of book signings, held at the Silver Coast Winery, 6680 Barbeque Road, Ocean Isle Beach (mainland). The festivities at the Winery start at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $45 and include a glass of wine, light hors d’oeuvres, a copy of the book, and a meet and greet with the author. For more details and a longer synopsis of the book selections, visit www.pelicanbookstore.com.
July 16
Ashley Winstead - “Hot Girl Murder Club”
What’s a girl got to do to get some fame, a few million record sales, and justice for murder?
Ten years ago, aspiring singer-actress Scout Sage lost the only thing that mattered: her sister, Georgia. Ever since Georgia’s mysterious death at a Hollywood party, Scout’s done her best to honor her memory, clawing her way through the industry and collecting a network of climbers along the way, fellow hot girls in stilettos with cutthroat ambition, a new Hollywood order. Winstead will be in conversation with the New York Times best selling author Stacy Willingham.
July 28
Kristin Harmel - “Meet Me In Paris”
Nine Americans in Paris, seven intertwined love stories, and one City of Light. “Love Actually” meets “The Notebook” in a tale of love, loss, and finding your way home, all set over the course of one life-changing week in Paris. Julia Glover has brought her twenty-three-year-old daughter, Piper, to Paris for the first time—but they know it will also be their last trip here together. Julia is dying, and as the mother and daughter desperately try to make memories together as the clock ticks down, the world opens up around them. Piper meets a cute French waiter, who might just understand her better than anyone she’s ever met, and Julia meets a man at a dive bar and struggles with how to tell him the truth about her future.
July 30
Lisa Scottoline - “This Changes Everything”
In this twisty and emotionally resonant thriller from bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, a woman risks her life for justice and realizes she has more power than she ever knew. Julia Pritzker loves her new life as a wife and mother in beautiful Tuscany – except that she misses her best friend Courtney, back in the States. One night, Julia calls Courtney and reaches her as she’s arriving at her grandmother’s farm in Pennsylvania. Then the unthinkable happens. A dreadful premonition overwhelms Julia as Courtney is entering the house, but it’s too late to stop Courtney, who makes a heartbreaking discovery. Her beloved grandmother has been murdered, and the killer is escaping out the back door.
