Do you enjoy reading?  Do your kids or grandchildren?  Here are a few tips to help your New Hanover County student become a life-long reader. I have always loved reading, it was a wonderful way to escape the boredom of growing up in a small town.  I visited so many exotic locales, had so many adventures, met so many exciting people -- I may as well have been a world-traveler. I always assumed that my kids would enjoy reading as much as I did, and I was 50% right!  My son is very intelligent and he does get caught reading ocassionally, but it's just not his thing.  His sister gets him a book every Christmas -- she keeps hoping he'll catch the bug! My daughter is a different story.  She is a voracious reader.  Books are her drug of choice.  If there were not a library, I believe she would... 08/25/2010

Fun Facts about August 2010   I know, I'm a little late with this one.  It's been sitting in my draft folder and I almost forgot about it.   This August has: 5 Sundays  (let's try to take at least one of them off!) 5 Mondays  (like we really needed one more of those!) 5 Tuesdays (really pushing your luck here, August 2010!) Check out one of the ways I've battled the extra days! End of Summer Vacation 2010 Blow-Out! This only happens once every 823 years.  Whew, I was afraid I was going to have to start dis-liking August! And the best part about August 2010?  TWO "MOONS" ALL MONTH!  Mars will be it's brightest in the night sky all month and on August 27th it will come within 34.65 miles of the Earth.  Grab a blanket, head to the backyard, or a rooftop if you've got one you can get to saf... 08/24/2010

Hurricane Preparedness in Wrightsville Beach, NC   Hurricane Season started in June and we've been lucky not to see any hurricane activity here in Wrightsville Beach, NC so far this season.  That could all change with Tropical Storm Danielle.  It is believed that she will reach Hurricane status within the next 24 hours and it's too early to guess what path she will take.  We need to be prepared regardless, so here are a few things you can do now to be ready in case she decides to visit us.     Have a plan.  All family members should know where to meet should you become separated.  Know what you are going to do with the family pets.  Have an out of state family member or friend as a single point of contact for everyone. Have a Disaster Supply Kit.  This kit should include things like wat... 08/23/2010

SUMMER IS COMING TO A CLOSE?  IT'S STILL A GREAT TIME TO GET YOUR BEACH ON!! The kids may be going back to school, but the beach isn't closing! Here in Wrightsville Beach, NC and surrounding beaches the weather stays great for beach-going all the way in to October.  And if you don't mind wearing a light sweater, November and December aren't too bad either!  In fact, we spent last New Year's Eve fishing at Johnnie Mercer's Pier -- it was a little cold, but we had a great time!  And I didn't have to wear heels!         Here are a few things to do in Wrightsville Beach and surrounding areas AFTER Labor Day and a few highlights:    Airlie Gardens Concert Series -- Fridays 6-8pm.  Bring a picnic, comfy chair or blanket and listen to some great jazz under the branches of the Airlie Oak.  $8/a... 08/20/2010

  Kinda crazy question if you don't know what Masonboro Island is? It is a nature conservancy that is a series of islands in the middle of the Intracoastal waterway just south of Wrightsville Beach. People go to sun, go to surf on the ocean side of the island, relax with friends or swim in the Intracoastal.I have a friend who sets out crab traps near Masonboro and if she is lucky dinner is waiting when she paddles out to see what is caught in her trap.These guys on this boat travel all over the Intracoastal with their floating bar. You can get right on this boat and get a drink ( if you are of age - of course) and enjoy a little cruise while sipping your favorite drink. Yes they did have to show off and flash me (top only) when I snapped their picture one day while doing an open house ... 08/18/2010

Well, it's that time again.  Traditional public school starts here in New Hanover County NC on August 25th.  Can't even begin to guess where this summer went.  I am blessed to have my 3 grandchildren living in the area, so I get to spend lots of time "hangin' out" with them.  We've gone fishing, to the beach, to the carnival, to the movies, out for breakfast, lunch and dinner (sometimes all in 1 day!), played putt-putt, gone ice skating, run through sprinklers, gone to the pool, searched for shells, hit up Sweet & Sassy for a mani/pedi, visited  the Wrightsville Beach Farmer's Market weekly for our supply of delicious local produce, seen a movie in the park, played street hockey and spent lots of time just chatting.  I guess I do know where the summer went!  I'm sorry that the summer is... 08/12/2010

When most people hear "the beach", they think of a past vacation, or one they hope to take. When I hear "the beach", I am blessed to think, home.  That's right, I live and work, year-round, in Wrightsville Beach, NC. I was born and raised in what felt like the middle of nowhere -- Remington, VA. Population -- 35. At least, that's how it felt when I was growing up.  We were only 40 miles from Washington, DC, but it may as well have been 4000 miles for all the time I got to spend there.  We only knew that the ocean existed because we learned about it in school (okay, so maybe that's a stretch), or because one of our classmates went to visit family out of the area and made it all the way to the BEACH!  That would have been Virginia Beach, but for all I knew that was a million miles away!  ... 08/09/2010

