Tales of the Silver Coast – Area History

A Secret History Of Brunswick County – From the earliest days of European exploration to the golf courses and beach resorts in this fascinating and fast-growing region, Brunswick County has attracted settlers, invaders, and visitors of all descriptions.

In these pages you’ll read about Steve Bonnet, the “Gentleman Pirate,” who hid his ships in Brunswick’s moss-draped creeks but unfortunately underestimated the ebbing tide; “Mrs. Calabash,” who’s said to have lent her name to the famous sign-off for Jimmy Durante’s classic radio shows; and Topsy the Elephant, who swam for the Brunswick riverbank after breaking loose from circus handlers in the 1920s.

Follow the struggles and victories that shaped Brunswick County, from the first contact of Europeans with native Americans, to successive administrations of the Lords Proprietors, the royal governors, the British crown, and the leaders of a new nation—many at whom hailed from this small but influential corner of North Carolina. Discover Brunswick’s rich Civil War history, scenic roadways and waterways and current-day towns and townships.

Tales of the Silver Coast, recounts the tales of privateers and plantation owners, politicians and Prohibition rum-runners and the many colorful people and diverse places of southeastern North Carolina.
Hard Cover $24.95

“Miller has done an exceptional job keeping the tone light while still being informative. Each story is only two to three pages long, with illustrations liberally spread throughout, making it perfect for children. Young and old will love the story of the Barefoot Felon, where a captain uses a simple trick to save his ship from pirates.”

- Brunswick Alive! Magazine

Ocean Isle’s Water Cleanest!

Things are going just swimmingly at most NC beaches. The annual beach water quality report by the National Resources Defense Council Read more

What’s Going On Up There?

Get out of the heat this summer and enjoy a few cool shows—at Ingram Planetarium in Sunset Beach.
The planetarium, at 7625 High Market St. in The Village at Sunset Beach, is on its summer schedule now and opens at noon Tuesdays through Saturdays.
The Ingram Planetarium offers a number astronomy and science programs.

Displays abound in the planetarium’s Paul Dennis Science Hall, and free family activities are offered at 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through Aug. 19.

Check out “Navigating the Seas,” covering the function of basic tools used in celestial navigation.

On Wednesdays, the featured program is “Turtle Talk,” with Sunset Beach Turtle Patrol volunteers teaching about the life cycle of sea turtles and their work to save them.

Thursdays are “Sun Fun Day.” Learn how the sun works, look through a solar telescope (weather permitting), and participate in other sun-related activities.

The planetarium’s 85-seat Sky Theater simulates a perfectly dark, starry night, and it is unsafe to move around during shows. Late arrivals are not admitted to the theater. All shows are one hour or less.

The show schedule through Sept. 4 kicks off each day at 1 p.m. with “Astronaut,” a new show appropriate for all ages. Experience a rocket launch from inside the body of an astronaut while exploring amazing visualizations of space. Float around the Space Shuttle and watch Chad, an animated test astronaut, as he learns about the perils of space.

The 2 p.m. show features “Oasis in Space.” Voyage through the solar system and deep into the universe in search of water, the key ingredient to life on earth. Learn about our solar system and the universe. It’s suitable for ages 8 and older.

At 3 p.m., the planetarium features “Zula Patrol: Under the Weather,” which is best suited for a younger audience. Join the team from the planet Zula as they use the pet Gorga to collect and learn about weather here on Earth and across the solar system.

The featured show at 4 p.m. is “Seven Wonders,” recommended for ages 9 and older. Turn back time and witness the seven ancient wonders of the world as they have not been seen for thousands of years. Then journey through space and see seven cosmic wonders as never seen before.

At 5 and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through Aug. 19, the planetarium offers laser music shows. Laser music programs are like a rock concert without the band, and they are loud.

Admission per show is $8 adults and $6 for senior adults and children ages 3-16. Those interested in seeing more than one show will receive a $1 discount.
Memberships are available. Groups should call for advance reservations and instructions.

