Community Announcements 9.3.09

Meetings

VFW Post 9983

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9983 is a non-profit service organization for men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States in combat areas.  Please see a member for eligibility requirements. Our motto is to “Honor the dead by serving the living.” In keeping with this we are active in many service and community programs. 

We are currently accepting applications for Patriots Pen, Voice of Democracy, and Teacher of the Year, awards/scholarships. All have a deadline of November 1.

Canteen hours are 3 to 7 p.m. daily with extended hours for special events. Our hall is available for rental and catering can be arranged.

Upcoming events: September 5 Yard Sale at Post/ September 5 Poppy distribution Sneads Ferry and Surf City Food Lions/ September 13 Post Meeting/ October 24 Turkey Shoots begin.

VFW Post 9983 is located at 188 Hines Stump Sound Church Rd Holly Ridge, one mile north of Holly Ridge. Turn at flags. For more info, 910-329-1881.

Sneads Ferry Bingo

Every Monday Night at Sneads Ferry Community Center located at 126 Park Lane. (910) 327-3335. Warm-up Games 6:30 p.m., Regular Games 7 p.m., $300 Progressive Game. Jackpot Game – The more players, the bigger the prize. Free coffee. Refreshments available. Smoke free. Proceeds to support the community through the Sneads Ferry Community Council. Volunteers are needed! Leave a message for Ruth Clifton at 327-3335 or sfccoffice@netscape.com!

Holly Festival committee meeting

The Holly Festival committee will be meeting every first Tuesday of the month, following the regular Parks and Rec meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Holly Ridge Community Building on Sound Rd.

Young in Heart

Young in Heart, the senior citizen group from the Topsail area, is open for membership to all Topsail area residents who are 50 years of age or older. The dues are $6 a year. For more information, contact Club President Rosemary Krug at 270-1875.

Sneads Ferry Beautification Committee

Meetings are held at 9:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month from September through May at the New River Plantation Clubhouse in Sneads Ferry (off Route 172).

The objective is to continue to beautify Sneads Ferry. Currently the group maintains several plant beds and the attractive banners displayed throughout the community. New members, volunteers and guests are always welcome. For more information, contact Claire Wunder (327-2435) or Lois Rupert (327-1069).

Sneads Ferry Rotary Club

Members of the Sneads Ferry Rotary Club meet every Wednesday at noon at the North Shore Country Club in Sneads Ferry. Contact President Mike Wagoner at (910) 327-2451 for details. Come join in helping to continue to make Sneads Ferry a better place to live.

Topsail Island Fishing Club 

Open to all members and sponsors. Meetings are held the last Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Volunteer Fire Department on Hwy 210. The remaining meetings are inSeptember and October. 

Events and Celebrations

Tasting with Topsail 2009

Tasting with Topsail is scheduled for Saturday, September 19 at the Assembly Building. It consists of wine tasting from local wineries and distributors and food tasting from area member restaurants. This is a successful fund-raising event for the chamber that has also been a great deal of fun. For more into, call 910-329-4446 or e-mail suellen@topsailcoc.com.

Arts/ Exhibits

Missiles and More Museum

• Newest exhibit: “Topsail… Barrier Island… Home”

The beauty of this twenty-six mile ribbon of sand is known and cherished by those who visit and those who live here.  Our new exhibit will speak to the magical influence and relaxation it provides; and address its inherent physiology, its ever present fragility and the manageability that is required to sustain it. 

Other exhibits describe events and activities, which have impacted life on Topsail Island:

"Operation Bumble Bee," "Camp Davis," Pirates of the Carolinas," "The Development of the Osprey at Camp Lejeune" and "The Natural History of Topsail Island."

Sneads Ferry Community Theatre

Sneads Ferry Community Theatre presents: “Murder in the Magnolias,” a hysterical, madcap murder mystery spoof by Tim Kelly. (Produced by special arrangement with Baker's Plays). Directed by Katina Greeves

Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, 2009 at 8 p.m., Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday, September 18 and 19, 2009 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 20 at 3 p.m.

