June 2026 Leland Magazine

EDITOR

Jeffrey Stites

editor@lelandmag.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Lisa P. Stites

lisa@southportmag.com

LEAD DESIGNER

Liz Brinker

lcbgraphicdesign@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

Chuck and Sue Cothran

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Carla Edstrom

Jan Morgan-Swegle

Joe Jancsurak

Patricia Langer

Louise Sheffield-Baccarny

Lisa P. Stites

Jeffrey Stites

PUBLISHER & SALES

Jeffrey Stites

jeff@southportmag.com

910-471-7741

CONSULTANT

Kris Beasley

Leland Magazine is published once a month by Live Oak Media.

The opinions of contributing writers are not necessarily the opinions of the staff.

Annual Subscription: $45

email jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741

Keeping It Positive

Newspaperpeople have a reputation for being cynical. If you get a bit down from reading the news, imagine the news being your entire working life. It can be rough. My vision for these magazines has always been to not go down that road, to, in fact, be an antidote to the negativity out in the world by focusing on the good happening all around us. It’s never really difficult. The bright spots are all around us if you look, and the more you look the more you find. More than once while putting this issue together, I was a really struck by how simple it can be to do good. Take the people over at Paws-Ability, for example. They’re nearly 200 strong and are making a difference in the lives of pets and those who love them. But the organization started, as you’ll read, at a pot luck dinner where some ladies decided to put their resources together to build something good. It’s that simple — not easy at all, a lot of work really, but at it’s heart, simple. Or take the example of two community leaders we interviewed for this issue, Belville Mayor Chuck Bost and North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Thom Kelly. Neither man has an easy job, but both are excited to come to work each day and being around them left me inspired. They have visions for their organizations and they truly care about making life in our community better. There are examples like that all around us, and I hope that you will, like me, take the time to focus on the positive and see all the bright spots. And maybe make some of your own.— Jeffrey

Community What’s The Buzz?

Learn All About Bees At Leland’s Pollinator Party

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JAN MORGAN-SWEGLE

The Leland Cultural Arts Center is hosting a party—a Pollinator Party, celebrating the contribution of bees to our environment. Part of the Leland Cultural Arts Center’s Art Around Town series, the Pollinator Party is on Thursday, June 4, from 6 to 8 pm..

If you are like me, you probably haven’t thought a lot about honeybees, but after speaking with Steven Stegman, President of the Brunswick County Beekeepers Association, I understand that honeybees are a vital part of our environment and ecosystem. Here’s a peek into the world of bees.

“Honeybees are a huge help to man and nature,” Steven said. “As a unit, they are the best pollinators for anything that requires pollination to develop. If honeybees disappeared in the United States, our population would decrease over time because we couldn’t effectively produce enough food for ourselves. Think about it. Animals rely on various types of greens for nourishment. We rely on vegetation as part of our food source. Without bees, without them pollinating plants, agricultural crops and trees our interdependent ecosystem would suffer greatly and so would we.”

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, “bees are essential

building blocks of the ecosystem because they are the world’s primary pollinators. They enable the reproduction of over 75 percent of flowering plants and 35 percent of food crops.”

Steven continued, “Bees are fascinating. They are a highly social type of insect that live in cooperative colonies that can last for many years. They share labor that includes foraging, nursing larva, cleaning and defending the hive. People mistake the queen bee as the ruler of the hive, there is no ‘hive monarchy,’ in reality, she’s more like the mother of the hive. Bees are democratic; they make decisions as a colony and decide what is best for their survival. The queen bee’s primary function is to lay eggs and reproduce which is why she is so protected by the colony. Queens are great hiders. When the colony identifies a problem, the queen is hidden so she can survive and supply the colony with new life.

When a virgin queen is born through either supersedure or swarm preparation, she will leave the hive a few times over a few days to mate with up to 100 drones (males) from other colonies to collect up to a million sperms. This enables her to lay up to a mil-

lion fertilized eggs in her life. The average life span for a worker honeybee is approximately nine weeks, but that includes many variables like the time of year; winter bees live longer.”

Honeybees do not migrate. In cold weather they consume honey stored up to survive during the winter months. It’s not unusual to have 30 to 50 pounds of honey in a hive gathered in warmer weather for their survival. During the winter, honeybees form a tight ball around their queen to conserve heat with workers rotating between the warm center and the outer edges of the ball. They also do not hibernate; they are active in the hive.

Steven explained that honeybees can effectively communicate with each other. “There was a study done at Cornell University led by biologist Thomas Seeley, that examined how honeybees communicate distance and direction. They do this by using ‘swarm intelligence’ if they have to leave their current hive and move to a new nest site. The research highlights how bees use a ‘waggle dance’ to communicate direction, distance and quality of resource to other bees in the hive. The waggle dance is a figure-eight movement performed by foraging Honeybees. The angle of the straight waggle indicates direction relative to the sun while the duration indicates the distance to a new food source. The longer, more vigorous the waggle, the greater the distance they will have to travel. If bees move 30 degrees to the right of vertical while dancing, it tells the other bees to fly 30 degrees to the right of the sun.

“The sun is very important to bees. Honeybees do not generally fly at night because they focus on the brightest light source and use it as their radar. During an eclipse, it’s not unusual for bees to land and wait for the sun to guide them again,” he said. When Steven is not educating others on the importance of honeybees, he is often doing “cutouts.” A cutout is the process of removing a bee colony from a home or structure as well as the potential of 40 to 50 pounds of stored honey. It can be dangerous, but Steven uses smoke to confuse

the bees.

“The smoke simulates a forest fire. It messes up their communication pheromones—or their natural chemical messages and stops the ability to trigger a mass sting. Their instinct is to get honey from the hive in case they need to leave” he said.

Unfortunately, like many threatened species around the world, bees need to be protected from habitat destruction, climate change and pesticides, in other words, from human impact.

According to Steven, the biggest threat to our honeybee population is pesticides and herbicides. In our quest for that “perfect lawn,” we turn to chemicals. That first dandelion that we see in our yards may be annoying, but they serve a purpose. Monarch Gardens, an organization that specializes in ecological design, called dandelions “fast food for honeybees.” Dandelions are not high in nutrition but are an early spring food source that provides energy. They lack essential amino acids found in native plant pollen which is better for honeybees.

“People need to understand that chemicals can often cause more harm than good when you use them in your yards or gardens,” Steven said. “Not only are they destroying weeds, but they are also destroying the soil. Honeybee hives can be damaged by pesticides because Honeybees take the herbicide back to the colony and it can

end up in the stored pollen which they feed to their developing larvae and in turn can hurt the insect reproductive process.”

We can all learn a lot about bees and the ecosystem from Steve’s presentation on June 4 from 6 to 8 pm, at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, located at 1212 Magnolia Village Way. Steven will be presenting information on how we can protect bees and our environment in general. After the presentation participants will create and decorate a bee hydration station with clay for their own gardens.

In his role as President of the Brunswick County Beekeepers Association, Steven provides education on and solutions for bees and beekeeping. He also leads the local chapter linked to the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. They meet the first Monday of each month from 7 to 8 pm at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Brunswick County Center, located at 25 Referendum Drive in Bolivia, and guests are welcome.

There was one thing I didn’t ask Steven, but it was something my grandmother used to say that I was curious about. She used the term “bee’s knees,” quite frequently when she was talking about her childhood. I never understood it. Do bees have knees? The answer is yes—well, technically yes, they have six of them. Each of a bee’s six legs has a joint connecting the femur and tibia segments, which acts as a knee. Their “knees,” help them groom themselves, and pack pollen into pollen baskets on their hind legs. The term, “bee’s knees,” became popular in the 1920s and was used to describe something excellent.

