Archive for the ‘Area News’ Category

Dancing With the Brunswick County Stars raises $275K for BCC

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

On August 6th, Brunswick Community College held its annual “Dancing With the Brunswick County Stars” event. Now in its third year, the fundraiser raised $274,591.17, which will be used for scholarships and to help pay for textbooks.

“Thank you, Brunswick County, for all you do for Brunswick Community College.” president Stephen Greiner said at Friday’s event.

Susan Lawing, development officer for Brunswick Community College, said that, despite a tough economy, she is overwhelmed Brunswick County residents continue to generously give in a time when money is tight and scholarships are desperately needed. “One of the things that’s continuing to happen because of the economy is more people are coming back to school, and people are needing assistance,”

“I was blown away by the talent,” Clarice Holden said of the performances. “Brunswick County’s coming up in the world. It just kept getting better and better. I was just totally amazed and so thrilled to know that our county has got on board with this.”

“Dancing With the Brunswick County Stars” has raised more than $800,000 in the past three years for Brunswick Community College, and Holden said although she sounds like a broken record praising the residents of Brunswick County for their generosity, they never cease to amaze her.

Southport, North Carolina 4th of July Festival

Friday, July 16th, 2010

This year’s 4th of July Festival in Southport – North Carolina’s official holiday celebration – was the 215th anniversary of residents and visitors gathering to display their patriotic spirit. First recorded in a newspaper in 1795, the longest running 4th of July commemoration in the state has grown to attact over 60,000 visitors each year.

Highlights included picnics, arts and crafts in the park, a car show, parade, fireworks, firemen’s competition, children’s games, live entertainment, and a stirring Naturalization Ceremony that saw 125 individuals become U.S. citizens.  Jeffrey Sapko, US Citizenship and Immigration Services field director, administered the ceremony and exhorted the participants: “Being a United States citizen requires you to do, not just be. Take your citizenship and do something with it. Make it work.”

The southeastern coast of North Carolina offers a tremendous opportunity to both ‘do’ and ‘be.’  With annual events like Southport’s historic 4th of July festival and other activities going on year round, there is plenty to do, but if you’d like to just relax and take in the fresh coastal air, it’s also a great place to simply ‘be.’

Azalea Festival

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Earlier this month, Wilmington celebrated the 63rd annual North Carolina Azalea Festival.  Gorgeous weather, fun activities for the family, an impressive parade, and a host of street vendors combined for a true festival atmosphere.  As always, it was a great family event, with lots to do and see.  The festival kicked off on Wednesday, the 7th, with the Queen’s Coronation, with the Goo Goo Dolls performing on Thursday, and the Cole Brothers Circus in town all weekend.  The garden tours started on Friday with the ribbon cutting and continued through the weekend, with the antebellum-clad Azalea Belles welcoming visitors to the gardens.  The parade on Saturday was impressive, showcasing everything from circus animals to marching bands and antique cars.  Also on Saturday, the inflatable slides and rides were set up downtown along the waterway, which was a big hit with the kids, all at no charge.  It was a superb event, and just another ingredient of what makes our corner of southeastern North Carolina such a great place to live.

Azalea Festival

Azalea Festival

Growth in Strong Real Estate Markets Including Brunswick County, North Carolina

Monday, March 29th, 2010

If Warren Buffet is right (and given his track record of Berkshire stock appreciating from $15 in 1965 to $119,800, he very often is), the US will recover from its residential housing slump by 2011.   “Within a year or so, residential housing problems should largely be behind us,” he wrote in his annual letter to Hathaway shareholders.

Most economists agree that a full-fledged recovery should begin this year, and based on last year’s performance, it is clear that some markets are prepared to grow more quickly than others in 2010.   According to Builder magazine and their “Builder Market Health Index”, compiled by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, seven of the top 20 markets will be in the Carolinas, including the popular Brunswick County coastal corridor between Wilmington, North Carolina, at number 17 and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at number 15.

Brunswick County Coastal Corridor

Brunswick County Coastal Corridor

Wilmington – Strong employment and population growth, along with its location – minutes from the Atlantic Ocean – should prompt a turnaround in new home construction this year.  A large historic district encompassing 300 city blocks, a new convention center debuting in 2010, and expansion at the Port of Wilmington combine for an excellent outlook for this coastal town in the coming year.

Myrtle Beach is another market that has benefitted from its fantastic location, adding new people to its population with one of the highest household formation rates in the country – 2.5% in 2009, with that rate expected to continue in 2010.  Total building permit activity rose strongly, 47%, in the fourth quarter of last year compared to the same period a year earlier.

The coastal corridor between these two cities is known as Brunswick County, which remains one of the 100 fastest growing counties in the U.S. at number 68.  Boasting four family-oriented beaches – Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Sunset Beach – and some of the best golf courses in the nation, Brunswick County is poised to share in the success of its neighboring coastal towns.

Wilmington Riverfest an Annual Fun-Filled Festival

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

It is that time of year again. Riverfest begins today and continues through the weekend along Wilmington’s historic river front. Along with spring’s Azalea Festival, fall’s Riverfest is one of the highlights for the year for family fun in southeastern North Carolina.

Wilmington is just a short drive north of our real estate community. Rivers Edge residents enjoy going up to Wilmington for shopping, arts, food and fun year round but during Riverfest friends and neighbors get together to do it all at the festival. Join us for 2009 Riverfest October 3-4. 

The majority of the activities are free and family oriented.  Beginning at 8am, the kids’ zone has a multitude of activities designed to keep your children healthy and active while preserving the ultimate goal: fun. A recent addition to River Fest is the Invasion of the Pirates!  In an effort to put more “river” into River Fest, it won’t be uncommon to see swashbucklers amidst the crowd.  Everyone is encouraged to dress in their own pirate garb and enter the pirate costume contest.  In addition, there will also be a treasure hunt, a great way to bring the whole family together.

Riverfest features 160 craft vendors, concessions, fireworks, and exhibits. The river event takes place along the downtown Riverwalk.