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March 24, 2023
www.stateportpilot.com

GOOD day for Dolphins

Dolphin Dash is Southport Elementary School’s annual fun run for students that also raises money for school projects. The latest Dash was held March 17, and what a GOOD day it turned out to be.

According to the Southport Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association, each year students raise money through pledges in exchange for their participation in the fun run. The goal last year was to raise $30,000 for the school.

Student pledges alone topped over $30,000. With generous corporate sponsorships from the community, another $13,000 was raised, putting last year’s total over $43,000.

So this year, the school raised its overall goal to $45,000. As of this week, the Dash had raised $44,348 and is still closing in on that goal through donations that continue to trickle in.

This year’s annual fundraiser event at the school included great music, along with plenty of family and friends as they cheered on the runners, who are students in grades K-5 as they pace around the school track.

All money raised from the community goes to a GOOD cause – it goes directly back to Southport Elementary. In the past, funds have been used to provide online learning programs, to purchase Chromebook laptops, to build an outdoor classroom and to install the school track itself.

Funds raised this year will be used to purchase outdoor recreation equipment for all students to enjoy at the school as well as to provide funding for classroom needs, assemblies, technology and curriculum assistance.

For more information about the Dolphin Dash, or how you can still donate today or get involved in next year’s event, check out the Southport PTA organization’s Dolphin Dash web page.

Check out our photo galleries of the Dolphin Dash at stateportpilot.com.

Do you have a story about good people doing good things in the community, one that you'd like to share with your fellow readers?
Submit your uplifting idea or anecdote to hello@stateportpilot.com.

New News

Here’s what we’re working on for next week.

Not Exactly News

The State Port Pilot’s long-running column, Not Exactly News, was a weekly assemblage of various local-interest items. They’re GOOD reminders of what life was like in our corner of the world and we’re excited to re-present them here.

From The State Port Pilot – issues dated March, 1950

One of the most important factors in the success of last week’s motorboat races was the splendid assistance from sporting goods dealers of Wilmington. Not only did each of them have an entry, but J. G. Pickard, George Canady, Harold Abrams and Robert Marlowe were on hand to help with some of the technical problems of putting on the first race... One result of the event has been a resolve to have at least one Southport boat in the winners’ circle next year. Several local sportsmen have been heard to declare their interest in acquiring a speedy runabout and a fast motor for use this summer and in the race next spring... Not only did Art Newton paint all of the signs for the Outboard Motorboats Races, he had his own private banner up across the front of his shop. Incidentally he got some good shots of the race starts.

We were impressed with the good sportsmanship of the Bolivia boys last week at the Burgaw tournament when they yelled for and gave constant encouragement to Southport in their game against Burgaw. A lot of Brunswick county fans are disappointed that Southport and Bolivia failed to lock horns in another of their famous scraps in the finals of the Pender event.

Carl Watkins is interested in forming his own orchestra to play for Long Beach dances this summer. He is a versatile musician and should be able to find plenty of local help. Prospects include Coopie Burris, saxophone; Robert Willing, piano; Jimmie and Joe Cox, string instruments; Leonard Davis, accordion.

“Rocky,” the Boykin retriever who started the current wave of enthusiasm among Southport dog lovers for retrievers, has been stolen from his owners, Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Garner.

The folks at Orton are standing by for their biggest weekend business of the year Saturday and Sunday.

When we saw in Monday’s paper about the death of Edgar Rice Burroughs we felt that we had lost a personal friend. His Tarzan tales were among the first books we ever read of our own choice.

The Warren Hood yard in Southport is our outstanding beauty spot right now.

There will be a lot of Brunswick county fans in the gallery of the Azalea Open Golf Tournament in Wilmington this weekend to follow the big name big shots.

The St. Patrick light has been switched off at the E-L-M Gift Shop and now a pale blue glow outlines an eastern scene. You can depend upon the owners keeping up with the season.