I learned how fascinating the subject of bees can be just from speaking to Steven one afternoon. I hope that the Pollination Party is well attended. Personally, I think it’s going to be the bee’s knees!

Community

It’s All Figure Out-able

Thom

Kelly Leads North Brunswick Chamber

STORY AND PHOTO BY JEFFREY STITES

It’s all about connecting people,” said North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Thom Kelly. Kelly, who took over from long time Executive Director Dana Fisher last October, has been busy building those connections.

Kelly also serves as the Experience Manager for Live Nation in Wilmington, a position he’s held for four years, and said he’s built on this experience to help expand the Chamber. “The biggest correlation I have between the two jobs is my community outreach. I do a lot of work with nonprofits with Live Nation as well. So I’ll invite different nonprofits to come to the venue, to set up tables, you know, a good example is the Alzheimer’s Association. I had them set up table at a couple of concerts last year and did some fundraising with them. Now I’m on the board for them as well. And then from there, I’m making a lot of those connections that I’ve already built at Live Nation and I’m bringing them into the chamber world too, and I’m seeing a lot of crossover between the two now, which is really cool.”

“And that’s where that’s where I feel like my niche is with the both of these jobs is just how can I take the platforms that I’m currently in, Executive Director here, the experience manager there, and see who can I connect to who and help build another organization up. So that’s that’s what I try to do.”

Kelly said he’s been most surprised by the effort that goes into planning the Chamber’s events. “Event planning’s a lot, and I give all the prize to anybody that does event planning, just all the moving pieces and stuff,” he said. “I’ve been in live music and done the concerts and things like that, but it’s such a massive team that your portion is a smaller portion of the bigger cog, where in here, it’s a lot on you as the individual and maybe your direct board and your executive assistant. So it’s a smaller group of people that are trying to put on these big events.

“The perfect example is Bands, Brews & BBQ, you know, 30-plus vendors, the musicians, the barbecue cook teams, the food trucks, like all these different things, getting sponsorships, like there’s just so many pieces of it,” Kelly said. “ I think that just

kind of took me by surprise a little bit because I was like, okay, originally my mind when I thought Chamber of Commerce is helping small businesses grow, you know, like kind of the, that’s what they do, but there’s so much more to it than just putting out a newsletter and having somebody sign up to be a chamber member.”

But those business building pieces, such as networking opportunities, are very important. “My favorite part, I think, of this position is the networking piece. You know, the Power Connections is our breadwinner,” he said. “It’s just the coolest thing ever to get a room full of like 70 business owners or community outreach partners or whatever they are and having them connect with other business owners and really getting a ton of referrals out of there. We’ve generated over $250,000 in referrals out of Power Connections alone so far this year.”

Currently, the North Brunswick Chamber offers Power Connection on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month over lunch at Brunswick Beer & Cider. “We’re actually looking to expand that out and do an evening edition now too,” Kelly said. “So more details on that to come because we haven’t nailed any of that down, but I think we’re looking probably closer to July 1st or that first week in July. We’re gonna try to do the first Wednesday of the month as a Power Evenings Connection. I was getting from a lot of feedback saying ‘I can’t make a Power Connection and I feel like I’m missing out’ and so I was like, all right, let’s try one evening a month.”

Kelly said his openness to new ideas has been an asset so far. “What I think sets me apart in this role is when I came into it, there’s a lot of great ideas out there. People are just full of ideas and they want to share them. So I’m like, let’s try it, let’s see what happens. I think that’s brought a new energy into into this chamber.”

Kelly credits his board of directors with helping him settle into the role.

“I have some really amazing board members, you know, and I’m super grateful for them and how they’ve helped me transition into this role because I didn’t know a lot about the chamber, to be honest, coming into it,” he said. I actually got connected with the Chamber through my work with the Alzheimer’s Association. Christina, who is my vice president right now, she’s going to be becoming my president July 1st, she’s also on the board for Alzheimer’s. When they were tabling at one of the concerts, I connected with her and I built a walk team for Alzheimer’s and all that stuff. And then when Dana announced that she was leaving, she’s like, hey, there’s this position that I think you’d be great for. So it’s just really cool how, like, all these things blend together and, you know, continue to build and grow out. I just love all the connecting. I can’t say that enough. I just love the collaboration and people supporting people. Nonprofits, small business, it doesn’t matter, It’s just people out there supporting people.”

Kelly has lived in the area on and off since 2014 and has seen the community’s amazing growth, which he sees as an opportunity. “It’s not slowing down, so it makes my job even more fun with all that growth,” he said. “I think that if I was in a place that didn’t have this kind of growth, I don’t know if I’d be as interested, honestly, in the position, but seeing all these new people come in, and all these new businesses trying to get up and going is terrific.”

Kelly and his wife are even joining the new business community with their own start-up. “We both are in life coaching.

There are just the things you don’t know about how to start a business and when you’re really going through it, there’s just a lot of things you have to learn, like your social media stuff and all the certificates and licensing and all the things that you have to do,” he said.

The experience has helped Kelly be a help to other new business people. “I might not have all the answers, but, hey, let me let me connect you with the Brunswick Community College’s Small Business Center. You have to guide them in the right direction,” he said. “Or, hey, let me introduce you to this business owner. He’s been doing this for five years and seems to know his stuff. It’s just people that I can help, again, connect and help each other.

“I know that it’s a lot, you don’t know what you don’t know, and you’ve just got to figure stuff out. But it’s just a matter of pushing through that because it is it is hard,” Kelly said. “But you know, everything’s figure-outable.”

One piece of that puzzle is joining the Chamber and taking the most advantage of all it offers, and Kelly helps members with that. “I think exposure is one big thing that we offer. You know, getting their name out there, doing the ribbon cuttings, like doing these business after hours, inviting them to come out to Power Connections to meet other business owners,” he said. “I’m just trying to encourage them to be involved. The chamber only can do so much for you, right? We can help expose and do that kind of stuff, but, you need to put yourself out there too, and that’s what we try to encourage.”

Another new project will help connect businesses with the community. “We recently launched a monthly newsletter that goes out to residents, not just chamber members, but it just goes out to residents and kind of tells them here’s some of the new businesses that have joined the chamber recently, or here’s some upcoming ribbon cuttings, or here’s an event that the battleship’s hosting or whatever it is.” You can sign up for the newsletter on the Chambers website at northbrunswickchamber.com.

Kelly said the Chamber is now at about 350 members and growing. “My goal is to really build this chamber out and like, you know, I think we’re gonna be one of those powerhouse chambers in the very near future with the amount of growth we’ve had,” he said. “I think we’re at 45 new members this year since January 1st. My goal is to get us up to 500.”

Community Small Town Charm

Mayor Works To Move Belville Forward

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFFREY STITES

The Town of Belville just turned 49 years old and is looking ahead to a bright future. When I visited Mayor Chuck Bost at his office in the temporary Belville Town Hall, he was off and running about the town’s plans before I could hit my record button. The town has just acquired land at the intersection of Blackwell and Chappell Loop roads for a complex of buildings that will include a new town hall. But even that town hall will be temporary as Belville moves forward with the development of waterfront property on the Brunswick River. Mayor Bost began shuffling papers to find something he could scribble a rough drawing of the plan on. He moves fast, and he’s working to keep Belville moving forward too.

