.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Columns

  • An addiction recovery center for women? How you can help

    By Rocky Atkinson

    Guest Columnist

    At Brunswick Christian Recovery Center, we are committed to helping men suffering from the disease of addiction reclaim their lives. Ours is a 12-week, no-cost, in-patient program that includes a whole lot of hope, love and encouragement.

    And God. Heaping big portions of God.

    Click here to read more...
  • District 17 House update

    By Rep. Frank Iler

    Guest Columnist

    Last week was another week of committee meetings at the North Carolina General Assembly, as well as community events and meetings. I had two transportation committees and two other transportation events, and other civic and veterans’ events.

    Click here to read more...
  • You decide: Can debates over tax changes be resolved?

    By Dr. Mike Walden

    Guest Columnist

    Few issues generate more discussion and debate than taxes. For example, my 90-year-old uncle is a quiet man, but a mention of taxes will set him to grumbling and complaining for almost an hour!

    Click here to read more...
  • Thanks to all who made Holiday Happenings successful

    It’s Saturday night, and I’ve been back in the office for a few hours after we broke down our seventh annual Holiday Happenings Christmas show at Shallotte Middle School.

    I know some stores fired up the holiday tunes and started putting up Christmas decorations even before Halloween was over, but for the past four years, ever since I started working at the Beacon, our show has served as my official kickoff for this festive season.

    Click here to read more...
  • You decide: What will our state be like in 2050?

    By Dr. Mike Walden

    Guest Columnist

    Most people engage to some degree in trying to predict the future.

    It can be for fun, such as predicting who will win the World Series or the next ACC championship.

    Or it can be serious, like when businesses attempt to forecast next year’s sales so they know how much product to make and workers to hire, and when our state leaders project future tax revenues so they know how much money will be available for programs and state workers’ pay.

    Click here to read more...
  • Providence Home prepares to celebrate 20th anniversary

    By Bob Lee

    Guest Columnist

    Providence Home opened its doors Nov. 19, 1997, and is the only emergency shelter for youth in Brunswick County, providing shelter, food and clothing and attending to the medical, educational, emotional, recreational and spiritual needs of several hundred Brunswick County youth.

    Click here to read more...
  • District 17 House update

    By Rep. Frank Iler

    Guest Columnist

    With all the committees meeting the past two weeks at the North Carolina General Assembly, it seems almost like we are in session.

    The last week in October, I had two official meetings in Raleigh, one in Carolina Shores and several political meetings back here in the district. Last week, we had one Raleigh meeting and a variety of economic and educational events.

    Click here to read more...
  • On Campus with BCC: ‘Pocket facts’ to share about your community college

    By Dr. Susanne Adams

    Guest Columnist

    Each year, Brunswick Community College (BCC) publishes a brief enrollment report for the fall semester.

    This report, affectionately branded “Pocket Facts,” is used by our board of trustees, foundation directors and the campus community to share current details about the college.

    Click here to read more...
  • Passionate people, compassionate community

    With all the letters to the editor we had in last week’s edition— 20 of ‘em — it felt like an early Christmas gift to me.

    It wasn’t because all those letters left no room for my column and, therefore, a little less work for me. No, it was because it reminded me how passionate Beacon readers are about this community we call home. You care enough to share your opinions publicly, and that makes me happy.

    Click here to read more...
  • Five years in, five to go to 'Who are you again?'

    I met Leland’s new tourism and marketing coordinator, Jackie Harlow, who joined the town staff in October, just last week.

    She said she had lived in Wilmington about 10 years before taking the new position and is considering a move across the bridge into Brunswick County to go with her new job.

    I appreciated what she was considering giving up, that she was, so very, very close to reaching the tipping point where she was no longer new to the area and could almost be considered a part of her community.

    Click here to read more...