Community Announcements 12.10.09

Meetings

Historical Society of Topsail Island

The Historical Society program on December 10 has been changed and will instead of A Ribbon of Sand it will be Germany’s U-85: a Shadow in the Sea.  The waters off the North Carolina coast were hot with German U-boats during WWII. The U-85 was the first German U-boat sunk by a United States naval vessel after our entry into WWII. The Historical Society of Topsail Island will feature Jim Bunch, MS, and a Road Scholar from the Speaker’s Bureau of the North Carolina Humanities Council.

Meetings of the Historical Society are held at the Assembly Building at Topsail Beach at 11:30 a.m. Lunch reservations should be made by sending your check for $9 to Topsail Historical Society, P.O. Box 2645, Surf City, NC  28445.

Also consider doing the day trip excursion to New Bern on April 8. This event features a tour of historical New Bern on a trolley bus. Stops will be made at the historical graveyard, the Episcopal Church, homes and other points of interest. This special meeting costs $35, which includes the bus ride to New Bern and the trolley bus while we are in New Bern.  Departure will be at from the Assembly Building at 9 a.m. or the Food Lion in Sneads Ferry at 9:30 a.m. Bring your check to this meeting or send it to Judy Groff\, 18 Sailview Drive, North Topsail Beach, 28460.

Young in Heart

Membership in Young in Heart is open to all Topsail area residents who are 50 years of age or older. The dues are $6 a year. For more information, please contact President Rosemary Krug at 270-1875.

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!

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 Erik Shaar at (910) 327-9680 for details. Come join in helping to continue to make Sneads Ferry a better place to live.

Sneads Ferry Beautification Committee

New Dining and Value Guides are here and can be used through December 31, 2010.  From fast food to fine dining, you will find an enormous selection of restaurants to choose from, many offering "two for the price of one" meals, discounts for many area businesses such as Sears, Best Buy, Walgreen's, Advance Auto, golf courses, amusements, and many more. Areas served are: Wilmington, Myrtle Beach, Sneads Ferry, Topsail, Jacksonville and adjoining areas. With all of the discounts offered, the $25 cost will come back to you after one or two uses. The holidays are coming, they

make great gifts too. Contact: Ruth Furr-327-0302, Karen Ilsley-327-0716,

Claire Wunder-327-2435, Lois Rupert-327-1069 or any committee member to purchase.

Guide sales are our major fundraiser and enable SFBC to continue maintaining several plant beds in our area and support our colorful banner program.

New members and guests are always welcome. Meetings are held at 9:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month from September through May. For more information, contact Lois Rupert (327-1069) or Claire Wunder (327-2435).

Events and Celebrations

Surf City Community Center Events:

• Breakfast with Santa

Saturday, December 19 at Surf City Community Center from 8 to 10 a.m. $5 per person. Pancakes, sausage and milk, juice or coffee. Free crafts. Pictures with Santa. All proceeds benefit the 4 C’s Holiday Assistance Program

• Surf City Community Center is accepting donations of non-perishable food items during the months of November and December. All items will be donated to the 4 C’s Food Pantry in Hampstead. 

Lights of Love

Friends of Yopps Meeting House will have on display, in front of the Meeting House, the Lights of Love Memorial Tree through December 31, 2009. A donation of $5 is requested for each red light in honor of or in memory of a loved one. Lights may be purchased through a Friends of Yopps Meeting House member and some local businesses. Lights are only activated as bulb donations are made. As you pass the Meeting House you will be able to see the community support for the restoration of the old Meeting House. 100 percent of donations received will go toward refurbishing and maintenance work. As many of you know, there has been extensive damage due to termites and weather. Thank you for taking this opportunity to remember or honor a loved one, friend, or associate while supporting the Historic Yopps Meeting House and Cemetery. A gold remembrance ornament will be given for each donation.

You may contact Gale Earley – 455-1794, Elizabeth Earley – 327-2553, Larry Yopp -389-366, Steve Lambert – 327-2764, Mr. or Mrs. Stambro – 327-2737, or Sherry Thurston – 327-1781. 

Friends of Yopps Meeting House meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center on Hwy 172 in Sneads Ferry.

Sneads Ferry Winterfest

The annual Sneads Ferry Winterfest will be held on December 11 and 12 at the Sneads Ferry Community Center. 

Be a part of Sneads Ferry’s Community Christmas celebration by entering a Christmas tree for the Winterfest. There is no charge for entering a tree. The “Lighting of the Trees” is a very special event. Not only are the trees a joy for the folks here in Sneads Ferry, they can also be a source of joy for the needy. Last year, the Folkstone Freewill Baptist Church decorated a tree in children’s mittens, scarves, and warm hats. The articles were then given to a children’s home. Ideas for decorating themes are limitless. Please consider being a part of the “Lighting of the Trees.” To enter a tree, please call 327-1721.