Mayor Bost said they’re looking at four buildings on the new property on Blackwell. “One of them for the VFW, two for town hall, one for somebody else to rent out. And then behind here is what we’re proposing for the post office,” he said pointing out things on his scribbled map. “Just an area to put some buildings to kind of hopefully offset some of the crampedness we have around here.” Belville’s present offices,

above the New Day Cafe in Waterford, are not exactly spacious.

He stands up and brings up Google Maps on a monitor that hangs on his office wall to show me what they plan to build on the waterfront. He points out the road leading from N.C. 133 just above the Scotchman to the water. He points out space for restaurants, a hotel and businesses with townhomes

above them, all surrounding a central courtyard. The Riverwalk extension from Riverwalk park would come in behind a new town hall.

“I’m on the Eagles Island board,” he says, and he has been working with them and the Eagles Island property owners on extending the Riverwalk across to the island to open it up to public access. “They’re more interested in nature preservation, and that’s what we want to do,” he said. “We told them we would bring it into the park system with maybe some kayak launches, things like that, no huge structures, maybe a small visitor center, but that’s about it.”

tleship North Carolina Memorial.

The Riverwalk is already being extended up the river from the park. Mayor Bost said work has been progressing quickly with the pilings already in and the decking for the walkway being installed now.

“We have the only public access to the river in Brunswick County, to the Brunswick River,” he explained. “Everything else is privately owned. So we want to capitalize and we want to share it with the community.”

Mayor Bost said the concept of riverfront development is at least 20 years old, but he’s using his time as mayor to see it move forward. Bost was Mayor Pro Temper for eight years before taking over as mayor after the passing of Mike Allen. “I didn’t come into it blind, but still, I still came surprised,” he said.

Moving from the talking phase to the doing phase has been a major priority, Mayor Bost said. “We had a lot of time, a lot of talk, a lot of conversation. But nothing was really accomplished. And that’s the un-fun part is the heavy lift-

He said eventually, they’d like the Riverwalk to extend all the way to the Bat-

Community

ing, trying to figure out how to make things happen.”

He points out the property they just purchased. “We’ve been talking about buying that thing for three or four years,” he said. “You know, and it was just a matter of when I came in, I said, let’s figure out how we’re gonna get it and get it. And Athina did. You know, Athina, our town Manager, is an amazing person. She made it happen. She worked out a payment negotiation plan with the owners, and now we have the land.”

Mayor Bost said moving from background person to the leader of the town has been a big adjustment for him. “My background has always been concentrated on operations administration,” he said. “For so long in my career, I’ve been the background person. And you know, Mike Allen was bigger than life. He was like a father figure. He was a great friend. I’ve known him for over 20 years, but, you know, when he was there, he was the person and you stood behind and you did the support role.

“He was very generous in letting me be a part of meetings and programs and understand things that are going on. That was incredibly helpful. But it’s different when you become the person that has to go into a room and kind of lead the conversations and engage with people. And like I said, I’m much better being the power behind the throne. I’m much more comfortable with it. But I’m starting to figure this out.”

He said the town staff has been a huge help. “It’s good people, great staff. I mean, I can’t tell you how spoiled I am by the type of quality people we have and the commitment that people have here that work. It’s really, really incredible,” he said.

“And I’m even more pleased with the fact that I have such an incredible board,” Mayor Bost said. “And we really have some good conversations. I’m not talking heated, just really good conversations with all the different

types of people. You know, we have a person who has a fire department background. I have a police background. We have an attorney that’s also a finance person. We have an HR person, and then we have somebody who works in the clerk of courts office and has a legal understanding as well. So to have them on a room talking about a topic, it’s pretty incredible. You get a lot of input coming from different directions.”

By now Mayor Bost has stopped drawing diagrams and pointing out things on his wall monitor. He’s just talking people, his staff, his board and his town.

“I really, I just love the job,” he said. “I mean, I love the job. I love the town. I mean, I always have. And it’s just pleasant. I tell people, I enjoy coming to work. You know, I enjoy coming here and finding out what’s going on. You’re frustrated because we’re in a small town, you know, not a lot of money, and, you know, wish we could do more quicker. I’m not really good at bureaucracies because of the fact that it takes forever to get anything done. But I just enjoy being here and doing this stuff.”

With all the changes coming to Belville and the growth in the area sur-

rounding it, Mayor Bost said he doesn’t want the town to lose its identity.

“We need branding,” he said. “You know, we want to make sure that we don’t get lost in time, but we don’t want to get lost in size either. We want to make sure there’s still community. I think that’s important. We need people to understand what we’re about, make it a simple phrase, something everybody kind of believes in. So I came up with ‘Small Town Charm’.”

Belville has grown to a population of about 3,500 people, and the mayor said they are projected to be at 5,000 by 2030, but if small town charm is what you’re looking for, you will certainly find it here.

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Community

A Walk In The Roses

Story Walk At Brunswick Botanical Gardens

STORY CONTRIBUTED

Step into the beauty of the Brunswick County Botanical Garden this June and experience a Story Walk in full bloom. From June 5 through July 7, visitors of all ages are invited to explore the gardens while enjoying “A Rose Named Peace: How Francis Meilland

Created a Flower of Hope for a World at War” by Barbara Carroll Roberts, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline.

Not familiar with Story Walks? A Story Walk is a self-guided outdoor reading adventure where pages of a children’s book are displayed along a walking path. Created by the Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers, this family-friendly experience blends the joy of reading with the beauty of nature. Begin to the right of the Extension Office entrance and follow the story page by page as you stroll through the gardens at your own pace — there’s no set start time, and participation is free.

This year’s Story Walk will showcase the splendor of the Botanical Garden’s Rose Garden. Featuring more than 40 varieties suited to the North Carolina

Coastal Plain—including the very Peace Rose highlighted in the story—the garden provides a vibrant and fitting backdrop for this inspiring experience.

The featured book tells the remarkable true story of Francis Meilland, a young French horticulturist whose passion for roses led him to create what would become known around the world as the Peace Rose. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story follows his determination to protect and share his creation—symbolizing hope, resilience, and the enduring beauty of nature even in uncertain times. With rich, detailed illustrations and gentle storytelling, the book appeals to gardeners, history enthusiasts, and young readers alike.

Often described as a hidden gem within the Brunswick County Government Complex, the Brunswick County Botanical Garden offers 17 distinct garden areas designed to educate and inspire. Visitors can explore demonstration gardens, discover plants suited to coastal conditions, and find ideas for their own landscapes.

The Brunswick County Botanical Garden is located outside the Brunswick County Extension Office at 25 Referendum Drive, Building N, Bolivia. Admission and parking are free, and no registration is required.

Come read, explore, and discover the story behind a rose that inspired the world!

About North Carolina Extension Mas-

ter GardenerSM Volunteers Master Gardener volunteers support the mission of North Carolina Cooperative Extension by educating residents about safe, effective and sustainable

gardening practices that grow healthy people, gardens, landscapes, and communities. Their vision is a healthier world through environmental stewardship.

The Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer Association of Brunswick County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports volunteer education, fosters camaraderie, and provides skilled volunteers for Cooperative Extension projects. Key events include plant sales and public workshops. Proceeds support educational programs and the Brunswick County Botanical Gardens, where visitors are invited to explore on a self-guided tour.

Community

Caring For Critters

Paws-Ability Helps Pets And Pet Owners

STORY BY JEFFREY STITES

Sometimesall it takes to make a difference is a group of like-minded people. “Paws-Ability started in 2007 as a group of friends were having a dinner party. In lieu of hostess gifts, they collected money in a basket to help a local organization. When they funds were counted, they were excited with what they had accomplished and continued working in animal welfare. Next year, we will celebrate our 20th anniversary,” said board member Lisa Ryan.

