June 2026 Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine

EDITOR

Jeffrey Stites

jeff@liveoakmediainc.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Lisa P. Stites

lisa@southportmag.com

LEAD DESIGNER

Liz Brinker

lcbgraphicdesign@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

Chuck and Sue Cothran

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Louise Sheffield-Baccarny

Carla Edstrom

Patricia Langer

Jan Morgan-Swegle

Janet Fortney

Lisa P. Stites

Jeffrey Stites

PUBLISHER & SALES

Jeffrey Stites

jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741

Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine is published once a month by

Live Oak Media, Inc

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

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email jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741

Shallotte and South Brunswick Islands Magazine PO Box 10175, Southport, NC 28461 www.shallottemag.com email jeff@liveoakmediainc.com 910-471-7741

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Staying Positive

Newspaper people 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 look at Kaitlyn Long, a first grade teacher and the subject of our cover story. She turned a love of coffee into a business that will not only make her customers’ mornings little easier to deal with, but will serve as an example to her students of how anyone can make a dream come true if they work at it. There are stories 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 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.

jury, 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 commands 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

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, in-

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 re-

Community

turned 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!”

Business Profile

Coastal Brews Coffee

Local Teacher Launches Mobile Coffee Biz

STORY BY LOUISE SHEFFILED-BACCARNY, PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Within the first hour of waking up, often within the first ten minutes, making a cup of coffee is on my to-do list before heading out in the mornings. I’m not sure if it’s the aroma, the warmth or just the habitual part of my daily routine that gives me comfort. Walk dog, check. Pack Eva’s lunch, check. Phone, check. Grab coffee, check, and we are out the door and ready to slay the day!

Once at school, you’ll quickly notice the teachers who are prepared for the day ahead. Smiling faces with “fuel” in hand wave you through the car rider line and shuffle you inside the front doors. The cheerful teachers are probably on cup #2 for the day while a few others may not have had a chance to caffeinate up just yet, so give them grace. I’ve even heard ru-

mors that some may not drink coffee at all, but that’s just crazy talk! Who wouldn’t want a cup of joy first thing in the morning?

Kaitlyn Long, now a first grade teacher at Union Elementary School in Shallotte, took a lot of notes during college that would prepare her to set up, manage, and pilot her own classroom. She also took note that her and her colleagues seemed happier and more prepared for the day after a good cup of coffee.

After completing her student teaching and graduating from UNCW in 2022, Kaitlyn began her teaching career and was incredibly happy doing it. She loves the classroom, the students and being able to make a positive impact on their lives. It was her dream job, yet she still had an itch for something more.

Soon after, Kaitlyn began planning and really talking about the idea of owning her own coffee business. Was it possible? When would she find time? In 2025, she

was getting ready to submit her National Boards and about to get married. It was the busiest time of her life but also the right time for her vision of Coastal Brews Coffee to become a reality, with the support of her new husband, and encouragement from family and friends.

Kooistra LLC started the custom trailer build in May 2026 and her hand drawing of a coffee trailer went from an idea on a piece of paper to rolling down the road headed for Brunswick County in October. After months of purchasing equipment and researching espresso machines and bean roasters, her trailer was set up and finally complete. A backyard trial run event allowed her to test her equipment and power and gave her friends and family a sneak peek of her new side business and taste a sample of the sweet drinks she would

be serving.

Kaitlyn humbly thanks her friends and family for helping her get Coastal Brews up and running by taking orders and working the window, testing her recipes and helping her create the perfect latte and even teaching her how to pull the trailer now by herself, impressively navigating through tight set ups and gas pumps.

For the past seven months, Coastal Brews has traveled to many places from Wilmington to Myrtle Beach, popping up at special events such as grand openings, festivals, markets and tournaments. Each month, Coastal Brews offers a seasonal menu to help you choose the perfect latte or try something new along with their full menu. Fan favorites thus far have been Miss Claus Kiss (white chocolate and raspberry), Strawbreezy (Strawberry and cheesecake), and Banana Pudding. In fact, these top three have been so popular that they can still be ordered at any time. Speaking of popular, their hand-crafted cold foam is a must try and Coastal Brews even carries dairyfree milk and multiple sugar-free options that are just as delicious, trust me, this Mama knows!

