Living Here | Brunswick County is moving forward

Community parks place high on the list of significant additions to Brunswick County and are instrumental in moving the county forward. The parks meet the needs of residents and visitors alike and continue a commitment to providing an enhanced quality of life.

The lighted flagpole in the veterans’ area at Sunset Beach Town Park, Sunset Boulevard and Shoreline Drive, Sunset Beach, N.C., was dedicated Memorial Day. The first phase of the 5.2 acres of the eco-friendly park consists of walking trails and a parking lot. The components of the remaining phases will be decided at a later date, said councilman Wilson Sherrill.

The Fourth of July weekend introduced the first dog park in Holden Beach, N.C. Located at 146 Scotch Bonnet Drive off Ocean Boulevard, the park is separated into two sections, one for large dogs and the other for small ones. The town’s Parks & Recreation board suggested it as a welcome addition, said town clerk Heather Finnero.

Another proposed park is the 10-acre Mulberry Street Park off Main Street in Shallotte, N.C. Buddy Kelly’s Farmers Market and the Shallotte SummerFest, which includes the summer concerts and movies, will move to the park when it opens in 2015.

An email from Rachel Johnson, economic development/media/events coordinator for the town of Shallotte, states, “Additionally there will be a pond, a new road that runs behind the Main Street businesses, playground, community garden and native plant garden. We hope to have all of that ready by April 2015!”

Town Creek Park, 6420 Ocean Highway East, Winnabow, N.C., has been under total renovation for the past several months and is scheduled to open in fall 2014. The 35 acres will include tennis courts, walking trails, adventure playground, multipurpose fields, basketball courts, bocce ball and shuffleboard, as well as a concession stand. A dog park will be new to the park’s modernization.

The one-acre Calabash Community Park at Persimmon Road and Traders Lane in Calabash, N.C., opened in November 2012. A playground for children, large picnic area and grill, horseshoes, shuffleboard, bocce ball and restrooms are included in the amenities.

Ocean Isle Beach Park, 6483 Old Georgetown Road in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., opened in 2010. The 5-acre park includes two playgrounds, eight tennis courts, a 300-seat amphitheater, picnic shelter and a multipurpose field.

With the assistance of BARK, Brunswick Area Responsible K-9 Owners, the first dog park in Brunswick County opened in 2010, as an addition to Shallotte Park, 5550 Main St., Shallotte, N.C.

Brunswick County Parks and Recreation Department agree to designate an area for the dogs, but BARK provided the $6,000 needed for materials, which included the chain-link fence, receptacles, grass and sign. Members of the nonprofit organization then built the park.

“It opened the doors for all the other dog parks around here to be built,” said Lorretta Pyeatt, president and founder of BARK and owner of the Canine Academy in Bolivia, N.C.

She explained that since that first dog park in Shallotte, community members have come to her for advice on how to build other dog parks in their towns.

“We plowed the field for everybody else to open dog parks,” she said.

Besides new parks, other advances in Brunswick County include Brunswick County Farmers Market at Building D, Government Complex, Old Ocean Highway, Bolivia, N.C. Started in 2013, vendors sell their home-grown produce, nuts, herbs and other edible goods while members of the Cooperative Extension and health department provide cooking demonstrations and recipes. It is open from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays.

Amanda Hutcheson, public information officer for the county, said the farmers market will continue through the fall.

“We will keep going as long as vendors wish,” she said. “Last year [the market] went into December.”

Another addition in the county was the opening in May of the museum of the Old Bridge Preservation Society in Sunset Beach. The museum displays furniture, equipment, artifacts and documents from the Tender House of Sunset Beach’s swing bridge, along with artifacts from the Vesta, a confederate blockade runner that ran aground on its maiden voyage in 1864. The museum and swing bridge, a landmark from 1958 until it was replaced by a high-rise bridge in 2010, are at 109 Shoreline Drive, Sunset Beach.

Brunswick County, N.C.

Established | Founded in 1762, incorporated in 1968.

Origin of name | Named after the town of Brunswick in honor of King George I of England, who was also the Duke of Brunswick.

What it’s known for | It is home to more than 50,000 acres of conserved, botanically rich land.

Major employers | Brunswick Novant Medical Center, Progress Energy

Major events | The county is home to the N.C. Oyster Festival, which takes place annually in Ocean Isle Beach in mid-October.

Property tax rate | $0.4425 per hundred of assessed value

Government complex | 45 Courthouse Drive NE, Bolivia, N.C., 910-253-2000

Commissioners | 910-253-2000; Phil Norris, chairman; Scott Phillips, vice chair; John Martin (Marty) Cooke Jr., Pat Sykes, Frank Williams

Calabash, N.C.

Established | 1973

Origin of name | Once known as Pea Landing, it was named after the Calabash gourd found along the banks of the Calabash River in the 1800s.