Paws-Ability is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer, organization that raises funds to support local animal welfare programs. These programs include:

Stella’s Touch helps responsible pet parents in Brunswick County with veterinary expenses due to emergency or severe conditions.

Paws Pantry purchases and collects donated pet food to share with local food pantries and meals on wheels.

Spay/neuter and community cat programs are an essential part of reducing pet overpopulation.

Rescue Group Assistance helping local rescue groups to improve the health of adoptable animals.

Today, Paws-Ability has 190 members and 52 active volunteers, according to Ryan. Paws-Ability pays no salaries and says that over 94 percent of dilated monies go directly to animal welfare programs.

One of those programs, Stella’s Touch, helped 86 pet guardians with veterinary expenses last year, and 665 since the program’s inception in 2018, according to Ryan.

“The program started in 2018 when a benefactor wanted to donate funds to create a program to provide lifesaving financial assistance to pet owners who found themselves in a financial bind when their pet has a serious illness, injury, or emergency.  The program was named in honor (now memory) of their dog, Stella,” Ryan said.

“There is definitely a story behind the name. Stella’s owner took her to puppy training at PetSmart. One of the first com-

mands Stella learned was ‘touch.’ The command is used to have your dog come back to you. Stella’s owner had her and her sister Gracie outside without leashes to go potty first thing in the morning. Stella took off running and her owner remembered from training the command ‘Stella, touch.’  Stella stopped, turned around, and came back to her owner and touched her hand with her nose,” she said.

The program does not cover routine care or heart worm treatment, but you can apply for aid for other expenses on the Paws-ability website, paws-ability.org.

Paws-Ability also provides pet food to food insecure residents of Brunswick County. “Last year we provided over 80,000 pounds of pet food. Due to the fact that over 25 percent of Brunswick County is food insecure, the need of our program continues to grow,” said Ryan. “We distribute pet food to two Brunswick County food pantries – Brunswick Family Assistance in Bolivia and their mobile pantries and Southport Oak Island Interchurch (SOIICF) in Southport. In addition, we supply pet food to two Meals on Wheels routes in northern Brunswick County.  All recipients are vetted and must meet program requirements.”

Drop-off locations for pet food donations can be found on the Paws-Ability website.

Paws-Ability is also helping reduce the number of unwanted pets in the county.

“We work closely with Fix A Friend in Winnabow. They are a low-cost spay/neuter clinic that serves Brunswick County and surrounding jurisdictions. Paws-Ability will assist Brunswick County residents whose pets are not yet spayed or neutered with the

cost of this procedure. Spay/neuter is the only solution to pet overpopulation. Shelters and rescues are always full and too many animals die because there are simply not enough homes,” said Ryan.

Even critters without families are getting some help through the Trap-Neuter-Return program. “Community cats (sometimes called “feral cats”) are caught in humane traps and transported to Fix A Friend, our local low-cost spay/neuter clinic.  There, they are spayed or neutered, given rabies and distemper vaccines, their left ear is “tipped” (the tip of the ear is removed), and after a 24-hour recovery period, they are returned to the community in which they lived. These cats have adapted to living outdoors and most have caregivers who feed them and watch for any signs of illness or injury. An ear tip on the left ear is a universal sign that the cat has been fixed and vaccinated, therefore they cannot reproduce and are not rabies vectors. They are not a danger to the community. In 2025, we provided TNR services to 1,150 cats,” Ryan said.

All this work requires a lot of resources, and you can help, all while having a great time listening to some music in beautiful outdoor setting. “Our 9th Annual BandFest, presented by Capital Chevrolet in Shallotte, will feature live music from The Sea & Sand Band and The Jebb Mac Band. We’ll have craft vendors, food trucks, beverages, and local animal rescue groups in our Adoption Central with adoptable animals!” Ryan said. “Come enjoy a day of fun in beautiful Sunset Beach Park on Sunday June 7, 2026 from noon to 5 pm!”

BandFest is only one of the ways you can support Paws-Ability. “People can help in many ways. Obviously, donate to paws-ability.org. You can donate in memory or in honor of loved ones. In fact, we’ve had members ask that donations be sent to Paws-Ability in lieu of flowers and gifts at celebrations of life, birthdays, and anniversaries,” Ryan said. “We have events throughout the year. Our Golf Tournament, BandFest, OktoberFest, Paws Pantry concerts and fundraisers. We are always looking for sponsors for our events. By sponsoring at these events, you are using us as another way to reach new customers. We promote your businesses on our website and at the events. We encourage our members to support the businesses that support us. If you’re not a business, you can still sponsor! Also, you can follow us on Facebook, go to our website, subscribe to our newsletter, and/ or attend our monthly meetings. Come out to our events and support us!”

Golf Tips Work The Short Game

Short And Sweet Swing Fixes For Chip Shots

BY NICOLE WELLER, LPGA / PGA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL

While it’s a relatively small little shot near the green, chip shots can wreak havoc and drive scores higher than necessary for novices and mid to higher handicap golfers. Instead of a nice low hop into the air and then a smooth roll towards the hole, the ball rockets across the green over the other side…not quite the plan!

Chip ends with the letter “P” so the ball has just a little air but mostly roll, like a putt. It’s a smaller word than a pitch, so it’s a smaller shot in general. It’s amazing how it can take a golfer one shot for the ball to travel 100 or even 200 yards and then take two or more shots from within 10 feet of the green.

If you want to drop shots off your score, the short game is an ideal place to begin. It doesn’t take any power or massive distance…it’s a small shot that we strive to keep as simple as possible.

Possible Causes of Problems:

1. The club is catching the ball on the ascent or way up. The goal is to allow the clubhead to catch the ball at the end of the descent or just through the ball, but not on the way up.

2. The golfer is trying to get ‘under’ the ball. Truth be told, there usually isn’t an ‘under’ when the ball is lying on the ground unless it’s a fluffy rough lie or in the sand. The golf ball is touching the ground and when two hard surfaces touch, there isn’t an under. Just like trying to take a quarter and ask someone to get another quarter laying on a table up by going under it, all one would do is shove the quarter on the table off the end. One can’t get ‘under’ a quarter laying on the table, since those are two hard surfaces touching and there isn’t any space. The goal is to catch the ball as the club descends or goes through the bottom of the ball.

3. The ball position is too far forward, catching the ball in the ascent of the swing…a No No!

4. The upper body is leaning or moving backwards, creating a swing that moves up through the ball. The goal is to be center to slightly forward with the center (sternum) so the club can pass through or down through the ball, not up. This doesn’t mean popping the lead hip in front, which can still cause the upper body to lean backwards.

5. The golfer thinks he or she ‘hit it too hard’ when in actuality, it just wasn’t struck solidly. The ball loves the middle of the

clubface, and so do we!

To find out which of these causes it might be, contact your local PGA or LPGA teaching professional and let’s get those solid chips all onto the green and then start getting them closer to the hole!

Nicole Weller instructs local area golfers at Compass Pointe Golf Club in Leland. For more information on Nicole and her tips / videos, visit www.nicoleweller.com.

Columnist Awarded

Nicole Weller Named LPGA Awrd Winner

STORY CONTRIBUTED

It’s not every day you get an email from the LPGA announcing that one of your columnists has won a prestigious national award. We couldn’t be prouder of Nicole, and we wanted to share the LPGA’s write-up with all of you.