The local favorite drink is the Cookie Butter Latte made with real Biscoff cookie butter with the option to add cold foam and crushed cookies on top. Kaitlyn’s personal favorites are

You can find Coastal Brews popping up this summer at LainSnow on Ocean Isle Beach, Jerome’s in Shallotte, Heritage Fresh Market in Supply, and at the Town of Shallotte Summer Concert Series every Thursday.

Coastal Brews’ first summer event “Petals and Pilates” will take place on June 6 at 9 am at Wilderly Farm in Ash, and will be in collaboration with Coastal Graze Charcuterie, Wilderly Farm Flowers, and Move OIB Pilates.

Can’t find the trailer and have a coffee emergency? Look for Coastal Brews bottled lattes being sold at Beaches-N-Cream at Holden Beach, Sunset Slush at Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach, Honeycomb Salon and even at the concession stand at the OIB ball field. Stay tuned, as I’m sure they may be available at oth-

er small businesses in the future. Twelve ounce bags of the “Coastal Blend” coffee are also available at the trailer for you to take home and brew. You can browse and shop for merchandise such as adult and youth shirts, hoodies, baby onesies, koozies (Ksea & Co) and hats (Crowned in Grace) online at https:// coastalbrewscoffee.myshopify.com/.

Sip sip hooray, Kaitlyn will be finishing her fourth year of teaching any day now! The planning and the endless paperwork she had to complete before spending late nights bottling coffee and filling orders will soon wrap up but just like many other teachers, she will move right into her summer job. School may be out, but teachers work hard year around instilling dreams in young minds and setting examples of how to carry those dreams out, just like Kaitlyn

has done. Thank you to every educator for a wonderful 2025-2026 school year and may your summer break be long and your coffee strong — you deserve it!

For more information about Coastal Brews Coffee special events or how to place a bottled latte order please email coastalbrewscoffee@gmail. com, like and follow them on social media and be on lookout for the trailer around town with a palm tree, a surf board and a long line, that’ll be them!

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Community Turtle Scholarships

Holden Beach Turtle Patrol Issues Awards

STORY CONTRIBUTED

The Holden Beach Turtle Patrol is proud to announce this year’s scholarship recipients for the Judith C. Bryan HBTWP Fellowship in Marine Biology. Judy Bryan started the Holden Beach Turtle Watch Program out of her garage on Holden Beach in 1989. Both fellowship winners are Marine Biology graduate students and researchers at UNCW, and they work directly with sea turtles. They are both second time winners and will share the $5,000 scholarship award again this year. They were also both featured in the Fall 2025 edition of UNCW Magazine.

Jamie Clark conducts research to develop and validate tools for determining the age of living, deceased, and stranded Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles. Her Ph.D. research calibrates emerging aging techniques with skeletochronology, which estimates age by counting growth rings in humerus bones. This work aims to improve age-estimation efficiency and support calculations of age-specific demographic parameters, including growth, maturity, and survival.

Caroline VanDuzer is investigating the diving physiology of juvenile Kemp’s Ridley and Green Sea Turtles, focusing on how muscle tissue influences their ability to remain submerged and migrate long distances. Her M.Sc. research could establish a baseline that may be useful to compare the effects of warming oceans on sea turtle diving behavior in the future.

The Holden Beach Turtle Patrol is proud of the educational partner-

ship with UNCW and strongly supports their marine biology program and students researching sea turtles and other marine life. Their research will improve the understanding of sea turtles and improve sea turtle conservation efforts.

To

www.hbturtlewatch.org/aboutus. php

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 Orchestra Season

Wilmington Symphony 2026 Performances

STORY AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director Peter Askim, has announced its 2026-27 season, anchored by a dynamic mix of orchestral masterworks, American classics, and contemporary voices that together create a journey across time, place, and imagination. The season reflects on music’s enduring role as a force that shapes our mutual history and identity. From beloved European repertoire to music by living composers, audiences will experience programs that span Wilmington’s own shores to far-reaching musical landscapes.

Of his inspiration behind the season, Askim said, “Wilmington is a city with a rich history, a vibrant future, and a deeply passionate community shaped by a wide range of backgrounds, stories, and voices. The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, like the city itself, belongs to all of us.