Call 575-0033 or visit www.ingramplanetarium.org for more information.

New Beach Web Cam

Ocean Isle Beach has a new LIVE Beach WebCam! Click on the image below to view:

Live beach view web camera courtesy of: The Winds Resort Beach Club on Ocean Isle Beach!

Ocean Isle Children’s Day Camp

Calling all children ages 3-10.  Join us this summer at Camp OIB and enjoy spending time doing arts, crafts, games, story time and much more.

The 2010 season for CAMP OIB officially begins June 1 and continues until August 19.  If a heat advisory is issued on any particular day, camp will be cancelled for the safety of all participants.  Be sure to check our Government TV Channel 8 for weather cancellations.  Camp time is from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.  Camp activities will not be held on July 5th due to the holiday.  All children must be accompanied by an adult during the entire program.

This summer, The town of Ocean Isle Beach is once again sponsoring a day camp for children.  The “camp” is held at the Ocean Isle Beach Community Center every weekday from 10:00am until 12:00pmPM. 

The programs are free with a maximun enrollment of 35 children per day.  Children between the ages of 3 to 10 are welcome and parents are asked to accompany their children. It’s a great time for family fun and togetherness.

Registration begins daily at 9:30 AM.  Bring your children and join the fun!

CAMP OIB 2010 CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

10 a.m. – 12 noon  An Adult Must Stay With the Child for the Entire Program

June 1 – August 21 (Check Channel 8 for Weather Cancellations)

Arts, crafts, games, and stories for children 3 – 10 years of age

Located at the OIB Community Center 44 East First Street

MONDAY       -           TROPICAL FUN
Dance the Limbo and play Where’s the Mermaid/Merman Game.  Then it’s off to Mermaid Story time and craft making with beads and shells.  “Gigi” grandmother of the mermaids will be on hand to share tales of the sea, so be sure to bring your camera.

TUESDAY      -           TURTLES AND BOATS
Dance to “Dora at the Beach” and play the Sea Turtle Game.  Enjoy crafts and story time with “Baby Sea Turtle” and interact with turtle eggs.   The Power Squadron will have boats and equipment on site to teach children hands-on water safety information.

WEDNESDAY -             WACKY WEDNESDAY
Dance the Hokey Pokey and Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.  Enjoy beach games, making sun catchers and “Curious George” story time. Study our local shells with Ms. Gayle.

THURSDAY –            PIRATE DAY
ARRGHH!! MATEY join us as we march to the Flag Parade and play the Cannonball/Treasure Hunt.  Then it’s off to enjoy pirate flag crafts and “Jimmy and Pirate Talk” story time.  You never know when Captain Greybeard will pay a visit.

Registration for activities will be held daily Monday – Friday at 10:00 a.m. and ending promptly at 10:20 a.m. to allow activities to begin.

Activity Participant Forms must be completed for all participants.

Ocean Isle Community Center * 44 East First Street * Ocean Isle Beach * (910) 579-4394

Local Author’s Books: Huge Hit!

Local Author and Illustrator Miller Pope has spent a lifetime as an artist Read more

Beach Project Complete!

The Corps of Engineers has just completed the Ocean Isle Beach beach renourishment project which also included the dredging of Shallotte Inlet aiding navigation.

More than 500,000 cubic yards of sand was placed on the Ocean Isle Beach strand during May 2010.

The project removed sand from a sand bar in the Shallotte River Inlet (near the waterway between Ocean Isle and Holden Beach) and moved the sand to the east end of the beach.

Also the widened beach at the east end will offer additional recreational benefits such as sunbathing, fishing and shelling, also the extra sand will create extra nesting habitat for sea turtles.

It was important that the project be completed by May 21st in order to not interfere with loggerhead turtles’ nesting season.

Mayor Debbie Smith said it is the largest project of the year.