Adult tickets are $10 at the door, $5 children under 12.

To reserve seats for parties of 10 or more, call the box office 910-327-2798.

Sneads Ferry Community Center is located at 126 Park Lane. www.sneadsferrycommunitytheatre.com

• The Sneads Ferry Community Theatre is looking for a few good men and women with the desire to direct state of the art theatre productions that entertain and enrich the community! Join the fun. Contact one of the following board members for an application:

Judy Groff - jgroff04@gmail.com 221-4473, Gaylene Branton - branton@att.net 389-8776, Marcia Hamilton - kmhamilton-1@charter.net 358-1298. www.sneadsferrycommunitytheatre.com

Surf City Artists Guild

• A schedule of SCAG’s events is available on-line at www.surfcityartists.com, click on schedule of events or call 910-210-0361.

Ongoing monthly events:

• The Art Gallery at Surf City Community Center displays a different artist each month.

• Topsail Chamber of Commerce in Surf City will exhibit artwork from SCAG artists each month.

• If you are interested in being a featured artist at either location, contact Lynn Ovens at lovens3@gmail.com

Friends of the Library

Join the Friends of the Library for a celebration of Surf City and its local fishing communities at the Fall Author’s Luncheon. Carol Ross Overstreet, one of Topsail’s Island’s “local kids” has grown up to write a book, The Fisherman’s Paradise, about the early days on the island and the first families to take up residence in Surf City. Carol came with her family to Surf City in 1955. In The Fisherman’s Paradise she relates the stories and histories of the people living in Surf city back when the fledging community was an everyman fishing and vacation town.

Ms. Overstreet has a B.A. in Literature and Writing, a Masters in Education and has taught at both the public school and community college level. She has two other publications, Gator Creek and Water Under the Bridge, both of which are set in the interior, agricultural part of Florida.

The luncheon will be held on October 5, 12 p.m. at Daddy Mac’s Beach Grille on the beach a 108 N Shore Drive in Surf City. The menu will include a mixed green salad and choice of Alaskan Salmon or Pecan Crusted Chicken served w/ roasted red new potato w/garlic, butter and herbs, Homemade Big Cookie with Tea and Coffee. Tickets can be purchased at the Hampstead Branch Library ($20 per person includes tax and gratuity). After lunch Carol will personalize your copy of The Fisherman’s Paradise which will be available at the luncheon. Tickets for the luncheon and/or raffle tickets for a large gift basket ($1 or 6 for $5) can be purchased at the Hampstead Branch Library or from a member of the Library Friends’ Board:  Sandy Asselta, Mary Deheck, Peggy Falkenstein, Kay Gumond, Judy Hearne, Patricia Maynard, Mary Ann Mintier, Linda Rogala, Kathy Sabella, Maggie Sevek and Peg Strenkowski. Call the library for more information: 270-4603.

Carolina Chocolate Drops to Play Topsail High Auditorium

Hampstead, N.C. September 12, 2009: In a co-production of the Pender Arts Council and Topsail High School Theatre and Music, the Carolina Chocolate Drops will play a one-night-only concert at Topsail High School in the Kenneth Lanier Performing Arts Center. The Carolina Chocolate Drops have toured worldwide preserving and promoting the traditional style of Piedmont old time string band music popular at such folk events as corn shuckings, barn dances, and frolics in the Piedmont and beyond. Several tracks of the trio’s music can be heard in the Denzel Washington motion picture “The Great Debaters.” The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2009. Tickets will be 10 dollars for all ages. Tickets will be available at the venue starting at 6:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets will also be available in advance at the Topsail branch of the Pender County Public Library, as well as at Beeline Printing in Burgaw. This is the first of several concerts planned by the Pender Arts Council. Information about Pender Arts Council and its programs will be available that evening. For more information about the Carolina Chocolate Drops, please see their website at www.carolinachocolatedrops.com. 

Vintage photographs and stories of Sneads Ferry are wanted!