“In the WSO’s 2026–27 season, Journeys, we embark on an exploration of our shared and individual histories, while looking boldly toward the future. As America enters its 251st year, we honor the past even as we move forward together. Whether traveling from darkness to light in Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, journeying through Dvořák’s New World, celebrating Wilmington through Barbara Gallagher’s musical portrait of azaleas, or venturing to the edge of the galaxy with Holst’s The Planets, we remain grounded in the musicians, composers, performers, and stories that make this city our home. Wilmington is our point of departure and our constant – no matter how far these journeys take us, they always lead us home.”

Opening Night: Three Generations of American Music: The season kicks off with a program honoring America 250 and tracing Dvorak’s legacy through three generations of American music. The opening night on Saturday, September 26, 2026 will feature Carlos Simon’s Festive Fanfare and Overture, Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto with soloist Stefan Jackiw and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, From the New World, a piece that encouraged American composers to seek inspiration in African- American and Native American musical traditions and helped lay the foundation for a distinctly American musical voice that continues to resonate today.

Journeys: Beethoven’s 5th on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 features Mozart’s Overture to

The Magic Flute, Gabriela Lena Frank’s Escaramuza, Jeff Scott’s The Journey, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67.

On Saturday, Jan. 16, 2027, America at 251: A Journey into the Future features Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate’s Chokfi, alongside a new work by University of North Carolina Wilmington Assistant Professor Chelsea Loew, commissioned for the Wilmington Symphony’s July 4th celebration. In addition, the program also includes Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms performed with the Cape Fear Chorale, and William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1, “Afro-American,” a cornerstone of American symphonic music.

On Saturday, March 13, 2027, Music of the Natural World: Brahms Symphony No. 2 explores nature as a source of inspiration, with Wilmington composer Barbara Gallagher’s Suite from The Flowers, Ryan Lindveit’s Desire Lines, and Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73. The evening also showcases winners of the 2026-27 Richard R. Deas Young Artist Competition, highlighting the next generation of talented young musicians.

The season concludes on Saturday, May 1, 2027, with Schumann Cello Concerto and Selections from The Planets, featuring Pulitzer Prize–winner and North Carolina resident Jennifer Higdon’s Blue Cathedral and Cape Fear Community College instructor Ernesto Ferreri’s Hymnus ad Cosmos, paired with Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto, performed by 2026 Sphinx Competition Laureate Andres Sanchez, followed by selections from Gustav Holst’s The Planets.

Season Subscriptions are now on sale at www.wilmingtonsymphony.org/season-tick-

ets or by calling the Wilson Center Box Office at (910) 362-7999. Single Tickets and Create Your Own Packages will go on sale June 1, 2026.

About the Wilmington Symphony

Founded in 1971, the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra (WSO) performs a Classics Series and a Young People’s Concert in the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College, averaging 1,000 audience members for each of its concerts (6-7 concerts annually). WSO also performs for over 5,000 audience members at Live Oak Bank Pavilion for the City of Wilmington’s free community Fourth of July Celebration Event. The WSO is composed of about 75 experienced musicians from around the Wilmington metropolitan area. Musicians audition to become a WSO player and are paid $75 per service. Dr. Peter Askim serves as Music Director of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra beginning with the 2025–2026 season. Following his retirement in May 2025 after nearly four decades of artistic leadership, Dr. Steven Errante was named Conductor Emeritus in recognition of his distinguished tenure with the orchestra since 1986. For more information about the Symphony, visit www.wilmingtonsymphony.org.

About Peter Askim

Composer, conductor, and creative catalyst Peter Askim is Music Director of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director and Founder of The Next Festival of Emerging Artists, Conductor of the Raleigh Civic Symphony and Chamber Orches-

tra, and Director of Orchestral Activities at North Carolina State University. Known for his visionary programming and commitment to uplifting living composers, Askim bridges artistic innovation with community engagement.

A passionate advocate for new music, Askim has commissioned and premiered works by Lisa Bielawa, Christopher Cerrone, Aaron Jay Kernis, Allison Loggins-Hull, Nico Muhly, Curtis Stewart, Christopher Theofanidis, and Paul Wiancko, among others. In 2022, he led the American premiere of Florence Price’s Ethiopia’s Shadow in America. His conducting has been featured on HBO and NPR, earning recognition for his collaboration on the documentary The Cold Blue.

Praised by The Strad as “a modern master,” Askim’s compositions have been commissioned and performed by the Tokyo Symphony, Honolulu Symphony, Stavanger Symphony, and Cantus Ansambl Zagreb, ensembles such as ETHEL and the Aizuri Quartet, and cellist Jeffrey Zeigler.

