Shorts

Art Showcase at Landfall

By Brooklyn Owens

The annual Landfall Art Show & Sale one of the area’s premier showcases for local artists is scheduled for August 16-18 at the Nicklaus Clubhouse.

“This show has always been to support local artists ” says Olof Preston chair of the 19th iteration of the juried event. “It’s great for established artists as well as emerging artists. We have some professional artists and some brand new artists entering a show for the first time.”

Local studio artist Margie Worthington will serve as the judge.

Artists grabbed all the available spots within 30 minutes of registration opening and Preston expects a high turnout of art lovers to view and buy the works.

“I think the show has grown in popularity for several reasons ” she says. “There is a reputation that has developed about the show and its high level of art that is displayed at a reasonable cost. Patrons are pleasantly surprised at the quality and creativity of the art and price points.”

The artists keep 70 percent of the proceeds with 30 percent going to the Landfall Foundation. Last year’s event raised $30 000.

Butterflies Take Flight at Airlie

By Brooklyn Owens

While seeing a butterfly can be a magical experience guests at Airlie Gardens can witness an even more breathtaking occurrence — a butterfly’s first flight.

Every Tuesday from June through August visitors gather inside the 2 700-square-foot free standing butterfly house to not only experience the pavilion�s more mature residents but be present as butterflies that have just emerged from their chrysalises are released into the pavilion.

Several different species are released each week including monarchs painted ladies gulf fritillaries and the state butterfly the eastern tiger swallowtail.

The butterfly house holds everything essential to the insects’ survival including a variety of native plants like milkweed which provide food and nesting space.

Before the butterflies are released Airlie Gardens environmental education coordinator Alyssa Taylor talks about the role of butterflies in the ecosystem and the importance of pollinators and native plants.

“It is necessary to teach others about butterflies’ role in our lives ” Taylor says. “They are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem. Our goal is to bring home the idea of why we need them.” — Brooklyn Owens

New Wrightsville Beach Park Planned

By Simon Gonzalez

A new oceanfront town park beside Johnnie Mercer’s Pier featuring a playground boardwalk and expanded bathroom facilities could be ready for residents and tourists before the 2020 summer season.

The Board of Aldermen approved a proposal for the Ocean Access Park in March 2018. On July 10 Mayor Bill Blair announced the town had secured nearly $2 million to fund the project. The money is coming from a mix of private and public funding including approximately $500 000 from New Hanover County.

Wrightsville Beach Town Manager Tim Owens describes the project as “a full facelift of East and West Salisbury.”

“It’s badly needed ” Owens says. “The time is right. It definitely needs a facelift and more amenities.”

A concept plan provided by the town shows a raised boardwalk and beach overlook with swings and benches a beach playground area with climbing structures a beach access park plaza new streetlights and an overall greening up of the street in landscaping to frame the park and act as the focal point for Salisbury Street.

The plan will not reduce the number of available parking spaces and they could possibly increase by a few.

Construction would begin after the 2019 summer season with the facility complete before the start of the 2020 season.