The renourishment project, which is in conjunction with Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville Beaches, brought 509,200 cubic yards of sand to the beach, according to the town’s Web site. The sand was placed as far east as Shallotte Boulevard and as far west as Concord Street.
“This goes the furthest west than any renourishment has gone since original construction in 2001,” Smith said.

Ocean Isle Beach has contracted with the Corps of Engineers in a 50-year, $150 million contract for beach renourishment.

Work Resumes On Park

Work on the first park in southwestern Brunswick County’s, the five acre Ocean Isle Beach Park located on Old Georgetown Road, has resumed, and it could be open to visitors by late June according to county official.

Originally the county’s plan was to be finished with the park by last by October, but construction on the park came to a standstill when the contractor on the project, Weaver Co. Inc., of Conway, S.C., went bankrupt, leaving the park’s fate hanging in the balance.

Liberty Mutual, the bonding company for the project, took over with Boggs Paving Inc., of Myrtle Beach, chosen to finish the job.

Although most of the park’s amenities have already been completed, including eight tennis courts, playground equipment and a 300-seat amphitheater, the park is still lacking infrastructure.

The new contractor will be responsible for completing the 15% of work that remains to be finished, including paving, landscaping of the entire site and tying sewer into the Ocean Isle Beach sewer system. Boggs Paving recently began work at the park.

According to Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith a town staff member recently met with the new contractor about the park’s wastewater connection linking its restroom facilities to the Ocean Isle Beach treatment plant, an important step in the project. Smith said she was happy the project now has a completion date in sight.

I think it is certainly going to be an asset to this end of the county. It’s got wonderful tennis courts and a wonderful playground for children,” Smith said. “Of course, with the amphitheater and event space it should add some activities in our end of the county.”

The county received a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust grant for the $2.9 million project.

Resort Wins Cleanliness Award

On March 8th of this year The Winds Resort was awarded with the coveted Platinum A Award from The Environmental Health Section of the Brunswick County Health Department.

This department is responsible for all manner of health inspections – they inspect accommodations, restaurant, kitchens, dining area and The Winds’ TikiBar.

When you reach the Platinum level that means that you have received the Golden A Award for five consecutive years. The Golden A Award is received when you have a 95% or above for all inspections.

The owners and management of The Winds thank their food service and housekeeping staff for their diligence and are so proud of this ward and the people who won it for The Winds!

Beach Renourishment!

More than 500,000 cubic yards of sand is coming to the Ocean Isle Beach strand during 2010.
The town is scheduled for another beach nourishment project, which Mayor Debbie Smith said should be the largest project of the year.
“That’s always a welcome addition to the storm protection strand out there,” she said.
The renourishment project, which is in conjunction with Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville Beaches, will bring 509,200 cubic yards of sand to the beach, according to the town’s Web site. The sand will be placed as far east as Shallotte Boulevard and as far west as Concord Street.
“This will go the furthest west than any renourishment has gone since original construction in 2001,” Smith said.
Ocean Isle Beach has contracted with the Corps of Engineers in a 50-year, $150 million contract for beach renourishment.
Smith said the beach renourishment project is coming at a good time for the east end of the island, which has had quite a bit of erosion recently.
“Right now most of it’s OK, but some of the eastern regions are getting narrower where they don’t offer the protection they need in case of a storm,” she said.
Smith is also hopeful about hearing a positive response from The Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) regarding the possibility of the town building a terminal groin at the east end of the island. The CRC has undertaken feasibility studies, which Smith hopes will help persuade the General Assembly the structures are necessary in the effort to fight beach erosion.
Currently these structures are not permitted by law.
Thee studies began earlier this year after a bill to make terminal groins legal stalled in the N.C. House. House Bill 709 was meant to “address erosion control issues,” and would give permission to the CRC to conduct a study of the feasibility and advisability of a terminal groin as an “erosion control device.”
Mayor Debbie Smith said that she hopes the House take positive action.

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