So, you want to sell your Wrightsville Beach home?  Great! I've been selling beach homes for over 20 years and I've got a few tips for you.  For most people, beach homes are not a necessity, so they normally stay on the market longer than non-resort homes.  Besides pricing it properly, there are a few things you can do to help put your Wrightsville Beach home at the forefront of the market. 1. Get a home inspection before we put your home on the market.  No matter how well you have cared for your Wrightsville Beach home, there is always something that needs to be repaired or replaced.  Let's resolve those issues before your home hits the market.  Then, when the offers come in, we'll be dealing from a position of strength. 2. Have the home Professionally  cleaned .  Have your cleaner com... 08/09/2010

EDHOMESELLER, Real Estate, Agent, Wrightsville Beach NC Ed Wagenseller Edhomeseller Real Estate Agent Wrightsville Beach NC - A North Carolina native and resident of Wilmington, NC for over 20 years, Edhomeseller Real Estate Agent - Ed is entering his eleventh year in the real estate business in Wrightsville Beach NC.  He's experienced the booms and the busts and has learned that the real estate market is ever changing and an agent must adapt when those changes occur.  Through this he has also learned that the antiquated salesman approach when handling the purchase or sale of a home is rarely a good thing.  By eliminating the "salesman" technique, it allows Ed to provide objective advice based on what is best both financially and emotionally for the consumer.  This approach gives the cl... 08/07/2010

SURF COMPETITION AT WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH The Reef Sweetwater Surf Competition was held at Wrightsville Beach several weeks ago. Crowds love the high caliber of surfing at the show.Surfers from many states and coasts attended and some of the best in the country and our best local competitors took part.The neatest part was that the production of the event was a "green event". The event was run on Solar Power - how cool.. Lots of people lounged on the beach while the best local and national surfers worked their magic. Even young kids 7 on up participated. The day was overcast so the sun did not beat down on the competitors and spectators. It was a great sporting event to watch. 08/06/2010

  HERE'S AN EVENT THAT'S SURE TO PLEASE THE KIDS IN YOUR LIFE! IT'S -- MUD DAY AT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF WILMINGTON FRIDAY 8/6/10 9A ~ 2P SATURDAY 8/7/10 9A ~ 2P PLAY IN THE MUD IN THE BACKYARD AT THE MUSEUM WEAR A SWIMSUIT OR OLD CLOTHES AND BRING A TOWEL! HEY, MOM & DAD! -- THERE WILL BE A RINSE OFF STATION (whew!) IF PLAYING IN THE MUD ISN'T YOUR THING -- YOU'LL STILL ENJOY A VISIT TO THIS FANTASTIC MUSEUM! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!  AS MUCH AS I LOVE MY GRANDCHILDREN, THE THOUGHT OF ALL THAT MUD MAKES ME CRINGE! THIS IS A JOB FOR THEIR PARENTS! 08/04/2010

On August 6, 2010 the US Coast Guard BARQUE EAGLE will be docking in downtown Wilmington NC for 3 days. A three-masted sailing Barque, the Eagle is the only active commissioned sailing vessel in the US maritime services. The Eagle is scheduled to arrive in downtown Wilmington at 11:30 am and the arrival ceremony will take place at 1 pm. There will be free tours available on the Eagle and the Diligence through the weekend. Tickets are limited, are on a first come basis and are only available on the day of the tour. The ticket booth will be at the USCG Diligence parking lot, 109 N. Water Street. Tour Hours:  Friday 8/6   3p ~ 7p                   Saturday 8/7  9a ~ 7p                   Sunday  8/8  9a ~ 12p Don't miss this chance to see the Eagle -- she's a beauty!       08/02/2010

Lumina Daze will take place this year on Sunday August 29, 2010. This annual event has become a Wrightsville Beach tradition. Proceeds from the evening benefit the Wrightsville Beach Museum. The evening of fun for all ages kicks off at 5 pm at the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach. There will be Shag and Big Band Music for all you dancers -- and games, including an old fashioned cake walk!, for the young and young at heart. There will also be a silent auction and raffle. You'll even be able to watch a movie on the beach, just like they did when the Lumina Pavilion was THE place to be!  A new event this year will be the combination of Lumina Daze and Children's Museum of Wilmington's Castles and Scoops.  So get your sandcastle plans in order, gather the troops and tools and get to th... 08/01/2010

