News

Could there be a better way to say good-bye to summer than an old-fashioned oyster roast in your own backyard?

Just ask the more than 200 Country Club of Landfall members who filled the back lawn of the clubhouse on a splendid October Sunday afternoon to celebrate the start of fall and get their fill of fresh local oysters and plenty of adult beverages.

The oysters were roasted on a fire in a big hole dug by our Greens Superintendent Jeff Mack and shucked by an expert team from the Country Club of Landfall staff. Beautiful weather, a brilliant sunset and live music from the band Stray Local added to the day’s enjoyment.

The feast was the brainstorm of private events coordinator Megan Foltz and Stephanie Granger of the Country Club of Landfall staff, who consistently find new and imaginative ways to bring together members of all ages for memorable experiences.  Our members enjoyed the feast so much that we ran out of oysters and had to place an emergency order to our friends at Seaview Crab Company to bring us a few more bushels!

“We all had so much fun we’re definitely planning to put this event on our calendar next year,” Megan said.

On Wednesday the U.S. Secretary of Education named Wrightsville Beach Elementary School a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School, recognizing it as one of the best in the nation. There were only 279 public and 50 private schools in the nation to receive the award, with 7 others being awarded in North Carolina.

The award’s criteria mainly focused on the students’ performance, and with the students of Wrightsville Beach Elementary scoring high on their end of the year tests they deservedly won the award. Principal Jackson Norvell credited the support of the WBS Foundation and the PTA for the success of the school. The Secretary of Education will honor recipients in Washington D.C. with a two day awards ceremony in November.

The 17th annual Landfall Foundation Art Show, sponsored by Landfall Realty, is scheduled August 25-27 at the Dye Clubhouse, featuring works by 100 artists from the Wilmington area and across North Carolina.

The show is free and open to the public daily from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. “This year’s show offers an impressive array of mediums, styles, colors, and sizes,” said Landfall resident Martha Edgerton, 2016 Art Show chair. “There is literally something for every artistic taste.

Works on display will include oil, watercolors, acrylics, photography and sculpture in clay, metal, wood and mixed media. The works will be available for purchase, with a percent of art sales donated by the artists to the Landfall Foundation, according to Edgerton.

Distinguished oil painter Dan Beck is serving as judge of this year’s event. Beck – who recently moved to Wilmington – has won numerous awards for his work, most recently at the 2016 National Competition of Oil Painters of America in Dallas, TX.

His winning selections will be unveiled at the August 24th Preview Party, an invitation-only event for the artists, Art Show sponsors and Landfall Foundation sponsors.

The Landfall Foundation Art Show is one of four major charitable fund-raising events held each year in the community. The others are the Landfall Foundation Gala, the Legends of Tennis and the Quintiles Marathon.

“Last year, the Foundation raised more than $360,000 and made donations to 78 local charities and scholarships,” Edgerton said. For more information, please visit their website.

You might not have realized it, but each time you stop at a produce stand on the side of a country road to buy fresh tomatoes and corn, you’re actually supporting a growing social movement called “Farm-to-Table” and it is not just for foodies anymore. It has matured in recent years to meet the demand for fresh and natural food products, free of harmful pesticides and genetic modification.

Here in Southeastern North Carolina, we’re fortunate to be surrounded by farm country, with a multitude of sources for these types of food products, all within easy reach of Landfall.

Perhaps the best way to access these fresh foods is by using the local farmers’ markets that abound in our area. Among them are the Wrightsville Beach Farmers’ Market (open on Mondays from May to September); Carolina Beach Farmers’ Market (Saturdays from late May to October); Ogden Farmers’ Market (Wednesdays from mid-April to

November 16); Poplar Grove Farmers’ Market (Wednesdays from mid-April to late September); and Riverfront Farmers’ Market (Saturdays from April 18 to November 19).

Staff photo by Emmy Errante. Customers fill their bags with produce from Edens Farms at the Wrightsville Beach Farmers’ Market Monday, Aug. 25.

There are also numerous local commercial fishers who sell their local catches including shrimp, flounder, grouper and many others, freshly caught the night before.

This summer there are popup local farmers markets all over the area for you to buy fresh produce. On Monday mornings at 8:00am the Wrightsville Beach Farmers Market meets near Seawater Lane. This market has multiple vendors that sell fresh and local fruits and vegetables, flowers, crafts, bread, other baked items, herbs, dairy products, meat and seafood.

On Wednesday mornings there are two farmers markets. The Ogden Park Market is located at 615 Ogden Park Drive and starts at 8:00am. This market has a large selection of fresh produce. The Popular Grove Farmers Market also meets at 8:00am at the Popular Grove Farm off US Highway 17 North. This market includes fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, seafood, baked goods, sweets, flowers, wine, and more.

When you shop at these farmers markets not only are you getting fresh, quality produce, meat, and goods, but also supporting local farms and businesses!