Events: Friday night, December 11, activities include the "Lighting of the Trees" beginning at 7 p.m., followed by musical celebration, complimentary hot wassail and cookies. The kids can enjoy "Breakfast with Santa" on Saturday morning, December 12, starting at 9 a.m. The Arts and Crafts Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Noon to 4 p.m. hotdogs and sodas.

Interested vendors should call 910-327-1721 (indoor spaces are limited). Churches, businesses and individuals who would like to enter a tree in the "Lighting of the Trees" display should call 910-327-1721 for information.

Angel Tree 2009

For the seventh year in a row, Rick’s has set up their “Angel Tree” for the 2009 Christmas season. The Angel Tree Project helps local, needy children have a wonderful Christmas!

How it works: The Christmas tree is decorated with angels – each angel represents a local child in need this holiday season. Choose your angel and bring it to the manager. You will be given the corresponding gift wishes, needs and size information for your “angel.” Before December 18, bring the wrapped gifts to Rick’s. The social workers at the Dixon Schools will arrange for the ‘angels” to get their gifts.

It is a wonderful project and the community has always been very generous! We look forward to another very successful “Angel Tree” season!

For more information, call Rick’s at 327-2300 and ask for Linda, Paul or Alice.

Christmas for Kids

The time is now to prepare for the up-coming Christmas season. The Nobody's Social Club is again working hard to supply Christmas for Kids in our surrounding area. Each year the NSC gives toys, clothes and food to families that are not as fortunate as others in our community. Last year, 2008, the NSC helped 14 families with a total of 34 kids of all ages. Some of those children would have had nothing without help. I'm sure, considering the present economic situation, this year could be severe. In order to help as many as possible, fundraisers are a necessity. We are on December 12, 2009 cooking for donations of $6 per plate. The menu is: lemon chicken, rice pilaf and corn. It promises to be delicious. The location for pick-up is Dale's Pub on highway 50 in Holly Ridge from 11 a.m. until sold out. If as expected the plates will go fast so prepare to arrive early. To reserve one or more plates, contact Perry Hair at 910-599-6672.

We are accepting donations of non-perishable food, new unwrapped toys and gift certificates from now until Christmas. We can and will except donations in the form of check made payable to: Nobody's Social Club. There will be additional drop-off points next week. Please help made a child's eyes light up on Christmas. The community needs you.

Arts/ Exhibits

Surf City Artists Guild

• The Turtles are coming!

The guild is also very excited about sponsoring an event to benefit the Turtle Hospital.  This will involve public art displays featuring sculptures of loggerhead turtles. Artists who are interested in participating in this event or want more information should call Jane Shaar at 910-327-9680 or 910-328-1900, Extension 201B. You may also mail your contact information to Becky Wiest at PO Box 4204, Surf City, NC 28445.

Ongoing events:

• The Surf City Art Guild currently meets at ArtExposure on the first Friday of each month at 10 a.m. Address: 22527 Highway 17 (1/4 mile south of Lowes at Hwy 210. Look for the big red barn).

• 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

 Volunteer

Village Volunteers needed now! 

The Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival and the Sneads Ferry Community Council relies solely upon volunteers! If you’d like to volunteer for the Historic 40th Annual Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival please contact: Chairman Hillary Boutwell at 327- 2631 or hillaryboutwell@yahoo.com. Or if you’d like to have input on Village affairs through the Sneads Ferry Community Council please contact: Chairman Ed Sota: 327- 0546 or esota@att.net

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!

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.

• 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.

• Body Sculpting: Monday, 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.

• Power Pilates: Wednesday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• 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.

• Tennis Lessons: Call Phil Edwards at (910) 338-7519 for more information.

• Total Body Conditioning: Wednesday, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

• Twirling (ages 3 and up): Monday Evenings Call Susan at (910) 284-0719 for more information.

• Watercolor Club: Wednesday 8:30 to 10 a.m.

• Yoga (Beginner): Monday and Wednesday, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

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

• 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.

• 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 & Recreation

• Christmas Card Design Contest

The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department, Board of Education and Jacksonville Mall will host the Christmas Card Design Contest. All entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 11, at the Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department Offices at 1244 Onslow Pines Road. Age Divisions are as follows: Kindergarten, first and second graders, third and fourth graders and fifth and sixth graders. Child's name, grade, and School Name must appear on the back of the card. Be Creative! Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners in each age division. All cards will be displayed December 17 through 22 in the Jacksonville Mall. Call 347-5332 or visit www.onslowcountync.gov/parks

• Christmas Skate

The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department and the Recreation Station are sponsoring a Christmas Skate Tuesday, December 22. The event is open to the public and begins at 1 p.m. and runs through 5 p.m. The cost is $4 per person (includes skate rental). Free laser Tag game to first 300. Children 12-years-old and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone skates at his or her own risk. Call 347-5332 or visit: www.conslowcountync.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.