Southport Magazine

Willie L. Gore was born in Southport in 1942 and grew up in a segregated Black community on Jabbertown Road. After graduating from Brunswick County Training School (BCT), the K–12 school for Black students on Lord Street, he attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. There he met nursing student Lelia Salter, the love of his life, and began the military training that would lead to a distinguished career taking him around the globe, with assignments in Vietnam, Hawaii, Canada and Washington, D.C.    After retiring from the Army, Gore became the senior Army instructor for Junior

One of the things Bill McHugh learned when he served on the Town Council for the Town of Leland was that the workings of local governments remain a mystery to lots of people.  McHugh has since authored and published a children’s book to start educating the voting public about their governments starting an early age.  “The ABC’s of Local Government” is already the #1 best selling Children’s Citizenship book on Amazon, and copies are also becoming available locally in county libraries and through online retailers such as Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart.  What is a local government allowed to

“We have no borders when it comes to helping veterans and first responders who need our support,” said Captain Rick Roberts, founder of the Those Who Served Foundation, a Little River, South Carolina-based non-profit. The mission is simple yet inspiring — “casting lines, building bonds, and honoring service.” Former for-hire charter captain turned guide and steward, Roberts is a man who truly honors our nation’s heroes. Prior to dedicating his time entirely to the cause, Roberts operated a charter boat company but allocated two days a week for veterans and first responders. Roberts gained his love and passion for the

The Brunswick County Agricultural Fair and Expo presents “Stars, Stripes and County Fair Nights!” The return of the fair this year is scheduled Oct. 21-25, for the second annual week of family, friends, food and fun for all! The fair will be returning to the same location, Stump Hill Farms, 2030 Ash Little River Road NW, Ash. General admission will be $7 cash, $8 with card and children under 36 inches tall are allowed free entry. Parking will be free and bags will be checked at the gate upon entry. Dreamland Amusements will be returning with more than 20 rides,

The 47th Annual U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament is right around the corner! This year’s event will take place Oct. 2-4 at Dutchman Creek Park on Fish Factory Road. Recognized as one of the largest king mackerel tournaments on the East Coast and part of the Southern Kingfish Association (SKA) Tournament Trail, the U.S. Open attracted 565 boats in 2024 and paid out more than $425,000 in cash prizes. The tournament offers an all-cash guaranteed prize structure that does not depend on participation numbers, paying 55 places in its primary category, including $25,000 for the largest king mackerel. More than

We watch a lot of Food Network in our home. Cooking together was something we learned as a couple, enjoyed as a family, and now that our son has moved away, once again enjoy as a couple. The competition shows on Food Network often feature ingredients we’ve never heard of, and often can’t find in our area. Now, thanks to Southport Spices, we can find some ingredients we never could have before.  As an example, the lovely and talented Lisa wanted to try za’atar, a savory spice blend (I think it’s a blend) from the Middle East. Of course Southport

Our friends at Barn and Beach Designs have gone through a lot of changes recently with the moved from three buildings to two, but did not let their annual art scholarship fall through the cracks. This year’s winner of a $1,500 scholarship is South Brunswick High School (SBHS) Senior Emilee Lake.  “With all the changes and transitions here at Barn & Beach Designs of shifting three businesses into two over the past few months, there was one thing that was true to my heart and a priority during the shift,” said Barn and Beach owner Francesca Talbot. “That was our

We’re fortunate here in Brunswick County to have a wonderful library system that caters to people of all ages. Our local libraries also have amazing volunteer groups to support them and fill in the gaps when funding doesn’t quite match wish lists. Members of the Friends of the Library Southport-Oak Island are doing just that for the Barbee Branch on Oak Island, raising money for a very real need. We’re more than happy to do our part and help spread the word because of course we want everyone reading lots — books, emails, and especially our magazines. We asked one

History is endlessly fascinating and also complicated and sometimes difficult. It is, after all, the story of humans beings, and humans are complicated, doing great and terrible things often at the same time. The citizens of Brunswick Town were no different. They helped kick off a revolution that led to a nation founded on the ideals of freedom and the notion that all men are created equal. These same people also imported, sold and owned men, women and children.  The Brunswick Town State Historic Site has done a great job telling the first part of that story, and now the

Old Brunswick Town-Fort Anderson, a site deeply shaped by American colonial history, is a true “hidden gem,” said Christos Darras, a graduate student at East Carolina University (ECU). For Darras, who is pursuing his degree in Maritime Studies, it is also the site for his graduate thesis. His current project might just help to answer some questions about the area’s true importance in colonial history. Darras, who attended ECU’s Field School earlier in the summer, was offered an internship with the Friends of Old Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson. He began researching a former colonial wharf that is no longer truly “accessible”

If you’ve spent any time in Oak Island or Southport, you’ve probably heard of Clem’s Seafood. For decades, it’s been the place where locals swing by after work for shrimp fresh off the boat, or where vacationers grab a few pounds of grouper before heading back to the beach house. Clem’s isn’t just a seafood market — it’s part of the rhythm of coastal life here. A Legacy Rooted in Family Clem’s has always held a special place in the community’s heart because of the personal touch the Clemmons family gave their customers. They wanted people to know how much