Do you have archives of old photographs or vintage postcards? Are you knowledgeable about your local history? Would you like to help preserve your community’s fascinating history? Local residents Sherry Thurston and Joshua Thurston are currently compiling a photographic history of Sneads Ferry and are looking for your help! They are assembling historic images of Sneads Ferry and the stories that go with them to include in an upcoming book to be published by Arcadia Publishing, the nation’s leading publisher of local and regional history. To share your photographs and stories, please contact Sherry Thurston or Joshua Thurston at 910-327-1781 or sherrythurston@charter.net by fall 2010. Help keep local history alive!

Volunteer

Holiday Craft & Bazaar

Dixon Middle School PTO is sponsoring a Holiday Craft & Bazaar on Saturday, October 3. Vendors are needed to make this a successful project. Spaces are $25 for a 10x10 space. The event will be held inside the middle school gym. There will also be a silent auction, a bake sale and special entertainment. For more info, contact: Carole Justice at 910-327-1465. Proceeds will be used for the middle school! 

Back to School Supply Drive

Topsail Island Association of Realtors Back to school supply drive for kids in need

With the current economic situation and the debt that has been placed on the shoulders of our children, education is at its peak of importance. These kids are the future of our nation and need our support. I am sure by now you are seeing TV commercials and print ads about kids getting back-to-school supplies. No matter what anyone says or how any kid feels about going back to school, all children need school supplies. No child should be deprived of the excitement of having school supplies or have to walk into a classroom on the first day of school without those supplies. A donation today will help us get supplies into the hands of kids who need them.

Contributions of new backpacks, as well as used backpacks in good condition, markers, folders, binders, scissors, highlighters, dry erase markers, crayons, glue sticks, permanent markers, pencils, pens, paper, notebooks, color pencils, and money donations for purchase of items are needed and greatly appreciated. The supplies will be distributed locally to Topsail and Dixon schools.

Donations can be dropped off at the Topsail Island Association of Realtors, located at 13775 NC Hwy 50, Suite 501 in Surf City at the Treasure Coast Landing Shopping Plaza.

Please contact Ronell Rimes at 910-231-4333 or Pat McClain 910-471-3031 with any questions or if you need pick up for donations. In addition, Undertoe Surf Shop in Surf City is willing to donate $2 for every Undertoe shirt sold to help us promote.

— Submitted by Ronell Rimes, Broker Associate, Century 21 Action Inc.

BBQ Benefit and raffle

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 at 5 p.m. at Topsail Sound RV Park (734 Morris Landing, on the back road to Holly Ridge) Coleman Gas Grill and a dolphin clock for Larry Raish who has End Stage Pancreatic Cancer. BBQ, slaw, beans, rolls, dessert and drink. Plates are only $6 or $6.50 at the door. Please call Sandie at 910-622-0777. Delivery available for $10 or more plates. Call 910-329-0500. sandie@topsailsoundrvpark.com

Brad Stanley BBQ Benefit & Baked Goods Sale

Saturday, September 5, serving starts at 10 a.m./ Sunday, September 6, serving starts at 1 p.m. BBQ Plates: $6 each. All proceeds go the surviving family of Brad Stanley. 1287 Highway 210, Sneads Ferry, NC. 910-327-1588

Sports

Tennis Lessons

The Onslow County Parks & Recreation Department is offering beginner and intermediate youth and adult tennis lessons. Beginner lessons start Tuesday, September 8 and continue each Tuesday and Thursday thru September 17. Intermediate lessons begin Tuesday, September 29 and conclude on Thursday, October 8. Fee $ 40 (only $ 10 per hour of instruction). Call 347-5332 or visit www.onslowcountync.gov/parks to register.

America’s Boating Course

The New River Sail and Power Squadron will be offering a safe boating and skills course on October 3, 2009.  This one-day course provides essential information for all types of craft, including sail, power and personal watercraft (PWC).  Whether you are considering a purchase or have been boating for years, we invite you and your family to join us to learn about:  Boat Handling and Seamanship; Required Equipment; Rules of the Road; Nautical Charts and Aides to Navigation; Engine Troubleshooting; Boat Trailering and much more.

Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Onslow County Public Library, 58 Doris Avenue E, Jacksonville. Cost is $35 per person, which includes textbook and exam. Pre-registration is required. Class size is limited. Contact Education Officer, Tom Hayden at 327-2653 or tdhayden@charter.net.

Effective May 1, 2010, N.C. law will require all boaters under age 26 to have taken a safe boating course. This course exceeds boater educational requirements in all states and can even save you money on your insurance rates.

Parks and Recreation/ Classes

Surf City Parks and Recreation

All classes and events take place at Surf City Community Center, unless otherwise noted. Our address is 210 Community Center Dr. (off J.H. Batts Rd. on the mainland). 

Current Classes:

• Adult Tap Dance: Thursday, 9 to 10 a.m. (begins 9/10)

• Advanced Bridge: Monday, 12 to 4 p.m.

• Basketball (Open Play for 18 and over): Tuesday 6 to 9 p.m.

• Beginning Bridge: Wednesday, 1 to 4 p.m.

• Belly Dancing (Beginner): Wednesday, 9 to 10 a.m. (begins 9/9)

• Body Sculpting: Monday and Wednesday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Scrabble: Tuesday, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

• Cardio Blast: Monday, 5 to 5:30 p.m.

• Cardio/Core/Strength: Tuesday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (begins 9/8)

• Tae kwon do (ages 3-12): Monday and Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Tae kwon do (ages 13 & up): Monday and Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m.

• Tae kwon do (all ages): Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m.

• Twirling (ages 3 and up): Monday Evenings (begins 9/14)

• Watercolor Club: Wednesday 8:30 to 10 a.m. (begins 9/16)

New Classes:

Join Judy Kelley, a certified Dance Masters of America instructor, for adult tap lessons. Judy has been dancing for over 50 years and she would like to share that experience with local adults. Tap lessons will begin on Thursday, September 10 at 9 a.m. No prior dance experience is necessary. If you’re looking for a great workout and some fun, then this is the class for you! For more information, call Judy at (910) 328-3671.

Instructor Carol Ross Overstreet has written three historical novels, numerous newspaper columns and has written for several magazines. Join her for three upcoming writing classes at Surf City Community Center.

• Writing Workshop: Character Development: Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

September 12 and 19

For cost and pre-registration, please call Carol at (910) 467-7173.

US Coast Guard Auxiliary Classes:

ABS – About Boating Safely, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

September 15, 17, 22, and 24

Weekend Navigator, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

September 29-October 28

To register for either of these classes, please call John or Mary at (910) 270-3138.

Events:

• Lifeline Screening: Stroke/Carotid Artery, Heart Rhythm, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Peripheral Arterial Disease and Osteoporosis Screening. All five tests for $159. No insurance or Medicare/Medicaid accepted. Thursday, August 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration is required.  Call (800) 324-1851.

Wellness Groups:

• Alcoholics Anonymous: Sundays 10 to 11 a.m. and Wednesdays 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

• Alcoholics Anonymous for Women: Thursday from 12 to 1 p.m.

• Weight Watchers: Thursday at 5:30 p.m. 

Cape Fear Community College Classes at Surf City Community Center:

• GED Course:  Tuesday and Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cost:  Free. Call CFCC at (910) 362-7349 to register.

Schedule: The Surf City Community Center continually works on its schedule. If you would be interested in attending any current activities or teaching a new class, please contact the center at 910-328-4887 or e-mail parksandrec@townofsurfcity.com. The current class schedule is also available online at www.townofsurfcity.com.

Holly Ridge Parks and Recreation

• Calling serious yard sale people!