What it’s known for | Self-described as “The Seafood Capital of the World,” “Calabash-style” seafood is lightly battered and fried; it has a small-town atmosphere.

Major employers | Restaurant industry

Major events | Summer concerts and movies in its new park, Calabash Community Park, 868 Persimmon Road; Christmas tree lighting

Property tax rate | $0.0875 per hundred of assessed value

Zip code | 28467

Town hall | 882 Persimmon Road, 910-579-6747; towncalabash@atmc.net; www.townofcalabash.net

Mayor | Mary Louise Knight

Commissioners | Daria Buccilli, Emily DiStasio, mayor pro tem; Sandy Melahn, Joseph “Jody” Nance, Charles “Buddy” Walton

Carolina Shores, N.C.

Established | 1998. It was part of Calabash from 1989 but disputes over the sewer system, sign ordinance and proposed development on the Calabash waterfront caused Calabash representatives to petition the state legislature to separate the two municipalities.

Origin of name | It originally started as an 18-hole golf course community, but has expanded over the past decade.

What it’s known for | Having six residential communities: Carolina Shores, the Village at Calabash, the Farm at Brunswick, Beacon Townes, Lighthouse Cove, Calabash Lakes; Carolina Shores Golf and Country Club.

Major employers | Food Lion

Major events | Annual Arbor Day festival in March

Property tax rate | $0.1016 per hundred of assessed value

Zip code | 28467

Town hall | 200 Persimmon Road, 910-575-4877; towncs@atmc.net; www.townofcarolinashores.com

Mayor | Walter Goodenough

Commissioners | John Russo, Bill Brennan, Greg Davis, John Manning, Joseph Przywara, mayor pro tem

Holden Beach, N.C.

Established | 1969

Origin of name | In 1756, Royal Gov. Dobbs gave land to Benjamin Holden, governor of colonial North Carolina. Records from 1785 refer to the area as Holden Beach.

What it’s known for | Holden Beach pavilion on Jordan Boulevard, which serves as a stage during town festivals and can be rented for private functions.

Major employers | Real estate companies and restaurants

Major events | Day at the Docks; N.C. Festival by the Sea; Christmas tree lighting

Property tax rate | $0.127 per hundred of assessed value

Zip code | 28462

Town hall | 110 Rothschild St., 910-842-6488; heather@hbtownhall.com; www.hbtownhall.com

Mayor | J. Alan Holden

Commissioners | Dennis Harrington, Ken Kyser, mayor pro tem; Regina Martin, Sandy Miller, Sheila Young

Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.

Established | 1959

Origin of name | Named by developer.

What it’s known for | The population of Ocean Isle Beach swells from about 550 year-round residents to 25,000 during the tourist season.

Major employers | Atlantic Telephone, Brunswick Electric

Major events | N.C. Oyster Festival in October, Fourth of July Parade, Super Saturday, which includes a Christmas parade, caroling and visit from Santa Claus

Property tax rate | $0.13 per hundred of assessed value

Town hall | 3 W. Third St., 910-579-2166; www.oibgov.com

Mayor | Debbie S. Smith

Commissioners | D.B. Grantham, Dean Walters, mayor pro tem; Wayne Rowell, Bob Williams, Betty Williamson

Shallotte, N.C.

Established | 1899

Origin of name | Named for the shallot onion but pronounced with a long ‘o.’

What it’s known for | The commercial hub of southwestern Brunswick County between Wilmington, N.C., and North Myrtle Beach

Major employers | ATMC; Shallotte Crossing shopping center

Major events | Annual Christmas tree lighting and Christmas parade; summer series in the park with movies or live bands; Farmers Market

Property tax rate | $0.35 per hundred of assessed value

Zip code | 28459

City hall | 106 Cheers St., 910-754-4032; www.townofshallotte.org

Mayor | Walter Eccard

Aldermen | Jimmy Bellamy, Carson Durham IV, mayor pro tem; Larry Harrelson, Alan Lewis, Gene Vasile

Sunset Beach, N.C.

Established | 1968

Origin of name | Named by Manon C. Gore, who bought the island from the Brooks family in 1955.

What it’s known for | Ingram Planetarium; Old Bridge Preservation Society

Major employer | Village at Sunset Beach shopping and dining establishments; real estate offices

Major events | Sunset at Sunset fall street fair

Property tax rate | $.10.5 per hundred of assessed value

Zip code | 28468

Town hall | 700 Sunset Blvd. N., 910-579-6297; www.sunsetbeachnc.gov.

Mayor | Ron Watts

Council | Lou DeVita, mayor pro tem; Terry Johnson, Carol Scott, Wilson Sherrill, Mike Williams

This story was originally published September 26, 2014 at 9:25 AM with the headline "Living Here | Brunswick County is moving forward."