My grandson has been spending the majority of his summer fishing at Johnnie Mercers Pier here in Wrightsville Beach. He's become friends with most of the regulars and some of the visitors. Yesterday he fulfilled one of his dreams of catching the "really big one".  He pulled in this Record (at least for the moment) King Mackeral, weighing in at 26.2 lbs.  As his sister pointed out: It's taller than his cousin. This is the picture of a real fisherman who has stayed the course all night -- yep, no sleep for this angler!!!! This evening I'm taking my granddaughters to see a movie under the stars at  Wrightsville Beach Park. (Tonight's movie is "Tooth Fairy".) And after that, we'll probably get a frozen custard at Kohl's and take a stroll on the beach. Life just doesn't get any better than t... 07/28/2010

TWILIGHT TOUR OF HOMES WILMINGTON NC BEAT THE HEAT!! TOUR 15 OPEN HOUSES THURSDAY EVENING 7/29  6PM ~ 8PM THIS WEEK, TOUR HOMES FROM S. COLLEGE ROAD TO MONKEY JUNCTION MAPS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT EACH PROPERTY REGISTER TO WIN A $10 GAS CARD AT EACH OF THE HOMES                                                    409 Kingston Road  $154,900                                                                                                               317 E. Blackbeard Drive  $300,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       1825 Newkirk Road  $599,000 COMPLETE LIST OF HOMES AVAILABLE AT: htt... 07/28/2010

THIS WEEKS FREE MOVIES AT MAYFAIRE 16 CINEMA  With scorching summer temps setting records on the East Coast, what a great way to BEAT THE HEAT!! FREE MOVIES this Tues, Wed and Thurs. in Wilmington, NC This week choose from: Charlottes Web   Rated G Night at the Museum; Battle of the Smithsonian  Rated PG   Doors open at 9 am, movies start at 10 am. Mayfaire 16 Cinema is located at 900 Town Center Drive Wilmington, NC 28405 910.256.1857   07/26/2010

TWILIGHT TOUR OF HOMES Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina/Kure Beach & Brunswick County Get ready to tour Wilmington NC and surrounding area homes on Thursday evenings! Prudential Laney Real Estate's annual Twilight Tours are about to begin. Created to offer a different way of bringing residential real estate buyers and sellers together, Twilight Tours are a fantastic alternative to Saturday and Sunday's traditional open houses. Beginning Thursday, July 29, 2010 and continuing throughout the summer, Twilight Tours are held Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. "Twilight Tours are designed to concentrate on neighborhoods where we have a number of listings. This will allow buyers to tour a "cluster" of homes in a neighborhood or particular area in a variety of price ranges," said ... 07/24/2010

FREE MOVIES IN WILMINGTON, NC There's almost nothing better on a HOT! summer day than to step into a cool, dark theater and get lost in a story other than your own for a while. So I ask you? How cool is this??    Mayfaire Cinema 16 is showing FREE movies tomorrow morning, July 22, 2010! Yep, you read that right, FREE!   Choice of 2 screenings: Tale of Despereaux (2008) Rated G Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2008) Rated G The doors open at 9:00 am and I understand you best not be late! I'll be there with my granddaughters -- shall we save you a seat or two? (can you tell I'm excited about this? I LOVE my town!)  Mayfaire Cinema 16 is located just 3 miles from downtown Wrightsville Beach at: 900 Town Centre Drive Wilmington, NC 28405 910.256.1857 Oh, and for another FREE movie -- ... 07/21/2010

This is some exciting news for Wrightsville Beach! Wrightsville Beach Parks & Rec learned Friday July 17, 2010 it has won a grant of $111,877. The grant, from N.C. Parks and Recreation Fund, pays 50-50 for local projects. Matching funds will come from the town's share of the 2006 county parks bond. The bulk of the funds will be used for a new event stage and also for renovations of the tennis courts, a new basketball court and repairs to the parking lot. A bandshell is planned to replace the shelter overlooking the marsh. Our Parks & Rec Department is fantastic! They offer year round programs like pilates, tennis lessons, bridge lessons, shag lessons (for those of you who are from "out there", the shag is a dance!) and an after school program for Wrightsville Beach Elementary students. ... 07/19/2010

My camera went dead yesterday, right in the middle of the finals. So I don't have photos. But it was a great time and I wanted to share it with you. Recent UNCW graduate, and Wrightsville Beachnative!, Michael Powell, took 1st place in the 6th Annual Reef/Sweetwater Pro Am Surf Fest held this past weekend in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Michael also won the 2010 National Scholastic Surfing Association college men's championship while attending UNCW. 2nd place went to another Wrightsville Beach native, Ben Bourgeois. 3rd place went to Heath Walker of Australia. Over 90 professional surfers took part in the 3 day event. There were also amateur divisions, with the guppy division on Saturday being one of the favorite events!  If there's any way for you to be here for next years Surf Fest -- do i... 07/19/2010