Through his leadership of the Raleigh Civic Orchestras, Askim has redefined the role of the university and community symphony. Since 2015, every concert under his direction has included a new commission, totaling over 40 to date.

Askim’s Next Festival of Emerging Artists, founded in 2013, is a trailblazing incubator for early-career string players, composers, and choreographers. The Festival has supported more than 250 emerging artists, offering mentorship, collaboration, and performance opportunities with Pulitzer, MacArthur, GRAMMY, and Emmy-winning artists. Learn more at www.peteraskim.com.

SHOWCASE

FSG Call For Artists

Franklin Square Gallery Summer Show

STORY CONTRIBUTED

The Associated Artists of Southport (AAS) invites artists throughout the lower Cape Fear region to submit original artwork for exhibit in this year’s Summer Regional Art Show at Franklin Square Gallery in downtown Southport.

The show runs from June 22 to July 18 and will showcase 2D and 3D work in a wide variety of media and styles. All work featured in the show is offered for sale to the public. All are invited to attend the artists’ Reception and Awards Ceremony at the Gallery on Friday, July 10 from 5 to 7 pm, to meet the artists and enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

Exhibiting artists will compete for more than $1,200 in prizes that will be awarded by the show’s 2D and 3D judges, Sabine Baeckmann and Denise Jordan. Sabine Baeckmann (2D) is a seasoned artist and designer with more than 40 years experi-

ence in illustration, advertising, design and marketing, as well as in teaching and training in the fine art and digital art fields. Denise Jordan (3D) is a well-known potter and sculptor from Roanoke Rapids who studied with Ben Owen III in Seagrove, North Carolina, and has taught ceramics for the last 35 years.

To enter work in the show, artists must register by June 10. Application forms and entry fees ($36 for AAS members; $46 for non-members) must be submitted online using the link provided on the Gallery’s website. Additional information regarding the show may be obtained there or by con-

tacting the show’s chairperson, Kim Kirk, at creativespirit@ec.rr.com or 910-264-8580.

Also available on the Gallery’s website is information regarding two workshops that will be offered by the Summer Show’s judges, in conjunction with the show. Sabine Baeckmann will host “Painting the Big Sky:

Painting Light, Sky and Sea” on June 19-20, and Denise Jordan will present “TableTop Water Fountains: Stacking Hand-Built or Wheel-Thrown Bowls” on June 22-23. Interested artists throughout the region are invited to participate, and may register on the Gallery’s website.

Franklin Square Gallery is a cooperative of more than 100 artists, located at 130 E. West St., Southport, NC 28461, in the heart of the historic downtown area. With support from the Brunswick Arts Council ARPA Program, a Designated County Partner of the North Carolina Arts Council, the Gallery embodies the rich artistic culture that thrives in Southport. It offers original art and pottery for sale and is open to the public, free of charge, from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday.

Community Impressionist Exhibit

Coming To Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum In Myrtle Beach

STORY CONTRIBUTED

The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum in Myrtle Beach is proud to present A Lasting Impression - A Private Collection of European Art (1872-1970), a captivating exhibition exploring the light, color and atmosphere that define the Impressionist tradition. The exhibition will be on view June 13 through Sept. 27, 2026, inviting visitors to experience works that capture fleeting moments and the beauty of everyday life. The museum is located at 3100 S. Ocean Blvd.

A groundbreaking movement that emerged in France in the mid to late 19th century, Impressionism transformed the art world by emphasizing visible brushstrokes, vibrant color and the changing effects of light. The 58 works in A Lasting Impression include landscapes, pastoral scenes and moments of quiet reflection with remarkable sensitivity and energy, completed by 51 different artists.

Impressionists inspired generations of artists to experiment with new techniques and styles and paved the way for subsequent modern art movements like Fauvism, Cubism and Expressionism. The exhibition features works that explore this connection, including pieces by Chagall, Matisse and Picasso. Visitors will discover the defining moments of the style—and the powerful influence they had on what came next.