The LPGA Professionals proudly announce Nicole Weller, LPGA and PGA Professional, as the 2026 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award recipient.

Established in 2007, the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award honors an LPGA Professional who exemplifies leadership, passion, generosity, and approachability; values that define the legacy of Nancy Lopez, a 48-time LPGA tour winner, nine-time major champion, and World Golf Hall of Fame member.

“Being recognized with this honor is one of the most precious moments of my career, and I’m truly thrilled and appreciative to have been selected,” said Weller. “As a young golfer, I followed Nancy’s career and even watched her play up close while volunteering as a ‘Quiet Please’ marshal at the Boston Five Classic alongside my dad, Max. I was inspired by Nancy’s journey into golf, as both of our fathers played a significant role in introducing us to the game.

“Today, I continue to admire the incredible impact Nancy has on the golf world beyond competition. She leads and connects with passion, generosity, and her signature warmth that makes everyone feel included. I strive to pay that forward by creating meaningful learning experiences inspired by her gracious leadership and presence.”

Weller has dedicated more than three decades to the game of golf. Raised in Lakeville, Massachusetts, she began work-

ing in various roles at her local course before earning a golf scholarship and becoming a varsity letter winner at Wake Forest University. In 1995, she accepted her first teaching role as an Assistant Golf Professional at Cherokee Country Club, marking the beginning of a lifelong mission to grow the game.

Throughout her career, Weller has remained committed to giving back to the golf community through her personal motto: “Educating Golfers, Entertaining People, and Enhancing Lives.” Her expertise in youth development, sports psychology, golf fitness, and competitive play has enabled her to create comprehensive programs that have positively impacted thousands of students.

In 2000, she founded an LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Site in Knoxville, Tennessee, growing participation by more than 200 percent. In 2016, she helped launch The Little Golf T.R.A.I.N. program, an initiative designed to introduce children ages 2-5 to golf through an innovative certification program for instructors. She also teaches with the Pine Needles Golfari Schools, collaborating with fellow LPGA Professionals to deliver engaging learning experiences.

Inspired by the meaningful golf experiences she shared with her own father, Weller has created opportunities that foster connections through the game, including National Parent-Child Summer Camps

and private instruction designed to bring families together.

A prolific writer, Weller is the author of “Let’s Play Golf, Big Thoughts from Little Golfers,” and “Match Play Golf Flashcards,” and the co-author of the “LPGA Girls Golf Handbook.” Her background in sports psychology informs her work as an educator and presenter, influencing audiences and advancing the game on a global scale.

Weller’s leadership extends across the industry. She is known for building strong professional networks, encouraging collaboration, and mentoring fellow instructors.

Most recently, she participated in the LPGA’s inaugural We Are the Women in Golf Summit, sharing her passion with both LPGA Professionals and LPGA Amateurs. Through her involvement in events such as the PGA Show and national youth and family summits, she continues to make a meaningful impact on the growth to the game worldwide.

Her accomplishments have earned widespread recognition. In 2013, Weller became the only individual to receive both the PGA and LPGA National Junior Golf Leader Awards in the same year. She has also been named an LPGA Top 50 Instructor multiple times and recognized by Golf Digest as one

of the Best Teachers in North Carolina.

Weller exemplifies the qualities of an ambassador of the game. Her passion, leadership, generosity, and approachability make her a deserving addition to the distinguished group of recipients of the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award.

Weller joins an elite group of women who have shaped golf’s future. Past recipients of the Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award include Debbie O’Connell (2007), Troy Beck (2008), Patti Benson (2009), Lynn Stellman (2010), Malia Folquet (2011), Suzy Whaley (2012), Marvol Barnard (2013), Angela Aulenti (2014), Teresa Zamboni (2015), Donna White (2016), Sandy LaBauve (2017), Lynn Marriott (2018), Louise Ball (2019), Dana Rader (2020), Cindy Miller (2021), Tina Tombs (2022), Deb Vangellow (2023), Sue Powers (2024), and Karen Palacios-Jansen (2025).

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Keeping Fit

Setting Standards

Trying Not To Treat Fitness As Optional

BY VICTOR FERNANDES

Victor Fernandes is owner of Fernandez Fit, helpjng clients achieve personal and professional success through health and fitness

There is a standard we live by, whether we say it out loud or not. It shows up in how we manage our time, how we respond when life gets stressful, and how consistently we follow through on the commitments you make to yourself..

Most people think of discipline as something they need to turn on, something they access when they feel unmotivated or uninspired. In reality, discipline is not something we turn on. It is something we live by, especially when we don’t feel like it.

Many people show up early, stay late when needed, and take responsibility when things are on the line. They don’t hesitate when others are depending on them. But when it comes to their own health, those same standards often shift. Not because they don’t care, but because their health becomes flexible – a convenience even. They’ll get to it if and when they get to it. But the more they don’t get to it, the more it slips away.

When standards slip, so does everything else. The day starts with intention

and structure. Then the unexpected happens. Meetings run long. Deadlines shift. Family responsibilities take priority. By the end of the day, there is very little energy left.

That is when fitness becomes optional. Skipping one workout does not feel like a big deal. Pushing things to tomorrow feels reasonable. But over time, those small decisions create a pattern. The standard slowly lowers, not all at once, but gradually.

This is where most people lose momentum. Not from one major failure, but from consistent small compromises. What starts as flexibility turns into inconsistency. What feels temporary becomes routine – until one day we look up and we realize how far off track we have gone. That’s when I step in.

When someone begins training with me, one of our first conversations focuses on expectations. Most people come in thinking they need to do more – more workouts, more restriction, more effort. They are used to solving problems by increasing intensity.

What they really need is consistency. Discipline isn’t built through extreme effort. It’s built through repeatable actions. It’s built by doing what we say we will do – even when the day is busy, even when energy is low, even when it would be easier to skip.

Three well-structured workouts per week done consistently will outperform an aggressive plan that lasts only a few weeks. Simple nutrition habits followed most of the time will outperform a strict diet that collapses under pressure.

This is where real progress occurs – not in short bursts but in steady execution over time. And through that consistent execution comes confidence in self.

People think confidence comes from results, but it actually comes from evidence. When we follow through on your commitments, we begin to trust ourselves. That trust builds self-respect. When we repeatedly tell ourselves we’re going to do something and don’t follow through, it creates a different kind of pattern. Not a lack of ability, but a lack of alignment between what you say and what you do.

Over time, that gap grows. The clients I work with aren’t trying to become perfect. They are trying to become consistent. They want to be someone who does what they say they will do. That identity shift is where everything changes.

We no longer chase motivation. We live by a standard.

At some point, progress requires a decision. Not a dramatic overhaul, but a quiet commitment to raise your standard. We begin to treat your health with the same level of respect we give your daily personal and professional responsibilities.

We protect our time for training. We make decisions that support our energy. We stop negotiating with ourselves about the things that matter because we know our health and wellness matters. This is where lasting change begins – not with a new program or with a burst of motivation, but with a higher standard we expect to meet.

We don’t need to be perfect to move forward. We don’t need to change everything at once. We need a clear standard and the willingness to follow through on it consistently.

So, if you need structure, accountability, and guidance, that’s exactly what health and fitness coaching is designed to provide, or if you simply need help pinpointing your path to better health and wellness, I’m always here.

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.

History Sickles At Gettysburg

May Cape Fear Civil War Round Table

STORY AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Wilmington’s Cape Fear Civil War Round Table invites the public to attend a classic Civil War Round Table discussion on the pivotal battles that took place on July 2, 1863, at the southern end of the Gettysburg battlefield. We’re talking about some of the most iconic of all Civil War battlegrounds: Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, and the Valley of Death. Despite the great historical fiction novel, “Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara, and the movie it engendered, the story of that fighting did not begin and end with Little Round Top.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 11, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Midtown Wilmington near Independence Mall. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the meeting begins at 7 pm.