Everybody down here hated to see C.M. Cummins leave the State Highway Patrol. He was a conscientious cop. And one of the most accommodating fellows we ever saw.

Cheers (and jeers) and laughs of last night’s old-timers outing against the present generation of basketball players have given way to today’s aches and pains. We own some of them. In fact, our index finger — the one we type with — is sprained. So — we’re signing off.

Did you miss us?

That’s just one week’s worth of stories and photo pages you may have missed by not reading The State Port Pilot. Here are a few of the headlines you may have missed in our most recent March 22 edition:

• Parking pass furor eases at Oak Island.

• Officer Garrido serves Southport with a smile.

• Dosher Cutoff closes for a week on April 11.

• Planners reluctantly approve Howe Street project.

• UNCW Speaker Series focuses on the economy, inflation.

• Pivotal shoreline stabilization study for city approved.

• Island’s 106-room hotel plan gets the green light.

• South rallies in eighth inning to defeat New Hanover 1-0.

If you don’t want to miss out on this week’s news, pick up a copy or subscribe today. Nobody covers our community like the The State Port Pilot.

Good to Know

• March 24: National Cocktail Day. Compared to wine, beer and ale, cocktails are a slightly newer version of alcoholic beverage that probably got their start at some time in the late 1700s or early 1800s.

  
  

• March 25: National Earth Hour. The thousands upon thousands of Mwh of energy that are saved worldwide during Earth Hour mean nothing if we do not continue to care about the environment afterwards.

  
  

• March 26: National Make Up Your Own Holiday Day. This holiday was created to encourage people to do so. Make up your own holiday to raise awareness of a cause or just to have fun.

  
  

• March 27: Play More Cards Day. Cards can be the source of great entertainment for friends who just want to hang out and spend some time together, laughing and relaxing.

  
  

• March 28: National Weed Appreciation Day. A weed is just a plant growing where you don’t want it to grow. There are hundreds of ‘weeds’ that are incredibly important in health, science, and culinary uses.

  
  

• March 29: International Mermaid Day. Aside from myth and legend, a possible explanation for the prevalence of mermaids in human history is the variety of marine life that, from a distance or at a glance, could be mistaken for fish-like people, in particular seals and manatees.

  
  

• March 30: National Take a Walk in the Park Day. Getting out into nature has been proven to have a number of therapeutic effects on those who take the time to do it. Their stress levels go down, their heart and mind feel refreshed, their creativity gets inspired, and they become more productive at work.

FOMO? Did you miss a previous edition of the GOOD NEWSLETTER?
We’ve got you covered! Check out the archive here.

Community Focus

Reader Photo Showcase

We’re thankful for how often we hear you’re enjoying A GOOD NEWSLETTER. And nearly as often we hear about a photo we’ve “ just got to see,” and guess what? We want to! This week’s mail bag was very light, so get those shots in – delight your fellow readers and show off your shutterbug chops. This week’s photogs did just that. Lisa Everett caught a cool shot of a hawk perched atop St. Philip's Episcopal Church here in Southport and The State Port Pilot’s own Diane McKeithan contributed a truly gorgeous shot of the yacht basin. Thank you both for sharing these wonderful images!

A hawk at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on E Moore Street in Southport. By Lisa Everett.

Southport yacht basin by Diane McKeithan.

Do you have some GOOD photos? We’re encouraging all our readers to send in their interesting photos – new, old, whatever you have. We look forward to seeing them – and thank you for sharing your creativity with us.

Showcase deadline is noon, Wednesday.

All submitted photos will be posted in The State Port Pilot photo & video gallery.

Recipe of the week

Marisa’s Crazy GOOD Corn & Rice

This recipe is quick, easy and delicious! It’s an all-time family favorite back home and for more than a decade at The State Port Pilot’s annual Christmas parties!