Barred from participating in many studios and academies and with limited access to formal education, women artists nevertheless played an important part in the movement. They brought unique perspectives, especially scenes of modern life, domestic spaces and social worlds that male artists often couldn’t access. This exhibit also celebrates that contribution.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the Grand Strand community and its visitors to see this special collection of historic European paintings and drawings. Visitors will see works by some of the first and most famous Impressionist painters, like Cassatt, Degas and Renoir, in addition to others of equal importance but of less renown. The exhibition focuses on the lasting impression that these bold artists had on the history of modern art. The Impressionists truly opened the door for self-expression,” Curator Liz Miller said.

The Art Museum is located at 3100 South Ocean Boule-

vard. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm, closed on Mondays. Tickets can be purchased in advance at myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/visit/admission-hours/. Admission is $8 for adults 18 and older, $5 for veterans and seniors, and free for children 18 and younger, museum members, fulltime students, those eligible under the Blue Star Museum participants, North American Reciprocal Museums (NARM) participants, EBT card holders and Bank of America cardholders during the first full weekend of every month as part of the Museums on Us™ program.

A Lasting Impression is generously sponsored by Elizabeth and Lawton Benton, Nelson Mullins - In Memory of John C. Stewart, Jr., BlueCross BlueShield of SC, Rosemary Jenrette/Ann Charles Jordan and Moglia Family Foundation.

About the Art Museum

Myrtle Beach’s Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum strives to be one of the finest visual arts museums in the Carolinas. With 11 galleries that change through-

out the year, Myrtle Beach’s only art museum offers exhibitions featuring paintings, textiles, sculpture, photography, video, ceramics, assemblage, collage and more. A visit to the Art Museum’s exhibitions can be enhanced by its lively programming, including artist receptions, tours, lectures, workshops and classes for both adults and children.

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.

FISHING REPORT

June Fishing Report Fishing Is Heating Up Across The Region

BY CAPTAIN STEELE PARK

Summer is officially here, and fishing has been just as hot as the summer weather that finally showed up. We were lucky to have a fantastic spring with good weather windows and favorable ocean conditions, and that momentum is carrying right into June. From the backwater creeks all the way out to the Gulf Stream, anglers are finding consistent action and a wide variety of species to target.

Backwater/Inshore

Even with some of our favorite species still dealing with seasonal closures and regulations, the inshore fishing has been a lot of fun lately. Speckled trout has officially reopened after the winter cold-weather closure, and there are decent numbers of fish around. Focus on areas with moving water, oyster beds, creek mouths, and structure, and you should be able to find a few trout willing to bite. They’ve been especially aggressive when the current is moving hard.

Flounder fishing has really picked up as well. While it’s currently catch-and-release only, there will be a flounder season this year — we just don’t know exactly what that season will look like yet. Artificials like Gulp shrimp and paddle tails on jig heads are producing plenty of bites, but if you’re looking for the best shot at a bigger fish, it’s hard to beat a Carolina rig with a live pogie or mud minnow.

Red drums are cruising the river flats and staging along marsh grass edges near oyster beds. The falling tide has been especially productive as bait gets flushed out of the grass. Early mornings have been perfect for throwing topwater plugs and getting those exciting blowups everybody waits for this time of year. Once the sun gets higher, switching over to a quarter blue crab on a jig head or Carolina rig has been producing steady action.

Nearshore

Nearshore fishing has been very solid, with Spanish mackerel and bluefish showing up in good numbers. Early morning has been the best bite before the sun gets too high. Once the water brightens up and the temperatures climb, the fish tend to move deeper and get less aggressive.

Trolling Clark spoons behind a No. 1 or No. 2 planer has been one of the best ways to cover water and stay on fish. Keep an eye out for birds working over schools of glass minnows — that’s usually a dead giveaway that Spanish are nearby. One mistake a lot

Captain Steele Park, a US Navy Veteran, has been fishing the oceans, rivers, and lakes of southeastern NC since he was 7 years old and knows these waters like the back of his hand. He calls Southport home and captains the Catherine Anne Sportfishing & Excursions fleet. For more information please call at 910-6209919

of people make is running straight through the feeding fish. If you ease around the birds instead of charging through them, you’ll usually stay on the bite much longer. When fish are feeding on the surface, casting weighted jigs into the schools can make for a really fun day on light tackle. Offshore

There are plenty of options offshore right now in the 12- to 40-mile range. Grouper fishing has been excellent in 75 to 100 feet of water. Dropping live pinfish on a grouper rig around ledges and hard bottom has been producing quality fish consistently.