The Civil War Round Table movement began in Chicago in 1941 and became very popular during the Civil War Centennial years of 1961-65. The traditional format was a “round table” discussion of a specific topic such as a battle, a book or a personality associated with the war. This meeting will be such a discussion rather than a lecture.

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought between Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, and George G. Meade’s Union Army of the Potomac, was the largest battle ever fought in North America as Lee’s army, flush with a dramatic victory against odds at Chancellorsville, marched north into Pennsylvania with about 70,000 hardened veterans. The Union Army of the Potomac numbered about 80,000 and in spite of disheartening losses at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, was invigorated by the need to defend northern soil.

The three-day engagement at Gettysburg saw the armies approach the crossroads town in south central Pennsylvania piecemeal and fight momentous battles that could easily have changed the course of American history. Perhaps the fighting on July 2 was actually the closest the southern army came to defeating the Army of the Potomac and achieving independence from the United States.

In the late afternoon and early evening

of July 2, 1863, two divisions of General James Longstreet’s I Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia (with the addition of one brigade of the III Corps late in the proceedings) engaged the III and V corps of the Army of the Potomac plus a division of the II Corps (with important help late in the day from two brigades of two additional corps) with the life of the United States of America on the line. Overall, the attacking Confederates were outnumbered about two-to-one when their numbers are contrasted with the total number of U.S. troops who were eventually drawn into the battle from five different corps.

At the beginning, however, the Confederates had an advantage of about 3,000 men against an enemy that had taken a defensive line that was unsupported on both flanks and did not occupy the most commanding terrain on the battlefield—Little Round Top. It was a line that could not be held without massive reinforcement, but it put Union troops in a place where the Confederates didn’t expect to find them.

The Union III Corps of about 10,700 men was about three-quarters of a mile in front of the line they were supposed to occupy on Cemetery Ridge. It was a salient, facing the Emmitsburg Road on one side and raggedly extended into the Wheatfield on the other side. Commanded by Major General Daniel Sickles, the III Corps was there because their commander seemed to willfully misunderstand his orders from his commander, Major General Meade.

Sickles was a “political general,” a War Democrat from New York’s Tammany Hall who had been a congressman before the

war. He was the only corps commander on the field—north or south—who was not a West Point graduate. While a congressman, in 1859, he had murdered his wife’s lover, Philip Barton Key, son of the author of the Star Spangled Banner. The murder took place in Lafayette Square in front of the White House. Sickles was found not guilty because of “temporary insanity.” Put in command of about one-seventh of the Union army at Gettysburg, what could possibly go wrong?

For hours the July 2 battle raged, drawing in more and more bluecoats to defend an indefensible line against a powerful enemy that was disconcerted by finding opponents where they had not expected to encounter them. It’s hard to avoid the judgment that both sides fought the battle in a series of improvisations largely forced on them by circumstances rather than according to a plan. In spite of that fact, the troops on both sides fought with great energy, courage and fortitude. With troops from three and even four Union corps on the field at once and the chief architect of the position—General Sickles—out of the

fight with a debilitating wound, there was literally no one in charge at crucial points.

The discussion will focus on Sickles’s decision to place his corps out in front of the Union line. Confederate General Longstreet’s two divisions, numbering more than 14,000 men were worn from hard marches in baking heat and based on faulty reconnaissance were forced to change their plans at the last minute when they encountered a strong Union presence in an unexpected place.

The discussion will be just that, a discussion, not a lecture. A moderator will begin with about 10 or 15 minutes to introduce the topic with a minimum of slides and then lead a discussion by calling on members to discuss salient (pun intended) aspects of the subject. The discussion will pivot on the central point: what was the result of General Daniel Sickles’ decision to place his Union III Corps in a salient position—a position that left both his flanks unprotected and Little Round Top undefended—a location roughly three quarters of a mile forward of the position he was directed to occupy. Did the placement of his corps help the Union achieve victory at Gettysburg, or did it endanger the Union to such a degree that only heroic, self-sacrificing fighting by the army saved the day? Part of the discussion, of course, will focus on the Confederate army. Beyond all their hard fighting, how much did their errors, missed opportunities, failures and, simply put, weaknesses, contribute to the outcome?

The meeting will be held in Elebash Hall in St. John’s Episcopal Church. Enter at the rear of the church, which is located at 1219 Forest Hills Drive. The church parking lot, close to the entrance to the meeting room, is easily accessed via Park Avenue off of Independence Boulevard. Doors open at 6:30 pm and there is ample time to browse our used books table, and talk to members of the round table. For information about membership in the round table, go to our website at http://cfcwrt.org and click on “Join.” See you there!

COMMUNITY

Normandy Discussion

Leland VFW Hosts D-Day Panel Discussion

VFW Post 12196 in Leland is hosting a panel discussion on D-Day on June 6 from 10 am to noon. The program will be held at Blossoms Restaurant Meeting Room at 1800 Tommy Jacobs Drive in the Magnolia Greens community of Leland. Coffee and refreshments will be served beginning at 9:30 am.

Why is this discussion important? This year we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Had this day, just 82 years ago, gone the other way, freedom and democracy, as we know it, could have ended there.

June 6, 1944 was a day that changed the world. As General Eisenhower stated to his troops, “You are about to embark on the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.”

The day marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany and accelerated the timeline for the end of World War II, reshaping global politics. The battle was fought

by men (averaging no more than 22 years of age, and some as young as 17. Hearing the stories of these brave men helps today’s youth relate to the extraordinary courage and sacrifice shown by individuals their own age.

Very importantly, it helped guarantee that democracy would survive and that the world would be free again at the wars end. Please join this group of historians and military experts bring that day back to life; to show us why we should never forget the men who fought that day.

Our panelists include:

1. Wilbur D. Jones, Jr., is a nationally known, award-winning author and military historian in Wilmington. A Wilmington na-

tive, he grew up there during World War II, which shaped his life, careers, and attitudes.

He is a University of North Carolina history graduate, retired Navy captain, and former assistant and advance representative to President Gerald Ford. Mr. Jones writes, lectures, and consults on World War II history and defense issues; and leads North Carolina WWII history preservation projects. He previously led WWII battlefield tours to the Pacific, Mediterranean, and Europe.

He has authored or co-authored 20 books, including 8 on World War II, and 2 on wartime Wilmington and Southeastern North Carolina.

2. Frank Stritter, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He retired in 2003 after 32 years. He holds an undergraduate degree from St. Lawrence University, a master’s from Colgate University, and a doctorate in education from Syracuse University.

Stritter served in the United States Seventh Army in Germany from 1961 to 1963 and the US Army Reserve from 1963 to 1972. He separated from the active reserve as a captain.

Commander 1-26 Infantry in Kosovo and as a Company Commander of Bravo Company 3-7 IN during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.   Since leaving the Army, General Grigsby has served as the Dean of Academics at St. John’s Military School in Salina, Kansas. He was also an Associate Professor at the Georgia Military Academy in Milledgeville, Georgia, where he taught History and Homeland Security, and he also, Advised Land Forces, United Arab Emirates on Training and Leader Development.

General Grigsby received a Master of Strategic Studies from the National Defense University and a Master of Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies in Kansas.

He is currently serving as Commander of the Calabash VFW Post 7288 and is President of the Veterans Creative Arts Program based in Brunswick County.

