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Today's Features

  • Invasive plants upset balance and have the potential to spread everywhere

    Have you ever taken a walk through the woods and noticed the same invasive plant covering the entire ground? Why do some weeds thrive so well that it seems they could take over the world?
    Some common invasive species you may be familiar with are kudzu, wisteria, privet, ivy, and even Bradford pears. Small forest openings, forest road right of ways, and areas under and beside forest canopies are often occupied by invasive non-native plants. If you live near one of these spaces, you may be battling noxious weeds.

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  • Although considered a fruit, a fig is actually an inverted flower

    My sister lives in southern California and always has an abundance of juicy, ripe figs. Every once in a while, she’ll call me and ask if I have any good recipes for using up all her figs. I have three fig trees and probably get about 40-50 figs out of all them. Not much compared to 150 or so from each of her many fig trees.
    If you don’t have any fresh figs for these recipes, don’t worry. Though fig season here was finished weeks ago, most local markets have jars of fresh figs. Even the dried variety work quite well.

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  • Community briefs

    New library books
    The following books are now available at Rourk Branch Library in Shallotte. Reviews are courtesy of Friends of the Library.
    NON-FICTION
    “Hemingway’s Boat” by Paul Hendrickson. A stunningly original and deeply gripping contribution to our understanding of this great American writer, published 50 years after his death.
    FICTION
    “Those Across The River” by Christopher Buchlman. This debut novel is wonderfully eerie from start to finish.

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  • New era begins for the Old Sunnyside School

     

    SHALLOTTE—Former students and teachers returned to the old Sunnyside School at 221 Village Road last week to begin a new chapter for the building.

    Students and teachers were joined by past mayors, Save Old Sunnyside committee members, members of the Brunswick County Board of Education, Brunswick County Schools representatives, the mayor and aldermen for a ribbon cutting reception.

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  • Ghost lore and legends

    OCEAN ISLE BEACH—There is something spooky lurking outside. Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters?

    Not if you live in Brunswick County.

    If you live here—or are visiting—you may want to call Will and Allison Smith of Ocean Isle Beach. They have been tracking and researching the county’s ghost sightings, legends and lore for several years.

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  • Beating all the odds—Defying breast cancer

     

    SUPPLY—When Betty Lou West heard her doctor diagnose her with cancer, she closed her ears.

    She didn’t want to hear any more. She knew her course of action and told her doctor not to tell her the type of cancer or the stage.

    “When I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1967, the doctor knew I wouldn’t take treatment,” West said.

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  • Beach music and more at this weekend’s Festival by the Sea

    A Southern rock band, three beach-music bands and an Elvis impersonator highlight the concerts at Festival by the Sea this weekend.
    Some stadium seating will be available in front of the pavilion, but festival-goers are welcome to bring lounge/tailgating chairs.
    Jaded Mayberry, the Southern rock band, performs “The Joker” by The Steve Miller Band, “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyd and other songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Hootie and The Blowfish, Sister Hazel and John Mellencamp.

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  • Holden Beach’s annual Festival by the Sea is this weekend

    In a struggling national economy, everybody’s favorite two words are “It’s free.”
    Those two words describe Holden Beach’s Festival by the Sea. Once again, there will be free admission and free parking. A family can spend its money on food and crafts instead of admission.
    The two-day festival is from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, under the high-rise bridge on the island.

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  • Religion briefs

    Church offers winter clothing
    Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 2000 Zion Hill Road in Bolivia, will have a winter clothing giveaway from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. Bring what you don’t need, and take everything that you do need. All clothing is free to all.

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  • What does it mean, what will it take, to love without exception?

    I wasn’t there. I didn’t see for myself, experience for myself, the wonder of Jack Jezreel’s prophetic call for the parishioners of St. Brendan Church and the people of Brunswick County.
    I feel a bit like Paul, the letter writer of the Christian Scriptures. He also was not there in the physical company of Jesus of Nazareth. He did not see or experience for himself the power of Jesus’ presence among the people of Jerusalem and its environs. Yet, he felt the call and command of Jesus’ message witnessed in his words and works viewed from afar.

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