Cobia have also shown up and are hanging around wrecks and live bottom areas in 50 to 75 feet of water. One of the best ways to target them is to anchor up-current of the structure, put out a chum bag, and suspend live bait under balloons behind the boat. The cobia usually come right up into the chum slick to investigate. It’s always a good idea to keep a spinning rod rigged with a bucktail nearby because many times those fish will appear right beside the boat out of nowhere.

With the clean blue Gulf Stream water pushing closer to the beach, mahi mahi have started showing up on our local offshore spots. Areas like the Horseshoe, Navy Wreck, and Frying Pan Tower have all

been producing fish. Trolling small ballyhoo behind Sea Witches has been hard to beat. King mackerel fishing has also been really good around the Shark Hole, Lighthouse Rocks, and on the east side around the Cucumber and Cabbage Patch.

Gulf Stream

As we move deeper into summer, the Gulf Stream bite usually slows down a little on overall variety, but the quality of fish gets even better. Big mahi, yellowfin tuna, and billfish will be the main targets for most of the summer.

The action may not be nonstop every day, but when you find a good weed line, things can get exciting in a hurry. One of the best ways to work a weed line is by chunking cut bonito. Throw a few handfuls of chunks overboard and watch for mahi to come out from under the grass lines to feed. Once they get fired up, put a chunk on a hook and drift it naturally back with the rest of the chum. It’s a simple technique that can produce some incredible action. One of the biggest pieces of news this summer is the upcoming American red snapper season opening July 1. It will be the first real season we’ve had in more than 20 years, and the fish are everywhere right now.

Summer fishing off the Carolina coast offers about as much variety as you could ask for. Whether you want to stay in the creeks chasing redfish, troll the beaches for Spanish, or head offshore after mahi and tuna, there’s something biting just about everywhere right now. Get out there and enjoy it.

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 Award 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).

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!

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-

Swing For Success: Community Focus Awards Grants

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.

Chamber of Commerce

Upcoming Events

Brunsco Classic Golf Tournament

The Brunsco Classic Golf Tournament is coming back on Friday, Aug. 28 at Sea Trail Golf Resort, and now is the time to get involved.

Start putting your team together and secure your spot on the course. This is one of those events that fills up quickly and brings together a great mix of networking, friendly competition, and time well spent with our business community.

There are also great opportunities to get your business in front of the community through sponsorships. It’s a fun and meaningful way to be part of the day while gaining visibility and supporting a signature Chamber event. We’re proud to have Makai Brewing returning as our Presenting Sponsor, along with Kahuna Photo as our Media Sponsor, helping make this event what it is.

Register your team here: https://brunsco-classic-golf-tournament.perfectgolfevent.com/register-your-team

Explore sponsorship opportunities: https://brunsco-classic-golf-tournament.perfectgolfevent.com/ We’d love to see you out on the course.

Aprivate office space is now available at the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce. This 10×14 Chamber Co-Work Private Office rents for $400 per month and offers unlimited use in a professional setting. The space includes hi-speed internet, conference room access, a business address, 24/7 secure access, and signage opportunities. Email communications@brunswickcountychamber.org or call 910-754-6644.

TheMembership Extravaganza is returning to the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce on June 16, and we are excited to host another afternoon dedicated to celebrating and connecting with our members. The event will take place from 12–3 pm at the Chamber office, located at 112 Pine St. in Shallotte. Ribbon cuttings will be held from noon–1 pm, followed by a Member Drop-In & Networking event from 1–3 pm.

Interested in attending this free event or having a ribbon cutting? Sign up to participate or get involved here: https://form.jotform.com/260765221071046 We look forward to another strong turnout and a great afternoon together.

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.

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 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

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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 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 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

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 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

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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

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

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 Shoppes

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.

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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 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 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.

Meet The Author Book Events Throughout the County

June 6

Taylor Crooks - “The Summers of Us”

Meet author Taylor Brooks and get a signed copy of her book “The Summers of Us.” The book signing is 10 am to noon at Needful Things, a cozy book store and coffee shop at 114 E. Nash St., Southport. In “The Summers of Us,” Quinn Kessler returns to Piper Island for her final summer before college, but everything once golden has faded to gray. Dead flowers, broken pinky promises, and snarling waves. The clock is ticking for Quinn to figure out her unresolved feelings for Everett Bishop, the boy who’s always been her moonlight, as she struggles to accept happiness in a universe that could take it all away again in an instant.