Holly Ridge Park and Recreation Department is sponsoring their Fall Yard Sale on Saturday, September the 5, located on Hwy 17, in front of Dr. White’s Dentist Office, from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.  Come out and sell, or come and find all kinds of bargains! A 15x15 space is $10. Don’t have a table? Rent one from us for $5. Space and table proceeds will go to the Park and Rec. fund for playground equipment and upkeep in our Park located off Sound Road behind our New Community Building. For more info, or to sign up for a space, please call Holly Ridge Town Hall at 910-329-7081, or visit www.townofhollyridge.com

• Now looking for talent

 The Holly Ridge Park & Rec. Committee is looking for all kinds of talent for our 3rd Annual Talent Show on Friday November 6, which will be held in our New Community Building, located on Sound Road. Auditions will be held on Oct. 20 and 21. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three winners in each age group. Entry fee is $10 per contestant. For more info, please call Holly Ridge Town Hall at 910-329-7081, or call 910-470-2700 and leave message.

• Girl Scouts: Meetings are the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 3:30 p.m. at the Holly Ridge Town Hall. For more information, call Traci at 910-265-9086. Sign up is free.

• Belly Dance Classes resume after Labor Day Call 910.4702700 or 910.329.7081 for details or to register.

• Holly Ridge Parks and Rec Meetings & Holly Fest Meetings

The Holly Ridge Parks and Recreation Committee meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month at the Holly Ridge Community Building on Sound Rd. The Holly Festival Meetings will immediately follow. Come out and be a part of the fun in Holly Ridge!

Onslow County Parks and Recreation

• Late registration - Youth Baseball/ Softball

The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department’s five youth baseball/ softball districts are conducting late registration on a space available basis. The registration fee is $21 and a copy of the birth certificate or other legal document stating the date of birth is required. For more info, contact the department at 347-5332.

• Bicycle Rodeo

The Onslow County Parks & Recreation Department, Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, Kiwanis Club of Onslow County, The Bicycle Shop, Jacksonville Mall, Onslow County Sheriff’s Department, Jacksonville Police Department, Onslow County CHIP Prevention Committee and VFW Post 9133 will sponsor a Bicycle Rodeo for children ages 4 through14 on Saturday, September 12, 2009.  The rodeo will be held beside the Jacksonville Mall. The event will be from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. Event includes minor bike repairs, helmet fitting, bike skills course and bike registration.  FREE helmets while supplies last.  For more information, call 347-5332 or visit www.onslowcountync.gov/parks.

• City to the Sea Bike Ride

The Onslow County Parks & Recreation Department, The Bicycle Shop, Food Lion, Pizza Hut and Hammocks Beach State Park will be sponsoring a leisure bike ride on Sunday, September 20. Registration for the free ride will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the ride will begin at 2 p.m. The ride will originate at the Food Lion parking lot on the corner of Piney Green and Halltown Roads and the ride will finish at Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro.  An adult must accompany riders under the age of 18 years, and all riders are encouraged to wear a helmet during the ride.  For more information, please call 347-5332 or visit: www.onslowcountync.gov/parks

The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department “Dog Day in the Park” will be held Saturday September 26, 2009 at Onslow Pines Park 9 a.m. until noon. The event will offer Microchips, Dog Wash, Photo Contest (bring photo) and Obedience, Protection and K-9 Good Citizen Demonstrations.  We are now accepting registration for the Dog Jog (one mile fun run/walk) cost is $10 fee includes T-shirt. Prizes will be awarded. Vendor space available for a $25 donation to C.A.R.T. To pre-register call 347-5332 or visit: www.onslowcountync.gov/parks

Wellness Facts Talkshops

Educational talkshops are free! Sponsored by Nature’s Sunshine Products and The Health Nut located at 16865 US Hwy 17 N. in Hampstead. 910-270-0608. The Health Nut’s mission is to educate, motivate and empower all towards achieving optimal health and wellness.

For Your Information

Junk mail reduction

You may be able to reduce your junk mail as much as 65 percent within three months by asking credit card companies and other organizations you do business with to not sell, rent or trade your name. Call 888-567-8688 to require credit-reporting firms to delete your name from their mailing list. One call reaches four major credit bureaus.

For more ideas on waste reduction contact:

N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance; 1629 Mail Service Center; Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1639. You can also call them at 919-715-6500 or 800-763-0136, or e-mail to nowaste@p2pays.org.