Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Fruit and Vegetable Stands in Southport

This blog is not meant to be mean or disrespectful, but rather just a simple observation.

How many fruit and vegetable stands do we need in the Southport area? While many businesses in the Southport area are failing during these trying economic times, fruit stands seem to be proliferating. Just in the past few months 2 new storefront fruit and vegetable stands have opened in the Southport area: 1 on the right as you go over the bridge to Oak Island and 1 on Hwy. 211 in the Dollar General shopping center. Not to mention the rotating selection of fruit and vegetable vendors near the intersection of Hwy. 211 and Dosher Cutoff.

Do we eat more fruit and veggies during an economic slowdown? Are these just hard-working folks trying to make ends meet?

You can also buy fruits and vegetables at any of the 4 groceries in our area and you can even buy fruits and vegetables at the Farmer's Market that is held on the Garrison lawn each Wednesday morning during the summer season.

That is a lot of fruits and vegetables for one small town... just wondering out loud!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

New Spa and Salon on Bald Head Island

Bald Head Island residents and guests celebrated the grand opening of the Island Retreat Spa and Salon on Friday, April 10 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of the new facility. Island Retreat, a 2,200 square foot spa and salon, is the first to be located on the island. In addition to island residents, guests, and Bald Head Island Limited staff members, Daniel Williams, vice president of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce, along with five chamber Ambassadors, were present to welcome Bald Head Island’s newest amenity...

Myrtle Beach Wildfire Picture

For me, this picture taken by Mary Ann Chastain of the Associate Press sums up the devastation caused by the wildfire in Myrtle Beach this week. This picture also shows how much worse it almost was....

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Myrtle Beach, SC Wildfire

Southport, NC woke up this morning to the smell of smoke. Interestingly, there is nothing on fire in the Southport area. The cause of the smoke is a wildfire that started yesterday in Myrtle Beach, SC, a good 30-40 miles to the Southwest of Southport, North Carolina.

The smoke was so dense in some parts of Southport that it made breathing difficult. The smoke settled in, like a fog, in low lying areas. Reports indicate that it could take months to extinguish the Myrtle Beach fire and may even require the hand of Mother Nature, in the form of a tropical storm. Until the flames and smoldering are fully extinguished the surrounding areas will be at the mercy of the wind with regard to the smoke.

At this time over 15,000 acres and 70 homes have burned in the popular Barefoot Landing subdivision and to the West. Over 2,500 people have been evacuated and more evacuations are expected as the fire continues to march Eastward towards the more densely populated beach areas of Myrtle Beach. A fire of this magnitude has not been seen in this area since 1976 when over 30,000 acres burned.

Officials are unsure of the cause of this recent fire at this time. Yesterdays strong winds, however, certainly contributed to the size of this fire and the speed in which it spread. Winds gusted to 30-40 mph yesterday which made fighting this fire even more difficult. Firefighters were hoping the Intracoastal Waterway would act as a natural firebreak. If the fire jumps the Waterway the more populated areas and tourist attractions of Myrtle Beach will be in grave danger.

About Myrtle Beach:

Myrtle Beach is a very popular tourist destination located on the coast of South Carolina, just South of the North Carolina and South Carolina Border. Tourists from all over the country flock to Myrtle Beach year round for the warm climate and availability of restaurants and attractions. Myrtle Beach is widely known for it's World Class Golf Courses, Broadway Style Shows and, of course, The Myrtle Beach Motorcycle Rally, more affectionately known as "Biker's Week." Myrtle Beach is also home of the newest amusement park in the United States, Hard Rock Park, which, unfortunately, closed in September of 2008, citing financial problems, after only 9 months of operation.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Antique Postcard Collection

If you have not yet seen our Antique Postcard Collection we invite you to do so. We have over 100 vintage postcards of the Southport area, including some very rare ones! See one of our favorites below:


Monday, April 20, 2009

Tanker Ship on The Cape Fear River

While driving to the post office today I could not help but notice the giant tanker ship heading up the Cape Fear River. Compared to the tiny buildings in downtown Southport, this tanker ship looked like the New York City Skyline floating by.

Whenever I see a ship heading up the river I always wonder where they came from... how long have they been at sea... what kind of goods or products are they carrying on board... how do their families feel about them being gone for weeks at a time? The reverse is true when I see a ship heading out to sea... where are they heading... how long will it take to get there... are their families anxiously awaiting their return?

It seems many others in downtown Southport share my curiosity. Whenever a large ship sails by people stop to point and stare. The parking lot at Waterfront Park fills ups instantly. Binoculars are at the ready. Old men turn into little boys just for a moment. Then the ship is off to points unknown.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Azaleas in Full Bloom

On the way to work this morning I noticed that most azaleas are in full bloom now. 2 weeks late, as it turns out for the Azalea Festival in Wilmington, but spectacular none the less.

If you have never seen the azaleas in bloom at Orton Plantation you must stop what you are doing and drive over there right now. It is a sight to see!

It seems to me that people either love or hate azaleas. They spend 50 weeks or so a year as a boring green bush. The other 2 weeks are a vibrant display of color and beauty.

You don't realize just how many azaleas are in the Southport area until they burst with flowers and mark the beginning of Spring.

Perhaps that 2 week period is all it takes to remind us of the true beauty of nature.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Signs of the Season

Southport businesses can't help but wonder what this year's tourist season will bring. The mainstream media is sending mixed signals and only time will tell. Many local businesses (Wild Wing Cafe, Chincha's Day Spa, Timber Lake Realty, Lighthouse Deli, Groovy Movies on Oak Island, Southport Fashions, Boater's World, Golden Coral, just to name a few) have not made it through this past winter. I suspect many more local businesses will fail if the looming tourist season does not develop this year.

On a positive note, during the week leading up to Easter weekend and the Southport Spring Festival we have noticed a significant pickup in tourist traffic, despite our below average temperatures for this time of year.

Local vacation rental companies, such as Oak Island Accommodations, are reporting solid bookings for the upcoming season and they are also saying that cancellations are running the average.

With the weather improving each week hopefully more and more vacationers and day-trippers will visit the Southport area. For the sake of our local business and our local economy, let's hope so!