June 16

Jennifer Tirrell - “Jane’s Secret”

Local author Jennifer Tirrell discuss her newly published work “Jane’s Secret,” a thrilling quest for truth in Medieval England. Jennifer is also the President of Word Weavers Coastal Carolinas, volunteers as an AWANA leader, and assists at her daughter’s discipleship and therapeutic riding facility, Glory Hill Farm in Monroe, NC. The program is 1-2 pm at the Southwest Brunswick Branch Library, 94 Ocean Highway West. Registration is required; visit https://brunsco.libcal.com/

June 25

Seven local authors come together to discuss “Carolina Tides,” a short story collection celebrating life along the Coastal Carolinas. From porch-lit evenings in fishing towns to storms, serendipity, and seaside reinvention, each story is rooted in a real place you can visit. Join the Rourk Friends of the Library for the group’s annual meeting and this conversation about inspiration, setting, and the heart and adventure found where land meets sea. The program is 2-5 pm at the Rourk Branch Library, 5068 Main St., Shallotte. Visit https://brunsco.libcal.com/ to register for this event. Light refreshments will be provided.

June 25

Meet local authors Jack and Jean Heslin as they answer questions, share resources, and give first-hand accounts from the Vietnam War. Signed books will be available by donation for the Battle of Kontum website. Jack and Jean Heslin bring a lifetime of service in both military and civilian fields. Jack is a decorated two-tour Vietnam veteran and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. who later worked in higher education, workforce development, and as an author, while Jean built a distinguished career as a professional nurse, educator, and workforce development specialist who trained future nurses and adult learners. Together, they have dedicated their careers to education, service, and helping others build skills and opportunities. The program is 4-6 pm at the Southwest Brunswick Branch Library, 94 Ocean Highway West. Registration is required; visit https://brunsco.libcal.com/.

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.

May 29

Mary Kay Andrews - “Road Trip”

The New York Times bestselling author gives us a great summer read with “Road Trip.” The story follows two estranged sisters who find that they have inherited a painting — one that could be worth millions and could save each of them from their respective wolves at the door. The only issue is, the painting might be a fake and the only way they can solve the problem is to find the original. This means a road trip, to Ireland, to their family roots, and to a mysterious crime that occurred years ago.

Looking for something to do besides going to the beach? Here you’ll find lots of fun for the entire family. Be sure to check before you go as hours may change and some attractions may be seasonal

Attractions

INGRAM PLANETARIUM

7625 High Market Street

Sunset Beach (mainland)

https://museumplanetarium.org/ingram-planetarium/

Enjoy musical laser shows and learn more about the night sky; check website for schedule and tickets. Hands-on activities and interactive displays are available in the Paul Dennis Science Center, and admission to the Center is free.

MUSEUM OF COASTAL CAROLINA

21 E. 2nd St.

Ocean Isle Beach

https://museumplanetarium.org/

Learn more about our coastal environment, with a live touch tank, saltwater aquariums, interactive exhibits, lectures and family programs. The Mu-

Attractions Guide

seum is open 10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Saturday, and 5-7 pm on the second Tuesday for sandbar lectures.

SHALLOTTE RIVER SWAMP PARK

5550 Watts Road SW Ocean Isle Beach (mainland)

https://www.shallotteriverswamppark. com/

This adventure park features zip line tours, an aerial park, guided ATV tours and eco-tours on a swamp boat.

PLANET FUN/STARZ GRILL

349 Whiteville Road

Shallotte https://planetfuncenter.com/

This family entertainment center offers arcade games, laser tag, and bowling (including cosmic bowling on weekends), many TVs for watching all the games, and a restaurant.

SHALLOTTE RIVERWALK

Gazebos at 159 Cheers St. and 146 Wall St.

The Riverwalk is open from dawn to dusk, and features a quarter mile boardwalk, gazebos at each end and beautiful views of the Shallotte River.

OLD BRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

109 Shoreline Drive West Sunset Beach (mainland) http://www.theoldbridge.org/

The old swing bridge that used to connect Sunset Beach to the mainland has been preserved as a museum. The Museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 am to 2 pm, with stories about the Sunset Beach Swing Bridge tender house, local history, and more.