For questions, contact Gerald Decker vfwpost12196@gmail.com or 910-408-1934

3.  Brigadier General (Retired) Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., whose last assignment was as Division Commander for the First Infantry Division.  Before that he commanded the Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa (CJTF-HoA) for 17 Months.  His prior assignments included Director of Army Training on the Army’s G-3/5/7 staff, Deputy Commanding General of Operations for the 1st Armored Division, Director Future Operations Cell, ISAF Joint Commander in Afghanistan during the surge, Director of the Mission Command Center of Excellence, and Director of the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) at Fort Leavenworth.

He also Commanded the 3-3 ID Brigade Combat Team during the Surge in Iraq,

Community Focus Awards Grants

Co-op Gives Back To The Communty

STORY CONTRIBUTED

FOCUS

Broadband is investing $40,000 in the communities it serves through Community Connections grants awarded to 25 local nonprofit organizations. The funding will support a range of community-focused projects benefiting residents across Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Pender, Perquimans and Robeson counties.

The program received 87 applications this year from organizations across eastern North Carolina, each representing efforts to strengthen and enrich local communities.

“We look forward to this program every year and are always impressed by the organizations that apply,” said Justin Milliken, FOCUS Broadband board director and board liaison for the grants committee. “We’re proud to support the work they’re doing and the difference they’re making across our service area.”

The 2026 Community Connections Grant recipients include:

• Bald Head Island Conservancy – Barrier Island Botanist, supporting transportation for Brunswick County sixth-grade educational field trips.

• Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina – Lake House Program for Teen Mothers, providing housing, educational resources, and emotional support for young mothers and their children.

• Brunswick County Homeless Coalition – Rental Assistance Project, helping pre-

vent evictions through short-term financial support.

Brunswick Family Assistance – Food Pantry, supporting access to essential food resources.

Calabash VFW Post 7288 – Service Dog Project, helping fund the training and placement of a service dog for a local veteran.

• Christian Recovery Centers – Residential Substance Use Recovery Program, supporting development of a recovery campus in Shallotte, NC.

• Friday Night Meals @ Camp UNC –Providing hot, nutritious weekly meals for families in need in Brunswick County.

• NC Volunteers in Public Schools (NC VIPS) – Reading Buddies, supporting literacy through volunteer mentorship in Brunswick County Schools.

• Samara’s Village – Focus on Futures, expanding career-readiness resources for young parents in Brunswick County.

• St. Peter Lutheran Church – Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to homebound seniors in Brunswick County.

• South Brunswick Interchurch Council –Day4Hope, supplying school materials for

local students during the Day4Hope event in Brunswick County.

• Suds of Love – Free Hygiene, Free Laundry, Free Hope, offering mobile laundry and hygiene support for individuals experiencing homelessness in Brunswick County and surrounding areas.

• WAVES 4 K.I.D.S.– WAVES Kloset, providing emergency supplies for children in crisis in Brunswick County.

Women’s Life Center – Pregnancy Ultrasound Services, expanding access to care and ultrasound services at no cost for disadvantaged pregnant women in Brunswick County.

Since launching its grant program in 2006, FOCUS Broadband has awarded more than $1.2 million through its Community Connections and Smart Connections grants, supporting projects that expand opportunities and enhance the communities it serves. Recipients of the Smart Connections grants will be announced this fall. For more information about FOCUS Broadband’s community giving initiatives, visit focusbroadband.com/givingback.

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

June

MAY 28

Blood Drive - Palmetto Creek

Whether you’re a regular donor or if it’s been a while, there’s an opportunity to donate blood at the Palmetto Creek Clubhouse. The American Red Cross blood drive is 10 am to 3 pm at the Clubhouse, 1195 Palmetto Creek Way (off N.C. 211). Donors are asked to schedule an appointment by visiting RedCrossBlood.org and using the name Palmetto to select this blood drive.

MAY 28

Hurricane Conference — Oak Island

This opportunity to learn more about the Town’s, and the region’s, preparedness and response plans. The conference is 6-8 pm in Council Chambers, second floor of Town Hall, 4601 E. Oak Island Drive.

MAY 28

Southport Historical Society General Meeting

Take a lawn chair and enjoy the salubrious breezes on the Garrison Lawn (203 E. Bay St. in Southport) where SHS will celebrate the Commemorative Bricks that are placed in the walkway in front of Fort Johnston Museum and Visitors’ Center.  Word has it that a few special guests will include past members of our Community as portrayed by our “Living Voices” actors, and there will also be live musical entertainment. This meeting/program is free and open to the public and starts at 5:30 pm.

MAY 28-30

Art League of Leland (ALL) — Art Show and Sale

It’s ALL Art celebrates creativity in all its forms, offering visitors the opportunity to experience a wide range of artistic styles and mediums—and to purchase original works directly from the artists. An exhibition will be held at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, on Thursday from 10 am - 6 pm, and Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30 from 10 am - 4 pm. The show and sale are open to the public and free to attend. For more information about the exhibition or the Art League of Leland, visit www.artleagueofleland.org.

MAY 30

Fire Trucks and Hot Rods — Bolivia

The Bolivia Fire Department hosts this show, with fire trucks and lots of cool cars, 8 am to 3 pm, 3848 Old Ocean Highway (Business 17), Bolivia.

MAY 30

Venus Flytrap Festival — Boiling Spring Lakes

This festival includes a mile-long fun run (or walk, or stroll), food trucks, bouncy houses, face painting and vendors. Attendees can also learn more about Venus Flytraps along an educational trail. The festival is 10 am to 2 pm at the Community Center, 1 Leeds Road in Boiling Spring Lakes.

JUNE 1

Hurricane Expo — Southport Newcomers and longtime residents who want a refresher are welcomed to a a hurricane expo hosted by the Southport Fire Department The Expo starts at 5:30 at the Southport Community Building, 223 E. Bay St. There will be a slide

show and information booths.

JUNE 2

Adult Spelling Bee

The Brunswick County Literacy Council is hosting the 36th Annual Spelling Bee. A maximum of 14 teams can compete, but the Bee is open for anyone to attend with just a $5 donation at the door. The Spelling Bee is 7-9 pm at the Odell Williamson Auditorium on Brunswick Community College’s campus, 150 College Road NE. Doors open at 5:30 pm, and there will be music, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction. (Editor’s Note: One of us has done this Spelling Bee a few times, and we can tell you that it is terrifying to stand up in front of people and spell. Go support all the spellers, and shop for some really great silent auction items while you’re at it!)

June 3

The Town of Leland will host a Women’s Health Forum from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, located at 1212 Magnolia Village Way. The event will feature health screenings, educational resources, and panel discussions focused on women’s health and wellness.

Health screenings will be available from 4 to 6 p.m. and will include mammograms through a mobile mammography unit, as well as blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure screenings.

JUNE 4

Pollinator Party! with Claire and Steven Part of the Town of Leland’s Art Around Town, this event will celebrate the building blocks of our ecosystem –bees! Steven Stegman, President of the Brunswick Count Beekeepers Association, will kick us off with a short presentation about how we can help our buzzy, fuzzy friends. Afterward, Claire will help each participant create and decorate a bee hydration station with clay to place in their own garden or greenspace. The event is 6-8 pm at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way.