Ingredients
• 1 package yellow rice
• 1 can Mexican corn (or plain if you don’t like the heat)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 stick melted butter
• 1 cup shredded cheese (Colby, cheddar or pepper jack if you like a little kick)

Preparation
1. Cook rice according to package directions, but use no oil. Place rice into quart-size casserole dish then mix with corn, cream of chicken soup and melted butter. Top with cheese and bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

2. This recipe can be modified to be reasonably healthy using low-fat or fat free cream of chicken soup, low-fat or vegan shredded cheese and a low fat heart healthy butter substitute of your choice.

Click here for a printable recipe card.

Recipe of the Week
Each week we present a new recipe and we’d love to feature yours!
Submission deadline is noon, Wednesday.

This week's Pet of the Week is Lady!

This gorgeous Lady is a lively one! Donna Jones said if she could keep up with her, Lady would play catch all night – she’d rather catch a ball than get a treat, in fact! Thank you, Donna, for sharing with us. We’re down to our last few pets of the week so please hit the submit button below and give us a look at your furry, scaly, and feathered, pals!

The Pet of the Week Showcase
We want your pet photos! Each week we feature a new pet submitted by you, our GOOD readers. The deadline is noon, Wednesday.

See the complete collection in our Pet of the Week Showcase Gallery!

Play Time

Spot the Differences
We just finished up the spring edition of the COAST Magazine. It hits the stands April 5th and we’re really excited for you to see it. This edition will have a new and improved calendar of events, featuring events like Oak Island’s Ride the Tide Community Kayak Float. This great photo seemed perfect for our weekly puzzle - we hope it isn’t too difficult!

We’ve made SEVEN alterations to the original. Test your observational skills and see if you can spot the differences between the two images. Click to get a closer look and check your guesses with the key at the end of the newsletter. GOOD luck!

Good Times

It’s Friday! Presented by Up Your Arts, here’s the weekend line-up, full of music and activities for everyone.

Friday, March 24

• Live music (TBD) @ 49th Street Grill (OKI)

• The Cliff Wheeler Band @ Ocean Crest Pier

• NowCat @ Duffer’s Pub & Grille (OKI)

• Jared Michael Cline @ The Joyce (Leland)

• Mike McManus @ Milliken’s Seafood (Shallotte)

• Brisa Del Mar @ Ports of Call

• Christine Martinez Band @ American Fish Company

• Whiplash @ Oak Island Moose Lodge

•  Live music (TBD) @ The Pub of Southport

• Hoods Creek @ Second Wind

Saturday, March 25

• The Sea & Sand Band and the Entertainers @ Sunset Beach Town Park (60th Anniversary)

• R&R Music @ The Grape and Ale (OKI)

• Sea Notes 2023 Concert @ Odell Williamson Auditorium (Bolivia)

• Live music (TBD) @ Ocean Crest Pier

• Parlay @ Middleton Park (OKI) Spring Fling

• Sky Parlor @ The Joyce (Leland)

• 3 Peace @ Feast OIB (Ocean Isle Beach)

• The Doorsmen @ American Fish Company

• The Sandy Branch Band @ Oak Island Moose Lodge

• Audiomelt Duo @ Brunswick Beer Exchange (Leland)

• The Conspiracy @ Locals Tavern (Leland)

• Live music (TBD) @ The Pub of Southport

• The South Tones @ Second Wind

Sunday, March 26

• Lisa Rankin @ Ports of Call

• Open Beach Jam with Dennis Walton @ The Lazy Turtle (OKI)

• Sea Notes 2023 Concert @ Odell Williamson Auditorium (Bolivia)

• R&R Music @ American Fish Company

• Never2Late @ Mavericks Pointe (Sunset Beach)

Check out the UP YOUR ARTS Events Calendar for details on these events and even MORE local music and live performances!

On a GOOD Note

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you..”

– Walt Whitman

Spot the Differences Answer Key

Differences from left to right, top to bottom: 1. Gumby! 2. kayak color changed 3. longer paddle 4. changed feet 5. added life vest 6. twins??? 7. changed hatch cover

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Have a really GOOD weekend!