STUMP HILL FARMS

2030 Ash-Little River Road NW

Ash

https://www.stumphillfarms.com/

The farm is open on Saturdays in April and October, and by appointment or for special events other times of year, with hay rides, games for children, and educational opportunities covering bee pollination and local crops.

GRAYCE WYNDS FARM AND THE WILD HORSE RESERVE AT GRAYCE WYNDS

2450 Grayce Wynds Drive Supply, NC 28462

Visit the farm, take a guided tour, or participate in special events. Check https://www.graycewyndsfarm.com/ for tours available and events.

SILVERY COAST WINERY

6680 Barbeque Road

Ocean Isle Beach

https://silvercoastwinery.com/

Winery tours, tastings, and shop for wine accessories and gifts; event rental space also available.

OCEAN ISLE MINI GOLF

6391 Beach Drive SW

Ocean Isle Beach http://oceanisleminigolf.com

TREASURE ISLAND MINIATURE GOLF

3445 Holden Beach Rd.

Holden Beach (910) 842-4878

Parks

There are so many great spots to get out and enjoy this beautiful county. We’ve listed a few of the main parks here, but keep an eye out for smaller pocket parks and water access areas.

HOLDEN BEACH PAVILION AND BRIDGEVIEW PARK

The Pavilion is tucked in next to the west side of the bridge on the island, and Bridgeview Park is a couple blocks down the Intracoastal Waterway, at Davis Street.

TOWN CENTER PARK

11 E. Second St.

Ocean Isle Beach

This town park has an amphitheater, interactive fountain, bocce ball court, playground, and plenty of bike parking.

SHALLOTTE PARK

5550 Main St.

Ball fields, tennis courts, basketball court, a playground, picnic shelters and a dog park.

MULBERRY STREET PARK

123 Mulberry Street

Shallotte

Picnic shelters, an amphitheater, and home to Shallotte’s outdoor markets

SUNSET BEACH TOWN PARK

Sunset Boulevard North (mainland)

Stroll through five acres of live oaks along the Intracoastal Waterway, sit a spell on a bench, do some fishing or visit the Veterans Memorial.

OCEAN ISLE BEACH PARK

6483 Old Georgetown Road

The Park features 2 playgrounds, eight tennis courts, four pickleball courts, baseball and softball fields, a dog park, basketball courts, an amphitheater, picnic shelter and a multipurpose field for soccer/football with walking trail and fitness stations.

WACCAMAW PARK

5855 Waccamaw School Road NW, Ash

This park features ball fields, basketball court, tennis courts, playground, bocce ball and a nine-hole disc golf course.

Fishing Piers

SUNSET BEACH FISHING PIER

101 W. Main St. Sunset Beach

http://sunsetbeachpier.com/

OCEAN ISLE BEACH PIER

1 W. First St. Ocean Isle Beach https://oibpier.com/

CAROLINAS COASTAL ADVENTURE TOURS

2000 Sommerset Road SW

Ocean Isle Beach (mainland) https://www.ccattours.com/

SALT FEVER GUIDE SERVICE

21 Causeway Drive

Ocean Isle Beach https://www.saltfeverguideservice. com/

HURRICANE FLEET - LEAVES FROM THE CALABASH WATERFRONT

https://hurricanefleet.com/

CALABASH FISHING FLEET

9945 Nance St. Calabash https://calabashfishingfleet.com/

HOLDEN BEACH FISHING

https://www.holdenbeachfishing.com/

HOLDEN BEACH WATERSPORTS

3325 Old Ferry Road SW Holden Beach

https://www.holdenbeachwatersports. com/index.html

Fishing Charters

Boat Tours

Boat Rentals

OCEAN ISLE FISHING CENTER

65 Causeway Drive

Ocean Isle Beach

https://www.oifc.com/

TOUR H2O

Locations in Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Southport https://tourh2o.com/

BLUE PLANET WATERSPORTS

7156 Beach Drive

Ocean Isle Beach

https://blueplanetwatersports.com/

HOLDEN BEACH JET SKI RENTALS

1305 Cedar Landing Road SW Supply

https://www.holdenbeachjetski.com

SORTA SALTY FISHING CHARTERS

Holden Beach https://sortasalty.com

OLLIE RAJA CHARTERS

3238 Pompano St. SW

Holden Beach/Oak Island

https://holdenbeachfishingcharters. com/

9am - 8pm SATURDAY: 10am - 6pm • SUNDAY: 12pm

5pm