JUNE 6

Dosher Memorial Fifth Annual Community Cookout

The Community Cookout is also the hospital’s 96th birthday celebration, held at the front entrance, 924 N. Howe St. from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. All are welcome to join Dosher staff, Trustees, Volunteers, and hospital leaders for the celebration, which will include a cookout lunch, dessert, music, and guest speakers. The theme of this year’s cookout is “Together, We Thrive!” which reflects the very special relationship Dosher has with the community and the 96-year shared journey of local support which has enabled the hospital to provide extraordinary care to its patients. There is no charge to attend this event. Pre-registration is not required but is appreciated. Go to Dosher.org/ birthday, or call 910-457-3900 for more information or to RSVP.

JUNE 6

Beach Clean Up — Oak Island

Volunteers will be assigned a halfmile section along Oak Island’s 10-mile beach to help keep it clean and beautiful, and yes, visitors are welcome to join in! The Society holds these cleanups twice a year—once before the busy tourist season and again after the summer months—and relies on volunteers to make it happen. Email skipncsu@ gmail.com to sign up. All volunteers will meet at 8 am at the Middleton Beach Cabana (SE 46th Street) to receive instructions, as well as trash bags, gloves and a tally sheet.

JUNE 6

Swing Dance — LCAC

This fun evening of swing dance is for seasoned dancers as well as those just getting into the swing of things. A beginner lesson will run from 7 to 7:30 p.m., followed by open dancing. Dance the night away, at least until 10 pm, at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Road.

JUNE 7

Paws-A-Bility Band Fest ’26

Support animal welfare programs with the annual day of live music and much more. The festival is noon to 5 pm at the Sunset Beach Town Park, 206 Sunset Blvd North (mainland). The Sea & Sand Band and The Jebb Mac Band

the City of Northwest! The celebration is 10 am to 4 pm at the city’s park on Vernon Road NE. There will be music, food, games, and children’s activities.

JUNE 20

Food Truck Rodeo — Belville

It’s a great chance to try something new, with food trucks lining Belville’s Riverwalk Park, 580 River Road SE. The Rodeo is 11 am to 4 pm.

JUNE 22-JULY 8

Summer Regional Art Show at Franklin Square Gallery

The Associated Artists of Southport summer show will feature 2D and 3D work in a wide variety of media and styles. All work featured in the show is offered for sale, and the public is invited to a reception on Friday, July 10 from 5 to 7 pm, to meet the artists and enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Find the gallery at 130 E. West St. in Southport, next to Franklin Square Park.

JUNE

23

Chop with a Cop

Teens are invited to throw axes with our local law enforcement agencies, 10 am to 3 pm at Throw Bax Axe House & Game Lounge, 806 N. Howe St., Southport.

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.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

will perform, and there will be raffle prizes, vendors, food and drinks, and animals looking for a family. Entry is a $5 donation per person.

JUNE 20

Founders Day — Northwest

Join in this birthday celebration for

Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

701 N. Third St., Wilmington

May 29 — Beetlejuice

June 6 — America250: Stars and Stripes - The Wilmington Conservatory of Fine Arts presents: America 250: Stars and Stripes, a vibrant mixed repertory showcase celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence through dance and music.

June 7 — Cheap Trick

June 12-14 — Six, the Musical June 20 — Trae Crowder

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 — Jurassic Park In Concert with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra

Visit https://wilsoncentertickets.com for more information.

Thalian Hall

310 Chestnut St., Wilmington May 29-31 — Ten-Minute Miscellany from the Port City Playwrights

June 18-28 — Gypsy: A Musical Fable by the Opera House Theatre

July 9-19 — The Shark is Broken by Big Dawg Productions

Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

1941 Amphitheatre Dr., Wilmington

June 1 — Echo & The Bunnymen

June 2 — 49 Winchester

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.

June 9 — Modest Mouse

June 11 — Wyatt Flores

June 13 — Big Something

July 9 — Blackberry Smoke

July 10 — Matt Maeson

July 13 — An Evening with Wilco

CALENDAR

July 15 — Umphrey’s McGee

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

May 29 — The Salty Dawgs

June 5 — Christine Martinez Band

June 12 — Catalinas

June 19 — Julio & the Saltines

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

Boiling Spring Lakes Summer Concerts

Spring Lake Park

210 Pine Road

Concerts are 6-8 pm

May 29 — Class Act Band

June 5 — The Chance Union Band

June 6 — Hoods Creek

June 26 — 17 South

July 10 — The Doorsmen

Calabash Summer Concert Series

Calabash Town Park 868 Persimmon Road

Concerts are 6-8:30 pm

June 2 — Too Much Sylvia

June 16 — Rivermist

June 23 — Jim Quick & Coastline

June 30 — The Extraordinaires

July 7 — The Main Event Band

July 21 — The Embers featuring Craig Woolard

July 28 — Brunswick Big Band

Holden Beach Summer Concerts

The season starts off at Bridgeview Park and changes to Block Q midseason

Concerts are 6:30-8 pm

May 31 — Gary Lowder

June 7 — Jim Quick and Coastline

June 14 — The Embers featuring Craig Woolard

June 21 — Carolina Kool

June 28 — The Extraordinaires

uly 5 — The Tams

July 12 — Band of Oz

July 19 — Too Much Sylvia

The Peggy Hughes Summer Concert Series

Ocean Isle Beach Town Center Park, 11 E. 2nd St. Concerts are 6:30-8 pm

June 5 — Shine

June 12 — Continental Divide

June 19 — North Tower

June 26 — Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot

July 1 — Chocolate Chip & Company

July 10 — Rivermist

July 24 — The Main Event Band

July 31 — Jam Biscuit

Sunset Sound Waves

Sunset Beach Town Park 26 Sunset Blvd North Concerts start at 6 pm

May 27 — Julio & the Saltines

June 3 — Band of Oz

June 10 — The MacDaddy’s

June 17 — JB and the Get Down Browns

June 24 — The Switch

July 1 — Gimme Back My Skynrd

July 3 — Rivermist

July 8 — Chocolate Chip & Company

July 15 — Band on Fire

July 22 — Too Much Sylvia

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

Southport Summer Concert Series

Franklin Square Park, Howe Street Concerts are 6-8 pm

May 28 — Cliff Wheeler Band

June 4 — MotoMojo

June 11 — Carolina Jazz Band

June 18 — Krispee Biscuits

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

May 28 — Sea & Sand Band

June 4 — Randy Knight and Parrot Party

June 11 — Rob Cole Music (from the Voice)

June 14 — Johnny Toppings

June 18 — Trublmkrz

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

Moonlight Movies

Town Center Park

11 E. 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach

Movies start around dusk (7:15-ish)

May 20 — The Croods

May 27 — Playmobil: The Movie

June 3 — Hotel Transylvania: ‘Transformania’

June 10 — Under the Boardwalk

June 17 — The Iron Giant

June 24 — Inside Out

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.

Historic Olde Southport Village Shop-

pes

The vendor fair is June 6 from 10 am to 4 pm at the shoppes, 1102 N. Howe St., behind the barbecue restaurant.

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

Sea Trail Convention Center

75 Clubhouse Road, Sunset Beach

This community based-non-profit helps local rescue organizations with financial support. Admission is a suggested $5 donation, and the market is 11 am to 3 pm. Visit with local business owners, shop for good from local vendors, meet with local health and wellness experts, and more!

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.

Shallotte - Home Town Summer Fest

The June Market in June is on the

13th, 9 am to 2 pm at the Shallotte Riverwalk, 145 Wall St. 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 June 3, 10, 17, 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 start June 9 and run 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 sup-

port 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 toddles 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 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. The Skippers Crew program for children is June 6 and June 20 (with a Father’s Day craft). 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 battleship 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.

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..

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!