Beach Bites
BY Staff
The Jetty Concerning beachgoers safety around the jetty the Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue Squad has six words of advice: Stay off stay off stay off. “First and foremost we educate the public ” says WB Ocean Rescue Squad director Dave Baker reminding people that “there is a much greater danger of harm with rip currents than any large ocean animal with sharp teeth.” While were at it its imperative that fishermen stay off the jetty wall. The majority of fishing enthusiasts wear waders (large waterproof boots used when fishing). One misguided step on the slippery rocks could land them in a heap of trouble as the waders quickly fill with water and make it incredibly difficult to move. Once stuck with water-filled boots its nearly impossible to climb back up on the sharp barnacle-encrusted jetty wall. Scary stuff for sure but its not all bad news at the jetty. “If you are an experienced free-diver or scuba diver the jetty offers an abundant supply of fish to look at … or eat ” Baker says. He recommends speaking to the lifeguards before you hit the water to avoid rip currents and learn about any other safety issues at the beach that day. Oh and about the jetty it bears repeating one more time: Stay off stay off stay off. Sim Jackson Now in its 63rd year the Azalea Festival blooms April 7-11 Heres a quick springtime quiz: What has bloomed for 62 straight years will bloom again from April 7-11 attracts 300 000-plus people to the Port City and is as fun and festive and uniquely Southern as a bright and beautiful belle? Why the NC Azalea Festival of course. This years parade marshal is Sergeant Kim Munley whose courage and heroics saved lives at Fort Hood. The Goo Goo Dolls with Collective Soul as well as Montgomery Gentry will raise the roof at Trask Coliseum and the Shag contest will get us all shaking and shimmying like its 1999. Its the best party in the South and everyones invited! Sarah Brehm and Richard Leder Azalea Festival Event Schedule WEDNESDAY APRIL 7 THURSDAY APRIL 8 Goo Goo Dolls with Collective Soul FRIDAY APRIL 9 Garden Tour Ribbon Cutting Garden Tour Juried Spring Art Show & Sale Cole Bros. Circus Montgomery Gentry SATURDAY APRIL 10 Parade Coin Show Juried Spring Art Show & Sale Garden Tour Horse Show Shag Contest Historic Home Tour Cole Bros. Circus Boxing Tournament SUNDAY APRIL 11 Garden Tour Coin Show Horse Show Azalea Cake Challenge Variety Show Juried Spring Art Show & Sale Historic Home Tour Cole Bros. Circus Boxing Tournament Modern coin collecting brings an element of history to the Azalea Festival The NC Azalea Festival Coin Show you can pan for gold for a $2 fee (thats so cool) returns to Wilmington on Saturday and Sunday April 10-11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Forty-five experienced dealers will be at the American Legion Hall (702 Pine Grove Drive) ready to answer questions and more. “They sell coins appraise coins and buy coins ” says Jacquie Flanigan Cape Fear Coin Club Associations liaison to the Azalea Festival. Ray Flanigan Jacquies husband and a knowledgeable Wilmington coin collector enjoys the fact that every coin is “like holding a piece of history in your hands.” The history of coin collecting itself stretches back to ancient Rome and Mesopotamia where coins were catalogued and collected by state treasuries. There are even reports of Emperor Augustus showing exotic coins to friends in the 1st century. During the Renaissance coin collection was labeled the “Hobby of Kings ” as only the wealthy could pursue this passion. Now Ray Flanigan a Merit Badge counselor with the Boy Scouts shares his passion with scouts all over Wilmington so that they can see his collections connection with history. So pull out that old cigar box of loose change you found in your grandfathers closet. Those coins could tell a story or two from days gone by. Sim Jackson Learn to ShagYou dont have to be a pro to get out and have a blast Babs Welker of Babs McDance Social Dance Studio is baffled as to why more people dont know how to shag. “Whats shag?” you say. Its an engaging up-tempo six-count dance that “belongs to the U.S. ” says Welker. “That more people dont know this fun dance is a shame.” So you want to be a shagger but think the steps might be too tough to learn? Relax yall its just shaggin. “It takes the average person an hour to pick up the basic steps ” says Ray. “Its an offshoot of the jitterbug ” says Davis. “Back in the 40s it was called fastdance.” While there is some controversy as to whether Carolina Shag began in Myrtle Beach South Carolina or Wilmington the term itself was coined here in the Port City. Shag music is related to a more beach-inspired kind of rhythm than any of the other 27 types of swing dances and was wildly popular at the iconic Lumina on Wrightsville Beach for many years. Its popularity is still strong. In North Myrtle Beach 30-40 000 shaggers meet four times a year for the Society of Stranders “Biggest Adult Party ” which has to be considered a sort of shag Mecca. Here in Wilmington the North Carolina Azalea Festival features a shag contest every year. As you might have guessed its always big hit. “A dance of the past ” you say? Not at all. Shaggers of all ages are hip to shagging. And once youre hooked youre hooked for life. Just ask Johnnie Davis. “I picked up shagging at age 16 and Im 65 and still dancing.” Sim Jackson
We know its tempting but stay away!
This is especially important when talking about the jetty as rip-currents naturally form near hardened structures making it essential to stay off and stay safe. “Theres no good time to be out there; just stay away from it ” says Baker. “Not only is it dangerous its the law.”
Once again (and not a moment too soon) the fabulous Azalea Festival will celebrate Wilmingtons artwork homes gardens history and culture with five full days of nonstop entertainment including a parade street fair circus concerts pageantry and more.
Queens Coronation
Riverfront Park 5-6 p.m.
Cole Bros. Circus
Wilmington International Airport Grounds 4:30-6:30 p.m. and 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Trask Coliseum 8-10:30 p.m.
Street Fair
Historic Downtown Wilmington
6-11 p.m.
Home of Kyle McIntyre
10 a.m. to noon
Various Gardens 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Perry Hall at St. James Episcopal Church 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wilmington International Airport Grounds 4:30-6:30 p.m. and 7:30-9:30 p.m.
UNCW Trask Coliseum 8-10:30 p.m.
Street Fair
Historic Downtown Wilmington 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Historic Downtown Wilmington 9 a.m. to noon
American Legion Hall 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Perry Hall at St. James Episcopal Church
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Various Gardens 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Shingleton Farms noon-8 p.m.
Cape Fear Community College Schwartz Center 1-6 p.m.
Wilmington homes 1-6 p.m.
Wilmington International Airport Grounds 1:30-3:30 p.m. 4:30-6:30 p.m. and 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Williston Middle School 2:30-6 p.m.
Street Fair
Historic Downtown Wilmington 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Various Gardens 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
American Legion Hall 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Shingleton Farms noon-5 p.m.
Cape Fear Community College Schwartz Center noon-4 p.m.
Street Fair Main Stage noon-6:30 p.m.
Perry Hall at St. James Episcopal Church noon-4 p.m.
Wilmington homes 1-5 p.m.
Wilmington International Airport Grounds
1:30-3:30 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Williston Middle School 2-6 p.m.
Our corner of the Carolina coast has a long strong history of shag dancing and local shaggers for sure remain a passionate community. “Its a social thing ” says Bryanna Ray a dancer at Babs McDance. Johnnie Davis Cape Fear Shag Club President agrees saying “Its an easy way to meet singles and have a social outlet while offering very competitive dance contests for those who really get into it.”