My Thoughts

In my world, stories beget stories. Our time in Carolina Beach researching the town’s fantastic murals led me to realize I didn’t really know the history of the town’s beginning. I mostly knew about the boardwalk and the marina basin, so I set out to determine who the first settlers were and to understand why there were no significant older wooden buildings in the town.

Some of what I discovered surprised me and perhaps will surprise you. I focused on the earliest beginnings, not so much on the later years that tend to be better known. Keep in mind, please, I am no historian, just an amateur.

I am terribly excited about our cover story showcasing dogs surfing and dogs that skate. I had no firsthand knowledge, even though I’ve been around the surfing and skating community all my life. I hope you enjoy learning along with us about this canine sport.

Another story was inspired by a lack of understanding of why every so many years I would hear about someone seriously ill after eating at a church social.

Then, volunteering to run the kitchen and cook to feed the homeless at First Fruit Ministries one hot summer, I was elected to take the SafeServ food safety course for the team. What an eye-opener. I have been a Debbie Downer to organizers of every corporate food event since. Hard and fast rule: If it’s not sitting on ice, two hours is the limit for any food to sit out, one hour if the temperature is above 90.

And that’s not all. This issue has a look at the division over the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History and Camp Chris Stone, plus music, art and blueberries. 

Sit back and enjoy an excellent summer read.

­­— Pat Bradford, Senior Editor/Publisher